Hello all!
Sorry this latest entry is a little late, I was out of town and had zero access to a computer. Just wanted to take a moment to thank KenJ for writing the sword fight, I have no knowledge of such things. So without further delay...
A Wedding in Paris
Chapter Four
METROPOLIS: LEXCORP
Large blue elevator doors opened to the brightly lit car garage without a sound. The Kents exited and walked through the cavernous structure, the echoes of their footsteps on the hard concrete banging about their ears. They held hands as they walked towards the Jeep. Despite widespread illumination that chased away gloomy shadows and discouraged unsavory characters, the garage’s atmosphere hung with an air of desolation now that most of the LexCorp employees had gone home.
Clark said, “Not a bad way to spend a Friday night. This story is much better than I thought it might be. Aykira Milan was very forthcoming and helpful with all the extensive changes and plans for LexCorp.”
“Yeah, soon to be called MetroCorp of all things. It will take some getting used to, but Jimmy’s friends were right, the name change has to happen. This decision will go a long way towards making people forget the company’s founder.”
“Honey, it’s going to take a lot more than a name change and a splashy publicity campaign for folks to forget Lex Luthor. Although I have to admit, Aykira Milan’s efforts are not going to be ignored.” Her husband said with a sigh as he opened the Jeep’s passenger door and helped Lois inside.
“Maybe, but right now I could go for some sushi. You buying?” She said while wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.
“Sushi Dai in Tokyo? Good choice. They should be just getting ready to open about now.”
“Great! Let’s go home and craft the barebones of this article.” Lois was about to start pulling out her notebook when she snapped her fingers and said. “Drat!”
Puzzled, Clark looked over and said, “What’s wrong Honey?”
“I forgot my pen. Must have left it on the desk ….”
“The one given to you by that foreign correspondent, Marie Colvin*?”
“Yeah. She’s one of the reasons why I got into journalism in the first place. Ms. Milan shouldn’t be gone yet, let me go upstairs and get it.”
Clark shrugged and pulled out his own notepad and pen. “Sure, why not? I’ll start composing the story outline while you’re gone.”
Lois exited the Jeep, made her way to the elevator and hurriedly pushed the button. To her surprise the doors slid open, it was late, so the car must not have moved since she and Clark had exited. As soon as the car’s doors closed, she was overcome by a wave of nausea. The same feeling that hit her when she caught the helicopter weeks ago. She snorted and said aloud, “This is ridiculous! When did I ever suffer from vertigo? I need to tell Bernie about this, but it can wait until after the wedding.” She put the feeling aside as the elevator swiftly made its way upwards.
***
Aykira was stunned. This oddly dressed stranger was commanding that she and Lex fight, to the death. Between the men guarding the door and her former boss ready to duel, there was no way for her to escape. Lex was in great shape, but how could she take up a sword against him? Lex - except for the fact that he lacked a helmet with a visor - looked like a medieval knight stepped out of the pages of a modern fairytale, the black knight. The armor he wore was made of a dull black metal that seemed to simply absorb light. There was absolutely no reflection from any surface. It was articulated like a knight’s suit of armor. She realized that it had to be in order for him to be able to even move. But why on Earth was he wearing it?
She knew immediately that she was at a distinct disadvantage and cast about furiously for anything that would give her a chance to level the playing field. She drew a complete blank and bowing to the inevitable she slipped her fencing helmet on and at Lex’s sharply spoken word, ‘On guard’ assumed a fighting stance.
The first passage of arms told Aykira everything she needed to know. She was careful to go at the first pass with supple wrist as opposed to strong wrist and that was her saving grace. The force with which Lex blocked her blade snapped her wrist aside. If she had been strong wrist it would now be sprained. She was actually surprised that her blade wasn’t snapped with the impact. She immediately backed away. As she did he followed, but she remained beyond his reach.
Lex for his part hated Dru-Zod and what he had commanded. This woman had been among the few that had rejected his advances and she still intrigued him. He really was attracted to her, but if he didn’t obey the warder’s command he knew just what Dru-Zod could and would do to him so he had to play the charade out. Perhaps something would happen that he could turn the tables on him. He just hoped …
Aykira had backed half way across her office and started to circle because she couldn’t afford to be backed against a wall. That would limit her movements too much, make her too vulnerable. That thought triggered something in her mind, vulnerability … what were Lex’s vulnerabilities in that suit of armor? As she circled she looked closely at his armor and a glimmer of hope sprang into being. If she were careful and accurate she just might manage to survive this encounter.
