Chapter 36

Secret SHIELD Facility...

"All is ready, Creator," the robotic duplicate of Maria Hill is conveying to its builder. She was once again in the facility where the captured humans were kept, plugged into the console up against the wall. "The human creatures are unaware of our presence. All infiltration units are prepared to act at your command. Their history has been collected ready for storage and preservation. All target data is collated and transmitted to include a representative sample of this world's species."

"...You have performed within expected parameters..."

"...All that remains is to ensure the capture of the Kryptonian survivor...and all the knowledge he possesses of his lost homeworld..."

The Duplicate-Hill frowns in a very human manner. "We know he possess the 3 lost stones that contained Krypton's collected history but have been unable to locate where he has stored them."

"...The Kryptonian will tell us their location when I arrive..."

"...A plan is already formulated on how to extract this information from him..."

"Understood."

"...Are the plans to lure him out into the open in place?..."

"Acknowledged, Creator. His predilection to aid these human creatures gives a predictable method to trigger a response from him."

"...There is a 100% probability that the human creatures will go extinct upon the arrival of the Multitude. All that matters is saving their knowledge and to understand their effect on the Kryptonian. How is he different to his kin..."

"Nature vs Nurture," Duplicate-Hill states what it is her creator seeks to know.

"...I shall be there in seven of their days. We shall have answers..."

"Yes, we shall."

"...Query. The Kryptonian Artificial Construct, designate 'Brain Interactive Construct'. It too must be collected..."

"It's location has been known for sometime now. It has formed an association with Mutant subspecies, Alpha Level, designate; Emma Grace Frost. Its current goals in this association are not known. When you arrive designated units will capture it."

"...All that was Krypton must belong to me. My Collection must be complete..."

"It will be," Duplicate-Hill vows. "It is my function, my purpose, all you created me to be. I will fulfil my purpose," she sates with an absolute certainty that only comes with being a machine. It is a certainty that promises very bad things are about to befall the people and one alien in particular of the planet Earth.

Secret Military Facility…

"Irons!" comes the booming voice.

Sergeant John Henry Irons snaps his attention away from the suit of high tech armour he's been working on. The African-American man spins round and salutes the superior officer now in his lab. "General Lane, sir!" he says with all the respect the man is due.

General Samuel Lane eyes the man carefully. Irons was brilliant but he was also frustrating. "Would you consider yourself a perfectionist, Sergeant?" he asks.

"Sir?" Irons queries, confused by the question.

"Whenever I inquiry about beginning manned tests of this suit I keep getting...what's the word here...oh yes, fobbed off!"

"Sir, Metal-Zero is not ready," Irons tries to plead his case. "Computer simulations show it puts an excessive strain on the heart," he tries to warn off human testing.

"I don't recall that being an issue with your prototype," Lane reminds him.

"Well that was before you had Luthor 'improve' it. I don't know where he came up with some of this tech but it's causing conflicts with other systems. The neural interface he created is far more...invasive than I ever planned for," Irons explains...and barely hides his disdain for Lex Luthor while he speaks.

Lane lets out a painful sigh. "Does it work?"

The dark skinned man blinks, slightly confused by the question.

"The neural interface? Does it work?" Lane clarifies.

"Well...yes," Irons will concede.

"Then get the suit ready for testing," Lane orders.

"Sir, in all good conscious I can't..." Lane cuts him off with a glare.

"Irons, need I remind you that we are falling behind. SHIELD has its Mandroids..."

"Which Lionel Luthor hacked and almost used to murder 40,000 people," Irons reminds the General.

Lane continues almost as if Irons hadn't spoken. "Lionel Luthor had his 'Prometheus' armour. Stark has his Iron Man armour. We have mutants and aliens and monsters crawling out of every shadow and right now a US Army unable to meet this threat. I will not rely on SHIELD for our nation's protection considering..."

"Considering what, sir?"

Lane is wishing he hadn't opened his mouth now. He just decides to air what he knows to emphasise to Irons why this is so important. "There's been some talk that since people like Magneto don't respect any sort of border or nation we need an agency that can operate across all borders too. The suggestion is that SHIELD becomes an international security agency, answerable to some sort of probably new UN Council or Agency."

"I...see," Irons says carefully.

"Therefore it is more urgent that our army is ready to tackle any threat this country faces and your armour can do that. It is the only way any normal human being can bridge the gap with all these superpowered people."

John Irons is a patriot. Make no mistake about it. He wants his country to be safe. "I'll get the suit ready," he reluctantly capitulates. He just hopes he doesn't regret doing so.

Lane nods. "Good."

"Just one condition, sir."

"You are really pressing your luck aren't you?" Lane says with a hard stare.

Irons meets the stare of his commanding officer.

"Very well, Sergeant," Lane capitulates this time.

"The first sign of danger to the test subject we shut it down," Irons lays out his demand.

