Chapter Fifteen: It's Complicated

"Superman, please join me above the city of London, there is much we should discuss. Much I can learn from you." The voice was inside Clark's head, it was Emmet. Superman had learnt how to defend himself from psychic attacks to some extent, so he felt secure in his ability to deflect Emmet's intrusion. At least to some extent. But somehow, the invitation was, well, inviting. He actually felt that Emmet wanted to converse. To try and learn about this planet, maybe there was hope for him after all.
He started to get ready, and explained to Wonder Woman why he was going. She never did like it when he left her bed for no reason, or for bad reasons.
"Clark, why do you feel the need to go to him?"
"Because he's a powerful being that has the potential to be good," said Clark putting on his Superman suit.
"Clark, I don't think you can save this one. He's too desiring to get involved. He's not a good guy."
"I have to believe that he can be. I have to believe that he has that goodness as well inside him."
"Why? He's a menace and the only reason the League hasn't taken action yet is by your wishes and hopes. Let us get him off the planet," while her voice was fierce, she was sitting up in bed, beautiful as ever. Only her eyes matched her voice.
"No! We tolerate the existence of worse people, and we don't throw them off the planet."
"We do when they're bad aliens, Clark."
"He's not bad," whispered Clark.
"Why are you defending him so badly?"
"Because he's me!"
That came out very loudly. Diana was shocked, and Clark was shocked at his emotions as well. His head sank, and he stared at he floor, and his hands.
"He's me, Di. He's me. A clone of me. He's not some doppelgänger that I can blame that on. He's me. Purely me. Not a Luther experiment, me. If he can be evil, then that means I can be evil. If he can't turn from who he is and become the good person I like to think I am, then maybe the same fate awaits me should I make a mistake. Maybe everyone's doubts about my nature are a certainty."
"Clark, my love, you are a good person. The best person. You are not him. He is not you. Shared genes aren't everything. You know that. Superboy has a part of him that is Lex Luther, he is still a good hero, a great one even."
"Every time I go, I have to be so careful, so cautious. I don't want to make a mistake, and if he can be better, then shouldn't we try?" His face was imploring a very specific answer. Clark felt so vulnerable, so weak and alone.
"People who are so immersed in who they are, often can't be changed. It's why I don't think you'll ever change, it's why I think he might never change."
Clark sat down on the bed, Superman uniform complete. She was sitting next to him, her hand on his face, raising it for him to look at her. She loved him, and she believed in him, completely.
They shared a kiss, and she stayed in bed while he went off for Emmet. She hoped he wouldn't be disappointed, she hoped he would be sensible and not jeopardise himself for no good reason. She sat there, hoping that his hope will be rewarded.
From the Earth's lower stratosphere the world looks quiet, it looks at ease. One can barely imagine that there is a living organism on the planet. From this far up, Clark can tune out the noise and be at peace without leaving the atmosphere. Emmet was floating there, hovering like a ghost, like a spectre. He looked forbidding and threatening, but Clark wasn't alarmed, he was Superman. He'd fought Darkseid, Brainiac, and many others. This was just another opponent. But maybe it was an ally in the making. In any case, he was not scared. Not worried. Or was he lying to himself in thinking all this?
"Thank you for joining me here, brother." To hear Emmet call Clark brother felt wrong. It felt just wrong and horrible, Clark had to suppress a shiver running down his spine. Not quite well enough.
"You said you wanted to learn, what is it you want to learn?" asked Clark, coming to his side. There they were: the two most powerful beings on the planet. Probably some of the most powerful beings in the universe, looking down on the planet and about to discuss it. This was in many ways wrong, it felt odd. But was the Justice League Watchtower any different?
"You spoke before of the equilibrium you have between you and the governments of this planet. You said that you did not want to have any partnership to a government."
"Is there a question here?"
"I was just wondering, what about those that war with each other? What of the governments that oppress their people's basic human rights?"
"You're asking why we don't intervene there? Because it's not our place to intervene there. We cannot change the political atmosphere in any place, only set an example and hope that people follow it." Superman looked at Emmet, trying to gauge if this made any impact upon him. It didn't seem so.
"But look at the country of Russia," said Emmet, as they both turned their heads towards it, "there is a dictator there and you do nothing to topple him. You do not allow people their human rights."
"If I interfere, then that means I am dictating what is right and what is wrong. That is totalitarianism. It makes me a dictator. I will not be one. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs. Their lifestyles. I can influence people in a way that they should uphold principles and ideals. Then I can hope that the people can make the choices for themselves."
