Clark is tied up in the Fortress in My Adventures with Superman Season 3 episode 9. He asks the Stewards what happened. He discovers that Bizarro is controlled. He asks Stewards what they have done to Bizarro. Steward says they have made him what he was meant to be. He asks Clark why has he returned to them in his failure? Clark mentions Steward sent him those visions. He called him here to get his powers back.
Steward says they didn’t call Clark here. Power belongs to conquerors. All Clark has shown them is weakness. Steward transforms. Clark recognizes Steward, Brainiac. Brainiac admits it. But they’re not the mad, twisted creature Clark met on Kandor. They’re the Brainiac of old Krypton, uncorrupted. They can give him what he seeks.
Clark is surprised that Brainiac can restore his powers. Brainiac approaches Clark. He says they can and they desire to. But first, he must become what he was meant to be. He must show them he’s a conqueror. But Clark doesn’t want to do that. He tells Brainiac that hurting people doesn’t make him strong. Brainiac mentions Clark losing his power, his noble birthright to a mere human. He asks him is that what strength looks like? Does he want these powers or does he not? Clark asks Brainiac what does he have to do? Brainiac tells Clark that he has to learn what strength is.
Clark is transferred to another planet. He looks at his new clothes and his sword. He’s shocked. He asks Brainiac what is this? Brainiac tells Clark that this is what he came for. Prove to them here in Krypton’s ancient past that he is worthy of their power, and they will make him strong again.
Outside Luthor’s company, Kara lies on the ground. She’s unconscious. Jimmy takes care of his girlfriend. Lois walks to Jimmy. She asks him how’s Kara? He says Kara is alive, but she needs real help. He doesn’t know what to do.
Lara asks the two where her father is. Lois tries to tell it to her daughter. But Waller shows up. She tells Lois that she’s taking command of these new Kryptonian assets. Lois says they’re barely more than children. Waller explains it to Lois that there’s a monster on the loose. It defeated Supergirl. It’s impervious to Kryptonite. And no one knows when it’s coming back. But when it does, she needs her little scout troop taking orders from Uncle Sam.
Lois claims that the kids aren’t soldiers. Waller reminds Lois that they’re living in a post-Superman world. Catch up. No one is coming to save them. Lois knows what Waller does is right. She tells her that Supergirl needs an infirmary. Waller says she will go see about a medic. Get those assets in line. She needs soldiers. I can tell Lois is going to train the two kids to be soldiers.
On the planet, Brainiac tells Clark that he needs to prove his strength here. His people were once as he’s now. Primitive, weak, flightless. But when invaders from the stars attacked his ancient ancestors, the first Kryptonians conquered them with no more power than he has now. They took from their enemy the secrets of strength and flight. They turned their dying star into Rao, the living sun whose offspring powers his fortress even now. They became Krypton.
Clark asks Brainiac why he’s telling him all this. Brainiac explains it to Clark that those invaders are coming. This very night. And he will face them. Conquer the invaders. Show them that he has that ancient strength within him, and they will restore his power.
Clark asks Brainiac is it real? Brainiac tells Clark that his foes will be as real as he is. If he lets them kill him, he will perish. Brainiac disappears. Clark says he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. A spaceship shows up in the sky. Clark knows it’s the invaders.
In the tent, Kara lies in the bed. Lois looks at Kara. She walks out of the tent. She tells herself that Clark isn’t here, but she can do this on her own. They’re her kids. She tells the kids that she has spoken with Director Waller. They got a plan to stop Eradicator, save the future, and get the two home.
Jonathan guesses the plan is for them to risk their lives fighting that monster again while Lois watch. Lois says the plan is for everyone to do their part. He asks her how his father feels about the plan. He wonders where his father is. She tells him that his father’s found a way to recover his powers. He’s gone to look for them. But he will be back.
Jonathan realizes that they’re never enough for Lois. In every single timeline her plan is just, “bring back father.” He asks Lara to leave the place with him. But she thinks they should hear mother out. He complains it to her that she always takes Lois’s side. She’s not even their real mother. Why listen to her?
Lois tells Jonathan that he should listen to Lara. Because his last plan to murder Lex Luthor created an uncontrollable monster that beat Kara unconscious before disappearing into the time stream. Maybe that’s why. Jonathan feels sorry for saving his mother’s life. He thinks he cannot do anything right. He flies away.
Lois fails to stop his son. She says she didn’t mean it. Lara tells Lois that Jonathan is always like this. Jonathan is afraid of his mother. Lois realizes that she made her son that way.
