Chapter 23

Somehow Clark was not expecting this as Batman's lair.

Like the city above, the stalactites glittered like diamonds from the light of the computers against the blackness of the cave. The boundary between rock and technology was nonexistent. It looked as though the high-tech computers, vehicles, and other things that Clark couldn't identify seemed to have grown from the foundations of the earth in this place.

Perhaps a cave was a little too on the nose for someone named Batman and the man in question didn't seem like one who would make puns, so he had expected something less obvious coming from the Dark Knight. Regardless of his surprise it looked really cool and it was appropriate. Besides, who was Clark to judge? He was an alien and his hideout, for a while, was a spaceship. For someone who worked through mystery and darkness, whose whole person was generally misunderstood and partly feared, a bat cave was indeed fitting for the enigmatic Bruce Wayne/Batman, just like the scout ship had been for Clark.

"Welcome to the Batcave."

He turned to find Bruce with his cowl down, the dark and commanding veneer in place. The posture screamed a level of security that Clark had felt in the scout ship. The darkness suited him. Kassandra was in her uniform as well although it was different from the one he remembered. Granted he had been barely conscious then, but , but without her mask. She smiled at him. Although he returned it, it was still odd to see her dressed like that. But the sight was made even odder by the figure of an older gentleman walking with him.

He wore a crisp suit. His graying hair was slicked back and he stood with grace and dignity with Bruce. This was more than an employer-employee relationship.

"Where is Lois?"

The elderly gentlemen spoke in a smooth British accent. "Miss Lane is in the infirmary in the mansion. Miss Barbara is checking on her as we speak."

It hadn't occurred to Clark that the Batcave was probably connected to Wayne manor and he wondered where the entrance to this place from the inside. Using his x-ray vision he scanned through the rock only to be stopped at the base of the house. He looked disbelieving at Bruce, but the man on the receiving end seemed unperturbed.

Perhaps sensing the awkwardness between him and his master, the older gentlemen spoke again. "I have set her bones and I can assure you she will be fine, Master Kent."

Although Clark was disquieted by hearing his name, he expressed his gratitude.

"You are welcome sir. If you need anything please let me know," he said with a slight bow.

"What is your name?" he asked as he stuck out his hand toward the elderly man.

"Alfred Pennyworth," he clasped his hand with a surprisingly strong grip, "and it is a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Clark shared the sentiment and the man bowed again and left. After his departure, Clark felt free to shoot a glower towards Bruce. "Does everyone know my identity?"

"That information has never left this room."

Clark grimaced. Although moved by his unwarranted loyalty, Clark felt a little annoyed, but ignored the feeling reminding himself that Bruce had kept his secret and helped Lois. Clark's feelings toward Bruce were definitely lightening although judging from the other man's expression the experience wasn't mutual.

"Why didn't you listen to me? You nearly got yourself killed," Bruce said angrily.

"If I had listened that girl would have died. Where were you?" Clark replied also angry.

Kassandra and Bruce shared a look. "We were delayed," he replied vaguely.

Clark raised his eyebrows expectantly and Bruce grimaced. "Let's just say that Metallo wasn't the only villain in Metropolis tonight."

Clark was taken aback. Who else had been there? Wait, how did Bruce know his name?

"Do you know who that man was?"

Bruce looked at him for a few seconds. "That man was John Corben and he is no friend of meta-humans. He believes that all meta-humans are a direct threat to American security."

The name sparked something. Clark remembered reading a blog written by him while doing research for the Meta-Human Registration Act. Every post was disturbing to say the least, vehemently and venomously blaming him for the military and civilian losses. He was a former marine who during the invasion, became paralyzed from a spinal injury. Thus becoming an even bigger hater of super-powered people and a major proponent of the Meta-Human Registration Act.

"I remember him," Clark said softly and sadly. Bruce gave him a confused look. "I read his blog while researching the Meta-Human Registration Act," he explained. They stared at each other and if Clark didn't know any better, he would have called Bruce's expression sympathetic. Clark cleared his throat awkwardly.

"What led him to become Metallo?"

His injuries explained his hatred for Superman, but it didn't explain the meteor rock heart, incredible strength, and that he had walked.

Bruce's face showed his normal stoicism as he answered:

"After leaving a rally he was hit by a car. Because of his stature the brunt of the damage was to his chest. Although officially he was treated at Metropolis General, really he was taken to Cadmus Labs where they were able to revive him, but at great cost."

