Another delay! Judas priest! Sorry everyone. Life has been crazy lately.
Once again I send my love to my honey bunny Hollie; I dedicate this to you beautiful. X

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the bustling newsroom of the world famous Daily Planet. Lois stepped out, almost bumping right into Ralph, who could barely see over the large pile of papers and folders he was carrying as he hurried past her. Walking to her desk she was putting her stuff down when a voice interrupted her thoughts, all of which where about Clark.

"Mornin' Lois."

"Hey Jimmy."

"Where's C.K?"

"Oh, Clark's gone to speak to another source about the military story." Lois sat down and rummaged through papers.

"How is that going, by the by?" another voice joined the conversation.

"Slowly, Perry, Clark and I keep hitting dead ends. All we've ascertained as that the military is close to completing and unveiling a top secret black ops project. With all our leads and all our sources, the only thing we have is that it may be A.I. And the codename is B v.1"

"Artificial Intelligence? Cool." Jimmy exclaimed.

"Judging by the cover this thing has it must be big."

"Which means front page news and I know you and Clark can get the scoop. Speaking of big news, what have you got for me for Superman's birthday?"

"An exclusive interview with him, although it took some convincing. He doesn't feel all the celebrations are necessary."

"I still can't believe it's been five years since he first arrived in Metropolis. So much has happened. We wouldn't be here if not for him." Perry reflected.

"It's been a wild ride." Jimmy smiled.

"It sure has. And there are many more Superman front page stories to come I guarantee it." Perry White would always be looking for the next front page headline, the scoop of the century.

"And Clark and I will be right there to get them." Lois was sifting through papers, looking for notes.

"Get what?" said a familiar voice.

"Hey C.K. We where talking about the big guys birthday."

Lois knew full well her husband had most likely been listening in as he approached Metropolis, as to cover their bases when it came to his whereabouts. She also smiled at the way he rolled his eyes at the mention of Superman's birthday.

"Oh yeah, it should be good. Lois, I couldn't find out anything more about the military project from our source." Clark had heard her excuse about his lateness, barely. His hearing had been off a little but he had been able to make out the important parts.

"Well keep trying you two," Perry politely ordered, "I want us to be the first ones on this thing when it comes out."

"We'll get something Perry." Clark replied.

"I know you will. Come on Jimmy, I want to go other the photo positions of Superman's birthday celebrations."

Perry headed into his office, closely followed by Jimmy, as Lois stood up and kissed her husband on the cheek and hugged him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, the nervousness in her voice was clear.

"I'm not really sure." Clark rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm bouncing back and forth between super and not so super."

"Star Labs?" she asked.

"Is Dr Klein aware I'm coming in?"

"Yes and he knows I'll be there as well."

"You think of everything don't you?" Clark smiled, pulling Lois close he kissed her deeply.

"You're the brawn. I'm the brains and the looks of our relationship." Lois grinned as her husband whispered into her ear.

"You'll pay for that…. later…."

Approaching Earth, entering the atmosphere, he could remember everything his father had taught him. His convictions renewed, he knew where to go, what to do. He wasn't sure how he knew but he was sure of his fathers hand in it. At an incredible velocity, he headed straight down towards the rippling ocean thousands of feet below. Hitting the waters surface he set off an explosion, plumes of water and steam rising into the air, waves flowing in all directions. Coming back up, he floated serenely on the surface. The water around him boiled and he looked as the steam floated up into the clear blue sky. It was intensely peaceful, yet he was so conflicted. He wanted to experience everything, to see the world now that he was unchained. But then something, a voice inside his head would call to him, order him to go somewhere.

He enjoyed seeing all the colours again. Blue, red and yellow. Then suddenly the voice returned. Clouding his thoughts with rage and destruction. Soaring up to a thousand feet, he closed his eyes and listened to the voice inside his head. The voice of his father.

It told him what to do. It told him where to go. He opened his eyes, used his vision to get his bearings and then flew off towards his destination.

Towards Metropolis.

Dr Klein had been starring at the same test tube for 20 minutes. There was no reason why, yet there he was starring intently at its bluish contents. He hadn't even realised that he had company until he suddenly became conscious of the tapping on his shoulder.

"Oh, hi Lois, Superman. How long have you…?"

"We just arrived." Superman had to bite his tongue to refrain from laughing. Truth was they'd been there for about 3 minutes, trying to get his attention but to no avail. He just didn't want his friend to feel foolish. Slightly absent minded Dr Klein maybe, but he was a good man.

"Oh good. So I gather you're still experiencing power fluctuations?"

"Yes. And they're getting worse. I had a total power loss this morning."

"Total? Well, to be honest, I'm not surprised." Dr Klein sighed.

"What do you mean?" asked Lois.

"Well we managed to rule out the solar factor so we started to look a little closer to home so to speak, we looked at your physiological makeup. See if there was anything abnormal."

Superman remembered all the tests that he endured that day. He wasn't sure some where even necessary and Dr Klein was just indulging in his almost child like love of the science of Superman. That was also the day he'd flown to the sun to check out the flares and see if it was them that where affecting him.

"Did you find anything?" Lois hated moments like this. Unable to show affection, to hold her husband, to support him. To be supported.

"When checking Superman on a microscopic level, we found that his cells had been what could best be described as tainted with a foreign substance."

"Kryptonite?" Superman said coldly.

"Essentially. But it isn't as straight forward as that. Remember hybrid kryptonite?"

"Yeah but it didn't affect me."

"Not immediately. We think that a fusion of events has caused this to happen. You came into contact with hybrid kryptonite and that may have been enough to start a reaction. You've been attacked on the molecular level numerous times as of late and those assaults left your molecular structure in a state of flux."

"Molecular flux? That doesn't sound good." Lois commented.

"Don't worry about that specifically. It's not like he'll phase out of reality without some containment suit that'll turn him blue or something like that."

"Huh?" Lois and Superman said in unison.

"Never mind. Anyway, combine this flux with the hybrid kryptonite and well, this condition has occurred. Your cells have been, coated so to speak, with hybrid kryptonite."

"So what's happening to me?" asked Superman, looking at Lois he could see concern in her eyes.

"Basically, your cells absorb sunlight and convert them into energy which gives you your super powers."

"And you're saying that the hybrid kryptonite is blocking this process?" Lois asked.

"Exactly. Well it appears to have started steadily, slowing all solar absorption until the cells can only convert what they have inside already."

"So that's what's happening now? I can no longer absorb solar energy and my cells are depleting, running down until…"

"Nothing." Dr Klein put his head down.

"Nothing! What do you mean nothing?" Lois asked. "What happens when the power's gone?"

"Either Superman will become human forever." He turned to face the hero, "Or… you'll die."