LXXVIII
News From Around The World…
"Good morning and welcome back to the Kahndaq Crisis. We're only thirty minutes into the what has been called the Luthor Decree, and already news is poring in from around the globe. Satellite images of Shiruta, the capital city of Kahndaq, have indeed confirmed that its civilians have perished where they stood. Bodies lie in the streets and there has been no signs of life from the small eastern nation. It would seem that its entire population of eleven million has indeed suffered catastrophic casualties in the largest single attack in human history.
Whether this confirms that America has indeed developed a super-weapon remains to be seen… What is clear is that other nations are taking this threat very seriously. The British Prime Minister has requested talks with the American president before any decision will be made. The Russian president has stated that he will wipe any country off the map that bows before the Americans. Many other countries are also threatening retaliation or non capitulation.
We have reports that Americans abroad are being rounded up and held captive by foreign governments to be used as human shields. Flights into American air terminals are now being halted as the increased volume has overwhelmed all agencies. People are desperate to get into the United States at any cost.
Even stranger are the current whereabouts of President Luthor... Footage taken from the Grayson funeral have now identified the young lady who was present with Bruce Wayne suddenly appear behind the president and his mysterious guest and then disappear in a cloud of black smoke.
Also missing from the funeral in this manner are the Bruce Wayne party, Lucius Fox and Barbara Gordon, two high-level Wayne employees who are said to have disappeared in similar fashion. There whereabouts are also unknown. Authorities are investigating.
What has begun as a terrorist attack on the White House only one day ago has now developed into America vs. the world. Many prominent citizens have begun to call upon the president to retract his decree while the UN has declared the genocide of Kahndaq to be a crime against humanity… the likes of which have not been witnessed since Adolph Hitler was in power.
We will keep you updated as more details come to light. We now take you live to scenes from around the world…"
Everyone stared at the man who had flown straight through the Wayne estate roof as pieces of ceiling continued to fall on the floor. The sun shone through the newly created hole, illuminating bits of dust and gypsum floating throughout the air. Standing before them was the imposing figure of Big Blue, staring at Arella.
"Are you Raven Wayne?" Arella stared at the stranger for some time in a state of shock before answering.
"…No, I'm her mother. What are you?"
"I see my antibodies were a success." It was Luthor who chimed in. "This is Big Blue Madam, until moments ago America's greatest secret weapon. Report to the Pentagon immediately for briefing, soldier."
"Shut up, Luthor. I'll deal with you later… My name is Clark, not Big Blue. You must be Raven Wayne." This time Clark was looking at Raven. "We desperately need your help."
"Of course, but we need to get to the Pentagon, Clark. The safety of the world is at stake."
"Scott Free is dying. He needs medical attention immediately. He's lying in the middle of Kahndaq with a hole in his chest."
It was Bruce who cut in next.
"Raven, get President Luthor and myself to the Pentagon first and then the rest of you can go with Clark. Perhaps Arella can help with Scott. Rejoin me as soon as you can."
"Wayne, if you think for an instant I'm going to allow aliens to fly around as they will, you're sadly mistaken. Clark is government property. He goes with us." Luthor was settled on the matter.
"Raven, fill Clark in on all the details. Now… please take myself, the president and our two hostages to the Pentagon."
For the second time in a matter of minutes, Lex Luthor traveled along a mysterious tunnel of darkness as things unknown to mankind floated at the periphery of his vision. His deepest fears lurked just beyond the tunnel's border, and yet his mind grasped at how it was even possible. His readings on traversable wormholes had been back in university, and yet here they were, more than just scientific musings.
They reappeared in the courtyard at the center of the Pentagon. Luthor suddenly peered seriously at Raven Wayne.
"Are you able to traverse time through these wormholes, Mrs. Wayne?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Luthor, I don't understand. Are you asking if I can travel in time?"
"Exactly."
"No, I don't believe so."
"Fascinating…If you were able to do so, quantum physics would declare that we had just entered a parallel dimension from the one we had left… that would explain a lot of what's been happening lately... Are you ready, Secretary Wayne?"
"One second, Mr. President."
Bruce Wayne gathered Raven into his arms and kissed her for all he was worth. She responded in kind, their mouths reigniting the fires in their hearts of tragedy. Bruce pulled away from her to gaze into her eyes.
"As soon as you can," he whispered.
"I will my love. Remember, I am always by your side."
Raven disappeared into a cloud of black smoke once again as Luthor watched guards begin to approach these sudden strangers in the courtyard, weapons drawn.
"You know Wayne, if our relationship is going to work, you're going to have to start listening to me."
"Never been my strong suit, Lex… Besides, it was an exercise in futility and you know it. Clark would have been over the Atlantic by now even if Raven brought him." Wayne watched as military guards approached them, weapons pointed and ready. One barked an order.
"Kiss the dirt, gentlemen! I will need ID, now!" The only move that Luthor made was to walk forward.
"Captain Morrison, could you please let the media center know I will be addressing the nation in three minutes? And we'll need these two locked in solitary with no visitors unless I authorize it... And put a bag over her head." Luthor pointed to Talia and Lucius.
"I'm sorry, sir, I will need ID." The captain did not back down. Luthor then turned to the next officer.
"Captain Jones, on July 7th at fifteen-hundred twenty-two hours, you asked me if I was alright while I was deep in thought. I instructed you to never speak to me again under penalty of death. Please shoot Captain Morrison if he keeps blathering on about ID."
The second officer pointed his weapon at the first, beads of sweat forming on both brows.
"My apologies Mr. President," replied Captain Morrison lowering his gun. "I will let the media room know to expect you at once!"
Luthor turned around and glanced back at Bruce who still had his arms raised…
"Are you coming, Wayne?" Bruce jumped forward to catch up with Luthor while soldiers formed a barrier around them for protection.
"So what's the plan, Mr. President?"
"I'm going to address the nation and you're going to get set up for Pentagon security. Look Wayne, I need to know… How does this ultimate weapon of yours work?"
"It will never be used again, Luthor. I'm going to destroy it."
"Of course, but how does it work?" Bruce sighed. He knew that the genie was out of the bottle now. Even if he didn't tell Luthor, the president could figure out the mechanism easily enough. He probably had a good guess already…
"It's the nanites for the wi-screens. They were all a ruse. With the right combination of microwaves, their chemistry can be recombined into sarin."
Luthor pondered for a few seconds, running the chemistry through his mind as they walked into the Pentagon. He then smiled and snapped his fingers, the mystery solved.
"I see, well done. This is your stop… Mr. Okama," Luthor addressed an Asian man surrounded by large wi-screens. "This is our new Secretary of Defense, Bruce Wayne. Please set him up for top-level security… And Wayne, be sure to open a wi-screen to watch my speech. I'll need you for our meeting in the war room directly afterwards.
And would someone please fetch Miss Teschmacher!"
Author's Note:
Eve Teschmacher (played by Valerie Perrine) is Luthor's personal assistant from the 1978 Superman movie. She's even made her way into the comics.