Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 27
By
Jason Richard
That evening, as the sun finished setting in the distance, Clark, in a t shirt and jeans, stood atop a building and scanned Lexcorp tower with his x-ray vision. He could see the green crystal locked away in one of the storage vaults, just waiting for him. He was working on a plan to get a hold of it so he could finally get his pod operational, and keep the dangerous object away from Lex Luthor.
In the end he decided he wouldn't just steal it outright. After all, if he did that it would just make Luthor realize the crystal's true value. How found it ironic that he had all this power, that it would be so easy to just take it, but it could still blow up in his face if he did.
He didn't get a good look at it back at the press conference, but he did get a good look at it now with his enhanced sigh. The most interesting thing he could see were the radiology readings that accompanied the display. It occurred to Clark that Lexcorp staff saw fit to put all that radiation in a room full of people. It didn't seem to affect anyone but Clark, at least immediately, but it still affected him. Clark was no scientist, but that still seemed like it would have to be an awful lot of radiation..
It was only a hunch really, but maybe, just maybe, Lexcorp staff had overlooked something. If Clark brought those readings to another lab, say STAR Labs, they might find something Clark could use.
For now, this was his strategy. He'd make the crystal useless to Luthor...maybe.
…
Lexcorp Flub on Radiation Readings
That was the name of the article that ran in the Daily Planet the next day. Clark Kent's info from STAR Labs had proven more fruitful than he anticipated. Apparently the radiation from the crystal was not harmful to human being in small doses, but prolonged exposure could eventually cause complications. It might take months, or even years for the effects to kick in, but too much exposure would make those problems inevitable.
And the kicker? Any technology designed to be powered by such a substance would ultimately come with the same complications, as that particular form of radiation didn't have an adequate form of containment yet.
Ultimately this meant that the crystal would soon be useless to Lexcorp. If Lex Luthor couldn't figure out how to get around this, he'd be forced to throw it away. When he no longer wanted it, Superman would claim it for himself, without anyone noticing.
It was when Clark sat at his desk, looking at a copy of that very paper while sipping some coffee, that Lois walked up, leaned on his desk, and came him a look that was half an evil glare, and half a mischievous smirk.
"Can I help you Miss Lane?" Said Clark.
"You have no idea just how lucky you are right now," said Lois.
Of course Clark knew she was referring to the dirt she had on Luthor...that was destroyed with her phone. Clark agreed that Luthor hanging out with mob bosses would easily have made the front page if Lois had kept it. All the information that the Daily planet could run on Lexcorp, aside from the Crystal Radiation flub, was a bunch of generic information on the tech Lexcorp showcased.
Of course she still technically made the front page with the headline, "Parasite sucks Power instead of Blood?" About Rudy Jones attacking Superman. The name Parasite had caught one with the public too. Of course given her obsession with getting dirt on Lexcorp, that article might as well have been a blue ribbon for a second grade science fair. No consolation at all.
"Something happen Miss Lane?" Clark asked innocently.
"Oh nothing," said Lois, moving to her own desk and sitting down. She picked up a pencil and started writing something. "Nothing at all." But Clark heard her mutter under her breath. "Aside from me losing all the dirt I'd ever need on Luthor, only for Kent to find some the next day." And she accidentally broke off the tip of her pencil, only to throw it in the garbage angrily and grab another.
Clark decided not to mention that his X-Ray vision had given him the information for that article. He was also amazed. Whatever his pod had done to his glasses it was working. Lois Lane had been standing face to face with him as Superman just hours ago, and now here they were, face to face again, and she didn't' recognize him one bit.
She caught him looking at her, "Did you want something Kent?"
Clark shook his head and replied, "No Miss Lane, and I just wanted to say that I didn't mean to steal anyone's thunder."
"I know," said Lois, sitting at her computer and switching from writing to typing. "Like I said, you got lucky."
Clark had to admit, he wasn't certain if he could take her constant attitude forever, so he teased, "Well, if my luck keeps up, maybe I'll make the front page next time...probably would have if it wasn't for this Parasite."
Lois laughed, "Oh is that how it is? Ok. Fine. I'm comfortable with a little competition."
"Healthy competition?" Clark inquired.
Lois smirked and said, "Sure."
Clark chuckled, and then they went back to work. In a way one of the most interesting thing about having dual identities, Clark was finding, was seeing two different sides of people. Which was closer to the real Lois? He wondered. "The one filled with awe and wonder at Superman? Or the snarky, challenging woman he saw before him? Either way, Clark was intrigued to find out
…
Lex Luthor rubbed his temples, feeling a massive headache as he leaned over his desk, calculations scattered across it erratically. Between Clark Kent's article and Lois Lane's snooping Lex had been threatened to be ruined on two sides. Fortunately it seems Mercy succeeded in destroying the evidence, as there was no article mentioning his encounter with mob bosses. Rudy Jones had also run some interference on the issue with that green crystal's radiation. Most people were focused on them.
Lex had naturally fired the person who messed up the radiology report. The only course of action now was to determine what would happen to that crystal. At first it seemed to be an incredible find. The long term effects it could wield for renewable energy were astounding, but the danger the substance technology posed to the general public wasn't worth it.
By Luthor's calculations the amount of time it would take to perfect adequate protective shielding for such a crystal far exceeded all other avenues for renewable energy Lexcorp was currently working on, so that was out. It wasn't an effective weapon either, as the radiation took so long to have any deadly effects. There was no need for renewable energy sources for weapons, so Luthor really had no use for it, and the papers on his desk were the calculations he went through thoroughly to find one. He did have a scientific curiosity about it, but he also had a business to run, so it had to go.
He picked up his phone and made a call, "Hello? I want it destroyed...yes that one."
From the Daily Planet, using his incredible hearing to spy on Lex Luthor, Clark heard the call. His chance to get that crystal was going to up up very soon.