Jonathan and Martha Kent had just finished lunch when they were greeted by several uninvited guests at the door.
"Clark stole my necklace!"
Lana Lang burst into the farmhouse, breathless and panicked.
Chloe and Pete followed closely behind, both wearing worried expressions.
"I heard him mention Jessica, and his tone was really off," Pete said quickly, turning to Jonathan.
"The new Brooks family are important witnesses under police protection," Chloe added, her brows furrowing. "Maybe Clark realized something and wants to silence them. Still, that doesn't explain why he took Lana's necklace."
Jonathan exchanged a grave look with Martha before sighing deeply. "Clark acting really strange. And Adrian's coming back from Gotham today."
At the mention of Adrian's name, Lana's face paled. "Uncle Jonathan, are you saying Clark wants to hurt Adrian?"
"I can't be sure," Jonathan replied, his tone grim as he moved to a cabinet and pulled out a green meteorite sealed in a lead box. "But things are reaching a breaking point. Clark isn't listening to anyone anymore. We're the only ones who can stop him."
Pete swallowed hard, glancing nervously between them. "Is it really that bad? Maybe we should wait for Adrian to get back first."
Jonathan shook his head. "It's too late for that. Clark's already preparing for Adrian's return." He grabbed his coat and nodded to Pete. "Come on. We're going to Jessica's house."
Pete hesitated, then glanced back at Lana and Chloe before following Jonathan out the door.
Chloe and Lana, unwilling to sit and wait for news, exchanged a silent nod with Martha and headed after them toward Jessica's home.
---
At Jessica's House
Clark had already arrived. After knocking once, he stepped inside without waiting for an answer.
Jessica's face lit up at first—until he brushed past her hug and tore off his sunglasses, his eyes cold and focused.
"I know why your father's on the run," Clark said sharply. "Give me the disk. Now."
Jessica froze, her confusion mixing with hurt. "What? Clark, what are you talking about? Why are you acting like this?"
"It's simple—money." Clark's smile was crooked and empty. "You know I can't stay trapped in this town forever. I need cash, Jessica. A lot of it. You'll help me, right?"
Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief. "That would destroy my father! I won't give it to you!"
For once, the rebellious girl who had always defied her father stood protectively in front of him. "Over my dead body!"
Clark chuckled, leaning lazily against the dining table. "Everyone dies, Jessica. Why should your father be any different?"
The sharp crack of the front door bursting open cut through the tension.
Jessica's father stood in the doorway, pistol raised and trembling slightly.
"Get out of here, kid. You don't want to do this," he warned.
Clark's smirk deepened. "Who do you think you're talking to? My parents couldn't stop me. What makes you think you can?"
In a blink, the gun vanished from the man's hand. Clark crushed it effortlessly, the metal folding under his fingers like paper before he tossed the ruined weapon aside.
Activating his X-ray Vision, Clark's eyes glowed faintly as he scanned the house. "Where did you hide it? The ceiling? The floor?"
He punched through a wall cabinet, shattering wood and plaster, leaving a gaping hole. "Not there? Guess we'll keep looking."
He hurled the television across the room; Jessica's father barely dodged before Clark grabbed him by the collar and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.
"Why don't you save yourself—and your daughter—and hand it over?" Clark snarled. His patience was gone.
The sound of screeching tires cut through the room. Clark glanced outside to see Jonathan's truck skidding to a stop in the yard.
Jonathan stepped out, gripping a heavy sledgehammer—one not meant for tractors this time.
Pete followed close behind.
Clark's smirk returned. "Wow. My dad and my best friend, teaming up to stop me. That's new."
"You don't know what you're doing anymore, Clark," Jonathan shouted, raising the hammer. "I won't let you hurt anyone!"
Clark's eyes flicked to Jessica, helping her father up, before settling back on Jonathan. "You still think you can order me around? I'm not the Clark Kent you raised anymore."
He started toward them, calm but menacing. Seeing his father's hesitation, Clark tilted his head slightly. "You look scared. Thinking about it, maybe you always were. Maybe you and Mom always saw Adrian and me as monsters."
"No," Jonathan said softly, shaking his head. "We love you both. That's why this hurts so damn much."
"Pete!" he shouted suddenly.
Pete, already ready, yanked open a small lead box. The green glow of kryptonite flared within—but before it could weaken him, Clark unleashed his Heat Vision, melting the rock into slag.
Pete barely had time to react before Clark's backhand sent him flying across the room, crashing into a wall.
Jonathan swung his hammer toward Clark's hand, aiming for the red ring that glowed faintly on his finger.
But Clark caught the hammer mid-swing, his strength overwhelming.
"Nice try," Clark muttered coldly. "You brought kryptonite, and so did I. The moment I saw Pete's box, I knew exactly what you were planning."
With a powerful shove, he sent Jonathan flying backward, slamming him into the wall.
Chloe and Lana arrived just in time to see Pete bleeding and Jonathan struggling to get up.
Horror filled their faces.
Is there really no one left who can stop him?
Clark exhaled sharply, eyes flaring red again.
His Heat Vision shot toward the hammer in Jonathan's hand. The metal began to melt, and Jonathan cried out in pain as the searing light licked his skin.
He raised his hands instinctively—but the expected burn never came.
Instead, the air filled with a sharp, crackling hiss.
Jonathan opened his eyes—and froze.
Standing between him and Clark was a lone figure, both hands raised, absorbing the full force of the Heat Vision into his palms.
The glow faded.
Smoke drifted in the air.
"Adrian?!" Jonathan breathed, disbelief and relief blending in his voice.
---
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