Jonathan and Martha sat frozen, their minds completely overwhelmed by the mind-bending concept of "parallel universes."
The living room fell silent, save for the soft crackle of the fireplace and the faint slurping sound of Saraphiel sipping his chocolate milk.
"Brother, I never would've guessed that big, goofy Clark would end up our greatest enemy," Godspeed's icy voice echoed in Saraphiel's mind. "He fooled us all with that act."
"I was even thinking of making him our general someday."
"Who'd have thought he'd become an emperor? Dad gave it to him!"
"Godspeed, don't talk nonsense. Clark's not like that," Saraphiel muttered, his small hands unconsciously tightening around his mug. "He's probably just… just…"
"Just what? Just that good at pretending?"
"Brother, you're worrying me."
"Don't end up as his general," Godspeed sighed, sounding far older than his years. "You'd probably count the money for the guy who sold you out and smile about it."
"Well, that's why I've got you, right?" Saraphiel said casually, taking another sip of his sweet chocolate milk.
His ears, though, were perked, intently eavesdropping on the adults' conversation in the living room.
Hmph.
Completely ignoring Godspeed's mental meltdown over his remark.
It took a long while for Jonathan to reboot his ability to speak.
His voice carried a cautious, almost prayer-like tone as he ventured, "So… does that mean…"
He glanced at Martha, seeking support, before continuing.
"In our world, Lock and Dio… they won't die in the future?"
"And Clark… he won't turn into that…" Jonathan's voice dropped, heavy with dread, "…world-ruling 'emperor' you mentioned?"
"…"
Joruno's face twisted into a complicated, bitter smile, a mix of helplessness and deep exhaustion.
He shook his head.
"Grandpa Jonathan, I… can't predict the future."
His soft words hit Jonathan like a sledgehammer.
"All I brought is a tragedy that already happened in another universe. The future of this universe? It's wide open, shaped by every choice you make right now. My being here might already be messing things up, making the future even murkier."
"I don't have answers. I'm sorry."
His eyes were sincere as he added the last part softly.
Jonathan's shoulders slumped.
A crushing guilt mixed with his deep love for his adopted son gripped him, making his chest tight.
His kind, sunny Clark—the boy who always tried to hide his special gifts—turning into a world-dominating, darkness-bringing tyrant in another universe…
The thought sent chills down his spine.
That wasn't how he raised him!
Could it be… because of Clark's origins?
Did he, by insisting on adopting that child, bring a wolf into their home?
The idea slithered into Jonathan's mind like a venomous snake, choking him with guilt and cold dread.
Nearby, Lock, who'd been watching his brother's expression, could tell the old softie was spiraling, taking on burdens that weren't his.
He set down his coffee cup with a soft clink, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Jonathan," Lock said, his voice light but firm, almost cheerful. "Stop overthinking. Quit the unnecessary drama."
"Be honest. Do you really think the Clark we raised—the kid who'd mope all day over stepping on a corn sprout, who'd spend his allowance on food for stray dogs, who'd cry his eyes out watching soap operas, who'd only ever haul logs to blow off steam when Dio ticked him off—do you see even a hint of world-ruling, emperor-wannabe vibes in him?"
"Uh… no? Not really?" Jonathan blinked, caught off guard by the blunt question, though his tone still wavered with doubt.
"Drop the 'really' part," Lock said, rolling his eyes.
"Jonathan!" Martha jumped in, smacking her husband's broad back with a firm hand. "Enough with the crazy thoughts! We're alive and well! As long as I'm on this farm, if Clark ever dares go off the rails and turn into some… some jerk emperor, I'll—" She paused, searching for the ultimate threat, then declared, "I'll whack him back to his senses with a frying pan! You bet I will!"
Lock couldn't help but chuckle at his sister-in-law's fierce, protective stance, easing the room's heavy mood.
He turned his gaze back to Joruno, his eyes now filled with genuine curiosity.
"Alright, since that's another universe's story, and we're all doing just fine here…" Lock spread his hands, his tone practical. "I'm guessing I can't help much? I mean, it's another world's problem, right?"
"No, Grandpa."
Joruno's voice turned deadly serious, cutting Lock off. He carefully reached into the inner pocket of his stylish floral shirt and pulled out an object.
A futuristic wristwatch, its design sleek and otherworldly. The band seemed to be made of some living metal, shimmering with a faint silver-blue glow. The face wasn't a traditional dial but a transparent crystal, with tiny golden energy streams flowing like liquid. At its core, a pulsing, radiant white energy flickered.
