It had two months since Zod had first delivered his message to the world. Metropolis was still recovering from that attack that came less than a day after the General had threatened the Earth with severe consequences. While the entire planet was affected by Zod's attempts to terra-form the surface, it was the big city that took the brunt of the General's wrath. Early estimates put the damage into well over ten billion dollars and it would take at least a decade to fully repair Metropolis. With all the footage from on the scene reporters as well as oodles of amateur video of not only the attack on the city but the battle between Superman and Zod, the networks had more than enough material to cover the story in metropolis round the clock for at least three weeks before people began to finally tire of it being repeated.

Lost in the devastation that occurred in metropolis was a small town in Kansas that never made a single headline. Despite the fact that this small town was the first battle zone between Superman and General Zod and his people, the details of that encounter were kept to a minimum. Under the blanket of 'National Security', networks were ordered not to run any story about what happened in Kansas that day. The networks didn't care as Metropolis was the focus of their coverage for the next several days. That didn't however change the fact that Smallville had also taken damage from their encounter with General Zod and his followers. Several companies had taken losses from the attack and it was something the government was willing to bail them out for if they were to keep their damage on the low key. Companies were eager to accept the money but waited for the government to come through with their promise before they committed any funds to repairing the small Kansas town.

Yet it was Queen Consolidated that was the first on the scene to assess the damage and set up a time table to have their factory and distribution back on track in less than a month. It was the only company that had stepped up and paid for all the necessary repairs without first receiving any payments or even an assurance of a payment from the government. Queen Consolidated was the first there to help Smallville dig themselves, a gesture that was not lost on the people of the small but very grateful town.

Two months into the repairs to not only the factory but to the stores downtown that had been destroyed, Oliver Queen himself, former CEO but still a part owner of the company came to Smallville to see how the repairs were going for himself. Hew as eager to come to the small town and make sure that everything was on schedule. He had been in contact with the contractors in charge from the very beginning, personally making sure no one fell behind. As he was walking in to one of the factories that had been damaged in the battle between one of Zod's men and the being known as Superman, Oliver could still see some of the devastation with his own eyes. One of the train cars was almost split in half but at the center of the metal car was an imprint of what looked like a human body. The being had been tossed into the train car and the metal around it bent around his body as if it were as soft as tin foil.

As he was inspecting the damaged car, Oliver could sense someone else was there and turned around immediately. He let out his breathe when he realized it was just a reporter, something that was easy to tell since the man had a press badge on. "I'm not answering questions today."

"That's all right, Mr. Queen." The reporter replied. "I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how sorry I am about your mother."

Oliver was genuinely surprised to hear that. "Thanks."

"She wasn't the most popular person." The reporter said and he aware that Oliver was likely quite aware of it.

"That's an understatement." Oliver confirmed.

"But she was making amends." The reporter continued. "She was running a very clean campaign and if she had just kept a quarter of her promises, Starling City would have been in good hands."

"Thank you." Oliver said as he recalled the tragic murder of his mother at the hands of one Wilson Slade. "She was take too soon."

"She was." The reporter agreed, "But her work goes on. I see that dedication, that fire she had in you."

"It appears to run in the family." Oliver said with a smile.

"This is a great example of that." The reporter said as he motioned to the damaged car. "Because of what happened in Metropolis, most of the world has forgotten about what happened here."

"Can't forget what you were never told in the first place." Oliver replied as he walked around the large, damaged trailer car. "Before their final battle in the bit city, this place was ground zero. The first encounter between the alien we know as Superman and General Zod."

"How do you know that?" the reporter asked.

"I have my sources." Oliver said as he wasn't willing to go any further. "That's why I'm here, to show my support for Kal-El."

"Why do that here?"

"Because this is where he was born." Oliver answered. "That can be the only reason why Zod came here first, because this is where he'd been hiding all those years. It would also explain why we're not allowed to reveal the damage that really occurred here."

"So why tell me?" the reporter asked.

"Your paper has had the most contact with him since the battle with Zod." Oliver said as he pointed to the man's press badge. "I'm aware of the Planet's ability to score one exclusive with Superman after another."

"Your point then, Mr. Queen?" the reporter asked.

"If he wanted us to talk about what happened here," Oliver started, "Then he would have told Ms. Lane about it. Since he didn't, I'm going to respect his privacy."

"That's very nice of you." The reporter said as he put his pad and pen away. "I'm sure he appreciates the gesture and would thank you if he had the chance."

"That's not necessary, Mr. Kent." Oliver said as he read the name off his press badge. "It's me... well, all of us on this planet who should be thanking him. Zod meant to destroy us all and if it wasn't for him it would have happened; the mass extinction of the human race. All these repairs don't do the man justice because we all owe him our lives. This is the least I can do for him. Repair the place he calls home and make it shine again."

"Would you like us to tell him that?" Kent asked.

"If you could, I'd appreciate it." Oliver said as he slapped the reporter softly on the shoulder. "And I want you to tell him that there's one thing Zod said to him that was absolutely true."

"And what was that?" Kent asked.

"He's not alone." Oliver replied, "We've got his back."