"What did they do to him?" Clark asked with wide eyes.

"They gave him a cybernetic body fueled by meteor rock."

Clark sighed. "It would've been nice to know I had such a dangerous enemy in the works."

"You should've known. You're not vigilant," he said critically, but not meanly.

"Fair enough. Though frankly it's hard to keep track of those who simply hate me and those who would act upon that hatred. A heads-up would have been nice."

Clark knew that he still doubted him. He sighed out of exhaustion and frustration. What was he supposed to do to convince him that he was trustworthy? How many times would he have to prove himself to this man? The question in his mind grew louder and louder until he could take it no longer. The question he had wanted answered since the beginning of the subterfuge burst out of him.

"What can I do to convince you that I'm worthy of whatever you're planning? Worthy of your trust. Why didn't you just talk to me to start with?"

Bruce didn't even flinch. When he spoke it lacked the harshness that existed during their last encounter, but held all of its honesty. "My one rule of crime fighting is never kill. You were just a murderer to me. For a long time I saw you as someone who was trying to avoid the hard questions the world was asking him by doing good deeds."

"You think I save people as an act of penance? I've saved people my whole life," Clark said earnestly.

"So you deserve clemency?"

Clark sighed. "That's not what I meant."

They stared at each other for a few moments, until Clark broke the silence.

"You don't trust me very much. Fine. But you aren't trying very hard. And it's apparent you don't want others trusting you either. Otherwise, why would you think the only way you can gain allies is through unscrupulous means?"

He hadn't used an accusatory tone, but Clark noticed Bruce's jaw harden. Clark realized he may have hit a nerve.

"I didn't blackmail Barbara. She and I have a...complicated past, but I trust her," he said resolutely.

"But you did with Kassandra," Clark countered gesturing to Kassandra who stood there a little uncomfortably.

Bruce looked away for a moment.

"That was different; I thought it would be for the best. Having friends is dangerous. Trusting just anyone is risky."

Clark was silent. He could understand hesitating to trust people. It was an issue he faced everyday. Trusting required a vulnerability of the heart that often led to it being broken. Were it any other person Clark would go into a long speech about how trust was worth every risk. But he knew enough about Bruce and his past to know that his words would mean nothing to him. Bruce had lost too much to truly let a stranger in easily.

"Do you trust me at all?"

Bruce smiled just a bit and looked at Kassandra. "You had strong advocates. But I have yet to make a decision."

Clark nodded. Trust was worth the risk, but he was also hesitant to make that leap with Bruce just yet. Not completely. Everything that had happened early that night lead him to believe that Bruce was one of the good guys, but whether they could work together or at least exist around each other was still in question.

And something still didn't make sense.

"There's something I don't understand. Why did you try so hard to protect me? Watching my mom, Kassandra removing the bullet from me. I thought you saw me as just a murderer."

"Like I said you had strong advocates and you're an asset in battle," he said sincerely. "Also I wouldn't wish the loss of a loved one on anyone."

A deep sadness emanated from him and Clark couldn't speak while they stared at each other until Bruce looked away. Clark cleared his throat.

"So what do we do now?" Clark asked.

He seemed thoughtful, like he was looking for just the right words. "Consider me your parole officer."

Clark smiled a bit. At least that was a step in the right direction.

"Now we have work to do."

Bruce turned away from them. Pressing his hand against the wall, a thin glowing outline emerged, pressed the stone into the rock face and slid over to reveal a safe. He unlocked the safe by a retina scan and turned to face them again now with a small black box in his hand. Curious, Clark attempted to look inside, but to no avail.

Then Bruce opened it in front of him to show a very small jagged piece of green rock that glowed eerily. It was no bigger than a thumb-tack, but Clark gasped out of instinct only to have a slight wave of nausea pass over him. He breathed deeply after Bruce had closed the box.

"Do you know what this is?" Bruce asked.

Clark nodded gravely. Wordlessly Bruce replaced the small box in the safe. Turning to the console he pressed a few buttons to display screen a globe of the Earth with different places highlighted as he continued to speak.

"3 months ago a meteor shower occurred and the debris fell into the Indian Ocean. Two more followed in quick succession: one in the Sahara Desert, and another in the Utah Canyon-lands. These occurred less than a month ago." He pointed to the marked locations on the screen.

