Clark stood on top of a large skyscraper listening desperately trying to find Lois Damn it where is she? Why can't I hear her? These were the only thoughts streaming through his mind.

Bruce or as he was more commonly referred to as Batman watched his friend struggle to find Lois "Clark I know this isn't easy you should get some rest me and Flash can search the city while-"

"I don't let anyone in Bruce!" Clark shouted his fist pounding into the buildings edge nearly shattering it "You knew this and still you and the others pressured me to put myself out there and make connections with people."

Bruce said nothing he just stood quietly as Clark struggled with the situation in truth he didn't know what to say even so he put his hand on "We will save her Clark but I need to tell you something."

Clark turned to meet Bruce's eyes "What Bruce?"

"I told her everything I told her about Lex, about how he was secretly stealing S.H.I.E.L.D. secrets and selling them on the black market, about how he was lying to her, Coulson, and the others from the start even to you." After a few moments Bruce noticed a sad expression filling Clark's face "What's wrong Clark?"

"It's nothing it's just-" Clark stopped for a moment trying find the words he wanted to say "it's just how could it be him? I mean I get what happened with me but Hydra had me thinking I was this spy of theirs and I did what all spies do I lied and I killed the people whose trust I worked to gain and after my real self and memories came back I was racked with guilt but him he-" Clark was still trying to find the right words "he did it for money and power I mean if he was some misguided grunt who Hydra or even A.I.M. had under their thumb that I could understand because that's the personality I was mentally programmed with all those years ago."

"Except Lex wasn't misguided or being manipulated in fact in some ways he was worse than you. Especially since he completely reinvented himself as someone else just to join S.H.I.E.L.D. some might say he was even better at deception then you."

Clark shook his head "No because as much as I want to say he was worse the fact remains that I-"

Clark stopped he was starting to hear something a voice in all the chaos and confusion of the city a voice that said "Hello Ward well I guess I should start calling you Superman I mean that is what you go by these days and since the real Grant Ward's body was found a few years ago I guess it's only appropriate to call you by the latter. Regardless I just wanted to say I never really hated you I mean it took all these years but I finally realized it wasn't you that crushed my soul."

Clark's heart started to race without thinking he flew off into the direction of Lex's voice "You see Superman the truth is you and Coulson inspired me to do more to be more. Which is why I don't understand why you choose to hide from the world I mean you could do so much achieve so much and be… so much. I realize given what you've discovered about me you probably thought I was a hypocrite for being angry and I'm sorry for that because the cold and sad truth Superman is you didn't ruin me they did you just showed me who they were behind the masks. I was just too blinded by shock to realize the gift you had given me you see I had planned to come clean confess my crimes to Coulson tell him my real name and everything because the two of you woke something up in me and for the first time I wanted to do the right thing. Then Hydra popped up and I learned the truth about you well at least half of it."

Clark followed the sound of his voice to the harbor he looked around frantically still listening to the voice "That's why I was so devastated I think. You made me believe in good and then you showed me that inside everyone there is darkness. Like Coulson a good man a really good man would have gotten me help and I mean real professional help but instead he kept me around in the lab like a little pet why? It was because he valued my skills and potential over my own well-being.

"He's so sanctimonious isn't he Superman? He and Skye there's no grey area with them is there? They never even tried to see the good in you even after you helped Skye she repaid you by shooting you in the back. Now even to a guy like me that's pretty cold don't you think? While we're on the subject why do you think Skye was always pointing out the differences between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra? I've always suspected that it was because she didn't really believe they were different and had to tell herself they were so she could live with herself. Yet still you try you try to save this doomed world. What you don't realize Superman is that the world is in chaos now and it has to be taken out of chaos by someone with complete control."

Finally locating the source of Lex's voice, Clark charged through an old brick building after a quick look he was surprised to find that no one was there still he kept looking finding a recording device still playing Lex's voice "By now I imagine you've discovered the recording I want you to know Superman that I have no intention of harming Lois so long as you and your League stand down but in case you get any ideas I've asked my associate to keep you busy." The recording stopped.

"Why are you doing this Lex? I don't understand." Clark asked reflecting on all Lex had said.

"Beats the hell out me but if it means I get to kill you I don't really care!" A metallic fist came out of nowhere hitting Clark in the face he went flying into a stack of wooden crates. Immediately Clark tried to stand up but the closer his attacker got to him he suddenly felt sick. Clark noticed a green glow and looked up further now seeing an all too familiar face John Corben.