The Story of the Century

by mistressbabette51

AU. First written in 2009, here's a missing scene from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The series did not have an "Infamous Superman Interview," but here it is. This story will continue as an AU from the comics verse. In this update, Lois is still in the dark about Clark's identity for now. Stay tuned.

5. One Man

Author's Notes: In this next chapter, this is the one. Lois and Clark grow closer, Lex's schemes against Superman lead to disaster, Clark's mystery of the real reason he is here on Earth is escalating, and then Lex and Superman meet again and it is not a pleasant visit. Keep reading and please leave a comment, a favorite, or a kudo would be nice too.

~o~o~

Chapter 5: One Man

Over the skies of Metropolis:

Clark felt thrilled she kissed him like she seemed excited they finally did kiss. She pulled away and smiled. He smiled in return and he felt grateful that she would encourage him but she appeared she had more to say. "What is it; what are you thinking?"

"Why is everyone eager to listen to Luthor and all the fear he spreads all over the news?" She is worried about Lex and what he would do next to hurt him.

Clark had time to think of answers. "Because he's loud; there aren't many of us who know he's a vile, vile man; and because he knows how to amplify the fear that drives people and how to trick them into turning to him for protection."

"You can't show up nowadays and be a super-friend; we are a skeptical lot. With Government, advertising, and of course, the media, these things manipulate us, 24/7, and worse, we know it. We claim to fight it, but most of us don't have the energy to struggle every moment of every day. Wear us down enough, and the lesson we eventually take to heart is that it's easier and safer to be cynical than it is to trust someone."

Now over the Planet rooftop, but he had to know. "Do you trust me?"

"I want to; I want us all to trust what you say and what you do." She paused. "I would love to prove that these 'photos' of alien warships Luthor's subspace cameras are providing are digital pranks."

Now on the Planet rooftop, he released her, held her steady for a moment, then she had more thoughts about Luthor. "But I need your side of this story to drown out Luthor's ravings if he's lying who you are and what you are. You told me you are a friend, where you came from and how you grew up here, and you are an alien."

"Yes, I tried to explain in the interview and all of that is true. I am a friend, and I came here as an infant, unknown to me what I was and how I came here." He paused. "The spaceship that I arrived in, my parents explained about the digital insert in the ship showed me where I came from and who I am, but I wasn't given that knowledge until I was a teenager and that is all I know."

"We don't have a lot of time to figure this out. Clark," she paused. She hasn't called him that not while in the suit. "Luthor is not going to stop until everyone is terrified of you. Give me something. What can you tell me to stop him?"

"That Luthor is wrong; it isn't fear that drives people."

"I know but prove that to Metropolis."

He slowly lifted into the sky. "I'm trying." He flew away.

~o~o~

The bullpen, minutes later:

Lois arrives and Clark is at his desk, drinking coffee staring into space. It was strange seeing him like this as she remembered that she knows the truth. Superman works here as a journalist then shook her head, and decided not to change anything, but to continue as they were friends, good friends who kiss. She smiled remembering the kiss.

"Hey, rookie," Lois said and continued to her desk, but he didn't say anything. "Hello, Kent?"

"Hey, Lois, sorry; I was hoping to figure something out," he said distracted and watched her walk over to her desk. He turned back to his computer and he is communicating with Ma, in texts speaking back and forth about Lex. Then he asked a question that was bothering him. "What if he's right? What if I am supposed to be some sort of advance scout? There must have been some reason my parents sent me to Earth."

"The reason was to save your life, for you to live; that is all." Martha knew that to be true. She continued. "It's all right, son. We know you love us, but it's only natural. Every adopted child is curious about his birth parents."

Clark is thinking about the past. "Before Luthor left Smallville, he tried to build a machine that would probe its origins. That green meteorite Luthor has, it's related to me somehow. My guess is that he finally completed the machine and that is when the explosion happened. He and I need to have a talk." He sighed and decided.

"Clark, you got a second?" Jim asked.

