CHAPTER TWO
LOIS opened the door of the Talon apartment as she said, "Chloe! You home? I come bearing gifts." The 'gift' was actually a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Smallville's famous Ma and Pa Pizza Shop that only used ingredients, meats and produce from Smallville's local businesses and farms, which included the Kent's. On a regular night it was busy and the wait was long, but it was always 100% worth it.
"Please tell me you didn't drive all the way down from Metropolis for pizza?" Chloe asked as she emerged from the washroom and made her way into the kitchen.
"And to visit my favorite cousin," Lois said as she opened the pizza box and placed it on the counter, while Chloe set down two plates.
Chloe gave Lois a sideway glance. "I'm your only cousin."
"But if I had more," Lois said in-between bites of pizza, "you would be my favorite."
Chloe just shook her head as she took out two beers from the fridge and set them down before she helped herself to a slice. After a moment she said, "God. This pizza is amazing."
"And that's why I love small towns," Lois said, which caused Chloe to almost choke on her pizza.
"Since when?"
"It has its charms." Lois noticed Chloe's raised eyebrow. She wasn't fooling anyone, especially her cousin. "Okay, so Smallville is a nice break from Metropolis. That, and, well, Clark grew up here."
Chloe grabbed her beer and took a sip. "You know what Lois. Maybe the city and the small town life is what is in store for the Sullivan-Lane cousins."
Lois too grabbed her beer, and looked as if she was contemplating what Chloe had just said. After a moment, Lois responded with, "I actually like the sound of that."
CLARK was on top of a building listening to the sounds of the city. Once he committed to being the 'Blur', he decided to devote a few hours each night to help those who couldn't help themselves.
In particular, Clark was focused once again on Bruno 'Ugly' Mannheim and his thugs. He had foiled some of Ugly's illicit plans, but tonight was different. Instead of importing drugs, they were targeting people, and for Clark this had made it personal.
"I already paid Mr. Mannheim this month," Clark heard an older Asian man say as two thugs surrounded him. Despite Metropolis's best efforts in maintaining order, there were certain districts that were notorious for being bullied by gangs. These gangs preyed on people who came to Metropolis for a better life. The victims of these gangs were people trying to earn an honest living, and without knowing any better, these gangs would offer 'protection', but their protection had come at a high cost.
"It doesn't matter, Mr. Chen. Mr. Mannheim wants his money," One of the thugs said.
"But I do not have the money for the next month yet," Mr. Chen said, and Clark could hear the despair in his voice.
"I guess that means you'll have to pay another way," The second Thug said as he pulled out a 12-inch retractable blade.
"Please," Mr. Chen begged. "I just need more time."
"I'm afraid time has run out," The first Thug said, as the second Thug lunged at Mr. Chen with the knife.
It took Clark less than a millisecond to get in front of Mr. Chen. The knife had made contact with his chest causing fragments of the knife to fly everywhere.
The second Thug recoiled his hand while clutching it in pain, causing the rest of the retractable knife to fall to the ground.
"My hand! It's broken!" The second Thug exclaimed, as his friend looked around frantically to see who, or what, had intervened in their kill.
"It's the damn Blur," The second Thug said, but it was too late. The first Thug was already on the ground, and seconds later he had joined his friend wrapped around in fence link, with the 'S' symbol burned on the street pavement.
"Are you okay?" Clark asked Mr. Chen from the shadows as sirens could be heard in the distance.
"You saved my life—thank you," Mr. Chen said in disbelief. "I don't know how to repay you."
"There is no need to repay me," Clark responded. Before Mr. Chen could say anything, Clark was off into the distance of the night.
TESS made sure the police were on the scene to where Clark had told her there was trouble, before she decided to call it a night. After she shut down Watchtower, she decided to take a stroll on the streets of Metropolis before heading home.
She had to admit that she always loved the night. The way the air was cooler, and how the lights lit up the city—it had always been her favorite time of the day.
She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the eerie illuminating sign of LexCorp. There was a time, when it was known as LuthorCorp, where she had been just as ruthless as her half-brother and father. She had hurt enough people when she was blinded by her own self-loathing, that there were some days she didn't even know if she could forgive herself, let alone how her friends could ever forgive her for what she put them through.
