DEAL

The phone call had been from Richard who was worried she had "snuck out" yet again. Lois returned to her desk in the newsroom, wondering what Superman had been about to show her.

He was watching her and Jason from "the inside?" Inside the building? Is that what he meant? Lois looked around, not sure what exactly she was looking for. She noted Clark was not at his desk.

Clark was hovering above the city not too from the Planet. His mother had called him at almost the same exact moment Richard had called Lois. Emil had specially modified Clark's phone so could keep it with him wherever he was and whatever he was doing. He didn't have to worry someone or some organization could use its location data or other unusual activity that might tie the phone to Superman. The phone also used crystal oscillations in place of audio, visual, or vibrating notifications. Finally, it had a special type of dual SIM functionality. One phone number was Clark's regular persistent number, and the other was specially encrypted and was switched out on a regular basis and as needed. The second number was only known by his mother, Emil, and a few other people. They had to be regularly updated when the number changed. It was reserved for emergencies and for discussing Superman... stuff.

His mother had used a two-ring-signal to let him know she wanted to talk to him on his secure line, but that it was not an emergency. Clark called her back on his secure line. Martha had been incommunicado for the last several days, on a fishing trip out in the middle of nowhere with Ben. Now that she had returned to civilization and heard the recent news, she was sick with worry over her son. Clark spoke with her for a few minutes, filling her in on some of the details, and assuring her he was OK. He told her about Linda.

"So, there is a Last Daughter," Martha mused.

"No!" Clark replied sharply. "There is no Last Daughter, and I'm not the Last Son! I already told you this was all nonsense!"

Martha was taken aback by the way Clark had just spoken to her. Normally, she would have reprimanded him, but she held back. The anguish in her son's voice cut through her like a knife into her heart. She stayed silent.

"I'm sorry, Ma. I shouldn't have spoken…"

"Oh, Clark," Marth's voice quivered with sadness. "I'm so sorry about what you're going through. I feel so helpless. I wish I could give you a hug and a kiss and make it all better like when you were a little boy."

Clark couldn't help but smile a little. Ma said that to him at least a few times a month.

"I really mean it this time. I always mean it, but this time is different."

After the phone call, Clark returned to the newsroom. He sat down at his desk, pretending to be busy with something or other. He watched Lois out of the corner of his eye. She was no longer obsessed with ispottedsuperman, but she seemed just as agitated. She was hardly even pretending to be busy with work. She kept looking out over the newsroom, out the windows, and over at Richard's office. Every few minutes, she would get up and walk around aimlessly only to return to her desk with a 'humph."

Hadn't both she and Clark had been working on other stories before she had made that fateful trip to Midvale? Perry had been pressuring both of them to squeeze out some stories, but the two top Daily Planet reporters had gone quiet.

"Roses are red. Violets are blue. Let's finish this poem together over dinner. Tonight? Call me, James." Letitia stared at the notecard she had removed from the bouquet of roses she found on her desk upon arriving that morning. She rubbed it between her fingers, hardly believing it was real. She was on cloud nine!

Letitia sat down and tried to concentrate on her work. She paid little attention to the hunched-over elderly janitor who paused to empty her wastebasket into the large can on his cart. The janitor then turned his attention to her desk, fluttering his duster back and forth over her computer, her papers, her picture frames, and then over her.

"Hey!" Letitia cried out in protest.

The janitor grabbed a few food wrappers and the vase of roses and dumped them into his can.

"Hey! What the fuck!" Letitia jumped up and around her desk and retrieved the bouquet.

"Oh, did you still want that?" The janitor didn't apologize, but moved onto a neighboring desk.

"Yeh, watch what you're doing," Letitia called after him. "Jeez…" She tried to rearrange the roses back to how they were before.

The janitor was just as disruptive at all the subsequent desks he visited, knocking things off desks with his duster, spraying cleaning solution everywhere, including peoples' faces, and leaving wastebaskets overturned on the floor.

Then he came to Lois's desk. She barely took note of him. She had made up her mind to try to write another article about what happened in Midvale and was busy typing away. The janitor stood at her desk silently and still for a few moments. His presence started getting on Lois's nerves. She reached over to pick up her wastebasket and held it out to him. Instead of taking it, he dropped something in it. Lois wasn't expecting that, so she startled and looked in the wastebasket. On top of the heap of crumpled papers was a wig. Lois looked up, then she jumped up out of her chair.

"Lex Luthor!"

Lois had yelled loudly enough that half the newsroom, including Clark, looked her way.

"Hiya!" Lex smiled at Lois.

Mummers rose within the newsroom. People started gathering around.

Clark had also jumped out of his seat. Lex was close enough for Clark to kick him. And, boy did he want to kick him. Hard. But he had to somehow figure out a way to make a discreet exit. That was less and less likely as more and more people gathered around.

Richard noticed the goings on. He told Jason firmly to stay put, and then left his office and quickly made his way over to Lois's desk.

Perry White was also alerted and rushed to the scene.

