A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I for one hate when writers take forever to update stories. My computer broke down and I've got exams in 2 months so I won't be updating as regularly as I'd like to.
There's less action in this chapter than the last. I'm big on character development and weaving a story together, that's what is happening today.
As always, read and review.
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6.52PM Metropolis Sewerage Plant
He walked down the dimly lit passage, knowing the way by heart. His polished shoes were covered in a fine layer of dust, as was his expensive suit. The rusty pipes on the ceiling dripped in some places, forming puddles of stagnant brown water on the ground. He paused to admire his reflection, straightening his tie unconcsiously. He hated this place. It was filthy, and it smelled terriblly. There was little he could do about it even with his vast resources and influence. This pig-sty was the perfect location for the project.
He smiled coldly. It was funny really. No one would think they were running a high scale covert operation in the depths of the Metropolis Sewer System. Sometimes the movies got it right.
Approaching the ancient looking elevator, he stood for a moment before the doors opened smoothly and silently. Inside the elevator it was plush and comfortable. There were shiny buttons, wood panelled walls. Soft music played in the background. He pushed the button without looking. Number 51. The elevator descended noiselessly, further into the depths of the abandoned sewerage plant.
The doors opened to a flurry of activity. Men and women in labcoats bustled around,some of the finest scientists in the country. Their heads were down,reading or writing something on their pads, the light from the screens reflecting off of their eyeglasses. Briefly he wondered if all scientists wore glasses or it was just an affectation. Soldiers stood like statues at various points,keeping an eye on everything. They wore no uniform and their weapons were concealed, but one could see from their erect posture, monochromatic attire and steely eyes that they were military men. The lighting was much better here. Large fluorescent bulbs were suspended on the ceiling high above them.
A smartly dressed soldier walked over to him. He was tall and solidly built, with a buzz cut of dirty blond hair.
"Afternoon sir. We've been expecting you. This way."
He nodded his assent, his face impassive. 'I don't know why they have to do this' he thought. 'I've been here long enough, I know my way around. The Military Brass flexing their muscles no doubt. Trying to show me who's boss. They should remember who it is thats funding this operation.'
The soldier walked stiffly,pausing when he noticed the man was no longer following him. He backtracked and found him at one of the display windows.
"Sir, if you'll just follow me..."
"In a moment."
The soldier stood at ease, watching through the display window with him.
"It's beautiful isn't it?"
"Sir?"
"What were doing here. Humanity at its finest. The science behind this... It's revolutionary. It'll change the world." He glanced sideways at the soldier.
"Yes sir. It'll change modern warfare as we know it."
"You don't sound too pleased about it soldier."
The man stiffened visibly. "I am pleased sir. It'll save lives, especially those of soldiers like myself. They won't need troops to fight in the frontlines once they're done working on this."
"Oh come now soldier. I can see clearly this displeases you. I know what you're thinking. When this is completed, there'll be no place for men like you. No place for warriors. That you'll be relegated to a desk job somewhere. A grunt in an office. Am I right?"
The soldier was silent, his jaw was set tight.
"What's your name soldier?"
"Sergeant John Corben, US Marine Corps."
"Ah yes, of course, a jar-head. You boys are quite the unit, aren't you? It's no wonder you're not too pleased about this. I imagine a man like you belongs on the battlefield,in the heat of combat, not stuck behind a desk."
The soldier started to protest, but he was cut off.
"Please, don't apologize Corben. You are a man of action. It's your nature. Don't deny your nature. Embrace it. It's your greatest gift. And don't despair. There is always a place for a man like yourself in the future."
Corben smiled slightly at this. Inwardly he was relieved. The last thing he wanted was to offend their biggest donor.
The man flashed his trademark smile in reply, before motioning for the soldier to lead on.
6.52PM Metropolis
Clark had just returned from his evening round across the city, and he sat on his sofa surfing through the channels, still wearing his suit.
He stopped on channel 7, turning up the volume. A panel of 'experts' were discussing the effect of meta-humans on the world. They showed a grainy cell phone photograph of what appeared to be a giant black bat flying over a city skyline at night. You could see the outline of its leathery black wings against the white light of the moon. The image had apparently surfaced online last night and had gone viral ever since. The sender was anonymous, but the photo was said to have come from Gotham. The internet debates had gotten quite heated, with some saying it was a hoax and others saying this was the proof that the bat-creature terrorizing Gotham was real.
The Gotham Police Department, Mayor and city officials did not reply when they were reached for comment.
It sounded ridiculous to Clark. But who's to say its fake? I'm an alien from a dead planet. 5 years ago most people didn't even believe there was intelligent life outside Earth.
