Lois returns to Metropolis. After the past month off, she returns to work. She enters Perry's office and discusses her talk with Martian Manhunter. She talks about Hank Henshaw and Mars, but leaves out the details surrounding Apokolips. Perry sits there, skeptical of the whole thing.
"I don't know Lois." Perry says.
"Chief, it's all there, Cyborg Superman is Hank Henshaw." Lois says.
"Lois, I believe you, I really do, and this is the most invigorated I've seen you in months." Perry says.
"Then let me write the story." Lois pleads.
"Lois, we have to consider this. There's been some tension with this new Superman as it is. If his identity were to be put out there, who knows how he'll react." Perry says.
"But don't the people have a right to know?" Lois asks.
"Of course they do, that's what the Daily Planet is predicated on, but just let me think on this." Perry says.
Lois looks down.
"I have another situation I want you to look into." Perry says.
"What is it?" Lois asks.
"The rise in fires throughout the city, something isn't sitting right." Perry says.
"I've vaguely noticed too, don't worry chief, I'm on it." Lois says.
Perry sees a sense of relief that his top reporter is back on her game. He hopes she is finally over Clark and that messiness can be put behind them.
Cyborg Superman flies over the city. The people below look on in awe as he flies above. Some cheer and call out to him. He has really embraced his role as a hero in the city. As he turns a corner and gets out of the peoples view, he is sucked through a boom tube.
"It's time to continue your search." Darkseid says.
"Grrrr, y-yes master." Cyborg Superman says.
He is returned to earth.
He flies off, high above the atmosphere, he hovers there. The truth is he's not even exactly sure what he's looking for. He remembers the box he found on Mars. DeSaad used this box in the creation of his cybernetic body. He had been told that another box like this was potentially on earth, but where could he even begin to look? He just floats up in the clouds as he ponders his next move.
Lois arrives at the Metropolis Fire Station. She heads in to meet with the fire chief. He looks tired.
"Excuse me sir." Lois says as she heads into his office.
"Miss Lane, it's been a while." The fire chief says.
"I'm guessing you know why I'm here." Lois says.
"The exponential uptick in fires would be my guess." The fire chief says.
"Correct, what's going on?" Lois asks.
"I'd like to know myself. Fires are up over thirty percent over the last month. I haven't had a day off in two weeks, and I'm going off of two hours of sleep over the last forty-eight hours." The fire chief snaps.
"Do you suspect arson?" Lois asks.
"We can't rule it out. We really haven't found a cause for most of these fires. If there is an arsonist, they're good." The fire chief says.
"What about that guy from Gotham, what's his name, the arsonist?" Lois asks.
"Firefly, we looked into him. He's locked up in Arkham. We can't even find a motive. The fires seem so random. We've just been lucky Superman has been around to help out." The chief says.
"Superman, yes, that is lucky." Lois says, she begins to wonder.
Cyborg Superman lands in the heart of the Sahara Desert. He begins scanning the area. The is nothing her but an ocean of sand. He looks out hoping something will speak to him as he begins to wade his way through the desert.
Downtown Metropolis a car chase is going on. What started as a simple moving violation has given way to a high-speed chase. The sirens of the polices cars blare as they chase after the car. They speed right by where Lois was walking down the sidewalk.
Then something else speeds by in the air. Not a red and blue blur, but a silver one. It was Steel. Steel gets in front of the car in an attempt to stop it. The car pushes forward, but begins to skid out. Eventually the front of the car crumples as it loses power. The driver tumbles out of the front seat. Police rush to his position.
"I didn't do nothin'." The young man in the car says as police take him away.
Lois rushes up to Steel.
"Steel!" She calls out.
"Lois? What can I do for you?" Steel asks.
Cyborg Superman makes his way to Egypt. To this point, he has found nothing relating to the anti-life equation. In Egypt, he takes great interest in the iconography. He takes some time to study it. He finds symbols that look like lightening bolts. They remind him of other heroes he was familiar with. The Captain Marvel heroes in Philadelphia. There used to be only one Captain Marvel that wore a red suit. He went missing around the same time Superman died. But recently two new Captain Marvel's emerged. One wore a blue suit and one was a woman. There was another hero out there who had a similar look as well. Black Adam of Bialya. Perhaps these heroes gained their powers through a similar method that Cyborg Superman did. He decided to investigate this further as he headed north, to Bialya.
Lois and John Henry Irons sit in a booth at Bibbo's diner. Bibbo had practically turned his restaurant into a shrine for Superman. Lois tells John everything she has learned about this Cyborg Superman.
