11:

"I thought we're done talking about him. "

Diana looks hurt, but she presses on. "I just want to know."

I look at her. Her eyes are earnest. She really wants to know. "Why?" I ask. "Why would you want to know my feelings?"

"Because, I know…from your words. The way you talk about Clark," she relays, never breaking eye contact with me. "I never ask him about you…but I know I have more courage to ask you."

Oh. Wonder Woman. I sigh. Love brings out everything in everyone. Their hopes. Their fears. Their best. Their insecurities. I shake my head. Because every time someone broaches Clark, the back of my mind plays what he told me the morning after I discovered his secret-

I'm with someone, Lo. And she's more than a girlfriend to me. She's a true-

I sigh. "What I feel won't make any difference, Diana," I reply, placing my hand on my chest. "It's what Clark feels that matters."

She nods. "I know. But it matters to me to know what you feel."

I try to laugh at it. But my heart winces as if it's pinched. "You know, I'm not even his ex."

"Yes. But." But then, she stops herself from saying more.

"If it greatly bothers you," I start, "Right now, I just want Clark and I to be friends again. I want to say sorry to him. But he can't bear to talk to me. And I get that. Did I 'fall in love' once upon a time? I did. Like countless women around the globe who gets rescued by Superman. Being the first one he saved and all that is really swell and sticks to you for all your life- "

"And Clark Kent?"

Once. When we spent a late night at office and I bought us dinner for a change. Clark and I talked for a whole four hours. Four whole hours about our life. My wandering nomad childhood as an army brat with my parents and Lucy. His quiet life in Smallville with Ma, Pa, and Lana. I joked how come he's not with Lana. She seems like a nice, stable girl. The kind you'll marry and live out your days with. But he doesn't know also...and I thought I was prying too much into his life already.

Makes me wonder why he didn't spill his superheroing that time. Or that no disaster needed Superman in those four hours. A thought came to my mind back then: Maybe a guy like Clark is a guy I should marry. Someone serious, fights for truth, has old-school values, and…can make me laugh.

Marriage isn't all roses and laughter alright. I know better than basing it on that. My last serious boyfriend back in my early days at the Planet was a businessman's other son and a jerk in every sense of the word. I'm not even overreacting, because he'd disappear for weeks and I'd only know later on that he was smoking weed and seeing other women behind my back. I haven't had time to seriously ponder that thought about Clark though…Sometimes I think he's too kind and sweet for me. And circumstances brought him and me down very different paths.

"You don't need to answer that."

I shake my head. "I had feelings for Clark at one point in time. But I didn't pursue it." She nods. "What about you?"

"We have many in common," she starts, "He could understand me in no other way any man can. I realize it, gradually, until one moment where I know, being with him is the right thing."

"Right thing."

"Yes," Diana affirms. "My mother is skeptical of it. But I assure her, Kal-El is a good man. A true hero."

I smile. Now I see what Clark could have seen in her. She's a beacon like he is… With a big heart for everybody.

"I wish you two all the best then," I say, as I stand up to take my leave. Diana follows and reaches out a hand to me.

"Thank you for giving me a chance," she replies while we shake hands. "Maybe we could see each other another time?" I blink at her. "In better circumstances."

"No problem."

S.T.A.R. Labs

Gotham

5 PM

"Johnson's dangerous."

I look up from my pad to find Dr. Harriett Murdoch looking at what I was writing. She's slightly older than me, and has her brown hair just short of her shoulders. We're in her office. She'd worked with Johnson before he transferred from Gotham to Metropolis. "He told me about other worlds. Other universes parallel to this one. Is S.T.A.R. hiding a secret project?"

Dr. Murdoch shakes her head. "The device in our labs is still a prototype. Though I do not know if such technology is already available…used by the Justice League, perhaps?" She continues, "It is for a different reason S.T.A.R. does not want to associate itself with Johnson. But before I tell you, promise this is off the record."

I narrow my eyes at her but reach for the recorder hidden in my side pocket to turn it off. "Agreed."

"He has been stealing equipment and chemicals from S.T.A.R. That's the official report from Metropolis. More importantly, we've all been thinking that he's…well, not only mad but maybe not human. Or somewhat human at the very least."

"That's why he's in Belle Reve. But you're not sure?" I frown. "Did he show powers?"