Lex and Lois stared down each other for a few moments.

"Aren't you gonna say 'hi?'"

"What do you want?" Lois asked through gritted teeth.

"Superman," he replied simply.

"Well," Lois gestured to the newsroom, "as you can see, he's not here."

"I'm sure he'll be by soon, what with you and your little mutt being here and mean 'ole Lex Luthor shows up." Lex waved his arms around threateningly. He chuckled and pulled up a nearby chair. "It's OK, I'll wait." Lex looked at his watch. "He's got two minutes."

It being a newsroom, news cameras and reporters gathered about, broadcasting LIVE. Lex looked around and smiled, reveling in the attention. "Ah! Free publicity. And saves me the trouble of using up another burner phone." He turned to one of the cameras and looked square into it. "This message is for my associates. Jiggy, if Superman isn't here in two minutes, kill Linda." He was about to sit down in the chair, but looked back into the camera and added, "…in the most horrific and painful way possible."

Lex sat down and made himself comfortable. He looked up at Lois and smiled that infuriatingly wicked smile of his. "That ought to do it, don't you think?"

"You are so…" Lois began, but she didn't have the words.

"I know, my charm is indescribable."

Perry pushed his way through the crowd. "You've got some nerve, coming here. I called security and 911," he announced.

"That's unfortunate. Superman's now gotta outrace the clock, and the police. My associates already have orders to kill Linda if anyone lays a hand on me."

Richard also pushed his way though and stood next to Clark. He had intended to deck Lex, but decided against it after hearing that last bit of information. Instead, he turned to Clark. "Clark, let's go intercept security."

Jason, who of course came over to see what was going on, pushed his way through to his mother.

"Well, if it isn't the little mongrel," Lex snickered.

Clark resisted the urge to snatch Jason and Lois and swoop them to safety. Lex wanted Superman. Anything else might get Linda killed. Richard was giving him an out, and he took it.

They pushed their way through the crowd and to the empty elevator lobby. Clark was trying to think of a way to lose Richard so he could change into Superman in private. But it turned out he didn't have to.

Richard looked around them frantically. "Quick! No one's watching. Do whatever 'presto chango…' He waved his arms around.

"Huh?"

"I know you're Superman! Just do it!"

There was no time to ask questions or hesitate. Clark yanked off his glasses and his street clothes just as the elevator 'dinged" and security came rushing out.

Richard tried to blocked their path into the newsroom. "Superman's got everything under control," Richard told them. He tried to herd them back into the elevator without much success as Superman walked quickly into the newsroom and made a beeline straight to Lex.

"Superman!" people called out, announcing his arrival.

Lois let out a pent-up sob of relief and bent down to hug Jason.

Superman walked straight up to Lex and stood there, seething.

Lex stood up and offered his hand to Superman. "Supes, my old friend. It's so good to see you!"

Superman ignored his hand and didn't take his eyes off of Lex's face. "What do you want, Luthor?"

Lex withdrew his hand, gave Superman one of his famous fake smiles, and sat back down. He reached up, locked his fingers together, and leaned his head back into his hands.

"I wanted to see you," Lex tried to put on an innocent air. "Your little girlfriend sends regards, by the way."

"Let her go." Superman tried to keep his tone steady and strong, but no one in the room or watching on TV could miss the anguish in his voice. "It's me you want."

"True. And I've got you, don't I?"

"She's just a little girl!"

"That's where you're wrong," Lex sneered. "There is no little girl. There's only you. When I look at her, I see you. When she bleeds, it's your blood, your tears, your screams! When she cries, it's your voice that I hear! Or is that the sound of a heart of steel breaking?"

Superman tried his best to keep his composure, but his voice faltered anyway. "You'll have plenty of time to listen to the sound of steel where you're going." Superman took a step toward him, but hesitated.

"Uh uh uh," Luthor wagged his finger and shook his head.

"What do you want?" Superman asked again.

"I want to make a deal with you."

"I don't make deals with insane, diabolical, sadistic…."

"What about with me, then." Lex chuckled.

"No deals," Superman said firmly.

"Do you know why the dodo is extinct? It was too stupid to make the right choices to save itself. Kind of like Krpytonians. If you refuse my deal, I promise you'll quickly be one third closer to extinction than you already are."

Superman was heavily aware of the millions of eyes that were upon them in those moments. He knew he couldn't yield, even if Linda had to pay the price. "You know I can't make any deals. I can't ever open myself up to extortion or blackmail. I can't be bought. Not for any price."

"Awe, what a noble speech. But you haven't even heard me out. I think you'll like this deal. You see, I'm prepared to let Linda go. I'll deliver her straight to you, alive and well… pretty well anyway. You just have to do one simple itty bitty thing. Something I'm sure you want to do anyway."

"What's that?" Superman was curious.

"Kill me."

Superman stood there, unmoved. He furrowed his brow and stared incredulously at Lex.

