The sun was now a distant memory as night had fallen on downtown Metropolis; from Chloe's vantage point the city lights were mesmerizing and she kicked her feet up on her new desk triumphantly, cradling the her cell phone to her ear as she watched them twinkle. "Yeah dad, that was me on TV today. No, I know they called me Lois Lane, that wasn't a mistake." Chloe sighed and rubbed her eyes, exhausted from the long day and from trying to explain it all to her dad who had called her, confused. "It's a long story, one best told in person. I'll drop by your apartment later and we can talk."
"Ok honey, later tonight then."
"Bye, dad." Chloe hung up her phone, stood up and began to gather her things, more than ready to call it a night. Clark had zipped off home minutes before leaving her alone in the empty newsroom, her only company being the night janitor who was busy mopping.
"Goodnight Miss." The man said, looking up from his bucket and smiling as she walked carefully over the wet floor past him.
"Goodnight."
Walking past row after row of desks she noticed there were mounted flat-screen televisions on the walls, all switched off except for one at the head of the room, its flickering images playing in silence. "Wow, Tiffany lamps and plasmas. I think I could get used to this." The commercial onscreen ended, switching over to a woman news anchor. The graphic in the corner of the screen reading Lex Luthor press conference caught her eye and Chloe scrambled to find a way to turn up the volume, hitting several buttons before it came on full blast.
"And this afternoon, in response to the article about Level 33.1, the Luthor camp staged a press conference at their offices in downtown Metropolis. Coincidentally it took place minutes after the Daily Planet's press conference announcing their decision to hire the reporter who broke the story, Lois Lane, away from their rival paper The Inquisitor."
The program cut to footage of a slick-looking man, his face pinched into a snarl and framed by a mass of microphones. Directly to the right of him Lex was standing, dressed in a smart black suit and staring ahead, his eyes cold and emotionless. Directly next to Lex, submerged in his entourage and only half visible, was a woman with long, dark hair and a petite frame that she recognized instantly. Chloe frowned; disappointed that Lana would chose to support Lex and his nefarious deeds, although not completely surprised. "We have no comment on that at this time." The man yelled above the frantic voices of reporters shouting questions. He raised his hands in front of him and shook his head in response to something inaudible. "We fully intend to prove that Mr. Luthor is completely innocent of these charges." Cameras clicked away and the man's eyes flashed suddenly. "No, Mr. Luthor does not have any comments regarding Lois Lane or The Daily Planet."
Quickly they cut back to the anchor. "Channel 5 Metropolis contacted Luthor Corp for comment on this story and they did not meet the deadline for reply, but we are committed to bringing you up to the minute news on this developing story as soon as they happen."
Chloe switched off the television and turned on her heel towards the exit, stepping into an open elevator and pressing the button for the ground floor. Leaning up against the wall the words "We fully intend to prove that Mr. Luthor is completely innocent of these charges" played over in her head, sickening her at the thought that Lex could go free for his heinous crimes.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." She scoffed as the door opened and she walked out into the deserted lobby, past the night guards playing cards at the reception desk, and out through the main entrance. The streets were unusually quiet for a weeknight, leaving Chloe virtually alone as she walked towards the parking garage to retrieve her car. She usually had one of the night guards walk with her when she worked late or when Clark wasn't available, but this time opted to go it alone and instantly regretted the decision when she felt an eerie sense of being followed.
Stepping up her pace and glancing over her shoulder, she saw no one around but a pan handler loitering on the opposite corner and one of the local crazies the Daily Planet employees had nick named "Loony Larry" slumped up against a storefront across the street, sleeping. As she climbed the two levels to where her car was parked and fished in her purse for the key she heard the crunch of wheels against pavement behind her, followed by the unmistakable sound of a car window rolling down. Looking up from her purse she saw the long, lean silhouette of a black vehicle reflected in her driver's side window. Squinting a bit she made out the distinctive license plate.
LEX III
The back window, deeply tinted black, was open just enough to make an impression that someone was lurking behind it, out of sight. Curiosity getting the best of her she turned around and walked a few steps forward towards the car, waiting.
"E tu Chloe?" A menacing voice drawled.
"What do you want Lex?"
"I want answers. I want to know why I woke up this morning to find myself being vilified in The Inquisitor."
"Well, maybe being a villain has something to do with it."
"... by your muffin peddling cousin." Lex finished, ignoring Chloe's comment. "At first I thought it was some kind of misguided attempt to disguise who was launching all of these ridiculous accusations at me, as if I wouldn't be able to figure out who really wrote the story, Chloe."
"My cousin's involvement in this was unintended to say the least." Chloe snapped. "I don't play games and I don't need a patsy. I have no qualms calling you out on your illegal and immoral deeds all by myself. And the accusations aren't ridiculous. They're the truth."
"The truth, such a noble idea, yet so naive you are to think that in this world it's enough."
"I'm not afraid of you Lex." Chloe protested, her skin prickling at his callous laugh, trembling with anger at his misguided attempt to intimidate her with a late night, clandestine meeting.
"I wouldn't want you to be afraid of me." Lex continued after a long pause. "I have no intention of harming you. There are better ways to settle the score than messy violence."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I will do whatever it takes to exonerate myself. To prove that Lois Lane is nothing but a hack from a tabloid."
Chloe's fingernails cut into her flesh as she crossed her arms defensively "Well you can strong-arm and buy off everyone you can, but I too will do whatever it takes. Whatever it takes to make sure that your days of hurting innocent people are over."
"Well, I see we are both in agreement then." He replied, his voice slightly seductive. "I look forward to doing battle with you Miss Lane." The window began to roll up and the engine revved as the car moved forward, driving out of the garage and disappearing around the corner.
"As do I." Chloe retorted and hopped into her car, taking a few deep breaths to quell her raging emotions. After her nerves settled she backed up and sped out of the garage, turning down the street in the direction of her dad's apartment. As she stopped at a red light she glanced over to see a news paper box planted on the sidewalk directly across from her, The Inquisitor stamped across the top in big, bold type. Putting her car into park she unhooked her seatbelt and leaped out of the car, running over to it. Realizing she had never even had the chance to read her entire story in print she popped in the fifty cents and pulled out the last remaining copy, an immense rush of accomplishment pulsing through her body.
"Old editions of The Daily Planet..." Chloe heard herself days before, remembering her brilliant idea at finding piles of old, discarded editions. "I was thinking I may get some of the really good ones framed or something." That day she never would have considered framing a copy of The Inquisitor, but now as she read her words, she knew there was nothing else in the world she would want to do.
Finally she had realized that today wasn't really some strange dream, that she would wake up Chloe Sullivan, struggling Daily Planet intern stuck in the basement. She was entering a new chapter in her life, a chapter that was as blank as a fresh piece of paper, ready to be written with the story of her new life as star reporter, Lois Lane.
This is the final chapter--well technically--there is an epilogue chapter coming up )