A/N: This chapter is a HUGE update clearing up the context of how Lois came to revealing Superman's secret identity. It's based heavily on the "Truth" arc.

On more technical matters, I'll be doing my on-the-job training for this summer so updates will hopefully be within a week or 2 weeks (around Saturday GMT +8 timezone). Thanks for reading! Your messages and reviews mean a lot.

Warning: Some language are for teens and older.

14:

Metropolis International Airport

Present Day

12:23 PM

Friday

I find myself waiting for my flight in one of those box planters near the gate where the lone stewardess stands, cradling my backpack in front of me…I just informed Lucy I'd be out of town. Stay smart and alert. Call me if anything happens. I'd message you asap when I got to Canada and when I come back.

I'm also currently weighing my options, especially with my lead about S.T.A.R. and Johnson…and that unfinished business with the Joker.

Johnson and Dusnayev. Wait. That weird guy contacted me by having a binary string as a number. Could he be from HORDR? If that's the case…

Maybe Johnson's actually telling me the truth. If they're in league with HORDR_ROOT, they could be bringing something far worse than a blackmail as revenge.

And Luthor? He's been eerily quiet since that little weird episode where he had me kidnapped and given green K. Is he joining forces with the Joker? What else would be the reason the Joker stops by Metropolis? But…Why? The Joker's never been part of the Legion of Doom. No one could trust him that much.

I doubt Luthor could.

That leads to an even more confusing quandary.

Why give me green K? What are they planning?

My phone rings. "Hello?"

The Joker answers, "I've heard someone's going to see maple trees."

Hmph. Speak of the devil. "Why'd you call?"

"Just want to leave a friendly reminder of our little deal, Miss Lane. I don't want our murder plot to be this easy. You're walking straight back to the guy…With no challenge whatsoever!"

I narrow my eyes. "Will I be expecting your challenge soon enough?"

"Don't step too close, or my plans are bust. But I know you're too smart to do that… I'll call you again for further instructions. Ciao!" I dump my phone back in my backpack's front pocket and look around. No one's looking at my way, or looks like a thug-

"Breaking news," the WGBS reporter on T.V. high on top of the large post a few feet before me says, "Belle Reve Federal Penitentiary in Louisiana has been attacked by an unknown force. CCTV footage reveals what looks like a metahuman. Authorities have yet to release an official statement-"

Johnson? Finally showing his true colors?

"The public is advised to remain vigilant, as the attack left 8 patients unaccounted for. Names will be released soon. Superheroes have been called to help round up escapees. Meanwhile, in other news-"

Perry's right.

The world is going up in flames.

922 Oak Hill Metropolis

Three Weeks Ago

"Okay. Thanks." I ended the call and turned to Clark… and Jimmy, who's eating ice cream in my salad bowl at my humble kitchen table. "Jenner* says HORDR has been the talk of their community lately, but they remain that: a shady organization. No one knows anything about them. No one knows how to enter even. There's been some disappearances though. I've read it lately too. And to think, he has a missing friend. Brilliant computer whiz, like him." Clark narrowed his eyes. I sat down at beside him. "Said one of the last things they talked about is a career offer."

Jimmy licked the back of the spoon then asked, "What are we gonna do?" Clark sighed. He flicked open his phone and browsed through it.

"We need other people. Someone good with computers."

Jimmy blurted, "Can we call the Justice League for this?"

Clark turned to him. "No one's available."

I frowned. "But what about the Batman? Doesn't he have tools and internet control?"

Clark shook his head. "He's occupied."

"Cyborg?"

"No one in the League is free," Clark wearily repeated.

"Come on Clark, they can't all be missing," I retorted. Jimmy and I shared a glance. "Wonder Woman?"

He sighed. "This is out of her league."

Jimmy raised his hands and exclaimed, "But she's Wonder Woman!" Clark only hung his head and I slapped the kid's arm. "Ow. Sorry."

I raised my eyebrow. "Seems like we've no choice. I'd go."

Clark's head snapped my way, and Jimmy's eyes only widened.

"We can't let you waltz right to HORDR. It's dangerous."

Clark frowned. "I won't let you be harmed just because of me."

"I've done this all my life," I touched his shoulder. "Besides, what are friends for, Smallville?"

