Lois and Jimmy rushed up the staircase. Jimmy was able to activate his camera as his feet danced along with the steps, trying to keep up with Lois.
She was the one to press her hands against the door and thrust it open, allowing themselves to exit out onto the rooftop of the Daily Planet.
Brushing the wind-blown hair out of her face, Lois shifted her head upwards in all kinds if directions. She saw that the large alien ship was still suspended in midair, having not moved from its spot since she was last up here.
She knew that the sight of the airborne brawl would be nigh impossible to spot. Her memory told her that the broadcast informed that the fight had been traveling all over until it made a scene at the seawall. Dammit. If the aliens were all the way over there, there's no way they could get any kind of footage. There was still a chance they could come back here, but there had to be a way.
"See anything?" Lois asked, hoping that he'd see something she couldn't.
"No," Jimmy said while scanning the area like she was.
Yeah, didn't think so.
"Lois!"
She turned her head and saw that Jimmy was pointing at the sky while having his head buried into his viewfinder.
He was pointing at one of the aliens. Though, it didn't look like Kal-El. This one was wearing a black armor that covered nearly the entirety of his face.
Lois' eyes widened in alarm. A cold chill filled as she saw that this black-armored alien was speeding towards her with no apparent pace of slowing down. She slowly paced backward away from where she once stood. The alien wasn't depleting his speed.
She began to bolt away from his incoming attack, but the alien stopped himself suddenly in front of her, sending a wave of wind instead. The alien stood with his feet above in him midair, only a foot or two above the rooftop ground.
Lois yelled, "What the hell—?"
The alien then lunged and grabbed her by her shoulders.
In a rapid movement, the alien then rolled her into one of his arms. He raised his other arm and launched himself off from the guard. Lois released her documents and pen on the rooftop ground and let out a sharp yelp, followed by a distraught cry.
"Lois!" Jimmy panicked as he disregarded his camera and looked upward to find his befriended co-worker being lifted high above and beyond.
Jimmy's eyes and mouth widened open in fright, feeling helpless.
Through Lois' fidgeting, Nam spoke into the audio comm in his cuff. "I have the woman," he said, accomplished.
"Bring her to me," Zod's voice said. "The sooner we do this, the sooner Kal will stand down."
Clark flew as fast as the remaining energy left in his body would allow, wildly swiveling his head for any sight of Nam. He was feeling a hint of fatigue within him, but this conflict wasn't over yet. He couldn't stop now. Anxious thoughts crept in. How much longer could he keep this up? At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he'd tire out and they'd win. If only he could find Nam and put a stop to him too, only then would he go after Zod. He had to do it fast before Ursa came to—
His ears detected a loud hollow boom. He looked and saw that Nam was soaring once more. Only this time, he wasn't heading towards him this time. He was rather heading away from him. What was also different is that Nam was seemingly holding something.
A person?
Feeling fear sending chills through him, Clark impulsively launched himself and darted to Nam's path. That moment of panic gave him all the adrenaline he needed to fight his inner restraints. With that, Clark increased his speed to a near blinding zoom.
Intensifying his concentration, Clark was nearing more and more while he observed that Nam was heading back towards the Kryptonian still suspended vessel.
Clark then wondered if Nam could hear him approaching. He was aware that the Kryptonians were not used to their enhancements and Ursa couldn't hear helicopter blades coming from a massive distance earlier. Maybe if there was a way to catch Nam off guard, he could grab whoever he was holding onto. Now, that an innocent person was involved, it's too risky to try a head-on charge, but time was of the essence.
Clark took a break and slowed himself down in the hopes of a sneak attack. The plan would be to land a blow from behind and catch whoever he's holding onto. He'd never suspect it and would be completely caught off guard.
Shifting himself to where he was directly behind Nam, Clark relaxed his body to where he slowed down just enough to not ruin any kind of surprise attack. Either way, it would have to be quick and quiet before Nam would reach the ship or receive a heads up from Zod that he was about to be attacked.
Soon enough, Clark heard a loud female scream. The shrill definitely came from the person Nam had hostage. Clark listened closer and he could make out that the woman began shouting exclamations and demands to be let down. There was something familiar about that voice. He swore he could've heard that before earlier today—
Clark felt a rush of panic, followed by a small gasp.
Lois.