That light…
Even through the crystal, it radiated immense, dynamic power.
"You can help. You're the only one who can."
Joruno gently placed the watch on the table, sliding it toward Lock.
Under Lock's puzzled stare, he explained, his voice steady but earnest. "This is from Mr. Barry Allen…"
"In his final moments, he left us the last, purest fragment of his Speed Force."
Joruno's fingers brushed the glowing core with reverence and sorrow. Then he looked up, his eyes blazing with intensity.
"Put it on, activate it, and it can break through the barriers between universes, taking you to our world."
As Lock's confusion deepened, Joruno launched into a detailed explanation of the miraculous device's workings.
"I combined my Golden Experience's ability to grant life with a special stabilizing device developed by Professor Charles and Mr. Bruce Wayne to preserve it like this."
He tried to simplify the complex process. "It's not just raw Speed Force energy anymore—it's like a living entity with an instinct to return home."
"When you activate it," Joruno pointed to the pulsing white light, "the activated Speed Force particles will envelop you. Their extreme speed and sensitivity to spatial vibrations will act like a key, piercing the 'membrane' separating our universes, opening a brief, unstable passage."
Lock's eyes flashed with surprise.
Wasn't this another layer of Golden Experience's power? Giving life to objects, making them seek their "master" no matter the distance?
But… wasn't the Speed Force's master supposed to be Barry Allen?
Lock's brows furrowed.
From Joruno's words, it sounded like the Flash had died in that world.
"Grandpa," Joruno said, sensing his doubt and cutting to the heart of it. "You're right."
"This Speed Force's 'source' is Mr. Barry, but…"
"It was born and exists in our universe."
"Its 'roots' are there. So its instinct to return will pull it—and you—toward our world."
His voice grew resolute. "In other words, Grandpa, you can use this device to harness the activated Speed Force's desire to 'go home,' locking onto our universe's coordinates and letting it pull you there! It's the only way to cross into our desperate world!"
Lock fell silent, his gaze lingering on the strange watch. The flowing golden energy and pulsing white Speed Force were mesmerizing.
After a long pause, he looked up, meeting Joruno's eyes with a calm but piercing question. "So, what exactly do you need me to do there?"
His tone was direct, with a hint of self-deprecation.
Not that Lock doubted himself, but he couldn't fathom standing up to a "Heavenly Emperor" Clark. Could he even take two punches?
Joruno nodded, as if he'd been waiting for this. He took a deep breath, summoning the courage to voice his heavy request.
His expression turned grave, even… tinged with shame.
"It's simple, Grandpa."
His soft words hit the quiet room like a thunderclap.
"You just need to… convince Uncle Clark."
He paused, then forced out the bombshell. "To stop the interstellar expedition he's launching."
"…?"
Interstellar expedition?!
Even Lock's usual calm cracked, his eyebrow twitching upward, blue eyes flashing with confusion and disbelief, as if he'd misheard.
"Clark's doing what?" His voice stayed steady, but the slight rise in pitch betrayed his shock.
Jonathan and Martha instinctively glanced out the window, half-expecting to see starships looming over Smallville's quiet night sky.
"Interstellar expedition," Joruno repeated, his tone heavy.
"He's rallied the entire world's resources, built a massive fleet, and plans to head into space to plunder resource-rich alien planets."
The young man from another world wore a bitter expression, helpless against an unstoppable force.
"But Grandpa, our world…"
"That battered Earth can't handle this kind of strain anymore."
"Overexploited resources, extreme militarization, and this near-mad obsession with expansion—it's tearing apart what little life we have left."
"It's not hope. It's a final, reckless spiral into self-destruction."
His voice caught faintly, but he quickly steadied himself, regaining his calm.
"We—Professor Charles, Mr. Wayne, Uncle Lex—we've tried everything to stop him."
"But against that man…"
Joruno shook his head, a shadow crossing his eyes.
"Against the absolute power and will of Clark Kent, the 'Heavenly Emperor,' all our efforts are like fireflies challenging the sun—insignificant, futile."
"We can't even get an audience with him!"
He looked down at his hands, knuckles white from clenching.
"It's… pathetic, really."
His voice dropped, thick with self-mockery and exhaustion.
"The greatest minds of our world, countless resources, and endless effort… and our last, desperate plan…"
He looked up, his eyes burning with a mix of hope, guilt, and resolve.
"…is to cross the universe, find you, and beg you to be our voice."
"…"
Lock fell silent.
