INT. KENT HOUSE – CLARK'S ROOM
Clark Kent breathes in deeply as he stares at himself in front of the mirror, dressed in a black suit. He seems nervous, taking very deliberate deep breaths and rubbing his hands together.
Martha steps in from behind him. He has to bend down as she threads his head through the loop in a black tie she's pre-tied for him. Slipping it under his collar, she tightens it up around his neck.
Somewhere downstairs, Pete calls out…
PETE (voice)
Hey, Clark, man, you ready?!
Clark swallows and looks at his mother.
MARTHA
How do you feel?
CLARK
A little nervous. I'm going to be on stage tonight.
She smiles warmly.
MARTHA
You'll do fine.
He smiles back at her and hugs her before heading out of the room and downstairs.
EXT. FORT RILEY – LATE AFTERNOON
A sleek black limousine pulls up inside the army base, the slowly sinking orange sun reflecting off the side doors. Coming to a complete stop, Mercy Graves steps out of the driver's seat, walks around the front, and opens the side door. Lex Luthor steps triumphantly out of the limousine, watching proudly as a large moving truck with the LexCorp logo on the side drives passed him.
The moving truck comes to a stop at the end of a row of already similarly parked trucks. Almost instantaneously, a man dressed in Army fatigues unlocks the back and pushes up on the door, sliding it up. Rows of rifles, the same kind Lionel Luthor was secretly manufacturing at Tenshi, are lined up on racks on each side of the truck. Jumping up inside, the man in fatigues grabs the first rifle off the rack and hands it down to a second soldier who then presents it to the first man in a line of hundreds of men waiting to be armed.
Four troop helicopters fly overhead of General Horatio Lester, a staunch looking man, as he oversees the training of more than a couple thousand infantry men armed to the teeth with the new rifles. Several tanks and armored troop vehicles can also be seen in the distance, moving out of the base motorcade style. Lex Luthor steps up behind him.
GENERAL LESTER
This may be the greatest threat this world has ever known. I'm sure glad we have you on our side, Lex Luthor.
Lex simply smiles.
INT. UNKNOWN
Lieutenant Shull, looking more than a little agitated, marches down a long, dark, corridor leading to a pair of automatic doors. They hiss open as he approaches, leading him to a war room of sorts.
The room is impressively spread out, circular in shape, with computer stations along the walls and one massive one in the center linked to a holographic topographical map of Metropolis. Colonel Kalib stares at the map meticulously before Shull interrupts.
LIEUTENANT SHULL
We have a problem?
COLONEL KALIB
Do not waste words with me!
LIEUTENANT SHULL
Lex Luthor has taken over control of LuthorCorp.
Kalib growls furiously.
COLONEL KALIB
Lionel?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
::shakes head:: We can't find him.
COLONEL KALIB
What do we know of this Lex?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
Very little, only that Lionel seems to have rather thoroughly alienated his son. It seems, in hindsight, that was a mistake.
COLONEL KALIB
He would oppose us?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
That would seem likely. At this point, it would also seem doubtful that we will ever receive the weapons Lionel Luthor was manufacturing for us.
Stepping in from the side, absolutely out of nowhere, his hands locked behind his back, Darkseid interjects himself into the conversation, much to the chagrin of Shull.
DARKSEID
Then, we have just handed them the means to defend themselves.
Shull steps back, clearly intimidated by Darkseid.
LIEUTENANT SHULL
A minor setback, my Lord. The process may take a little longer, but…
DARKSEID
A little longer? It is unfortunate for you that I am not a patient man.
That only too familiar fiery glow begins to burn behind Darkseid's eyes. Shull doesn't even have time to scream before being instantly vaporized by two powerful streams of flame.
Kalib smiles maliciously at Shull's demise.
DARKSEID
It is almost incomprehensible that one man could fail so completely.
COLONEL KALIB
Yes, father.
DARKSEID
See that you do not make the same mistake.
Darkseid turns away and returns to the shadow he stepped out of.
DARKSEID
Ready the Parademons. Metropolis burns tonight.