"So he was created on another planet, and they sent him here?" John asks.
"So it seems." Lois says.
"Why?" John asks.
"That's what I can't figure out. At least Lex has public popularity to win over with his Superboy, but this, I don't know what this is about." Lois says.
"And you're afraid to publish the story of what you know?" John asks.
"I'm afraid that he's starting these fires just to put them out. That he thinks that is what makes him a hero." Lois says.
"Maybe we should go investigate one of these burnt buildings." John says.
Cyborg Superman touches down in Bialya. He is greeted almost immediately by Black Adam and Queen Bee, Bialya's ruler.
"I figured you'd be here eventually. What is it you want?" Queen Bee asks.
"I just want to pass through." Cyborg Superman says.
"No one just passes through Bialya." Queen Bee says.
"Maybe I can take it up with him." Cyborg Superman says as he squares up to Black Adam.
He looks into Adam's eyes. He can see a faint yellow glow to them. It reminds him of the white glow that came from DeSadd's box. He looks at Queen Bee with a quizzical look.
"Well?" Queen Bee says.
"I'm not looking for a fight today." Cyborg Superman says.
"Good, truth is, I've been intrigued with your recent demeanor." Queen Bee says.
"How so?" Cyborg Superman asks.
"Your no-nonsense approach to Toyman pleased me. He killed a young Quarci girl, one of my citizens." Queen Bee says.
"She was a refugee living in Markovia." Cyborg Superman says.
"She was a child trafficked out of the country. Truth is, if you didn't do that, Bialya likely would have had to retaliate. Isn't that right Adam?" Queen Bee says.
Adam nods his head. Cyborg Superman notes that his eyes glow a bit more intensely, as well as a glow coming from the jewel on Queen Bee's necklace.
"I think I've heard enough." Cyborg Superman says as he flies off.
Lois and Steel arrive at the apartment building that had burned down the evening prior. Steel tries scanning the area, but it is mostly ash.
"There were no reports of a gas leak." Lois says.
"This is the room the fire was reported to start in." Steel says.
"That doesn't make any sense. This is just a living area. There's no stove or oven, or pipes that would have started anything in here." Lois says.
Steel scans the wall.
"Lois, look at this." Steel says.
Steel finds two distinct scorch marks on the wall.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lois asks.
"You think these are Superman's heat vision?" Steel asks.
Lois has already picked up her phone and was making a call.
"I need to meet." Lois says.
Lois and Steel head to Metropolis PD. They meet with Maggie Sawyer.
"I know you've been investigating the fires Maggie." Lois says.
"I have." Maggie admits.
"You've had to have seen these scorch marks." Lois says.
Maggie pauses for a moment.
"Yes I did. I've been conflicted with what to do." Maggie says.
"So you think Superman is setting these fires?" Lois asks.
"It seems likely." Maggie says.
"But why?" Lois asks.
"My best guess it to get the public on his side. He has been all about PR ever since that GBS interview." Maggie says.
Lois begins to wonder if that interview was the right thing to do. She used to have such a keen sense for getting stories. But recently she's been questioning every move she makes. But no more. The people have a right to know. If this Superman is a menace, he must be exposed.
"Tomorrow people are going to read about this." Lois says.
"I'd advise against that. We don't know how he'll respond." Maggie says.
"I can help." Steel says.
"You're not exactly a deputized citizen of the law." Maggie says.
"We'll get the Justice League if we have to, but people have a right to the truth." Lois says as she and Steel walk out.
Cyborg Superman flies in the night sky. He questions on whether or not he should tell Darkseid about what he saw, about Queen Bee and what he believes is a sense of mind control she has over Black Adam. Just then Darkseid summons him.
"What have you found for me?" He asks.
"I scoured the Sahara Desert today." Cyborg Superman says.
"And?" Darkseid asks, impatiently."
"Nothing, I found nothing." Cyborg Superman says.
"Well continue your search, I'm almost certain something is there." Darkseid says.
The next morning Cyborg Superman lands back down in Metropolis. The citizens back away as he does. This confuses him. He had thought everybody loved him. He hears some people murmuring. He then turns and heads to a news stand.
"No!" He yells out as he sees the cover of the Daily Planet.
It's a picture of him, the article states that he is to blame for the recent fires.
"NO, NO NOOOO!" He yells out.
His eyes glow red as everyone ducks for cover. He aims his beams at the news stand setting it ablaze.
"I was afraid you'd react like this." Steel says as he flies down.
"You! You are nothing but a cheap imitation." Cyborg Superman says
The two stand there, knowing they are about to engage in battle.