Forces Aligned

Part Two

Elise Wood-Remington was awakened to the sound of her cell phone ringing. She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was nearly five in the morning. She picked up the phone and turned it on. "This had better be good."

"Simmons got away."

Elise sat up in bed, wide awake. "What? You told me you were gonna have him killed."

"That's what my men tried to do but they were caught. They were chasing Simmons and some agent. Wonder Woman--"

Elise groaned. "That bitch caught them?" She tossed off the covers and got out of bed pacing. "Damn! She's the last person I wanted to know about this. "

"Yeah," the voice on the other end said. "The good thing is the government can't connect this to you, but my organization will take some heat."

"It's still not good for me!" Elise spat. "If Simmons blabbed to Wonder Woman, she will contact Superman."

The voice on the other line remained calm. "Superman will think someone wants him dead. He doesn't know you or that you want to capture him. This will work to your advantage."

Elise regarded him. He had more experience in this matter than she. Plus, she was paying him a hefty amount of money. "Fine. Go ahead with the plan, but you better be quick about it. I don't have much time."

Elise turned off her cell phone. She turned on her bedroom lights and checked herself in her full length mirror. If she was going to see Alex, she would need to look presentable. Elise brushed her long, blonde hair and put on some light makeup. She covered her short negligee with a matching short wrap. At the young age of twenty-six, Elise didn't need to do much to make herself look good anyway.

She left her room and entered the room two doors down from hers. Elise opened the double doors. Inside the room, rest Alexander Remington on a respirator. He was an old man, much too old for Elise but she knew that soon it wouldn't matter. Elise sat at his bedside and brushed his silver hair from his forehead.

Alexander's eyes opened. His weak brown eyes smiled at her. Elise kissed his forehead. He was very weak now. The cancer was eating away at his body and there was nothing for Elise could do except wait for it to happen.

"Simmons wasn't killed, my love, but don't worry. It can't be traced to us." Alexander reached forward and raised a frail hand to caress Elise's face. Elise kissed his hand. "I want to go ahead with the surgery. It's the only way. Your body won't hold out for much longer."

Alexander nodded weakly and closed his eyes, sleeping once more. Elise looked him over. "Sleep, my love. When you awakened, you'll be a whole new man."

Clark Kent turned into the driveway of Alexander Remington's mansion. Word came out in the early morning Alexander Remington died. Perry White assigned Clark Kent to cover the story.

From what Clark read of Alexander Remington, he was a recluse and the owner of a multibillion dollar company, Remington, Inc., which specializes in science research and technology. With him gone, it was all going to his wife Elise Wood-Remington. Elise was considered femme fatale by members of Remington, Inc. board. She was an attractive blonde bombshell who could match wits with anyone but many saw her as money hungry. Why else would a beautiful twenty-six year old woman marry a dying seventy-five year old man?

The butler escorted Clark to the living room where Elise would meet him. Clark took the moment to look around the lavish room. How the other half lived he thought. The marble floors were polished. A large chandelier of diamonds hung above him. Expensive paintings hung on the walls. The furniture looked so expensive, Clark felt uncomfortable sitting on it.

"Mr. Kent?"

Clark stood as Elise entered the room. She was a beauty all right: tall, blond, with a model's body, dressed in expensive clothes and jewels. Clark knew not to let Elise' beauty fool him. Elise was very intelligent, cunning and not to be underestimated. "Mrs. Remington, thank you for meeting me. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband."

Elise nodded as her eyes mist with tears. "Thank you, Mr. Kent. Please, have a seat. I want to come to the Daily Planet to tell my side of the story. Many people have said terrible things about me in the press and the real reason I married my darling Alexander."

Clark pulled out his hand held recorder. "I won't keep you since you have a lot to do with the funeral arrangements."

"Thank you," Elise said, taking a seat in an expensive chair.

"Let's start with Remington, Inc. It is said that you are named executor of Alexander Remington's will. Since he doesn't have any known living relatives, the will states the company will be turned over to you. Is that true?"

"Yes, it is. I will carry on the Remington name and continue in my husband love of science and technology. For Remington, Inc, nothing is beyond our grasp. With science and technology, anything is possible."

Clark nodded. She spoke like an actress, anticipating his questions. "Yes. It has been reported Remington, Inc. has been responsible for successful transplants and cures to diseases that claim millions, but the company is also treading lightly with controversy, such as brain transplants."

Elise bit her lip and but quickly smiled. "That's a false rumor. We are nowhere near brain transplants. It's scientifically impossible."

"Is Remington, Inc. considering it?"

"If they are, I wouldn't know anything about that." Elise smiled but Clark knew she was lying.

Clark asked a few more questions about the company before turning the subject on Alexander Remington. "Your husband was a recluse and dying of cancer. Not much has been reported on his illness. Care to elaborate?"

"My husband didn't trust many doctors. The ones treating him said his cancer was inoperable. Alexander didn't want the press to get wind of it because he hated them. He considered reporters and paparazzi nosy bastards who need lives of their own." She smiled pleasantly at Clark, "Present company excluded of course."

"You have to admit it's ironic for a man whose company which specializes in groundbreaking cures and operations couldn't find a cure to his own illness. Unless he didn't want to find a cure."

Elise's smiled faded from her face. Clark knew he hit a nerve but Elise easily recovered. "No, it would not. Neither an operation or any drugs would've saved my dear Alexander."

The interviewed continue for another twenty minutes. At the end of the interview, Clark said. "I would like to pay my respects to Mr. Remington. Would it be all right if I see the body?"

"Of course."

Elise escorted Clark to the viewing room of the mansion. Clark walked over to Remington's open casket. The funeral home already embalmed and prepared the body. It was going to be a small service Elise had said.

As Clark viewed Alexander's body with his x-ray vision, he saw the cancer was in Alexander's stomach, liver and chest. He didn't have much long for the world. He also noticed something else. Alexander's brain was missing. Why was his brain removed?

Clark turned to Elise. He shook her hand. "Thank you for the interview and once more, I'm sorry for your loss."

Clark left the Remington mansion puzzled. Why was Alexander Remington's brain missing? There was more to this story than a simple death and he was going to find out what. Clark returned to the Daily Planet and typed his story. Perry approved of it and encouraged Clark to investigate when Clark told him there was more going on.

Clark was researching more on Remington, Inc. when his desk phone rang. He didn't bother to check the caller ID as he picked it up. "This is Clark Kent."

"Hello, Kal."

Clark nearly dropped his phone. He looked around the room casually and kept his voice low. "Diana?"

Diana's wonderful laughed filled his ears. "Yes, it's me. How are you?"

"I'm doing great." It's been four months since he helped Diana retriever Hera's scepter. It's also been four months since they saw each other. Clark had called Diana a few times to see how she was doing and wanted to meet, but Diana always turned Clark down, saying she was busy or she was working on a case.

"I'm sorry to call you out of the blue, but I need your help once more. It's work but it's also personal."

"Sure," Clark said, eager to help, eager to see Diana again. "What do you need?"

Diana's heart raced. The sound of his voice sent a delightful shiver down her spine. "It's best I tell you this in person. I'm at Metropolis Marriott. Could you come by this evening?"

"Of course. We could have dinner at Minerva which isn't far from your hotel," Clark offered.

"How about dinner in my hotel room? My treat?"

"Seven o'clock?"

"Seven o'clock it is. Bye, Kal." Diana turned off her phone. She sounded casual on the phone but her heart was racing and palms were sweaty. How did he have this affect on her she wondered? "Hera help me."

Anonymousfanffic: This is my first time posting this story on this site.

VFSNAKE: Thanks.