Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 92
by
Jason Richard
The next stop on Clark's list was a visit with Lytener. He just barely managed to get clearance to the high-security wing of that prison. He found Lytener lying in his bunk reading a magazine. He saw Clark and regarded him blankly.
"Hello," said Lytener. "Here for an interview?"
"Not exactly," said Clark. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about how this all turned out."
"No hard feelings," said Lytener. "You kept your promise."
"Yeah," said Clark. "Except...I know you framed Miss Lane. I do intend to find evidence of her innocence."
Lytener regarded him carefully, weighing his options. Then he picked up a marker, ripped a page out of the magazine, and wrote something down. He then handed the sheet to Clark through the bars.
"This address," said Lytener. "Is just outside the city. It looks like a normal chemical plant, but it's actually a laboratory. If you do decide to go there be very careful. It's dangerous."
"What…" began Clark.
"Listen," said Lytener. "You unearth that place's secrets and you'll understand why I was terrified of fighting Luthor."
Clark looked at the address, then back to Lytener, who looked pleading.
"Mr. Lytener," said Clark slowly. "I spoke with Lois as well. She seems to be under the impression that you only had the courage to fight Superman because you knew he wouldn't hurt you, that even with the technology you invented you still wouldn't go up against Luthor. Would you really fight someone harmless over someone dangerous to everyone...because it's safer?"
Lytener didn't answer but clenched his fists. The silence, ironically, told Clark everything.
"Well Mr. Lytener," said Clark. "I do hope things turn out better for both you and Miss Lane. Thank you for the tip. I'll use it as well as I can. Have a nice day."
And Clark left, leaving Edward Lytener to ponder this conversation, his blood boiling in frustration. Was it true? Would he only fight a despicable man like Lex Luthor if he knew he couldn't get hurt? Was he really such a coward?
…
Superman flew out to the building and sure enough, it looked like any chemical plant in the Metropolis area. He tried using X-Ray vision but couldn't see in. It wouldn't surprise him if Lex Luthor hadn't had all his facilities lined with lead after Superman admitted he had X-Ray vision to the press. Maybe he should have kept an ability or two secret, but he had wanted to be trustworthy. Whatever the consequences it was too late to do anything else.
Given Lytener's warning, something had to be going on inside that facility, something horrible. Going in would be dangerous, as Superman or Clark. Luthor no doubt had red sun weapons to protect his assets, especially now that he was getting that pardon in exchange for such technology. Rushing in with his speed to keep from being noticing was risky under those circumstances.
So how to go in? He could go in as Clark Kent, but would anyone believe a newspaper was interested in a chemical plant? No. There wasn't any excuse to go in there, barring an industrial accident, something Clark would never even consider causing.
So for the moment, he went for a stakeout.
He parked a surveillance van in the woods nearby, set himself up with a long range camera and long range sound recorders. Not that he needed any of this to see or hear long distances, but he would need it to record. He had to find incriminating evidence after all. He also used his x ray vision, though that wouldn't exactly be usable.
He waited for a few hours but saw nothing wrong. He saw trucks come and go and people go in and out, but it took a while for anything to come us as suspicious.
He finally saw it.
It was like the trucks he saw before and using his x-ray vision he saw that those carried various chemicals or equipment. None of that stuck out to him as suspicious in a place like this, but this particular truck had a lead lining so he couldn't see inside.
Now that was suspicious.
He saw the truck to go an indoor loading back which began to close. He wasn't going to be able to get information with this equipment. He'd have to go inside with a bug and hope he wasn't noticed, or that the place wasn't rigged with some sort of ren sun trap.
He took a deep breath and rushed inside, with his speed and x-ray vision he was able to avoid being seen and he made in inside the loading back, finding a hiding spot behind some barrels.
He lifted the camera he took with him and started recording. Whatever was in that truck had to be important. The doors to the loading bay closed, slamming shut ominously.
No turning back now.