He nodded. "Thank you, Lo. For this. Helping me." Clark held my hand and pressed it. "You know, I'm so glad you and Jimmy –" he glanced at Jimmy and then looked at our hands together. "Finally know the truth…You were my first friends when I came to Metropolis. Now…now, I can share both of my lives with you."

I pressed his hand too. But I've nothing to say… He and Jimmy were the only ones I consider as real friends in the Planet.

I just stared blankly because he hadn't held my hand in the longest time.

Not since I got on with Carroll.

"I was planning to tell you," Clark explained. "But I don't know how, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I said, smiling up at him…and caught myself. "Well, maybe not that okay, okay. Considering you lied for years." I raised an eyebrow at him. Clark saddened but then I pressed his hand. "I'm just…I thought…I was surprised. But you know what?" I wish you're just Clark, Smallville. I sighed and shook my head. "That explains a lot. Really... But don't worry, I'll keep your secret." Clark had let out a smile of relief at that. Feeling Jimmy's eyes on us and realizing we'd been holding hands more than what friends hold hands for, I released his hand and continued. "Well, let's call our girl."

"I'd follow you," Clark said suddenly, as I dial up Condessa's number.

"Clark," I said, placing my phone to my ear. "We're trying our best to keep you away from them, right?"

"But what if something happens?"

"I'd call for backup. Other backup."

Clark frowned. "You can't stop me from worrying."

Condessa picked up and I held out a hand to Clark. "Hi? Yeah. This is Lois Lane. Look. We're ambushed by shadow ninjas on the way to the address you gave us. What?...I see." So those ninjas worked for HORDR. Bam. "Is there another way to-"

I can get you to the Headquarters.

"HQ?"

Up in the clouds. It's an academy where HORDR recruits and trains people like me. It's concealed by a force field. There's a special equipment we use to get in.

"Okay. How do I get there?"

Only you?

I nodded. "Yeah. Just me. Clark Kent's out to a weapons trade in the Bahamas."

Condessa paused. Meet me 2 blocks from the town square, 4 sharp. We'll go together.

"Great. Thanks a lot."

We agreed that I'd take the bait, send all info I can to the two of them by the small camera Jimmy outfitted on my belt. I stood among other fellows waiting for the commute home in the packed waiting shed just two streets away from the city hall. A soft, small hand rests on my shoulder while a metal was thrust gently to my chest. "Wear this, Miss Lane."

"Thanks." I took the metal mask and fitted it on my face. "So. What're we waiting for?"

She turned to me. "Our ride." Condessa looked at her watch. "It'd be here within a minute. You're just in time."

"As always."

A blue provincial bus pulled up with no sign whatsoever. The driver wore the same kind of the mask and pushed a button to open the door. Condessa took my arm and we entered the vehicle. The door shut immediately after. A scanner from the ceiling confirmed our IDs, by the masks we're wearing.

We took the middle seat by the left. I was by the window. I turned to my companion and whispered if all of these people are employees. "Some. Some are trainees," she answered. "They're all handpicked."

"Like you?"

She nodded curtly. Three more individuals entered the bus from the following two stops. Then the vehicle locked itself in, activated a force field –so that it can slip past the radar, as Condessa informed me- and then released wings at its sides to soar up in the sky.

"Can I ask you something?"

Condessa faced me. "What?"

"Why'd you do this?" Granted, she might lie to me. But. There's no harm in swaying her to our side. "What did they do to you?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "We all have secrets."

At this point, I was very tempted to call mayday to Jimmy. But then, we had to push on if we want to slam HORDR's operations. But since we don't have Clark with me, what will they do?

Hold me hostage?

Everybody's done that. It always goes to nothing. But if Condessa's still going along with HORDR's script, they could only be planning to bait Clark again. Using me. This time. But if I manage to know what they want from Clark – to expose them to the world, the military, to anyone by the camera footage - before they can ever execute that, then we'll be fine.

But who can take them down exactly?

"Do you know who's running the show?"

She shrugged and leaned in to whisper, "His name is HORDR_ROOT. And he takes on…different forms." Condessa added, "You'll see later."

Later, I found myself standing on this is a large, floating city. It has towers with screens showing announcements from the management about employee policies and where the cafeteria is. Regular folks are up here, and they still wear their usual clothes – no uniforms.