Keep it together, Clark told himself. That's what they're counting on. Composing himself, it then came to him. They knew about this. This was their strategy. All he had to do was to keep the same distance and strike when the time comes. Lois' screams continued, and it gave Clark so much temptation to rush himself head-on, but he knew better. Thankfully, Lois wasn't facing his direction either, so she couldn't inadvertently shout out his name and give his location. He had to make his move before—
A low rumble caught Clark's ears.
Oh, no.
He turned his head to the side where the noise came from and he spotted two more choppers that were so far away, yet they were making their way towards them.
Clark cursed under his breath. Was it a mistake to warn the military? In a few seconds, they will be spotted and there'll be more things to handle. And worse—Lois will be caught in the crossfire.
"Bravo 1, this is Alpha 1," Sam said into the microphone of his radio while monitoring the large black vessel that continued hovering over the city. "Do you read me?"
"Loud and clear. HMD is also clear."
Sam clacked on the keyboard and on his monitor, the pilot
"Confirmed, Alpha 1. Two hostiles heading towards the aircraft, sir. Permission to engage hostiles?"
Sam looked back at the monitor. The flyers were ubiquitous and swiftly took out a chopper in the blink of an eye. The larger aircraft, on the other hand, still hadn't attacked, let alone move. It was still over a populated area, but the city was under attack. Nothing could stop that. Then again, how would he know that the aircraft would be impervious to something like an air to air missile? Machine gun fire couldn't penetrate the aliens' armor. Time was running out. It's either a risk to take or do nothing at all.
He swallowed in the fact that people would die and said, "take out the large aircraft. Acknowledge."
"Copy, Alpha 1."
The choppers maintained their trajectory. By now, they were closing in and their traveling was becoming louder and louder.
Clark looked and saw Nam completely spin around and felt a knot in his stomach.
Giving off a smug smile, Nam swung his loaded arm around, revealing a thrashing Lois in his grasp.
"Hold fire! Hold fire!" Bravo 1 stressed. "Hostile in possession of a hostage. Repeat—hostile has a hostage."
The choppers slowed their pursuit and remained suspended in midair. Sam watched this on the monitor and saw that the marker for the invaders was still in place in front of the choppers.
"Bravo 1," Sam said on the radio. "What's going on?"
"They have a hostage," the pilot answered. "They have a woman."
Sam let out an exasperated sigh. "Give me a visual, Bravo 1."
The pilot tried to get the HMD to focus more on the aliens. "Two hostiles are facing each other. One of them has a hostage." There was a moment of calculating silence. "It looks as if the other one is trying to . . . talk."
On the monitor, Zod was watching two hostiles making their way around Kal and Nam. From what Zod just saw, they separated from their formation, which was originally heading towards Nam.
Good. They saw that he had the woman.
They were nowhere near as fast as his fellow Kryptonians, but he had assumed they were in some kind of weaponized vehicles built to take down airborne ships.
Clark felt the heat in his eyes while he watched Nam gloating. The sound of Lois' screams egged him to launch himself and gather all the energy he had to tackle himself right into Nam's heart. But he knew better. He boomed upward with a clenched fist and eyes reddened, feeling the righteous ferocity flow.
Nam's peripheral vision picked up Clark charging wildly. On instinct, Nam shifted his body to where he was fully facing Clark and having Lois being in complete view. He was careful enough to not have Lois slip and fall, otherwise there would be no use of leverage.
Clark halted himself with almost no graduality about several yards away from Nam. He made sure he was right at the same eye level as his foe and got himself in a readied stance for any quick sneak attack.
Nam maintained that insufferable leer that Clark so badly wanted to punch.
"Stand down," he said.
"I'm only going to say this once," Clark warned. "There is no reason for these people to get hurt."
Nam dropped his pomposity and turned more serious. "General told us that a few blood drops will be nothing compared to the danger outside of your planet, son of El."
Clark didn't want to hear another justification. "Put her down!"
"Stand down, Kal!" Nam countered. "Along with the rest of this planet's defenses."
Feeling the furious anxiety take his breath away, Clark glanced around. He shot an observation at Lois, who had a face of horror and wondering what the next move was going to be. Nam was holding his position firmly, and finally—the choppers were standing still. From what he saw, the pilots were not stirring any kind of fretting movement.