He logged off and stood up to leave. "Not now Jim; I have an errand to run."

On the roof, took off his glasses, then spoke to himself, "I need to see a man about a rock."

Back in the bullpen, Lois is at her computer, hoping to help Superman, then Jim is at her desk and she had a question for him. "Hey, Jim, those graphics Luthor's been piping to the media? How hard would they be to fake?"

"At that resolution, with that detail? It would be like counterfeiting a twenty with a crayon. The photo department has been over them with a microscope, and they are satisfied," he replied.

"Then, get me some star charts."

"On it," he said.

"Thank you."

~o~o~

Meanwhile, Echo Park Conservatory:

Luthor has gathered outside three huge telescopes to see into space and beyond. Two armed guards standing outside the trucks communicating. "Hour two, still no alien. Your tax dollars at work." One spoke.

"Dude, I'm not even sure I believe in 'Superman.' My girlfriend says it's all part of some big ad campaign," another one spoke.

Another one pointed to it. "So, what's that coming in at eleven o'clock? What is it?"

"FIRE!" They all fired at once. Explosions occurred all around them as the telescopes were destroyed and they had no defense against who or whatever came at them out of nowhere.

Inside the conservatory, Luthor Is speaking to the military, an officer. "And you will see is proof then, General. The White House will have their own machines with which to watch the coming alien invasion by tomorrow. At this point, it's simply a matter of legally gifting the LexCorp-patented wormhole technology to the Government. My lawyers have been instructed to make it happen, and…" Suddenly, a loud noise that sounded like explosions; everyone is afraid. "What is happening?"

Alarms went off, meaning everyone should leave. "Breach! It's him! He's coming for me!" Luthor hollered.

One guard spoke. "Men, secure the site! Luthor must be protected at all costs! Go! Go!"

Then, heat rays moved around the huge metal door, meaning Superman is trying to get inside. Seconds later, he stood before Luthor towering before him. "You have a lot to answer for."

Luthor stood his ground. "No witnesses?"

"I won't risk them hurting themselves. You and I have less patience. What is this all about, Luthor?" Clark asked.

Now in his control center chair, he replied, "You mean Project Krypton?"

"Krypton, are you insane? What are you planning?"

Then he pushed a button on the console on the armchair, and images appeared like the ones he had showed him at the Tower. "Don't you see? After Krypton went boom, the blast irradiated its fragments into something so far up the periodic table there's no atomic number for it. It's harmless to earthlings. It's called Kryptonite. You call it agonizing green death by radiation poisoning. And it could be hidden anywhere on the premises. That is one reason you would not want to go on a tear," he sneered. Then he held up a document for him to see. "Here's another. Twenty minutes ago, this entire outpost is property of the U.S. military, Exhibit A, the deed," he said holding the upper hand.

Clark is stunned but determined. He grabbed Luthor by the throat and squeezed. "You would never hand over these secrets to the Government. You would not tip your hand."

Lex tried to pull his hand away to enable him to speak, but it was difficult. "Yes, but I would… bilk them for… billions. It would not be… the first time."

"Is that why you invented a hoax that's causing worldwide panic, in order to line your pockets?" Clark asked furious at the idea.

With Clark continued to squeeze his throat, Luthor barely spoke. "No, to discredit… you and destroy you. The money is just… a benefit… you freak." Clark released him but he had more to say. "Understand, I have spent my entire life searching for a civilization further up the evolutionary ladder than humans, but I was unfortunate enough to be born here. Well, you finally showed up and given your first chance… you deliberately humiliated me. You looked at me like I look at the ants." He narrowed his eyes appearing evil. "You do not get to do that. Period."

"You are crazy." Clark knew it.

Now standing before him. "Oh no, I'm the only sane inmate of asylum Earth. I'm not eager to hand tomorrow over to an interplanetary extremist with laser eyes. There is only room for one leader, Superman. When I'm finished with you, every gibbon out there will know you for the menace you are… and they will realize Lex Luthor is their savior."