"Grab some coffee! Coffee!" A drone carrying a tray of cups sped past me.

It's weird how everything looked normal.

"This way!" Condessa whispered to me, dragging me to a side door. We entered a dark hall. Then, Condessa opens a door and streams of light filter through. Inside is a great warehouse, filled with the complete opposite of the shadow ninjas – white, huge android like creatures with round body and limbs but smaller round heads.

"What's these?" I turned around and found Condessa already gone.

Argh!

A beam… Whatever it was. Hit me like a thousand tasers.

Dang it. The camera's busted. Hope they got the whole thing and streamed it!

This…creature, it's an electrical being. A being of energy. Should've worn something more appropriate. Something more resistant. Whatever it is…laughed. "We've got a spy."

"I'm a reporter dumbass, what do you think?" I looked up and saw who it was.

"I guess my own little spy failed me," a teenaged boy with blond hair and brown eyes in a mecha suit taunted. This boy…is a mastermind? Someone whimpered. I looked up and found a tall, black robot holding Condessa by her shirt. "But then she did bring you here, not bad enough!" The robot swung his arm high and threw her to the side.

"Let her go!" I screamed, feeling my pockets for my phone. Fire it, Jimmy.

He shook his head mockingly, "I will alright. I'm not quite sure if you will." The boy inched to me and announced, "I am HORDR_ROOT. And I don't take kindly to trespassers."

I propped my arms beside me and started to pull myself up from the floor. Argh. My muscles went numb, dry numb. My legs…they felt like a load now.

"Face it, Miss Lane. You aren't a hero enough." HORDR_ROOT laughed. I could feel him walking towards me, but I'm still trying to pull my legs up. "You'd always be a liability. Someone to be saved. To be used as bait. That and nothing more in the grand scheme of things. Replaceable. There'll always be women like you." He knelt down to my level and grabbed a fistful of my hair. "Aren't you tired of this life?"

I frowned. "The only thing I'm tired of is your fucking monologue!" I spat in his face, pulled myself up, and ran to the other end. Condessa was waiting by the doorway. I could hear HORDR_ROOT sending his horde after us, but all I can think of was grab her hand and get the fuck out of there.

"Where are we going?" Condessa frantically called.

"Just run."

"There'll be an army waiting at us by the gate."

"Who said we're going through?" There's a backdoor to every lair. That's where I ran to. She threw a bench to them seconds ago. We've gained a whole five feet from HORDR's men that not even their acceleration gears can keep up. We're nearing it. The edge of the whole platform.

Clark and I talked about the whole plan. He's got this.

Condessa pressed my hand tight. "That's a drop-"

"I know."

"What?"

"When I say jump, jump in 3!"

"No, wait!"

"Trust me!" I screamed. "Close your eyes then hold my hand tight!"

"Lois-"

A laser zapped beside me, and a patch on my skin felt cold. "3-"

Condessa pulled me close because another laser aimed at us.

"2-"

We didn't get to one. The platform's running out from under us.

"Jump!" Condessa and I leapt from the edge, screaming our faces off with eyes closed. My stomach tumbled around in my gut. I pressed Condessa's hand, but the rush of air was too great, and her hand slipped out from mine. "Ah!"

I tumbled around in agonizing pain. I was sure if I'd not die from hitting the Earth, my flesh would've shriveled or burned off and my brain whacked into unconsciousness before that happens.

Then the air was blocked, and I wasn't falling anymore. I was hooked in place. And I didn't even have to open my eyes to know who it was. I kept my eyes closed for a moment, my head still whirling from the fall.

Clark's urgent voice called "Lois?"

"You… got her?"

"I'm fine," Condessa answered me. I opened my eyes and found her holding onto Clark's other shoulder. She turned to Clark, "That's some flying. You got us out of there in ten seconds."

I inhaled deeply, making him look to me. "You're hurt," he said.

"If there's one thing you and I are alike, Smallville, we're both klutzes some times." Then I remembered. "Did Jimmy get everything?"

Condessa's eyes widened in understanding. Clark faltered. "It's better if we talk about it in a decent place."

922 Oak Hill, Metropolis

Three weeks ago

Before Jimmy could transmit the cam's recording to the Daily Planet, the signal got stopped. By surprise, surprise.