Fighting the pounding of his heart, Clark shot a look at Zod's ship once again, still as ever. Zod's soldiers were too formidable to fight off indefinitely, Zod is unwilling to negotiate, and he couldn't endanger any more civilians. There was one possible way to end this, but it would have to involve them all being on the ship at once. But it would still be risky if they would be taking Lois back on their ship.
Turning back to the pilots, Clark carefully held out a palm to signify to hold their actions.
"What the hell's he doing?" Bravo 1 asked out loud.
Sam concentrated harder on Bravo 1's HMD. "Bravo 1, focus on the hostage and increase resolution."
The pilot blinked his free eye and tightened his focus on the alien that carried the woman and then tapped a button on the side of his HMD's panel. The HMD's image zoomed in on the woman. Fidgeting with the HMD's controls, the image turned sharper as he tried to enhance it.
Sam, on the other end, watched from where he was on Bravo 1's HMD. After fingering a couple of keys, Sam maximized Bravo 1's HMD image to cover his monitor. The image was clear enough and he saw Nam holding the woman. The woman's face appeared, but the image was still processing, just a little more—
Sam felt as if his heart had jumped all the way up to his throat.
Lois.
"Oh, my God. It's your daughter, sir," the pilot exclaimed.
Sam's eyes remained wide open with nothing to say on the radio. Lois and that alien were both right.
"Bravo 1," Sam said urgently. "Focus on the other one."
The monitor from Sam's point of view panned over to the side and it focused on the alien that saved Guardian 1 from earlier. The blue-suited alien had his palm outward to encourage to back off.
Sam tightened his brows in anger. Who the hell does he think he is, giving them orders, knowing fully well this isn't his own planet? This was all because they wanted him.
Facing Nam, Clark urged himself ever so slowly towards him with almost the same outstretched palm he was holding. "Alright," he said calmly. "We'll stand down. Just relax. I just need to get them to stand down too."
Nam gave a comprehending nod.
Clark backed away and floated toward the chopper. He knew what he was about to say now wasn't going to make things any easier.
The pilot of the chopper eyed him through his HMD and felt a deathly chill. The picture within the scope zoomed out as it found its focus on the blue-suited alien.
Clark approached the pilot's window. "Stand down," he cried over the loud whirling blades above him.
Sam uttered into the radio firmly, "Bravo 1, what the hell is he doing?"
"He's telling us to stand down, sir."
Sam made a silent angry grunt. His daughter's life is hanging in the balance and standing down was not something he was prepared to do. "Get him to talk to me, Bravo 1. That's an order."
"Yes, sir."
The pilot reached for the handle, and the door popped open, letting the outside air cause a disturbance in his hearing.
Clark curiously and cautiously approached the open door and saw the pilot in clear plain sight.
"The general wants to talk to you," the pilot shouted out to him. The pilot removed his HMD and headset that connected his audio link to General Lane.
Clark nodded in comprehension and leaned in further. The pilot carefully handed the headset over and Clark placed his hands on both sides so the raucous of the choppers' blades wouldn't interfere in his already heightened hearing.
"General Lane," Clark addressed.
"What in the name of God are you doing?" Sam demanded.
"General, listen to me. You need to stand down now."
"You are not in a position to give me orders!" Sam spat. "Understand something, son: they are holding my daughter. That's my daughter they're holding tight there."
"I know," Clark said humbly.
"I sent in my troops like you wanted. One of them is down, and now, you're telling me to stand down? And this isn't even your planet. You don't give orders to me."
Frustration stirred in Clark but reciprocating his tone would get them nowhere. Sam was understandably upset.
"I only called you to warn you, General," Clark explained himself. "I'm not here to hurt you—"
"Then get out of here!" Sam scowled.
"I can't do that General," Clark said, his voice more assertive. "I'm not their target. This planet is, and this city is going to be their starting point. You're going to need all the help you can get."
"Then what exactly do you plan on doing?" Sam growled slowly.
"That ship is powered by something they've called a phantom drive. From what they've told me, it operates by a gravitational pull, but it's done by an unstable engine. If anything disrupts it from the inside, it'll cause a singularity."
"Are you telling me that you would be able to pull them into some sort of black hole?" Sam asked, wondering if he heard that correctly.
