Chapter 12:
He looked at each one of them: old friends, new enemies. The twisted truth Luthor had said even convinced his friends. Slowly, he put Lois down and stepped back.
"Do you honestly believe in Lex Luthor?" – His question revealed how incredulous he was with his friends.
"The question is: Are you going to play his game, his rules?" – Green Arrow spoke, stepping forward. – "the end justifies the means, right? Next, you're becoming our savior using your power to protect the world with an iron fist, like a fascist?"
The accusations were too strong even for him. – "What? I didn't try to kill him…"
"I wish I could believe you." – Diana, known to the world as Wonder Woman talked to him, catching his attention. – "If I were you, I would do probably the same but that doesn't mean it's right." – She stepped forward, walking to him until she came close to him. – "Don't make this any worse." – Her hand reached his face: she was concerned with her "brother", afraid of the worst.
He stepped back. – "I'm not going to jail, accused of something I didn't commit. I'm surprised you believe Luthor: even you." – He turned to Green Arrow hoping for a reply but Green Arrow maintained his silence.
Realizing he wouldn't change his mind, everyone stepped back, surrounding him. The silence revealed a growing tension: each side was studying its adversary, looking for ways to neutralize the other.
He looked carefully at his old friends: He x-rayed all of them, showing having a set of kryptonite arrows and the Flash had also kryptonite. He realized his odds were minimal but he had to try: the first move had to be his.
With all eyes looking at him, he looked at Flash and attacked: he used his heat-vision and the fastest man alive easily diverted his attack but bought enough time for him to fly and stay away from the kryptonite. Unfortunately, behind him, Wonder Woman made her attack, grabbing him and both dove into the river and Aquaman followed them.
Inside the river, held by Diana, Superman saw Aquaman approaching them and immediately he began punching repeatedly Superman in his face until Superman diverted in one Aquaman's punches and indivertibly he hit Wonder Woman: dizzy she lost momentarily her strength and Superman took the opportunity and punched Aquaman who was shocked and concerned with Diana.
Slightly shaky, Aquaman was grabbed by Superman and they went to the surface and they flew kilometers up, up and away into cold winds of the sky where the odds were turned against Aquaman.
"Can you see what Luthor is doing to us?" – He tried to show to the evidence to Aquaman who was becoming weak by the moment: the moments of temporary peace were interrupted as Superman saw Wonder Woman coming in: immediately he tossed a weak Aquaman in Diana's direction.
It bought time for Superman to focus his vision and looked down below, into the Metropolis where the Green Arrow was carrying Lois into a warehouse: Right away he flew, making his descent rapidly and chased Green Arrow but as he was about to enter the warehouse Cyborg stood in his front, catching him off guard.
He didn't have the time to react: Cyborg punched him, tossing several meters away and Flash quickly ran to catch Superman and expose him to the Kryptonite but the man of steel quickly recovered and put himself in a safe distance from the Flash.
Floating, he decided to approach Lois by air, avoiding Flash but being so concentrated to take Lois, he didn't realize Wonder Woman approaching from behind: like a cannon ball she took him and both entered violently inside the warehouse, breaking walls, hitting finally the ground, creating a crater.
With Wonder Woman on top of him, he managed to turn around and Cyborg was about to attack but Superman kicked him tossing several meters: Unfortunately for the Flash, as he was approaching the spot at super-speed he saw Cyborg heading in his direction but he wasn't able to divert Cyborg and he was hit by Cyborg's dense body and fainted.
Meanwhile, the battle was between Superman and Wonder Woman: she had more experience and better fighting skills and that gave her an initial advantage.
Quickly, she applied simultaneously two punched in Superman's ears as she was grabbing him with her legs: the hard hit made him dizzy and his vision was blurry. Wonder Woman took the chance and smacked him a second time: the punch threw him away from her, smashing another wall of the warehouse. Lay down outside, He got up with some difficulty and noticed a blur heading in his way: guessing it was Diana, he shook his head, trying to regain his normal sight and hearing. He looked again and she was on top of him but fortunately he was able to defend: he stepped back while his vision was restoring to its normal.
A small pause and after that, they resumed the fight: she was giving everything while he was trying to restrain himself, diverted and defending her attacks. Punches and Kicks were turning him into a boxing bag but he had to resolve the fight: an error from her and he punched her, a right hook which caught her by surprise, knocking her to the ground.
They inverted positions as Superman went to search for Lois but Wonder Woman quickly recovered. – "Don't you dare to turn your back on me!"
He turned around and looked at her. – "I don't want to fight anymore."
