Chapter 34: The trap
Daily Planet – the evening before the launch.
Looking at his watch, Clark leans back in the swivel chair tiredly before Lois' desk. Almost eight pm already. He and Lee came late this morning and Perry, of course, barked at them both. The rest of the day went smoothly, Richard mostly handling the international department, leaving Clark free to work in the office, disappearing from time to time. An almost normal day, the reporter muses as he picks up the article he's supposed to proof-read for his colleague before she comes back from Florida. Almost normal if it wasn't possibly my last one... Tonight, after taking Lee back to her apartment, he'll go to see Ma and Ben, just to be sure that the nuclear strike fallout shelter they were talking about is safe enough... just in case... He'll then leave his last recommendations with Bruce, taking the opportunity to see his son.
The phone rings suddenly. Clark grabs it absently, still thinking about the pleasant conversation, one of the firsts in a long time, he had with Lois before she left with Richard and Jason a few hours ago for Gotham. "Daily Planet, Clark Kent speaking..."
"... Err... can I speak to Miss Lane, please?" a woman says on the line. At the sound of her voice, Clark freezes instantly. This voice...Call me Catherine... he remembers. Catherine Kowalski, Luthor's girlfriend... Trying to sound casual despite of his growing excitement, he says, "Err… Lois Lane is not here at the moment. May I take a message for her?"
Silence meets his question at first, then the woman answers, her voice unsure and hesitant, "I'm Kit- Catherine Kowalski. I... I need her to give a message for Superman."
His heart beating fast, the reporter leans forward, trying his best to fake surprise. "Su- Superman?! But… Wait… Kowalski? Wh..."
"Please... I don't have much time... He's... he has already launched his thugs after me... I need to meet Superman... I have something important to give him," the woman says frantically. Clark's eyes widen at that statement. "Just... just tell him to look for me near the Logan Bridge... at nine pm."
"Wait... how are we supposed to give Superman the message? We don't even know how to contact him!" Clark says quickly. He is so excited at the prospect of finding Luthor finally that he almost forgot his own cover.
The woman pauses a second then answers, "Miss Lane will know how to contact him." She then hangs up the phone.
Frowning, Clark stays unmoving for a few seconds. This is my chance. He quickly stands up and crosses the short distance to his own desk. As he grabs his coat hastily, a hand on his back stops him.
"Clark. What happened?" Lee is standing just behind him.
He looks down at her, still wondering how she always manages to startle him, appearing like this from nowhere. "I just had Catherine Kowalski on the phone," he says simply, all too aware that it's useless to try to lie to her.
She grabs his arm. "What? Kowalski? Luthor's girlfriend?"
He nods. "Yes. She wants Superman to meet her in about an hour at Logan Bridge."
Lowering her voice until it's barely more than a whisper, she says, "But, Clark... if it's a..."
"A trap? I'm pretty sure it is..." he whispers back, checking their surroundings to be sure no one can hear them. But at this hour, almost everyone is gone. "I have to go anyway. It might be my only chance to find a way to get to Luthor." His right hand brushes her left cheek gently. "And besides, Catherine Kowalski might really need my help."
The smile in his voice makes her sigh. He'll never change, always ready to believe in the good we're supposed to have in ourselves, she thinks. Is it naivety or ultimate awareness? The truth is, that's what makes him more human than humans themselves. "Clark, I really..."
He presses his index finger to her lips to shush her. "I'll be extra careful, I promise." Seeing her frustrated expression, he lowers his face, his lips brushing her left ear. "Hey... don't worry. I wouldn't want to miss my appointment with New Krypton tomorrow," he whispers then gives her a little kiss on her lips.
She opens her mouth to answer, but she already feels the coolness of the air as he steps away, heading to the elevators. She just stands there in the middle of the alley. I have a bad feeling about this.
The cool night air brushes his face as he flies high above Metropolis, thankful that Catherine Kowalski chose this moment to ask for him. The landmass is right now cruising over the other side of the planet, leaving his sore body some welcomed respite. He used the spare hour he had to recharge in the lower stratosphere, though, just in case... Keeping his distance cautiously, he scans the area of the Logan Bridge, ignoring the chilling wind that runs over him at this altitude, and lets his telescopic sight wander among the streets and buildings, detailing each bystander, each car, and each rooftop until something catches his attention.
His dark sapphire eyes squint a little as he looks closer at a certain area on the rooftop of a high and old building. She's here, hidden in the shadow of an aeration system. Taking his time, he observes her; her expression is frantic and her body is shaking slightly under her long fur coat. She's holding a... dog-like plush? What became of her little dog? Raising an eyebrow, he continues his inspection. A rapid x-ray scan reveals nothing suspicious under her coat except for extremely salacious lingerie exposing her breasts and... Oh God! Heat rising on his cheeks, he looks quickly away, scanning the rest of the rooftop. Sighing from frustration, he realizes that this building, like most of those in this old district, is laced with lead, giving him almost a headache just trying to get a clear vision of what lies beneath it all. Still, he sees nothing out of the ordinary. Starting to wonder if it's really a trap after all, he gives a last wide look at the area and initiates his descent toward the rooftop.
