The light in the Fortress of Solitude was as cold and crystalline as ever—117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8EVwa2e58
Clear, unchanging. Like eternal ice.
Clark turned to look at Bruce, who stood beneath one of the glowing crystal columns. His usual easy smile was in place.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHYU12MjLu
“Bruce, you know you’re always welcome here. But… why the sudden interest in cataloging alien species?”
The moment his name left Clark’s mouth, Bruce’s shoulders tensed—just slightly.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICRWInAocu
It wasn’t that he wasn’t used to hearing it.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6APdswjyeT
He just didn’t like being reminded that, in this place, he was the only human.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqD6eqR93I
An intruder in a fortress not built for him.
He turned his head, voice flat and composed.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr31VAOTC2
“I watched a documentary. I need to identify one of the creatures in it.”
Clark raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82QiVw3qz9
“A documentary? What kind? I love a good documentary.”
Bruce’s expression didn’t change, but his voice dipped lower.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKC1ahu5Nm
“Clark. I don’t recommend watching this one.”
It wasn’t a warning.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhjS19k1lU
It was protection.
Clark frowned. “Why not?”
Bruce didn’t answer directly. Just shook his head.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh3cOZdqBj
“You’d get… emotional. Just help me search.”
Clark hesitated, clearly skeptical, but didn’t press. He walked to the main control crystal and summoned the interface with practiced ease.
“What keywords do I use?” he asked, hands already moving.
Bruce took a moment.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3ENH2w2NU
Then, eyes like frost, he said:117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4mcdSheEF
“Massive. Purple slime. Space-time manipulation.”
Clark entered the terms. The system responded instantly, a glowing list of results flickering across the air in front of them.
Scrolling through, Clark muttered, “None of these look like anything common, Bats—”
“Wait,” Bruce said sharply.
Clark tapped an entry. The file expanded, bathing the room in a colder glow.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMkUtl3s3x
There were only a few lines.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihxal52vye
But the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtvD8uLiME
Name: Cosmic Sloth-type Parasite117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G7pnlhWmu
Size: Immense. Unmeasurable.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9FwzO7qVJ
Description: Moves extremely slowly—measured in light-years. Feeds on organic carbon by engulfing entire planets. Capable of traversing wormholes.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcX60OQv4V
Special Notes: Suspected to carry memory-transmitting properties in its blood. Suspected temporal manipulation abilities. Neither confirmed.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR6AsRQYqG
Sightings: 3 recorded.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmlq8ajO4K
Warning: Classified as maximum-level threat. Do not engage. Starships advised to detour around affected sectors to avoid detection.
Bruce went completely still.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4KL0sb6hr
His hands didn’t move, but something in him dropped—117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv2kA7p7ks
Like the weight of the file had slammed into his chest.
Not shock.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3PGsCVywR
Just the familiar, suffocating crush of pressure.
Clark’s smile had long vanished.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7akXCzfUm
His eyes were fixed on the projection. “What kind of documentary features this? Bruce… you do realize this entry—this is from Kryptonian archives.”
He looked sideways, voice cautious now.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y7Pyj1USp
“If even Kryptonians logged it as a red flag, maybe it’s best left alone.”
Bruce said nothing.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53BHD2wdc9
His eyes stayed locked on those few lines, like he was tracing them for some buried truth.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uKkb31Hs5
A conclusion forming—one he didn’t want to reach.
Whatever this was…117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bP8LrvXpw
It was worse than he thought.
117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wxDqYQVbO
and then Add to home screen.