Watcher Chapter 9

Young Barbara Gordon read through the myriad of stories involving the red and blue blur. Lois Lane, the Daily Planet reporter had recently shortened the name of the city's savior to the Blur. Apparently, Miss Lane had a number of adventures with this Blur. Did she know his identity?

Barbara wondered if this new hero with miraculous powers was truly an extraordinary being, or something drummed up by the media to sell papers, Internet stories, or TV shows. Barbara's Raspberry buzzed, which she decided half jokingly to call her Bat Berry.

It was Dick Grayson, also known as Nightwing. The text read: R U Home? Patrol or sidelines? Barb decided to simply call Dick back. "Dick? These Blur stories are fascinating." She began after a few pleasantries. "I'm actually back in for the duration. Slow night. I assume Bruce is still out?" Dick confirmed that, adding a few more stories about a last minute bust of the Penguin.

"What do you make of this Blur?" Barbara, like a good young detective, had sunk her teeth into a mystery that she had no current answer to. "Barb, you're obsessing." Dick criticized. "I am not! What if this Blur comes to Gotham? What if he's got another agenda?" Barb defended.

"If the Blur comes to Gotham, we'll all be out of jobs!" Dick quipped. "He's been single-handedly cleaning up the streets of Metropolis." Barb considered that. "Bruce did that for quite a while before we came along." She pointed out. "This is completely different."

"I'll give you that the accounts of the Blur's heroics are amazing, but are they credible?" Dick analyzed. "There have been so many people saved in Metropolis, that it has to be credible." Barb countered. "My question or concern is if there are evildoers in Metropolis and beyond with special abilities. That would be a game changer for us."

"Have you mentioned this to Bruce?" Dick inquired. "Yeah, but as usual, he's playing his bat cards close to his vest. He listens, but hasn't really commented on my Blur stories." Barb replied. "That sounds like Bruce. He may be overanalyzing it as we speak." Dick remarked.

"We ought to head over to Metropolis ourselves and check it out." Barb instigated. "Without telling Bruce?" Dick asked. "No, of course we have to tell Bruce, but its not as if he needs us around constantly to knock out the local crime lords." Barb responded.

"We can head over there on our motorcycles." Dick offered, always up for an adventure. "It's a long ride, but we can use the tail end of our vacations from school. Final exams for the trimester are this week. After we grab our grades, we can hit the road."

Barb was a sophomore at Gotham State University, and Dick was completing his freshman year. "Darn, we'll miss the GSU summer blast party!" Dick complained. "True, but we can watch the student body get drunk and puke anytime, how often do we get to go to Smallville, or Metropolis?" Barb said, half seriously.

"Maybe we'll catch some evil cow tippers in Kansas!" Dick added to the running joke. Barb cracked up. "At least Metropolis is arguably the largest city in the Midwest. There may be enough criminal elements leftover from the Blur for us to pick up!" Dick said facetiously.

The two eager young crime-fighters worked on putting together their route and a plan. "How do we attract the Blur's attention?" Dick wondered aloud. "Two words. Lois Lane." Barb replied.
Scene: Daily Planet conference room:

Lois Lane and Clark Kent sat stoically looking on as Perry White officially took over the reins as the Planet's Chief Editor. Perry was very old school, and planned on running the Planet by the book. "People, I know newspapers are becoming dinosaurs, but I will not let this Old Gray Lady fall by the wayside. Not on my watch!" Perry bellowed, demanding instant attention.

Clark thought that Perry's speech was inspiring, like an old-fashioned football coach. Lois was bored, absently sipping her coffee, and gnawing on the cup's Styrofoam edge. "There'll be some swift changes coming." Perry added. "Effective immediately, and approved by the vaunted Board of Directors. Lane! Kent!" He yelled. Lois nearly spat out her coffee.

There were eight other journalists, and cub reporters around the table. "People, as of tomorrow AM, Kent and Lane are elevated to Class 1 Journalists. The salary increase will follow shortly." Perry had done the impossible…silenced Lois Lane. She stared blankly at Perry, who returned her gaze. "Something wrong, Lane?" He challenged.

"Something green under my nose?" Perry quipped. That elicited a number of chuckles in the tense meeting. Clark snickered and glanced away. "Something green under your nose?" Perry teased Lois, causing her to redden. She fiddled with the blue gem ring on her finger.

