"This is breaking news from the National Network and we are interrupting all scheduled programming for a developing story in Washington. Reports are coming in that Superman has returned to the public eye after a full month of silence and that he is preparing to make a statement outside the White House within the hour. We are being told that a stage has been set up on the North Lawn directly in front of the press pool and that a full broadcast feed has been requested for all major networks. This will be transmitted across the United States and also through every international outlet that has picked up the link."
"This is unexpected. Officials inside the administration have given no comment yet and details remain limited. All we know at this moment is that Superman contacted the White House only minutes ago and that preparations began almost immediately. A large crowd is gathering outside the gates and more people are arriving by the second. We have correspondents on the ground and we will bring you live footage as soon as the signal is clear."
The anchor leaned forward.
"It is not common for Superman to speak from Washington and it is even rarer for him to call for a global broadcast, so speculation has started across the political and scientific community. Some believe this may be connected to the continued reconstruction efforts after the Viltrumite attacks and the unresolved disputes between federal authorities and several international coalitions. Others believe he may be addressing his absence and the concerns raised by many leaders and citizens about his long silence."
"What makes this more unusual is the timing. The White House schedule was cleared on short notice and the staff moved very fast to accommodate the request. Security on the grounds has increased and we have been told that the Justice League has been contacted for coordination. This indicates that whatever Superman intends to say is not a routine statement. It is expected that millions of viewers worldwide will tune in."
"There is a feeling in the air that this may be an announcement of real consequence. Viewers at home will remember that Superman has played key roles in international relief efforts throughout the past decade and has often chosen to stay out of political disputes, so this direct address to the world has left many wondering if he is stepping into a new role or responding to a crisis that has not yet been reported."
He shuffled through his remaining papers again.
"We have two analysts joining us shortly, one from our political desk and one from our global affairs division, and they will help us understand the potential motivations behind this move. For now we will stay with this story as it develops. The stage is nearly set and the press pool is filling fast. The White House communications director is expected to speak first and then Superman will take the podium."
The anchor leaned in once more.
"This is a moment that may shape public discourse for years to come. Superman is preparing to speak to the planet and we will bring you every second live as it happens. Stay with us."
...
Superman stood in one of the side chambers of the White House, a quiet room meant for private preparation, though nothing about it felt quiet to him now. The world was waiting outside and he could feel it pressing against every wall of the building.
Most of the League stood with him in a loose circle. Wonder Woman rested her hand lightly on the edge of a table as she watched him. The Flash shifted from foot to foot as he always did when he was nervous or impatient and his movements stirred faint bursts of air that made the curtains move. Aquaman stood with his arms folded across his chest. Hawkgirl leaned back near the wall with her wings tucked in tight. Mr Terrific stood beside the door looking over occasionally. Even Batman was there despite not being part of the league anymore, although he kept to the part of the room near the corner.
Superman looked at them one at a time. He could not tell if it helped calm him or made him feel more guilty for dragging them into this. His hands remained open at his sides yet there was a tension in them that he could not fully hide.
"I keep asking myself if this is right," he said. "I keep running through every possible outcome and I know how much could go wrong. This is something the world has never seen from me and I am not sure how they will take it."
Wonder Woman stepped forward and placed her palm against his arm. "You have never acted out of pride or anger. You act out of care. That is who you are and that is why we trust you."
The Flash nodded. "People need some hope right now. If you think this is the step that gets them there then we will back you."
Aquaman gave a short sound of agreement. "You choose to do something ambitious, If you choose to carry this burden then you will not carry it alone."
Mr Terrific added, "You ran the numbers with me. You know what will happen if nothing changes. If you believe this move shifts the balance then move forward. We will help manage the fallout."
Their support made him feel better yet the doubt did not vanish. It simply settled somewhere deeper in his chest. He breathed and let it out slowly. He did not need to speak to thank them. They understood he was more greatfuo than words could ever express.
After a moment they all knew it was time.
They began to file out toward the door in a line. Wonder Woman gave his arm one more squeeze before she joined the others. The Flash paused halfway through the doorway and shot him a brief grin then vanished into the hall. Aquaman followed with a firm nod. Hawkgirl brushed past him with a light clink of her gear. Mr Terrific lingered only long enough to say that he would coordinate the crowd control before stepping away.
Batman remained. He did not approach. He stayed in his place near the corner then pushed off the wall. "You are doing something that needs to be done," Batman said. "You see a failing system and you are choosing to stand between it and the people it harms. The hardest choices require the strongest wills. You know that."
Clark nodded. "I do."
Batman shifted as though ready to turn but Clark spoke again before he could take a full step.
"I havent given up on you Bruce, I hope you know that," Clark said. "I will never give up on you."
Batman froze only long enough for Clark to notice the pause in his movement. He did not turn around. He did not answer. He only resumed walking and disappeared down the hallway.
The room fell quiet. Clark stood alone now with only the distant noise of the crowd. He rolled his shoulders and pulled in a breath that filled his chest. He let it out and straightened himself. His doubts were still there but his purpose was set. He stepped toward the door. The moment he reached it an agent opened it from the outside and nodded.
...
Superman walked forward across the North Lawn grass and the crowd noise dropped into a heavy hush as he stepped onto the small platform and moved behind the podium with its cluster of microphones pointed toward him and he adjusted his stance while the cameras flashed in rapid bursts from every direction and the live feeds carried his image to screens across the planet.