As soon as she spots him, she straightens up and takes a few steps, leaving the shelter of the shadows. Unable to keep her eyes away from him as his feet gracefully touch the rooftop a few meters away from her, she is once again mesmerized by his divine presence, his natural masculinity contrasting so beautifully with his genuine naivety. He's like a lost child in the body of a god, she thinks to herself as her eyes wander over his perfect muscular body.
Keeping all his senses in alert and starting to feel embarrassed by her insistent gaze upon him, he says, "Miss Kowalski. I heard that you were looking for me."
Her somehow empty eyes meet his. "I asked you to come because I have something for you..." she says, her voice surprisingly cold and expressionless, contrasting with her flirting behavior during their first meeting a few weeks ago.
The hair on the back of his neck rises suddenly as something rings out in his mind. Instinctively, he steps back but everything happens too quickly: the slight movement of her hand over the collar of her pet-toy, simultaneous clicking sounds all around him, and the instant slicing pain seizing his body. Placed at strategic points all around the rooftop, lead-lined boxes open simultaneously, revealing chunks of kryptonite.
A deafening buzz fills his ears immediately as his body reacts to the rocks, his vision blurring and nausea sending bile up into his throat. Staggering, he tries to back off in a vain attempt to escape the deadly radiation, but his knees buckle and his body quickly goes numb, barely sustained by his shaking legs. Awakened by this new poisoning wave, his unhealed wound screams its presence in his back even more, sending bolts of pain along his spine.
Suddenly, through the haze of agony, he sees the young woman open her coat and reach behind her back. When her hand reappears, it's holding a gun that she points immediately at him. Oh, no… Time seems to slow down for Kal-El. Before his eyes, a recurring scene from his recent nightmares seems to repeat itself: he can't move, his feet glued to the ground, his body unresponsive, broken. This time though, it's not just a dream; the gun aimed at him is real. He's forced to watch, helpless, as her finger presses the trigger, as the bullet is thrown by the explosion with a deafening noise. His eyes follow, horrified, as the deadly piece of metal swoops down at him in slow motion. With all his might, he tries to move to the left but his body seems petrified. He hears himself cry out as the bullet cuts through his right shoulder, passing his weakened aura easily, piercing his skin and digging deep into his flesh until it connects with his bone. Intense, white flashes of light blind his eyes, followed immediately by darkness.
Kitty watches, her eyes glittering, as the hero falls backward, shoved by the impact of the bullet she just fired. Ignoring his heart-rending cry and the thud his back makes as it connects with the hard concrete, she starts to walk to him slowly, her gun still pointed at him, her shaking hand clasped on it tightly. As she slowly closes the space between her and the fallen man, she sees his writhing frame shaken by ragged breaths.
Darkness is quickly replaced by an unforgiving awareness, and Kal-El realizes that he's lying on his back on the ground. Wheezing, he feels his lungs constrict even more, denying him the air he's begging for. Radiating from his new wound, unbearable bolts of pain run through his body, making him feel like he is being ripped apart piece by piece. Kryptonite, the bullet has kryptonite inside… Helpless, he sees the woman slowly walking toward him. With his blurry eyes fixed on the gun she's still aiming at him, he tries to back away. Leaning on his left elbow as his right arm is totally limp, he tries to crawl on his back, but he has to give up soon as the simple pressure of his cape he's lying on, pulling against his neck, is too much for him already.
As she's approaching him, Kitty moistens her lips nervously, the scene before her eyes seeming to hypnotize her. The strange, unexpected beauty of the precious blood flowing out of his wound, soaking his bright blue suit, its dark red shade enhanced by the crimson of his cape, the delightful sight of his body exposed and totally helpless as his muscles tense uncontrollably under the pain, the suggestiveness of the moans escaping his shivering, full lips and the beads of sweat wetting his brow, his raven hair now disheveled and falling over his forehead, the surprise in his beautiful clear eyes… All this sends warm waves throughout her body. As she steps over him finally, planting her high heels on his cape, her ankles brushing his hips, his futile attempt to crawl away from her sends shivers all over her spine.
After having put her toy down at his side, she slowly kneels, finding herself straddling him in a very suggestive way, her coat slightly parted as Kal-el fights a new wave of nausea. Struggling to stay conscious, he chokes as the simple fact that the woman is leaning over him like this seems to deprive him from the rare air he needs. Disgusted, he feels her hand running over his trembling chest and belly, her nails teasing and burning his over-sensitive skin through the fabric of his suit. Her fingers then follow the shape of his shield and go up to his neck and chin, easily holding it in place when he tries to turn his head away. Why is she playing with me like this? Why doesn't she finish me? Where's Luthor? Why doesn't he show up? In a vain attempt to get away from her, he tries to push her away with his left hand, but she quickly immobilizes his weakened arm with her right knee. Still holding his chin firmly, she leans closer, her face now just a few inches above his. Surprised, she doesn't see fear in his eyes as expected, but frustration... anger...? Or is it... resolve?! Quite startled, she doesn't notice the swift movement on her left. Before she can react, her gun is knocked away from her hand.