"You kids deserve it." Perry continued. "I've thoroughly reviewed both your files. You'll work as a team, though some competition will be good for you. We'll be talking incentives at the next meeting. You two will handle the City Beat. I don't want any fluffy bunny feel good stories either! I want hardcore journalism. That goes for all of you."

"The only two exceptions are James Olsen and Catherine Grant." Perry went on. "Olsen will be our staff photographer. He'll be chasing photo ops all over Metropolis. Grant will be handling the Social Beat, including local hot spots for celebrities, politicians, and the like."

Cat Grant's hand went in the air. "Yes, Cat?" Perry encouraged. "Chief, we need a brand name, like a face or series of faces to go with the paper. Last year, I was on Good Morning Metropolis for a season…before they replaced me with that twit, Jessica Connor, and said that their demographics had shifted, whatever the hell that means."

"Good suggestion, Cat." Perry whirled to face Clark and Lois. "That's where you two come in." Lois and Cat were both stunned. "What?" The girls chorused. Clark reddened. "Lane and Kent will be the new young faces of the Daily Planet. The brass wants something more edgy."

Without thinking, Lois laughed out loud. The room was still silent. Lois cleared her throat. "What's so funny, Lane?" Perry questioned. "Uh…nothing chief…it's just that Clark and I are hardly edgy. We're old fashioned down to Earth types." Lois replied.

"I agree." Cat said and Clark seconded. "That's what the public is looking for. Trust me, Lane, Kent, those bubbleheads on the TV networks aren't real people. You are the real people. Salt of the Earth, down home cooking." Perry continued. "That's what Kansas is looking for."

"Isn't the Daily Planet internationally known?" Fitz from Sports, asked. "Let me tell you, people, the newspaper industry is on its last legs. The Internet has killed most of the old regime.

We're going to have to focus on local happenings." Perry added. "If we latch onto an international story, sure, we'll run with it. But those are rare. We can't depend on them."

"It's not as if a space alien landed in Metropolis, and vowed to save the world." Perry added sarcastically. Clark fidgeted, and flushed. Lois raised her hand. "Yeah, Lane?" Perry encouraged.

"What about the Blur? I mean I kind of have an inroad with him. That's an international story." Lois glanced at Clark, who suddenly felt very awkward.

"Exactly the type of thinking I'm looking for." Perry went on. "Lane, I'm surprised that your ears weren't burning. The brass was all over your Blur stories. That was the deciding factor in elevating you two. They think that you can pull in the Blur for an exclusive."

"Good luck with that." Clark sniped, forgetting himself. "Kent, don't be negative." Perry warned. "It doesn't suit you. That's why I insisted on teaming you with Lane. Honestly, individually, your journalism experience is sparse. Together you form a top of the line reporting team."

Actually, you get a good team without paying top dollar, Lois mused sourly, lost in thought. "Let's hit it, people!" Perry dismissed them with a wave. The other reporters filed out. Perry stood near the door. "Lane! Kent! In my office, pronto." He barked.

Clark and Lois followed Perry silently through the busy newsroom. Perry's office was at the end of the center aisle. From his office window, he could see the entire newsroom. "Sit down." He ordered after they'd passed the threshold. Clark held the chair for Lois and she smiled appreciatively. Perry closed the door after they were seated.

"You two are the hope and future of my newspaper." Perry began. "Gee Chief, no pressure there." Lois snapped, startling Clark. "You can handle it, Lane, so can you, Kent." He reassured them. "I know that you two are an item. That's fine, as long as it doesn't interfere with your workload." Both of them reddened. There was no fooling Perry.

"It won't." Lois said confidently. Clark was still in shock. "I need you two to not suck face in front of the staff. It's bad for moral." Perry smirked. "Agreed. We can be professional." Clark hurriedly replied. "That's all you need to be." Perry grinned.

"Now, here's your first assignment." Perry handed them a roughly scrawled note. "Some wacko is threatening to jump off of Glandville Tower. He says that the end is near. The devil is walking the Earth and such. Get down there and cover it before the rest of the media scares him off the ledge. Go!" Immediately, Lois and Clark got up, grabbed their stuff and left.

Thus history was born.
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