"Don't tell me we have to have this same conversation again," A voice from behind said, which caused Tess to turn around. It was Oliver, donning his Green Arrow gear. "Self-pity really isn't a good color on you."
"Thanks for noticing," Tess replied back while shoving her hands in her trench-coat pocket. "And I wasn't pitying myself—I was thinking."
"And what were you thinking about?" Oliver inquired.
"Your offer. Every time I see"—she took a hand out of her pocket and pointed to the LexCorp sign—"that, I am reminded of where I started and how many people I have hurt. I have tried to make it right. The League, you, Clark, Lois and Chloe, have been helping me see a better version of myself that I thought was lost all together."
She paused before continuing, "And I realized that if I want to break free from anything Luthor, I need to continue to make a difference and help people that extends beyond the League and Watchtower. So, if the offer still stands, I would be honored to continue your family's Legacy and be the Vice President of Queen Industries."
Oliver smiled. "I'm really glad you said that. While I can't promise it will be easy, it will be rewarding. You'll help a lot of people Tess, especially me."
Oliver extended his hand, and Tess shook it.
DOCTOR James Ryerson navigated his BMW into the massive warehouse facility that Mr. Luthor had set up for him. As he pulled in, he noticed there was a limousine surrounded by five other black SUVs. He pulled his car to a stop, and as he got out of his car, so did Mr. Luthor.
"Dr. Ryerson," Lex said as the two men met each other halfway. "Thanks for coming so early in the morning."
"I was up anyway," James responded, and got a small smile from Lex.
"Of course. I sometimes forget there are people out there that are earlier risers than I am." It was still early morning, but already the air was hot. "Come. I want to introduce you to your new team."
Ryerson followed Lex into the massive warehouse. At first glance, Ryerson was impressed. It was bigger than he had thought it was going to be, with various rooms and levels, which worked out perfectly for his device. There were already a bunch of scientists getting things organized, and Ryerson had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Understandably, this isn't going to be the final product," Lex began to say as he looked around the semi-dull warehouse. "LexCorp plans to turn this area into an Observation deck, where citizens of Metropolis and tourists can, by paying a small fee, view this red sky too. I think it would boost the economy."
Lex stopped in front of a long metal table that had a drawing of what the Observation Deck would look like. Ryerson was in awe. The picture, which showed a large Deck, a beautiful lot with green grass, trees, and benches, was hardly something Ryerson could picture becoming on this gravel dirt road.
"I must say Mr. Luthor, your vision is greater than mine."
"Please, call me Lex. And while I will admit I have an eye for business, this won't be possible without your device."
"I am happy to get started on it."
"That's exactly what I want to hear. But first, let me introduce you to Dr. Steven Odell."
Dr. Ryerson didn't even notice the other man, who was standing quietly behind Lex. Ryerson guessed this man was in his early forties, and he looked every bit the scientist he did when he was that age.
"Dr. Odell is one of my longest supervisory directors at LexCorp's science facility. Together we have worked on many great projects to better the health and lives of the citizens of Metropolis. He is the only man I trust well enough to see your vision brought to life."
Dr. Odell extended his hand to Ryerson, while saying, "When Lex came to me with your designs, and what you were planning to do with them, I knew I had to be a part of it. The complexity of your schematics—I feel like I can learn a lot by working for you."
"Working with me," Ryerson corrected as he shook Dr. Odell's hand.
"I brought my team of people. They are highly competent and will follow your instructions if you tell them what to do." Dr. Odell pointed to bunch of people in lab coats in the far end of the room. "They are just as eager to meet you and get started on this as I am."
"I won't keep you," Lex began to say. "If you need anything for the device just call and I will get it as soon as possible."
"Thank you Mr. Luthor," Dr. Ryerson said as he quickly waved goodbye and walked over to greet the other scientists.
Before Dr. Odell made his way over, Lex grabbed him by the arm and pulled him closer.
"I want you to keep an eye on Dr. Ryerson and his device. I have a slight modification for it, and when the time is ready, I will give it to you. Understood?"
"Understood, Mr. Luthor."