"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Clark roared.
He was across the room and pounding on Superman's chest before any of the agents or officers had time to react.
One hand was around Superman's throat, squeezing; and the other was pounding his broad chest. The blows landed harmlessly against Superman's invulnerable exterior, but he was no less taken off guard by the attack.
"J'onn!" Superman shouted in his mind. "What are you doing!?"
J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter, was a being of amazing ability. Once believed to be the last remaining Martian, J'onn was brought to Earth accidentally by the beams of an experimental teleporter developed by one Dr. Saul Erdals, who died in the resulting blast of energy the teleporter emitted. He used his telepathic abilities to ease the mans passing, and his ability to shape-shift too blend in with the rest of humanity. Since, he has used his awesome powers, which include super-strength, near invulnerability, the ability to turn his entire body invisible and intangible, and his ability of flight, to fight alongside Earths greatest heroes in the Justice League.
"My apologies, Superman." he whispered telepathically to his ally. Verbally, he shouted. "That psycho is going to kill my wife because of you!" and he continued to pound away. The officers had reacted by now and were trying to pull "Clark Kent" away from Superman.
"The agents will require information about your relationship with Lois; information I do not possess." J'onn explained. "And your Kryptonian mind is difficult to penetrate under normal circumstances. Physical contact will make it easier."
And Superman felt it; like a breeze through his mind; like the gentle caress of the softest fingers, like a whisper in the darkness…
His and Lois's entire relationship flashed through his mind. The first time he saw her inside the offices of the Daily Planet. The years spent as her friend, watching her infatuation with Superman grow more and more, just as his infatuation for her grew equally; their first kiss: Lois in the arms of Superman. Their love growing with every encounter; the day Superman revealed the truth of his secret identity; the look on Lois' face. Their first kiss again: Lois in the arms of Clark Kent. Their wedding day! The joy Clark felt as he looked at his wife… The years of happiness since…
And just like that, it was over.
Agent Davison was pulling Clark away from Superman with the aid of a uniformed officer, and the detective.
"I have what I need." J'onn's voice whispered through Superman's mind. "And I only saw what I needed to see." He assured him.
Verbally: "Why can't you just leave us alone!? She's my wife! She's my wife and she's going to die because of you!"
The words hit Superman like a punch to the gut.
"Again… I apologize." J'onn mentally whispered. "But the charade must be convincing. I feel your inner turmoil over the situation, but you know what must be done. The needs of the many-"
"Mr. Kent…" Superman said aloud. He moved a little further into the room slowly. "I can't imagine what you must be going through, and I apologize for any part I had to play in this, but I promise you that saving Lois Lane-Kent is very important to me."
"As it is to us." Agent Davison stepped in. "That's why while Superman is dealing with the reactor at the plant…" he glanced at Superman then, giving him a look that was filled more with instructions than questions. "We are going to be doing everything we can to find her. But we're running out of time…" He was looking back at Clark now. "We need to know if there's anything else you can remember… Anything at all."
"How much do I share?" J'onn asked mentally.
"As much as necessary." Superman answered.
"I dropped her off at the airport." Clark explained. "She had a connecting flight from Miami to Australia, then another to Antarctica. She called me from a small airstrip south if the Ronne Ice Shelf. She was about to board a helicopter. It was going to take her to the facility from there. That was the last time I spoke to her. But I know she made it to the Facility. And since she's still alive after the facility was destroyed…"
"Than whoever has her had to be there as well!" Davison registered. He pointed at Sanders, who was already pulling out her cell phone and moving towards the kitchen.
"I'm on it!" she said, already dialing.
Superman remained silent. He knew they wouldn't find much information, but he didn't want to dash their hopes… or his own. After all, many hands working towards a common goal…
"Mr. Kent..." Davison began. "I'm going to take you into protective custody. I want you to accompany these officers…" he gestured towards the uniforms. "They are going to get you outside the city and to a safe location…"
"What about Lois!?" Clark asked, near frantic.
"We are going to find her, Mr. Kent." Davison urged. "But first we have to get you to safety."
Clark looked at the agent for a moment, and then his eyes fell on Superman.
"I wish to assist you, but if Clark Kent suddenly disappears…" J'onn' telepathic voice whispered.
"Go with them, J'onn." Superman answered mentally. "You'll do more good there."
"As soon as I get the opportunity," J'onn offered. "I will try to search for her telepathically. With any luck…"
"Again…" Superman said aloud. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Kent. But I promise you; I will do everything in my power to find… your wife."
Clark looked at Superman for a long moment in silence, both verbal and mental.
"Do what you can for the city." Clark said at last. "Let us hope that no one will be sacrificed for your heroics" J'onn added mentally.
Clark let the uniformed officers lead him out of the apartment. The detective followed.
When he was gone, Agent Davison was left alone looking intently at Superman. "Anything I should know?" he asked.
"About what?" Superman asked.
Agent Davison gave him a look reserved for small children when they ask silly questions. "The man wrapped his hands around your neck." He said matter-of-factly. "It took three of us to pull him off you!"
Superman gave the agent an angry look. "His… wife is being held hostage and her life is being threatened by some mad man with a grudge against me. He's racked with emotion. I'm sure he was just lashing out."
Agent Davison looked at him for a long moment; looked at him as if he was only just starting to really see him.
Agent Sanders entered the room, sliding her cell phone into her pocket as she approached. "Nothing." She said with more than a hint of frustration in her voice. "I have Walker working on it in the mobile command center, but as of now, we've got nothing! I worked backwards from the airport in Australia, the private charter was booked from there to the Facility, but the bird never returned. Meanwhile, all passenger manifests have mysteriously vanished off their computers. Everything under a week old has vanished! Same for all flights into Australia since it's the launch pad to the Antarctic. We've got no records of anyone coming or going for the last six days! Walkers the best computer man we have… but even he says it's going to take time, and that's if he finds anything at all. Looks like we're back to square one."
And only then did she notice the tension between the two men left in the room. "Did I miss something?" she asked.
"No." Superman answered.
Davison was silent for another moment.
"We need to get to the power plant." He told Sanders.
"What about Lois?" Superman asked.
Davison looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "We have nothing more to go off of. We've secured Kent, and if he remembers anything important, we'll jump on it; but until then we have another crisis on our hands." He paused and looked at him for a moment. "Is there anything you want to contribute about Mrs. Lane-Kent?" Davison said the last bit with extra emphasis.
Superman gave him a long, hard look.
Davison returned it evenly.
"I'll see you at the plant." Superman said and turned towards the open window and balcony beyond.
"Yeah." Davison shot back. "I do have one question though;"
Superman paused but didn't turn around.
"Have you noticed you tend to pause when you refer to Lois as Clark Kent's… wife." He poked.
Again, Superman didn't turn around. He took two strides out the door and took to the air silently.
"What the hell was that about?" Sanders asked.
"Nothing." Davison answered; his eyes full of the open balcony door. "Let's go."
And they went.
"Hey…" Sanders started as they entered the hall. "Is it me… or does Clark kinda look like Superman, with his hair tossed and glasses on?"
Davison seemed to consider it for a moment. "It's just you." He answered simply.