Aquaman exits the hospital and heads for Atlantis.
"Can we please try to find a peaceful solution?" Superman asks again.
"You're an admirable man, but I fear the time for peace has passed." Aquaman says.
"You can stop this, you're still the king." Superman says.
"And an attacker from your surface world tried to kill me. You have no idea the weight I bear. I'm supposed to be the bridge between two worlds." Aquaman says.
"I may know more about that than you think." Superman says.
"The surface world made an attack on my life. I can not let that go unpunished." Aquaman says.
"But it was one man. The surface world is not all the same." Superman says.
"Not the way I see it." Aquaman says as he heads out towards the ocean.
Superman heads to Metropolis PD. He wants to see if they've learned anything about Aquaman's attacker.
"Have you learned anything?" Superman asks Maggie Sawyer.
"You know I'm not really at liberty to say." Maggie says.
"Please. War is coming if we can't find a better resolution." Superman warns.
Maggie sighs.
"He claims he was hired by an Atlantean to take out their king. But we're unclear on who." Maggie says.
"Ocean Master." Superman says.
"What?" Maggie asks.
"He has the most to gain. It has to be." Superman says.
"I don't think we should jump to conclusions." Maggie warns.
"Time is running out. I have to get to the Pentagon." Superman says.
A helicopter touches down outside of the Pentagon. Out steps Lex Luthor. He is greeted by General Sam Lane. General Lane does not look to be in a good mood.
"General." Lex says.
"You want to explain to me why these fish people have your weapons? General Lane asks.
"I know exactly why. I was sending a shipment to my security in Bialya, but the ship was taken down by pirates. It's all documented." Lex says.
"Seems like it was a large shipment." General Lane says.
"Bialya is a dangerous place." Lex says.
"You care to tell me how we take care of this situation?" General Lane asks.
"Actually, I do. Every shipment of LexCorp weapons are input with a computer chip that acts as a kill switch for situations just like this." Lex says.
"Does that include the weapons you sell to the U.S. Army?" General Lane asks.
"Of course. It's in the contract." Lex says.
General Lane scowls.
Superman then descends from the sky.
"General." Superman says.
"Alien? What are you doing here?" General Lane asks.
"We need to stop this before war breaks out." Superman says.
"War is coming Alien. We're already moving our navel troops up to Norris Island." General Lane says.
"But Aquaman's attacker has been captured." Superman says.
Lex's ears perk up as he hears this.
"We can end this before it starts." Superman continues.
"It's already started. Don't forget, this didn't start with one of us attacking them. It started with them slaughtering one of our subs." General Lane says as he heads off.
Superman looks over a Lex.
"I'm guessing you can find your own way home." Lex says as he heads back to his copter.
Aquaman makes his way back to Atlantis. There is no one there to greet him however. The military has been mobilized. He heads to the kings chambers. Inside he finds Orm.
"Shying away from the battle?" Aquaman asks.
"Brother?! You've returned." Orm says.
"You seem shocked." Aquaman says.
"More like relieved." Orm says.
"Call off the attack." Aquaman demands.
"But brother, I was only doing what I thought would be best. Especially against those that attacked our king." Orm says.
"Something has been bothering me about that." Aquaman says.
"Oh?" Orm asks, puzzled.
"I did not announce my arrival to the surface world, so why was there a hitman up there ready to take me out?" Aquaman asks.
"The surface world is a crafty bunch. They attack with no mercy and no honor." Orm says.
"Don't lecture me about honor Orm. I know it was you." Aquaman says.
Orm swallows hard.
"How did you figure it out?" Orm asks.
"Only you and Mera knew of my journey to the surface world. And I assure Mera would never betray me." Aquaman says.
"No, she wouldn't. Which is why she is in her current predicament." Orm says with a sinister grin.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Aquaman asks.
"Everything you have should be mine. That trident, that crown, that throne." Orm says.
"ORM!" Aquaman yells.
"I should be Atlantis's rightful king. I'm fully Atlantean. But since you were born first, they gave the throne to you. You, a bastard." Orm says.
Aquaman lifts his trident in a fighting position. Orm does the same with his. The two charge at each other.
Clark heads to work at the Daily Planet. He goes into Perry's office and hands him his piece on Shay Lamden.
"Here is that article on Aquaman's attacker." Clark says.
"Kent, you're amazing. How do you get these pieces?" Perry asks.
"I have my secrets." Clark says.
Lois then interrupts.
"Can I borrow Clark?" Lois asks.
Perry nods.
Lois and Clark head off somewhere they can speak privately.
"What did you find?" Lois asks.
"It's starting Lois. The army is heading to Norris Island right now." Clark says.
"Well then you need to go there, stop this." Lois says.
"How Lois, how do I do that without being a tyrant?" Clark asks.
"Remember what you always tell me about Bialya? You say your biggest regret was not getting involved there. Well here's another chance." Lois says.
Clark stands there, pondering what Lois just said.
"If ever there were a job for Superman, this is it." Lois says, as she unbuttons his shirt to reveal the "S" on his chest.
Clark begins to rebutton his shirt as the two head back into the news room. Cat Grant spots the two as Clark heads off in a hurry.
"What were you two up to?" Cat asks Lois.