"I know. General Swanwick had me inspect the meteors at Utah Canyon-lands."

"Do you also know that Lex Luthor is involved?" Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Clark said soberly.

Bruce nodded. "Ever since LexCorp generously helped with the clean up and reconstruction in Metropolis I've been tracking Lex's activities. Very shortly after the meteor showers LexCorp projects started popping up in the affected areas. I've watched him operate and he has gathered the materials at these sites. Luthor first looked in the Indian ocean claiming it as an oil exploration."

"Luthor had a team comb the ocean floor looking for these meteorites. However he wasn't able to salvage that much as the ocean is too deep and these meteorites are immune to normal detection. Also the larger pieces were too dense to lift, impenetrable from human force he was only able to retrieve the smaller pieces that had broken off while entering the Earth's atmosphere. So his next and only option was the Sahara. In the desert there is no shade. People started to notice his activity. He paid off a lot of people, but not everyone can be bought, so he threatened to poison their water supply. Recently he asked me for help to excavate the Canyon-lands and I'm sure you already know the details."

Clark raised an eyebrow unabashedly, but also impressed. Bruce must have assumed when he saw him at the gala that he had eavesdropped on his and Luthor's conversation.

"Regardless of his issues with the Canyon-lands, due to his efforts he has been able to collect a large store of the substance. My son was able to collect a few samples from Utah."

"Dick Grayson."

Bruce turned to him in astonishment.

"You don't think I did my homework?" he asked with a cocky smile. Bruce gave him an appraising look, then smirked. "How did he do it without getting caught?"

He shrugged. "He was a tourist who got a little lost."

Clark and Kassandra chuckled; he couldn't deny Bruce's moxie.

"Anyway," he said staring at both of them sternly, "we analyzed the meteor rocks."

"Do you know why those rocks can hurt me?"

"Yes. Kassandra please," Bruce said.

For a moment Clark was afraid that she would bring it out and steeled himself for the pain to come, but thankfully, she brought up photos on the screen of the Batcomputer.

"Barbara ran a diagnostic test and its chemical signature is similar to the metal of the Black Zero," Kassandra said.

Realization dawned on Clark. "That means-"

"It came from Krypton," Bruce finished for him. "But there's more. This mineral-Kryptonite-gives off a powerful radiation. As of yet, it appears harmless to humans, but..." he trailed off.

Bruce didn't need to finish for Clark to understand. Clark had experienced the radiation now several times. Several times too many and he understood that it could hurt him, perhaps even kill him. This Kryptonite could be used against him by his enemies. Then all the pieces fell into place at once.

"Luthor was the one who organized the attacks on me."

Batman simply nodded.

"How could he know that it would hurt me?"

"He probably surmised that it would. That attack on you was probably a test. The question is why. I know you broke some of his stuff, but if it were that simple I imagine he would just sue you or demand you rebuild it."

Clark felt some trepidation in sharing this information with Bruce, but they were already in this far and they had decided to trust each other. He should know. "Luthor offered me a business proposition. He wants to dominate the world using a meta-human army. I was meant to be his first recruit."

Bruce seemed almost bemused. "Lex covets power more than anything, but he doesn't see it that way. He believes that he is some kind of savior. He wants to show people he does things in their favor. There's a lot of tension in humanity which resides in their uneasiness that thousands of people can kill with a thought or have the destructive power of a missile. He will manipulate their prejudices and fear to bring him to power, while disenfranchising anyone powerful enough to stop him. I bet you my fortune that he thought that if you were behind it, his legislation would be more credible and it would prevent your interference. When you refused, he stopped playing nice. Frankly I'm surprised he didn't just kill you what with you upsetting his holy quest."

"Maybe he intends to. Eventually. Knowing Luthor he'll want to end me spectacularly or use this to manipulate me."

A gift from a mutual friend. He paid a pretty price. Clark's jaw hardened.

"Metallo."

Apparently Bruce shared this brain wave. "I'm sure Lex wouldn't have minded if Metallo had killed you."

Clark sighed. Ever since childhood, he had sensed his life would be overly complicated and rife with danger. However, he had not foreseen how labyrinthine and perilous it would truly become. First Zod, then the military, even Bruce, now Luthor. His allies and foes were indiscriminate and changing.

