Chapter Thirteen: Exposure

"The Helspont threat has been completely neutralised. There are no traces of his forces anywhere and Superman himself has been a witness to Helspont's death, it is therefore safe to assume that Helspont will not be returning to harm us," said Wonder Woman. She was standing in front of the great Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. This was a press conference, and of course some familiar reporters were present.
"Yes?" she said to a reporter, Lois Lane. Clark's co-worker and possibly best friend that is not a hero. Though she may have earned that title herself. Clark was standing next to her, in character as a reporter. It was almost amusing, this dynamic. But it was a part of why Clark was so special.
"What about the other Superman? Satellite pictures have spotted two supermen. Both looking identical," said Lois lane.
"It is true," said Wonder Woman, "there is a duplicate of some kind of Superman, his outfit is different. He has been instrumental to the defeat of Helspont and his armies. He is not an enemy."
"Can he be trusted?" asked another reporter, Iris West.
"We have no reason to believe otherwise. Let me assure the public that should this newcomer pose as a threat, the Justice League will deal with him personally."

"Looks like you've made yourself quite the name," said a man in an armchair. He looked in his fifties. Emmet was standing behind him, both looking at the television. It has been a day since the attack on Earth by Helspont. Emmet went to his contact: a resident of his planet has been in contact with this man. They had mutual desires: to save the Earth. To save humanity. And maybe, some day, to ensure that both planets are under the rule of a single government.
"Yes, I feel that my entrance may have been a noisy one. Nevertheless, it is a good thing. This way Superman will have to take me under his wing, if he wishes to study me."
"You want him to do that?"
"Yes, I have no reason to believe that Superman cannot see the truth, and I would rather not have to fight him, nor the Justice League, if such a thing is not necessary. Bloodshed and battles should always be avoided if possible."
"So, what now?"
"Now, my friend, I need clothes that shall help me assimilate. Superman will notice me straight away, but I need to mingle. To study this city as a taste for this planet. Then I can continue my plans."
Emmet stood by the window and looked out at the city. He was in a small yet elegant apartment in a building that seemed quite right for his plans: central to the city but not so much that he would feel it possible to be compromised. He was in Superman's city. In Superman's home. This would be the best way to learn his weaknesses, to learn how to take him down if necessary, or to convert him to the cause.

"So, father, what do you think?" asked Damian Wayne. Robin. Son of the Batman.
He was standing in the Bat-Cave beside Alfred, while Batman sat in his chair at the Bat-Computer, looking at the screens. The news broadcast was on one screen, another had Superman's profile open and a third was a profile that was being written about Emmet. Alfred placed a tray of tea down beside Batman. He took a cup and gave it to Damian with the saucer underneath it. Damian took it with a nod to Alfred. Batman barely noticed.
"I think we can't trust Emmet, and we can't trust Superman to kick him out," said Batman, staring at his screens.
"We may need to devise a plan to beat him," said Damian.
"Agreed."
"Have you considered, sir, talking to Superman about all of this? Maybe keeping him in the loop would be the wisest idea," said Alfred.
"No, it wouldn't. Superman needs to be focused on the task at hand: handling Emmet. And Emmet would probably be monitoring Superman. Telling Superman could end up exposing our plan, especially if Emmet has the psychic abilities that Superman said he had."
"If they share the exact same DNA, why doesn't Superman have these powers?" asked Damian.
"Emmet has been studying himself, pushing his limits without restraint. Trying to find every possible avenue to gain power. That is something Superman is opposed to. Superman fears his power and their increase. He enjoys the power, but he doesn't want to be all powerful. He's afraid of himself. Emmet isn't."
"So what do we do now?" asked Damian, clenching his fists in the process. He was always eager for a fight.
"Now, Damian, we plan. And we wait."
The all stared at the Batman. And he in turn stared at the screens of the Bat-Computer, elbows on the desk, one hand enveloping another, resting his chin upon them. His mask off, but his suit, as almost always, was on.

