AM I SUPERMAN?

Clark's spacecraft was carefully secured aboard a C-141 transport aircraft, its sleek design and alien origin a stark contrast to the military equipment surrounding it. The mission's objective was clear but perilous: fly close enough to Zod's starship and release Clark's spacecraft to collide with it, triggering a singularity to destroy the alien vessel.

Despite the meticulous planning, the risks were undeniable. The gravity distortions near the Kryptonian starship and the potential for retaliation from Zod's forces made the mission a gamble.

Lois Lane, ever the intrepid reporter, attempted to join the mission, but Kaius refused her involvement. "This isn't a story—it's war," he said firmly. "I can't afford distractions, and neither can Clark."

As the transport plane took off, escorted by four heavily armed fighter jets, Kaius stood in the cargo bay, inspecting Clark's spacecraft. His eyes landed on a familiar groove on the ship's control panel, bearing the El family crest.

Kaius retrieved the spacecraft key, the long, silver artifact given to him by Superman. He aligned its tip with the groove and released it. The key floated toward the ship, embedding itself seamlessly into the socket.

Humming…

The spacecraft came alive, its surfaces glowing with blue energy. The lights in the cargo bay dimmed momentarily, and when they brightened again, a figure materialized before Kaius.

"Who's there? Hands up!" shouted one of the guards, raising his weapon at the sudden appearance of a man in a blue Kryptonian coat, bearing the House of El's crest.

Kaius raised a hand to calm them. "Stand down. It's a hologram."

The figure, seemingly unaffected by the commotion, nodded at Kaius. "If you are Carl's ally, then yes, I am his father—Jor-El."

The guards, now understanding the projection was harmless, lowered their weapons. Kaius approached the hologram, a faint smile on his face. "I need your help, Jor-El. We're planning to use Clark's ship to collide with Zod's. Both ships have Phantom Drives, and the collision should create a singularity to destroy Zod's starship."

Jor-El's hologram nodded thoughtfully. "An effective plan. The Phantom Drive's collision will indeed create a black hole, consuming Zod's vessel entirely."

Kaius interjected. "But here's the issue. Once I remove the key from Clark's ship, its engines will stop. I need the Phantom Drive to remain active long enough to complete the collision."

Jor-El's projection frowned. "By design, the engine shuts down the moment the key is removed. However, I can write a command to extend the drive's operation for an additional three minutes. But why the concern for the key?"

Kaius leaned forward, his tone serious. "Because I want to preserve the key—and you."

Jor-El tilted his head, puzzled. "I have already imparted all my knowledge to Kal-El. I serve no further purpose."

Kaius chuckled. "Let's just say, Earth has problems that could benefit from your wisdom. Have you heard of the Triarch Court?"

Jor-El's expression shifted to curiosity. "The Triarch Court? A judicial body of advanced artificial intelligence known for delivering absolute justice. But why do you ask?"

Kaius's eyes gleamed with determination. "Earth's justice system isn't enough to deal with the kinds of criminals we face. I want to adapt Kryptonian logic—build an impartial court to handle extreme cases. With your knowledge, I can make it happen."

Jor-El considered this, a hint of approval crossing his face. "Intriguing. While Krypton rarely relied on such measures, I can provide the foundational protocols. Kryptonian justice favored exile over execution—we imprisoned criminals in the Phantom Zone."

Kaius smirked. "A fitting solution for non-human threats. As for the more… human criminals, let's say I'm open to adapting Kryptonian methods."

Jor-El's projection shimmered as he finalized the command override, ensuring Clark's spacecraft would continue operating after the key was removed. "It's done. The Phantom Drive will remain active for three minutes once the key is extracted."

Kaius nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Jor-El. If we survive this, Earth might just owe you more than it owes Clark."

As the transport plane neared its target, alarms blared, signaling they had entered the Kryptonian starship's gravitational distortion field. Fighter jets peeled off, their systems failing, leaving the transport plane vulnerable.

"Alright," Kaius said, a wry smile on his face. "For my Triarch Court, we've got Jor-El and Gideon. As for the third AI… we'll figure that out later."

Gideon, the advanced AI developed in a future timeline by Barry Allen, had been brought to the present during one of the Flash's time-travel escapades. It was now used as the onboard intelligence for the Waverider, the time-traveling ship in Legends of Tomorrow. Its impartiality and vast database of knowledge made it an ideal candidate for Kaius's justice system.

As they conversed, the transport plane neared Zod's starship, hovering ominously above the heart of Metropolis. Inside the alien vessel, Zod's lieutenant, Fiora, observed the approaching aircraft. Turning to a subordinate, she issued a command.

"You control the ship. I'll deal with those flies personally."

"Understood, sir!" the soldier replied, saluting.

With the planetary modification system operating smoothly, Fiora boarded a Kryptonian fighter and launched toward the transport plane.

The armed fighter escorts quickly detected Fiora's approach. "Enemy unit spotted! Requesting permission to engage!" one pilot radioed.

"Permission granted. Fire at will!" came the response from command.

The fighters unleashed a barrage of missiles, their trajectories arcing toward Fiora's small craft. But the seasoned Kryptonian warrior had no intention of relying on the ship for long. She leaped from the cockpit, using the craft as a springboard to launch herself into the sky.

BOOM!

The missiles struck the abandoned craft, igniting a massive fireball in the air. Yet Fiora emerged unscathed, soaring through the flames with ease. Like a projectile, she smashed into the side of an armed fighter, tearing through its fuselage.

"Thunderbolt 2 has been hit! I'm ejecting—ahh!" the pilot's scream cut short as Fiora ripped him from the cockpit and hurled him into the sky.

One by one, the fighters fell to her relentless assault. She moved with terrifying precision, using the wreckage of a falling jet as a springboard to propel herself toward the transport plane.

Inside the transport plane, Kaius worked with Jor-El's hologram to finalize the Phantom Drive's override command. With Jor-El's guidance, the ship's key was successfully extracted, and the engine began its three-minute countdown.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed through the plane as Fiora tore through its walls. The Kryptonian warrior landed in the cargo bay with an intimidating presence, her black armor gleaming in the dim light.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" the guards shouted, raising their weapons. They unleashed a hail of bullets and grenades, but the projectiles bounced harmlessly off Fiora's armor, failing even to leave a scratch.

"Pathetic," Fiora sneered, swatting the guards aside with effortless strength. Her eyes locked onto Kaius. "What are you planning, Earthling? Using Kal-El's ship to ram ours?"

Kaius smirked. "You got it."

Before Fiora could respond, Kaius launched himself at her, slamming into her with full force. The impact sent her flying through the opening she had created, temporarily removing her from the fight.

With Fiora out of the way, the transport plane continued its approach toward the Kryptonian starship. The glowing blue energy of Clark's spacecraft intensified, signaling the imminent activation of the Phantom Drive.

"Prepare for release!" the pilot called out.

Kaius stood ready, the spacecraft key still in hand. He glanced back toward the opening, wary of Fiora's return, but the transport plane was already in position. The collision was seconds away.

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