"But what of countries that are rife with war and violence? You say you will not interfere because you will not become a dictator, so you uphold human life while damning it at the same time. You may save people from an earthquake, but then you damn them to live under a terrorising dictator." Emmet didn't flinch, no muscle moved except the ones necessary to speak, and to hold a small scowl. The scowl was that of a general or war leader. Superman could imagine Roosevelt wearing that same scowl.
"The United Nations is a body that tries to allow civilians in such oppressed countries to have a life where their rights are protected. If we intervened, then we would make the UN, or us, dictators. That would lead to war," said Superman, looking at Russia, admiring the size of the country.
"You could stop the war pretty quickly."
"At the cost of many lives."
"Sacrifices must be made."
"I beg to differ."
They didn't look at each other, but the hostility was felt even so. They hovered in silence, pondering the world. This was useless, thought Clark, we won't agree on this. And I doubt he will ever change or not act on these things. Still, innocent until he does something wrong.
"What of racism?" said Emmet, spontaneously, or so it seemed.
"What of it?" replied Clark, trying to estimate just how much of this had Emmet scripted.
"Why do you not try and stop it? Antisemitism has been around from the dawn of the Semites, and it has not abated one bit. You have not stopped racism from flowing. Muslims scream to the world that they are harassed in their own countries while others of their religion try and destroy everyone else's countries. You have not managed to stop it."
"You can't stop racism if it doesn't want to be stopped. Racism is a result of lack of education, lack of knowledge and experience as well as close-mindedness. I save everyone. Anyone. Doesn't matter what background they have, what race or religion. I save everyone I can with the same commitment."
"Why not issue a statement? Why not proclaim racism as wrong?" Emmet's question was a good one, one that the League had considered before. Are still debating.
"The League does charity work and we show our support of all groups, there is no stronger statement than that."
They hovered in silence, then Clark and Emmet looked over at Asia, or rather Asia started to come towards them, sprawling far away. It was tough for Clark, he was a reporter, his job was to give the facts about events. Find out the truth, and as Superman his job was to act on those truths. Here he was debating like a lawyer or philosopher, though the gravity suggested that it was more like judge. A judge that needed to determine the fate of the world. Every part of him felt sickened at the thought. He had no right to do anything like that. If there is a God, it is his job to do all of this. Not theirs. Never theirs.
"Look over there, a continent rife with violence," said Emmet.
"Sadly, that's true." Clark hovered there for a moment, thinking up a defence, a thought that would maybe extract from Emmet goodness. "So which side would you choose when looking at it?" asked Clark, hopeful that he would get the conversation going where he wanted it to.
"The right one," said Emmet, without flinching.
"You say it as if it is obvious what the answer is."
"It is in my opinion." Emmet was hovering in a fully erect manner, with his hands clasped behind his back and barely even glancing at Superman.
"And what about when you look at the nation of Israel and the Gaza Strip. Both sides have claim for that land. Israel fights in retaliation to attacks on its citizens, but then when it bombs, it bombs civilians because the Hamas won't allow its citizens to leave."
"The evil ones seem obvious to me."
"True. But they were elected."
"And they bring violence forth. Remove them and you get peace."
"Remove them and you create both anarchy and resentment for the world. What they need is to change their own government, to do it themselves. They voted monsters in, now that they know this, they must change the government, take the responsibility."
"And if they do not want to?" Emmet's voice became cold, almost sinister.
"Then the consequences will be upon their heads. But we don't have the right to save them from their belief, for that is robbing them of their right to believe. That's not who we are, and it's what we cannot become without having what we stand for corrupted. We are a symbol that is interpreted and understood equally by all people, it will become a disputed symbol. One whose meaning is good for some and bad for others."
"Some people hate your symbol and some people love your symbol. You are a controversial figure, even after all the years in which you have been doing what you are doing."
"Maybe, but it is a friend to all-"
"Is it?"
"All who don't harm others, yes. I protect this planet. I fight for those who can't fight for themselves."
"And are all people equal?"
"Yes."
"Wrong." It was a statement, a fact, for Emmet. He didn't even flinch, though his voice took on a shade of hostility as he continued, "they are all equal in the eyes of the law, but the life of a president is more important than that of a builder. The life of a private less important than that of a general. You are fighting in honour of something that does not even exist."
"I fight to make it."
"If you were to rule you could make it. Easily."
"But then it would be forcing it. It would be a dogma."
"But it would exist nonetheless." Emmet said this with a hint of a smirk on his face.