"And now he's a senator. What's going to stop him from getting his legislation passed? From creating his army? All he wants is power. We both know that, but Luthor will see to it that no one else on Earth does. Instead he'll try to convince humanity that he's trying to protect them," Clark said a little disheartened and angry.

Bruce wasn't looking at him. Instead he was staring at the Batcomputer lost in thought. "I have to admit he has a point. There are much greater threats now to humanity. A large group of powerful people working together to protect the world. That doesn't sound like a bad idea."

The big plans he had.

"What are you talking about?"

Bruce visibly hesitated before he answered. He turned to Kassandra who glared at him a little.

"We need to show the people of Earth that there are powerful individuals on their side, that would defend against those who would use their abilities to destroy and conquer. And that we want to work with them not rule over them."

Intrigued, Clark asked, "What did you have in mind?"

"A formal alliance that we can display to the world. Cooperation between meta-humans and humans in the pursuit of justice and protection of the Earth. A beacon of hope. A light in the dark. I was thinking of calling it: the Justice League."

Something pinged at the back of his mind. We wanted you to know what it meant to be human first. Then when the time was right you could be the bridge between two Peoples. Clark had an overwhelming feeling of something sliding into place. He could still fulfill the purpose his mother and father set out for him. Perhaps he could unite the people of earth and protect them as well. Still Clark was unsure. What would stop them from succumbing to corruption? How would they show they were different from what Luthor planned?

"I will help you with Lex, but I don't think I should join this Justice League."

This was his destiny, his job to join the Peoples. If he allied himself with an organization he would risk tarnishing everything he stood for by the conjoined beliefs and eventual politics of such a group. In truth, the idea sounded amazing. Being surrounded by others like him would make him feel...normal. The whole point, however, was for Superman to be separate and impartial. He wasn't sure he could do that tied to such a diverse group of people.

"I'm sorry." And he meant it, but Bruce seemed unoffended as he just waved a hand.

"I understand. Take whatever time you need to think about it," Bruce said knowingly.

Clark nodded in both appreciation and understanding. Kassandra on the other hand looked disappointed. He felt bad, but he believed he was making the right choice. That didn't mean he wouldn't think about it, though. It was just the situation they were in was much more important.

"We should look into land acquisitions, ground breakings all within the last few months. If lead is encasing the radiation this Kryptonite emits I won't be able to find it with my eyes," Clark said.

"Not a problem."

Clark turned to see Barbara stepping out of an elevator that was embedded in the wall. Taken aback by her black attire, he openly stared, but Barbara barely made eye contact with him as she strolled to the Batcomputer, sat in the chair, and pressed a few buttons. When she spoke it was in a business-like manner.

"Over the past few months, LexCorp facilities have popped up all over the country and in some other parts of the world all of which are on the surface legitimate business."

Clark read down the list: an auto manufacturing factory in Detroit, a solar company in the Mexican desert, a biofuel manufacturing plant in Ohio, a research lab in Metropolis. There were about ten locations. Lex Luthor was a cautious man.

"According to the intel we've gathered," Barbara continued, "these facilities are covers for Kryptonite storage. For the past couple of months, Solaris," she pointed to Kassandra, "has destroyed his supply."

"You did destroy that Kryptonite?" he asked looking at Kassandra in wonder. For the first time it occurred to him that he never asked what exactly she could do. After they had aided him in defeating Metallo he had meant to, but he hadn't he chance to ask what had happened to the Kryptonite heart. He knew that she could teleport people and things, but he didn't understand how. And he couldn't fathom how that translated into being capable of destroying Kryptonite.

"With a concentrated blast of solar radiation, the Kryptonite is rendered inert," Kassandra said with an audacious look. "And theoretically, I could send them into the Sun, but I haven't tried."

Clark's eyes widened. "Amazing."

Barbara piped up from the console. "As far as we know there is one facility left in the Mexican desert."

"We don't know. This place is our best bet to figure all of this out and where we can find Lex's last stores of Kryptonite," Kassandra said.

"Then we have no time to lose," Clark said gravely. He turned to leave when he felt Kassandra's hand on his arm.

"This one appears to be more secure. Now that he knows you and Batman are working together, it would be best if we went," she said gesturing to her and Barbara. "Plus, you know there will be a lot of Kryptonite."

"Kassandra is right," Bruce said. "We need to handle this carefully. You're not one for subtlety and we need to be smart about this. Barbara and Kassandra will carry out this mission."

Clark sighed. "So what's the plan?"