Superman was dead. That was the harsh reality of the situation. A week had gone by since his battle with Doomsday. Today was his funeral. Lois had spent that time mourning. Locking herself away from the world in her apartment. But today she had to make herself up and attend to say her final good-byes.
Lex stood in the lab where Doomsday was created. He had been in equal shock that Doomsday actually did kill Superman.
"It's over Lex." A voice says from behind.
Lex turns around to see Amanda Waller.
"What's over?" Lex asks.
"Cadmus. The government can't trace anything back to you or me, but the Cadmus project is being shut down. I am being reassigned to the A.R.G.U.S facility." Waller says.
"And what of this place?" Lex asks.
"Torch it." Waller says, with a gas can in hand.
Lex douses the room in gasoline. He had taken anything related to Project Kr back to LexCorp. Even Lex Luthor didn't want to remember Doomsday.
"What happens to the corpse of the creature?" Lex asks.
"There is a shuttle being built to launch it off world. No one is even interested in studying the corpse. It would appear the government has finally found a weapon they deem too dangerous." Waller says.
Lex lights a match. He and Waller enter the elevator as Lex throws it to the ground. Burning anything related to Doomsday to ash.
Martha steps off the plane at the Metropolis airport. She takes a deep breath. She isn't ready for this. To say good-bye to her son. Worst of all, she can't even retrieve Clark's body.
The funeral takes place in Centennial Park. The turn out is enormous. So big that they had to barricade citizens off from getting too close. Some more well-known individuals were able to get through. Aquaman was there, in full royal Atlantean garb. Bruce Wayne was in attendance, as well as Dick Grayson. If ever there was a time for them to reconcile, it was now. A group of Themiscaran's were there as well. Though Bruce keenly noticed one that was away from the rest of the group. One that went by the name, Diana Prince. Lois spots John Henry Irons there as well. Unfortunately Professor Hamilton was also killed in Doomsday's attack. That's something Lois didn't want to lose sight of. There were eighty-six confirmed deaths at the hands of Doomsday. With dozens of citizens still missing. The Flash, Barry Allen was there as well. His new wife Iris West-Allen was there coving the event for GBS. J'onn J'onzz and his niece M'gann were there too. Though no one knew it as they had morphed into more human forms. An officer stops Martha at the gate.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but this is as close as you can get." The officer says.
"But… I love him." Martha says.
"We all loved him." The officer says.
Lois sees this happening.
"Let her through." Lois demands.
"I'm not supposed to Miss Lane." The officer says.
"It's okay, she's my mother." Lois says.
The officer then agrees.
"Thank you Lois." Martha says.
"If anyone deserves to be here, it's you." Lois says.
"I just can't believe it's real." Martha says, fighting back tears.
"Me either." Lois says.
Lois looks over and sees Perry. He was sporting a shiner that Lois had given him last week. Lois hadn't been to work since. She takes a deep breath and approaches him.
"Chief." Lois says, nervously.
"Lois." Perry says.
"Chief, I'm sorry for what-
"It's okay Lois, it's been an emotional week." Perry says.
"Where's Clark?" Perry asks.
"I um, haven't seen him in a while." Lois says.
"I got his article of the registration bill failing last week, but since then, crickets." Perry says.
Perry didn't know that Lois had written that article and submitted it under Clark's name. She hadn't figured out yet how to reveal that Clark was dead.
"I don't think we'll be seeing Clark again." Lois says.
"Why?" Perry asks, perplexed.
Lois simply walks off.
The ceremony was about to begin. The mayor took the stage. Behind him was a mausoleum under construction. Half the city was under construction. But this project was being rushed to production. It was where Superman would be buried. On stage sat the custom-made coffin for the man of steel. It was a glossy black, with Superman's shield on it in silver.
"Thank you all for coming here today." The mayor begins.
"Superman died as he lived. By protecting us. He was proud to call Metropolis home in the short time we got to know him, and we were proud to have him. Whether it was saving a cat from a tree or a super villain menace, there was no job too big or small for Superman. And now another esteemed member of the Metropolis community would like to speak. Ladies and Gentlemen, Lex Luthor." The mayor says.
