Author's Notes: In this chapter, Lois could not believe that Clark has left the city, the 'invaders' keep coming and the city is losing hope, and everyone is wondering whether Superman will come back or not. Luthor thinks he has won and continues with his plans, but Lois and Clark have not given up the fight. Keep reading and please comment when you can. Thank you.

~o~o~

Chapter 6: Whatever It Takes

Still in Metropolis:

The 'Kryptonian invaders' continue their assault but it's now being reported that Metropolis is the only city in the entire world that is experiencing the invasion. Lois thought that was odd but then she knew it was true. Luthor is behind this, all of it and there must be a way to stop him.

Then she remembered the Tower images that Luthor had shown them. She told her boss where she was going but told him the truth about Luthor and why all of this is happening. He's insane and he wants to destroy the city to make Superman leave because he wants him gone and he is the only one who can 'save' Metropolis.

Perry is stunned to hear this, but there could be a grain of truth behind her idea. He told her to be careful and would try to contact the government and the police.

Meanwhile, Clark is on the Planet rooftop, but he changed into his suit, staring at his glasses for a moment, he dropped them, and lifted into the sky. The weakness is gone somehow, and he didn't question it, but relieved he was able to fly again.

"Not on my watch," he whispered to himself. Flying over the city, Clark is furious and disgusted by the sight of the invaders doing this much damage. He then flew to the invaders and using his red eyes of fire sprayed the invaders one at a time and they stopped lying on the ground wounded and unable to move. It will do for now, he thought.

He stops for a moment and Lois is speaking aloud hoping he would hear her. "God, this has Luthor's tentacle-prints all over it. Keep thinking aloud if it helps. The Kryptonians appeared instantly, with zero warning in ships that completely escaped detection. Now we're getting stories of sightings that don't match up, reports of damage that doesn't exist. Superman, wherever you are if you're listening, I know this isn't what it looks like. If you can hear me, let me help."

She sees him and he is close. "Okay," he whispered lying on the ground in the burned bodies of invaders all around him. She runs to him and helps him to stand.

"Oh no, what did they do to you?" Lois asked as he held her close to his side.

"Just need… a second wind and there is no they… at least… not in the numbers Luthor wants us to… believe. This entire 'invasion' is mostly a hoax. It's designed to create fear and panic that Luthor can 'save' us from and 'prove ' that I'm never to be trusted."

"We saw you fight. Those are real soldiers." Lois could not believe it.

"Some… if by real, you mean mercenaries equipped by Luthor, armed with alien-modeled weapons and speech translators, and they account for ten percent of the 'invaders.' The rest of the force is an illusion cast over the city. I thought at first it was intended to poison me, but now I realize that's a secondary benefit. Lex isn't crazy enough to bankrupt himself building a Kryptonian army, Lois…"

"Yeah, not when he can gather phantom images from another world's past and broadcast them like holograms," she said.

He frowned. "How did you?" He started.

"Later, first, tell me more about this 'poison.' What on Earth could hurt you?"

"Nothing on Earth." He paused. "It's too dangerous a secret, Lois, I can't… I shouldn't." he started having second thoughts.

"Explain… don't explain. Do whatever you think is best." She paused. "I trust you."

"Wow…," he said then decided. "Luthor calls it Kryptonite. It's a meteorite from my home world, and it gives off a unique radiation that effects only me. That is what's powering this entire operation… a chunk of rock no bigger than a football… and I can't get within a city block of it." He tried to explain.

She touched his arm. "Okay, and it's locked away where? Tell me."

"In his lab on the top floor. There's a private elevator through an unmarked door off the north alley. It's open." He turned his head. "Oh no…"

"You heard something. Wait a second. You're in no shape to..."

"No choice," he said and turns to her. "Be careful."

"You too," she said and watched him return to the carnage.

As Clark continued to fight more invaders, but now they are speaking English to the terrified masses, he noted.

One citizen asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"For your own good. I wouldn't expect you to understand."

One invader held up a baby for all to see.

The mother screamed. "Tara! No, give her back!"

Another invader said, "Not in the short time you have left… kill them."

Everyone is screaming, then Clark arrives and manages to protect the crowd from bullets, get the baby back and hands her back to her parents.

