Chapter 14
Perry White sat at his desk going over headlines for the morning edition when he heard the shuffling of feet somewhere in the bullpen. He peeked around the door to his office and shook his head, realizing he had to be alone, because even the janitor had gone home early.
He heard it again and stood up to investigate what was making the noise.
He walked out into the bullpen and looked around cautiously.
"Hello", he called out.
No answer.
"You're getting paranoid in your old age, White", he muttered to himself and turned back to go into his office.
He gasped in fear and shock when he saw John Corben standing not two feet in front of him.
"John", he said placing his hand against his chest to steady his beating heart, "You scared me, son…"
Perry remembered the news headline from a couple of days ago. John Corben had been declared dead.
"Oh God, I'm seeing things", he mumbled.
"No", John looked up at him evilly, "You're not."
He knocked him out with a fist to the face and smiled over the limp body.
~*~
Perry shook his head as he awoke from what felt like a deep slumber. I tried to gain sense of his surroundings, but found he couldn't remember where he was. He looked around and sighed in relief when he realized he was still in the bullpen. Even though he was currently spread out on a table and tied to it.
He looked to the left and noticed John standing a few feet away sanitizing medical tools he'd laid out on an opposite desk.
"John", Perry called out, "What are you doing?"
"I need bait, Perry", John said, "I'm sorry it has to be you…"
"What?"
"I actually liked you, you know…"
"John", Perry tried again, "I'm not following…."
"You'll understand soon enough", John muttered.
"What happened to you, son", Perry asked softly.
"I came back to life", he said pointing to the rock in his chest, "And it's beautiful…"
He stood next to Perry and smiled. He leaned forward lifting the scalpel above the exposed skin the chest area.
"This won't hurt a bit", he smirked, "No… I'm sorry that's a lie… it's going to hurt like hell…"
He went to lower it and felt it getting hot in his hand. He looked up and saw Clark standing a few feet away from him.
"Let him go", he said.
John smiled and placed the scalpel on the table next to Perry's head.
"Well, if it isn't our hero coming to the rescue", he said smirking, "I was wondering when you'd decide to show up…"
"Show up??"
"I knew you'd come to save your boss", he asked, "It's in your blood..."
"So let him go", Clark said extending his hands, "I'm right here…"
John nodded.
"Alright", he lifted the scalpel and tore the rope that was tying Perry down, "You better go Perry, before I change my mind about killing you…"
Perry slid off the table and looked at Clark.
"Clark", he asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Get out of here, Perry", Clark said, "He's got Lois… I'll be fine…"
"Lois", Perry asked.
"5… 4… 3…", John started, "If I get to one I'm stabbing your heart out… 2…"
"Go Perry", Clark said, "Now…"
Perry nodded and walked toward the elevators. He stepped inside as soon as John muttered, "…1…"
He turned back to Clark.
"I guess I'll settle for killing you instead…."
Clark super sped at him and felt a blinding pain. He stopped watching everything come back in real time, just in a time to be punched in the face by John. He fell to the ground in agony, feeling the effects of kryptonite. That was when he saw the rock in John's chest.
"Wow", John lowered to his level, "Aren't you a weak one…"
Clark shook in pain and watched him with a glare.
"I'm not going to kill you", John said, "Not yet… I want Lois to suffer some…"
"No", Clark gasped.
"Yeah", John said, "You're never going to see her again, I can promise you that…"
"Let… her… go…"
"No, I think I'll keep her tied up for my viewing pleasure", John then ripped a piece of his blue t-shirt and dabbed Clark's split lip. He lifted the bloody cloth. "I think I'll scare her for a while…"
He turned to leave.
"I'll be seeing you, Clark…"
Clark watched him go and screamed, "NO!"
~*~
Lois lifted her head from her arms when she heard steps coming toward her. She watched John step in front of her to toss a piece of blue cloth in front of her. She looked up at him in confusion.