"Everything is still under our investigation, Miss Lane, because Johnson manipulates digital files and possibly even people. He has the genome of a human, but has unidentified metahuman genome fused into him. I do advise you stay away from him and let the story die down." Dr. Murdoch sighs. "For now, Belle Reve has neutralized him and he cannot make mischief anymore."

"Do you think Johnson has built a device enabling him to do what he claimed- traveling to other realities?"

She clasps her hands over the desk. "I cannot say. But with how shady that man is, I'm not discounting the idea."

"You see, I was tipped by his 'assistant'. A certain Viktor Dusnayev."

"Never heard of that name before."

I nod. "No close acquaintances for Johnson here?"

"Not here in Gotham. Don't know in Metropolis."

Metropolis

7 PM

So, going to S.T.A.R. Gotham did give me a few starting points. If Johnson can manipulate people, then his assistant could be just brainwashed. It's hard when the bad guy is leaving very little trail for you to work on. I was driving at the outskirts of the city, when Perry decided to call. "Anonymous tip at the docks at 9. Said something about drugs and other contraband. Possibly linked to an entrepreneur. Could you pick it up for me?"

"Sure thing." I slow down the car and continue, "Will I tag Jimmy along?"

"The kid's gone off the grid."

I frown. "You're looking for him, right?"

"I'm on my toes. But Alice and I have dinner uptown, tonight. If he doesn't contact the Planet within eight hours, I'm calling the cops."

"I see. I'd just drop my stuff in my apartment."

"How's the Gotham thing?"

"Leading me nowhere. But I'll get hand of it. Let me get back on the city beat so I can be more useful?"

"Haven't I already?" Perry says. "I sense that lead is personal?"

I shrug. "Not me. Concerns Metropolis' hero."

"Then it is."

"Perry." I take a turn to the Main Avenue. "Not you too."

"We can't deny his connection to the Planet, no matter what. He was our colleague," Perry says, trying so hard to be objective about it. "Do what you need to do, Lane. But truth comes first."

"Of course."

"And about that, I need to speak with you tomorrow morning."

"I see."

"I was thinking of bringing him back."

"Back? Perry, he's left. He has no civilian identity, how can you bring him back?"

"But Metropolis needs him," he replies, "The world needs him back."

"It's not that simple." I shake my head. "And who knows if he's helping in some other way, just not taking up the mantle?" He's depowered. He must be charging up his powers that's why he's also in hiding. Something's been going on with Clark. He's sick. Depleted by his past enemies. It's also why I revealed his secret…

An event we never told anybody about.

"That's why we need to talk. Ever since that weird event where Luthor ganged up on you, he never showed up again." Perry then says next, "Tomorrow. 10. Don't be late, Lane."

I affirm and he ends the call. It's disturbing when stray ends of a story are so far apart you need to crane your neck to connect them together and see the bigger picture.

Even harder when you're hit with dead ends.

With closed ties.

The Docks, Metropolis

8:35 PM

Weird. So this anonymous tipper only wants The Planet here, sure. There's nobody except for the guards and other workers working the night shift. I walk gingerly under the lights towards the right bay and hide behind a large container van.

Then my phone buzzes in my pocket. It's Luce. "Lucy, now's not the best time," I manage to whisper under my breath to my phone. What's with people calling me at inopportune moments today?

"It's important."

"Of course."

"No, really!" she insists. "Where are you anyway?"

"On the job."

"At night? I thought you work the day shift."

"I'm on standby always. Why did you call?"

"There's a strange guy standing outside my dorm window for at least three days now, straight," she says, nonchalantly. "I just want you to know that I'm staying at Alex's starting tonight. It's scary."

"What?" I mutter under my breath. "Is there anything else you're not telling me?"

"No, I swear. I didn't do anything!"

"Okay, I'll get back to you after this I promise." A low hum echoes near. I step out a little and see a ship approaching. Six, black-dressed guys waiting about four feet from where I'm standing. "You have MPD's number?"

"Yeah."

"Call them after I end this and tell them you're being followed. If I didn't call you 'til midnight, you call MPD for me too."

"Got it, and Lo?" Lucy says, "Love you. Keep safe, okay?"

"You too, sis," I smile. "I love you. Stay alert. I'll drive by Alex's later."

I tuck the phone back in my pocket. From afar, a strange male with a weird screeching voice laughs and says, "Now, where was I? Oh, yes! Did you bring it?"

Wait…is that?

I take a peek and wish I didn't. That's what always happens, right?

The Joker's white-pasted face smiles at my direction. "I think we have a guest, boys."