CHAPTER EIGHT: STEEL THY HEART
A/N: Sorry I took so long to update. My muse had left for awhile, but at least for this chapter, I am back! Just to let you know: I chose Mary Stuart Masterson ("Some Kind of Wonderful"; "Fried Green Tomatoes") as the blueprint for the role of Lucy Lane because I can!
This chapter is more about the romantic aspects of the story, but fear not: action will hopefully show up soon! Please read and review.
In his palatial office, the multi-billionaire Lex Luthor sat in his black leather chair. He thought about his competitors: people who made more money than he. It was a long standing war between Sri Lanke and his wife, Camera of India and Lao Tsang Tse, the industrialist from China. Luthor pictured them roasting on his own personal spit as he collected their wealth and moved from the third richest man on the globe to numero uno.
A buzzer was heard at the door. "Come in," Luthor said gruffly. One of his aides arrived, his hands sweating; his face a mask of death. But then, Charles Lyndon was always sweating, and he always looked like he expected his employer to kill him on the spot.
Good, Lex thought, fear is always healthy.
"What is it, Lyndon?" Luthor asked, not really giving the insignificant scientist any consideration.
Lyndon ran his hand through his blond curls before replying. He took a deep breath and responded, "Mr. Luthor, the tests on the Phaze Project have arrived, and they are disturbing, to say the least."
Luthor gave Lyndon a tired look and said, "And, what do they reveal?"
Lyndon swallowed. "In all of the subjects tested, there was a strong indication of addiction to the drug if used over a prolonged period of time," he reported. Luthor looked bored, but fixed him with a cold stare.
"And?" he prompted.
"Not only that, but if the participant is exposed to the substance over the long haul, the subject takes on the characteristic of the object he or she phazed through permanently. In short, if a subject passed through a brick wall enough times, he or she will become a human brick wall, as it were. If they phazed through multiple things, they will take on the characteristics of those objects, and they may not be able to control their power," Lyndon said, his voice growing louder with his alarm.
Luthor stroked the bust of himself on the side of his desk. "Well, then, you and the scientists must make sure there are no glitches when this is unveiled at the party in a few days," the multi billionaire said coldly.
Lyndon was aghast. "A f-few days?! But we couldn't possibly..." he stammered, adding, "there isn't enough time. Tests have to be run; evidence has to be collected. That could take weeks, maybe months of additional study."
"I'm sure you can find a cure for all of these...maladies given the proper encouragement," Luthor said, "say...two million dollars? And, a hundred thousand dollars for each day you save in coming up with the solutions that much sooner?"
Lyndon considered his options. There could be a lawsuit if the soldiers tested pressed the issue. On the other hand, though, even if they developed strange abilities, maybe Luthor would make a deal with them to be in charge of this unique happenstance. And, the scientist thought, there was always the money to continue his research and possibly find a cure for those who would suffer. With that kind of financing, which was a mere drop in a very huge bucket for Mr. Luthor, the scientist could live comfortably and see that his family was well taken care of. Without it, he could just kiss his whole life goodbye.
There was also the fact that he had yet to tell Luthor about the theft of the batch at Star Labs that had gone missing a few days ago. They would also suffer the consequences associated with addiction or permanent absorption. But then, such problems could be explained away so that no blame would fall on him.
The chief scientist's eyes strayed to where Luthor's personal bodyguard, Mercy Graves, was hanging in the background. She gave him a look that told him that if he didn't do things Luthor's way, she could always arrange it so that Lyndon would never be alive to do anything else.
"I'll handle this, Mr. Luthor," Lyndon said confidently, ignoring the mental image of being shoved into Metropolis Lake with cement shoes provided by Mercy.
"Good man," Luthor praised. "I like to see initiative."
He rose from his desk and saw Mercy holding the door open for Lyndon as the bald headed multi-billionaire went over to look out the window at Metropolis.
When Lyndon had gone out into the hall, Mercy hovered in the background, secure in her knowledge that Luthor had additional instructions for her.