***
Lex was casting about for a way to end the conflict by making it look like he had killed Aykira without actually doing so. He looked around the office for something to use. Her office occupied the same space that his previously had on the top floor of LexTower. It was a pleasant evening and the glass doors to the balcony were open.
***
Aykira now had a plan of action, but how to implement it was the problem. She continued backing and circling, looking for an opening. It came unexpectedly. As she had been looking at Lex, examining his armor, Lex had been looking around her office as if unconcerned at her efforts to fight him. Apparently he was confident in his ability and his armor, perhaps a tad over-confident.
Seeing that he was distracted she took two quick steps back, increasing the distance between them.
***
Lex seeing her move and now having a plan needed to close with her in order to put his plan into effect. Utilizing the extra strength afforded him by his armor he flexed his legs and leaped for her. Unfortunately he wasn’t used to handling the extra strength under the lesser gravity of Earth and he overshot. His spring turned into a leap. The ceilings in the office were ten feet, but his leap was such that he hit the ceiling with his unprotected head. This stopped his forward momentum and he dropped to the floor, dazed.
“Get up fool! Surely a mere woman cannot beat you!” Rolf taunted.
Behind him he heard the laughter of Zod and his companions. He was dazed by the impact, but even dazed the sound made him angry, but now was not the time to give into emotion he had to remain clear headed and in complete control, his plan depended upon it.
***
Aykira saw Lex set up to spring at her and prepared to parry any thrust he might make and was taken by surprise when his spring turned into a leap. She was taken aback by the strength exhibited. It was closely akin to the abilities that Superman exhibited. Again the thought flashed through her mind, why was he wearing that armor and where did it come from?
Seeing him take to the air, she ducked and spun so that she would be facing him when he landed. She was amazed at the result of his leap. She saw him hit the ceiling and fall like a rock. He was sprawled on the floor, shaking his head as if to clear it and slowly trying to get to his feet while those looking on taunted him.
Before he could rise though, Aykira saw an opening – literally - and sprang into action. She had determined that the only vulnerabilities Lex would have. The only chinks in his armor, his only weakness, were the articulation at the joints, therefore when she sprang forward she aimed the point of her sword at the gap behind his left knee.
Her blade struck home and Lex screamed in agony as her sword pierced his thigh. Seeing his blade coming toward her in a wide arc she yanked her sword free and sprang back, pleased with herself. She had struck home and scored first blood. Maybe she had a chance to win this duel after all, on points. She really didn’t want to kill anyone.
***
Lex felt the searing pain in his left thigh and lashed out, swinging wildly just to force her back. The pain had cleared the fuzziness that hitting the ceiling had created. Stiffly, he climbed back to his feet, but when he did his left leg was almost useless. Reaching down he slid a collar over an articulated arm locking the articulation. It would keep his leg straight and hamper his movements, but at least it would keep his leg from collapsing. She was turning out to be a worthy adversary. He wished there had been some way to tell her that he didn’t want to kill her that he desperately needed her help to defeat Dru-Zod. Unable to communicate his intentions he simply needed to control the conflict and use her the way he was using his rapier, another implement in his tool chest.
***
Aykira watched, warily as Lex made an adjustment to his armor. She smiled when she saw that he would be stiff legged on the left as a result of her strike. That made their conflict a little more even. He might have the strength, possibly the skill, but she had the agility and the determination to stay alive.
She continued to follow her strategy of backing and circling. Now she circled to his frail side, trying to take advantage of that additional weakness.
Her circling eventually took her out through the glass doors onto the balcony.
Lex lurched after her and his stiff leg threw him off balance at a critical moment and he staggered to the side, crashing through the glass of an unopened panel. The glass shattered and shards of glass fell everywhere, bouncing off of his armor, however as he passed through again his unprotected head became his downfall. A sliver of glass in the top of the frame dug a furrow in the crown of his head.
Crying out in pain again, he reached up with his hand to brush the glass away. He stared in shock at the gloved hand, red and warm from his own blood. A stray thought passed through his mind, that an otherwise minor cut on another part of the body would bleed like a river on the head.
