Chapter 19: A Change in Strategy

"What the hell were you two thinking? Do either of you realize how stupid your actions were?" Clark had never seen Lois this angry before, but under the circumstances, it was understandable.

Lucy and Jimmy looked at each other blankly. They were starting to understand how stupid it was, especially when they were nearly killed by a strange android. Neither anticipated such a turn of events, even though they should have. Only now, after everything that had happened, did they see how foolish their actions were.

"We just wanted to help." Lucy replied, but her words even sounded hollow to herself.

"By getting yourselves killed? Lucy, do you realize what I would go through from Dad if he learned that I let you get killed on my watch?" Lois snapped. "Do you realize that Dad didn't want you here in Metropolis in the first place? It took a lot of arm twisting to convince him that I would keep you safe."

That, Lucy did not know. Their father was hard-nosed and over protective, yes, but she did not know he tried to prevent her from coming to Metropolis. She should have known that he would have tried; sometimes, he could go well beyond over-protection into the realm of being controlling.

Clark stood there and watched as Lois scolded the two teenagers. A few times, he thought he was going to have to intervene because she was going to get too rough on them, but Lois always managed to stay behind that line, despite how angry she was. She showed remarkable restraint in disciplining her younger sister; a characteristic that was usually lacking during her fits of rage.

Lois phone on her desk rang, but she was too busy to take the time to answer it. "Clark, will you get that for me?"

Clark nodded as he walked up to her desk and answered the call. "Daily Planet, Lois Lane's desk."

"Mr. Kent?" Dan Turpin's voice came over the receiver. "Can I speak with Miss Lane?"

Clark glanced over at Lois who continued to chew out the two teens. "She is currently disposed at the moment. I'd be glad to pass on a message for you when she becomes available."

"I don't see why not. Tell her that I've managed to find the time to complete a background check on Miss Lana Lang, the new CEO of Lexcorp. Everything checks out. She seems to be an honest businesswoman."

His first reaction was shock, which quickly turned to anger. Behind his back, Lois had Lieutenant Inspector Dan Tuprin of the MSCU do a background check on Lana? The more he thought about it, the more it ate at him. She had done nothing to warrant such suspicion from Lois. He was willing to testify of her legitimacy, but Lois was more interested in tearing down another Luthorcorp CEO, so she could have another award-winning story. "I'll see that she gets the message."

Lois looked in his direction when he hung up on the phone, and the look on his face told her that it had been a mistake to have him answer the phone. "We'll talk about this later. Off with you two."

Jimmy and Lucy walked off like scolded dogs with their tails between their legs, leaving the two of them alone. "For a mild-mannered reporter, like you, to be angry, I know this can't be good."

"You know the history between Lana and me. Why did you have to have Dan Turpin do a criminal check on her?"

"Oh, that…" She had almost forgotten about that; had she remembered, she would not have risked having Clark answer the phone. She had to assume that the news came back clean; if it hadn't Clark would not be this upset about it. She had wished that something was found, so this awkward moment could have been avoided. "It's a funny story, I—"

"You were upset about her taking the position of CEO of Lexcorp, which you'd fought hard to expose and shut down. I get it. What I find suspicious is how you seemed to try to hide it from me."

"I had good reason, Clark. I had a nice little chat with her recently, and she may be falling into Lex's footsteps."

"I think I know her well enough to know better," Clark replied. "And I really don't think that's the issue at hand."

"If you're saying I'm jealous then—" Lois said, her temper already flaring up.

"What I'm saying is that she and I are just trying to figure out where we stand right now. You can rest assure that she's nowhere near as corrupted as Lex was. And even if we did decide to get back together, isn't that my business? Can you give me a good reason why I shouldn't be seriously thinking about it?"

Lois could not bring herself to answer him. Clark was showing strength that he had never shown before. Few men have ever stood their grown with her, let alone challenge her in the way he had done. That was why she never considered dating many of the men. Up to this point, Superman was the first man that she had ever consider seeing herself with; he was the first to be man enough to actually make her feel like a woman. Now, Clark Kent was providing some competition. There was more to this bumbling farm boy from Smallville.

Yet, her pride would not allow her to admit defeat. She hated to be made to feel guilty over anything, even if she was at fault. "No, what you want to do in your personal time is none of my concern."

Clark shook his head in disappointment. She still was not going to admit the truth. He had no idea if she was able to admit it to herself or not, but he could not force the matter any further. "I thought so. Then do me a favor, and lay of Lana, won't you."