We're in my living room. Clark dressed back up in his civilian clothes and was currently dabbing iodine over my wound. Condessa's nursing her flight sickness with a cup of water. She and Jimmy were sitting across from me and Clark. Jimmy's cradling his laptop and explaining everything to us for the past few minutes.

"I don't get it," Jimmy finally said. Clark pulled a bandage from the medicine box lying on the coffee table. Jimmy turned to Condessa and asked, "Is that how powerful HORDR is? Because DP's security servers are tough to crack. And I used my encoded cam."

Condessa paled and set her glass of water down on the table. "Well…you know that HORDR has eyes on your friend for a while. I'm not surprised they'd already found a way to access through the Daily Planet's system. Or your devices." She hung her head. "You saw him. He's more than just a mastermind. He might not be human."

"Do you know what those white robots will be used for?" I asked Condessa. But she shrugged, saying she's clueless. Clark started to place the bandage on the almost dry wound, proceeding to get the tape from the box.

"My orders were to take Superman to that warehouse," she confessed. "I…I was going to wing it, until the moment. Thinking…he might come to save you."

Clark shook his head. He finished taping the bandage up and said, "I should end this circus now."

"Clark," I said, holding his wrist. "You need to call for help. Batman or whoever-"

He stared in my eyes. "I can't let anyone be hurt again, Lo. Look at you."

I paused and touched the wound. Liability. HORDR's words came ringing back in my mind. Maybe he's right. Maybe…

Maybe I only make things worse.

"Lo," Clark's gentle voice called back. When I didn't look back at him, he touched my chin and turned my head so he can see me. "I can't…see you like this." Clark let his hand fall to hold mine. Smallville, I had wanted to say, You can't save everyone.

But then…I can't. He'd blamed himself many times over for not being able to save Mr. and Mrs. Kent. I didn't get it why back when he relayed that part of his life to me. He just told me they perished in a car accident. I thought maybe he did something wrong before that's why he had been so guilty, but now…knowing he has these powers…I can understand how he never forgave himself for their deaths, even now. Clark continued solemnly, "I wasn't there by choice. But what if I can't be there?"

"It's not your fault," I touched his cheek. It never is. "I walked there, knowing what can happen to me."

He closed his eyes and pressed my hand. I looked up and found Condessa and Jimmy walking to the kitchen. Clark's shoulders dropped. He let out a deep breath. "What if it's not just a shallow wound next? What if it will be worse?"

"Even if," I countered, "It doesn't matter. I…" He looked up at me. And at that time, with Clark here not having his glasses on and wearing his usual dress shirt and pants, I saw him…I think, I met him for the first time. "I sneak around my Dad's stuff, a lot. And I found the record…from the time they took you-" I shook my head. My throat constricted at the thought. The horror. When I first watched it. Even if at that time, I didn't know Superman and my best friend were one and the same. "And I saw, how much they hurt you. The questions they asked. The torture-" I pressed his hand. "Taking lasers for you, it's the least I could do."

Clark shook his head. He tucked a stray lock of hair back behind my ear. "You don't have to…" He sighed, letting his hand fall down to hold mine. "I'm with someone, Lo. And she's not just a girlfriend to me, she's a true…" He didn't finish and only stared blankly before him.

"I know. But you're my best friend." I smiled and ward his hands away. "And Smallville, I understand that you're committed to somebody else. We'll be friends, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

"Great. Now-"

"Greetings, Superman." A disembodied robotic voice spoke from somewhere in the apartment. Clark and I looked around, until I found something lighting up on the shelf by the doorway to the kitchen. My cellphone. Clark got to it first. HORDR_ROOT is no longer the teen-aged boy, but is wearing a masked face and has a glowing suit by the neck, beaming on the screen. "I am done trifling around playing games. It is time we finally be acquainted in person, so that I can completely explain to you my propositions."

The hell he's doing with my phone. I left it here.

"That was some sneaky operations you did, Clark Kent. Sending your girlfriend to infiltrate us and publish an expose?"

For the nth time, he's not my boyfriend!

"I'd have to give it to your ingenuity. But now you know where tricking me will lead everyone, right?"

