The heavy air of the excavation's command room seemed to blend with the constant hum of the generators. Makeshift steel walls, digital maps projected across the screens, and the rhythmic pounding of machinery in the distance.
Nathaniel Vale massaged his temples, the headache throbbing as if every strike of the machines outside echoed inside his skull.
He hated being there.
On the desk, disorganized papers and security reports piled up. The cold coffee in his mug only deepened the bitter taste of that mission. When the computer in front of him beeped, he straightened his posture.
The screen flickered, and the call came through.
Lex Luthor.
The magnate appeared immaculate, as always — a tailored black suit, a purple tie, and the cold smile of a man who carried the world in the palm of his hand. He stirred his cup of coffee with calm precision, as if he had nothing more important to do.
"Mr. Vale," Lex's voice was smooth, almost mocking. "I trust you're enjoying your stay in Japan."
Nate clenched his fists.
"Enjoying?" he spat, irritation spilling over. "Do you have any idea what you've put me into, Luthor? The conditions here?"
Lex tilted his head slightly, his smile unshaken.
"Of course I do. But you're a smart man, Nathaniel. You know that certain discoveries… demand sacrifices."
Nate slammed his hand on the table, scattering a few reports to the floor. He pulled something from a metal case beside him and held it up to the camera.
An irregular green fragment, glowing with a spectral light.
Kryptonite.
"Sacrifice? This is alien contraband! More than twenty-two pounds hidden in containers! Do you have any idea the mess you've dragged me into because of this?!"
For a moment, Lex's eyes flickered with genuine interest at the sight of the stone, but his smile only grew crueler.
"Take good care of that shipment, Mr. Vale. But before we continue this subject, tell me… how is your dear family?"
Nathaniel froze. His jaw locked tight, his fingers clenching around the fragment until they nearly cut into his skin. No details were needed. He knew Lex was aware of every weakness, every face, every routine—of his mother, of Sophia… and of Ethan.
"Don't you dare, Luthor!" he growled, his voice heavy with restrained hatred.
On the other side of the screen, Lex let out a low, muffled laugh, as if savoring every drop of tension.
"Come now, Mr. Vale… no need to be so dramatic. I only want to make sure you're… fully motivated... After all, family is everything, isn't it?"
Nathaniel drew in a long breath, fighting to contain the anger and fire burning in his chest, forcing himself to cling to logic and dissuade Luthor from the scheme he was orchestrating.
"Listen to me, Luthor. This is a madness and you know it! If the Justice League finds out what we're moving here… if anyone even suspects the origin of this shipment, no amount of political influence or money is going to save any of us!"
On the other side of the screen, Lex took a slow sip of coffee, as though he were listening to the most boring story in the world. When he spoke again, his voice was calm, dripping with that poisonous irony that seemed to coat every word.
"Nathaniel… the world turns because men like me take the risks others fear. And companies like ValeTech only continue to flourish because you know when to obey. So spare me your morality and focus on the task at hand. Now tell me… how is my shipment?"
Nate clenched his fists but drew in another deep breath, forcing himself to keep his composure.
"It's proceeding as planned. The minerals have been moved, some are still being extracted. But so far, no issues."
Lex smiled, and this time his eyes gleamed with a cruel spark.
"Very good, Mr. Vale. I see you're much more sensible than your father.
Nathaniel froze.
"That pleases me…" Lex continued, his tone almost paternal, though venom dripped from every word. "Because that way, I won't have to take… drastic measures again."
The silence that followed seemed to suffocate Nate. The green glow of the kryptonite on his desk reflected in his eyes, but the true weight lay in the subtext of the threat. He didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Lex merely tilted his head in farewell, the cold smile still etched on his face, before ending the call.
The room sank back into the hum of the generators.
Nathaniel stared at the fragment before him, his breath caught in his chest. Once again, as on so many other nights, it wasn't anger burning inside him.
It was fear.
(Continue...)
___________________________________________________________________________
Hello everyone!
For the first time, we stepped away from Ethan's perspective to reveal what his brother Nathaniel has been facing all these years. The weight of his choices, the shadow of Luthor's influence, and the truth about their family… all of this adds a new layer to the story.
t's a unique moment — one that shows how deep the cracks run, and how the Vale family is tied to something far bigger and darker than Ethan yet realizes.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter's. It may have been shorter, but it carried the kind of weight that will echo later on.
If you want to join me, go to my pantreon, there you will find more chapter, anothers histories, a discord and even images to the stories!
"https://www.patreon.com/c/ordernerd"
And of course, I just want to give a huge thank to my subscriber on pantreon!
May your name be forever recorded in the great hall of the Order!
Thank you, Nate Carroll.
Your support truly means a lot!