Chapter 51
Clark returned to his room in Metropolis, careful to enter through the window unnoticed. Once inside, he changed back into his civilian clothes. He had spent the entire night on the other side of the world, floating at the edge of the atmosphere absorbing solar energy. While he did not sleep, he did meditate. Now, he was back in Metropolis feeling as rested and refreshed as if he had slept for twelve hours.
All of his injuries were now fully healed, making him ready to do battle with the Kryptonian mech suit once again. Clark hoped that he could accomplish Braniac's defeat without truly injuring Lex. He also wondered if Lex was aware of the things being done through his body. If so, he assumed that Lex was powerless to intervene.
Before his thoughts could go further, a knock on his door interrupted him. His x-ray vision revealed that it was one of his landlords, Sarah Fadden, and Lena Luthor. He finished putting away his costume, and at super speed, straightened the room as he went from the window to the door, adjusting his glasses before opening the door.
"Good morning, Mrs. Fadden," he said with an innocent smile. "Lena, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Lena giggled and Mrs. Fadden laughed.
"Handsome man like you is bound to have a pretty girl come a-calling," the older woman opined. "She said it was important, so…"
"So, here I am," Lena finished as Mrs. Fadden turned to go back down the stairs. "I have it ready, Clark. Are you ready to fly me away?"
"Ready to fly at full speed," he replied.
As soon as Sarah Fadden was out of sight, Lena hugged Clark tightly.
"Seeing you so badly injured, Clark – I must confess that it was difficult for me, but you look fully recovered!"
"I spent the night on the other side of the world, just hovering at the edge of space," he explained as they went inside of his room. "I floated in a meditative state, absorbing solar energy and sorting my mind. I'm ready, Lena. We can do this."
"Clark, have you heard anything from Lois? I cannot reach her at any of her numbers, and she is not at her apartment."
He shook his head. "No, Lena." He paused and closed his eyes, opening up his hearing and listening for Lois' distinct heartbeat. It took some doing, but he eventually isolated it. Her pulse was slow, as though she were asleep. Near it, he heard two other familiar rhythms.
"She's here in Metropolis," he finally revealed. "Also, Lena, Lex and Lana are with her as well – both in close proximity."
Lena raised her eyebrows. "Close to Lois? How close?"
"Feet," Clark confirmed. "They're at Luthor-Corp."
"It still amazes me that you can do that," the Luthor heiress remarked. "You saved my life with that ability, you know. But more importantly, what is Lois doing with Lex? And why is Lana there?"
The phone rang just as Clark was about to answer Lena.
"I suspect we'll find out now," he said as he pressed the speaker button, allowing Lena to hear the conversation. "Clark Kent."
"Ah, Clark," said a familiar voice.
"Brainiac," Clark replied.
"Vril Dox, Kal El, not Brainiac," Lex's voice corrected.
"Not for much longer," Clark reminded him. "What have you done with Lois? I know she's there with you."
"We have a proposition for you," Brainiac explained. "Doctor Lang is here as well. We have an offer for you. Lois has been injected nanites that, if left unchecked, will disassemble her cell by cell. The process has already begun, but it takes a long time. Only I can formulate the antidote, Kal El. Accept our offer, and Lois will live. Refuse and she will die."
"I will be there shortly," he replied before hanging up. Then he turned to Lena.
"I suspect that I know why Lana has been brought here," Clark explained. "They want me to sire children with her."
Lena shook her head in disgust. "Doctor Lang is a menace! Clark, we have to stop them!"
"I know," he agreed. "Do you think you can formulate a nanotech solution that can save Lois?"
She nodded. "I … I think so. Jor El's data has vastly improved my own understanding of nanotech. Like Lex, I'll need a blood sample, of course."
Clark nodded. "Your office is at Luthor Corp, Lena. How do you want to play this?"
"I can get you inside," she noted. "They're probably in one of the R&D labs, and my access should get us into any of them. It should not be a problem."
"Given that they actually want me to find them, I would think not," he reminded her. "This must end, Lena. You said you have it ready?"
Lena removed a small case from her purse. "The syringe is inside. Inject it into him, and the results should be almost immediate." Then she added, "Clark, we only get one shot at this. If we don't succeed…."
"If we don't succeed," he reminded her, "Lois and Lex are both dead. I will not allow that. Come on – the sooner we do this, the sooner we can end it."
