Chapter 10: A Call to The Blue Boy scout

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Batman scowled, his dark eyes shifting toward the tree line. Hidden in the dense woods beyond the beach were the backup teams, the second wave of reinforcements, who had been poised to act if things went south. But now, they stood silently, concealed in shame. Not one of them had lifted a finger to help. Batman's jaw tightened as they looked away, avoiding his cold, piercing gaze.

He had expected better, but today, the League had been outmatched.

Without another word, he activated his communicator, contacting Superman. The Man of Steel was supposed to be on vacation, enjoying a rare moment of respite with Lois Lane in Japan. She had been working on a major international news story, her first for The Daily Planet. Superman had promised her a peaceful trip — but peace, it seemed, would have to wait.

A faint crackle of static, then the familiar, steady voice came through. "Bruce, what's going on?"

Batman's expression darkened. "We had an incident. Unknown alien. Possibly hostile. He took down Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and the others in under a minute. He's now in space, but Cyborg's tracking him."

There was a pause, then Superman's calm voice returned, though a trace of concern had crept in. "How bad are they?"

"Bruised and broken, but alive," Batman replied, his voice curt. "If he wanted them dead, they'd be dead. He doesn't seem to be Kryptonian. His abilities... they're different. I need you to talk to him, Kal. You might be the only one who can."

Superman sighed on the other end of the line. He had hoped for a quiet week, some time to relax, to let Lois unwind after the stresses of her latest investigation. But he couldn't ignore this. Not when lives might be at risk. He turned his head slightly, glancing toward Lois, who sat across the small table in their hotel room, her eyes bright with the thrill of her upcoming story.

Lois caught his look, raising an eyebrow. "You're going, aren't you?"

Clark Kent, in his casual clothes, offered her a sheepish smile, apologetic but firm. "Just for a little while. Batman needs help."

Lois sighed, leaning back in her chair, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips despite her exasperation. "You can't go anywhere without someone needing Superman, huh?"

He chuckled softly. "It's only a quick trip. I'll be back before you know it."

Lois leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Just be careful, Clark. I still need you to help me get this story on the front page."

"Always," he promised, then stood, making his way toward the door.

Once he was out of her line of sight, Superman moved. In the blink of an eye, he was gone from the room, streaking into the sky faster than a flash of light. He ascended into the clouds, the world blurring beneath him as he sped upward, higher and higher. As soon as he reached a secluded part of the sky, where no human eyes could see, he shed his civilian guise.

His iconic blue and red suit shimmered into place, the red cape billowing out behind him as the symbol of hope emblazoned on his chest gleamed in the sunlight. Superman had arrived.

But he hesitated. If this was a hostile first contact, he needed to approach carefully. His mind flickered to something his mother, Martha, had always told him as a child. "Clark, when you meet someone new, it's always polite to bring a gift. Shows you come with good intentions."

A small smile touched his lips. It seemed like a trivial thing now, but Martha had been right — kindness could go a long way, even in the most uncertain of situations.

Superman altered his course slightly, diving down into a quiet street in a small town outside Tokyo. He landed softly, making sure he wasn't seen, before approaching a corner store. It was one of those cozy, unassuming places with a wooden sign above the door. The owner greeted him with a bow as he entered, wide-eyed at the sight of the Man of Steel casually walking into his shop.

Superman gave a polite nod in return and wandered the aisles, carefully selecting a few items: traditional Japanese snacks, a bottle of locally brewed tea, and a small box of sweets. A humble offering, but one that could hopefully break the ice with this unknown alien.

After paying, Superman tucked the items under his arm, then took to the skies again. His cape snapped behind him as he soared higher, breaking through the atmosphere and into the vast expanse of space. 

His mind, however, was focused on the task ahead. His mother's wisdom echoed in his ears as he flew toward the coordinates Cyborg had provided. Start with kindness, Clark. Always show them who you are.

He hoped this alien — whoever he was — would be willing to listen.