Clark Kent makes his way to STAR Labs. Today he was interviewing professor Anthony Ivo, a researcher at STAR. It had been a while since Clark had been here. Ever since Silas Stone took over, he wasn't as welcoming as Emil Hamilton once was. Clark has to go through several security protocols before being allowed to enter the facility. Eventually a security guard escorts him to Professor Ivo's lab.
"Professor Ivo?" Clark says as he enters.
"Yes, yes, what is it?" The professor asks.
"I'm Clark Kent, from the Daily Planet, I'm here for our interview." Clark says.
"Interview, ah yes, well let's get on with it." Ivo says.
Clark was taken a bit back by Ivo's icy demeanor. The professor invited him here for the interview.
"So, Professor Ivo, how long have you been working for STAR Labs?" Clark asks.
"Just a few months. I came over here from LexCorp, after their whole debacle last year." Ivo says.
"Yes, LexCorp." Clark says.
Those words still sent a shiver down Clark's spine. Even though Lex was safely locked away at Belle Reve. LexCorp had been hurting since then too. Lois had an interview coming up soon with Mercy Graves, the current chairwomen of LexCorp. She supposedly had plans to revitalize the company.
"It isn't what you think. Just because I worked there doesn't mean I'm some sort of super villain." Ivo says, defensively.
"I didn't accuse you of anything." Clark says.
"Lex Luthor may have gone off the deep end, but I will say he was good to me in my time there." Ivo says.
Clark so rarely heard people defend Lex. He didn't care for it, but he couldn't control the opinions of others.
"So what are you working on now?" Clark asks.
"Well, it's quite ingenious actually. I've been working on what I call the Amazo serum." Ivo says.
"Amazo serum?" Clark repeats.
"That's right." Ivo says.
"What does this Amazo serum do?" Clark asks.
"The goal is to replicate healthy cells from one person to a sick person." Ivo explains.
"For what sort of ailments?" Clark asks.
"If all goes according to plan, anything." Ivo says.
"It can really do that?" Clark asks.
"Hopefully one day." Ivo says.
"So it doesn't work yet?" Clark asks.
"No, we are still very early into the testing phases of it." Ivo says.
"I curious professor, if it's so far off from being ready, why write about it now?" Clark asks.
"Off the record?" Ivo asks back.
Clark hesitates for a moment.
"If we must." Clark says, putting his notebook down.
"The answer to that is funding. If news of my research is out there, there is a better chance to get my research funded and for me to make it a reality. You understand." Ivo says.
"Of course. Has this serum been tested?" Clark asks.
"Not on people, just on mice." Ivo says.
"And what have you found?" Clark asks.
"The findings suggest it will plausibly work. But if the quote unquote health mouse has any other ailments, they also transfer to the other mouse." Ivo says.
Clark continues his interview with Professor Ivo.
"Thank you for your time professor, I think I have everything I need." Clark says.
"I look forward to reading about my breakthrough in the Daily Planet tomorrow." Ivo says.
"Very well sir." Clark says as he departs.
Rudy Jones, the janitor at STAR Labs had overheard Clark's interview with Professor Ivo. Rudy was a quiet guy. The kind of guy that none of the scientists at STAR would look twice at. He was just expected to show up and do his work. And for the most part, Rudy did a pretty good job of that. However, Rudy had a problem. Rudy was an avid gambler, and right now her was in deep. He got a tip that someone from Intergang would pay off his gambling debts if he brought them something good from STAR.
Intergang had been fledgling for the past few years too. Ever since Bruno Mannheim got taken out. But they were trying to regain their dominance in the underworld. Along with their new unknown leader. Their leader was only referred to as Granny.
Rudy makes a call.
"I've got it all set. I can get you it tonight." Rudy says.
Late into the evening, Silas Stone is getting ready to leave. He walks by Rudy, who is mopping the floors.
"You still here?" Silas asks.
"Yes sir Professor Stone. Gotta make sure these floors shine for you." Rudy says.
"Just make sure everything is locked up when you leave." Silas says.
"You can count on me sir." Rudy says.
Silas leaves the building.
When Rudy is sure he is gone, he heads to the back loading area and opens the door. Waiting is Joe Danton, an operative of Intergang.
"Let's hurry this up." Joe says.
"The serum is this way." Rudy says.
Rudy leads Joe to a pallet. Rudy had loaded up the four ten-gallon containers of the Amazo serum here.
"Load 'em into my truck." Joe says.
"Aren't you going to help me?" Rudy asks.
"Naw, you do it." Joe says.
"Those things weigh nearly a hundred pounds each." Rudy says.
"So use the forklift." Joe says.
B-but I'm not authorized to use that." Rudy says.
"Look, I want that stuff loaded up, and I want it done now." Joe says, pulling a gun from his jacket pocket.
"Very well." Rudy says.
Rudy gets into the forklift. He doesn't really know how to use it. Rudy stumbles his way forward as he tries to hook the pallet.
"Hurry up." Joe says.
"I'm trying." Rudy says.
Rudy hooks the pallet and whips the forklift around. The containers clank into each other. Rudy then drives the forklift forward into the bed of Joe's truck. Rudy gets the pallet down with a harsh thud.
"Careful!" Joe says.
"Sorry." Rudy says.
As the containers smash together, their lids become loose.
"Hey, who's there?" A voice calls out.
Rudy and Joe look back. It's a security guard.
"Oh crap!" Rudy reacts.
"You there, freeze!" The guard shouts out.
"Not likely." Joe says, as he begins to shoot.
The guard ducks for cover.
"What are you doing?" Rudy calls out.
"I'm not getting caught." Joe says. Joe shoots at the guard again. He hits another container, something flammable as an explosion erupts on the loading dock.
Joe gets in his truck and begins to speed off.
"Hey, my cut." Rudy calls out as he jumps into the bed of the truck.
With the fire spreading, the fire alarm goes off. Clark is at home, preparing dinner for Lois and himself. He can hear the alarm, and he speeds off.
Rudy bangs on the back of Joe's window.
"Hey, slow down." Rudy pleads.
"Get outta here you little twerp." Joe says.
Just then, Joe looks up and sees Superman flying overhead in the night sky.
"Oh shit!" Joe calls out as he swerves the car.
Superman wasn't paying any attention to them. He was speeding by on his way to STAR Labs to help with the fire.
The car swerves off the side of the road. Rudy and the containers fall over. The containers open up and douse Rudy in a pool of the Amazo serum.
"AHHHHHHH! Help me!" Rudy yells out.
Joe looks in his rear-view mirror. He sees a pool of purple serum flooding his bed. Then he sees a hand reach up.
"Yah!" Joe reacts as he swerves the car again. This time far off the road and down a hill. The car tumbles and rolls over a few times, spilling to pool of serum. It comes to a stop in a ravine at the bottom of the hill. Joe crawls out, bruised and scaped up.
"Aw man, my truck." Joe says.
Joe goes around to the back and looks for Rudy. He finds the purple melting remains of Rudy's body. Joe gets down to study it. In an instant, Rudy grabs Joe by the arm.
Rudy's touch begins sucking the life force out of Joe's body.
"Hey get off of me. AHHHH!" Joe yells out.
Joe's body falls to the ground as Rudy's eyes open up.
"Woah, I feel- woah!" Rudy reacts as he stands up.
Rudy had sucked out Joe's life force and it helped heal some of his own injuries. Rudy had power now, and he felt good.