He looked out at the sea of faces, reporters in the front rows with notebooks ready and government officials standing farther back near the White House doors and Justice League members positioned along the sides, and he drew a slow breath before he spoke. "Thank you all for coming here on such short notice, first of all I'd like to apologize for stepping away from public view these past weeks, but I needed that time to prepare everything that brings me here today."
Reporters immediately raised hands and several voices called out questions at once, words overlapping about his absence and the relief efforts and what he planned to say, but Superman lifted one hand gently and continued speaking over them.
"If everyone could please hold questions until I finish, I would appreciate it."
The reporters lowered their hands and fell silent, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged quick glances but respected the request and waited.
Superman paused for a moment and his gaze drifted across the podium as if gathering his thoughts, Wonder Woman stepped closer from her position at the edge of the stage and placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a firm nod, he returned the nod before facing the microphones again.
"As you all know Millions of people around the world have lost their homes, their communities and their sense of security after the Viltrumite attacks, families sleep in temporary camps while children miss school and parents struggle to find work and rebuild lives that were torn apart in hours." He hesitated again and the pause stretched long enough for the crowd to shift restlessly.
"I have watched the responses from governments and from large companies, and I find myself disappointed and outraged at how often profit and budgets take priority over helping those who suffer."
Murmurs spread through the press section and grew louder among the onlookers while government staff near the White House exchanged uneasy looks.
Superman kept speaking as the noise settled.
"Governments exist to protect and care for citizens, yet too many decisions favor financial interests and corporate partnerships over immediate aid and fair reconstruction, people wait in lines for basic needs while contracts get signed for developments that push original residents farther away."
More murmurs rippled outward and camera shutters clicked faster and several officials whispered to each other with tense expressions.
"I know some will say my words seem unfair and that resources are limited and money does not appear from nowhere, and those points have merit in ordinary times, but one month ago I stood inside that building behind me and offered President Ellis complete reconstruction of Gotham at no cost to any government or taxpayer, with labor and materials covered entirely by me and the Justice League, and I made the exact same offer to every nation that suffered damage from the Viltrumites."
Gasps rose sharply from the crowd and reporters leaned forward while phones and cameras captured every angle and officials near the doors froze in place with widened eyes.
"Not one government accepted the offer, not a single leader agreed to let us rebuild homes for free so families could return without new debts or higher rents."
The gasps turned to louder reactions and some reporters began typing furiously on devices while others stared in stunned silence.
"I did not come here today to list government failures or point fingers, I came because I care about people, I care about all of you watching and listening right now, and when I first chose to become a hero my only goal was to help anyone who needed it, whether that person cleaned schools for a living or ran a company from a corner office... but for years I ignored suffering that humans caused each other because I believed I had to stay within laws... that I could never place myself above them."
He turned toward the Justice League members standing nearby and they met his gaze.
"But I will not ignore that suffering any longer... we will not ignore it any longer."
He faced the podium again and raised both hands slightly in a calming gesture as fresh murmurs started.
"Please understand that I have no intention of taking the presidency or any elected office, I will not declare myself king or ruler or god, and I will continue to respect and follow the laws of the United States and every nation where I operate."
Superman reached into a compartment on his belt and removed a small crystalline device no larger than a phone and he held it up for the cameras to see and then activated it with a touch, and a bright holographic projection appeared above the podium showing a vast city of gleaming white structures surrounded by snow fields under a clear dome that held stable weather inside.
"For the past month I worked in secret with help from members of the Justice League and technology from Krypton to build this city in an unclaimed region of Antarctica, every building stands ready for immediate occupation with power and water and heating systems that maintain comfortable temperatures year round, and farms inside the dome grow fresh food and factories provide jobs and schools welcome students of all ages and hospitals offer full medical care."
Shocked murmurs exploded through the crowd and spread beyond the gates where thousands more watched on large screens and reporters shouted in surprise while government officials clustered together in urgent conversation.
"I created this city for one purpose, to give every person who lost their home in the attacks a new place to live right now, transportation portals connect directly to major cities on every continent for easy commuting, and residents who already have jobs elsewhere can travel back and forth daily at no cost, and those who want work inside the city will find positions waiting."
"I took this step only after every other option closed, I refused to force governments to act or threaten leaders into compliance, that path would make me the very thing I fight against, so instead I built a choice that harms no nation and claims no existing territory and uses no resources from any country."
He lowered the device while the hologram continued to rotate slowly above him showing streets and parks and homes filled with light.
"Any person who wishes to move to this city may do so today, we will provide free transport from every relief camp and shelter, information lines open within the hour so families can register, and children can start school tomorrow and parents can begin new lives without waiting years for contractors or politicians."
"All I ask from governments is that you allow people to leave if they choose this option, m do not block transportation or pressure families to stay or punish anyone who decides to go."
His voice hardened for the first time and the words carried clearly over the microphones. "If any authority tries to stop them or threatens harm to keep people in camps, then that authority will answer to me and to the Justice League." He paused and scanned the faces in front of him one last time.
"We live in a Brave New World, you gotta keep up with the times or get left behind." Superman stepped back from the podium and offered a final nod.
"Thank you for your time."
(AN: Earth is changing because of Superman. He's going to play an important role later also the reveal of Jon Kent. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
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