The only sounds were the crackling fire and the occasional chirp of crickets outside.
He couldn't fully grasp or measure it—the despair and struggle of another world…
So profound, so absurd, that they'd pinned their last, faint hope on an ordinary farmer from a parallel universe?
And all they wanted was for him to… talk to a god?
No matter how you sliced it, it didn't seem that simple.
"Joruno…" Lock murmured, his gaze dropping back to the watch, weighing the cosmic request.
"No way!" Jonathan's voice boomed, shattering the brief silence.
He shot up from his chair, the legs scraping harshly against the floor. His tall frame leaned forward, his face set with unyielding worry.
"Lock, it's too dangerous! You can't go!"
From Joruno's words alone, Jonathan could picture that alien future.
How powerful, how terrifying must Clark be to create such a world? That wasn't his simple adopted son anymore—that was an emperor, a dictator launching interstellar conquests!
What if Clark, in a rage, refused to listen and took Lock out with two punches?
The thought alone tore at his heart.
If that was the case…
Jonathan took a deep breath, steeling himself. He reached for the watch in Lock's hand, his voice resolute.
"A son's failure is a father's fault."
"I didn't have the time or chance to raise him right, and that's why he became… that, in another world."
"This is my debt to pay."
His gaze was firm, stubborn. "I'll go. I don't believe… Clark would really punch me out."
Joruno was stunned by Jonathan's sudden resolve and responsibility, his eyes flashing with surprise, then deep respect.
He stared at this tall, rugged, honest-faced farmer—this grandfather he'd just met, now radiating astonishing courage.
No wonder he's a Kent…
Joruno silently marveled. Even across universes, that bone-deep sense of duty, that willingness to risk everything for family… it was the golden spirit of the Kents!
His nose stung, but he quickly snapped back, gently but firmly pressing down Jonathan's rough hand.
"Grandpa Jonathan," he said with respect but a touch of helplessness.
"Your courage and responsibility are incredible, but…"
"It won't work."
He met Jonathan's confused gaze, explaining patiently, "Your physical condition…"
"You can't withstand the strain of crossing the universal barrier."
He chose his words carefully. "You don't have… a 'Stand' to reinforce your body. When the Speed Force particles erupt and envelop you for the crossing, that immense energy and spatial distortion…"
Joruno paused, reluctant but honest. "Your body would likely… disintegrate instantly."
"…"
A Stand?
Jonathan froze, his outstretched hand halting mid-air.
A flicker of confusion crossed his face, then morphed into something complex.
That thing?
Come on, he wasn't clueless!
Living under the same roof as his brother for years, even if Lock hid it well, there were moments when hints slipped through. Jonathan just chose to respect his privacy and never called it out.
Seeing Jonathan grasp the danger, Joruno exhaled, his grip on Jonathan's wrist steady as he continued, "Grandpa Jonathan, you don't need to worry too much about Grandpa Lock's safety."
He pointed to the watch. "As long as he wears this and reaches our world, his body will be coated in active Speed Force particles. They're not just a medium for crossing—they're a…"
"Failsafe."
His tone grew confident. "If Grandpa Lock faces any life-threatening harm in our world—whether it's the punches you're worried about from Uncle Clark or anything else—the particles will deactivate instantly, shifting from 'living' to 'inert' energy."
"And once the 'living' Speed Force dies, our world will naturally reject him, snapping him back to your world instantly. In theory, he'll be in no real danger."
"I swear it…"
"On the Kent family name!"
"…"
"Joruno…"
What do you expect me to say when you're swearing on my name?
Jonathan sighed, his brows still knitted with lingering doubts and worry.
That was another universe, with an unknown, dangerous Clark. No matter how perfect the theory, accidents could happen. How could he fully trust sending his brother into that?
But before he could speak, a warm, slightly calloused hand rested on his arm.
Martha.
She glanced at Lock, who was clearly deep in thought, then shook her head gently at her husband, her eyes soft but firm, silently stopping him.
"Jonathan," she said quietly, her voice calm with a worldly wisdom.
"The kids' business…"
"Especially something involving another world—let Lock decide. He knows what's at stake."
"You said it yourself: trust is the most important thing in our family."
She knew her brother-in-law. Lock might seem carefree, but he was fiercely principled and resolute. Once he'd thought something through and made up his mind, no one could sway him.
Instead of fretting with useless objections, better to give him full trust and support.
With that, she let go of Jonathan's arm and turned to Joruno, her eyes brimming with warmth and compassion.