"Fine," Lane agrees with an annoyed shake of his head.

"And is the test subject in place?" Irons wonders.

"I already sent word. He'll be at the base shortly," Lane answers with complete confidence in this man. Though this man does come along with one particular and personal headache to Sam Lane.

Metropolis…

A very annoyed looking brunette, dressed in a vest top and shorts has her hands on her hips and a death glare in her eyes as she stands in her apartment bedroom.

"Stop giving me that look, Lois," a tall, fit man says as he packs a bad.

"What look? The look where I happen to be slightly upset that my boyfriend drops everything whenever my dad snaps his damn fingers!"

John Corben mutters something under his breath before saying out-loud, "He's my commanding officer, Lo. What do you expect me to do?" he asks her in all honesty.

"Oh I don't know. Throw me down on the bed and ravish me. That's a good one," Lois retorts in her usual brash manner.

John stops packing and looks at her. He walks up and rubs her arms. "You know I would love nothing better than to do that, Lo," he says genuinely because really, dayum. Just look at her. "But I am a soldier. I have my duties...and you knew that when we started dating," he reminds her.

Lois fidgets on the spot. Damn she hates it when he has a point. Nonetheless she won't just accept this lying down. "What is it exactly my father is wanting now?"

"I wasn't told," John replies as he goes back to finishing his packing.

Lois snorts.

"Some stuff is classified Lois for a good reason. National security."

"Oh spare me that tired old excuse, John. I heard it from my father all the time as to why he never had time for me or Lucy," the brunette dismisses his argument.

"And yet look where your sister is now?" John reminds her, almost snidely.

"She's at military school to keep her out of trouble," she retorts.

"Yeah, cause you never get into trouble right? How many times has that vigilante had to save you?"

Lois broils. So Nightwing may have had to save her once or twice. So what? "Pursuit of the truth is worth a little personal risk," she defends her profession.

"It is not worth your life Lois."

"You do not get to tell me how to live my life, John! Sharing my bed does not give you that right."

"I am not having this argument again with you Lo. I need to get going," John tries to curtail it because he knows how it ends. They've had this argument before over the trouble she gets into for her career. It always ends with them having a 'break'. Sure the make-up sex later is amazing but it does get a little tiresome. Let him tell you; Lois Lane is hard work...yet he can always say he wants nothing better than to get back to her. Someone explain that contradiction please?

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Lois hides her hurt with indifference. "Give my best to my dad."

"I will," John replies before he picks up his bag and is marching out the apartment to the waiting car that has been sent for him.

Lois goes to the window and watches him leave, spotting one last glance from him upward toward her before he gets in the car. She sighs. Why oh why did she have to get involved with a soldier and not just any soldier but one who works for her dad. What was she thinking?

Probably that he was kinda hot...which he is. And that he was above the average trained monkey who works for her father.

And also called away on a secret mission in the middle of the night and not expecting her to investigative what was going on?

Yeah, right. It's like they don't know her at all.

She grabs her phone and dials. "Hey Andrea, it's Lois, listen I think there's something we need to look into..."

Secret Frost Industries Facility...

"So does it meet with your satisfaction?" the ever gorgeous blond that is Emma Frost is asking her partner as they tour a new research lab she has had built for him...and she is using the word 'him' here very lightly.

"Satisfaction is an emotion. I do not possess emotions," the Kryptonian artificial intelligence known as the Brain Interactive Construct(aka Brainiac) replies.

Emma is kinda sceptical in regards to that. She may not be able to read his mind but she's pretty certain she's seen emotions flicker across his face. "Yet you imitate them," she counters.

"Only to better blend in," Brainiac explains itself. "As for this lab, it will suffice. Your technology is so ridiculously primitive. Its barely above stone tools," he insults the human race in general.

"Well we can't all be survivors of an advanced alien civilisation can we," Emma drawls. Yes, she knows. As part of their partnership agreement Brainiac explained what he was. He explained his plan to free his master; General Zod and then the world will fall before them, with her at Zod's side.

Why is Emma going along with this you may ask?

Because she has been betrayed, outcast from the Inner Circle, her positions of influence removed from her. She pissed, she's angry and she wants it all back by whatever means it takes. Then there's Scott…

Emma mentally sighs. When did she get so weak? But she can't deny that she...she, oh for heavens sake, she loves him! There. She said it. In her head. Are you all happy now?!

And Emma will get him back as well. She just has to time it right. And she knows that opportunity may well be coming soon. That that infernal, inferior rival of hers, Jean Grey, is dating that human boy. Emma has made sure to keep her spies keeping track on events at Xavier's.

"Are you certain you understand what will happen when I complete my work?" Brainiac wonders.

"I know exactly what will happen," Emma states, insulted she's being talked down to. "Just remember our agreement. My students are to be spared. Everyone else can go to hell as far I am concerned."