"So, Clark, what do you think?"
Clark was sitting in a car. Lois Lane was driving, as was her custom whenever she could. They went to DC together from Metropolis for the news conference. They always worked better together, pushing each other to do better. Lucky that they were also good friends.
"I'm sorry?" asked Clark, he was not paying attention. It was lucky he wasn't driving them to the airport.
"Stop wool gathering, Smallville. What do you think about our second Superman story?" asked Lois.
"I don't know. It's obvious he's powerful."
"Well done, Clark, master of the obvious."
"But I don't know if we should be so quick to trust him."
"No one said we trusted him."
"I guess."
"Do you think that he is a good person?"
"I haven't met him, Lois."
"I mean, he's got the same genetic material as Superman. Same powers. But do you think that makes him a good person?"
"Is this the nature/nurture debate?"
"I guess so."
"I think he'd have the same potential to be good like Superman," said Clark, looking out of the passenger window.
"But he could be good, but maybe his version of good is our version of bad," said Lois.
"I'd like to think there are some absolutes in that respect, but you may be right."
"What do you think happened in the Himalayas?" asked Lois, completely ignoring Clark's reply.
"Something bad."
"No kidding. If it wasn't, we'd have more details about it. It's strange to think of something bad happening when the villain was defeated."
"Defeated can mean a lot of things."
"A bad alien dies while trying to take out our planet, hardly a tragedy, Clark."
They rode the rest of the way silently. He couldn't tell her how it was done in cold blood.
What if Emmet was right? If Helspont is dead then he can't invade Earth again. Ever. But what right did he have to kill him? He killed in cold blood. Murdered. Helspont was defeated. Done with. There was no need for it. None at all. He was done.
But that's not what scared him the most. The scary part was that this was him. Superman and Emmet were the same genetic code. If Emmet can do something, so could Superman. The powers, while fascinating, were not concerning him. It was the choice of actions. He had fought enemies from alternate universes. But then you could hide behind the mask of the alternate universe. Now... Now he couldn't. This was truly a possibility for Superman: he could really become this thing.
But that meant it could also work both ways. Emmet could become as good as Clark.
Wraith came back to mind. Wraith, who did the right thing for wrong reasons. Who would be happy to kill for his nation. The person Superman couldn't change. The person with so much potential and yet it went wrong.
That was possibly how Wraith had viewed Superman.
Emmet could be a great force for good. Superboy, though designed to be a weapon, turned out to become a great hero in his own right.
Maybe Emmet could become that as well.

They reached Metropolis a few hours later. Superman somehow enjoyed the procedure of flying. Clark Kent had to leave a paper trail, so this was something he had to do either way. But as Superman, flying had become almost routine. This allowed him to feel the privilege of flight. The amount people had to go through for something that he did so casually. Viewing the ability to flight from this angle humbled him, kept him on grounded. Not allowing him to believe he is greater than them.
He left the airport via cab and was taken home.
His door was unlocked. Clark used X-ray vision and saw the figure inside: Emmet.
"I don't know what you think you're doing," said Clark as he walked into the apartment, "but this is not welcome."
"Superman, do not make me laugh," said Emmet.
So he knows my secret identity. He looked at Emmet. His hair was slightly longer than Clark's and his clothes were different. His slightly tanned skin gave him a look of a man of the field. He looked like someone who went shopping at the Gap. He looked completely human. He was not wearing glasses, but it would not be easy to just recognise him. He was good. Too good.
"How do you know where I live?"
"I have done my research. I learnt of your existence through Helspont, he talked a lot during my battle with him. I used far reaching probes and discovered where your planet was and started learning your languages and researched you personally as well. It was not too difficult to deduce who you were. Of course it helps when you have been able to observe the way I did."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just letting you know that I have found a place to stay, and I desire to learn."
"You said that before."
"True, but this time I am here to also ask for your help. I wish to learn of this planet through your eyes. Instruct me in your ways of being a hero."
"Perhaps I will. First rule is: don't break into other people's homes."
"I understand that this is upsetting. Fear not, I will not tell anyone where you live nor who you are. And as you can see, I can disguise myself well."
Yes, he can.
Clark was somewhat happy to hear this. He wanted to change Emmet. If Emmet was able to change then that meant that another planet could be saved. And it would mean something else: he was inherently a good guy. He always knew that his upbringing was what made him able to be the person he was today. But he wanted to believe that upbringing, however bad or different, could not influence him so badly. That no event can make him change into an Emmet. Into a despot.
"Fine. I assume you know where I work?" asked Clark.
"Yes, I do."
"Ok. When there's trouble, I assume I'll see you then. If someone asks, you're my cousin from Los Angeles. Agreed?"
"Yes. I shall call myself Emmet Joel."
Superman nodded. He was happy that Emmet didn't take his last name. He didn't want to be associated with Emmet that closely. Not yet, anyway.
Emmet then left through the door. Superman was alone in the apartment. He closed the door and locked it. He went to the couch and sat down on it, thinking about what to do. He always wanted to see the best in people, but was this going too far? Was he grasping at straws?
"I haven't seen that look in a while," said a voice from the balcony. Wonder Woman. Diana. His eyes shone a little with the delight of her company.
"I guess I have a lot on my mind." He said as he rose.
They embraced, and Superman felt full again. Like he knew that things were going to be alright.
"I do enjoy seeing you as Clark the reporter, didn't know how much though," she said with a little peck of a kiss.
"I like being the reporter."
"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered food here, I was getting hungry."
"You ordered?"
"Well, Cyborg did it for me."
"What did you order?"
"Burgers."
No sooner than that and the intercom of the building buzzed.
"Delivery," said the voice.
Clark let the man in. After all his thinking during the day, this was a welcome distraction.