In the corridor outside Blackgate Penitentiary, Bruce's Communicator suddenly rang.
It wasn't the Batcave's internal channel.
Nor was it Gordon's police line.
Only an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
Bruce glanced at it and didn't answer.
The call disconnected automatically.
Three seconds later, it rang again.
Yang Ming leaned against the wall, still holding the mint he'd just bought from the vending machine.
"Answer it."
Bruce turned his head.
"You know who it is?"
"No."
Yang Ming tore open the wrapper and tossed the mint into his mouth.
"But anyone who can get through to your encrypted channel either has serious skills or a serious death wish."
The call rang for the third time.
Bruce answered.
"Who is this?"
Rapid panting came from the other end.
"Bruce Wayne?"
It was a man's voice.
Yang Ming crunched the mint.
He'd heard this voice in the press conference materials.
Lex Luthor's Chief Scientist, Elias Thorne.
Bruce's brows lowered.
"How did you get my private number?"
"I don't have time to explain."
Elias's voice was hoarse, with the constant sound of metal bursting in the background.
"You need to contact the military immediately and seal off LexCorp's underground facility. There's an out-of-control lifeform there, and it's already entered Metropolis proper."
Bruce glanced at Yang Ming.
"What kind of lifeform?"
The other end fell silent for half a second.
"Something Lex Luthor created using Zod's corpse."
It was as though someone had pressed down on the air.
Elias continued:
"It's fighting a Kryptonian. That Kryptonian can fly, has Heat Vision, and is incredibly strong. But he's being overpowered."
Yang Ming's eyelid twitched.
"Clark?"
Bruce didn't ask how he knew.
Elias had clearly heard him.
"You know him?"
"Give me the coordinates."
Bruce's tone turned icy.
"Southeast of Lex Tower, near the river embankment.