When he did that, Aykira saw another opening and instantly sprang into action. Her right foot advanced as her left leg pushed, her right arm straightened in a classic thrust. The point of her rapier penetrated the gap between the shoulder and arm pieces, skewering his shoulder joint.
Yanking her blade back she sprang away as again he lashed the air where she had just been standing. Her sudden spring jarred her fencing mask and it fell away. A mass of dark hair tumbled down past her shoulders.
***
Dru-Zod had been immensely amused by this battle. Lex-Er was not being as effective as he had thought he would be. In a way it disappointed him and generated some respect for this former minion of Lex-Er’s. She was putting up a valiant fight, surprisingly bold for a woman. Now that her features were revealed more plainly, Dru-Zod was taken with her attractiveness. A bold beauty with her ability made an attractive combination. It would be very interesting to see the final outcome. Should Lex-Er die, he decided that he would keep the woman around for awhile.
***
Seeing that Aykira was back in the office, Lex decided that he needed to put an end to this conflict. His left arm was now useless as was his left leg, but he needed to accomplish his plan and nothing she did would stop him. He needed her to continue what she had been doing, backing away from him, but he needed to control the direction. When he needed her to move to his right he would thrust to her right, moving her to her left as she continued to move backwards. In this way he moved her right or left as he needed until he had her lined up properly.
***
Aykira kept her eyes on Lex, watching his every move. She saw his dark eyes and they were actually looking past her. She easily avoided his thrusts almost any of which could have ended the conflict, badly for her, but he didn’t thrust her through.
They had been moving around so rapidly that she temporarily lost her bearings when suddenly she felt her back bump into something. Flicking her hazel eyes around quickly she saw that it wasn’t the wall, but the pillar with the bust of William Shakespeare; one of Lex’s pieces of artwork that she had decided to keep rather than loan to the Metropolis museum.
She tried to slip around it, to put it between herself and Lex, but he prevented her from doing so by thrusting to that side as she started to move. She realized, belatedly that Lex was not treating this as a proper fencing match, but as a predator toying with its prey. He had guided her to this spot unerringly and now he had her just where he wanted her. Her mind darted back to their discussion before these men arrived. He was walking towards the bust. Lex mentioned something about a present for his ‘friends’.
***
Lex had Aykira exactly where he wanted her, against the pedestal on which the Shakespeare bust rested. He smiled in anticipation of the trick he was about to play on Dru-Zod and his companions.
Aykira saw Lex smile and prepared for the worst. She surveyed the damage she had already done to him and tried to decide where best to strike one final blow.
Before she could prepare though, he struck.
White hot searing pain engulfed her left side. She felt the blade go in and through and out her back as she toppled over backwards knocking over the pedestal. The human mind is always a mystery. At times some of the most inconsequential thoughts can become dominant. Aykira’s last thought as she lost consciousness, because she heard the crash of the bust was, “I’ve broken it.”
***
The twisted grimace of pain on Aykira’s face as he felt the sword enter her body sickened Lex.
As Aykira toppled over after his thrust, he quickly withdrew his sword because he didn’t want to injure her any more than necessary. His thrust had been precisely positioned, low on the left side so that he would miss any vital organs. She would bleed, profusely, but with proper care she would recover. Carefully he averted his eyes from her crumbled form. He was appalled and disgusted with himself; she was a beautiful, intelligent woman, not an object to be used to prove his loyalty to a madman.
Looking over at the fallen pillar, he had successfully achieved his aim. The hidden back panel on the base of the bust was broken and a little lead box had fallen unnoticed by Dru-Zod and his comrades. It was time to turn the tables on them. His injuries were such that as he moved forward, toward that tantalizing box, his locked knee joint caused his leg to move stiffly. He used this to disguise his real intent. Exaggerating his limp, he fell face forward on the floor. As much as it hurt to do so because of his injured shoulder, he brought his left arm up, as if to cushion his fall, but really it was so that when he fell, his left hand came down on the lead box. Dru-Zod and his companions were completely taken in by the move and when he finally struggled to his feet he had the lead box clasped in his left hand. He gave a small bow to Dru-Zod and said, “My lord, Dru-Zod, I apologize for my clumsiness. That woman’s sword thrust has wounded my knee …”
The familiar voice of Dru-Zod crackled with glee and struck his ears like the rasps of a saw. “Marvelous! Now I know you are loyal to me Lex-Er! Come; let us conquer this city and then the planet.”
