What Should He Have Done?
By Kwikdraw
All characters owned by Warner Bros./DC Comics
Clark floated on the edge of the sun, soaking in the warmth of the solar energy. Things appeared to be quiet on Earth for the moment, and J'onn was currently on JLA monitor duty, so he would be instantly notified if anything required his attention. He needed some time to reflect on what had happened over the past month. Mercury circled beneath him, his only companion this close to the sun. The rust-coloured planet pockmarked with impact craters held no answers for him; it merely continued its rapid orbit around the sun, always ahead of its brethren that lay further out in the solar system.
Clark allowed his arms to float at his sides while he concentrated on keeping himself from being pulled in by the sun's gravity. Why had he been so oblivious to events around him lately? After saving reality from the machinations of a cosmically powered Joker, he had felt as if nothing could go wrong. But first Batman's protocols had been used by Ra's Al Ghul against the JLA, and the fallout of betrayal nearly tore the team apart. And then the unthinkable happened — Luthor became President. He had assumed the American people would be able to see through Luthor's carefully maintained facade. He had become complacent that in the end, good triumphs over evil.
He should have done something to stop Luthor from gaining office. He kept telling himself it was because he didn't want to interfere in the political process, as Superman he had to be careful of involving himself in world politics… his actions in Qurac a few years back and his more recent attempt to bring attention to world hunger brought many repercussions. It wasn't too long ago when he was manipulated by Dominus to take over the world, after all. How would the people react to him stepping into the political arena again? Superman wasn't there to make decisions for the people, he was there to catch them when they fell. Wasn't that what he told the JLA several months ago?
Clark pulled back from the sun and swept across the solar system until he was in a position to view Washington DC, now encompassed by night as it currently faced away from the sun, and looked over the White House. The labour drones had finished putting all the furniture inside, leaving its exterior silent save for the security teams ever-present on the roof. He didn't bother scanning the White House with his x-ray vision; he already knew from a past attempt that Luthor had placed lead shielding inside prior to his move. Clark imagined Luthor's reorganization of the White House, the new President smirking as he had paintings of himself hung up on walls throughout the complex. He shuddered even though he wasn't affected by the unearthly cold of space.
What was he thinking when he shook Luthor's hand in public? After he flew into Lex's victory speech in a fit of anger, he stopped himself short when he realized what he was doing, and in order not to create a scene he shook Luthor's hand and congratulated him on his victory. Congratulated him. The man who had killed others for his own benefit, who had tortured Lana. And he shook Luthor's hand to save face.
No. It was far more complicated than that. If Superman appeared to be rejecting the authority of the President without proof of Luthor's evil, it could have a dire effect on the American political system. God knows there were enough dissidents who had a bone to pick and were willing to shed blood to make a point; the bombing in Oklahoma City certainly proved that. There would be too many who would interpret his rejection of Luthor as a rejection of the Office of the President. The majority of the world held Superman in awe, there were some who worshipped him as a god. It was something which he didn't feel comfortable with and hoped he never would, but it was a fact he could never afford to ignore. Any careless words, even giving the cold shoulder, could be used as a justification for bloodshed. Sometimes he wished he hadn't been in Metropolis to save the Constitution space plane twelve years ago; if he had been able to continue acting in secret, he wouldn't have to second-guess the effects of his actions.
Clark flexed his muscles to shed off the layer of ice already beginning to collect on his body. The flakes of frozen gases floated away, a crystalline aura about his body, before they dissipated in the reaches of space.
Luthor's victory party had been a grand affair studded with celebrities and dignitaries. Lois had been there too, as always there for a story. He knew it tore her up to see Luthor triumphant, and yet there she was, playing her role. The investigative reporter.
Why didn't Clark Kent play his role?
Maybe Superman couldn't have done anything, but certainly Clark Kent could have acted. He was supposed to be an investigative reporter, it was his job to reveal the truth and he certainly knew the truth. True, all information regarding Luthor's past had apparently been erased by the B13 virus, but couldn't he have dug further and brought out these secrets? Surely he could have found something to put into the papers…
No. Digging for information that protected would undoubtedly require the use of his powers, and he couldn't allow himself to abuse his gifts for a personal vendetta. But this was more than just a grudge; he knew firsthand the sort of evil Luthor was capable of, had seen people die because of his machinations. Certainly any measures he took were justifiable in keeping Luthor out of the oval office.
How Machiavellian of you
, Clark thought. Isn't that the sort of thinking that led to your attempt to take over the world? Clark massaged his forehead with one hand as he descended into Earth's atmosphere. This is going to bother me for a long time…