Chapter 10

For about the fifth time that morning Clark caught himself before he rammed into his keyboard. Rarely affected by sleep deprivation, Clark was not envious of that aspect of the human condition and had the unfortunate luck of experiencing it now. He rubbed his eyes. Although he required fewer hours of sleep than humans, he still needed some. It was thankfully a beautiful fall morning, so he could recharge properly, but that didn't completely make up for the lack of sleep.

Due to the discovery of the mysterious note compounded by his conversation with Lex Luthor, he hadn't slept well over the past few days. His brain would not shut up. Constantly it was trying to understand what Luthor's motives were and if he was actually going to act on his thinly veiled threat. At first he had thought maybe that Luthor was connected to the note, but after a quick search, it appeared that no one at the Daily Planet was connected to him. There were no offshore accounts, no red flags on their permanent record; there was nothing. This had done nothing to help his worries. Flying didn't help calm him; it was only good for allowing him to absorb enough radiation to get through the day. Poor Lois did not have that luxury and she had insomnia just as bad as he did, although for a slightly different reason.

To no avail, they had tried to track the postage of their message. They had watched security footage from the Daily Planet feeds of that day and what they had found left them with more questions than answers. After the first viewing they had been perplexed and had grown more so after every subsequent viewing. No one had laid the letter on Lois' desk; it had simply appeared. One second her desk had been clear and the next there had been the note. The only information they had learned was the exact moment it had appeared. The footage could have been doctored, but it was unlikely as there had been no other signs of alteration and the security guard had sworn he had never left his post.

Ever since, Lois had obsessively watched and re-watched the video footage of that day, not just of the bullpen, but of the entire building. Every free moment she had, she had sat at her laptop with a master list of the Daily Planet staff, scratching off each face that corresponded to the faces that she saw. With the result being the same every time: every person who had been at the Daily Planet was supposed to be there. And there was no reason to suspect any of them.

Initially, Clark had thought of Kassandra. Mysterious from the start, she was extremely astute and immune to Clark's antics. However, as she had stood right in front of Lois at the exact moment the message had appeared, there was no way she could have planted it.

Bothered by these thoughts and unable to assuage them with his usual methods, Clark had done the only thing he could think of: work. He had patrolled more and had delved into their article braving the seediest parts of the internet to get a whole view of the people. He had gone out and gathered opinions from anyone who would talk to him. Every once in a while he had heard a particularly articulate one to directly quote, which he had then followed up with a phone call. For the past few days this was how he and Lois had functioned.

He looked over to see Lois staring glassy-eyed at her computer and he could feel himself starting to doze off again. Then he was jolted awake by Perry yelling for him, Lois, and Kassandra. He wasn't surprised. Now that Luthor was running for Senate their Meta-Human Registration Act story was more lucrative than ever.

He saw Lois take a long swig of what he imagined to be cold coffee and trudged into their editor's office. Kassandra followed her and Clark wasn't far behind them. Although she seemed to be in good spirits, she looked a little tired as well.

As soon as he closed the door, Perry didn't skip a beat. "How's that article coming?"

"We've gotten quotes from citizens and local officials in Metropolis and Smallville," said Clark.

Perry nodded his approval. "Makes sense. Those are the places most affected by the invasion. Good."

"What about cities where there are well-known meta-humans? Like the Flash from Central City?" Kassandra chimed in.

"That's an excellent idea. Lane!" At the sound of her name, Lois jumped a little in her seat and opened her eyes a little wider than necessary. Perry's brow scrunched together momentarily and when he continued he spoke a little more gently.

"You're flying out to Central City. Speak to city officials, local shop owners, parents, teachers; we want the view of the people."

She nodded mutely.

"What about politicians?"

"Uh-Clark and I have interviewed several Senators and Congresspeople via phone about the legislation. Both for and opposed," said Lois.

"Francis and Clay?"

Clark shifted uncomfortably. "They've ignored our calls and every time we've visited their offices we were firmly escorted out of the building."

Perry's jaw tightened in consternation, but he stared at Lois with mild concern. "That doesn't usually hold you back, Lane. What's up?"

Lois hesitated and Clark looked away a little ashamed. As she had been so preoccupied helping him with his personal mysteries, she was unable to perform at her normal fiery level of investigative journalism. For the first time he was holding her back and he didn't like it.

"I've been a little distracted," she finally said.

"Well get focused." Turning from them he pressed a key on his computer. On the screen was the same newscaster who reported Luthor's press conference. It was a video of a news broadcast.

"Lex Luthor has made a statement doubling down on his commitment to meta-human registration."

