"Sullivan!" Chloe answered her phone.
"Hey Chloe, it's Clark."
"Clark, how are you? How's your mom?"
"We're coping. The neighbors have been doing a great job and needless to say my abilities have come in handy. But the reason I'm calling is because I'm looking for a job and was wondering if your editor's offer still stood?"
"Yeah, of course! Are you sure you're ready?"
"Yeah, I want to get to the bottom of who did this! And we could use the money to hire some help."
"Okay, can you be at the planet by two o'clock this afternoon?"
"I'll be there!"
"Great! See you then!"
At fifteen minutes to two, Clark was sitting in a chair outside the editor's office. He was dressed appropriately with his most recent article in hand. Just then the secretary came up to him. "Mr. Kent?"
Clark rose to his feet. "Yes?"
"Mr. White will see you now."
"Thank you."
Clark followed the scretary's lead into the editor's office, failing to notice the name on the door. When he walked in the editor was sitting in a big leather chair with the back facing Clark so he couldn't see the editor's face. The secretary announced him. "Mr. White, Clark Kent to see you!"
"Thank you Donna." The secretary left and closed the door. The editor turned around with a smile on his face and legs crossed, he elbows resting on the arms of the big chair. "Clark Kent! It's be a few years hasn't it!"
Clark couldn't believe it. "Perry White?" Clark couldn't believe it. The old alcoholic had made something of himself after all. Clark tried to recover from the shock. "I mean...Mr. White, thank you for seeing me."
Perry got up from his desk to shake Clark's hand. "Clark, it's okay, you can call be Perry, or...chief. That seems to be what Sullivan's gotten in the habbit of calling me and it's beginning to spread across the newsroom." Perry looked him over. "I also want to say I heard about your father. I'm sorry. We ran the tribute in the Planet. Sullivan has got some pull!"
"Thanks."
"So, you cleaned up nicely! Chloe tells me you were the one who wrote those amazing articles."
"Yes sir." Clark said nervously.
"Well, if that's true, I have to admit it's lightyears ahead of where you were when we last met. Do you have anything recent?"
Clark handed Perry the folder in his hand. "It's from my recent trip to Italy. It's an expose on sweat shops. They kidnap children from remote tribes and fly them to Italy to work. The conditions were horrible."
Perry read over the article. "You were the one who exposed that big suit company?" Perry was definitely impressed.
"Yeah, I remained anonymous, but a lot of kids got sent back to their homes because of it."
Perry finished reading the article and looked at Clark. "Kent, we here at the Daily Planet have a high standard of journalism. Most people who start here, start in the obituary section, much like your friend Chloe, because they need to learn the value of good writing."
"I know sir."
"You seem to have found it in your travels!" Perry smirked. Perry reached his hand to Clark. "Welcome to the Daily Planet Mr. Kent!"
Clark smiled and relaxed a little and shook Perry's hand. "Thanks Mr. White, I mean...Perry!"
"It's the least I could do. You not only saved my physical life, but thanks to your intervention, I managed to get my life back on track. The former editor saw the change in me and when she retired, recommended me for the job. I've been here for about a year now!"
"Congratulations."
"Thanks, now," Perry got up and turned to look out the window. "considering your writing ability, I'm not about to start you at the bottom. However, making you a full reporter may upset those who are waiting to climb the ladder so here's what I propose. I'm going to partner you with a full reporter. Like Chloe, this individual managed to get an early promotion when the older reporters left and has been here for about six months, so she's leaned the ropes. You'll be considered a reporter's apprentice until you've proven yourself, which won't take long."
Perry turned back to his desk and picked up his phone. "Donna!" Perry barked. "Get Lane in here." Seeing Clark's look, Perry explained. "I'm the editor, we've got a newspaper to print, and as such I get to bark! You'll get use to it."
"Actually, I was more curious. You mentioned Lane. You don't mean L..."
The door opened all of a sudden and Clark heard a voice come from behind him. "Hey chief, what can I do for you?"