"You poor thing…" she said softly, wrapping Joruno in a gentle embrace.
It was a warm, comforting hug, filled with the Kents' simple, heartfelt care.
"You've been through so much… carrying this burden alone, crossing universes to find us…"
Caught off guard by the sudden warmth, Joruno stiffened. He was used to strategizing, shouldering heavy responsibilities, armoring himself with calm and resolve.
But now, in this pure, unguarded affection, his softest core was touched.
His tense frame slowly relaxed.
A faint glimmer of tears flickered in his eyes, quickly suppressed, as he returned the hug to this grandmother he'd just met, murmuring, "…I'm okay."
Jonathan watched his wife, sighing helplessly, swallowing his unspoken objections.
But the tender moment didn't last.
As Martha opened her mouth to say more, Joruno's figure began to… blur and turn translucent!
"?!"
Martha gasped, pulling back.
Joruno looked down at his hands, now semi-transparent and emitting faint golden particles, his face showing little surprise but a trace of regret as he sighed.
"Time's up…"
"This universe's rejection is getting stronger," he said, his voice echoing as if from far away. "Grandpa, I've delivered the device and the request. The choice… is yours."
His form faded further, like morning mist dissolving in sunlight, his outline blending into the air.
"Joruno!" Martha cried, tears welling as she reached for him, grasping only a handful of vanishing golden specks.
Jonathan and Lock fell silent, the air heavy with unspoken weight.
Even Saraphiel, quietly munching pie, seemed to grasp something, sighing like a little adult, his dark eyes filled with a wisdom beyond his years.
"Oh, God…" Martha wiped her tears, sobbing softly.
Lock lowered his gaze to the watch in his hand, its faint glow still pulsing. His fingers traced the warm, living metal band, feeling the sealed power within.
Strictly speaking, that world…
That desperate future had nothing to do with him, Lock Kent.
It was another universe's tragedy, between another Lock and another Clark.
He could tuck the watch away and go back to his quiet farm life.
But his mind drifted to that stormy night seven years ago.
That awkward blond kid, leaving behind a gift—a blue ladybug that, in a critical moment, shielded him from a demon's fatal blow.
So…
He'd planned this far ahead, huh?
That little punk.
Using a favor from across time to cash in for a cosmic intervention?
And was it really just about being a messenger?
Lock chuckled softly, his laugh carrying a mix of understanding and quiet awe.
He glanced at Saraphiel, who was staring at him with big, curious eyes, a smudge of jam on his face.
Yeah.
He wasn't just a father—he'd be a grandfather someday.
How could he show hesitation or fear in front of his kid?
The thought rippled through him like a stone in a still lake, tipping the scales of his decision.
He took a deep breath, the last trace of doubt fading from his eyes, replaced by resolve.
"Jonathan," he said, his features sharpening, his voice ringing with unshakable determination. "I'm going. Tonight. Look after Saraphiel for me."
Jonathan's head snapped up, stunned by how quickly Lock decided.
"Lock! Hold on—"
But before he could finish, Lock snapped the strange watch onto his left wrist.
The living metal band adjusted instantly, molding perfectly to his wrist.
In the next second, with no time for anyone to react or protest, Lock raised his right hand, his eyes narrowing, and slammed his palm down on the crystal dial pulsing with white energy.
Bang!
The change was instantaneous.
Buzz—!
A low hum erupted, and blinding white lightning-like energy particles exploded from the watch, engulfing Lock in a swarm of writhing silver snakes!
A dazzling, blinding cocoon of light formed, crackling with teeth-gritting intensity.
The raw energy surged outward, whipping the curtains into a frenzy and rattling cups and plates on the table.
Jonathan and Martha instinctively stepped back, shielding their eyes. Saraphiel shrank back, clutching Martha's hem.
Boom!
The white lightning cocoon blazed brighter, its energy peaking in a heart-stopping surge before collapsing inward, as if swallowing light itself.
Whoosh!
The light vanished, erased from existence.
And with it, Lock was gone.
The living room fell still, save for the swaying curtains, a faint acrid smell in the air, and the stunned, pounding hearts of Jonathan, Martha, and Saraphiel.
"Godspeed…" Saraphiel swallowed, his voice small with worry. "Dad's gone. What's the future like?"
"…"
No response.
"Godspeed?"
"…"
It took a moment for Saraphiel to realize.
Forget where Dad went—where's my brother?!
Why's the voice in my head gone?!
Godspeed?!
Godspeed, where are you?!
Where'd my big ol' Godspeed go?!