"Well you should have thought of that before you started all this mess." – He felt weird Wonder Woman's need to talk but his doubt was clarified when Cyborg came from behind and punched Superman with all his strength.
The blow was hard but Cyborg's strength wasn't even close to Wonder Woman's and Superman recovered only to be punched by Wonder Woman: Straight away, Cyborg came close and grabbed Superman by his throat however they flew back, hitting hard on the warehouse's wall. Instantly Cyborg lost some of his strength, the sufficient for Superman to set free but was grabbed by Wonder Woman's lasso. The harder he resisted the worse for him: looking at her, he focused his vision as hard as he could and used his heat vision and burned slightly her hands. She yelled in pain and gave him sufficient time to set free from the lasso and tossed it into the river: he turned around saw Cyborg in front of him, ready to attack.
Cyborg tried to punch Superman but he grabbed Cyborg's fist. – "I didn't want any of this." – He kicked Cyborg's chest, tossing him several meters away, into the river. Slowly he drowned, due to his dense body, due to all his metallic parts.
"You have some nerve…" – He turned around to see Diana full of rage towards him. Again she attacked him but he was faster than her and since it was one on one, he gained the advantage. He was no longer holding himself and spite of her better fighting skills, he had arsenal of his side: heat vision, cold breath, speed and simple brute force. He deflected all her attacks and finally he attacked: a left and a right wing, using all of his strength and she fell. She tried to get up but he was too fast for her: he punched her so hard and so fast that in matter of couple of minutes, she fell unconscious.
"I'm so sorry." - He turned and headed to the warehouse: he didn't have much time. The massive fight had attracted too much attention and he could hear the police sirens headed in his direction.
He walked inside what was then, the ruins of the warehouse: he x-rayed the entire warehouse and saw a female body lay down, surrounded by Kryptonite arrows; Lois.
What lacked in super-powers, Green Arrow had in intelligence: he often considered Green Arrow or Batman for that matter, much more capable adversaries than any other. Eyes and hears focused, the entire compound had traces of lead which was harder for him to see where Black Canary and Green Arrow were.
He walked slowly in Lois's direction and grabbed whatever he could which had led: cautiously he walked, step by step, looking at each side until he stopped when he started to feel kryptonite's nasty effects. He stepped back, gaining a safe distance from the green poison and used his super-breath prudently and managed to push the kryptonite scattered around Lois. That's when Green Arrow showed behind him and pointed an arrow at him: he shot the arrow however Superman was able to divert the arrow. He turned around and was about to use his heat vision when he felt the effects of the Kryptonite: he fell in pain and as he fell he saw who was responsible: Black Canary.
"Good Job." – Green Arrow stated as he approached both of them. Black Canary maintained his silence as Green Arrow stood as his side: Superman still in pain looked at them when unexpectedly, something hit Green Arrow in his neck and Arrow fell unconscious.
Black Canary looked hardly in the every direction and began screaming in every direction looking for the adversary but all of a sudden, a shadow came from behind Black Canary and a simple punch, knocked out her: the shadow came forward, revealing its identity, Batman.
He hided the kryptonite close to Superman into his utility belt and grabbed Superman and helped him to get up. – "We don't have much time." – He was perplexed by Batman's sudden appearance, not he complained but definitely intriguing.
"I knew all along it had Luthor written all over." – Batman spoke as he carried Superman in his shoulder. – "But Diana, Oliver, Arthur, Bart and Victor came to me when you supposedly attacked the president: I had to play along and when we discovered Lois's kidnapping, we thought you had to show up. Don't blame them: Even I had a hard time believing you."
"Tell me about it…" – Superman replied: they came close to Lois and Superman, in a better shape, grabbed Lois and carried her in his arms. – "What about them?" – He looked at his fellow friends lay down, unconscious, curious about their immediate future and his: it would be a matter of time when they meet again.
"Don't worry about that: I'll hold them as long as I can." – The affirmation caused some doubt in Superman but Batman assured him. – "I'm fine, I've everything under control: you have to go, now, before the police and army gets here."
The vacillation faded and he felt gratitude towards a man who had always helped whenever he needed. – "Thank you."
"You can thank me by bringing Luthor down."
"I will." – He turned around, carrying Lois in his arms, leaving behind his friend and the chaos and the destruction caused by the fight.
His hands rubbed his face: tired, the last night had brought worse news. The U.N had issued a statement proclaiming Superman as enemy of Mankind: the alleged Superman's second attack on the President was the final nail on the coffin and the public had made their final judgment; guilty.
The idea of clearing his friend's name was more urgent than ever before: he didn't want his friend a victim of world wide hunting. The newspapers were nothing but public executioners demanding Superman's head, even the Daily Planet.
