The Usual Crowd

There was something about this night. Chloe could not put her finger on it but something was different. She could feel it, as the cold wind blew against her golden blonde curly locks that fell across her shoulders of her red scarf. She stood on the roof of the Daily Planet beside the huge golden Daily Planet Globe.

She didn't necessarily want anything unusual to happen this night. Really she didn't, unusual or weird things came to her. They just happened. She had this weird-R that drew strange things to her that was all. It was not like she craved it or anything. Ok so she really didn't mind the excitement but she could have a normal life too right. That is what she was trying to do. She really liked Jimmy and he was a normal kind of guy. She could do the whole normal thing. Really she could no problem. So why was she here in the middle of the night minutes from her date with Jimmy? Well, she was Chloe Sullivan intrepid reporter wasn't she? She could still pursue her normal life with Jimmy and get info on stories right. Besides even if the person she was waiting for didn't have stories she still was first and foremost Chloe Sullivan: friend.

She folded her arms, tapping her red painted fingernails rapidly against her beige trench like jacket. Jimmy was waiting for her, she needed to get this done soon.

A huge shadow appeared from above. Chloe looked up her face lit up with a wide grin.

"The Angel of Vengeance lives on. So are all super heroes always late or is it just the ones I hang out with?"

Andrea landed decked in leather and her black mask. "It's part of the fashion statement." Andrea said as she walked towards Chloe.

"Good. Ah. Andrea I was hoping we could make this quick."

Andrea smiled as she removed her mask.

"What do you have a hot date?"

"Um. Yeah. Actually I do."

"Oh, really so did Clark finally grow a pair and ask you out?"

Chloe laughed, "Yeah right. No it's this photographer from the Daily Planet. He's kind of my boyfriend."

"Oh, anyone I know?"

"No. He came on staff after your infamous DP days. He came on about a couple of months ago."

"Ok. Say no more mi amiga I'll make this quick." She went into her large leather coat pocket and took out a computer disc.

"I finally found it. It's the disk with all of Lex's expermentee's from level 33.1."

Chloe gazed at the disc with wide eyes.

"Wow."

"Chloe it's Molly Griggs design."

"What?"

"Yeah, one of the things Lex's scientists made her do while she was in the lab. It has a code that is linked to the chips that's buried in all of these people. If it got in the wrong hands…"

"Andrea I get it. But why give this to me? Why don't you just keep it safe?"

"I'm not exactly in one steady place these days. And I trust you Chloe I know it's in safe hands. You haven't splattered my identity all over the front page. And I know you generally want to help people. And exposing all of these people's secrets isn't going to help anyone."

Chloe nodded. She agreed with everything that Andrea was saying. These people's powers needed to stay hidden. But something in the back of her mind sparked. The part of her she had always struggled with and thought she conquered. The part of her that drove her to create the wall of weird and find out and expose all of the meteor freaks. This was the same part of her that coined the name "meteor freaks". But she has been through so much that has taught her that a lot of harm can happen when to much is revealed to the masses. Her Journalism professor had talked about discretion in writing and putting down every detail. And it was the journalists' job to pick and choose what was necessary to the story. What the readers absolutely needed to know. Chloe had learned the hard way if she simply showed everything and exposed people with out any regard to he consequences people could get hurt. She had vowed that she would only print what was needed. It still could be juicy but now she picked and chose what was the best to leak out. And it would protect people like Andrea and not mention her best alien friend Clark.

"Don't worry, Rojas, there secret is safe with me."

"I know." Andrea said with a confident smile as she handed the disk to Chloe. Chloe grabbed the disk and quickly put it in her purse.

"There's more. Lex has the receiver in his entire file on his home computer. It has all of the locations of his former lab rats."

"We have to get those files. We're lucky he hasn't collected already."

"I know. So how about a little field trip to the mansion. We could do it after your date or tomorrow or..."

Chloe was intrigued and so very tempted. First and foremost she was a friend and it was difficult when her friends conflicted with each other. But despite everything she had managed to preserve her friendship with Lana. And Lana lived with Lex and if Chloe was caught she didn't know what Lana would do. She seemed so loyal to Lex lately.

"I'm sorry Andrea, but your going to have to go without me."

"Why? Is this about Clark?"

"No. It's just complicated." Chloe said looking away as she did this she noticed something attached to the door to the Daily Planet. It was a small electrical green arrow.

Chloe picked it up intrigued.

"Cool gadget."

Andrea walked up to it.

"What is it?"

"It's a gadget." She examined it further. She detected a very small microphone.

"Damn." She showed Andrea.

"It looks like we have an ease dropper." Andrea said.

Then another arrow suddenly appeared. This one came attached with a long green rope.

"Oh boy." Chloe said.

"What?"

"He's coming?"

"Who?"

"The Green Arrow the latest vigilante to strike these Metropolis streets. Looks like you have some competition."