Clark increased his speed like never before. In no time flat, he was back in Earth's bright blue sky. He aimed himself back to the New England states and continued his incredible speed.

He could feel his own heart pounding, even in his heavily secured alien uniform. He breathed heavily while his muscles gave him the strength he needed to hurry back. The meeting with another one of his kind was seeping into his concentration, making him breathe even harder. Coercing and control of a planet that had only now found out that they're not alone and calling it safety was insane. Earth is in danger, and not from the mysterious invaders Zod was talking about. If that even was true and not some excuse for this misguided dominion.

Clark did have the power to fight off some of them, but one against who knows how many was overwhelming, unless there was one way to even out the odds.

Only one idea Clark had in mind.

It was a longshot, but he couldn't picture any other alternative. To make matters worse, one reminder crossed his mind. Zod would've been right. They would have Clark questioned for days and he would never be able to make a case. He wouldn't be able to keep in contact with someone high up in the U.S. military. No one would listen to a man who was not from here . . . except for one other person. There was only one person he knew who could get in touch with the right people. He cursed himself under his breath at the remembrance of Lois. Then another troubling epiphany crossed his mind. He remembered mentioning nuclear weapons to Zod. If Zod was willing to attack a massive civilian population, what's to stop the U.S. Army from unleashing worldending weapons against something they didn't understand once they found out about Zod's intentions? Metropolis would turn into a war zone.

Would warning the military be a mistake? Then again, he knew he couldn't fight them alone . . .

He saw that Metropolis was beginning to start its late afternoon daylight. He found his apartment window, right as he had left it open. He flexed himself inward and landed back inside the more comfortable feeling of his recently new apartment.

Shifting his head all around, he found his phone sitting on the corner of a table. As fast as his excited fingers would allow, Clark redialed the earlier angry call from Lois.

Come on, pick up, Clark cried under his breath.

"So, what's your excuse, Smallville?" Lois' deadpan voice appeared.

"Lois," Clark said quickly, "listen to me carefully. We don't have a lot of time." Clark took a split second and said darkly, "There's going to be an attack on this planet soon."

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end, followed by Lois, giving a flat, "what?"

"Your father," Clark persisted, "he's the General of the United States Army. You told me that. Am I right?"

"Er—yeah?" Lois could sense the urgency in his voice as if wondering what he was getting at.

"Call him. Tell him there's going to be an attack on Earth, and they need to act now. Tell him that this has to do with the alien ship."

"I'm not doing a damn thing until you tell me what this is about, Smallville," Lois said sternly. "You've been acting very strange since that thing appeared."

Clark huffed and shook his head in frustration. If she wasn't willing to budge, and there was no other way, then he had to say something. Making himself an image without anyone knowing his identity while saving a plane was one thing. God knows how much longer that could last. He felt that giving up his identity could just make things worse. He only met this no-nonsense woman today. Sure, she was level-headed, but would she report him to the authorities right on the dot? There wouldn't be much time to explain. Zod was no doubt preparing the attack, which could be any minute now.

Swallowing the risks of this quick plan, Clark took a deep breath and said, "because the 'flying man' told me to."

"Wait—what?" Lois' voice reluctantly said.

Oh, great, Clark thought to himself. I really need to work on lying. "You're not gonna believe this, but the flying man who is called 'Kal-El' just landed near where I was. I-I never got a chance to interview him, but he told me to warn you that there's going to be an attack. And I believe him."

An irritated scoff was heard. "You expect me to believe that?"

Clark decided it was time to go on the offensive. "We didn't want to believe that a man could fly, and we didn't want to believe we were not alone," Clark countered. So far, he was doing well and not stuttering. That's progress. "He already saved hundreds of people today, Lois. I don't think he would have a reason to lie."

"Clark, what is going on?" Lois said, sounding a little worried. "You're bailing out on me and now, you're telling me that you found an alien and he's talking to you?"

"Yeah," Clark said casually, enduring how stupid that really does sound. "In fact, ah. . . he's right here," he said without thinking.

"He's what?" Another flat response.

Clark could tell that she was losing interest really hard. Something had to be done otherwise there would be no chance of anything.

"He said that he's agreeing to meet with you," Clark said.

Lois rolled her eyes. "Right, and I'm Amy Adams. Now, he wants to talk to me?"

