DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

A/N: Alrighty! This story is the sequel to my previous novel, Superman: Hope. I'd like to say that you could read this one without reading that, but unfortunately, I can't. This story is pretty dependent on the last one, which can be found by in this document.

Unlike the previous book, which mainly focuses on Lois's world and how Superman altered it, this novel will give more focus on Clark's world - on his Kryptonian heritage and past, etc. We'll also expand the universe a bit by bringing in more fantastical aspects of Superman's mythos. We'll be getting aliens and robots and other superheroes now, so brace yourself!

I do have to give some warning that my stories will not be happy at all times, and sometimes, they may be downright depressing. I do it for the sake of drama, but I more-or-less promise that almost all problems will be resolved in the end. I measure my characters' worth by the obstacles they overcome - it's something to consider in your expectations for what might happen.

I oftentimes involve mysteries in my novels. If you find yourself predicting the answer to some big mystery, please don't post it as a review because it can be seen as a spoiler.

Lastly, I'm keeping this novel mostly clean save for some suggestive content. language, and violence. Sorry if you're looking for *more*, but my novels just don't do that.

Anyway, enjoy! There is a third book in the works, but this one is still in progress too.

BOOK II PROLOGUE

There are some things that, as a Lexcorp employee, you just know - even if you don't discuss them. You know that you never voice support for Superman on company property. A misdeed that severe could result in immediate firing. Of course, there's no written rule against such talk, but you'll get fired all the same for some vague, inconsequential reason.

But no matter what they say, the real rationale behind those firings is quite obvious. If you work for Lexcorp, you can't like Superman - not publicly anyway.

After all, everyone knows that Lex Luthor hates Superman. In the media, he takes every opportunity to condemn him, accusing him of attracting aliens to Earth and other atrocities. Very few people believe him, of course, no matter how much the people of Metropolis acknowledge that Lex is probably one of the smartest men in the world.

The fact of the matter is that, as much as the public respects Lex for building and owning most of the city, Metropolis just loves the Man of Steel more for saving it. And that, above all else, would probably cause Lex to pull his hair out… if he had hair, that is.

But there is something that Lex hates more than Superman… and that 'something' is being informed of problems. And not just any problems - catastrophic problems. Problems that could ruin Lex more than the Man of Steel ever could.

And while Superman supporters might get bounced from employeeship, Lexcorp workers know, though they don't mention, that Lex is rumored to frequently kill the messenger. The literality of that tendency… is up for debate. Some people claim that certain workers just disappear, out of fear of Lex's threats, or are literally thrown out of the city. Others say that Lex actually kills them… arranges accidents. It's odd, the Lexcorp employees have realized. There are quite a few mysterious accidents per year for people who delivered bad news to the company's CEO.

Graham Templeton, head of Lexcorp's data management department, knows all of these things, though he, like the others, never speaks of them. He does not even speak of them as he is waved toward Lex Luthor's office by a severe-looking young woman with dyed black hair, and panic floods his veins as he nears the door. Right now, he is carrying the worst of news to his boss - the kind that will get him fired, if he's lucky. Maybe killed, if he's unlucky. But as part of his job, unfortunately, it is his legal obligation deliver that sort of news. It says so in his employee contract.

The other reason why Metropolis prefers Superman? Lex, though he has never been convicted of doing anything illegal, has an aura of something… wicked about him. Graham's wife always says that it's something about his eyes… that there is a devilish glint in them. It's why she initially begged him to pass up the job at Lexcorp, no matter how much he would be paid for managing confidential Lexcorp data. People, in their hearts, could generally see through the facade. And while Superman appeared to be something humane and humble under his exterior, Lex seemed to radiate nothing but arrogance and greed, no matter how much Luthor buried those things with flashy charity galas and city improvement projects. Whereas Superman seemed to help, Luthor appeared to control. And in this case, appearances ring true.

Shaking from fear, Graham Templeton knocks on the door, regretting the day he ever took this position, and by extension, the responsibility of the huge error that his department just made.

