Young Clark barges into the house, covered in black soot and his clothes are charred with holes in them. He appears as if he's just run into a burning building.

"Dad."

Jonathan walks in from another room to meet his son.

"Dad, I screwed up."

"What happened? Are you all right?" Jonathan asks with concern.

"I tried to save them. I really did. There was a fire over at the Ross farm. I went in there and tried to save them. But there was so much smoke and fire that I couldn't see anything and I didn't get to them in time. I couldn't even find them."

"Are they?" Jonathan asks without finishing.

"Pete got out I think. But his parents." explains Young Clark.

"I'm sorry son."

"I screwed up." Clark says, clearly upset.

"Clark..."

"I tried. I really tried. But I screwed up. I couldn't save them. I screwed up and people got killed."

"No, Clark you didn't." insists Jonathan.

"People are dead Dad."

"I know. But that's not your fault. None of it is. You didn't start that fire. It's not your fault that people died. You can't save everyone Clark. No matter how much you might want to, sometimes you can't save people. Not even you can change that son. But at least you tried, and that's the important thing. As long as you do that, then I know you'll do everything you can for other people. And that's the important thing. What's best for other people." Jonathan says, putting his arm around Clark's shoulders and starts walking away from the front door, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Clark and Jonathan make their way into the living room.

* * *

Vril and Lex are walking down the hallway towards the Communications Room.

"I see. That's an interesting approach to sensory detection. I may have to use it for my own sensors." Vril suggests.

"If it will help us continue contact with the people of Colu, then I welcome it." Lex says.

"Indeed."

"But the main communications computer is what makes it all work. I'm sure you'll be impressed by that most of all."

Lex and Vril walk into the Communications Room. Vril and Lex move into the middle of the room.

"Impressive. Especially for an advanced primate species."

"I thought you'd like it."

Vril walks up to the main control panel and begins examining it.

"May I?"

Lex motions for Vril to proceed, "Please."

Vril begins examining the console from all angles. Eventually, he begins keying in coordinates and a message.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm sending a message to my ship for instructional purposes."

Lex walks up beside Vril to examine what he's doing, "I don't recognize that configuration."

"I wouldn't expect you to."

"Is there someone on your ship receiving this transmission? A crew?"

"No, just the ship."

"Just the ship? It functions on it's own? Like, artificial intelligence?"

"You could say that." Vril responds.

"Fascinating. I've been working on the prospect of artificial intelligence in this company for years now and we have yet to create a working prototype."

"Well, you are a primitive race. It may be beyond your capability to create such technology."

"Yet we managed to locate and make contact with an advanced alien species despite our primitive nature." Lex fires back.

"Valid point. Perhaps there is hope for your species after all."

"Perhaps an exchange of information. I would be willing to share information regarding my sensor technology, provided you would be willing to share information on your artificial intelligence." suggests Lex.

"A business proposition. Interesting. Something apparently common to most species in the universe. That may be acceptable. I would need to understand how far you are in constructing this prototype."

"As I would need confirmation of your artificial intelligence."

"Of course."

Vril types several command codes into the keyboard of the main control panel for the Communications Room. On the computer screen, computer code runs along the screen for several seconds before a disembodied head appears floating on the screen.

"I am the Brain Interactive Construct. My programming requires authorization of my programmer, Vril Dox."

"Brainiac, this is Vril Dox. Authorization protocol Seven Five Four Alpha Delta. New species contact protocol Nine Seven."

"Authorization confirmed. How may I be of assistance?"

Vril gestures to Lex, "Go ahead."

"What did you just do?" Lex questions.

"I created an uplink between my ship's main computer and this one. In order to demonstrate the validity of my side of the bargain."

"An uplink? These computers aren't designed to facilitate that kind of communication."

"They are now."

Lex begins assessing his computer's status, "You're right. How?"

"I'm very good with computers. Go ahead, ask it anything."

Lex hesitates for a moment, "Who am I addressing?"

"I am the Brain Interactive Construct, also known as Brainiac. My function is to store all knowledge acquired by the Creator, Vril Dox. Who are you?"

"My name is Lex Luthor."

"Lex Luthor. Accessing. Lex Luthor, president and CEO of Luthorcorp Incorporated, real name Alexander Joseph Luthor, born September 9th, 1978 in Metropolis Hospital. It is a pleasure to meet you Lex Luthor."

"Where did you get that information?"

"Alien Contact Protocol Seven Five Four Alpha Delta requires the acquisition of all knowledge concerning planetary contacts. I accessed the local government's computer system and downloaded your entire recorded history."

"When?"

"Just now."

"How much information do you have?"

"Your entire recorded history."

"Prove it."

"Accessing. Alexander Joseph Luthor, born to Lionel and Lillian Luthor of Metropolis. Orphaned at the age of 10 after your father was killed in an aviation crash and your mother died of stress attempting to shoulder the burden herself. Your favorite color is green and you listen to classical music when brainstorming. Psychological profiles done after your parents death indicate an obsession with..."

"Thank you, Brainiac. I trust I've made my point?" Vril interrupts.

"You have."

"I'm sure your project would benefit greatly from the design specifications to Brainiac, wouldn't you say?"

"Very much." agrees Lex.

"But before we get to that, I'd appreciate a look at your progress in artificial intelligence." Vril asks.

Lex starts moving towards the door.

"Of course. Let me take you to our cybernetics lab."

"Cybernetics?"

"Yes, we're working under the premise that if we merge man and machine, eventually we may be able to construct a metallic man. The project is called Metallo."

"Interesting. Lead on."

Lex and Vril leave the Communications Room together. Brainiac remains on the main computer screen. When Lex and Vril have left, it begins accessing information in the Luthorcorp computer systems.