"It's part of a t-shirt", he said, "Recognize it?"
And she did.
"Clark", she whispered softly.
"It's my trophy", he said sneering, "For a job well done."
"No", she shook her head, "No…"
Clark wasn't dead. She'd feel it if he was. Wouldn't she? It's what happened when he'd died at the hands of Doomsday. She could never let go, because she could never feel he was truly gone.
"I'm sorry, Lois", John said sounding sincere.
"He's not dead", she said defiantly.
"What", he asked.
"I'd feel it", she said, "I'd know…"
"Suit yourself", he shrugged and turned to leave.
She watched him go and crouched down in front of the piece of cloth.
"No", she said, "He's not dead."
~*~
Clark stumbled into Watchtower a little while later. The effects of the kryptonite weren't fully gone yet.
Everyone looked up at him as he fell to his knees. Chloe and Dinah were at his side instantly. Oliver and Victor followed in suit and helped lift him to a couch.
"Clark", Oliver asked, "What happened?"
"Kryptonite", he said.
"How the hell did John Corben know to get a hold of kryptonite", Victor asked.
"He… didn't", Clark said slowly.
"So", Oliver asked.
"He has it in his chest", Clark said looking up at them, "Where his heart should be… I think it's what's keeping him alive…"
"Seriously?"
Clark nodded.
"I can't face him, guys", Clark said, "I can't get near him…"
"We can", Bruce nodded.
"He's smart", Clark said, "And strong… he's literally made of steel."
"What is he? A cyborg like me", Victor asked.
"Sort of", Clark nodded, "I think it's the same concept, except Professor Vale used meteor rock."
"Clark", Chloe said, "Did you find out where he's keeping Lois?"
Clark shook his head sadly.
"And Perry", Jimmy asked.
"He's okay", Clark said, "He got out."
Bruce looked at the group on the floor.
"I've got an idea", he said softly.
Everyone looked at him.
"It won't be easy", he said, "We're going to need police help."
"I'll call Detective Jones", Oliver said pulling out his cell phone.
~*~
"So what's this plan Bruce", Bart asked as everyone sat around a circular table.
"After what Clark said, it sounds like the only thing keeping him alive is this piece of rock", he said, "Clark obviously can't get anywhere near this guy without collapsing but that doesn't mean we can't…"
"I'm not hearing a plan here, Batboy", AC said.
"I'm getting there, Fish Stick."
AC glared at him and nodded.
"John Corben has become a petty thief hasn't he", Bruce asked.
"He robbed one jewelry store", Clark stated.
"And lost all his stolen merchandise", Bruce nodded, "He's going to need leverage to skip town."
"So you think he'll stage another heist?"
"I think he will if we make him think we're hot on his trail", Bruce said.
"How so?"
"This is where police influence come in", Bruce nodded to John Jones, "Is there anyway your department can send out a notification that he is alive and we are on his trail… scare him into wanting to leave…"
John Jones nodded.
"I'll alert the department's leak", he said, "Then what?"
"Then Wayne Enterprises will be donating tomorrow night his family jewels to the Metropolis Museum of Natural History", Bruce smiled, "If he wants to get out quick, he's going to have to upgrade… And we'll be waiting for him…"
"I have to stay away from the event…"
"The Daily Planet can't stay away though…"
They all turned to Jimmy.
"Me?!"
"We need eyes and ears on the floor in case he shows up inconspicuously", Oliver said.
"Fine", Jimmy groaned.
"Dinah", Bruce nodded, "I need you undercover as Bruce Wayne's date…"
"Why Dinah?"
"Because Lois isn't here", he winked, "And Chloe's practically married… besides I like Jimmy… I wouldn't steal what's his… Why Oliver, are you jealous?"
"Shut it, Wayne."
"Sure thing, Queen."
"So, tomorrow night", Clark nodded.
"Tomorrow night", Bruce nodded.
Everyone looked at each other nervously.
