Superman/Steven Universe:

The Shield of Hope

Chapter 2:

Metropolis Harbor, Star Labs facility

Clark arrived at the harbor seconds after leaving the roof of the Daily Planet he soared through the sky leaving a blur that only a few citizens who were looking up could see. He landed on top the Star Labs facility, using his x-ray vision again and saw the people trapped inside still trying to break through the steel door, and the flames were spreading faster and would engulf the room they were in. He saw a skylight on the roof ran towards it leaping into the air, then on the descent he brought both his feet down shattering the glass and entering the building landing a top a crate. He scanned the burning room seeing that it was full of crates and storage containers.

"This must be a storage facility for Star Labs, no telling what kind of flammable stuff they keep in these crates I have to get these people out now" Clark thought as he ran through the burning building.

The fire meant nothing to him though his clothes and face were being cover in soot he could of easily just ran his way through the walls and made his way directly to the people but he knew this building was crumbling and if he just went around smashing walls this building would come down on him and the people the latter being the most serious. He weaved his way through the burning hallways and came up to the steel door, with his x-ray vision he saw the people inside panicking as some flames got into the room, and one of the people used a fire extinguisher to put them out but more were coming. Now Clark had to think of a plan he had been doing this for six months now most of his heroics were flybys he moved fast save the people and no one saw him. He didn't want to be seen the people weren't ready or maybe he wasn't ready.

"Okay I can take down this door easy, but how am I supposed to get these people out of here" Clark thought as he scanned the room looking for an escape route.

He then noticed that the wall at the back on the room lead out to the harbor and the ocean.

"That's it I'll blast the door off its hinges and use it as a battering ram to put a hole in the wall, the people will be able to escape and I'll hide in the ocean" Clark thought confidently giving himself a mental pat on the back for his quick thinking.

He took a few steps away from the door preparing to ram it that was until he heard footsteps coming from the end of the hall. He turned to see a human shape come from around the corner of the hall and stop suddenly when they saw Clark, the shape appeared to be carrying a crate and was shrouded in smoke from the fire so Clark couldn't see the figure clearly.

"Hey are you okay, come to me I'll get you out of here" he said as he began to approach the figure.

He stopped in mid stride when he felt something, a chill down his spine something in the back of his head telling him that this person wasn't friendly. And it appears he was right. When Clark stopped the figure extended out an arm and a fire ball shot out and nailed Clark right in the chest. Clark was caught by surprise the blast knocked him off his feet and the S on his shirt burned off, the blast didn't really hurt but it did sting a bit. Clark shook off the surprise and got back onto his feet he then used his enhanced vision to get a good look at this attacker, but instead of seeing a person he saw a strange aura surrounding the figure, and a lot of it to boot. Clark knew a lot of people had some energy coming off them some more than others but this felt strange and there was too much of it for one person. He switched his vision to x-ray to see where this energy was coming from on the figure, but when he did he expected to see bones, organs, and other things humans need to live. But he saw nothing, no bones, no organs, not even hair, only light, light condensed into the shape of a human and even stranger for him the light appeared to be coming from this things shoulder from something rectangular. Clark knew why this energy felt weird because whatever this thing was it definitely wasn't human

"What are you" Clark whispered in wonder about what was standing in front of him.

The figure appeared to be surprised that Clark got up so quickly from the attack, and it was preparing another one when the ceiling and walls began to crumble this building didn't have long. The figure looked around frantically facing the wall behind it the figure reared it fist back and punched the wall creating a giant hole which it was able to escape through. Clark wanted to follow but knew that the hole made by whatever it was just may have given this building 20 more seconds of stability l, he went back to the steel door got into a ramming position he and could see that no one was in front of the door, so it was safe. He focused on the door and ran towards it like a bullet hitting the door with his shoulder, the door wrapped around his body shielding him from the view of the (now incredibly surprised) workers. He broke through the back wall leaving a hole big enough for the people to get through, he then jumped into the ocean. While in the ocean he pulled the steel door off his body and looked up to see the people escape the building and smiled as he saw, seeing the uninjured people helping the injured out of the building before it collapsed. The emergency services finally arrived and began to work on putting out the fire and helping the people who managed to escape, everyone was focused on the fire so Clark was able to swim a good distance away and emerged at an empty boating dock. He lifted himself on to the dock shaking off the water in his hair, he heard a gasp from behind him and turned to see an elderly homeless man holding a fishing rod staring at him in confusion. Clark gave a nervous smile and said

"Uh…just don't mind me, I didn't mean to disturb the…fish"

The old man simply nodded Clark gave him a small wave before jetting up into the sky amazing the old man and knocking his hat off. Clark stopped once he was above most of the skyscrapers his trip upward had dried him up, and he once again scanned the scene to make sure everyone was okay. Everyone managed to walk away from this with only small burns and bruises. He turned to go back to the planet when he suddenly had a thought, he had to play a more active role at the Daily Planet, if he wanted to keep his job and be the first person on the scene. He smiled as he flew back to The Daily Planet reaching there in seconds, grabbing his duffel bag and flying back towards the harbor, ducking in an alleyway and putting back on his work attire.

