Superman: The Ark of Krypton

Chapter 25

By Jason Richard

Superman and Lois kept running until they were certain they were far enough away, hiding in a back alley...somewhere in Metropolis. With the threat of a gun on their heels they hadn't payed much attention to where they were going. They both had to stop and take a breath, but despite the bullets sticking out of his chest Superman didn't' seem any more tired than Lois was.

"Are you okay?" asked Superman, taking deep breaths.

"Am I okay?!" Lois demanded, still panting. "You just got shot I don't know how many number of times. I should be asking you that!"

Superman laughed and said, "I guess so, but I'm fine. They didn't get very deep...and I think I'm healing already."

It was true. A few of the bullets had already fallen out, leaving bare skin and a hole in the suit. Lois shook her head.

"Guess you weren't in much danger after all," said Lois. "Lucky you." she paused for a moment then asked, "Tell me, did you know you could still take the bullets as much as you did after your powers were drained?"

In other words, she was asking him if he knew he'd survive when he put himself in front of her.

Superman shrugged and said, "I had no idea."

She looked at him suspiciously, like she thought he was lying, then shook her head.

"When you saved everyone in that building," said Lois. "Including me...I was blown away by what I had seen. A single person with that much power. It was so...unreal. And the more I see of you, the more I wonder if you actually are real."

"There've been times when I wondered that myself," said Superman. "Wondered if all this power I have and the stuff I've done are all just figments of my imagination, but I've gotten used to being this way."

"Is see," said Lois. "So who are you? Where are you from? How did you get your powers?"

Superman crossed his arms. He figured she'd start asking this, but that didn't prepare him. As he thought about his answer, he distracted himself by trying to fly again. He still couldn't lift himself. Not a good sign.

Finally, he said, "Will what I say be in the news tomorrow?"

She smirked, "If it's any good."

Superman chuckled and said, "I'm afraid not. The only only answer I have right now is...I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?" said Lois. "What? Did you just wake up one morning and find you these powers? Kind of a dull backstory."

Superman laughed again and said, "Maybe. It is a little more complicated than that, but I did find myself with powers one day, and no explicable reason why I should have them. I'm still looking into where the powers came from."

"And when you find out?" said Lois.

"Well," replied Superman. "I do intend to continuing helping people with my abilities. As such I do want people to trust me, so when I do figure out the whole story behind my powers, you'll be the first to know, and then you can tell the world."

"Now there's a story to look forward to," said Lois, grinning. "So...okay, you're going around saving people. With your powers you'd have to be some kind of lazy not to. On the other hand you'd have to be some kind of megalomaniac to take over the world upon getting these powers. But then...you don't seem to be acting like a normal everyday guy who suddenly got powers either."

"I don't follow," said Superman, confused.

"Well why aren't you playing it up more?" she said. "Giving interviews, going on talk shows, or hanging out with celebrities? Most of us are lucky to have fifteen minutes of fame total. If you do get your powers back you could be set for life in the public eye, but every time to save people you disappear before the applause really starts."

"I don't need praise," said Superman. "I know it's going to sound like a corny cliche, but a good deed is it's own reward."

"Okay," said Lois. "Now I'm certain you're not real. No one is actually that nice. The nicest guy I know only helped me because he could help himself."

It took Superman a moment to realize she was talking about him, AKA Clark Kent. He gave her a lead on Lex Luthor's underworld dealings, and she helped him into Lexcorp. She kind of had a point that he had an ulterior motive for pointing her in that direction.

"Besides," continued Lois "I'll bet you anything the guy who first said that corny cliche just wanted people to praise him for being selfless." Then she added sarcastically, " A good deed is it's own reward. Suuuuuure."

Superman didn't have a response, but just laughed.

"Okay Mr. Boy Scout," said Lois. "I'll play along with your little nice guy routine for now, so long as you agree to give me that exclusive you promised. Once you know where your powers come from…"

"You'll be the first to know," said Superman. "I owe you that much."

"Excellent," said Lois, beaming. "In the meantime, at least I have…"

She was about to look in her purse and dish out her phone, when she noticed the bullet holes for the first time.

"No," she said, pulling out her phone, only to see a bullet sticking through the broken screen. "No...no...NO! Seriously?! Ugh! I was so close!"

She threw the phone away in frustration.

"Problem?" asked Superman.

"I had a recording of Lex Luthor talking with mob bosses," said Lois clenching her hands like she was ready to strangle someone. "I had it! I knew I should have copied it...but I was so worried Luthor would have my phone hacked I…"

she couldn't finish, but just growled in frustration.

"Are you going to be okay?" asked Superman.

"I'll be fine," said Lois, taking a deep breath. "I just have to keep trying, that's all. How about you? You're wounds seem to be healing. Do you...I don't know, feel your powers coming back?"

Superman checked the bullets in his chest, and they'd pretty much fallen out by now. A few spots still had raw skin, but he still seemed to be healing. The next test, however, confirmed that his powers were coming back. He managed to float a little. Not enough to fly completely, but enough to answer his question.

"His power stealing is temporary," said Superman gladly. "Good. When I'm at full power I'll try to catch that Rudy Jones character...without touching him of course. In the meantime, do you need an escort home? Or to the police station? Luthor's goons might still be after you."

"No," said Lois. "To the Daily Planet will be fine. I'll have to run a generic story about the technology at Lexcorp, but once Luthor sees it he'll know I've got nothing and will back off."

"Fair enough," said Superman. "Shall we go?" and he stepped out of her way so she could take the lead. She nodded politely and walked on. From there, they made their way to the Daily Planet.