"Come in," a smooth but impatient voice says, muffled by the heavy oak of the doors. With a click, those same doors swing open soundlessly - moved by automatic hinges.

Graham glances inside, stunned by how elegant Lex Luthor's office is. There is a huge panoramic window that overlooks the whole city, several hundred yards from the door. And then there are the plush furniture pieces, the high-tech devices strewn around the room, and the exotic plants potted in ornate vases. It's the middle-class man's ideal of luxurious conditions.

"What? Do you plan to stand in the doorway all night? Why are you here?" Lex demands from a desk right in front of the window. The lights in the office have been turned down low, leaving Lex's silhouette barely illuminated by the lights of the city. It gives him an eerie quality.

Like some sort of ghoul, Graham thinks nervously, but he immediately pushes the thought out of his mind as he pushes forward. He comes to stand in front of Luthor's desk.

Gulping, he manages to tell him, "Sir, we have a bit of a situation."

Lex's jaw immediately clenches. "What type of situation?"

"Well, as head of the department of data management, it's my job to oversee the handling of confidential company information… even sensitive information."

"I'm aware, Templeton. Spit it out."

A huge exhale. "Mr. Luthor," Graham begins, his voice marked by a hint of desperation, "approximately thirty minutes ago, our systems detected some sort of bug - a hacking program in our server. We managed to erase it completely… but not before it lifted some of your personal files off of your private server."

Lex's eyes widen, and he sits bolt upright in his chair, grabbing the arms of his chair as if they are necks he desires to strangle. "What?"

Graham, fearing for his life, immediately backs a few paces before answering. "There were files… taken. Downloaded. I never read them myself, but I was able to determine their designations."

"Which...files?" Lex grits out, something strongly animalistic in his expression.

"Something called Project Greenheart. And a fragment of another set of files… just a small fragment. From a set of encrypted folders called the S-examinations."

Lex seems like he might be on the verge of hyperventilation. "Are you telling me… that someone could be in complete possession of some of those files?"

"Only for Project Greenheart. The rest-"

Lex cuts him off savagely. "Who planted the bug? Did you track where it was sending the files?"

"Yes sir, but… the encryption was near perfect. Impossible to crack. We could only get a general location - somewhere in New Jersey. Gotham, maybe."

A huge city. It'd be impossible to figure out the real culprit. Lex, of course, realizes that too, panicking in response to the fact that some of his most private files are in the hands of some… unknown enemies

"WHY DIDN'T YOU DETECT IT SOONER?" Lex yells, his anger bursting out of him as he points an accusing finger at Graham.

"I-I'm sorry sir. It was so well hidden… we didn't think…"

Lex's expression is furious, and after practically lunging over his desk, he aggressively grabs the collar of Graham's shirt. The force he uses practically lifts Graham off the ground.

"Didn't think?" Lex hisses, his breath hot on Graham's face. "This could destroy me. No, you won't be thinking… not ever again."

Graham closes his eyes, ready for some sort of killing blow to come. But after a few moments... no such thing arrives. All he feels is Luthor suddenly and briskly releasing his collar.

Upon opening his eyes, Graham sees Lex straightening his suit, seeming utterly calm. In fact, he seems so calm that he couldn't possibly be the same person who indulged in the… emotional episode that Graham just experienced.

"You may leave now, Mr. Templeton," Lex tells him emotionlessly, turning his back to Graham and heading back to his desk. From there, the CEO sinks into his chair, seemingly drained. "Clear out your things immediately. There's no place for you here anymore."

Still shaking slightly, Graham nods and scrambles out of the room, feeling remarkably lucky.

Once he is gone, Lex raises his finger and presses a button on his desk console, causing the dark-haired woman to enter hastily.

"Mercy…" he begins to order her, "I'm afraid Graham Templeton is going to have an unfortunate accident on his way home tonight. I'll send his wife my sympathies."

TBC...