Chapter 22
Lex Luthor eyed the large black and white clock in his office, one o'clock in the afternoon and still no sign of Superman. Lex couldn't help but think that perhaps something really had happened to the Man of Steel. Could the recent message he'd received have any connection to Superman's mysterious disappearance? It seemed too likely to just be a coincidence.
Lex revised his message, emphasizing his access to 'Kryptonian technology.' As with earlier transmissions, he transferred the message to Lexicon's satellite systems. From there the message would be sent into space via radio waves. Lex shook his head and rolled his eyes at such a primitive method of communicating, but so far, it was working.
# # # # #
Lois entered Perry White's office and he motioned for her to take a seat in one of the large brown chairs. With hands on his hips, Perry slowly paced back and forth.
"Lois, you know the Daily Planet is known for its exclusive stories on Superman." He stopped pacing and eyed Lois suspiciously. "Have you noticed his absence?"
What could she say? She didn't have any hard facts about Superman's whereabouts. Was he still completing his space mission? He'd told her it could take a while.
Perry continued, "It's very odd for two days to pass with no reports of Superman. And not just in Metropolis, Lois. There haven't been any sightings worldwide . . . for two whole days." Perry sat on the corner of his desk, crossed his arms and stared at Lois, waiting for a response.
"Well, um, Mr. White," Lois stalled, "I don't think we should jump to any conclusions." She waved a hand in the air dismissing the importance of Superman's absence. "I'm sure there are plenty of reasons Superman hasn't been spotted anywhere."
"Really?" Perry said with feigned innocence. "Well Lois, as my ace reporter, could you give me one of those reasons?"
Luckily, an idea popped into her head. "Superman could be helping in a very remote area. You know, some place that doesn't have media."
Perry stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hm, that's a possibility. A good possibility. But I'm thinking, if anyone truly knows Superman's whereabouts, it's Lois Lane."
Lois wondered exactly what Perry was implying. If anyone truly knows Superman's whereabouts, it's her! A little hotly, Lois rose and said, "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you Mr. White, but I don't. If that's all, I really do need to get back to work."
Perry watched an agitated Lois stride back to her desk, her long brown curls bouncing on her shoulders with each step. Perry thought Lois might still be a bit angry when it came to Superman. His gut was also telling him she knew a lot more than she was saying.
# # # # #
In the darkness of space, Brainiac's ship continued to orbit the moon. A faint beep sounded from the communications console.
"At last," Brainiac said. "A message."
He read it quickly and smiled at the mention of Kryptonian technology. This could mean the Kryptonian crystals belonging to Superman. After listening to transmissions from Earth, Brainiac now knew quite a bit about the alien. He'd learned that Superman was viewed as a hero, possessed super-powers, and like himself, came from Krypton.
The moon loomed outside the large viewing window, but a crescent Earth was visible in the distance. Brainiac glared at the blue and white planet floating in space. Speaking to the planet he said, "Your hero will not be able to save you this time. I will defeat him in our next battle."
The message suggested a meeting for this evening and gave coordinates. This was exactly what Brainiac had hoped for. He did not want to appear too anxious so, he would wait a short while before sending a response agreeing to the meeting.
Vril's continued improvement meant Brainiac would be able to leave the ship for a few hours. Once Vril was healthy enough to return to his duties, Brainiac could pursue Superman, the crystals, and the Kryptonian technology. For now, Brainiac laid in a course for Earth and engaged the ship's engines.