Flying with the Enemy
Dinner was somewhat pleasant, Charm decided. Lex smiled, Lois made witty comments about Clark, and Clark told a few corny jokes. Clark. He was Superman. There was no doubt about it. He even had his Superman suit under the suit he was wearing. He was talking with his life-long enemy like they were the best of friends. She wondered if Luthor even knew about Clark. She was answered by the sound of a cell phone ringing. "One moment," Luthor said, standing and stepping into the kitchen. He leaned out the door after a second and said, "Chloe, it's for you." Charm stood and walked into the kitchen. Luthor whispered to her, "Go outside and cause a scene. Wear your suit, the one with his symbol. Then, when he tries to stop you, fly into the clouds and give him your life story. The truth. Make it a heart-wrencher." "Yes, Sir," Charm said. "Pretend to be like him and he'll believe you. Plant yourself in their little league and then unravel it." Charm nodded and ran to her room. Luthor walked back into the dining hall and said, "One of Chloe's friends. They'll probably be talking to each other for the rest of the night. You know, girls." "Clark sure as heck doesn't," Lois said dryly. "Hey," Clark responded. Lois shot him a smirk. Suddenly, the building shook. "Gosh," Clark said, "What do you think caused that, Lois? Lois?" She was already at the window, looking at the street below her. "I think that caused it," she said, pointing at a young girl with short black hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white Project Cadmus style suit with a blue Superman symbol. She flew low, destroying everything in sight. "Excuse us, Mr. Luthor," Clark said, following Lois to the elevator, "But we have to go." "If you must, you must," Luthor said, "I hope to see you again, Clark." "I'm sure you will, Lex," Clark said smiling. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Superman began to take off his top suit. "Does it get hot in that thing?" Lois said. "Like you wouldn't believe," he answered. The doors slid open and he flew out, creating a breeze that blew Lois's hair. "Faster than a speeding bullet," She remarked. She ran out of the elevator and into the street. She was expecting a big fight scene, but what she saw was some random damage and an obvious lack of super-powered fighting. Lois looked up to see if they'd flown higher, but she couldn't see through the giant wall of cloud blocking her view. She sighed and phoned the chief, telling him to send a camera guy A.S.A.P. She looked up again in vain and whispered, "Dang it, Clark."
As soon as Superman arrived on-scene, Charm flew straight up until she was high above the clouds. A few seconds later, Superman was floating about six feet away from her. "Who are you?" he said, falling for the scared look on her face, "I don't want to fight you, just tell me your name." "My name is Charm," she said cautiously, "At least, that's what he calls me, his lucky Charm." "That's what who calls you?" "Mr. Luthor. He said that I am his greatest success, his greatest weapon against, against you." Superman continued to stare at her, so she started talking again, "I'm a clone, of you, but 'with tweaking' to put it his way. I'm the first of my siblings to be a success, to obey without asking, to blindly jump into danger when told to, to destroy anything or anyone unwanted; but I don't want to. It doesn't feel right, the things he wants me to do. Earlier today, he wanted me to attack Mercy like an enemy and destroy her, but I hesitated, and received a thorough beating for that from Mercy. But I didn't want to hurt her, I don't want to hurt people, but he keeps telling me that was all that I was made for." Charm looked at Superman straight in the eyes, shaking with fear and uncertainty she said, "Is that true? Is all that I am a weapon and nothing more?" She looked down at the clouds swirling just below her feet. Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Superman smiling down at her."Why don't I take you to see someone who can answer that question from personal experience?" Charm nodded curiously. Superman held out his free hand. Charm stared at it for a moment before placing her hand in his. She smiled up at him and then, they were off.