Chapter 26

All was calm along the Metropolis riverfront. A few stray clouds obscured the bright stars dotting the night sky. On the docks a tall lamppost cast a circle of light over Lex Luthor. The well-dressed business man stood outside a large warehouse with five armed guards discreetly positioned in the shadows. Not sure from which direction his visitor would arrive, Lex surveyed the river and looked up at the sky. Nothing. He checked his gold watch, noted it was almost ten-thirty, the agreed upon time. A heavy thud sounded behind him and he spun round to face his alien visitor.

Brainiac's powerful six-foot five-inch robotic body was a terrifying sight. The greenish-gray armor shone in the dim warehouse lights. Red eyes cast a glow of their own, lighting up the dark-purple bodysuit. Three glowing green diodes intersected by silver lines criss-crossed the android's gleaming forehead.

"Holy crap!" sputtered one of the guards hidden in the shadows. A grimace spread across Lex's face, he didn't want to appear weak or fearful in front of the alien.

"I am Brainiac," the android stated in a robotic voice. Brainiac knew from past experience his appearance usually caused fear, so he did not approach Lex. At this stage it was important to establish trust.

"I'm Lex Luthor." Lex sounded very sure of himself and arrogant. "Welcome to Earth."

"I seek the peaceful exchange of knowledge and technology for the betterment of your world and mine." Brainiac had used these words on many other planets in many other languages. It didn't matter that Brainiac had no world.

"I'm looking for the same thing," Lex said. "I can offer you technology from a distant, more advanced planet than Earth."

"The Kryptonian technology you mentioned?"

"Yes. However, the Kryptonian technology is not easy to obtain," Lex warned with a wag of an index finger.

"Do not misjudge my abilities," cautioned Brainiac holding up a large green fist. The click of a guard's weapon sounded in the shadows.

Lex lifted a hand and ordered his guards, "Lower your weapons!" Lex knew that if Brainiac wanted to kill them, or him, he could do so at any time. "I apologize for my associates," Lex said to Brainiac. "And trust me, I never underestimate anyone."

"Neither do I." Brainiac's eyes glowed brightly. "If the technology is not easy to obtain that means you do not have it." This realization angered Brainiac.

Lex sensed the android's anger. "You're right. I don't have the technology. It's safely hidden. Only a fool would have the technology with him when he met an alien for the first time."

Lex clasped his hands behind his back and stood firm and confident in front of Brainiac. Lex tipped his head back and looked up at the towering android. "How do I know you won't use the technology against me or this planet once you have it?"

The ghost of a grin appeared around Brainiac's mouth. "You don't." His eyes brightened and then dimmed. "But you are intelligent and you do realize I am powerful enough to take whatever I want." He looked around the dock, at the empty warehouses, and the city on the other side of the river. "I have studied your planet for some time. It does not have much to offer me."

"But here you are." Lex gave a small shrug. "You say you have studied our planet for some time but yet, you haven't located the Kryptonian technology. Without my help, I doubt you ever will." Lex paused, tapped his chin, and then added, "There are a few obstacles in the way. They are . . . uh, Kryptonian."

If Brainiac was capable of laughter he might have laughed at Lex. "If the Kryptonian obstacle you speak of is the individual called Superman, I do not consider him much of an obstacle."

Lex was pleased to hear Brainiac mention Superman. "So, you have heard of our resident Kryptonian. Perhaps, you have already met him?" Lex waited impatiently for the answer.

"Yes I have," Brainiac said flatly.

The lack of details disappointed Lex. Had there been a fight? Was Superman injured? And where the heck was Superman? Yes, Lex had many questions for Brianiac, but he knew he would not get any answers. Not tonight.

"Well," Lex said, "Superman obviously didn't share his technology with you."

"In time," was Brainiac's vague answer.

Lex thought a second before saying, "At first, we on Earth thought Superman would share his technology with us, but he hasn't. I'm one of the few who sees Superman for what he truly is. A selfish being. If he won't use his technology to help the planet he lives on, I doubt he'll willingly share it with you."

These comments puzzled Brainiac. "I do not understand. He is viewed as a hero, practically worshipped. Your news reports claim he saves lives every day."

"You may have noticed there is no mention of his advanced technology," Lex responded with subtle rage. "No, of course, there isn't. He has kept that hidden from the world. But I found it!"

"If you found it you could have used it against him." Brainiac narrowed his eyes and glared at Lex suspiciously.

"I tried," Lex conceded. "But with his great powers, I wasn't able to defeat him. No one on this planet can challenge him."

"You require my help in defeating Superman," said Brainiac.

"Yes. If you can defeat Superman then we can share the Kryptonian technology. I'm sure it would benefit both of us." Lex realized Brainiac had not defeated the Man of Steel.

"I am sure it would benefit both of us," agreed Brainiac. "How do I know you will take me to the technology when Superman is destroyed?"

It was Lex's turn to feel superior when he said, "You don't."

Lex and Brainiac stood silently eyeing each other. Neither one trusted the other. Trust was for fools. Their success in life was due in large part to the fact that they didn't trust anyone. They relied instead on their superior intelligence and careful planning to obtain their goals, and at the moment they shared a goal – the death of Superman. Once Superman was out of the way they would worry about who really acquired the Kryptonian technology.

Brainiac said, "I will plan my attack on Superman. Where can I find him?"

"I will draw him out. Give me two days and I can have Superman right here." Lex pointed to the wooden dock at his feet.

"Two Earth days then," Brainiac said. "I must return to my ship." He turned slowly and eyed each guard, daring them to shoot. The glow from his eyes lit their frightened faces. He strode to the edge of the dock and without warning, shot into the sky like a rocket.

"Holy crap," a guard muttered as all five men crept from their shadowy hideouts, their weapons at the ready. Although they knew the weapons would be utterly useless against the android. The men stood motionless on the dock and looked skyward in disbelief. They breathed a collective sigh of relief at the android's departure.

One guard said, "I think he's as fast as Superman. Maybe faster."

Another guard said, "You see the size of him? He's huge. Looks like he's stronger than Superman, too. A lot stronger."

"Let's hope he is," Lex said, a note of glee in his voice. "I'm counting on our new friend to take care of Superman once and for all."

The first guard sagely asked, "Yeah boss, but who's gonna take care of the robot once Superman's outta the way?"

Lex eyed the guard a beat before saying, "Everyone has a weakness. Even that robot. I just have to find out what it is."