"Lois, I'm assigning you a partner on the city beat. He's a new guy, but a talented one. Show him what it takes to be a reporter for The Daily Planet."
"Perry, come on! I know I've only been doing this reporter thing for a little while, but babysitting a newbee!"
"Lois! Am I your not your editor? Did I not promote you at your cousin's request! You got a quick start here and need I remind you that there are people who've been working in the mail room longer than you've been working at the Daily Planet! Now, you're good, possibly one of the best, and I need this talent to be pruned to Daily Planet standards. So, are you in? Or are you out?"
Lois sighed. "Okay chief, you win! So who is this wet behind the ears, reporter wannabe anyway?" Clark had to grin at Lois' description of him.
Perry smiled, knowing he'd just beaten "Mad Dog" Lane at her own game. "Lois Lane, meet your new partner, Clark Kent!"
Clark turned around and grinned at Lois. Lois, for one of the few times in her life, was speechless. "Hi Lois!" Clark smirked.
"Smallville! What are you doing here? I knew you were back, but...journalism?"
"What can I say Lois? There's a lot you don't know about me! I'm not exactly the little farm boy you once knew!"
Lois and Clark stood in awkward silence until Perry broke it. "Lane! Kent!" Lois and Clark snapped out of their trance and looked at Perry. "Last time I checked, we're running a newspaper, so go get me some news!"
Lois and Clark left Perry's office. As they arrived on the newsroom floor they found Chloe setting up a desk with Clark's name plate on it. Chloe looked almost giddy. "Welcome to the Daily Planet Clark! Lois, I see Perry finally dropped the bombshell!"
Lois shook her head. "You knew about this!" She motioned with her index finger from her to Clark and back again.
"Yeah, it was kind of my idea. I figured that since you're working on the Jonathan Kent murder story, Clark could help out and this way, no one thinks differently about Clark starting at the top!"
Clark was impressed, and could tell Lois was too. "Nice work Chloe! Thanks for everything!" Clark gave her a hug.
"No problem! Besides, now we can all hang out and work together!"
"But not right now!" Lois interupted. "Come on Smallville, we're off to the Luthor Press conference!"
"Luthor? What is it about?"
"I forgot, you've been out of town for a while. Stick with me Smallville! I'll show you how it's done!"
Clark followed Lois onto the elevator. "I have no doubt you will!"
The ride to the press conferance was far from a quiet one, at least as far as Lois was concerned. "Listen, Clark, I wanted to say again how sorry I am about your dad."
"Thanks Lois, I appreciate it. I know he loved you like the daughter he never had."
"So..." Lois began in an attempt to change the subject. "tell me, what's with the new look?"
"What! I travelled a bit and saw what I liked. Why? Do you miss the plaid flannel?" Clark teased.
"Nope! Can't say I do!" Lois glaced sideways at him. "It's a good look for you. Since when do you need glasses?"
"I've always needed glasses. I just didn't wear them! I couldn't find a look that suited me! But I found these when I was backpacking through London and decided to start."
"I must say, covers up the farmboy image really well!"
"Lois! Was that a...compliment?" Clark said with a smirk.
"Don't push it Kent! It's simply an observation. I'm an investigative journalist! I notice things. And You do look different! Nothing like the farm boy who left Smallville over a year and a half ago!" They both fell silent, quickly dismissing the memory of the last thing Lois had said to Clark before he left. Luckily, the silence didn't have to last long as they were pulling up to the area outside the LuthorCorp building where the press conference would be held.
A podium had been set up and several chairs were lined up side by side behind it. Journalists from all over Metropolis and even the international press were taking their assigned seats. Clark followed Lois to the section reserved for the Daily Planet. Waiting for them was a young man no more than fifteen or sixteen. Lois began introductions. "Clark Kent, meet Jimmy Olsen. He's our assigned photographer."
"Photographer?" Clark chuckled. "YOu're what fifteen?"
"Sixteen!" the young man responded.
"Oh, sorry. Sixteen. How did you become a photographer for the Daily Planet?"