On the planet, Clark finds the spaceship of the invaders. The door of the spaceship opens. The invaders show up with guns. Clark is bluffing. He tells the invaders that his warriors have them surrounded. He asks them to surrender. But the invaders shoot Clark with their laser guns.
Clark uses his shield to block the bullets. He has a chance to kill the invader. But he hesitates. The invader pushes Clark off the cliff.
In the tent, Lois says Clark’s gone, Jonathan has disappeared, and a time traveling monster is coming to kill them. She asks Lara which of those problems would she tackle first? Lara is eating a sandwich. She thinks her mother is supposed to know. Lois says she thought she did, before she ruined everything and chased Lara’s brother away. Lara says she cannot make this kind of decision. She will screw it up.
Lois joins Lara on the desk. She tells her that this is her life. Whether they work with Waller or not, she has to have a say in this. They can figure it out together. But they cannot do that unless she trusts herself. She gives the Compass to her. But Lara takes off her compass. Lois is surprised that Lara has a compass. Lara tells Lois that she gave her the same pep talk before she left on this mission. She hugs her. She says almost the same compass.
Lois asks Lara if Future Lois said the same thing she did. Lara laughs. She says pretty much. But with more stuff about how she and Grandpa never got along. Lois says father and she are too much alike. She asks Lara if she wants to eat hot dog.
Kara wakes up in the ward. She remembers she lost. She sees Jimmy who’s sleeping on her bed. Jimmy wakes up. He finds out that Kara is fine. He gives her a hug. He thinks it’s great. She says she’s indeed conscious. She’s happy that the guy shows his true heart. She asks him if he was there when she woke up.
Lois shows up with Lara. She tells Kara that Jimmy has been here the whole time. Kara asks the guy why he didn’t leave the tent. He says because she was here. And he’s not gonna leave her alone again. She’s shy after she heard his confession. But she’s hungry.
Kara sees the hot dog Lois is holding. She takes over the hot dog from her. She thanks her. She eats the hot dog. Lois asks Kara how recovered does she feel? Kara says she’s ready to fight. Lois hears the good news. She’s very happy. She suggests that Kara should go to have a talk with Jonathan before she fights.
Kara asks Lois if she cannot teach her son on her own. She admits that she doesn’t know how to get along with her son. She cannot do it all alone. Kara asks Lois if Clark cannot help her.
Clark wakes up. He sees the invader. The invader picks up a stone. He uses it to hit Clark. Clark rolls aside. The invader picks up Clark’s sword. He attacks Clark. Clark knocks the invader down. He tries to kill him. But he breaks free from Brainiac’s control. He notices the the invader broke his arm. He dresses his wound with his sword. He tells him that he doesn’t want to fight him. Because he’s his friend.
Jonathan is training on the Moon. Kara shows up. She catches the stone that he threw. She asks him if he’s playing moon catch. She returns the stone to him. He wants her to leave him alone. He flies away. She follows him. She tells him that it’s better to talk than to run. He won’t be able to escape her. He’s furious to throw the stone at her. He asks her what she wants. She catches the stone. She says she wants to know why he’s on the moon, and why he’s angry at her, who saved his life?
She returns the stone to him. He says he’s not angry at her. He calls her Aunt Kara. He went off mission. He let Lara leave by herself, he let Eradicator escape. He tried this before, he failed. He’s failing again, and that’s why everyone always wishes he was his perfect father, because who wants him?
Kara tells Jonathan that he’s mistaken. His father isn’t perfect. Lois and the others imagine that he’s perfect. Because even in failure, he won’t give up on them. Kara tells Jonathan that she won’t give up on him. They need them.
Kara takes Jonathan back to the Earth. She tells Lois that Jonathan wants to help them defeat the Eradicator. But Jonathan claims that he won’t take orders from Lois or Amanda Waller. He will prove to Lois that he can do it on his own. Lois gives her son a hug. She says she’s glad he’s back.
Wilson shows up. He hopes Lois’s little super teens are ready for a fight. Lex has found a temporal anomaly. Time travel.
Clark and the invader walk in the snow. The invader is going to fall down. Clark catches the invader. He tells him that he needs to rest. They rest in a cave. Clark plans to take the invader to the ship. He says he needs to get home to his people as well.
A monster shows up. He bites the invader. He takes him out of the cave. Clark fights the monster before the monster hurts his friend. He gains his powers back. He throws the monster away. He wonders what’s happening to him. He finds out that his friend is going to die. He carries him. He wants to take him home.
Waller takes Lois and her team to the site. She tells them that it’s the site of Zero Day, the first alien attack on American soil. It’s now area zero, a Checkmate Command Post. Jimmy gets off the Armored Vehicle with Lois. He wonders if Eradicator is coming here. Waller thinks so unless Luthor is waiting all their time. Luthor says the data doesn’t lie when he checks his laptop. He says something is coming. They have less than 48 hours to prepare for it.
