Jimmy revealed all he knew to Lois on the way back to the makeshift headquarters of the DoD in Smallville. She went straight to her father's tent.

"Lois, what are you doing back here? Where are the boys?"

"They're fine unless you don't trust your men to keep them safe. I've just received new intel about the other world."

He looked at Jimmy with some surprise, recognizing him. He'd helped look for this world's Jimmy for his daughter's sake without success and must have realized where he was from. "This doesn't change anything. There's still a threat to this world that needs taking care of."

Of course he would see it that way, but it still disappointed her. One day she'd learn not to hope that he would ever be different. "Where's Captain Luthor?"

"Out looking for Superman."

"At least say what you mean, that he's out hunting him down to kill him."

"Okay. Yes, he is."

"Tell him everything you told me," she said to Jimmy. Maybe she could get him to see Captain Luthor for the threat that he was if nothing else. She kicked her own self for letting her guard down. He'd put so many people in danger with his antics to draw Superman's attention on his arrival. His lack of regard for life had been plain from the start, but she'd gotten distracted by Edge and desperate.

"General Lane, sir, he's not what he appears to be. He has more than an interest in seeing events not repeat themselves. He has a personal interest. He's jealous of Superman, and he blames him for losing his wife."

"Well, that's natural I'd expect given that his Superman killed her."

"But he didn't. It was all for show, and when Captain Luthor found out, it drove him over the edge. He started imagining things that weren't true. His hatred made him crazy. He's the one that needs taking down. I know Superman can fight off the Kryptonian trying to take over because he already did in my world. He just needs Lois to help."

General Lane sighed and gave an order to his second-in-command, redeeming himself to a degree. "Tell the others to only kill Superman if he leaves you no other choice, and put all your energy into just getting a location." He looked at his daughter. "I have the only weapon we need right here. And send out a detail to find Captain Luthor and bring him in, using whatever means necessary."

sss

Captain Luthor lifted off the ground to continue his search for the monster that had destroyed his perfect world long before the Kryptonians had attacked.

"Stop! Don't do it!" Natalie screamed up at him. "Let this version of Mom handle it. You know she can!"

"Yes, I know very well how she handles Superman. Do you know she's married to him here? Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter, is really Superman."

She gasped in surprise. She looked at the boys for confirmation, and they looked back guiltily.

"They didn't tell you that part, did they? Doesn't surprise me that they're liars given their parentage."

"Do you even hear yourself?" Natalie said. "Superman is not the enemy in this situation. Why can't you see that?"

"You're as stubborn as your mother!'

"I consider that a compliment," she said, lifting her chin.

That was like her mother too, and he couldn't help thinking about the confrontation he'd had with his wife, the last time he'd ever seen her.

He found her on the wharf, using his suit. The AI was incapable of incredible things, including tracking.

She was in an old building that had been some kind of dog canning factory at one one time. The stench was still unbearable, and probably worse when you had super-smell, making it the perfect hiding place. She was reading the Daily Planet like it was just a casual morning at the breakfast table.

"Enjoying your little love nest?" he said bitterly, pleased when he startled her.

"My what? Is that why you think I'm here?" She took in his suit. "What are you wearing?"

He ignored her question. "Abandoning me is one thing. Abandoning your daughter is something else."

"I haven't abandoned anybody. This is a war with the fate of the planet in the balance if you haven't noticed. I am doing this for her. For you. For everyone."

"Don't try to make this into something noble. Has he turned you into one them. Is that what it is?"

"I'm not even dignifying that with an answer. He's trying to save the world. I'm a wanted person after revealing their weakness to everybody. You coming here was stupid. You may have alerted them to my presence."

"You've been gone for weeks. How long does it take to defeat them?"

"Almost everyone in Smallville, Kansas was turned. That's a lot of Kryptonians with a lot of powers. Do you think one Kryptonian can take them all? He's working on a way to reverse the changes. Unfortunately, he doesn't have access to the information his father left him, but he thinks his brother may have the crystal of their mother. She may know how to undo it."

"Another Kryptonian is going to help? And you call me stupid. Why would she work against her own people? Why would he?"

"It's called having human decency, compassion. This event as terrible as it has been has taught me one thing that I don't know you at all. I can't believe I..."

"You what? Married me? That's what you were going to say, wasn't it?" The rage and heartbreak that was filling him would have been terrifying if he didn't already feel dead inside.

"Yes. I guess it was though I'd never regret having Natalie. She's the only reason I don't feel like I wasted years of my life that I'll never get back."

He was so angry that his vision was starting to blur, and he could hear a ringing in his ears. "Don't try to turn this anything other than what it is. You're in love with the creature."

"Yes, I am. He's everything I thought you were: heroic, kind, loving, sweet."

"He's not even human!"

"He's more human than you'll ever be."

"That's not possible."

"I've learned more about him during this tragedy like I've learned more about you. The difference is I like what I'm learning about him. But we haven't slept together. Our marriage not working anymore has nothing to do with him and everything to do with you. When all this is over, I want a divorce."

That was the final straw. He was going to finish off that home-wrecking, murdering alien scum in front of her very eyes, who she conveniently forgot had toppled buildings and wiped out an army. And that included her father. It demanded justice, possessed or not. She could say whatever she wanted, but this had everything to do with Kal-El. They'd been happy before the Kryptonians took over, and with him out of the picture, they could be happy again.

He saw the ELT in her pocket. He pulled it out and pushed the signal.

"I have a location on Kal-El," his AI told him, returning his mind to the present and to his current mission, which was much the same as it had been then. It was time to end this.