Lois scowls but doesn't respond.
A helicopter lands on Norris Island. Out of it step General Sam Lane and Lex Luthor. They head over to meet with Captain Donner.
"Captain." General Lane says with a salute.
"What do you have for me?" Captain Donner asks.
"This." Lex says revealing his kill switch remote.
"What is that?" Captain Donner asks.
"These Atlantean's stole a cache of LexCorp arms last year. This kill switch will render them useless." General Lane explains.
"We do need them at close distance however." Lex says.
"Then I will begin mobilizing our troops. They should show up on the beach on the south side of the island." Captain Donner says.
The troops are mobilized and await their foes. Out of the water the military force of Atlantis emerges. Their forces look intimidating. They wear their golden Atlantean armor.
Captain Donner, General Lane, and Lex watch on from the top of the hill.
"Wait for it." Lex says.
"A little closer." He continues.
The Atlantis troops continue their way up the beach.
Superman flies to the island, he's getting close, but he's still uncertain on how to defuse the situation.
The Atlantean troops are now lined up on the beach. They are ready to attack.
"Now!" Lex calls out.
Captain Donner hits the switch. The rifles the Atlantean troops are armed with begin to short circuit.
Superman arrives and sees the troops of Atlantis throwing down their weapons. He hears Captain Donner yell out.
"Ready… aim…" Captain Donner yells.
"NO!" Superman yells out as he charges towards the island.
"FIRE!" Captain Donner yells.
Before the troops can get their shots off, Superman smashes into the ground between the two armies. His actions cause an earthquake knocking everyone off their feet. In the middle of all of this chaos, Superman stands.
Ocean Master and Aquaman's battle continues. Ocean Master swings his trident high, but Aquaman blocks in. Aquaman swings low, but Ocean Master blocks. Ocean Master then swings at Aquaman's ankles taking Aquaman off his feet. Ocean Master swings for Aquaman's head, but Aquaman gets his trident up in time. Aquaman then kicks at Ocean Master's legs and flips Orm over his back. As Ocean Master rises to his knees, he turns around and is struck in the helmet with Aquaman's trident. The blow knocks Ocean Master's helmet clean off. Blood begins to run down his cheek.
Ocean Master lunges forward for one final desperate attack. Aquaman counters this assault and strikes his trident at Ocean Master. Two of the teeth on the trident go between Ocean Master's shoulder, he then gets trapped as Aquaman pierces the trident into the ground.
"You have lost brother. Now tell me where is my wife." Aquaman demands.
Orm concedes.
Aquaman heads to the lower levels dungeons within the kingdom. The prison arrangement down here was old and crude. It was hardly used any more.
"Mera!" Aquaman calls out.
"Mera!" He yells again.
"Arthur!" He hears in response.
"Mera, I'm so sorry. None of this should have ever happened." Aquaman says.
"Arthur, he wants to start a war. A war that will bring the end of everything." Mera says.
"I know. I have taken care of my brother. Come we must hurry." Aquaman says.
Superman stands in the middle of two armies. Both sides rattled by an earthquake he created. He was upset about his current actions, but even angrier that it had to come to this.
"Stop this right now." Superman says.
"Don't you see, don't you all see that we must share this world? What good will come from today's actions? It is time to allow diplomacy to resume. Atlantis exists and there is nothing we can do to change that. So it's time to recognize them as we do any other country and treat them with respect." Superman says.
Everyone is watching on, listening to his words. There is a long pause for a moment.
Suddenly, the water begins to bubble, and the ground begins to shake once more. Out of the water emerges a giant squid. On top of the creature are Aquaman and his wife Mera.
"Superman is right. It's time to find a peaceful resolution." Aquaman says.
Lex Luthor, Captain Donner, and General Lane look on. They know it is not their time to speak.
"Then tomorrow, come with me to the United Nations. We can begin a path to stand together." Superman says.
"Very well." Aquaman responds.
"Troops of Atlantis. We're going home." Aquaman calls out as the troops begin to leave back to the sea from wince they came.
Superman looks over at Lex who has a disapproving glare on his face. Superman then flies home himself.
Later that evening, Clark heads to Lois's apartment. Lois has the news on.
"This is Angela Chen reporting for Metropolis News Five. Today is an historic day. A battle between the U.S. Navy and the army of Atlantis was halted by none other than Superman."
"Turn it off." Clark says.
"I thought you'd be happy about the difference you made today." Lois says.
"But look what I had to do to make that difference. I caused a natural disaster to get them to listen to me." Clark says.
"But it worked." Lois reminds him.
"At what cost?" Clark questions.
"I don't see the problem." Lois says.
"I charged in like a tyrant and made them bend to my will. That's not what Superman is supposed to be." Clark says.
"But you were right." Lois says.
"I saw the fear in those troops eyes." Clark says.
"If you really want to be someone others aspire to be, it's going to come with tough choices. Today you made the right one. Think of all the lives saved by your actions." Lois says.
"You're right." Clark finally concedes.
"Now come on, I made dinner." Lois says.
"Oh… you made it?" Clark says as he hesitates, knowing Lois isn't the best cook.
"Yes, now come on." Lois insists.
Clark slowly makes his way to the dinner table.