"Yes, sir," Clark answered. "I can get into their engine room and blast the phantom drive. When that happens, it should create a large suction of anything surrounding it. That should suck in everyone onboard that ship back into another dimension called the 'Phantom Zone'."
There was an awkward silence on the other line.
"It's like a prison," Clark hesitantly explained in a tone that was less awkward than he was feeling.
On the other side, Sam made a look as if whoever he was talking to was insane.
"Sir," Clark said. "I know this sounds crazy—"
"It does sound crazy," Sam interrupted. "It doesn't sound assuring."
"I know it doesn't. But if this has to work, you have to make it look like you are surrendering."
Clark dithered for another statement.
"And I need you to trust me on this because I have never been more serious in my life. While that goes on, I need you to cause a distraction once I catch them off guard. When the time is right, you have to open fire on that ship."
"Open fire?" Sam yelled.
"Yes, sir," Clark answered calmly. "Hit them and hit them hard. Hit them with everything you've got. Missiles, bombs, whatever. Whatever you have to give them the kind of distraction you need."
"You're asking me to open fire on where they are taking my daughter!"
"Your daughter will be safe and secured onboard," Clark said, understanding his anger. Time was running short. If this plan was going to work, it had to be now. The only thing that Zod would be counting on is surrender. Now, that they have a hostage, he would call in his soldiers. Nothing would be attacking the city now.
"Even if I were to blow that thing, it could fall back into the city killing God knows how many!"
"General," Clark continued, "I'll be there. On that ship, I'll be there too. I will promise you, on my life, that your daughter will be unharmed. She will get out of that ship, and that ship will never hit the city. I give you my word."
"How?" Sam insisted.
"I can protect her." Clark then swallowed. ". . . because you're right. I am like them. I have the same kind of strength as they do. But with the right amount of weaponry you have, it'll give me the exact time I need to break out of there with your daughter."
"And the ship?"
"I can move it out of the way."
"'Move it out of the way?'. Why the hell would I believe you?"
Clark then said more vigorously, "Because with all due respect, General, the reason why I warned you earlier is because I trusted you. Already, one of your men crash-landed, and I saved his life. Now, I'm asking you to trust me. From one person to another. Man to man. From one world to another. I give you my word that your daughter will be returned safely."
That agonizing pause occurred again. Though, that pause was too familiar now. Clark could tell that Sam was definitely conceding.
Painful seconds passed and Sam said, "If anything happens to my daughter, and if for any reason I don't like what I see, I am holding you personally responsible."
"Understood," Clark said softly.
"How long should we delay until fire?"
"At least five minutes."
"I'm gonna need more than five minutes to have everything I need to open fire at that thing," Sam explained.
"What kind of things do you need prepared?"
"I'm going to need at least several fighter jets—things that we use to shoot down. I also have a submarine out on the ocean. A submarine is a ship that can travel underwater—"
"Yes. I know what a submarine is," Clark said awkwardly.
"Once I have those in place, I can open fire, giving you the time you'll need."
Clark nodded at the pilot, who still had his scope eyeing him. He then drifted himself away from the chopper and looked back at Nam, who continued holding Lois. He then looked to his side and saw that Ursa, still smudged from the earlier scuffle, was now making her way towards them. She wore a deep face of fury and hatred, more so than he had already seen from her.
After she placed herself at Nam's side, Clark approached them, but slowly enough not to make any sudden movements to suggest an attack.
"We're surrendering," Clark said humbly. "I've told them to stand down as long as you don't attack."
Nam chuckled and wore that smug that Clark hated so much by now. By this point, he was very tempted to just attack them right now.
"Alright," Nam said smoothly. "You will follow us back to General Zod's ship. From there, you will be restrained once more. We will then begin our subjugation giving Earth a new order."
Clark made a barely noticeable scoff. "Think that your boss would make that announcement better than you," he glared.
Nam was pleased by his enthusiasm. Ursa kept leering. Clark glanced at Lois, who looked back at him. While she was frightened, she also had a concerned expression, wondering what 'Kal's' plan was.
"Follow us," Nam said. "Slowly. No detours."
Nam and Ursa drifted away and headed back to where Zod's ship was. Clark studied their pathway before glancing back at the pilot in the chopper. Eyeing the pilot, Clark gave a nod.