Condessa and Jimmy had now been standing behind us. Clark held the phone closer so we can watch. HORDR continued, "Because of this, we're speeding up our transaction. Come to this coordinates tonight. With no back-up. Or else!" HORDR flashes a picture of Clark opening up his suit to reveal the 'S' underneath.

Then the screen buzzed off and came up again, this time, showing coordinates and GPS map to a mountain in New Jersey.

Clark gave me my phone back. "I'm going."

"Do we call the Justice League?" Jimmy offered.

"No," Clark decisively said. "I'm going there alone."

"Without back-up, anyone?" I retorted, clutching my phone in my hand. "Clark!"

"You heard him." He walked to the kitchen to gather his messenger bag.

I stormed inside my own kitchen and placed my hand on my hip. "And you're allowing yourself be used like this? He wants to corner you and highly likely, to kill you!"

"I don't have a choice."

"No one keeps their word with bad guys!" I shouted, exhausted at everything. I turned my phone off and continued, "They'd stab you in the back, and you're keeping your end of the deal?"

"I'll find a way," he said, pulling the sling of the bag over his shoulder. "I will fix this, Lo. This is my problem."

"Your problem. Right. But when Metropolis and the world's lives are on the line it's not just your problem, Clark." Clark stared at me. I crossed my arms over my chest. "We'll wait outside. If everything goes downhill, we're calling the League or the military whether you like it or not."

"We already did your plan." Clark's blue eyes flickered bright as his face was drawn to a scowl. A scowl. Since when did Clark Kent scowl? "You can't order me around."

Well screw you too, Smallville.

"This is not for my damn life!" I pointed it out to him with my finger to his chest in case he forgot whose goddamn life we're talking about here. "And I'm not ordering you, I'm asking you to call for f****** help because you well know you can't handle this one!"

Clark lashed out, "I can't lose anyone, anymore, Lois!"

"CK, Miss Lane!" Jimmy busted in on us like that. "Hey! We really have no time for screaming-"

"Love birds," Condessa remarked off-handedly.

I glared at her. "We're not love birds. And tell that to your pal, Jimmy," I turned to Jimmy with that last gripe and walked away. "Superman can do everything, right?"

Clark muttered, "Lois-"

I halted and looked up to him. "What?"

"I said it wrong, that's not what I meant," he explained, "If you want, stay outside and call help when I don't come out in 15 minutes." He dipped his hand into the pocket of his pants and retrieved a small black equipment - must be the League signaler – then handed it to me.

I took the signaler and raised an eyebrow at him. "Once he gives you the deal, you need to call us."

"HORDR can hack our phones, Miss Lane," Jimmy kindly reminded. "Unless we have analog device-" Then his eyes lit up in excitement. "Don't you and Lucy have walkie-talkies?"

Yeah. Actually we do. "Are we sure about analog being safe?"

Condessa shrugged. "It's worth a try."

"But we need to be sure too, or else, Clark might be trapped inside there without help."

Jimmy raised his hand but retracted it immediately. "Actually."

Clark turned to me. But he didn't say it. So I said it. "I'd sneak in."

"How?" Clark asked.

Condessa intervened. "I know someone in town who makes fake robotic suits." She shrugged, "It'll be just a couple of minutes."

"Nice. That's settled."

Clark nodded. "You'll go with Condessa to see the suit…Jimmy, let's get the car ready."

"Aye, aye!" Jimmy went off, almost immediately. Condessa told me to meet her at the hallway, leaving me and Clark in the kitchen.

"Lois, what I said-"

"Is said in the heat of the moment," I countered, holding my hand to stop him. "We've got bigger things to worry about, Smallville."

"Right." Clark nodded. "But still…I'm sorry. I know you're only looking out for me."

I held his shoulder firmly. "Don't think about it. Hey. Right now, focus. We need to stop HORDR and set you free. Okay?"

"Okay." Clark promised. We walked out. I took the long-kept walkie-talkies from the box under my bed and gave one to Jimmy. Before I got out the door, Clark added, "Let's meet at the lobby. Radio us when you're done."

"Got it."

A very long night was ahead of us.

And we had no idea that our lives would drastically change after that.

*Reese Jenner, Lois' computer genius contact in Metropolis. Appears in Chap. 1