Clark feels weak from the bullets laying on the ground, but he tries to warn them. "People, listen to me. You're being lied to." He turned to the leader, "Tell them the truth, Van-Gar or whatever your name is. Your men are actors working for Luthor!" He continued and tried to stand. "You're an empty threat! Metropolis can and will… fight back." And with those words, he charges him by flying straight at him.

Van-Gar stops him and grabs his hands. "I don't know what's brought on this sudden bout of insubordination, soldier." Clark is unable to stop him. "But why don't you ask these delicate little sparrows you say will fight us." Every citizen is standing looking broken and damaged unable to fight only stand and watch the invaders take over.

Van-Gar continued. "How 'empty' does this threat look?" He turns to watch a huge green warship arrive with a 'S' shield on the front then shows the war machine to Clark. "Actors are paid frauds Superman. Let this ring in your super-ears. My men aren't doing this for money. We're backing Luthor because he's right. You're the fraud and we're on to you!" He blasts Clark and his costume is blown from his chest then thrown to the ground as he screams in pain. "It's only a matter of time before you turn on anyone weaker than you. That's how it works."

As Clark rises with a fist, then he says. "Not… not always." He spoke.

"What, were you raised in a barn?!" Van-Gar screams at him.

With red eyes burning, Clark saves citizens from the warship by picking them both up and flies away but then he hears a familiar voice.

"Oh God, that kid… Superman!" It's Jim.

He returns the two men to safer ground and returns to pick up the child. But then the war machine blasts him but he and the child are both protected by a huge 'S' shield removed from the back of the war machine and held it up for protection for the kid.

Jim is screaming, "Front page, Front page! Hello Chief? I'm uploading a shot, now you need to see! No, I still haven't made up my mind whose side Superman's on, but that's about to be a question for the entire world… because as soon as we get this photo online, I guarantee you, within two minutes… it's going to be picked up by every news server there is!"

Meanwhile, Luthor is in his office watching the news and there it is: Superman saving a child with a giant 'S' shield to protect them. "Damn it!" He screams as the news feeds appeared from all over the world in different languages as well.

The General is communicating. "Mr. Luthor, Sir! Request permission to deploy troops, Sir! LexCorp's Earth-first Security Force is fully armed, ready and eager to engage the invaders Sir!"

Luthor is excited. "Any moment now, General. This city is counting on you to eradicate this alien blight. Stand at the ready."

"But Sir, the civilians…" General is confused.

"I said hold, General." Luthor is clear.

"Commander, I'm granting you an extra sixty seconds." Van-Gar is listening. "Tell me that gives you enough time to break Superman's spine."

"With pleasure," he replies.

"Everyone off the streets! NOW! Please get yourself to safety!" Clark tries to warn the citizens.

Van-Gar continues his assault upon Superman and the shield he held up minutes ago. "No one is listening. Do you know why? Because you're utterly predictable."

As Clark tries again to save civilians, he screams as a building is about to collapse with hundreds of people are standing on the rooftop hoping to watch the carnage. "Can't hold it long; people go!" They listen and run from the rooftop. Minutes later, everyone is now safe, then Clark is blasted again.

Van-Gar is standing over his body out of breath and weak. "I've been waiting all day to say this, Superman. Your 'S' is mine." He turned at the noise.

A crowd of citizens are charging at him holding hatchets, rifles, bats, any weapon they could get, coming for him. "Back off; he's with us." Jim is at the front of the crowd mad and ready to fight.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, in Luthor's Lab, Lois is standing at the front door watching Lex. She listens as Luthor is counting down. "Thirty seconds and counting General, on my mark."

She remembers Clark's words to her… ' In Lex's Lab, it's powering this entire operation.' "You would think Luthor would have the courtesy to label his death machines… Okay, try this." There it is. "That's it; that's the meteorite Superman. If you can hear me, I have it." She held up the green shining meteorite. "We've won."

Luthor stands near the door listening to her every word.

~o~o~

Out on the street, the green glare is no longer there, as the invaders approach Superman lying weak and unable to get up, then he opens his eyes.

The mad crowd of citizens are coming closer. "Smoke and mirrors, Van-Gar. Superman was right. You all weren't half the threat you pretended to be. We did a lot of this to ourselves, but we're not afraid anymore. Get him!" Jim hollered ready to fight.