The crowd cheers as Lois's skin crawls. Lex hated Superman.
"Thank you everyone. I know those in the media liked to convey that Superman and I were rivals, but there was much more to our relationship that not many others knew. I will always cherish those nights he would fly up to my office and the two of us would discuss things. It's going to be different moving forward in a world without our alien friend. But in times like this we have to remember that we still have each other. So hold your loved ones close." Lex says, as the crowd cheers him on.
The whole scene makes Lois sick to her stomach. Lex was bastardizing the name of Superman. The man who was supposed to be her husband. And there wasn't a thing she could do about it.
The day continues with others giving impassioned speeches on their encounters with Superman. Everyone from Bruce Wayne, to the President, to Lois's own father. At the end, Superman was honored like a solider, with guards of honor giving a twenty-one-gun salute as an American flag is draped over the coffin.
After the ceremony, Lois and Martha head to Clark's apartment. As Lois opens the door, she hears something. She thinks someone is inside. Lois grabs a candle stick and tries to quietly walk in. Lois sees someone in the kitchen.
"Got you." Lois shouts.
"Lois stop!" Martha commands.
Lois stops in her tracks as she see's Lana Lang in the kitchen.
"Lois." Lana says in shock.
"Lana? Wh- what are you doing here?" Lois asks.
"I came for the funeral. But being there was just too much." Lana says.
"How did you get in?" Lois asks.
"I gave her a key." Martha says.
"Oh." Lois responds, slightly embarrassed.
"How are you Lois?" Lana asks.
"Not good." Lois responds.
"I understand." Lana says.
"It just doesn't feel real." Lois says.
Lois looks over at Martha. She doesn't really want to discuss Martha's dead son in front of her.
"Martha, how are you?" Lois asks.
"I was just thinking. Back when Clark was a baby, Johnathan and I used to have to stay up with him all night. He had a lot of trouble breathing. At the time I thought he was a sickly child. Later on I realized he probably had to adjust to our atmosphere. From the age of four on he never got sick. So to imagine this happening-"
Martha takes a seat at the kitchen table and covers her face as she begins to cry. Lana and Lois each put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry girls." Martha says.
"We're right there with you." Lana says as tears begin to run down her face too.
Lois was used to being the stronger type, but in this instance, she didn't want to be.
Lex sits at his desk at LexCorp. It was late. Mercy walks in.
"I'm leaving for the night." Mercy says.
"Very well." Lex responds.
"What are you working on?" Mercy asks.
"My penance." Lex says.
Lex looks at his computer screen. He is studying Project Kr. He is testing different DNA strands. Trying different combinations to find the right fit. The sequences keep breaking down. Suddenly Lex has a new idea.
Lex heads down to his lab. He takes off his suit jacket and rolls up his sleeve. He grabs an IV tube and sticks it into his arm. Lex begins draining his blood as he sets up a new test.
Batman stands in front of Superman's grave. It was nearly three in the morning.
"We didn't always agree, but I did respect you. You showed me that justice didn't have to come from the dark. Rest in peace Clark." Batman says.
Just then, Batman hears a woman scream in the park. He rushes off.
"Come on babe." A man says with his hands on the woman.
"Get off of me." She says, trying to fight him off.
The man is then grabbed by the shoulder and thrown to the ground.
"Not tonight!" Batman says.
"The freaks really do come out at night." The man says as he rises to his feet.
He pulls a switchblade knife out of his pocket and charges at Batman. Batman side steps him and punches him square in the face, breaking his nose.
The man growns and runs off. Batman turns around to the woman.
"You're safe now." Batman says.
The woman screams and runs off as well.
"You're welcome." Batman says to himself.
Suddenly another man rushes Batman from behind. But before he can get the he is pushed back. Standing there is The Flash.
"Thanks Barry." Batman says.
"You're welcome. Wait, how do you know my name?" The Flash asks.
"I know a lot of things." Batman says.
"You just saved me the trouble of tracking you down." Batman says.
"Tracking me down for what?" The Flash asks.
"Superman's death is going to leave a void. Some will try to capitalize. It's time hero's unite." Batman says.
"What do you mean?" The Flash asks.
"I'm thinking of putting a team together." Batman says.