The scene cut to a commercial of Lex Luthor speaking:

"'Truly, I want nothing more than cooperation. But if these people will not do so willingly, perhaps there would be justification for force. I have begun to think that if they have nothing to hide, why would they be fighting so vehemently to stop this legislation? Why would they be so against even the thought of registering? I think those are questions we should all be asking ourselves as we move forward.'"

The scene changed back to the newscaster:

"Critics see his statements as a little overly suspicious. However according to a recent poll now 35% of Americans support legislation that would require meta-humans to register to a public list. That's a 5% jump from the last polling."

Although initially surprised by Luthor's more aggressive tactics toward meta-humans, Clark realized that Superman had probably nudged him in that direction. Not only had he influenced Luthor in the opposite way he had hoped for, this change in approach was probably what triggered the increase in support for the legislation. As part of his destiny was to unite Peoples, that he had inadvertently caused a deeper division was a disheartening thought.

His emotions were mirrored by the dismay on Lois' and Kassandra's faces and the way Perry jabbed the pause button a little too violently.

"This legislation is going into light-speed and you three are barely keeping up. Lee-Ahn!" Kassandra jumped at being addressed so brusquely. "Where are you in determining the constitutionality of the bill?"

"I've studied extensively and spoken to several of my law professors. On the surface the law could be unconstitutional in that it could violate the 4th Amendment, possibly the 9th as well; and one could argue that it would violate the liberty clauses of the 14th Amendment: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But if there was a national crisis, the legislation could stay. For example the Patriot Act would probably have never passed without the terrorist attacks on 9/11."

"Which means if something happens that is perpetrated by a meta-human or group of meta-humans..," Clark said slowly.

"The legislation would have no trouble being expedited to law of the land," Lois finished grimly.

It seemed his life was crumbling around him. The carefully crafted walls he had made in the form of the Daily Planet, Lois, Metropolis, and his superhero destiny were all tumbling down like they were made of cardboard while Luthor and his friends held a hose. Meanwhile some unknown person (or persons) was stomping on the remains. On both sides he was being attacked: as Superman and as Clark Kent. And he didn't know where to send the offenses first.

"Should Superman make a statement about the legislation?" he asked Lois quietly.

Lois knit her brows together thoughtfully. "No. Superman shouldn't get involved in politics. You promised that you wouldn't fight against America's interests, but that doesn't mean you should march on Capitol Hill with demands or even suggestions. Besides, Superman isn't just a citizen of the United States; he's a citizen of the world."

He nodded. She was right. In order to protect the world, on the political front Superman had to stay neutral.

"But Clark Kent on the other hand," she said with a plucky smile, "always should."

He smiled.

If they hadn't been head first in this story before they were bodily below the surface now.

When Kassandra wasn't on the phone trying to contact Congresspeople or interviewing judges for their opinions on the legislation, she was pouring over law books and the transcript of the bill itself, searching every detail for a point of questionable constitutionality. It occurred to Clark that not only was she making a case for it to stay only a bill, but was also building a case in defense of meta-humans in the case that the bill became law.

Lois and Clark were pouring over their notes and were constructing the skeleton of the article: where each piece of the puzzle would go, who would write what, and how it would flow. There was still some meat to add to it though.

While Lois went to Central City, Kassandra and Clark caught the next flight to Washington D.C. to speak with the legislators in person, but also get the public aspect of the debate. For over two days now, hundreds of protestors both for and opposed stood outside the Congressional building. Clark was determined to interview people from each side, while Kassandra was determined to get the opinions of the Supreme Court Justices.

They arrived early in the morning and already the crowd had gathered and begun their chanting. The din outside of Congress was massive. It was like waves crashing in a storm. One could barely understand what either side was shouting, however their beliefs were laid out plainly as many of the protestors carried signs. Contrasting emotions were splashed across white boards in permanent marker.

As a reporter he was after the truth, not sensationalism and unfair assumptions, so Clark decided to not accept these signs at face value. He wanted-needed-to know the story behind these placards. As he weaved through the assembly, he tried to talk to as many people as possible. And after nearly three hours of listening to people as well as he could, he needed a break. He sat on a bench away from the protestors, but he could still hear them. With a hollow heart and perhaps he was indulging a masochistic side of him, he read the words of the people who hated and feared him, and those like him.

A few of them were the usual hateful rhetoric:

"'They are dangerous! We have a right to protect ourselves!'"

"'They're freaks of nature and they should be sent away!'"

"'They are terrorists!'"

A lot of them, however, weren't so bad. In fact they were unfortunately reasonable:

"'I know that most of them are harmless, but I don't know. How can you tell the difference between the good ones and the bad ones?'"

"'We deserve to know who these people are. I mean we register people to carry guns and these people are more powerful than guns.'"

"'I don't hate them. I just—don't trust them. I mean absolute power corrupts absolutely, right?'"