Sam Lane couldn't believe what he was doing. That damned alien. Asking him to put his daughter at risk. They were at war. This alien had to understand that there are consequences for putting people on the line. Not to mention, that there'll be the Secretary of Defense and president to answer to after this insane day, and that's if they live through it. The bureaucratic pressure from his superiors was relentless enough. Even if he were to go along with the alien's plan, he would have a lot to answer to his superiors. At the same time, the concern for Lois was more than he had ever felt in a long time.
Lt. General Calvin's eyes widened with concern and skepticism. He watched Sam's internal fighting with himself. He may have been in command of the situation, but someone personal can have an effect. "Sir," he said skeptically, "you're not actually going to believe him, are you?"
"You saw what they saw!" Sam argued. "They have my daughter!"
Calvin drew himself back a bit. "General, these aliens are shown to have absolutely no vulnerability to our weaponry. They couldn't even penetrate their foot soldiers' armor. This is wasting time. That alien you've been speaking to is stalling for time. The more time we delay, the more time they have to mobilize."
"Then what do you suggest?" Sam accused. "You just said that we can't even scratch them." Sam then calmed himself. After a moment of silent calculation, he then said, "I don't trust this man either. I don't know who he is or where the hell he's from. But he did warn me, and here we are now. I didn't want to listen to my daughter, and now they have her."
Calvin looked as if he was about to speak, but Sam interrupted him. "Call the National Guard. I want to coordinate with them myself and have our troops standing by for an attack. Get them ready and have them wait for my order."
Calvin blinked. "Yes, sir."
"Also, get in touch with Colonel Ray. I also want to coordinate with the National Guard and have them begin with mandatory evacuation procedures immediately."
"Sir, in that amount of time, we can't expect—"
"Just do it!" Sam barked. "We don't have an option!"
Calvin hurriedly danced his fingers on the keyboard of his phone.
Sam huffed through his nose, feeling sweat seething through his forehead at the mention of a large weapon that may or may not blow that damn ship out of the sky. It was also frustrating that Calvin was right. In this amount of time, there was absolutely no way the entire city could be evacuated. Evacuation might not even matter. Innocent people were going to get caught in the crossfire.
Gulping the grimness, Sam asked, "Is the U.S.S. Vickery on standby?"
"Yes, sir. They're armed with the CALCM missile. They're still waiting for your order."
Clark maintained himself to keep up with the two Hand of Rao soldiers. Ursa kept looking back to make sure he wouldn't try anything foolish. Not that she would expect him to. Clark barely paid attention to her. His focus was aimed solely at Nam—or more notably, Lois. All she could do was let out a series of grunts and strains, trying to find comfort in her awkwardly held position. She never better to not fight her way out of a situation that would mean falling to her death below.
"You assholes are so screwed!" she exclaimed.
Nam's answer was only a smug chuckle.
"My dad is an Army general," she warned them.
"And this general just surrendered at the behest of your ally, female," Ursa growled. "And let it be known that your status is conditional. Whatever shape you will be returned will be up to you."
"Alright then," Lois snarled. "You and me, girlfriend. On the ground."
Ursa displayed a disgusted face before returning her sight at Zod's ship while muttering something about Earthians being so stubborn and persistent. Nam just snickered while shaking his head.
Military brats, Clark thought. Good to know that she still has some spunk.
Soon enough, they had reached right in front of the ramp that had already been outstretched to meet them. The four entered the ship once more and Clark found himself in the same room that had swelled astonishment in him the first time. Several Hand of Rao Kryptonians were holding their guard ready. They were holding, what Clark could interpret, some kind of assault rifles. It was an odd sight. Even when granted with aptitudes that would go beyond human limits, it didn't deter their customs of battle.
Zod once again appeared on the top ledge that overlooked the entire entrance hall.
"Your demonstrations have proven to be quite amusing, son of Jor-El," Zod said darkly. "For a man raised his life on a planet with limited artillery and limited principles, you are, indeed, a powerful Kryptonian. Someone whose father would be proud of—as well as our military."
There was still that moment of five minutes needed. He had to stall them, somehow. Clark released a subtle chuckling smirk. "Am I supposed to say, 'thank you'?"
"On the contrary, yes. I've practically shown you what I can do. What I can do for you and this planet you claim is yours when your inheritance cries from the world that is rightfully yours."
