"What?!"
"Are you kidding?"
Michael couldn't help crying out when he heard that.
"Impossible! Parallel universes... they're only a theoretical hypothesis in string theory and quantum mechanics!"
He lowered his head and began muttering to himself.
"The energy barriers between universes can't be breached so easily. First molecular resonance phase-shifting, and now parallel universes. No, it's impossible."
Lois listened to the completely incomprehensible terms spilling from his mouth, unable to understand why he was acting like this.
But she paid no further attention to Mister Terrific, who had already sunk into self-doubt.
She turned to look at Pero before her.
Superman from another universe?
There was no signature cape, nor the classic red-and-blue bodysuit.
This didn't seem very convincing.
Sensing why she was sizing him up, Pero raised a hand to interrupt her inspection.
"Stop. I'm not wearing red-and-blue baby pajamas like Clark. Black battle armor is what I'm after."
But Lois saw how confident Pero looked.
For some reason, she believed him. She believed that Pero was Superman from another universe.
It was an instinct.
The instinct to clutch at one last straw in the depths of despair.
"You..." Lois's voice trembled. "Can you rescue Clark?"
Pero looked at the hope almost spilling from her eyes, nodded, then shook his head.
"I can step in."
After all, if he waited much longer, Lex Luthor might torment this Clark to death.
"But," he changed tack, "I'm not responsible for finding him or making plans. Handle those troublesome things yourselves."
"You can't rely on outsiders to solve things every time something happens and never improve yourselves."
That was Pero's code of conduct.
He could provide world-shattering power, but he couldn't be bothered to deal with all the tedious steps.
Because he was lazy.
Lois and Michael exchanged a glance, each seeing