After a few minutes, they separated. They sat next to each other on the sofa in silence until Lois spoke.
"Wow."
Clark chuckled, "That's what I thought. For two reporters who make our living with words we sure don't seem to have much to say right now."
Lois sat thoughtfully for a few minutes. Then suddenly she jumped up and began pacing. Clark silently watched her until she spoke.
"Clark, have you ever felt like your life is being played on a chessboard?"
Without waiting for him to answer she continued, "That's how I've been feeling. That Perry's retirement was to get him out of the way. That Jack and Jimmy were pawns and were removed from the newsroom and my life. I'm even questioning whether Jack was framed. And I never trusted him! When the Planet was destroyed my job, colleagues and friends were all gone. My family is scattered, with Mom in rehab in the Midwest, my father buried in his research at Lex Labs upstate and Lucy in California. I felt lost, and still feel in shock. Thinking about all that has happened, I feel my life is out of my control. And worse, it feels like someone else is in charge. And that makes me angry. So, it feels like I'm on a chessboard. And the worst part is I don't know who the players are, or even who is what piece. Other than the pawns, which could be everyone except Lex."
Clark sat stunned, realizing Lois had spoken without seeming to take a breath. Then a slow smile spread across his face as he watched her get more and more animated and agitated.
Lois turned to look at him, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you think this is funny?"
He just quietly said, "No, not funny. I'm not amused. I'm happy. You're back."
She paused mid-rant and said, "What? I've been here the whole time."
"No, you haven't. You haven't been yourself since the Planet was bombed, maybe even before. This is the real you. The woman who can take leaps of logic and put together clues no one else can. This is the three-time Kerth award winner who wants a Pulitzer before she's thirty. I missed you."
Lois just stared at him. Then she returned his smile. "So what do you think of chess?"
"I think it is a brilliant analogy. I also think that Lu-Lex forgot that the most powerful piece on the board is the queen. What do you think our next move is?"
"The queen huh?" Lois smiled, "Lex has no idea what he's done and who he's messing with. It's not just the queen. I'm hoping it will be Lane and Kent, the city's best investigative team."
"I'd like that very much."
"Well, I think we need a game changer. We need to play a different game. I don't know about you, but I don't like to play a game I don't know the rules and can't see the board. If we were at the Planet, we'd get Jimmy to do some research. Maybe we should work backwards, starting with the Planet's bombing."
"Lois, I've been doing some digging. I think you're right about Jack. I'm planning to talk to him tomorrow. That bomb was complex. Jack wouldn't have the funds…"
Lois interrupted, "… or the knowledge to make it. What about motive?"
"Jack's newsroom job was eliminated in so-called 'cost cutting.' He quietly took the demotion to printing because he needed to get Denny out of Foster Care when Jack turns 18. He needed…"
"… his job and good references. He seems to love Denny and… "
"… would do anything to protect him."
"So he he's the scapegoat, not the bomber."
Clark continued, "I found hints there may be more than one insurance policy on the Planet. If so…"
"Lex lied to me! And it's likely there was more than enough to rebuild the Planet."
"Assuming all the policies pay and that Luthor Corporation or Lex Luthor is the beneficiary. And I have that file I started a few months ago on him if you want to see it."
"You bet I do! Tomorrow or the next day. I don't think I could focus tonight. But Clark, if this is true why would Lex buy the Planet and then turn around and destroy it?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Lois, it's a military strategy. Lu-Lex is a student of Sun Tzu and other historical military strategists. Isolate the enemy, and then you can defeat him."
"I'm the enemy?"
"Maybe. The question is, are you the enemy due to your investigative skills? Or are you really a romantic interest? Or maybe both?"
"What?"
"All is fair in love and war. Could he be viewing love as a game of war?"
"Maybe."
"Lois, do you remember the tests that Superman went through when he first arrived?"
"Tests? No, I don't think so…"
"The dual jumpers, the bombing of the Carlin building?"
"Those were tests?"