"Lois." Clark's worry was beginning to plague his tone now. "I know this sounds crazy, and I know I'm sounding crazy, but if there was ever a time I needed you to trust me now more than ever, it's now. Lois . . . I can't help but feel like this is as real as it gets."

There was a moment of silence. He really meant that statement too.

"Alright, Clark," Lois sighed frustratingly. "I'll do it. But this better not be a waste of time."

"He told me the rooftop of the Daily Planet in about ten minutes," Clark said.

An impatient sigh was heard. "Alright," she said as if faking that everything's fine. "Yeah, I can do that."

"Alright," Clark responded trying in vain to be enlightened.

The sound of an ending phone call chimed through his ear. Clark let out a sharp exhale, spilling out the held tension. Feeling sweat seeping out from his hairline, he buried his face with his hands.

Real slick, he thought to himself. You're a grown man with all these powers, and you do the stupidest things.

Lois was anything but patient. She let out an uncomfortable sigh as her eyes darted around her surroundings on the rooftop of the Daily Planet. The shade beneath the large structure of the golden "Daily Planet" statue only added more chill from the already cold towering air above. The three o'clock's afternoon warmth only gave a barely noticeable comfort. Things were stressful and puzzling enough. She was also worried about Clark. She had already made a BS cover story about why he's not on the Daily Planet floor right now, trying to cover anything they can get on this alien ship. Now, a phone call saying that he talked to this alien, who was saying that there was an alien attack coming.

The whole thing was absurd. Clark knew about the flying man somehow. From what she could tell, Clark was the type of guy who was honest and had too much of a soft heart to BS something like this. What tugged at her mind the most was that if this did turn out to be real, then what was the attack that Clark was talking about? If that alien craft had to do with it, then something would have to be done about it.

Before more panicked questions could swamp her thoughts, she heard a low whoosh that boomed like a jet. Feeling her hair moving across her face, Lois brushed it aside as her mouth dropped open.

Clark flew in fast and spotted the rooftop, holding the giant golden metal sculpture that towered over the Daily Planet building. Beneath golden sculpture that resembled a planet with the words "Daily Planet" mounted on it was Lois, who was blocking the sun's glare in her eyesight to get a better view. Shifting his path, Clark turned and headed straight to where Lois was. From what he noticed, Lois was stunned at the sight of him and began to take a few nervous steps backward. He eased his speed and decided to stop himself in midair just a meter or two from the ledge where Lois was standing.

"Ms. Lane?" Clark asked.

Lois' wide-eyed stare was her only response before she spoke, her face unchanging, "oh, my God. An alien just spoke to me."

"Ms. Lane," Clark repeated to bring her to her senses. Thankfully, she hadn't recognized him. He could never be more thankful that he wasn't wearing his glasses and his hair had been altered from recent events, unlike this morning where it was nicely washed and slicked to one side.

"Erm—yes," she stuttered. "Uh . . . you, uh . . . don't look anything like the, uh . . . photos." Wow. For an alien, he's kinda hot. "You're, uh, wearing a-a cape. A cape. Yes . . . uh, we didn't see that before."

Clark was somewhat amused by her nervy analysis. "Yes," he said confidently before hesitating his next statement, "I, erm—forgot it back with the plane. There was no time."

"Right," Lois said before drawing breath still astonished by what she was seeing. "So, you're an . . . an alien."

"Yeah," Clark smiled awkwardly. While he didn't drop his poised demeanor, he couldn't help but feel the same level of embarrassment she was sharing.

Lois glanced at his groundless feet. "How . . . how are you doing that? The flying thing?"

"I was born this way," Clark simply answered.

Lois could only stare in awe as her eyes scanned him. Her eyes mostly focused on the rest of his body, unlike his face. While it took her a long time to stop herself from staring at his bulky muscles through the foreign fabric, she admired the dominant deep blue shade against the secondary contrasting red on the boots and cape.

"So, uh," Lois forcibly broke the tension. "You're the alien. . . What'd they call you—Call El? Cowbell?"

"Kal-El," Clark corrected smirking from that mistake.

Clark didn't feel frightened by the questions he had long expected and feared. It was rather amusing. He could tell that Lois was afraid. As she said out loud, she was talking to an alien. But she wasn't cowering or asking what he wanted from her. He remembered her saying to be in the moment, and not let anything hold him back. She's a lot braver than I am, he thought. As he realized this, he also felt a little more relaxed than what he had in mind. She was talking to an alien and he was talking to a human.