"You will never get people to believe that. I will win them over one at a time if I must."

"You see, you lose right there, because I prefer to think in much larger numbers."

Suddenly, another door exploded and armed guards entered pointing guns ready to fire. "General, we're in. We have the alien in our sights!"

"Not for long," Lex said.

Clark is gone.

~o~o~

Back in Metropolis:

The Metropolis Eagle headline reads: 'Superman Attacks: Army Saves Luthor'. More smaller headlines read. 'Scientist Claims Assault Final Proof of Kryptonian Invasion.' Latest polls: 'Majority of Metropolis's Citizens Fear 'Man of Steel.'

Clark is outside on the street, trying to buy a paper. He is taking too long. One citizen is in a hurry. "Are you going to take all day? Keep it moving, Buddy! Come on, Jeez!" The man is not in the mood.

"Sorry, not used to being so crowded," Clark stammered.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

"Not exactly," Clark replied.

"Then why don't you go back to where you came from, corn boy?"

Clark is distracted by noises from across the street. He lowered his glasses not believing his eyes. A huge red spider with long legs walking and destroying property and with an 'S' symbol is seen on its chest as it moves forward stomping and crashing through anything moving or not moving.

The crowd screamed and running away; one hollered. "The Kryptonians! They're HERE!"

Now in the suit, Clark is hovering before it trying to figure out a way to stop it. It's so massive that it towers above skyscrapers crashing and destroying them one after the other. The police see Superman and assume he is one of them and begin shooting at him.

Clark is confused, but the bullets bounced off his chest, not hurting him. Clark screams, "I'm not the enemy! I'm on your side!"

Jim is outside on the phone, trying to reach his boss. "Chief, it's Jim Olsen. I'm at 52nd and… Lois? Lois, put Mr. White on the phone. I have an exclusive!"

The Planet staff is scurrying around on phones with no idea what is happening but also trying to leave the bullpen. "It's crazy here," Lois said. "Wait, what do you mean a warcraft suddenly appeared in midtown? How does something that size suddenly appear in our airspace without NASA flipping out? Email me a video or a snapshot! No, don't take the time to download from your camera, just send a video from your phone so I can see it!"

The images and a video are now on her computer. Perry is there and he is furious because Lane has his phone.

"Jimmy, tell me I'm getting a clear image because from what I can tell… Our alleged 'invader' is defending us from that 'thing!"

Then huge metal doors opened from a massive warship and 'invaders' wearing silver metal costumes with red capes, with a red 'S' on their chests, and speaking a strange language flying before the populous. They were made to fight, to destroy everything without feelings to attack and harm people.

With a stunned look on his face, Clark wonders what is happening but he had a suspicion about all of this. He had the same idea as Lois. With no military presence, the government would have seen this 'thing' coming from afar but they had no idea. He is all alone in this fight. Then he heard voice transmissions but he knew that voice.

"You heard me, Ms. Stokes, evacuate the LexCorp building at once. I won't have any of my employees endangered."

"But Mr. Luthor, Sir, what about you?" Ms. Stokes asked.

"I have a plan to save Metropolis from the Kryptonians, Ms. Stokes. But I must not be distracted. No admittance to this office, none. Go home to your husband and children before the Kryptonians have reduced this city to ashes."

Clark listened and he is furious Luthor would do this all because of me, his hatred of me and what I am. He did manage to destroy most of the invaders. But then the weakness is there again.

"Are you getting this, Lois? No, I'm as confused as you. One minute Superman is kicking butt, the next there's something in the sky above him, but I have no idea what he's reacting to, not unless he's seeing something I cannot." Jim is confused.

A green glare is coming to Clark and it is weakening him, then the attack from the 'invaders' and he cannot stop all of them. He tries to run away from the pain and hide; it could lessen the effect. Clark is being followed by the police but of course they think he is one of them. They fire and because he is weakened by the green glare, the bullets hurt but they cannot penetrate his skin, at least for now.