"Speed, invulnerability. Luthor as much as admitted to Superman that they were tests. Superman disappeared when Luthor told him if he stayed more people would get hurt. When he first met Superman he said, 'Let the games begin'. "
"That's awful!"
"Yeah, it is."
"Do you think I'm responsible for the Planet bombing?"
"NO! Don't ever think that! Whoever bombed the Planet is solely responsible. What I'm trying to say is he thinks of everything as a game to win. And you're right we don't know what game is being played. We don't know the players, and we don't even know what the endgame is."
"So Lex's goal could be to marry me and control the stories I write, or don't write. I'm in an office at LNN that is away from the action, and basically I have no authority or responsibility. I'm not doing investigative work…"
"… and are isolated. Cut off from your beloved Planet, your colleagues, your friends, your family."
"And Superman. This may sound conceited, but I wonder if Lex asked me to marry him because he loves me, wants me out of the way or because he can take me from Superman? Although I'm not sure Superman ever really had me."
"What do you mean?"
"Just something he said, that he's not sure he can have a romantic attachment to anyone. How sad is that? He must be so alone, last of his kind with no friends or family from Krypton. And he can't publicly have a family or friends. Too dangerous for them, and he'd be at risk to be manipulated to keep them safe."
"When you put it that way, it is sad and lonely."
"Clark, we've only talked about part of what I wanted to say. Before I came over tonight I realized how little I know about Lex. When I ask him a direct question he rarely answers, changing the topic or giving an evasive answer. In answer to your question from this afternoon, I realized tonight that I don't love Lex. If even a fraction of what you and Superman suspect is true, he's much worse than I thought. I can't marry him. And I want to work with you to find out. If he's dirty, we'll bring him down."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"That's one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. I thought about going undercover, working at LNN and maybe accepting his proposal or delay answering him."
After a pause to remind himself of his mantra, Clark spoke after choosing his words carefully. "Lois, tell me what you want me to say. I don't want to fight with you. I feel like I'm walking a fine line here. Do you want my opinion, or do you need a sounding board first?"
"I don't know. I guess I need to work through this without judgment or prejudice. Can you do that?"
"Lois, I don't know. All I can do is try. You know how I feel about him, and it's scared me to think how close you've become. If you need to talk without me saying much, I'll do my best. Please let me voice my opinion though before you make any final decision."
"I can do that. The thing is, I'm also afraid that if Lex has been able to manipulate me without me seeing it, he may be able to continue to do so. And he keeps his business dealings from me. I'm thinking my job at LNN would be a distraction. I'm not sure I'd learn much from either him or LNN. I need help deciding what to do."
Lois listed several options and Clark made occasional suggestions. Over the next hour they discussed the pros and cons of each. Finally, they decided the best plan was for Clark to see Jack as planned the next day. Lois would go to work at LNN and look at her job and workplace from her fresh perspective before making a final decision.
"Clark, tomorrow night is Perry's retirement party."
"You're still going aren't you?"
"Yes of course. We both need to go. Lex is sending a car for me, and I'll be able to take Perry, Jimmy and you home. We'll have a designated driver, so if we have too much to drink or are just too emotional to go home alone, it will be a safe ride. You can come too. Although…" her voice trailed off as the germ of an idea grew.
"What?"
"Clark, do you think there might be a spy at the party? Someone reporting to Lex?"
"I hadn't thought about it, but why not? It could be someone who is getting paid, for information or someone who thinks the information would be of value for a job I suppose. Technically we're all his ex-employees, so someone might feel loyalty to him, especially if that person were annoyed with you or me. Or both of us."
Lois outlined her plan for the party. Together they made some adjustments, and she called a cab. Clark walked her to the cab, and then went back into his apartment while listening to her heartbeat. He walked inside, locked the door then spun into his suit and took off from his balcony. Superman followed her discretely to make sure she got home safely.
She did, and once inside her apartment got ready for bed. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
TBC
Author's Note: This was a shorter chapter to finish this scene and set the stage for more action in the next chapter.
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