"That's your problem," Clark accused. "You're all about claiming and not embracing."
Zod made a look as if to study him. "Very well then. Then embrace us. Take a look at what we can do. What you can do. You said so yourself. Your planet's people fear you. You can make them not fear you. Make them listen. Set terms for agreement."
"You're still missing the point," Clark said. "There is no force."
Zod's face toughened and said bitterly, "Then a handful of Earthians will die in five minutes if you don't do what I say. Starting with this one. Right now."
He gave a gesture towards Ursa, who was holding onto a struggling Lois. She kept thrashing trying to get herself free. Anxiously, she looked at Clark, anticipating that he'd make a move.
For a brief second, Clark showed a face of horror when he saw Lois. Shortly, the familiar heat flared once again. Clark took a few steps forward with his brows hardened. "You're willing to kill innocent people to prove a point, and you're calling that 'protection'?"
Zod released an impatient scoff. "Do tell then, son of Jor-El, you are a man with far greater stamina than anyone on this planet. They are weak and compromised. You are a pariah among them. You are a god to them, yet you live among them. Your Kryptonian blood runs deep, and you never exploited it. How can you not see the glory of your superiority? You are not an Earthian. You are a Kryptonian. Embrace your Kryptonian heritage!"
"Sir," Calvin said while holding the phone. "Vickery has a lock on the ship. Awaiting your orders."
Sam didn't look at his colleague. His eyes had been glued on the monitor that showed what the satellite images were displaying. Lois was on that ship and one way or another, she may not make it out of this alive.
Sam took a silent deep breath and swallowed. "Take it out."
Before he could make a countering answer, Clark heard it. It was extremely faint, but it was there. There was a distant echo of a whistle. It started that way, but it slowly evolved its way into a low booming whoosh that rose. A missile. It was loud enough to be obvious, but their hearing was still not accustomed to his. The time was now. Clark remained in his position while mentally preparing for a bolt.
Softening his tone, he said, "You're wrong. We're not gods. It's not up to us to decide what's needed. We were given a power. But that does not give us the right to take control of anything or anyone. The only thing I am in control of is myself. Krypton bred me, but Earth made me. This world doesn't belong to anyone. Not me. Not even you."
Their missiles are getting closer. Just seconds away from impact.
"General!" Jax-Ur cried. "They've begun their attack!"
Clark cursed under his breath. So much for a surprise attack.
Zod looked around him before giving Clark an angry glare. "What did you tell them?" he demanded.
Clark then gave a smirk. "You're trespassing."
Zod snapped his head toward the monitor. From what he could see, dozens of weapons have opened fire at them. A cluster of projectiles from different directions began approaching them at massive velocities. A split second followed, and everyone in the room could hear the faint booming of explosions pounding against the thick armor outside. Everyone danced their eyes around them.
Clark scrutinized his surroundings. They're all distracted now. One swift movement. Make it count.
Adrenaline kicked in, and Clark charged at a blurring speed towards Ursa, who was completely absorbed by the current situation. Clark landed a hard elbow at her temple, sending her down.
Nam turned his head.
Gotta be quick now.
Clark then sped next to Nam and landed a fist right at his forehead. Nam was knocked back at a velocity that just about matched Clark's movement. He was sent back and landed hard against the wall.
Lois was free from Nam's grasp. Now was the time to take her to safety. General Lane's efforts now depended on this.
Zod bared his teeth. This had gone far enough. He tried making it painless as much as possible by sending only two of his soldiers. If these Earthians only respond to one of their cities being destroyed, then so be it. He spoke into his wrist com. "Prepare the countdown for the cannon!"
Clark's heart froze. When did this ship have weapons? He didn't remember seeing anything from the ship that had any type of gunnery. There was no time to have regrets. He had a promise to keep, and if he was going to keep it, he had to act now.
He glanced over to where Lois was. His heart missed a beat. He had been careless. Ursa was holding one of Lois' arms behind her back in a forceful grip while her other arm was wrapped around her neck.. Facing Clark, Ursa then shifted herself away from the room and proceeded through a doorway that would lead beyond his eyesight.
"Your city is about to be destroyed, Kal," Ursa said. "You brought this on yourself. Convince your world's army to stand down now, or we'll kill her."