"I'll lay off her, but if she continues to prove to be a threat to Superman, I will have to do something," If he was going to try make her admit to being Jealous, then she was going to reverse the tables on him. Clark had always been jealous of Superman.

"Wait… what? What are you talking about?"

"Lana Lang and my father are teaming up on a weapon to saturate this planet with Kryptonite dust. Your 'girlfriend' just sold all of Lex Luthor's Kryptonite Stockpiles to the U.S. government."

Clark was stunned, unable to accept what he had just heard. Yes, he had no idea what Lana thought about Superman, but he could not imagine her being willing to do something that would hurt anyone; it was out of characteristic for her. However, she had been working for her entire professional career. It was more than possible that Lex had intentionally hired her to get to him. "No, there's got to be a problem with your source."

This was not quite the reaction she had expected. All she was trying to do was get him a little jealous, but he was taking it more like a personal assault. She did not mean to hurt him in any way. She could not help but feel that she had probably gone too far this time. "Clark, I didn't mean …"

"It's fine Lois," he replied emotionlessly. "I'll find out the truth when I talk to her tonight."

This planet was bigger and more populated than Zod had realized; this planet was overabundant in life. The humans seem to have put every inch of surface to some sort of use. His first judgment about them seemed to be incorrect. The humans were intelligent, and capable of doing great things.

He was now flying over another major city like Metropolis, and it testified of the ingenuity of the human race. Their taste for art were pretty impressive as well, as apparent by the giant green statue on a small island surrounded by the liquid surface. It appeared that the people of this planet worshiped this female who held some kind of torch. She was the least warrior-like figure he had ever seen. It was no wonder why these people were so weak.

They needed a new leader to worship; one that would make this planet strong. Stuck in their own limitations, they needed someone who was exceptional to take charge and lead. How could the Kal-El not see the needs of these people? For someone who appeared to care for them, he appeared more willing to leave them to perish in their pathetic state. He should have introduced this planet to Krypton's way of doing things, but he was too selfish.

If Superman was not going to do it, that Zod was more than willing to do it himself. He would be glad to rule this planet and raise up an army to stand up and fight against Darkseid. This planet could easily be turned into a new Krypton, one even stronger than the last. Once again, General Zod would rise up to lead the fight against the armies of Apokolips.

His quest for vengeance had blinded him to the possibilities that this world had to offer him. Perhaps it was time to let it go, and begin rebuilding this planet to Krypton's image. Instead of killing the son of Jor-El, perhaps he could make him see reason and join him in his quest to rid the galaxy of Darkseid once and for all.

As he flew through the buildings, he took noticed of a teenager dressed very oddly, who seemed to enjoy mutilating his body with strange symbols and metal jewelry. He was standing in front one of these spectacular buildings, defiling it with gibberish words with a can which sprayed out red ink.

Curiosity got the better of him and he descended to confront this troubled youngster. When the boy saw him landing in the alleyway with him, he dropped the can. He had heard of Superman, but he knew enough to know that this was not him. This man was not donning the red and blue costume. There was no telling what he would do.

"Tell me, do you not fear the consequences of your actions? Do you not fear what Earth military will do to you?"

"I—I don't kn—know what you're t—talking about, dude!"

Zod grabbed the kid by the collar of his shirt to make sure the boy did not try to run before answering his questions.

"Do you not fear what Earth's military will do to you for defiling this building?"

"The Police? E—Earth doesn't have a military."

The concept of police was very strange to Zod, but even stranger to him was the discovery that Earth did not have a military. "Tell me, what type of government does this planet have?"

"M—M—Many different kinds! Every country is d—different." The boy replied nervously.

"So this planet is not unified?" It sure explained why this planet was in such a sad state. "What country am I now in?"

"Th—the United States."

"Is the United States run by the military?"

The more questions this man asked, the less afraid the boy became. It was becoming aware that he was more interested in learning about Earth rather than hurting him. "W—Well, we have a military, but the politicians basically runs things."

Politicians, just the word made him sick to the stomach. Politicians brought about the end of Krypton. Politicians tricked him into killing his family; he hated them with a passion.

His mission was now clear. He was going to have to from country to country and terrorize them into submission. He will get to exercise his power while, at the same time, will show the countries that they had no choice but to unite under him. His final stop will be here in the United States where he will give Kal-El the option to join him or get out of his way. Darkseid was coming, and if this planet did not unite under him in a military ruled government, then it would meet the same fate as Krypton.