Not bothering to turn from the window, Luthor said coldly, "Make certain that Mr. Lyndon doesn't make any mistakes or reveal any…developments. I would hate for him to have an attack of conscience all of a sudden."
Mercy said, "Sure thing, boss."
She left the office, walking behind Lyndon as he walked to his car to go home.
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Clark knocked on the door to Perry White's office at the Daily Planet. Perry was munching on an apple and drinking some purified water. He looked over the day's headlines and grimaced as he sipped on some more of his beverage.
"Come in!" the Editor-in-Chief barked. Clark came in, slouching as usual, his meekness firmly in place.
"Jimmy said you wanted to see me?" Clark asked timidly.
Perry threw out the empty water bottle with disgust. "You know, Kent, why I have a problem with drinking water?" he asked Clark.
"N-no, Chief," the black haired reported responded.
"Because it's so...wet!" Perry finished.
"But, it's healthy," Clark said meekly. Perry stared at his senior male reporter, his steely eyes measuring Kent up and down. He had never noticed it before, given the big shirts Clark wore and the way he slouched, but the older man's wife, Alice, had been right. Clark seemed to have some muscles—which was saying something, since Clark ate more junk food than anyone Perry knew.
Alice had noticed Clark's physique the one time he had dined at their home. Guess Perry owed his wife for her observation big time, the Senior Editor realized. He was a little ticked that Kent seemed to be able to eat the foods the Editor-in-Chief craved but couldn't have because of blood pressure issues and other things. Perry decided to tell Clark the reason for his summons.
"Kent, do you have any plans Thursday evening?" he asked. Before Clark could respond, Perry went on. "Do you also have a date?" he queried.
"Wh-what?" Clark stammered. "I...no, I don't really date." Perry wasn't surprised by that revelation. It was a wonder Kent had gotten as far as he had in his career as a reporter.
"Well, find one," Perry ordered, adding, "hell, Kent, inflate one if you have to!" His thoughts flew to Clark's partner and sometime rival in the world of journalism.
" When's Lois due back, anyway?" The Editor-in-Chief wondered aloud.
"Chief!" Clark shouted, looking affronted that Perry should suggest his now-married partner should go to whatever the event was with him.
Both men waited for a beat to subside before Clark asked, "What's this all about?"
Perry tossed a white envelope to him. The ace reporter opened it and read the contents. He lowered the envelope and said, "Luthor's hosting a party and you want the exclusive, and this is my ticket in?"
When his employer nodded, Clark inwardly groaned. He really wasn't up to going to a party, especially one his enemy was hosting. Of course, Perry wouldn't understand that. A story was a story, after all. The other problem was, Lois wasn't due back for at least another week and a half from her honeymoon with Richard. How would Clark get a date?
He considered for a moment, then smiled shyly as he thought about a raven haired temptress who just might help him.
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Lucy Lane finished her pushups for the day and was getting ready to do some aerobic twists and turns to some rock music when her land line phone rang.
"Yeah?" she asked breathlessly. Lucy was surprised to hear Jimmy Olson's voice on the other end of the line.
"Jim! What's up?" she greeted, reaching for a nearby towel to wipe off the sweat running down her face.
"I was wondering if you were going anywhere on Thursday?" Jimmy's tenor asked over the line.
"Thursday's the sixteenth, right?" Lucy inquired. When she heard Jimmy's affirmative reply, the blonde's eyes strayed to her calendar.
"No I don't have anything planned," she told Jimmy. "Is this a top hat and tails party or can I come as I am?" She heard Jimmy's response and nodded.
"I'm sure I can rent a dress," Lucy assured the photographer. "I'll think of something. What time will you pick me up?" She heard him say "seven" and promised that she would be ready. When Jimmy said "bye", Lucy hung up with a sly smile on her oval face.
