Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 52
by
Jason Richard
Lois Lane spent the rest of the day working on her article. This was the one where she finally struck a blow against Lexcorp. It might not put him out of business, but it would call into question his trustworthiness. It would of course make the front page, and as she typed on her computer she pitied everyone else at the Daily Planet. Not that she wanted to come off as arrogant, but it wasn't everyday a story this big dropped out of the sky.
Little did she know that the lead Clark Kent was working on would lead to something...interesting for the people of Metropolis.
He, of course, went to the Metropolis City court to talk to Mannheim's lawyers, the district attorney, and the judge who presided over the case. If there was a link to Lexcorp, Clark intended to find it. Even if he had to cheat and use super hearing. Clark understood Lois's obsession with taking down Lexcorp, and after seeing the state of that poor clone Clark was beginning to share that obsession.
Who knew what else Lex Luthor might do?
The actual interviews didn't go well. Most information Clark got was pretty much the same, but the first interview, with the judge himself, pretty much set the tone for the rest of the night. Superman learned what exactly got Mannheim off.
"What?" asked Clark in astonishment, stopping his hand when he realized he'd cracked the plastic of his tape recorder.
"The reason we had to release Mannheim," said the judge, and elderly man. "Was because of wrongful arrest. Superman has no legal authority to make arrests. Actually, I suspect after this case other petty criminals he's taken in will have to be released."
"But…" said Clark, stammering. "But your honor, hasn't Superman turned every criminal he's captured into the police? Also, I do believe citizen's arrest is legal in Metropolis, isn't it?"
"Both questions have the same answer," said the judge. "Superman is not a registered citizen of Metropolis, or indeed the United States of America. I challenge you to fight a birth certificate with the name 'Superman,' or 'Kal-El' on it. As someone who isn't even an American citizen we cannot accept his authority on these matters."
"But sir," said Clark. "Aren't you concerned that the public will...feel threatened by a bunch of criminals being released back onto the streets?"
"If those men aren't lawfully arrested," said the judge. "Then they cannot be held."
That was pretty much the end of the conversation. His interviews with Mannheim's lawyers and the District Attorney didn't fare much better, though the DA expressed Clark's frustrations. Clark knew Luthor was behind all of this, but he needed proof.
So in that courthouse, with his X-Ray vision, he watched Mannheim. Once the man started talking to his lawyers, that's when Clark would start eavesdropping. Mannheim did meet his lawyers, but instead of getting a room in that courthouse they went to a Limo outside. Scanning it with vision revealed that it had one of those sound dampening devices, so Clark wouldn't be able to listen in.
Fortunately, Clark was also an investigative reporter, and had other tricks up his sleeve.
As Bruno Mannheim was let inside the car by his bodyguards something made a noise. Mannheim looked over to see a trash can, vibrating like something had knocked into it. The next moment Mannheim felt a breeze as if something rushed behind him, but as he looked back to the car he didn't see anything.
Certainly not the bug Clark planted under the car cushion using Super Speed.
As Mannheim got into the Limo, Clark sat in a small cafe using earbuds to listen in through the bug.
"It's not good Bruno," said one of the Lawyers. "Our mutual employer isn't pleased with your results."
"He thinks this is my fault?" demanded Mannheim. "What does he expect when I'm up against a bulletproof menace like that?"
"He doesn't blame you," said the lawyer. "But he has put out an open call. Anyone who can take on Superman will become our employer's new black market arms dealer. Your association with us has been very appreciated, but can you really blame him for a move like this?" Watch with telecopic X-Ray vision Clark could seen Mannheims frustration, though he didn't sympathize.
As he listened via the recording device from that cafe Clark figured the 'employer' was likely Lex Luthor, though he'd need a slip up from one of them to confirm it. Little did he know it, but the slip up came soon.
"Just a tip," said the Lawyer. "But a way to stay in our employer's good graces would be to find his missing...ahem...science project."
"That thing that attacked Superman?" said Mannheim.
"Of course," said the Lawyer. "Here's a picture."
Mannheim whistled and said, "Ugly."
The rest of the conversation didn't matter. They never mentioned Lex Luthor by name, but Clark did know that the Clone was made by him. Still no hard evidence for Luthor, but Clark had his story: Mannheim connected to the thing that attacked Superman. It was, at the very least, a start to this investigation.
At that moment he couldn't help but wonder what Lois had come up with for her story.