The guards were rushing the shooter and she was knocked off balance. The beam from the laser swung wildly. It hit Clark at his right shoulder and traversed his back diagonally to his left hip. As it did so Clark’s aura flared bright red and expanded to envelop Lois completely. As this happened Lois also manifested an aura of bright blue which expanded and merged with Clark’s red one. At the same time the Star Sapphires she wore began to glow with an inner light brighter and brighter as the laser continued to stimulate their auras. Before the laser beam had passed beyond Clark’s body the red of Clark’s aura had completely overcome Lois’ blue aura and merged with it until its character was changed. It was now a blend of her blue aura and his red aura manifesting itself as purple for a brief moment before the laser moved on.

Clark brought her a glass of water. Lois reached out and took the glass. When she did it shattered in her hand. She stared at her hand, dumbfounded. “How did that happen? Was the glass flawed?”