"I'm serious," Lex insisted. He turned toward one of the cameras again. "Jiggy, if Superman kills me right here, right now… you deliver Linda to him, alive and well." Lex turned back to Superman, held up his hands, empty palms facing outward, and cocked his head to the side. "Well?"

Superman didn't move, except for tightening his jaw.

"You can't do it, can you?" Lex laughed tauntingly. "You wish you could, don't you? But you can't!"

"Just do it," someone in the crowd murmured. Several others added their agreement.

"I'll do it," Steve Lombard pushed his way forward and started rolling up his sleeves.

Lex moved away from the oncoming Steve until Superman was between them. "Uh uh. No. It's gotta be him." He pointed at Superman.

Superman briefly glanced around at Clark's coworkers. There probably wasn't one of them that didn't wish he would kill Lex, except maybe Lois, and only because Jason was there. He held up his hand in Steve's direction, staying him. "Let's continue this in private," he told Lex.

"No, I don't think so. I kinda like this… exposing you for the wuss you really are. Superman! Can't even do what the lowliest hoodlum can. Tell me, is this flaw in you physical or psychological?"

Superman didn't answer.

"Alright, you've got another ten seconds and I withdraw the deal. Ten, nine, eight…" Luthor tilted his head up and too the side, exposing his neck to Superman. "Are you sure? Come on, it'd be so easy. Just grab and squeeze a little. No? Seven, six, five. This wouldn't just be justice for all the crimes I've committed… all the people I've killed. Think of all the mischief and murder I'll commit in the future." Luthor unbuttoned his jacket and puffed out his chest at Superman. "You can prevent all that. Right here, right now. How can I make this easier for you? Here, just land one on my chest. Think of all the lives you'll save by killing me now. All the destruction and misery you can prevent. Four, three, two, one…" Lex paused a few moments. "Zero. Oh well, Ziggy," he called to the cameras again. "I guess you guys can enjoy Linda's company for a little while longer."

Superman grimaced. Luthor chuckled, sat back down and relaxed again.

"OK, I've got one more offer for you."

"I said, no deals!"

"Oh really?" Luthor leaned forward to taunt him further. "So why haven't you taken me to jail yet? Or let security at me? You can't bring yourself to do it because you know that's the instant Linda dies. But if you're not willing to deal, then you're just prolonging the inevitable. So I have a feeling you're not as immovable as you'd like me to think."

"What do you want, Luthor?"

"I wanna turn over a new leaf. I don't want to be a criminal anymore. I don't want to be a fugitive anymore. I want to breathe the fresh air, take my girl out to dinner once and a while, hob nob with politicians and business associates..."

"But what do you want from me? Ethics lessons?"

"I want a full pardon."

"I can't give you that."

"No, but you can persuade the president..."

"I said, no deals!"

"Come on supes! Think of it! I'll become a respectable citizen again. No more criminal stuff, I promise. You can trust me as far as you can throw me, which is probably pretty far."

"No."

"How long will they be able to keep me in prison this time? A month? A year? Two? And I promise you I will redouble, I will retriple, my efforts to reign down suffering on this planet both while I'm in prison, and when I inevitably get out. But you can prevent that now, with just one word. Deal!"

Superman hesitated. "I told you, I can't." He took a step toward Lex and reached out slowly as if to grab him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it fast enough before Lex made his next move….

"Jiggy! Execute plan 'B.'"

Superman paused. "What's plan B?"

"A sweetener. In two minutes, a mega cruise ship, packed with explosives, with forty five hundred people and 26 emotional support animals will be blown into oblivion."

"Where?"

"Say 'deal!'"

"Plan C! Execute!" Lex shouted. "In three minutes it's a skyscraper. I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."

"Jiggy! Plan…"

"Shut up, Luthor!"

"Make me! Plan D! A bridge in four minutes!"

"Stop! Enough!" Superman was practically sobbing.

"Say 'deal!' Say it!"

"Deal! Deal!" Now he was sobbing. He fell down onto one knee and buried his face in his hands.

In front of the whole world, Lex Luthor had brought Superman to his knees.

"I knew you'd see it my way."

"Call it off! Call off the bombs!"

"I can't."

"Where are they?"

"Well," Lex took his time, thinking. "The Bosphorus bridge. That's one of them… it's rush hour there so you'd better get there in time."

"And! The other two!"

"Uh, let me see…. the Columbia Center, I think it was…" Lex paused. "No, actually I think we finally settled on the Panorama tower. You know, if you don't find explosives in one, you should check the other."

"And the ship?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure exactly where that one is. It's mobile, you know."

"Luthor!"

"Probably somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Check near the island of Mauritius."

"And what about Linda?"

"I'll release her to you. We can work out the details later, after the pardon is issued."

Superman looked over at the group of police officers ready to pounce. He furrowed his brow and looked back at Lex. "I know you're in kind of a rush," Lex told him. "I'll let them arrest me, but you got to spring me within the hour."

"Fine." Superman disappeared in a WOOSH!