"Well, I'm only a Junior photographer. And I'm here as a co-op student for now. They had a city wide contest. Every high school in Metropolis submitted entries. The prize was a year long co-op assignment with the Daily Planet. I won, but only because I was in the right place at the right time." Jimmy smirked.
Just then the master of ceremonies approached the podium. "If you could all take your seats, Mr. Luthor will be here to adress you shortly.shortly." The MC turned back to a security guard who nodded and turned towards the main door of the Luthorcorp building.
After a few moments, he returned and seemed to say something into the ear of the MC. The MC then approached the microphone for the second time. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press. Thank you for coming. Mr. Luthor will be out in a moment to address you and make a formal statement about recent events. There will be a short time for questions afterwards, but it will be brief."
Clark couldn't sit still in his chair. What did Lionel have to say? Was Lex involved? Had he finally joined his father? Lois quickly caught on to his discomfort. "You okay? I haven't seen you this nervous since that night at the prom when Lana Lang walked in the room!"
Clark cringed at the mention of his ex-girlfriend. But knew that he couldn't let Lois know the real reason he was nervous. "Guess it's just first day jitters."
"Wow! The Clark Kent, nervous about something that isn't a female! You really have grown up!"
The MC had begun to speak again and all eyes were focussed on the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Lex Luthor!" The crowd applauded as Lex came through the doors of Luthorcorp and made his way to the podium. Clark noticed that he seemed almost quieter, darker than he'd been the last time the two had met. Clark only hoped Lex had forgotten about that little incident. He was also surprised to see Lex. Clark had expected to see Lionel come out at a Luthorcorp press conference.
Lex got to the podim and took his place in front of the microphone. "Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I appreciate your patience. I was tied up with meetings all morning and even now my time is limited. I wish to address some rumours that have been floating around about Luthorcorp. As you may have heard by now, Lionel Luthor, my father, died in a plane crash over the Atlantic ocean ten days ago. Investigations are ongoing, but it is believed to be the work of terrorist out to get him." The crowd let out a collective gasp at the news.
Clark jotted down notes as quickly as he could while Lois reached out with her digital recorder to record every word spoken. "The details are unclear at this point and I can assure you that Luthorcorp will release the details to the press, once they become available. As a result of my father's untimely death, the board of directors had named me acting CEO until such time as my father is found or declared legally dead, at which point, the decision will be subject to review."
At that moment Lex stepped back from the podium and motioned to the crowd of reporters with both hands outstretched in their direction. It was typical of him to indicate that the question and answer period had begun with that gesture. "Yes, ah, miss Lane!"
"Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Are there other board members or individuals being considered for the role of CEO should your father be proven dead and if so, can you name them?"
"As of this time, every member of the board at Lexcorp will be considered for the position. After three months, if my father is not found, he will be declared legally dead and a decision will be made."
Before anyone could ask another question, gunfire rang out! Everyone dropped to the ground. The only people standing were the five men holding the machine guns at the back of the crowd. They were dress in blue jeans and leather jackets. All were burley with lots of facial hair. The guns were pointed into the air and the man in the middle, spoke up. "Hey Luthor! Hate to break up the festivities but we need to talk!"
Lex's security rushed the armed men but were immediately gunned down. At the same time, Lois had hit the ground when the shots had fired, and now realized that Clark was nowhere to be seen. Just then she looked up and saw a blue and red silhouette moving towards the press conference site and it was coming in at high speeds. As the silhouette came closer Lois realized that it looked like a man! A flying man! A flying man that landed right in front of the very men that were armed to the teeth! He was dressed in blue tights? With a red cape, but the most noticable thing about him was the big red and yellow "S" shield on his chest. Who was he and why did he look so familiar?
As Clark landed in front of the armed men, he only hoped that no one recognized him and that his change in demeanor and costume, sans glasses, worked as well for him as it had for Jerry. The armed men looked at him shocked and he decided it was time to make his presence known. "Gentlemen!" he said. "It's time for you to go!"