"Your students will have the great honour of serving General Zod. Just ensure they do as they are told when the time comes," the AI warns her.

"My students know who they serve," Emma says icily, her gaze matching her tone.

"We shall see."

"Whatever," Emma mutters as she strides off.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a business to run," Emma replies. "And you have work to do. Why don't you get on with it," she suggests.

Brainiac watches the human mutant depart. Yes, he has much work to do but it will not take him long. He has already spent the past few months preparing everything. This lab is just a place to bring it all together. If he had emotions he would feel pity for just how stupid that woman is. She is merely a means to an end and she will not get what she believes she will. All that matters is freeing his master...and bringing the House of El, through its sole survivor, to its knees.

So in a burst of superspeed he begins his work to bring about that very end.

District X…

Is perhaps the one place a girl with golden skin does not stand out.

So why is Chloe out here in the middle of the night?

Well it's not her first trip down here lately. Admittedly not usually at night but she couldn't sleep.

Ever since her trip to Smallville a couple of weeks back her brain's been fixated on what she discussed with Jordan, about mutant kids not attending school...and there are plenty of them down here.

And that's only the start of a lengthy list of problems this place faces. She knows Mr Kent is trying his best but a Mayor is not all powerful. There is an elected council that has to pass anything significant and there are a lot of anti-mutant voices on Bayville's council.

Just look at this dump of a District. No wonder those charities the Professor helps fund are always down here.

But you know what if Chloe isn't careful she's going to spread her net too far and too thin. Her main focus should be those kids. Hell she is almost one of those kids. If she hadn't 'died' would she have been booted out of Smallville High too?

Point is she keeps coming down here to try and figure out an answer as to how to help them. Her passions have been reignited. What is the solution?

Chloe walks round the corner…

"Oof!"

Squelch!

Squelch?

Chloe brushes some of her blond hair out the way and finds a rather misshapen silvery blob in front of her that after a moment takes the form of a red-haired girl. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" the golden-skinned girl asks in concern.

The silvery-metal girl blows out a breath she doesn't actually need. Old habits. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just lucky you weren't one of those mutant hating nut-jobs getting the drop on me."

Chloe cocks her head curiously. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"You've seen your reflection right?" the metal mutant asks sardonically.

"I have," Chloe says moodily.

"I'm Cessily," she introduces herself cheerily. "But everyone around here calls me Mercury."

"Chloe," she says back. "Codename; Still Pending."

"That's an unusual codename."

Chloe gives the girl a snarky look.

Mercury grins, proud of herself. "So...you new around here?" she asks. It's very common to meet new mutants coming here. They arrive all the time.

"Sorta," Chloe answers vaguely.

"Are you...made of metal too?" Cessily wonders, peering at the girl closely. She's never met anyone remotely like her before. Even other mutants are a bit...standoffish due to her nature.

"Not as far as I know. It's just my skin turned gold."

"Oh."

"And I have healing powers."

"Ah. Well, you should be careful," Mercury advises. "It's not always safe to roam around the streets. We get targeted a lot."

"Yet you're roaming the streets," Chloe points out.

"I'm on patrol," Mercury declares, a hint of pride in her voice. "We've got to look after ourselves," she explains.

"By yourself?" Chloe questions. "That's not very safe," she thinks.

Cessily's formerly cheerful tone falls away. "Well, uh, it's usually partners but you see, the others...he-she was sick tonight."

Wow. That's a terrible lie. Why is she lying? "You know I think I heard about you. Weren't you the one who helped out when the FoH attacked here last year?" Chloe asks, the memory of hearing the story trickling into her mind.

Mercury nods with a bit too much enthusiasm, her long ponytail bouncing around wildly. "Yep. That was me," she declares, pointing at herself. "Everyone's hero!" she proclaims.

She doth protest too much, Chloe reckons. Now she wants to know why. "How about I keep you company?" she offers.

Cessily's pupil-less eyes blink in surprise. "Really?"

Chloe nods.

"You-you want to hang out with me?" she asks the question as if it is the strangest thing she's ever heard.

"Well it would be more like you keeping me safe, right?" Chloe phrases it as.

"Uh...yeah! Sure!" Cessily agrees eagerly. "That's me. Ms Protector!"

"I thought it was Mercury," she jokes.

Cessily giggles. "Good one," she congrats as she gets it.

Chloe smiles. "So...which way?" she wonders.

"Oh..uh," Cessily ums and errs as she looks around, her head twisting round impossibly thanks to her liquid neck. "That way!" she decides, clearly randomly as her head snaps back round.

Chloe tries not to cringe but it was really weird what the girl did there...and just, wow. Could this girl signal out more she's hiding something? Chloe's natural proclivity to discover the truth is kicking into operation overdrive here...ugh that was a terrible power ranger series. She's never forgiving Bobby for making her watch it. However, she will find out what is going on here. That she swears as the gold and silver coloured girls walk along the side-walk.