"I'm from a faraway world. But I'm here to warn you that the ship you saw from earlier is going to force his authority here. If you warn your father now, we can stop it from happening."

"Okay," Lois stuttered. "Wait, where's Clark?"

"He's safe," Clark assured. "I told him to clear and he would call you when he could."

"Alright," Lois said as she reached into her pocket before sheathing her smartphone. Several seconds passed, and General Lane did answer, much to Lois' surprise.

"What is it?" Sam said impatiently.

"Okay, Dad," Lois said, not quite recovered her composure. "You're not gonna believe this—not that you often do, but I think there's gonna be an attack."

Sam's tone shifted from nonchalant to curious. "Attack? What do you mean? Where?"

"I don't know," Lois stammered, "but I think we need to be ready."

"How good is this intel?" Sam asked skeptically.

Lois hesitated and glanced at Clark. He had his hand outstretched as if wanting to reach for her phone. She gestured incredulously at her phone. Clark nodded urgently.

Holding the microphone to her phone, she whispered loudly, "I can't just let you talk to him! He's the frickin' General!"

Clark beckoned his fingers frantically for the phone once more. Cursing under her breath, Lois let out a soft groan before handing over the phone. This guy better knows what he's doing, she thought to herself.

Clark took a short trice for strong consideration, looking back and wondering how it all came to this. Now, he's calling the general of the United States Army—a government official. All in a day of revealing himself to know what kind of people his kind were. This has been an odd and frightening day.

Disregarding the second thought, Clark held the phone to his ear. "Mr. Lane."

"General Lane," Sam corrected.

Clark rolled his eyes. What is it with titles today?

"And who the hell is this? Where's my daughter?"

"My name is Kal-El," Clark answered calmly. "I am the one that ship was looking for."

There was a moment of hesitation that gave Clark an awkward chill. "What did you just say?" Sam's voice sounded.

"General, we don't have time, so I'll have to be blunt and cut to the chase. This planet is being targeted by that ship. I don't have a time window, but I know that the one behind all this won't hesitate to make a move. If you don't prepare yourself, then it might be too late."

There was a moment's hesitation before Sam spoke again in a highly disbelieving voice, "And you expect me to believe you just like that? How do you know all this?"

It was Clark's turn to hesitate before returning to his calm mood. "He told me directly."

"He told you directly," Sam repeated with doubt. "Listen, son. I don't know what the hell kind of game you're playing, but we have an international situation on our hands. An alien ship just passed through our atmosphere and we're trying to find out where the damn thing went."

Clark wore a frustrated face. Why won't anyone listen to him? He then glanced at Lois, who looked as if she read through him. She anxiously held out her arm and mouthed for her phone back. Noticing her desperation, Clark obeyed. He hoped that despite years of their silence towards each other, she could convince him.

"Dad," Lois spoke.

"Lois," Sam sighed, "This is the last time I'll say this: I don't have time for this."

"Then answer me this," Lois said decisively. "Have I ever lied to you?" She took a breath and then said, "Look, I know I've written a lot of articles that you hated, and how you think I'm such a bleeding heart liberal, and how much we suck at Take Your Daughter to Work Days a lot, but right now, Dad, I need you to trust me now more than you ever did in your life. I swear to you and Mom that he's real. He is literally standing right in front of me. He's real. And if he's right, then something's coming."

"Even if I were to agree to this," Sam countered, sounding if he was close to defeat, "there'll have to be things I'll have to clarify with my superiors."

Clark highly anticipated an answer on the other end after a statement like that. More silence followed. Clark drew in more breath as anticipation rose in him. Lois remained in her position, alternating from staring at him and awaiting an answer.

"This better not be a waste of time, Lois," Sam's voice said.

Reading that as a 'yes', Clark drew in a soft breath

"Get him back on the phone," Sam said.

Lois gestured towards Clark. "He wants to talk to you."

"I know. I can hear him." Clark took the phone. "General?"

Lois stared at this alien in amazement while he talked. How can he hear that? Did I have the call-volume on too loud?

"So, you know him," Sam deduced.