"Don't bother," Clark said, then he rises and hits Van-Gar with his fist and into the sky until he disappears.

"Oh Jeez, the war machine – that's for real! Take cover!" Jim screams to the crowd.

"Relax!" Clark is on it. He lifts the entire machine over his head and destroys it throwing it a mile down the street into a ditch.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, at LexCorp:

"Lois Lane, you nosy little twit. How much do you know?" He asked as he grabs the green meteorite from her hand.

"The same as… everyone will know when I report the story… that you're twice the liar even I figured you were." On the floor where he shoved her away, she laid it all out. "All your warning photos of Kryptonian warships rocketing their way towards us? Bogus." She took a deep breath, then continued. "The spacecraft is genuine, but what everyone overloaded, until I had their backgrounds compared to modern star charts, was that those images are thousands of years old! I also know that by yanking that rock out of your power grid, I just proved that nine-tenths of this invasion force is a broadcast illusion… and that Superman is kicking the teeth out of whatever is left."

Lex will not be deterred. "Wishful thinking. Kryptonians aside, I assure you, the LexCorp army amassed downstairs is 100% authentic. Once they've been dispatched, Superman will be…" He didn't finish as an explosion rocked the entire room.

"Mr. Luthor, Sir! We have a problem," General said.

"Then solve it! I'm paying you to confirm the Luthor name. Get out of there, NOW!"

"That's just it, Sir! We can't; the only exit is the bay door, and it's jammed shut… like something huge fell against it from outside!"

"Well, keep trying! Keep… Lane, get away from there; what are you doing?" He hollered.

With a metal poll, she hollered back. "Monkey-wrenching your equipment, you creep!" She replied and continued smashing the console repeatedly.

~o~o~

Back on the streets, Clark continues to fight the invaders. Van-Gar returns and ordered his men to open fire, but Clark burns their weapons to the ground.

"Fine, I'll do it myself," Van-Gar said.

"It looks like your boss has cut you lose." Clark continues to fight. "He would hang you out to dry in a Metropolis second, Van-Gar or whatever your name is. You don't know the real Lex Luthor." Now Van-Gar is on the ground defeated. "Not like I do."

"Ouch; I take it you're back in the game…?" Jim asked.

"Getting there," Clark replied as he held up two fists ready to take on anyone.

"Good, which by and by, is not to say you don't freak me out a little, but.. well…" He held his torn shirt of the 'S' shield. "I believe this is yours."

He takes it and with his laser eyes adds it back. Then they both say simultaneously, "Luthor!"

~o~o~

Meanwhile, the LexCorp Lab:

Lois is on the floor and Lex is dragging her but he still thinks he can win. "They will know Superman's own people will tell me how to stop him." He is still dragging her towards the window. "Communication is a two-way street, Lane. A wormhole to scan Kryptonian's past was always only the first step. The true goal was to send as well as receive… to set up a dialogue. It will accelerate the half-life of the fuel, but so be it. I'll find more."

On the floor, Lois speaks. "Fine, you know who else is going to talk? Your fake Kryptonians. They will roll over on you, now that… you're exposed."

"As if I hadn't planned for that contingency. Here's a little factoid for your science editor." He touched a hand monitor: click. "When properly engineered, even the tiniest sliver of Kryptonite is enough to make a formidable explosive."

"Oh God! Suicide bombers…?!" Lois screamed terrified.

"Well, technically, not 'suicide' since I left that part out of the hiring brief. Still… " He opens the window. "As they erupt all over the city, with any luck, Superman will be one of the thousands caught in the blasts, if not, well… at least the collateral damage will keep him too busy to help you." He pushes her out the window twenty stories high.

Lois screams as loud as she can hoping and praying for a miracle.

Clark is busy not believing his eyes and the invaders are exploding one by one.

The screams can be heard…"Nooooo! It's trying to detonate! Get it off me! Get it off..! I don't want to die!" Van-Gar is screaming for mercy. "Dear God, please…!"

Clark picks him up and takes him to the sky! "Stop whining. Why would he show you mercy, Van-Gar? How many times did he hear that prayer today because of you? Bystanders murdered; city blocks flattened… you're lucky I don't just let you drop. Stop squirming!" The weakness is inside his armor. "Kryptonite burns; almost have it." Then an explosion but he can save him.