At the Institute...

Is where you find Clark and Jean getting back very late from their current date. Ever since Clark cracked open his inner turmoil just a bit to Jean a couple of weeks back she's found slowly, bit by bit he's letting her in deeper...which is, of course, what she wanted. They talked...it was getting more personal, the stuff you only talk about when a relationship starts to get more intimate. Sharing those more personal details and feelings.

And the more he let her in, the deeper Jean wanted to get. She is convinced she can heal him...or at least help him on the way. And the deeper she gets the more Jean is finding she just wants him, period.

Her feelings...they're getting deeper and more intense. She has already admitted to herself she physically wants him.

Which could be why when they try to part for the night at Jean's door, she instead finds herself pinned up against it, mouths and tongues locked together, battling for dominance, her legs wrapped around his waist as his hand gently hold and caress her rear.

"God," Jean gasps as she desperately sucks in air. Is this it? Is this the night? Does she invite Clark in? There is only one way that'll end. She can already feel the heat pooling between her thighs at the thought. She finds herself staring into his blue eyes, to the literal ring of fire deep within. Is he thinking what she is thinking?

The answer is basically, yes. Then again Clark is a guy and like any human male sex pops into his head quite often...but it is more than the sheer physical attraction. Yes, Jean is gorgeous. You'd have to be dead or gay not to desire her but these last couple of weeks, since he opened his heart up just that little bit back in Smallville, the dynamic of the relationship had shifted.

It was getting more intense, sharing personal stuff you would not share with just anyone. They were rapidly approaching putting their relationship onto a new level. If she invited him in...he wasn't saying no. He can already feel his body starting to harden at the thought.

Jean swallows. "Clark..." she begins.

"Whoa!"

Jean and Clark's heads snap towards that voice, belonging to a certain purple-haired Brit who is looking at them wide-eyed.

"Betsy?" Jean queries.

Betsy's lips adopt a lopsided, amused smirk. "Well, well, well you go away for a trip home and come back and find out you, apparently, missed everything...but don't mind me. You two continue," she cheekily permits.

Jean's legs unwrap from around Clark and touch the ground. It takes her a moment to test whether they still have the strength to hold her up. She clears her throat, heat rising up in her cheeks as she realises just what position her fellow telepath found her in. "I-I, um, didn't know you were back," she says. "You never said," she accuses, trying desperately to turn this topic off her and Clark.

Betsy is probably going to have to have this grin surgically removed. She is sure as hell never letting these two forget how she found them. She shrugs in response to Jean's accusation. "Wanted it to be a surprise."

"You succeeded," Clark mutters, his cheeks as red as Jean's, as he desperately tries to get his turned on body to cool off. Unlike women there is clear physical evidence for when a man is aroused...and he really does not want Betsy to notice that.

Betsy can't help but mentally laugh at the two squirming with embarrassment at the way she caught them. "Clark, how are you?" she asks, barely able to hold back laughing out-loud.

"I'm good. You're up late," he keeps his answer as minimal as possible.

"I'm still on British time," the telepath replies. "Which means I think it's about breakfast time."

Clark suddenly checks his watch. "Wow, it''s after 2," he suddenly realises. Not that he needs sleep. He doesn't but Jean does.

Jean is shocked. She hadn't realised it was quite that late...but now that she and Clark are really talking they do seem to lose track of time.

"I'll let you get some sleep," Clark says, because Betsy's appearance has completely killed the mood. He leans in and they share a kiss. "Sleep well," he murmurs lovingly, lingering a little too long, his hand caressing her cheek before he dashes away in a blur.

Jean lets out a lingering sigh of want...and the catches Betsy's smug look. "I'm off to bed," she announces.

"Of course," Betsy says too easily.

Jean turns and strides into her room.

"But Jean, luv, we will be talking about this later," Betsy's telepathic voice says with a salacious laugh.

Jean rolls her eyes. Fantastic. She can't wait...not. Jean lets out another sigh...and her eyes fall upon her bed...where if Betsy hadn't shown up she and Clark...oh, no, no. She doesn't need thoughts like that. It'll just leave her horny and frustrated and unable to sleep. After all it's not like it's been a year since...oh hell. It has been almost a year.

Jean lets out an audible groan. Maybe a cold shower first…

Author's Note: Sorry for the long, long delay in updating. Real life has been crazy busy these last several months. Anyway back to the story. The pieces are moving and falling into place as we approach the climax of this story. Up to now SHIELD has been an agency of the US Government but I thought it time to start moving it along to become the global security agency it is destined to be. So Project Metal-Zero and John Corben...yep, still can see nothing but good things ahead. No. Really. Stop giving me that look. Yay, Betsy's back! Happy days are here again! Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Enter...the Collector part 2, can you say Prom?