"Adrian!"
Adrian stood at the Justice Society Headquarters, preparing to leave when Bart suddenly called out to him.
"What is it, Bart?"
Adrian's tone remained measured and slightly more relaxed than usual when speaking to him. Bart had been with him from the beginning, and that familiarity showed in the way he addressed him.
"I heard those soldiers used some kind of super soldier serum you created. Is that true? Are we really doing something like that?"
Bart looked at him with concern.
"I had already developed it before the Metropolis incident. In controlled applications, it doesn't cause significant instability in the subject."
Adrian's expression remained cold and composed.
"I…"
Bart shook his head slightly. "I don't think this is just an extreme problem anymore. This is starting to sound like something a mad scientist would do, Adrian."
He hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
"Have you ever played chess, Bart?"
Adrian interrupted him calmly.
Bart blinked, caught off guard. "I didn't expect that question."
"I played when I was younger," Bart admitted, "but I never really had time to study it properly."
"Is that so?"
Adrian's gaze sharpened slightly. "How fast can you learn?"
Before Bart could respond, Adrian activated his super speed.
In less than a second, a chessboard was fully arranged on the table between them.
Bart stared at it for a moment, then slowly sat down opposite him.
"Alright," Bart said, exhaling. "I don't know if I can beat you, but I can try. Using our speed, of course."
Adrian sat down across from him, resting his chin lightly on his hand, his other hand hovering over the board.
"How fast do you think, Bart?"
"There's no way to measure that," Bart replied.
Then he corrected himself almost immediately. "No, actually… it's going to be extremely fast. My thinking speed will be insane."
With that, he began moving pieces at high speed, his hands leaving faint afterimages.
Adrian matched him instantly. Each move was mirrored with precision in less than a second.
The room filled only with rapid, rhythmic clicks of chess pieces.
"I've always considered you my brother," Bart said while continuing the match.
"I don't know how to explain it properly, but Smallville feels like home, and you feel like family. A lot has changed since we first met, when I tried to push Jonathan away. I don't know what changed in you over time, but I haven't changed."
"I have never changed my stance," Adrian replied without hesitation.
"Even if that means imprisoning metahumans?" Bart asked, his hands never stopping.
"It is similar to implementing gun control due to the possibility of conflict," Adrian said after a brief pause. "I don't see why it is something I cannot do. If something can be done, then we do it. That applies to both of us, doesn't it?"
He moved a piece instantly.
"If you did that," Bart said, "how long would it take? A day? Two? You can't catch every metahuman. It's like banning all guns."
"We can eliminate most of the risk," Adrian replied.
"That's exactly it," Bart said. "We can, but that doesn't mean we should. Otherwise, Adrian, they will hate you forever."
"They already will," Adrian answered coldly.
"I know," Bart said quietly, "but they will resist you."
"This world will never lack people who hate me."
Bart frowned. "You're getting more extreme."
Sweat formed on his forehead as Adrian's pressure on the board intensified.
"This world cannot be trusted," Adrian said firmly. "I am protecting what I choose to protect, in the only way that ensures survival. You don't know what is coming in the future."
His final move landed with precision.
"Checkmate."
Bart froze.
"If that day arrives," Adrian continued, "I will use my power in my own way to protect those I care about."
"Anyone who stands in my way will be removed without hesitation, even if they are considered righteous in your eyes."
He stood up, looking down at Bart.
"Do not underestimate my will to change this world."
Without waiting for a response, Adrian turned and walked away.
"I have other matters. I'm heading to the metahuman prison."
Bart remained seated, staring at the chessboard, defeated and silent.
Adrian's final voice reached him from a distance.
"Tell Jenna to stay away from the people in Blue Valley."
Bart closed his eyes briefly. He understood exactly what Adrian meant.
Jenna had been spending time with Stargirl and her group in Blue Valley, and those individuals were openly opposed to Adrian.
"Alright," Bart said quietly. "I'll tell her."
---
At Kent Farm, the front door creaked open.
Martha Kent looked up, surprised to see Lex Luthor standing outside.
Her expression shifted immediately into shock.
"Lex?"
"Hello, Mrs. Kent," Lex said with a polite smile. "It's been a long time."
He handed her a small gift before stepping inside after her invitation.
From upstairs, Rachel hurried down the stairs after hearing the noise.
Thump, thump, thump.
Lex's eyes widened slightly. "Rachel?"
He looked at her with mild surprise. She had grown significantly since he last saw her.
"You're Lex Luthor?" Rachel asked, surprised.
"Rachel," Martha corrected firmly. "It's Uncle Lex."
"It's fine," Lex said calmly with a faint smile. "Sorry, I didn't bring you anything this time. I'll make up for it."
"Thank you," Rachel replied.
She tilted her head slightly, still confused. He was supposed to be in treatment, yet he seemed perfectly normal.
After she returned upstairs, Lex sat down with Martha.
"No news from Clark?" he asked.
"Not yet," Martha replied with a sigh. "But I'm more worried about Adrian."
"He's doing things most people cannot understand," Lex said thoughtfully.
"That's not it," Martha said, shaking her head. "He's hurt. More than ever before. Losing Jonathan and Lana changed him. He is trying to fix what he lost."
She paused.
"When Adrian was younger, he had a hamster he loved. It brought him comfort. But one day it disappeared. He was devastated. Even though it was probably just lost or taken, he blamed the farm animals and drove them away. Even then, his strength was already beyond normal limits."
Lex listened quietly.
"So when he feels loss or failure, he reacts with force," Lex said slowly. "Even if it crosses lines others won't accept."
Martha nodded. "We all react like that in some way. The difference is his power."
Lex looked down. "Power changes consequences."
"He needs help," Martha said softly. "You're his friend. You should see that."
After a long silence, Lex finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"When the time comes," Martha said, "do what is right."
"I'll think about it," Lex replied.
After leaving Kent Farm, Lex got into his car and drove toward Metropolis.
He needed to speak with Adrian.
---
Elsewhere, Adrian was already moving.
His super vision had locked onto Green Arrow's group inside the metahuman prison. Sensing instability, he increased his speed.
Inside the facility, chaos was already unfolding.
Mera stood in the corridor, facing Captain Atom.
There was uncertainty in her eyes.
"Who are you?"
"I am speaking as a United States Air Force officer," the man replied firmly. "I am Captain Atom."
Green Arrow, breathing heavily, spoke from the side. "Not the time for jokes, Captain."
"I am not joking," Captain Atom said. "I served under General Eiling in a special operations unit. My mission is clear. I am here to extract these metahumans."
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