Clark felt his heart pounding . . . until he looked and saw Lois. She had this peculiar look. One look in her eyes and Clark could read that she had something in mind. Without showing his curiosity, he allowed himself to hold his position.
"I was trained in military, sweetheart," Lois said through Ursa's grip. "I know how to get out."
She then slanted her body a little downward and swung her foot backward hard.
The impact only made a soft tap on Ursa's thigh armor. She tried again. Nothing.
Clark could've laughed at this. He knew exactly what she was doing now.
Ursa narrowed her eyebrows. This was a feeble attempt and it wasn't harming her as much as amusing her. "You're not strong enough to hurt me, female," she growled in overconfidence.
Lois then stopped thrashing. "Of course, I'm not, you dumb bitch!" Lois exclaimed before gesturing her head at Clark. "He is!"
Ursa snapped her attention ahead of her.
Clark flared his eyes and strengthened his sight at Ursa. Now was the time. Two beams of redness emitted a high-pitched hum and fired themselves right at Ursa's forehead.
Releasing Lois, who immediately ran away, Ursa let out a scream and held her searing pained head. Zod tried to sprint towards his injured wife, but Clark, after years and years of training, was much faster.
Clark hurled a charged fist into Ursa's chest, and she was sent against the blue wall, which smacked her back down to the floor.
Her firearm that was once tucked on her side fell loose. Feeling the military experience instinct kicking in, Lois dove and snatched it from off the floor.
Clark was then knocked forward by an unseen force. He hit the wall hard without breaking the impenetrable material.
"Lois, run!" Clark bellowed through gritted teeth.
Fighting the faintness, his peripheral vision did detect Lois exiting his eyesight and swore he did see Lois make her way into one of the doorways that led away from the main hangar room.
Before Clark could recover from the impact, Zod made his way over and reached out at the back of Clark's head, grabbing a fistful of hair. Clark yelled out in agony as he felt the unrelenting fury in Zod's yank. He then felt a sharp pain stab him in the back from a hurled fist.
And then another. Another.
In pain and frustration, Clark let out a roar and swung a reckless arm behind him as hard and fast as he would allow himself. The arm found Zod, who then grunted from its attack. Clark felt the grip on his hair loosen a bit, but Zod was unyielding to release.
Lois was still inside, somewhere. He had to be released before Nam and Ursa would join the melee and they would surely finish him off.
Too late.
Clark tried another swing, but Nam charged a hard-knuckled fist into Clark's cheek, turning his face to the side. The pain formed a swelling on his face and the taste of blood aroused in his mouth. A low-buzzing noise rung through his ears and everything around him seemed less relevant. He no longer felt the ache from Zod holding his hair, but still felt the force of it. They were definitely not messing around anymore.
Clark blinked and everything around him sharpened.
"Find the female!" Clark heard Zod exclaim behind him. "Bring her back to the bridge and engage all weapons. We'll see how these Earthians respond with blood on their hands."
Clark growled and winced to fight the pain. He turned around and hurled a fist at Zod's face. Zod grunted in pain and stumbled a bit. That was the distraction needed for Clark to pull himself free from his grasp, but Zod recovered in a split second.
Zod swung an arm at Clark's direction but narrowly missed.
Clark heard a charging roar coming from Nam.
Quickly, Clark held up a bent arm where his elbow was confronting Nam's direction. Clark charged forward and landed hard against Nam's stomach area.
While flying, Clark heard Nam letting out a surprised wide-eyed gasping yell. Heading upward and still having Nam on the end of his elbow, Clark then reached back with his other hand and landed a fist into Nam's cheek.
Nam dropped hard and fast to the ground, where cracks sprouted from underneath him.
Zod was coming at him again. They weren't giving him time to breathe.
It was time to escape.
Under tremendous pressure, Clark flexed his body, allowing him to sidestep fast from Zod's outreaching fist.
Another punch thrown, but Clark saw it coming. Taking the initiative, he twirled away from the assail. Flexing his muscles, Clark gathered the speed to shift from where he was to the same hallway where Lois was last seen. He looked, but he only saw a long hallway that led to nowhere. Sweat leaked from his forehead. Zod would fire back on the city at any second and the U.S. Army would pay the price, along with thousands of others.
"Your female companion won't get far," Zod snarled.