Infuriated, Lex wanted to answer the bellicose man, but he knew if he did he might irritate him and then Aykira Milan would not be the last to suffer from his machinations. There was yet another consideration; he needed them grouped closely together.
***
As the elevator rose to the penthouse Lois stood still for a second, her super-hearing picked up the sound of metal clanging against metal. A bizarre thought entered her mind; was that the sound of swords clashing? Aykira mentioned taking fencing lessons this evening, but she was supposed to meet her instructor at his school. Just to be on the safe side, using her X-ray vision she looked up through myriad barriers of blue black steel girders, dusty elevator cables, convoluted ventilator piping and gray concrete and saw something that in a thousand horrid nightmares she never expected her eyes to behold.
Standing over the supine body of Aykira Milan, her pristine fencing whites stained with her own blood was Lex Luthor. He was clad in black body armor that was strikingly similar to the one she used to wear on New Krypton - body armor also splashed with blood. He bowed his head as if in pain, but for all she knew, the madman could be laughing about getting rid of the CEO of MetroCorp.
As she watched, he fell to the floor.
Not ten feet away from the grisly scene were four men wearing the grey uniforms of New Kryptonian guards. One of the guards seemed to be advancing towards Lex. Had Luthor gotten away, transported himself back to Earth and somehow attacked Aykira and these men were trying to stop him? If that was the case where was Jor-El or at the very least members of the Sapphire Guard? It wasn’t like the First Lord to leave something like this to second tier security, no matter how accomplished. Luthor’s very presence on Earth was a blatant threat to her and Clark’s private lives.
A feeling of helplessness struck and she wanted to tear through the steel confines of the elevator and stop Luthor before he caused any more deaths. But this was the express elevator to the penthouse; the police would need it in order to conduct an investigation later. She might not be able to reach there quickly, but someone else could.
Through the link they shared as soul mates Lois called out. {Clark! Get up here! Lex Luthor has escaped from New Krypton! He’s injured Aykira Milan!}
A millisecond later, a familiar blue and red figure flew out of the garage, streaked up into the night sky and landed on the balcony all before Lois even finished her message. He strode through the French doors and surveyed the wreckage of Aykira Milan’s office. Furniture turned over, pictures knocked from the walls and twisted within their frames. Several important documents lay scattered and torn on the floor.
Above their heads was a cavity in the ceiling with large spidery cracks radiating out from the center. But in the midst of the destruction, stood his former enemy over Aykira Milan’s body with a rapier in his hand.
“Luthor! What have you done?” Clark said between gritted teeth.
“Not me, Kal-El. Look to my warder Dru-Zod. He is the architect of this madness.” Luthor snapped as he took deep breaths.
Clark spun around to face the four men in gray uniforms. He gave them a hard look and said with a scowl to the man with the beard. “Dru-Zod? Captain Dru-Zod? The one who heads the guard detail in Luthor’s prison?”
The three men with Dru-Zod each stepped back, allowing their leader to take the full brunt of the Prince’s anger. Dru-Zod replied “My lord, Prince. The prisoner escaped from the collective where he works. We managed to track him to your father’s laboratory where he forced the technician to send him back to Earth. Unfortunately, once he had what he wanted, he killed the tech.”
“That’s a lie!” Lex said clutching his fists. “You said Quist was killed after Rolf threw me into the aperture.
Dru-Zod ignored Lex as if he were an annoying flea. “As soon as he emerged from the aperture he saw this female and they fought. I overheard something about her taking over his empire. We stepped through the aperture to follow, but not in time to prevent him from harming her.”
Once again Lex realized by observing him what kind of a man he once was and the thought reinforced the disgust he felt earlier. With a snarl, he stepped forward and after dropping the rapier and making a fist delivered a crashing blow to Dru-Zod’s chin as he said, “So much for ‘loyalty’.”
Thanks to the power boosted strength the armor gave him, the blow snapped Dru-Zod’s head back and staggered him, but he recovered quickly and with a sweeping blow hit Lex in the chest. Lex lurched back and fell to the floor, barely conscious, but he managed to retain his hold on the lead box. If it were not for the articulated armor he wore the blow would have been fatal.