He expected new developments coming from Chloe but she hadn't come up with anything and the situation was becoming unbearable.
Sat at his desk, in his office, someone knocked. – "Come in." – The door opened: his secretary came in.
"Senator Ross, the Secret Services wish to talk to you, Sir." – He became apprehensive: somehow he had the feeling it wasn't a social visit.
"Send them in." – Immediately he took his cell phone and discretely he sent a message to Chloe while two agents came in.
"Senator Ross, I'm Agent Jefferson and this is Agent Johnson." – The two men showed their I.D, corroborating their claim.
"What can I do for you, gentleman?" – The smiled in his face disguised his tension and clearly he had a suspicion what was about to come.
"Senator, The President wishes to speak with you."
"Can't he use a phone?" – The moment he spoke, the moment he regretted: he had forgotten about Lex's "accident" with his right hand and the sarcastic remark only made things worse.
"The President needs to talk to you, in person. Now…" – the agent opened slightly his jacket showing his gun. Pete's suspicions had been confirmed: he had become another war casualty.
She woke up, lay down on a comfortable bed in a marvelous room: she looked around, confused about how she got there. She remembered being with her sister Lucy when she felt a needle in her neck and she past out.
She got up and admired that strange material which looked like crystals, walls so high it felt they were reaching the skies. Harmony, peace and tranquility were feelings she felt: if she was dead, that place was definitely heaven.
"Miss Lane?" – The spoken words scared her and she became even scarier when she noticed it was a floating robot who addressed to her. She stepped back defensively. – "Where am I, tin can?"
"I am detecting your vital signs are increasing, suggesting apprehension and anxiety. Do not worry miss Lane, I will guide you to master Kal-El." - The robot fall back and turned around. It stopped waiting for her: she hesitated but her curiosity was bigger than her fear and after a few moments of hesitation, she followed the machine through the corridors and halls of the crystal palace.
After a few minutes the machine conducted her to the main hall where she saw someone familiar: she stopped while the machine continued until it came close to him.
Using a console, he was too absorbed, seeing the projections showing several images, to notice her: she ran to him and held him, squeezing him as hard as she could, just to be sure it wasn't a dream.
On the other hand, He smiled, glad about her being recovered and holding him like that and grabbed her hands which were on his chest: he turned around and faced her.
He looked deeply into her eyes and caressed her cheek. – "How are you feeling?"
She didn't reply because she looked at him, closely. – "What happened?" – He didn't look well, even abated and her concern spiked.
"I'm fine, I'm just…" – her hand touched his face and she noticed how the war was affecting him.
"We have to do something otherwise this witch hunt is going to kill you." – The concern evolved to anger but he held her hands.
"Lois!" – His plead took her attention and he continued. – "For now, we have to sit and wait, hoping Pete and Chloe find something about Metallo and that copy of mine." – He squeezed slightly her hands knowing perfectly that waiting would drive her nuts, hoping she would follow his advice. –"You must be starving and you have to eat and besides, spend more quality time, something we lack these days."
She smiled, understanding his reasons and his desires were also her desires. He pointed to the robot. – "Kelex here can run things for me so let's go and eat something." – He grabbed her and carrying her in his arms, he flew slowly, showing her the various rooms the Fortress had.
"I can get used to this." – but from his perspective, being on a place so quiet and calm, he knew by the end of the day, she would have gone mad.
"How come you never talk about this forty feet crystal palace?"
Her question sounded a little odd considering what both went through but he understood her dazzle towards the Fortress. - "Did we ever have the time to talk about this?"
"Point taken." – Lois replied flatly.
They continued the trip while Lois continued admiring the Fortress until they reached the room he wanted. - "We're arrived." – He stated as his feet touched the ground.
While he headed to one balcony, she continued admiring the architecture of the place, including a small table and chairs, made of crystal too. Starving, she sat, waiting for whatever he was preparing for her.
"Are you ok? Cold? Warm? Hot?" – His concern was of course genuine but it felt odd for her, asking those questions.
"Yeah, fine. Where are we anyway?"
"North Pole." – His quick response shocked her and she took another glare at the place.
"Did you turn on the air-conditioning?" – He laughed at her question and he turned around with a dish with food and put it on the table, right in front of her.
"Something like that. Here, it's your favorite." – She looked at him, amazed with his knowledge about her.
He understood her look and explained. –"Well, mom talked about you some time ago when you were at the farm for a couple of days and I've learned a thing or two and having a food replicate here helps too. I hope you like it."