The younger Lane sister had dated Jimmy before, and they'd had an on again, off again relationship for years. When Jim Thorpe showed Lucy true, and mature, love, she had jumped at the chance for it. Jimmy took her marriage to James just as he took everything about their relationship: with a grain of salt. It hadn't bothered Jimmy because he wasn't really in love with Lucy. They were close friends, but that was as far as things had progressed. So it was that whenever Jimmy didn't have a date and vice versa, Lucy was a convenient substitute.
For her part, Lucy wasn't angry. She felt the same way about Jimmy, and she also knew that everyone who was anyone would attend Lex Luthor's shindig. She was prepared to take things as they came, and if a single, gorgeous man who might be there happened to be lonely and wanted to dance, she was more than ready to let that happen.
She rifled through her closet and threw several dresses on her bed before finding the right one.
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Selina threw on her satin bathrobe with the same colors as her usual costume when her doorbell rang. She tugged on some lavender slippers, clearly not pleased that her time in her Jacuzzi had been disturbed.
"Who is it?" she asked upon reaching her door.
"Clark," came the muffled reply.
"Who?" she repeated.
"Clark!" the ace reporter said, his voice louder and clearer. The Catwoman opened her door to the meek and mild mannered man.
"Mr. Kent, you must be a glutton for punishment," she teased.
Clark came inside before Selina could decline. He noticed her attire and forced himself not to look at the tempting figure beneath the robe with his x-ray vision.
"I realize this is short notice, but in exchange for my helping you locate your doppelganger, I was hoping you'd do something for me," the journalist suggested.
"Well…" Selina said thoughtfully, wondering why Kent had come to see her.
In the end, curiosity won out as she asked, "What is it you want me to do?"
Clark held up his invitation to Luthor's party. "Be my date," he responded.
"Your date?" Selina repeated, totally incredulous. Her cats, who were aware of their mistress' feelings, meowed with panache.
"See, here's the thing…" Clark began his sales pitch, "the woman who stole the gem was using a chemical which enabled her to reach through the glass to take said item."
"And…Lex Luthor is unveiling the substance tonight, so the thief will most likely be there?" Selina guessed.
"Yes," Clark said. "I thought we could find out more about her, that is, if you don't have any other plans."
Selina considered the man standing in front of her. He didn't look too bad, so she wouldn't be a laughingstock hanging on Clark's arm. And, if what the reporter said was true, she could find out who her double was, and why she went through so much trouble to frame her. Besides, Selina realized, she missed the glitter and the glamour that being Bruce's girlfriend had provided. It was time she went among the rich and famous, if only to see who she might steal from later that evening.
Clark guessed what she was thinking, and said, "Don't even think about compiling a list of people to steal from. I'm way ahead of you. I've already told Superman all about it, and he'll be close by."
Selina had to give the man brownie points for being two steps ahead of her. Best behavior? She thought. I can do that, at least until I find out how to outwit Superman.
She studied the invitation once more. "Thursday night, hmm?" Selina queried. "What a perfectly lovely time to go to a party."
Clark told her, "I'll pick you up at eight." He walked to the door, saying as he left, "Behave."
After Selina closed the door, she thought about the shy man she was going to be with, and the equally bold superhero who would be watching.
"Life doesn't get much better than that," she told her cats. "Two gorgeous men for the price of one!"
Her mind raced with excitement as she sank down in her tub once more. When she dozed off, she imagined a strong set of arms circling her, and a pair of deep, royal blue eyes caressing every part of her body. Her heart beat wildly as she pictured him lowering his mouth to hers and capturing her lips with a kiss that was passionate and possessive.
"I want you, Selina," the man whispered fervently. He kissed her once more, cementing his attraction to her.
His cape fluttered in the wind. As she beheld its dark hue, Selina's eyes snapped open suddenly when she realized that the man she had been just dreaming about was neither the Man of Steel nor a shy reporter with a superhero outfit, but a billionaire in his bat costume who had broken her heart recently.
"Bruce…" she said softly as she sank down into her bath.
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On Alton Seven, wrapped in the arms of the Princess Diana after the night's activities, Batman pictured the Catwoman stroking him and whispering words of love and devotion.
Selina…he thought as he settled into a troubled sleep.