The image on-screen changed to that of a tall, strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a simple white gown, speaking at a conference on Spreading Peace in the Modern World. Princess Diana of Themyscira, or as the media was calling her since her decision to enter the 'heroics' business, Wonder Woman. He remembered Lois talking about her in the office earlier that day.
The panelists skipped the speech and cut right to a helicopter filmed footage of her flying over a speeding car. She picked up the car suddenly and ripped the roof clean off, dumping the passengers inside it, 4 armed robbers, onto the ground. The men opened fire on her and she deflected the bullets using the thick, shiny gauntlets she wore on her forearms. Then she produced a long golden rope seemingly out of nowhere and swiftly restrained the men before they had a chance to react.
What followed next was most interesting. The police squad cars pulled up, and instead of arresting the men, they drew their weapons and pointed them at Wonder Woman. The helicopter was too far away to pick up on the dialogue, but based on her body language, Wonder Woman clearly wasn't going to surrender. Instead she uncoiled the rope and walked slowly over to the police. You could see she was trying to talk to them, but the officers panicked and started shooting at her when she got too close. Again she deflected the bullets with her gauntlets, her arms a blur of shiny metal and sparks. The officers quickly ran out of bullets, at which point Wonder Woman threw the car at them an flew off at great speed. The officers barely had time to move out of the way before the car came crashing down on them.
The footage returned to the studio, where the panel of 'experts' debated the safety of having meta-humans living among 'normal people'. At the corner of the screen they placed the photo of Princess Diana speaking at the conference against that of her in her Wonder Woman costume, picking a photograph that showed her with a fierce expression on her face. Underneath was the caption 'Spreading Peace Through Violence?".
"And now we come to the worst of them, Superman." said the panelist on screen. Clark switched off the TV in disgust. He had seen more than enough of these kinds of reports about him, he wasn't in the mood for any more. He let out a long sigh. At least his civilian life was a little better, though not by much. Most importantly, he finally had a 'talk' with Lois.
It had been a slow day. There was not much field work to do so he stayed in the office with Jimmy and Lois,each putting the finishing touches on their work. Lois had been unusually quiet, which didn't go unnoticed by Clark or Jimmy. After a few hours working in eerie silence save for the sound of others in the office, Jimmy got up on the pretext of going to develop some photographs in the red room. It was a flimsy excuse at best, no one used red rooms anymore. Everything was digital now, computerized. Obviously the awkward silence became too much for him and he was smart enough to know it was something to do with Clark and Lois, so he decided to leave them alone and let them resolve it. He mouthed the words 'Good Luck' to Clark before he left. No sooner had he gone than Lois started talking.
"So Clark"-oh dear lord she used my name, I'm in for it now, he thought-"what have you been up to lately?"
"Ah.. Nothing much Lois. Just the usual."
"Really? The 'usual'? And what exactly is, the 'usual'?"
"Oh, y'know, writing stories, chasing leads.. That kind of stuff."
She narrowed her violet eyes at him. "Are you hiding something from me Clark?"
"Why would you think that?"
She laughed tonelessly, never a good sign.
"Well lets see. You're always distracted. You always disappear at the strangest times. Sometimes for hours. Always with the lamest excuses. Much worse than Jimmy with his red-room thing. At times you act so.. so distant,withdrawn, so closed up. It's like you build a wall around yourself, closing off your emotions or something. I never see you anywhere after work. Ever. You don't go out to any places, no nightclubs, no bars, no restaurants. You never come to the office parties. Aside from Jimmy and I you don't seem to have any friends. You don't seem to have a girlfriend either. Or boyfriend if thats what you're into. I mean its not like you're bad looking, god knows you try to be with those oversize clothes and dopey glasses."
"Wow Lois. You've been watching me a lot. I don't know if I should be scared or flattered."
"Uh huh. Answer the question mister."
"I'm not hiding anything from you Lois. I've always been a quiet person, sometimes that makes me seem a little distant. I'm a bit of an introvert on the social scene. I prefer staying home and reading a book or watching a movie. And you're talking to me about fashion sense? I'm a small town boy, remember? Blue jeans and a white shirt are all you need where I'm from. Besides, I live on a reporters salary, and unlike you I don't have a rich father to bail me out when I max out on my credit cards." He said this last part with a smile, to show he didn't mean any offense by it.
Lois watched him keenly. From experience he knew she was weighing his words and deciding whether she should believe him or not. He took a sip of water from his bottle,hoping what he said would be enough.
"I don't know Clark. It sounds too convenient. And you still haven't explained your mysterious disappearances. Are you leading a double life?"
