Featuring Superman, the Calculator, Luthor, and horizontal breaks galore!

"No one would have believed…that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency, men went to and fro over this globe about their affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter…yet across the gulf...intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us."

from The War of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells

The call bounces through four satellites, coded through four programming languages to slip under the radar of would-be hackers. Because those nerds are always eager to listen in on a signal for their own gain.

The microprocessors in Noah Kuttler's earpiece communicator decipher the signal upon immediate receipt. Within a few seconds of static crackle, a voice on the other end becomes coherent.

"Are we ready, Noah?"

"Yes, sir. You're sure the microprocessor will work?"

"Oh yes. Quite sure. What about satellite recon?"

"He's in the air over Brazil. Talking to Superman."

A snicker comes across the line, and Kuttler's brow furls in momentary confusion. "Sir?" he asks.

"Let's the give the Man of Steel a distraction."

"Do you understand, Conner?"

The vast forests of the Amazon stretch in all directions beneath Superman and I. At this altitude, the night air bites at my face. It's…unsettling.

"Yeah," I say with apprehension. "I think I do."

"Good," Superman says after a pause. He cocks his head to the side, and focuses his attention on the horizon.

"Superman?" I say, perplexed. "What is it?"

"An explosion on an oil refinery in the Gulf. North of here." He turns back to me with a half-grin. "Care to come with?"

"Nah," I say humbly. "I'd get in the way."

Superman turns back to me, and his face drops into seriousness for a minute. "Don't ever think that, Conner. You'll never be a distraction to me."

"I understand."

Superman regards me for a moment, and lifts higher in the sky.

"Take care of yourself, Conner. Go back to my place. Lois can get you anything you need."

Before I have a chance to react, Superman's a blur of red against the sky, rushing off to save the day…like he always does.

"Yeah," I say, turning away. "I know…"

"Lex?"

"Is Superman away?"

"He's just passed the Yucatan. Well out of range."

"Patch me through, then."

I stay airborne for a while after Superman leaves, just hovering motionless in the air. My arms feel heavy hanging at my side. I stare down at the forest beneath me. It's the dark of night, but the wood is alive with the sounds of life…death. Animals hunting their prey, animals becoming prey. Some settling down to rest, others just waking up. The balance of nature…before my eyes.

A shriek reaches my ears from somewhere down the river as what can only be a bird falls prey to a larger predator. Some crocodile will sleep well tonight. Well, someone deserves to.

And then it comes. A high-pitched piercing drone—a nail driving itself into my skull. I pound my temple, trying pointlessly to reduce the pain. And then I figure it out. Hypersonics. But…who would have the ability to do that?

The signal lessens in intensity and a voice crackles in my head. Like its coming over headphones, though I'm not wearing any.

"I've found you," the voice says mechanically, its source masked by the interference. "I'm so glad I did. I was afraid I might have lost you forever."

"Who is this?" I ask

"Just a little birdie…with your best interests at heart."

How am I hearing this? Who is this?

"I gave you a choice once," the voice says, "but I realize the error of my ways now. It's a simple rule of business…that if you want something, you have to take it for yourself."

"What do you want!"

"I want you, Conner."

Lex…its Lex.

"My son, you will be the greatest of my line. Aut vincere aut mori!"

It's the only good thing about my leg being screwed up. Because of Conner's stupidity I've spent the last day and a half stuck in this hospital bed in Titans Tower. It's tedious. I can't do anything. Vic says the tendons aren't healing straight—and to reset them would mean another few days decommissioned. Whoopee.

In a lot of ways, I shouldn't even be in this bed. I'm the friggin' Kid Flash. I should be out there doing something. Being a productive member of the team.

But the physical damage, I can overlook. Because of it, I get sympathy from Wonder Girl—Cassie Sandsmark. And that's not a bad deal...not at all.

That's part of her allure. All the Titans like her; she's…sunny. Even Tim digs her.

It's the way she looks at you. Those eyes go right through you. It'd be scary, if there wasn't something appealing about it. Yeah, she looks through you…like she knows all about you and doesn't judge. Again…appealing.

"How's your food?" she asks, leaning over the bed to remove the tray from over my lap.

"Same old junk," I say with a smile. She flashes me a smile of her own and carries the tray to a table by the window. "Though…the Jell-o was particularly good."

"Funny," Cass says, turning back to me. "Most people would disagree."

"Well, since when am I most people?"

"True enough. Do you need anything else?"

"Sure," I say lightly. "If you're offering, I'll take a massage."

She snickers in return. "Let's put a pin in that theory."

Damn. "Alright," I say coolly, regaining composure. "Maybe next time."

"I'll try to clear my schedule," she says slyly, and strides out of the room. Funny gal.

The dark green basin of the Amazon forests slides into a blur as I rocket away from Brazil. Luthor's mechanized voice rings in my head. I know what I'm doing—I can see it.

But I can't control it. Why…?

"We will catch them off guard," Lex says. "Go to Titans Tower. Destroy them."

Continued...