When Li Jie pushed open the police station doors, Wilson was already shouting loud enough to bring down the ceiling.
"Jay! We've got a disaster! Some alien broke our TV! I was right at the good part, and now that garbage news keeps repeating!"
"What the hell!"
Li Jie shot him a glare, looked around at the terrified faces, and picked up the remote to turn on the television. Sure enough, every news channel was replaying the breaking news from earlier.
Holy shit! Clark's got visitors from back home? Li Jie felt a sudden jolt of alarm. Shouldn't we start with green tea, then pastries, four cold dishes, four hot dishes, a soup, and a main... wait. No, they're here to attack!
He didn't know whether Clark would negotiate with them or fight, but based on what he knew, these Kryptonians were definitely no saints.
He switched off the television. The instant the screen went black, the entire lobby became so quiet he could hear the air blowing from the air conditioning.
"This time," Li Jie said, turning around, "we've got trouble."
Not a "situation." Not a "problem." "Trouble." At the East End Police Department, that word carried serious weight. Wilson had already pressed a hand to his holster on instinct.
"How much trouble?" Anna leaned out from the second floor.
"The guy on TV said twenty-four hours."
Li Jie answered, "If he doesn't get what he wants in twenty-four hours, I'm guessing the trouble will escalate to... 'Gotham no longer exists' levels..."
Before he could finish, Bob hurried in from outside, panting.
"...You're here. Good."
Bob wiped away his sweat. "City Hall issued an emergency notice ten minutes ago ordering all law enforcement agencies to stand by, but there were no specific instructions. Over at Central Headquarters... Gordon's putting