At her sudden hesitation, Kal-El had seen his chance to do something. Despite the pain and general numbness of his body, he managed to regain control of his right arm and disarmed her quickly. Taking advantage of her utter surprise, he now grabs her neck, his fingers tensing on her soft skin.
Choking, the young woman panics. It's not supposed to happen like this... He's supposed to be paralyzed, weakened... Lex told me... she thinks, her eyes wide from fear. With both hands she grabs his wrist frantically to escape the iron grip on her throat, but it's no use; despite his state, he's still too strong for her. All he has to do now is tighten his grip a little more until she faints from lack of oxygen. Beneath his fingers he feels her rushing pulse, betraying her fright, her wide, dark eyes pleading with him. Suddenly he sees her lips move silently. Please… Read my lips… Fighting to keep his vision clear, his strong grip unfaltering on her neck, his eyes slowly widen as she tries to mouth a few words. He's looking at us right now… please, trust me…
A few seconds, which seem to be an eternity for her, pass until his gaze softens suddenly. His hand releases her neck and falls back numbly on the ground by his side, eliciting a groan from his throat as the movement strains on his wounded shoulder. His eyelids close despite his will as exhaustion seizes him, and he barely reacts when she plants her left knee on his right arm, pinning him down, preventing any new attempt at rebellion. Regaining her confidence, she looks down at him with an indefinable expression then she leans over him again, her face just a few inches from his, and whispers ever so slightly, "I told you I had something for you…"
A sudden, familiar sensation strikes his right hand as she discreetly places a smooth object in it. This smoothness, this warmth, this particular shape... It's the Father Crystal!! Dumbstruck, Kal-el looks in her eyes frantically, his fingers tightening shakily on the beloved mineral. Fueled by hope and joy, he tries to straighten up, opening his mouth to speak, but Kitty presses on his chest immediately and plants a frantic kiss on his lips to silence him. "Quiet..." she whispers softly into his mouth as he gasps again for air. His eyelids close tightly when another intense wave of pain, triggered by his last moves, takes over his body.
Trying her best to ignore the fallen hero's agonized moans, Kitty wanders her right hand languorously through his hair and over his cheek and neck, running the tip of her tongue over his shivering lower lip while, with the other hand, she surreptitiously hides the crystal he's holding by covering it with a fold of his cape. Then, with her lips, she follows the ridge of his chin and grabs his right earlobe with her teeth. Careful to whisper as low as possible, she says, "Now listen to me carefully... There's a tracer in the bullet... He'll be able to track you down wherever and to whoever you go to..." Kal-El's eyes widen at that. Seeing that he's struggling to speak again, she quickly silences him with her index finger pressed on his lips.
"Shhh" Leaving his face, she straightens up and speaks loud enough to be well heard, "I have a message from Lex for you, Superman: it's time for you to retire and let this world die on its own. There will be a new era and you're no part of it. With the great nations reduced to nothing, the world will beg for Lex to save them."
Kal-El looks at her frantically. Luthor wants to let New Krypton destroy the world. He'll let millions of people die just to achieve his sick plans. He wants to speak but it's definitely too much for him. Giving up, he lets his head fall back numbly on the concrete, closing his eyes, slowly losing his battle against unconsciousness.
The sound of sirens rises up in the distance, closing in quickly. Getting up hastily, Kitty grabs the gun, which has been thrown a few meters away, then gathers the chunks of kryptonite set all around the roof, placing them back in the pockets of her coat. As she walks to the service door, ready to disappear behind it, she stops and turns to look at Superman one last time. His prone form is now bathed in a dark pool of blood, his pale, sweating face turned to her, his barely opened eyes pleading with her. Fighting the growing knot in her throat, she slowly shakes her head, a single tear escaping her left eye. That's all I could do to help… Grabbing the knob, she opens the door and quickly vanishes behind it.
Comfortably reclined in his leather armchair, Luthor looks at the giant screen excitedly. Unable to suppress a contented smile, his eyes stare at the hero sprawled out on the concrete. With his hand slightly shaking from excitement, he pushes a button and the image zooms in, showing him more details of the formidable result of his genius plan. The last ten minutes have been the most enjoyable of his entire life... maybe even more than the holy moment where he planted that chunk of kryptonite in the freak's back. Shuddering with pleasure, he grabs the Martini that was waiting for him. "Now let the game really begin," he says, swallowing the liquid in one gulp. He presses another button and a second screen comes to life, showing what looks like a precise map of the city and a flashing dot in its center.