Title: Ill Met By Kryptonite
Disclaimer: I don't own them; I just make their lives a living hell.
A/N: This story is extremely out of continuity with the show now, instead of me changing the story to fix the continuity I'm going to finish it as it is now and fix the plot holes. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter One
Chloe Sullivan sighed as she sat down at her desk, bringing the coffee to her lips she found a small respite from the hectic day. It had been almost five years since she moved to Gotham City, and another four years before that when she left Smallville. Smallville, she thought to herself, a place that had invoked many memories for her, both good and bad. Her thoughts drifted back to the faces of the people who had been her friends, one name came to the forefront of her mind: Clark Kent.
Clark had been the perpetual enigma, the one person who she couldn't completely figure out. That had probably been the main reason for them leaving on not so good terms, they had kept in touch during the first year of college but over time they had grown more distant. It hurt her, at one time Clark had been her best friend; and she had loved him. She had always wanted to just pick up the phone and say, "Hi Clark, it's me Chloe." She wouldn't, her pride was too hurt for her for to just pick up as if nothing had happened between them.
She sighed once more, now wasn't the time for her to be thinking about the past. Grabbing her bag, a pen and pad, and her digital recorder she quickly got up and made her way to the elevator. She was a journalist; it was her duty to give an account on what happens in the world. It was more than a job for her, it was her passion.
She stepped out of the main lobby of the Gotham Life, hailing a cab she relaxed in the back seat. "Wayne Enterprises, please."
The cab driver nodded his understanding, speeding off into traffic. Chloe swore under her breath, she hated how Gotham City cab drivers went about with reckless abandon. She promised herself that she would have to do an exposé when she finished her latest assignment. She sighed, something she found herself doing more often, she hated doing technology pieces. She had always been interested in the reasons behind how the world worked, the absolute truth. For her, covering huge multi-national conglomerates such as LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises bored her. She knew she would find this assignment a waste of time.
When she arrived at Wayne Enterprises she paid the cab driver and took a moment to see what other competition was there. She knew someone from the Daily Planet was bound to be there, wrinkling her nose at the possibility of seeing her cousin Lois Lane. She loved Lois dearly, but she had found that the two of them were too alike and would spend most of their time together arguing.
Her attention was diverted as the company spokesperson made her way to the podium. The woman had strawberry blond hair and a medium complexion, 'probably a bottle tan,' Chloe thought to herself. The woman was dressed conservatively in a blue business suit, very professional looking. She wore a warm smile as she greeted the associated press, in an even tone she began to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, my name is Veronica Gleeson, Vice- President of Public Relations for Wayne Enterprises. It is my great privilege to welcome you here this afternoon, in just a few moments the CEO of the company, Mr. Bruce Wayne, will make a statement of great importance." She looked off to her right as Bruce Wayne made his way the stage. "And without any further ado, it is my pleasure to present to you, Mr. Bruce Wayne."
A wave of polite applause washed over him as he made his way to the podium, Chloe readied her recorder. Wayne wore his black hair combed back, dressed in a black suit and red tie. Wayne, in Chloe's mind, was a paradox, even in the most simplest of clothing he still managed to command the presence of the audience.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I will be brief in this statement, over twenty-five years ago a meteor shower pummeled a small town in Kansas. It is believed that these meteors were fragments of the planet Krypton, a planet well beyond our solar system. Over the last ten years STAR Labs in Metropolis has been a major player in the research of these fragments now known as Kryptonite.
"I can safely assume you are wondering what Wayne Enterprises has to do with any of this, this is the answer. Dr. Emil Hamilton, Chief Researcher for STAR Labs, has discovered that these fragments of the planet Krypton may be a new source for energy in the near future. So, in a joint venture Wayne Enterprises will be working with both LexCorp and STAR Labs to research a means of harnessing this new energy source. We will be informing members of the associated press with each new breakthrough and discovery. Are there any questions?"
At once one-hundred hands shot through the air, each trying to draw the attention to the young CEO. Wayne pointed a finger through the crowd to one person in particular, he was broad shouldered, his body looked as if he were made of angles. He wore a blue suit, ovular glasses covered his cobalt blue eyes, his jet black hair was combed neatly. On his head he wore a black fedora hat, homage to the journalist of the forties and fifties who swore to the unspoken code of journalistic integrity.
"Mr. Kent, I believe you have a question?"
Kent, she couldn't have heard right, she would have thought Clark would never go near another journalist, let alone become one himself. It must have been a mistake, Kent was a fairly common last name, it had to be another person. She had successfully reassured herself until he spoke.
"Yes, you said that the rocks were radioactive, wouldn't that be a danger to those who work with them? And if so, what safety precautions are you taking to insure the well being of your workers?"
The voice had deepened but it still had the innocent and good natured tone to it, the tone of a person who believe that everyone in the world was a decent human being. Then she knew it had to be him, the only person she could never completely understand, Clark Kent.
Bruce Wayne took a moment to answer his question, quickly shuffling through his set of note cards as if he had already prepared the answer in advance.
"Yes, I had expected such a question would be asked. Dr. Hamilton has done studies on the meteor rock, Kryptonite, and its effects. It appears, since the planet Krypton was a satellite to a red sun any effects on humans are none. Simply put, the Earth's yellow sun helps in creating the radioactive power source. For further information -"
Wayne was stopped abruptly as a shout from the back of the crowd made everyone turn toward the voice. He was an imposing man, anger and vehemence on his face, his eyes locked on Wayne as he shoved his way through the crowd. The people around him ducked for cover as he produced his weapon, a 9mm. semi-automatic. Leveling his weapon, a grim thin lipped smile traced his lips, "Now, Mr. Wayne, we'll put an end to your poisoning of our world. Die, you son of a bitch."
He pulled the trigger, the sound of the weapon being discharged cracking the air. No one noticed the fact that Wayne didn't flinch, let alone show any signs of fearing for his life. No one heard a groan of pain, nor did they hear the thud of a body hitting the ground, just an eerie silence. The attackers face went from that of triumph to wide eyed shock, his eyes transfixed on a hand which held the bullet a few inches from Wayne's face.
The man's body was solidly built; his muscles could be seen under the form fitting suit. The majority of his outfit was blue, over his blue tights he wore red short pants which were held on by a gold belt. He wore red boots which were sloped high in the front, a matching red cape flapped in the breeze behind him. On his chest was a red "S" emblazoned on a gold background within a five sided figure. With a single glance Chloe instantly recognized the man standing before her.
"Superman," she whispered.