The last one cut him like a knife:

"'When I first heard about the law, I thought it was wrong. But I have to admit I'm a little scared. I don't know if I trust them. I want to because of all that the heroes do for us, but the rest of them, I don't know. If only they had a way to represent themselves. Especially the superheroes. If they would come out into the open and let the public decide, like with Superman, we could trust them. I mean sometimes we can't even trust the police, but at least they have to follow rules. What rules do these meta-humans and superheroes follow?'"

It was what his father had foretold. So many people were afraid. The thought saddened Clark, but begrudgingly he had to admit some of them were right. There was no code among heroes. No accountability. The rest of the world only trusted Superman because he literally saved the world and even his popularity wasn't universal. There had to be a way to forge a trust between them; not just between superheroes and citizens, but also between meta-humans and other humans. But he had no ideas.

"Hey, are you okay?" a voice asked.

It was Kassandra. She looked exhausted. Her suit was slightly disheveled and her hair had strands flying away from her face. She also looked concerned.

"Yeah," he said softly.

As she sat next to him on the bench, she raised her eyebrows at him in disbelief. He sighed.

"I'm worried about this legislation. From what we have-"

"-it doesn't seem impossible that it will pass," she finished a little glumly.

Clark nodded. "It's disappointingly popular and they actually have good reasons. Everyone is afraid."

She sighed. "People are afraid of what they don't understand."

"I know. And it's my responsibility to unite people, but I don't know what to do!"

"It's your responsibility?" she asked, looking at him strangely.

"Well...isn't it everyone's?"

"I suppose, yeah," she said slowly.

Clark took a deep breath and avoided her eyes. He had to control his emotions. He was already under enough surveillance, he didn't need Kassandra suspecting him more too. He heard her sigh again.

"I understand. I'm worried too, but in my heart, I don't think it's going to pass."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because I have faith," she said without hesitation.

Clark looked away from her. As the Earth's hero, he needed faith. In truth and good, but especially in humanity. But he felt ashamed to admit that over the past month and half his faith had been strained.

"You know this may surprise you," she said with an eye roll, "but I've experienced my fair share of discrimination."

He looked at her a little sadly and she grimaced.

"When I go to the grocery store, it's happened where I am complimented on how good my English is or it's just assumed that I don't know English so the cashier speaks really loudly. Then I say 'thank you' in my American accent and it's awkward for them and kind of funny for me."

Clark gave her a confused look.

"It does bother me. Even in the 21st century people hold onto archaic and prejudiced beliefs that influence their interactions with people who are different from they are. Sometimes they're annoying. Sometimes they're hurtful. Sometimes they're soul-crushing...and sometimes they're tragic. But I still have faith. You know why?"

Clark shook his head.

"Look at all of those people out there." She gestured toward the protestors against the legislation. The crowd was a sea of differences, but they chanted as one.

"Racism, sexism, all of those 'isms' that are the cause of so many problems, they still exist. There are still those who cling to those beliefs like scripture. Every day some one fights for those divisions between humanity."

She looked out at the crowd of people who were shouting against the legislation.

"And every day some one is fighting against them. With every generation their ranks grow. There is more tolerance and acceptance and less fear in the world today, then there was yesterday. So I have every reason to believe that things will continue to improve until one day we will see the world finally at peace."

She paused and looked at her hands for a moment before she continued.

"This thing with meta-humans will follow a similar path. It's inevitable that meta-humans will change our society and how we live in it. The process will be scary and long and dangerous. But for the sake of humanity, all the struggles will be worth it. Those people, you, Lois, and I all know that and will fight for that future where we are united as a human family. So as long as those people exist, I will never lose faith."

Grateful, Clark smiled at her, but he wasn't entirely convinced. She took his notebook from him and after a few seconds, she frowned.

"It looks like you only have one side of the story," she said, handing his notebook back to him. She cast her eyes over to the opposing side significantly and smiled.

So Clark spent the rest of the morning on the other side of the line. And he began to understand why Kassandra was so positive about the future.

"'These people are powerful, but so many of them fight to defend us.'"

"'Many of them who are discovered are victims of violence.'"

"'They didn't choose to be born this way. They shouldn't be subject to differential treatment because of fear.'"

"'It's true the police can't handle attacks from meta-humans, but that doesn't mean all of them are bad. In fact, shouldn't we be asking them for help?'"

"'They are born with these gifts for a reason. Who are we to deny them the chance to better humanity with their natural gifts?'"

"'There's a lot of mistrust between us and them; I understand that. But forcing them to out themselves is not the way to forge a good relationship. There's got to be a better way than this. They have as much a right to live freely as any one else. So we have to try.'"

Heartened by these words, Clark, for a moment, allowed himself to hope.