"Yes," Clark answered humbly. He took a second to prepare himself before uttering, "he's like me."

There was silence on the other end. Clark could feel himself almost shuddering on the inside from the reveal. While the plane was a necessary time to reveal himself, he didn't imagine it would've been less than a day that he would be discovered publicly. He kept telling himself that this was all for the best as he had the power to save lives.

Sam's voice spoke in a cautious manner. "I saw the footage and air traffic transcripts. You can fly faster than a bullet. You can lift an airplane with your bare hands. What assurances do I have that you won't turn on us?"

Clark drew in a breath before speaking modestly. "General, I can promise you one thing: While I am one of them, I'm not like them. I already saved lives today, General. That's why I'm warning you now to save more. I'm speaking to you as someone from another world to another. The attacker, Dru-Zod, is coming. I may not have all the strength to stop him, but maybe if we cooperate, we can have a chance of stopping them."

"Wait a minute—we cooperate with you?" Sam said in disbelief.

"That is correct," Clark said without changing tone.

"I don't have the authority to just simply comply with your suggestions and move our military personnel," Sam insisted. "I have to clarify with the White House."

"Whatever you have to do," Clark said. "You have to do it fast, and the longer we wait, the more likely he'll make his first move."

A huff was heard on the other end followed by nothing else. As a bead of sweat leaked in his hairline, Clark could sense that the hesitation indicated skepticism but also stress. It also occurred to Clark that it would prove ludicrous to make a move simply based on conjecture, especially from someone who's not from here.

"You said an attack, right?" Sam's voice suddenly came back on.

"Yes, sir," Clark answered with relief while trying to be more respectful.

"Was it the man who made that worldwide announcement, Zod?"

"That is correct," Clark said again, this time with a sense of in a hurry. "He's going to try and intimidate world leaders into suppressing into his authority for a totalitarian regime."

A moment of pause. "Why?"

"He wants the planet to be a weapon for war. His pl—our planet was destroyed long ago by an unknown enemy. He wants to bring his military tactic into your world by any means that only he deems necessary. Even if that means by force."

"General," a nearly faint voice was heard on Sam's side. From what Clark deduced, it was the voice of a colleague. "Sir, that craft that appeared a while ago is back. It's now hovering over New Troy in Metropolis."

The mention of Metropolis shot an icy adrenaline through Clark. The rest of the conversation between Sam and his associate was drowned out by Clark's panic. He snapped his head above him and began to shift his eyes around blindly. His peripheral vision then picked up a small black speck many miles away. Narrowing his eyesight, the faraway speck heavily resembled the distinctive features of Zod's ship. It was, indeed, suspended miles above staying still in the sky, making no further movement.

Clark returned the phone to his face. "General, are you seeing it?"

Sam's voice turned to darkly serious with fear hidden in his tone. "Yes. I see it."

"We don't have time," Clark reiterated. "If you have the authority to do anything, now's the time."

"Put my daughter back on the phone," Sam said sternly.

Clark obeyed and handed it back to Lois.

"Lois, get out of the city now," Sam said directly.

"What about you?" Lois said. "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry about that. Just get yourself out of Metropolis as soon as you can."

"Dad—"

"Go! Go now!"

The call ended. Lois huffed and looked back at Clark with a look of dread. "What about you?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Clark asked.

"You know these guys, right? Can't you stop them?"

"I've already tried talking to them," Clark said. "They didn't listen. Now, they're taking matters into their own hands."

"But aren't you going to stop them?" Lois demanded a straight answer.

Clark knew that she was right, and he agreed with her as strongly as himself back onboard Zod's ship. But at that moment, he realized that he was Kryptonian—a refugee from another world, concerned and frightened for other civilizations that have no idea what else is out there.

"I'll do what I can," Clark answered humbly. "In the meantime, Ms. Lane, I suggest you listen to your father and get as far away from the city as much as possible."

Before Lois could respond, Clark crouched and launched himself in the air and headed in the direction where Zod's ship was suspended.

After feeling the blast of air from his ascent, Lois continued watching in awe as she marveled at the alien's speed. She got a firsthand warning from the actual alien! And now, there's going to be an interaction between the U.S. Army, the alien ship and the renegade alien himself? There was no way in hell she was going to miss all this. Excitement and fear carried her back to the door that led away from the Daily Planet office building rooftop.