Suddenly a stiff breeze filled the room, followed by a steak of turquoise and pink and suddenly Ultra Woman appeared. Before saying a word, she immediately went over to Aykira. “She’s still breathing! The wound is bad, but if I get her to a hospital immediately she should recover.”
Dru-Zod shrugged and said sneeringly, “She is a female. Beautiful, but it would not be a tragedy if she died.”
Repulsed by the man’s callousness, Lois ignored him and turning to her husband said, “Clark, who are these guys?” Lois asked, looking at the other men.
“They are part of the New Krypton’s police force.” Clark said. “But what policeman would allow an innocent woman to die just to save our secret?”
Coming back around, Lex spoke using the speech style of a New Kryptonian. “My Lord Kal-El … they are traitors and you would be greatly … amiss to listen to them! Dru-Zod insisted that I kill Aykira to prove my loyalty to his cause. But I only wounded her to gain time …”
“Cause? What are you lying about now?” Lois interrupted. “I’m taking Aykira to Pete Ross at MetroGen where she can get the proper care.”
Turning to Ultra Woman Lex said, “Please, Lois, must believe me! I would never harm Aykira. She is a good person and …and the world would be a sadder place without her. Examine her wound. It was precisely placed to avoid any vital organs.”
Not a little taken aback by Lex’s intensity, Lois re-examined the wound and found it to be exactly as Lex had described which nurtured the seeds of doubt in her mind about Dru-Zod. She turned to look at him as she spoke to Clark, “What Luthor says is true. The wound was precisely placed to avoid being fatal.”
Clark turned to Dru-Zod and said, “All right. Let’s hear the truth this time. Why are you here?”
With a snarl, Dru-Zod launched himself at Clark. After having spent a lot of time in the last year in Lex’s prison under Earth gravity, Dru-Zod had some idea as to the strength and agility that he would have on Earth, but he did not know the full extent of the powers a Kryptonian had under the yellow sun. He also did not have years of experience in handling such abilities.
Rolf used super speed to go around Lois and struck Lex in the chest, hoping to finish the job Dru-Zod had started. Once again the Kryptonian forged armor saved him, but he was knocked near senseless.
Lois had benefitted from Clark’s tutelage and even though she, super powered as she was, was still weaker than a male superhero had an advantage. She was a super heroine with a brown belt in karate and she used that advantage.
With the exception of Rolf, Zod’s followers hadn’t had the opportunity that Zod had had to be in Lex’s prison, thus they were totally unaware of what they could do under Earth gravity and stood rooted to the spot as Dru-Zod launched himself at Kal-El. Ultra Woman moved at super-speed to intercept his underlings. With a series of super-powered, super-fast chops and kicks she was able to prevent them from joining in Dru-Zod’s assault on her husband. Even super-powered, invulnerable individuals are susceptible to equally super-powered movements, when delivered to vulnerable areas and from her intimate knowledge of her husband’s anatomy; she knew exactly where these New Kryptonian men were most vulnerable.
Seconds later, the three men – seasoned guards of New Krypton - lay on the floor unconscious, bested by a mere female.
Kal-El and Dru-Zod were trading blows, each being staggered by the other, but neither really gaining the upper hand.
In the midst of all of this, Lex was ignored. While Kal-El and Dru-Zod tussled like a couple of wrestlers, he came out of his stupor. Looking around he saw what was happening and struggling to his knees said, “I’m sorry, but this is for your own good.” Opening the lead box he revealed a chunk of crystalline Green Kryptonite which is the most virulent form and Dru-Zod suddenly lost all interest in the conflict. With expressions of pain contorting his features he fell to the floor, writhing in pain. To Lex’s utter surprise, Lois and Clark remained standing.
He gasped out, “How is this not affecting you?”
Clark stepped over to him and relieved him of the lead box and the Kryptonite before he said, “I’m afraid that will have to remain our secret.” He looked around at Dru-Zod and his followers and closed the box.
Gradually Dru-Zod stopped writhing in pain, but he didn’t rise up straight away. Clark addressed them, “From your actions I begin to believe that Lex was telling the truth. You will not recover your powers for a while and before you do I can expose you again so don’t even think about trying to escape. It is time for the truth. Why are you here?”
Dru-Zod tried again, his once arrogant voice now sounded weak and reedy. “I told you. We …we followed the escaped prisoner.”