Clark tries to speak. "You don't… understand…"

"Freeze, put your hands where we can see them." The police want to arrest him. Clark stands up to run away, but he is too fast. He hides behind a dumpster then removes his suit to look like a regular person to escape the police. Now walking with his glasses in place, he walks towards the street, then he sees Lois, and she speaks to him.

"Clark, I didn't see you there. I see Chief has you chasing this story, huh?" She looked around then whispered. "You look like you're about to pass out. Are you okay?"

He pushed his glasses up his nose. "I've been better; we need to talk."

All around them, the police are confused looking for him. "Where did he go?"

~o~o~

Back at the Planet:

Clark is bombarded by voices coming from everywhere. Mr. White is furious about the invasion and none of his staff is out in the streets getting the story. He thought his staff had more initiative than that.

Clark wants to hide and Lois wants to help him somehow.

Mr. White spotted Clark and yelled in his face. "Kent, where the hell have you been?"

"Sorry Mr. White," he replied head down.

Perry took out his anger on him. "Sorry doesn't cut it. If you don't walk in with a story, then you don't get to come and go at your leisure." No answer. "Do you think you're somebody special, Kent?"

At his desk, staring at the screen. "Not right now, Sir."

"You got that right, because starting tomorrow, you're on a time clock… assuming Metropolis has any time left!"

Clark groaned to himself but didn't say anything.

Now, Galloway is standing over him. "If you throw up on that keyboard, it comes out of your paycheck, got it?"

"Yes Sir, Mr. Galloway," he managed to reply, still feeling weak and sick.

He walked away muttering about LexCorp and how they're coping with the invasion.

"That isn't actually news," Clark whispered to himself and Galloway heard it.

He came back. "As your publisher, news is what I say it is. LexCorp is a major advertiser, and they like to see their name online. That means that if Lex Luthor wants his butt kissed and I say do it, you pucker up!"

"But" Clark started.

"If I want you to talk, I'll pull your strings. So long as you work here, you will keep yourself corked, is that clear?"

"Yeah" he replied. Galloway left and he returned to his texts with his Ma. "Son, are you there? Your Pa and I heard what's happening in Metropolis and we're worried. Are you all right?"

"No," he replied. "I'm sick. Lex has found a way to broadcast meteor radiation like a web across the city, and it's draining me. It's a little better indoors, but it's getting gradually more painful regardless."

"Then come home. Let the Army deal with the aliens."

"They're not aliens, Ma. All this is Luthor's doing, somehow, every bit of it. All to take away any ability I might have to help anyone, and it worked."

"Son, this is your father. Come home while you still can. If Luthor truly is behind this, he'll call it off long before he levels the city. If he just wants to be the 'hero' instead of you, then let him. Don't put yourself through this."

"But we thought a secret identity would be a good idea," Clark said but there could be a way to stop it, he thought.

"If it didn't work out like we had hoped, there's no shame in that. You've done a lot of good, son, but you must pick your battles. Clark, come home. It's okay."

He logged off and drafted his resignation letter but decided to wait. He packed up his desk and stood up.

Lois saw him and thought, is he leaving, she wondered. She ran after him, now in the corridor, still unbelieving, she faced him. "You're leaving?"

"I can't do anything for them," he replied not looking at her.

She understood but he needed to hear this, then she touched his shoulder. "You're scared; we all are, Clark. We have an obligation to the public, and… Superman needs us to be strong. I know he would if he would only come back; I know this." Her eyes watered.

He touched her cheek wiped away a stray tear, but her tears tore him up inside. "I know."

She watched him leave as he entered the stairwell.

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: Now That I Know, Mariah Carey.

A/N: The invasion reminded me of recent live action movies, but this book was written two decades ago. Luthor is truly insane and his vendetta against Superman is not surprising. Is Superman gone? Stay tuned for the next chapter. Thanks for reading and comment when you can. Come back next week.