Then a terrified scream comes to him. "Lois." He flies fast and caught her one foot from the ground.

Now in the sky holding her close, he says, "Hi," he smiled.

Lois is stunned but deliriously happy to see him. She pulls him close and he is happy she is all right and safe in his arms where she belongs. In his heart, he knew that truth.

Back in the damaged lab simulator, Luthor is hoping to make contact. "Come in! Come in! This is Lex Luthor from the planet Earth. My world is in dire peril! I need your help for the love of God, can you hear me?"

Clark hears his pleas and remembers. "I think he just wants someone to talk to." Now in the lab, Clark pulls him away from the instruments. "Luthor stop grasping at straws. It's over! Ask Van-Gar; ask everyone who reads tomorrow's news who started this nightmare… and who stopped it!"

~o~o~

The Daily Planet the next day:

The headline: 'Luthor Indicted' with cover photos of Superman saving a child also destroying the green war machine, by Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Below that, a summary: Despite protests of innocence, astrobiologist Lex Luthor was charged today with multiple counts of masterminding terrorist action disguised as an 'alien invasion' on Metropolis.

The bullpen is buzzing about the story and Perry has his arms around both Lois and Clark. "So, how are my two-star reporters today?"

"Dissatisfied, Luthor's doctors are already blaming 'the peculiar actions of this beloved financier' on 'radiation poisoning.' You know Luthor will find a way to beat the charges," Lois said unhappy about it.

"Someday, but if he does, it will be despite you. In the meantime, nice work," Perry said.

"Give credit, Chief. Kent is the one who brought in the confession of Van-Gar… alias wacko militia survivalist John Hargerfort and that was the biggest nail in Lex's coffin."

"I'll say that's true. Bet Lex Luthor hates Mr. Kent even more than he hates Superman now. You want a bodyguard, Mr. Kent?" Jim asked with a slight chuckle.

"I'll get by Jim but thanks," Clark replied. As they continued to their desks, he had words for his partner. "Thanks for talking me up probably why I still have a job."

"No, you still have a job because I found your crybaby resignation letter before you turned it in and who taught you punctuation, Mr. comma-splice?" She asked teasing him.

Now standing over her desk, the question still needs an answer. "Well, if I'm here to stay, maybe… you and I could… I mean if you're not seeing anyone…"

She understood what he was asking. "You did just hear me refer to you as a crybaby, right?" She asked still teasing.

He sighed. "So noted." Then he had an idea and he still wants an answer. "Lois, look at me." He waited for her to stop typing and turned to face him. "Can we talk in private for a minute? Follow me."

She sighed and followed him. Now in the conference room, he shut the door, locked it and to the important part. "When I decided to tell you the truth about me, it wasn't to score points or anything like that. I knew you would look at me differently, not human but Superman with all those powers, but I decided to do it. I wanted us to begin our relationship on solid ground not lies and ways to hide it from you but that you know me inside and out, well physically anyway."

She stared at his face and she understood why he told her, but inside everything will take a while to mesh them together in her mind. "Yes, I understand why you told me." She took a deep breath and decided. "Yes, we can go out on a date, only to talk. I'm game." She smiled at him.

He came closer, touched her cheek, and thought why not. He leaned down and she didn't push him away. They kissed slowly at first then he pulled her close, her arms reached up to pull him closer hands in his hair. The kisses continued, heads turned and moans were uttered. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

"Wow, I wasn't expecting that," he whispered.

"Me neither," she felt stunned but happy.

He took her hand but she had more to say about Superman. She touched his chest and drew an 'S' across it. "I know you're still worried about what people think about you but they'll come around. People know now; it stands for courage… it stands for hope… it stands for… Superman. And the entire world will remember that." She smiled at him.

"Wow," he murmured pleased with those words, and smiled in return then, at the door, "Tonight at 7?"

She shook her head and laughed, then "Tonight at 7."

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: We Belong Together, Mariah Carey.

A/N: This update was a wild ride. I knew from the images and dialogue that it would take a while to put the pieces together, especially the Clois scenes to pull them closer. I hope you enjoyed it. Another chapter is coming soon. Thanks for reading and comment when you get time.