Clark crossed the street and gave the fruit basket to a beggar sitting in the shade, his hat on the sidewalk before him. The guy looked surprised, but took an orange from the basket and began to peel it.
Clark walked back across the street and waited by the Bijoux theater, where he could see when Faora returned to her apartment. He called Lexy.
"Hi. What's up?"
"I need to talk to you immediately, Lexy. Can you meet me by the Bijoux theater, near 55th?
"Sure, it's my lunch. Clark, is there trouble?"
"Yeah, and I need to talk to you. I may not have much time. Can you come right away?"
"I'm on my way."
A few minutes later Lexy paid off a cab and joined him under the marquee of the Bijoux. She went to him. "Clark, dearest, what is going on? Please tell me if there's trouble."
Clark's face tightened and Lexy's heart sank. It's bad. It's bad. My Earth can't be poison to him. Can it?
He forced the words out. "There are still breaches in the Phantom Zone from the Maelstroms." Her lips formed an "O". He wanted to go somewhere there was no Phantom Zone, no Faora, no Maelstroms, and be with Lexy. "Some Kryptonians from the Zone also came to New York City, here on Earth1. Among the most dangerous criminals. Faora, Non, and a couple others.
"Faora? Zod's wife? And Non? The giant?"
Clark nodded. "What happened at work was that they used the alley behind our office as a message drop, cause some of them worked for the dumpster company. From what I've found out, only Faora and Non are still here, but they're planning to return to my Earth and join Zod in an invasion there." He watched her face fall, and tears gather in her eyes as she realized the meaning of this information.
"No, Clark, please no."
He shook his head. "I wish it weren't so, but I'm waiting here for Faora and Non." He jerked his head to a building. "They have an apartment in that gray building, but the concierge told me Faora and Non are moving out today." After a long pause, he said, "I'm going to follow them."
"How can they get back to Earth?" Tears filled Lexy's eyes.
"Apparently there's a breach in Central Park they can use. In any case, I'm going to follow them and try to capture them. Take them to the Justice League." He took Lexy's trembling fingers in his hand. "The League has to know what is happening."
"And you are the only person who can tell them." Lexy laid her head on Clark's chest, weeping. When she had herself under control, she looked up at him. "Clark, my dearest. You must go. You'll take my love with you. You have no idea how long they'll be?"
He handed her a tissue, and she wiped her eyes. "No. We have a few minutes, though, I think. It won't be safe for you if they see us together. Faora and Non will recognize me."
She nodded. They talked quietly for a few minutes, about nothing important and everything essential. At last, Lexy said, "Give Martha and Jonathan my love. Take care of Larry." She took a deep, ragged breath. "Be careful, my dearest Clark." They kissed goodbye. Lexy walked to the corner, flagged down a cab, and got in. The cab drove by the Bijoux. Lexy watched Clark from the cab until it turned the next corner and he was out of sight.
*
Clark waited, watching the gray apartment building. His patience was soon rewarded when a taxi stopped and Faora and Non got out and went into the building. He moved to the corner. Soon the two Kryptonians left the building and walked to the Park. Clark followed them to Castle Belvedere. They sat on a bench by the Castle and waited. Clark sat out of sight and watched them. Non was restless, pointing to the sun in the blue sky. Faora kept soothing him.
Soon black clouds moved in from the ocean, and rain fell heavily. Forked lightning flashed from cloud to ground, and thunder boomed. Clark moved closer and followed Faora and Non as they moved along a path near the Castle. Faora removed a small device from her purse. She pushed buttons. Clark realized she must have a control that could access the breaches caused by the Maelstroms. He walked behind them, unnoticed because of the rain and thunder.
Faora pushed buttons on the control and a portal appeared. Through it, he could see Midtown Park in Metropolis. Faora and Non walked through the portal and Clark ran after them. The portal closed behind him.
Metropolis was sunny and calm, with a few dark clouds in the distance. Clark breathed deeply, feeling the yellow sun strengthening him as he followed Faora and Non. Soon he was strong enough to take them. He shifted into the Superman suit for the first time in weeks.
They turned down a side path through the trees and Clark moved. He jumped Non, knocking the giant unconscious. He caught Faora and took the control from her.
"Superman." She grimaced. "How did you find us?"
"Luck of the draw, Faora," Superman said. He couldn't fly yet. "Walk to the Castle." He slung Non over his shoulder.
He waved down a police car patrolling the Park and had the officer call STAR Labs. Soon Barry and Labs agents arrived, taking Faora and the conscious, but groggy, Non into custody.
Barry stepped aside with Superman. "What happened? Why are you back? We gave you a cover story that would explain your absence forever."
"Long story. I'll tell you back at the Lab. Short version. There are still breaches between the Zone barrier and other dimensions. Zod and his allies have a device that accesses them from Earth."
Barry's eyes widened and he nodded. Clark handed him the control and Barry examined it briefly.
"I can't fly yet, so I'd like a ride to the Labs."
*
Clark was debriefed at STAR Labs, and spoke with Barry and Emil about the new dangers from Zod and his allies in the Phantom Zone. It was after midnight when he went to a room assigned to him at the Labs. He stared at the phone for a while, and at last called his parents in Smallville.
"Hello?" Martha answered the phone.
"Ma. It's me."
"Clark?...Clark? What happened, son? Where are you? Jon, it's Clark. He's back!"
"I'm at STAR Labs in Metropolis. Can you get Pa on the extension?" Clark rubbed his eyes. He was drained.
Jonathan picked up the phone. "Son? Are you all right?"
"I'm OK, but not back to full super abilities yet." Clark pushed his hair off his face.
"Where's Lexy? Is she all right? Is she with you?" Martha asked.
Clark's voice broke. "No-o, Ma. She's on Earth1." There was a long silence?
"Tell us what happened, son."
"Some of it. The Maelstrom is still making breaches between the Zone and our Earth and, I learned today, no yesterday now, Earth1. I followed a couple of Kryptonian villains back and turned them over to the Lab. It was the only way to warn the Justice League Zod was planning to escape and invade Earth."
"Oh, Clark. Oh, my poor boy." Martha said. "What are you going to do next?"
"Help the Justice League and the Lab seal the breaches in the Zone. Barry and Emil think they can work out a way, but it may take a while. It's got to be done, or Zod will escape and there'll be a war across the United Planets. I had no choice but to return."
Martha said, "Then what? Will you return to Earth1?"
Clark shook his head, although his parents couldn't see him. "No, Emil says I'll be here on this side. She'll be there."
"My poor baby," said Martha.
Clark's eyes grew damp. "It's necessary, Ma. Lexy and I knew I couldn't stay there and let Zod start this war."
"Want us to come to Metropolis?" Jonathan asked.
"No, we're working 24/7 for a while. I can come to Smallville the day after tomorrow for a few hours. I need to see you."
"Of course. We'll be here," said Martha.
They talked for another hour. Clark said goodbye, for they needed sleep. He laid in bed, staring at the ceiling until he fell asleep, and dreamt of Lexy searching for him. He called to her, but she couldn't hear him and he lost her in his dreams.