"Lane! In my office now!"

Lois rolled her eyes at the impatient yelling. It put her in mind of her old boss, Perry White. He'd been fired in his first year onboard for being a hopeless drunk, but she'd take him over her last two bosses any day. And she would even take Clark over Tess. She was much more involved to everyone's dismay.

"You rang?" she asked dryly upon entering.

"My brother was a fool. I'm not. And unlike my predecessor, I will be more than happy to actually fire you."

"It would help if I knew the context."

Tess slammed down her last article down on her desk. It was marked up with so much red one wondered if the words hadn't bled. "How someone who is both a college graduate and a professional writer can be such an atrocious speller I'll never know. "

"If that's all, I'll have someone look over it before I turn it in next time. Problem solved."

"That would be helpful, but no. I'm more concerned with the actual content."

"What do you mean?" she asked innocently but not innocently enough to be believed.

She read from it to be clear. "Corporate greed is rife in Metropolis. One can blame pollution, low wages, bankruptcies of small businesses, control of the media, and the safety of its workers on one corporation in particular. Do we want to be the next Gotham or will this grand old city throw off the shackles of oppression and return to its former glory? Join the online town hall meeting to learn how you can make a difference. Did you honestly think I was going to let you print this trash?"

"No, but I hoped. Besides, I didn't name LuthorCorp specifically. Must be your own guilty conscience speaking."

Tess' frown only deepened as she handed her another piece of paper.

"What's this?" Lois asked though the meaning was clear enough. It was a poster on the annual 5k run sponsored by LuthorCorp.

"Real news. It's a proven face that readers want positive news not your Negative Nelly spin on everything. Besides, I hear you're a runner. That makes you the perfect reporter for the job."

She grumbled the rest of the day. She was still grumbling when she got home that night.

"I was assigned to cover the 5k. Can you believe it? Me, an award-winning, investigative journalist? I'll show her. I'll find something that's not above board with that race even if it's only improperly placed water stations." It was after her mini-rant that she remembered she lived alone now. Maybe she should look into getting a cat.

Though a pet wasn't the same as human companionship. She admitted it: she missed Ollie. He was the first man she'd ever loved. Did she regret kicking him out? Sometimes. The apartment was lonely after sharing it with Oliver, but it was freeing too. And she was more than convinced she'd made the right decision as she heard through mutual acquaintances that he and Chloe were looking mighty cozy when they were seen out and about.

She smiled when his number flashed on her screen later. Come what may, and soon it was to be divorce papers as she'd already talked with a lawyer, their friendship was solid. "I was just thinking about you. Tess-"

"Unfortunately, this isn't a social call. I have to ask you something."

"Shoot," she said, her journalistic senses tingling.

"Did Clark Luthor ever mention there being more Kryptonians?"

"Uh, no, I don't think so, but he didn't really seem comfortable talking about his alien side."

"Well, there are."

"There are what?" she asked, her heart thumping wildly.

"There seem to be other of them. The military got images of a ship and people getting off the ship. I've been called in to consult. I guess we'll be mining more kryptonite in case of hostile contact, which is almost certain since they haven't made themselves known yet."

How were they going to save the planet? Kryptonite was still on the rare side, "Ollie-"

"No," he said, clearly and emphatically.

"You don't even know what I was about to say."

"Yes, I do, and the answer is no. We are not releasing Clark Luthor from jail."

"Why? He can't hurt people with his powers now, but he could negotiate."

"He's still a killer, and no doubt he will want to join up with them. No."

"I understand he's a convicted murderer and I'm not saying he should be released without guard, but he is essentially one of us. He would help; I know he would if only as a Luthor defending his territory. What other choice do we have? At least, go by and talk to him about it. I'll come with you."

"I guess talking wouldn't hurt. Okay, you win. I'll swing by and pick you up."