Famished, she started eating, quickly while he sat and stared at her, simply watching her eating. Eating so quickly, she noticed he was staring at her and immediately she apologized.
"I can assure you, I'm not like this: in fact I'm on a diet right now." – He laughed at her statement like he hadn't in a long time: suddenly he felt that place was as cold as he thought it was. She gave the warm he needed for the place, the noise to break the silence, to keep him company to break the solitude he felt for so much time.
Eventually she finished her meal and leaned back. –"Is this where you have been living for the last couple of years?"
"I only come here unless I have no other option: it lacks human contact." – She took the opportunity, got up and came close to him by sitting on his lap.
"Not anymore…" – They shared a long and passionate kiss: then they looked into each others eyes, caressing, the dialogs of the silence where words weren't required to tell how they felt about each other.
"So what about a tour around your castle, oh great knight-errant?" - Her tease provoked him and he started tickling her until she gave in.
"You really love to pick up a fight don't you?"- Their foreheads touched and she confessed almost whispering.
"Only the ones I win." – Convinced by her, both got up and he grabbed, holding her in his arms.
"Just a quick stop to grab an anorak for you. Not all the Fortress has the same temperature." – He stated as they flew away. Eventually she dressed the anorak and both continued the trip. They went to the Fortress' rooftop seeing the Sun in state of "eternal" sunset, watching the several rooms containing several items including the enormous statue of his biological parents, Jor-El and Lara, holding the planet Krypton.
Finally, after the long tour they landed in front of his bedroom. Quickly she entered and admired it.
"So this is the place where you spend your lonely nights…"
"Hardly…I never used the bed." – He stated as he entered the room.
"So I guess it's time for us to use it." – Slowly she took off the anorak and then the sweat-shirt leaving only her bra covering her chest. Seductively she approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck: she stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. – "I want you now."
He didn't even hesitate and immediately they kissed passionately as the cape was thrown away, words whispering…
"…I need you so much…"
"…I love you…"
"…make me reach the sky…"
"…we are one…"
…Tenders, dialogs of two lovers who didn't speak for a long time.
"The Bizarro subject has appeared erratically in some points across the country." – Mercy handled him the latest report as they were walking across the corridor.
"Make that top priority: I want him found and neutralized." – His mind was on something else more important.
"What about Metallo?" – Mercy inquired, believing somehow Lex had forgotten about it.
Lex looked at her when they stopped as he was about to enter into a room. – "I can handle with a tin can not with a super-powered freak with an ape mentality and with me as a target. Besides I have General Lane on it."
He entered the room and closed the door, leaving Mercy alone. With him, there were three men: two inquisitors and one being questioned.
The one being questioned was restrained in his hands and legs: he had already suffered some torture but it was still in its beginning.
He approached the questioned man. – "Senator Ross, How do you feel today?"
Less than pleased, Pete looked at him. – "What's the meaning of this, Mr. President?"
He didn't reply Pete's question and instead, he grabbed a file from other desk and opened it right in front of Pete. – "These were taken days ago in Dillingham, Alaska." – What Pete saw were photos of him and Clark together when he told Clark about the Superman protocols which left him even more unease with Luthor.
"What I really want to know Senator, is where Clark Kent is hidden."
"You don't have the right to hold me here: The Constitution…" – Pete tried to avoid Lex's question Lex didn't let him finish the sentence: Lex punched and grabbed him by his throat pushing him against the wall.
"Inside these walls there's no Constitution!" – Lex shouted in anger, knowing Pete was trying to play games with him. – "You're helping a man who's charged of treason by helping an alien who is a menace to this country and to the Human race."
Valiantly, Pete looked at Lex, defying him, maintaining his silence. Lex's hand left Pete's throat and stepped back. – "Very well…" – He turned around and headed to one of the agents. – "Break him, do whatever it takes." – He walked out of the room and headed to his office where Mercy was expecting him.
"I have some good news." – Mercy declared as Lex entered the office.
"You found Bizarro." – He had high hopes it would be the good news but what she said was a lot better.
"Something better."- She replied knowing Lex would react better to the sudden developments. – "We found Superman's lair, right in the North Pole as you suspected. We tracked him going there carrying someone: due to his slow speed, we managed to track."
The information was better than anything he had discovered: by finding his enemy's home, he could bring the war to his doorsteps.
"Since then, we've maintained constant surveillance: he's there right now."
"Good." – He looked carefully at the photos admiring the vast structure which was almost untraceable, confusing itself with the ice.
He smiled; thrilled with the news but once he was absolutely aware of the situation, the smiled faded.
"I want it plane like a parking lot: nuke it."
To be continued…