A taxi pulled up to the harbor and Lois and Jimmy emerged, Lois hastily paid the driver the grabbed Jimmy by the arm pulling him along towards the site. The fire was still burning and firefighters were still working on putting it out, the police set up barriers to keep people out and the ambulances were helping the people who escaped. Lois smiled, seeing as there were only two other reporters here, the swarm hasn't come yet and with her quick writing she would have this story back at the Planet in 10 minutes. Jimmy began taking pictures of the fire as Lois walked up to an officers

"Hi Lois Lane, Daily Planet, can you tell me what caused this explosion" she said pen and paper ready.

The officer looked at Lois and gave an exhausted sigh.

"Look I already said everything I know so far to you guys, just let me do my job here" he said.

"You're probably tired of saying the same thing for a third time, but the city needs to know what happened here so give me something" Lois said confidently

"Third more like fourth and I already talked to you Daily Planet guys" the officer said slightly annoyed.

Lois's eyes widened at the comment

"I don't want to seem rude but I am pretty sure I'm the only Daily Planet reporter here" she said giving a small laugh.

"Yeah what about that guy" the officer said pointing in Lois's opposite direction

She turned around and immediately her jaw dropped as she saw Clark Kent talking to one of the victims in the ambulances. He smiled as he finished writing on his notepad and wished the person well as he turned a walked reading what he jotted down, he lifted his head up and saw Lois standing in front of him mouth agape

"Oh Hey Ms. Lane funny seeing you here, I was just about to send these notes to Planet" Clark said smiling oblivious to Lois's shock.

Lois couldn't form any words she just stood and stared at Clark

"W-w-whaaa…..H-how" Lois was finally able to force out.

Jimmy suddenly burst into the scene standing in front of Lois

"Dang CK how did you get here before us" Jimmy said happily

Clark gave off a nervous laugh and replied "Well I just…ran I guess".

Lois, finally out of her shock and spoke

"You ran from the office floor, to the lobby, then to the harbor from the Daily Planet" she said is disbelief

"Well…. Yeah I did, I'm used to running long distances back home whenever our truck broke down" Clark said innocently shrugging.

Lois stood there staring at Clark not believing what was coming from his mouth she finally calmed down and relaxed

"You know what I don't care, good for you Clark, go to a phone and get to that story to the Planet ASAP" Lois said defeated.

"Thanks Ms. Lane I'll get right on it" Clark said happily as he turned to look for a pay-phone

Jimmy walked up to Lois smiling, "Well that went a lot better than I was expecting, seriously I was expecting…"

Jimmy continued to talk but Lois wasn't listening, she stared at Clark as he walked down the street looking intently at his note pad

"Looks like there's a lot more to this farm boy than I thought" Lois thought to herself deciding to keep a close eye on Clark.

Clark continued down the street looking at his notes, he took notes and quotes for the paper like he was supposed to, but on the last few pages of the pad separate from the others was some quotes from the worker who had been unconscious. When Clark arrived at scene in his civilian clothes the person just woke up, he was a security guard for the building and the others said they found him under some heavy crates just before the entrance of the building was engulfed. Clark was able to talk to him before he was sent to the hospital, his memory was fuzzy but the last thing remembered was that there was someone strange in the storage facility, someone who didn't work there. He approached the person asking questions about who they were, and why they were there. Suddenly something hit the security guard in the chest really hard knocking the air out of his lungs and then he blacked out. The guard gave Clark a description to the best of his ability, the person was female but very tall, tall as him (6'3"), red hair couldn't remember the length, and what the guard could only describe as some kind of bracelet on her right shoulder. It wasn't a lot to work with, but Clark assumed that the guard's assaulter and the mysterious figure that attacked him were the same, and that it was responsible for the fire. Clark tried to find what was now a woman before putting on his regular clothes, but it just disappeared, which was even more confusing since with his vision it should've stuck out like a cherry in a bowl of peas. But, Clark knew that this wasn't the last he has seen of it. He would continue to scan the city for that strange energy whenever he was free. But, why burn down a storage facility he remembered the woman was carrying something, was it trying to steal and covering it tracks, whatever the reason it was dangerous and Clark wouldn't let it hurt anymore innocent people.

"This is going to be a real departure from what I'm used to dealing with isn't it" Clark said to himself, scratching the back of his head as he reached the payphone, indeed this was opening a whole new world Clark didn't even know existed.