"And how does one know if it's working? Just because I think it's right doesn't always make it right."
"If you allow debate you could find that out."
"No, because even if they debate the benefits and disadvantages of my policies, if I force them then these debates have no meaning."
"I never said that you cannot take advice. Be like your Roman Emperor Augustus. He was constantly elected into his position as Emperor. And he did good deeds while allowing his deeds to be debated."
"The rule of one will always become corrupted."
"Not if he is the right one."
"I do not have the right."
"This again? You do have the right. You have the only right. No one can challenge you. Your intellect can become three times better than the smartest man on this planet if you choose that course. Think about it."
Emmet had turned during his last words and was looking at Clark, and Clark was looking back at him. Two gods disagreeing about the fate of the world, two gods that seem doomed to clash. But Clark still had hope. Superman was a symbol, Superman was an attempt at embodying hope and fighting for those who need it. He would not strike first. But he would defend Earth.
Emmet flew away, towards America. He knew that Emmet was going to visit him again. Superman turned once more to look upon the Middle East, he saw the rockets, the terror of the people there. Could Emmet be right? If Superman intervened, the conflict could be over in a moment. Done. Hamas in jail. But that would lead to chaos, all his good work would be undone. Superman had assisted such a regime change once. He would not do it again. It was not his right. It was not for him to decide.
Clark turned and flew to his apartment. The window was, as always, open. Being on the seventh floor had its advantages. He quickly changed into his working clothes. He was late for work, or was going to be soon enough, but he could write about the hostilities in Israel and Gaza, so at least he had a form of excuse. Though he knew that Perry would not want it nearly as much as he'd like even one sentence from Emmet. But news is news, and Perry would have to make do with what he got, they all would. He rushed over to the office and went to his desk. He was already rushing into the article he was writing, as if he'd always been there.
"Oh, good morning Clark. You're in early today," said Clair. She was one of the late-night maintenance people. She was a dark skinned, slim lady. Her large, brown eyes were always alert, but not in a threatening way. She had a simplicity in her looks that, while not attractive, had a form of grace. Her hair was worn in a bun. She preferred working at night and she always made sure the equipment was in the best shape it could be. She was a huge help. She was the office's silent fairy that made everything possible later on.
"What?" was all Clark managed to say.
"You're very early today. Couldn't sleep, or a big story?"
Clark looked at his watch. It was six thirty eight a.m. Was it really that early?
"Erm, big story. Or I hope it is. Hope you don't mind," said Clark, blushing slightly.
"Not at all. Just finished work on your computer, the fan needed a bit of cleaning, should be running smoothly now."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I'll just work on stuff someplace else, I won't disturb you." And she walked out of the offices quickly and quietly. She was a little shy, but always friendly.

"I believed it was time that we met," said Emmet. He was standing in his apartment, staring at a wall. Actually he was staring through the wall at the city beyond. He enjoyed using his powers this way, it denoted that no secret was hidden from him. With Emmet, everything was a lesson, a sign, a metaphor.
"Yes, it is," said the voice behind him, "how're our plans coming along?"
"My plans. Do not forget your place in the scheme of things."
"I brought you here, it is my plan. My desires."
"You are an ambitious genius, and I have use for you, but killing Superman is a last resort. Having Superman on our side would be much more beneficial."
"Stop staring at the wall. I believe I am slightly more interesting than that wall."
"You are. But I am not looking at a wall, but at the city behind it." Emmet turned around and looked at his host. The integral part of this plan. Lex Luthor. He was a somewhat tall, bald man. He had an expensive looking suit on and his face was a mask of evil plans and complete domination over a situation. They were locked in battle not dissimilar to the one he was in the midst of with Superman. Each of them was playing the other. Emmet knew that Luthor thought he had a way of beating him, and Emmet knew he could destroy Luthor. But not yet. Not yet.
"Is the device ready?" asked Emmet.
"So the plan is going towards that finality? What happened to your great debating skills?"
"One cannot argue with one who will not see reason. Is the device ready?"
"Yes, and it has been placed where you asked for it. Ready when you are."
"Excellent. Now I will require time to think."
"No, not any more. You will destroy him for me, and then the League. The planet will be ours to rule and make better!"
"Not yet. For the plan to work I will need more time."
"How much time does it take?"
"How long have you been trying to defeat Superman? It is not always as simple as it seems."
"I will be in my office, come to me when you want the detonator."
Luthor left the apartment and Emmet returned to his staring. He looked far and saw his prey: Superman. Disguised as a journalist and typing at a computer. He has no idea of what is about to come.