Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 83
by
Jason Richard
Lois Lane was upset, though she made every effort not to show it. She to had been shocked to learn, as everyone else was, that Edward Lytener had been speaking with Superman. She hadn't been shocked to find what Luthor did to Lytener, but it didn't surprise her. None of this changed her feelings on Lytener too much, but she did think that maybe she should have kept listening. That moment where Luthor turned on Lytener would have been a big help to her.
Of course what really stung about this was what Superman did. He went to every major news outlet in Metropolis to tell what happened.
Except for the Daily Planet. Of all the reporters there, she was the one he didn't contact. That stung, and Lois Lane didn't sting easily.
"Something on your mind Lois?" asked Clark, with a little more hostility than he intended as he sat at his desk.
"I take it you don't approve of what I did," said Lois, crossing her arms and spinning her chair around to face him.
"It was cruel," said Clark, also turning his chair. "And it put an in…"
He stopped himself, but it was too late.
"And innocent man in jail?" asked Lois with a spiteful laugh. "Is that what you were going to say? Edward was hardly innocent."
"Maybe," said Clark. "But if he hadn't have been put in that position he wouldn't have ended up doing what he did."
"You mean shoot a real innocent man?" said Lois. "Come on Clark. If he had stood up to Lex Luthor in the first place he could have avoided his situation and not given Lex Luthor technology that can hurt our super powered friend."
"If he hadn't," said Clark sternly, "He could have been killed, if what you and I firmly believe about Lex Luthor is indeed true. Besides, you heard Superman. We may need that technology, if those one hundred alien criminals attack."
"He didn't know that at the time," said Lois, shaking her head. "Face it Clark. I don't doubt he was put in a difficult position, but he still chose to save his own neck rather than stand up to Luthor. I'll admit I should have kept listening and not missed the memory erasure, but that doesn't mean what Edward Lytener did wasn't selfish. At the end of the day he was motivated to save his own skin. It's as simple as that."
Clark hadn't thought of that. All he had seen was a man in a tight spot who was scared and wanted to make things right.
"He was trying to undo his mistake," said Clark. "That's why he wanted to talk to Superman in the first place."
"Well," said Lois, shrugging. "I guess that's true. Even so. He only has himself to blame for getting into that mess in the first place."
"Does he?" asked Clark. "What about Luthor?"
"The rest of us Can blame Luthor," said Lois. "Edward still should have stood up to him. I put my neck on the line all the time to take Luthor down. I've even been shot at by Luthor's goons, and I've got the scars to prove it."
Clark narrowed his eyes, "Why? Why is taking down Lexcorp so important to you?"
For a moment Lois didn't answer, but in her mind her father was yelling at her.
...
"A reporter?!" her father had demanded of a teenage Lois as she was heading off to college. "You want to be one of those money grubbing liars?!"
"No!" Lois had shouted. "I'll only tell the truth, unlike some people around here! You always say you'll be there for me, but you're never around!"
"For goodness sake Lois it was just a play…"
"It's always a play!" she shouted. "Or a dance recital, or...anything else that's ever been important to me. You always say you're going to be there! But of course I have to be where you want me. Don't I? Well why should I join the army? Why should I report for duty when you never do?!"
"I'm in the military for heaven's sake!" he shouted back. "We're saving lives! And we're short on strong people who'll do it! What are you going to do?! Talk about celebrity's clothes? You think you'll save lives with some newspaper gossip!?"
"Maybe I'll find a way to help people," she screamed. "But this is what I'm doing and you can't stop me!"
"A reporter saving people?" he barked back. "I'd love to see that."
…
"Lois?" asked Clark. "Are you okay?"
Lois realized she'd been staring into space.
"It's nothing," said Lois dismissively. "and I have my reasons for going after Luthor."
She turned back to her desk, leaving Clark in thought. In truth he didn't know what was up with Lois Lane. One thing he did know, however, was that she wasn't completely wrong. Edward Lytener had been partially responsible for his own predicament. Still, Clark wished he could have helped him more.