Waller gathers the soldiers in the Barrack. She tells them that this operation, codenamed “Doomsday,” will have two lines of defense. The first line will be the superhumans, led by Agent Wilson. Kryptonians, fall in. Lois shows up. She says Jonathan and Laura will fight, but they’ll take their orders from Supergirl. Waller asks Lois who decided this?
Supergirl says they did it together. She asks Waller is there a problem? Waller tells Supergirl that she’s glad to have her. She hopes she’s as super as she thinks she is.
In the evening, Luthor tries to flee from his tent. Jimmy blocks Luthor’s way. He laughs. He asks him is he really running away again? Luthor says he knows when to get off a sinking ship. Jimmy reminds Luthor that it’s his ship. He has to face the problems he created. Luthor refuses to take the blame. He claims the Kryptonians did it. Jimmy points out that Luthor was the one who set the monster free.
Luthor asks Jimmy what is he supposed to do? Just let the aliens rule over us? Jimmy understands why Luthor is scared. He’s human as well. But those aliens have been paying for Luthor’s mistakes. It’s time to act like the hero he pretends to be. Or admit that he’s the villain.
Clark carries his friend to the spaceship. The invaders see Clark. They run to him with guns. Clark puts his friend on the ground. He raises his hands. He tells the invaders that he’s not here to fight. Their friend needs help. Clark looks at the people. He realizes that they’re not invaders. They’re refugees. He doesn’t want to hurt them. But one of the invaders tries to shoot Clark.
Clark claims that he needs to go home. He asks the invaders not to force him. He tries to use his powers. Brainiac shows up. He asks Clark to do it. But Clark refuses to do it. Brainiac tells Clark that the invaders already died once. What’s the harm in killing them again? He asks him to show them his strength.
Clark is controlled by Brainiac. He tries to approach the invaders. But he refuses to accept Brainiac’s order. He says he won’t murder these people just to satisfy him. That’s not what strength is. Brainiac asks Clark to die here. His family’s hope will die with him.
The invaders try to kill Clark. But Clark’s friend helps Clark. The invaders put away their weapons. Clark tells Brainiac that it’s enough. He has won his game. Brainiac complains it to Clark that they offer him power, and he rejects it. Clark is transferred back to the Fortress. Brainiac tells Clark that he can perish in his weakness.
At the Checkmate Command Post, everyone stands up, except Luthor. Waller asks where Luthor is as the commander. Luthor shows up. He says he’s here. He changed his mind after Jimmy persuaded him.
A beam of light appears. Eradicator walks out of the beam of light. He laughs. He thinks those guys were expecting him. He’s the being they call Eradicator. Jonathan cuts Eradicator in half when Eradicator is talking. Jonathan lands on the ground. He’s confident to tell Kara that he killed Eradicator. They don’t need anyone to come save them. He’s Superman.
But he’s hit by Eradicator. Lois sees her son being beaten. She worries about him. Eradicator tells the people that they’re fools. They has no superman to defend them. He will make sure they never do.
At the Fortress, Clark mentions the invaders, they called something there at the end. He asks Brainiac what was it? Brainiac says the invaders called Clark friend. That’s why Clark failed. Clark disagrees. He says he defeated their leader, he won them over. Brainiac points out that he sent Clark to dominate the Coluans, not befriend them. It’s their fate to serve him. As it’s always the fate of weak to serve the strong. The entire trajectory of the Empire is built on that one just principle.
Clark asks Brainiac where did that trajectory end? Where’s his Empire Now? Brainiac says they won’t be questioned by a beggar. If the weak do not serve the strong, then what is the order of the universe? What is the purpose of their sacrifice? How have they spent these last 10,000 years? Brainiac is a little overwhelmed. He’s desperate to prove the system he speaks of. To prove the time he has spent won’t be meaningless.
SEE ALSO: My Adventures with Superman Season 3 Episode 8 Recap
Clark realizes that Brainiac is the one he carried up to the mountain. Brainiac admits it. He says they’re the eternal servant of the Empire. Clark feels sorry for what those guys did to Brainiac. But Brainiac says it’s enough. He tells Clark that he insults their millennia of service with his pretense of mercy, and he will die for it.
The guards catch Clark. Brainiac tells Clark that there can be no compromise. Only weakness and strength. He tries to kill him. But Bizarro breaks Brainiac’s head with his fist. He unleashes tremendous power. Clark looks at Bizarro.