Clark Kent breathes in deeply as he stares at himself in front of the mirror, dressed in a black suit. He seems nervous, taking very deliberate deep breaths and rubbing his hands together.
Martha steps in from behind him. He has to bend down as she threads his head through the loop in a black tie she's pre-tied for him. Slipping it under his collar, she tightens it up around his neck.
Somewhere downstairs, Pete calls out…
PETE (voice)
Hey, Clark, man, you ready?!
Clark swallows and looks at his mother.
MARTHA
How do you feel?
CLARK
A little nervous. I'm going to be on stage tonight.
She smiles warmly.
MARTHA
You'll do fine.
He smiles back at her and hugs her before heading out of the room and downstairs.
EXT. FORT RILEY – LATE AFTERNOON
A sleek black limousine pulls up inside the army base, the slowly sinking orange sun reflecting off the side doors. Coming to a complete stop, Mercy Graves steps out of the driver's seat, walks around the front, and opens the side door. Lex Luthor steps triumphantly out of the limousine, watching proudly as a large moving truck with the LexCorp logo on the side drives passed him.
The moving truck comes to a stop at the end of a row of already similarly parked trucks. Almost instantaneously, a man dressed in Army fatigues unlocks the back and pushes up on the door, sliding it up. Rows of rifles, the same kind Lionel Luthor was secretly manufacturing at Tenshi, are lined up on racks on each side of the truck. Jumping up inside, the man in fatigues grabs the first rifle off the rack and hands it down to a second soldier who then presents it to the first man in a line of hundreds of men waiting to be armed.
Four troop helicopters fly overhead of General Horatio Lester, a staunch looking man, as he oversees the training of more than a couple thousand infantry men armed to the teeth with the new rifles. Several tanks and armored troop vehicles can also be seen in the distance, moving out of the base motorcade style. Lex Luthor steps up behind him.
GENERAL LESTER
This may be the greatest threat this world has ever known. I'm sure glad we have you on our side, Lex Luthor.
Lex simply smiles.
INT. UNKNOWN
Lieutenant Shull, looking more than a little agitated, marches down a long, dark, corridor leading to a pair of automatic doors. They hiss open as he approaches, leading him to a war room of sorts.
The room is impressively spread out, circular in shape, with computer stations along the walls and one massive one in the center linked to a holographic topographical map of Metropolis. Colonel Kalib stares at the map meticulously before Shull interrupts.
LIEUTENANT SHULL
We have a problem?
COLONEL KALIB
Do not waste words with me!
LIEUTENANT SHULL
Lex Luthor has taken over control of LuthorCorp.
Kalib growls furiously.
COLONEL KALIB
Lionel?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
::shakes head:: We can't find him.
COLONEL KALIB
What do we know of this Lex?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
Very little, only that Lionel seems to have rather thoroughly alienated his son. It seems, in hindsight, that was a mistake.
COLONEL KALIB
He would oppose us?
LIEUTENANT SHULL
That would seem likely. At this point, it would also seem doubtful that we will ever receive the weapons Lionel Luthor was manufacturing for us.
Stepping in from the side, absolutely out of nowhere, his hands locked behind his back, Darkseid interjects himself into the conversation, much to the chagrin of Shull.
DARKSEID
Then, we have just handed them the means to defend themselves.
Shull steps back, clearly intimidated by Darkseid.
LIEUTENANT SHULL
A minor setback, my Lord. The process may take a little longer, but…
DARKSEID
A little longer? It is unfortunate for you that I am not a patient man.
That only too familiar fiery glow begins to burn behind Darkseid's eyes. Shull doesn't even have time to scream before being instantly vaporized by two powerful streams of flame.
Kalib smiles maliciously at Shull's demise.
DARKSEID
It is almost incomprehensible that one man could fail so completely.
COLONEL KALIB
Yes, father.
DARKSEID
See that you do not make the same mistake.
Darkseid turns away and returns to the shadow he stepped out of.
DARKSEID
Ready the Parademons. Metropolis burns tonight.