Chapter 2: Headlines and Headlights!

LIONEL LUTHOR DEAD AT 64

Metropolis, KS

Businessman and billionaire Lionel Luthor was found dead last night amidst the wreckage of LuthorCorp Tower, which was shaken by an explosion at approximately 1:35 AM. The cause of the explosion has been determined as arson, but so far there are no suspects. Lionel Luthor was also found with fatal bullet wounds to his chest and head, which sources say were the cause of his death. Two security guards were also killed in the explosion. In a statement today, Lex Luthor, son of the late Lionel Luthor and heir to the LuthorCorp empire, was reported as saying...

"Wow, who would have thought that somebody would try and blow up Luthorcorp tower like that, and manage to kill Lionel Luthor, nonetheless. I mean, didn't that man have bodyguards all over the building?" said Jonathan Kent, who was seated at the dining room table with a coffee mug in one hand and a coffee mug in the other.

"Yea, but the explosion probably distracted them or scared them off." Martha Kent replied. "You know, I can't help but feel kind of sorry for the man. Nobody deserves to die like that, not even a Luthor."

" Give me a break, that man is Satan incarnate! He's killed more people than you can even count, and do you guys not rememberwhat he did to Chloe, not to mention just about every family in Smallville! Personally, I'd like to meet the guy who finally killed that bastard, and thank him for a job well done!" Lois Lane piped from the kitchen. She had managed to get up before sunrise, a miracle in itself, and had also succeeded in helping Martha with breakfast. She was wearing a dress and heels, as she was heading off to a interview at Met. U, again, and was going to plead her case as to why she should be re-admitted to the school. Lois wasn't particularly happy about returning to college, but she was bored staying at home while everybody else was at school. That, and she realized that she couldn't live on tips from the Talon her whole life.

Clark Kent finally stirred from his bed and made his way downstairs. He seemed to have a 6th sense for knowing exactly when breakfast was being served. Eyes still closed, Clark made his way down the stairs, and practically collapsed into a chair at the table.

"Rough night, son?" Jonathan inquired. His son was usually up with the sun, but this morning he had slept until noon.

"Horrible. Lana officially hates me, and all I could think about all night was our date. She just started getting angry over the weirdest things, and she almost took the waiter's head off when he brought her the wrong meal! And, when I told her to chill out a little, she walked out on me! I just don't know what her problem is lately!" Clark declared.

"I swear, that girl is eternally PMSing" Lois said as she brought Clark his pancakes and eggs. Suddenly Clark found himself dumbstruck. Oh my god, Lois, in a dress? Wow...wait a sec, what the hell am I thinking. Snap out of it Kent, you love Lana. Remember Lana? The girl that you've loved since 1st grade! The girl that...wow, I don't think I've ever seen Lois look like such a GIRL before. Ok ok ok, just calm down and forget it...worry about you and Lana before you start looking at other girls...but Lois isn't a girl...she's a woman...

This mental battle raged in Clark's head for several minutes. All the while, he wore a look similar to that of a deer caught staring at the headlights of an oncoming truck. But for Clark, Lois was the truck and he was just FASCINATED by her, uh, 'headlights.' Lois wasn't stupid, she saw right through the boy's gaze. Must be the dress, she thought. Poor kid. So she set down breakfast on the table and simply whispered to Clark, "Down, boy."

"Well, I guess I'd better get going! It would kind of be bad to show up late to an interview that'll consist mostly of begging for mercy." Lois laughed as she put on a suit jacket and exited the house.

"Clark..." started Martha. "CLARK! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Clark shook awake and looked at his parents. "Are you ok, son? You seem out of it this morning. Is this all about Lana? Because you know that she shouldn't be making you miserable, even if she has been in a bad mood." Jonathan commented.

True, the source of Clark's problems was indeed Lana, but he hadn't told them everything, considering that they had heard the same story almost every day since Clark had met Lana...she was angry at him because he wouldn't open up to her. But Clark wasn't depressed this time...he was ticked. It took all his will power to stop himself from yelling, 'Ya know, at first I didn't tell you because was I didn't think your puny little human mind could handle it, but now I don't want to tell you because you're being such a little bitch about it!' Ok, he knew that wouldn't be too nice, but she had him at the end of his rope. "I know guys, I just...she's just been annoying lately."

"You should go settle this with Lana. If you're losing sleep over her, you definitely need to smooth some things out, for both of your sakes."

"I guess so. I'm gonna go see her." Clark sighed as he left the room.


"In other news, the death of Lionel Luthor has rattled the business world, as Luthorcorp stocks continue to plummet. Will billionaire Lex Luthor be able to turn LuthorCorp around? Find out tonight at 11:00." The news announcer commented. Lex Luthor was sitting in his bedroom, flipping through the news channels which all had something different to say about the assassination. And all the while, Lex laughed. He laughed harder than he ever laughed before, because he realized that he could do anything! The world was within his grasp!

The first operation, on a whole, had gone smoothly. Lionel was now out of the picture, and Lex was the head of a global empire. He wasn't in the least concerned with the police investigation, because a few calls and a check could stop the investigation in its tracks But the assassination was a little sloppy for my taste...maybe I should be more subtle next time. At least it got the job done. Who's next on the agenda?...the infamous CLARK KENT. Clark...he always seems to be there to save people in trouble...if I can manage to get him out of the way, I'm in the clear, because I know that Clark isn't just your typical all-American farm boy...No, something about him is much more special, more dangerous...and I want to be the one to destroy him.