He choked on his water and nearly spat it all out. That would have been disastrous. With his power he could have drilled a hole right through her skull. Lois leaned back in her chair, a triumphant smile on her face. "Ok, spill. Tell me everything."
"Ahem.. A double life.. How do you mean exactly?"
"Oh I don't know.. You got baby mama drama?"
"What?"
"Y'know, do you have a family on the downlow? Some poor country girl you knocked up and left behind? A secret life when you go wherever it is you're always running off to?"
"No! Do I really look like that type of guy?"
"Lose the glasses and wear clothes with a better fit, you just might."
If only you knew how right you are, he thought.
"No, nothing like that Lois."
"Then what? Because there's only one other possible explanation. Only one thing can explain your vanishing acts."
Crap. "And what's that?"
"Oh please Clark. Are you really going to make me come out and say it?"
"Please do."
His face was expressionless, but inside his mind was racing. She couldn't know, could she? SHe was a good reporter, maybe even a great one. She had an uncanny intuition and was very perceptive, not to mention tenacious. No, she couldn't know surely.. SHe couldn't.. Right?
"You're trying to steal a story from me."
Well, that was unexpected. But as he thought about it, no, no it wasn't that unexpected. Lois was very driven, very ambitious, some might say too much. She was determined to be the best reporter in the country.
"Don't give me that puppy dog face Smallville, I invented it. So what is it? Corruption in the local government? The war against drugs? Illegal immigrants holed up in the Suicide Slums?"
"I'm not covering any of that Lois."
If it was possible, her eyes narrowed even more.
"Superman." she said flatly.
This is getting a little too close to home, thought Clark.
"Don't play dumb. He's my biggest asset, and you know it. If you could get a one-on-one interview with him it would put you on the launchpad to bigger things. You should also know that it would pit you against me. And believe me when I say, you do NOT want to go up against Lois Lane."
"Uh.. riiight.. Look Lois, I'm not trying to steal a story from you, nor am I leading a double life. I'm just a simple man with simple tastes, that's all."
"I'm still not buying it."
"I'm not trying to sell you anything either." She didn't look convinced. He sighed wearily.
"All right, I can see you're not going to give up until you get something. If you must know.. It's.. It's about my father." The emotion in his voice was clear.
Lois' face softened. "I'm so sorry Clark. I-I didn't know. Do you mind me asking what the problem is?"
"No, not at all. My father.. He's been getting real sick lately. My mother told me he's been seeing the doctor regularly. He tries to hide it from her but.." he shrugged.
"Oh my.. I'm sorry to hear that. What's wrong with him? And why does he hide it?"
"He's got a congenital heart defect. Most of the men in the family have it. He's also got a problem with his blood pressure. He hides it because.. Well he's very old school. He doesn't believe in crying over his issues or burdening people with his problems. I know he's on medication, and I looked into it." He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "but the treatment isn't that viable. It will extend his lifespan by a few years at best. It's why I've been so... well its why I've been the way I've been lately. I worry about him, y'know? And I just feel so powerless to help him.."
Lois listened in silence. Her heart went out to Clark. She also knew what he was going through. Growing up without a mother, and having a father who was in the Army, she was always afraid of losing him. In truth she still was, although he was a high ranking General now and the chances of him dying in combat were almost non-existent.
"I'm so sorry Clark. I had no idea you were going through that. I feel terrible now, being so nosy. If there's anything I can do, anything at all.."
He smiled thinly. "It's alright Lois. And thank you, for what its worth. You've already helped me just by talking about it."
She smiled too. Never one to linger on a topic for too long, she quickly changed lanes.
"Onto less depressing subjects now.. Did you hear about that new superhero on the scene? The Boston Globe is calling her Wonder Woman. I wish I had thought it up. Such a fitting name for a demi-god that looks like a supermodel. I don't know HOW she managed to stay off the radar for so long. Apparently she's been doing diplomatic work for awhile now. You'd think the worlds governments would know something about it. Or maybe they were in on it the whole time..."
Clark then sat back in his office chair, letting out a quiet sigh of relief as he listened to Lois ramble on. The disaster had been averted.
Now that he had finally done it, he did feel a little guilty about lying to Lois because she was truly sympathetic, but it had to be done. He stretched himself out across the couch so he could see the stars outside his apartment window.
If only what he had said about his father had been a lie.
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A/N: Someone asked me where I get my inspiration and ideas of how the characters behave. Most of it from comics and animated series and films, particularly the New 52 series, the rest(as vain as it sounds)is from what I imagine the characters are like in my head.