Clark looked at Dru-Zod and said this time in a quiet voice that held all the backing of centuries of Kryptonian royalty said, “You will answer me!”
With a scream of rage, Dru-Zod tried to rise and attack Kal-El once more, but just as he did the room was flooded with a turquoise glow.
The glow was caused by the aperture that formed in the air. Seconds later Jor-El, General Ching and several members of the Sapphire Legion, fiercely brisling with weaponry, stepped into the shambles of Aykira’s office. It was a good thing that Clark had not opened the lead box again.
Jor-El’s cool silvery blue eyes unperturbedly surveyed the scene, than speaking to General Ching he said, “Have your men take the traitors into custody.” Silently the members of the elite guard moved to do the First Lord’s bidding, applying shackles first to the unconscious men on the floor. Who, without consideration to their comfort, were dragged through the aperture.
Dru-Zod said with a sneer, “I have other followers Jor-El, they shall free me!”
A shudder went through Lois’ body when she heard the words that escaped her father-in-law’s lips. “That is unlikely, otherwise why would you destroy the transport device? Still, if there are any cohorts of yours remaining, I doubt their determination for conquest will survive after you and the three who came through the aperture with you are executed for treason.”
The former captain grew silent as heavy shackles were snapped around his wrists. He offered no resistance as he stepped through the aperture.
Mystified by these rapid events, Clark said, “Father, welcome. Then it is true? These men are traitors?”
“Yes. They came here with the intent of subjugating this world. In order to do that, they would have had to eliminate you, a member of the royal house. Thankfully, I received a message from Lex-Er; he was pretending to be in connivance with them.”
Lois stared at her father-in-law in shocked disbelief and said. “How? I thought he was under heavy guard? Also, how did you get here if the main transport device was destroyed?”
Jor-El looked at the former billionaire who was once again inside the building that bore his name and said, “He actually – I believe the human term is – ‘hacked’ an agricultural tablet and sent a message to the Sapphire guard. He also activated a homing device in his armor for us to track. We reached my laboratory and discovered the damage Dru-Zod’s bomb caused. But that was not the only device.”
“No, it wasn’t. When I ‘arrived’ on New Krypton a year ago, it was in an… underground chamber?” Lex said hesitantly.
“Very impressive accomplishment Lex-Er, both with your memory and electronic skills. A year ago such loyalty to my house and a fellow human were ‘alien’ emotions for you.” Jor-El said this with a raised eyebrow.
Stiffly, Lex made a small bow and spoke up, “Thank you for your confidence in me. Life on New Krypton had not been idyllic at the start for me, especially because of Dru-Zod. Nonetheless the people I have come to know outside my prison are like ….” He hesitated over the strange word and then said, “… a family to me. Destroying the society that everyone has worked so hard to achieve was wrong.”
Lois was about to speak when a small groan of pain reached her ears.
“Aykira! We have to get her to the hospital!”
“Zara has been apprised of the situation. She and her medical team will be in position when we arrive.” Ching said.
Lex walked stiffly toward the younger man and said, “Thank you Ching. We must do everything we can to spare Aykira. She is an innocent in all of this. But what about my … this office”, he said, gesturing around the room. “The last thing LexCorp needs is to have another CEO disappear, especially amidst this disaster.”
“Kryptonian medicine is far in advance of Earth’s medicinal arts. Allow us to take her. Two standard Earth days in a re-gen chamber should be sufficient to heal her injuries. We can have our technicians duplicate everything in this room. My son, will you and Lois help ‘put everything back together?” At Kal-El’s nod, Jor-El continued, “Make it so Ching.” Jor-El said
“By your command my Lord.” with those words, Ching gently lifted Aykira turned and entered the aperture. A moment afterward, they vanished.
More Changes for LexCorp
By Lois Lane and Clark Kent
Business Section - Sunday, October 15, 1998
This month marks the one-year anniversary for LexCorp CEO, Aykira Morro Milan, who recently delivered the corporation’s annual report to an understandably concerned group of stockholders. The results of the reports were exciting. Story continues on page B2.
METROPOLIS: BERNIE KLEIN’S (AND SOON TO BE ABRIHET’S) NEW TOWNHOUSE
A week later found Lois and Clark sitting in the living room of Bernie Klein’s new townhouse. Coming from a sunny, but cramped apartment in a conservative part of Metropolis he was a bit apprehensive about relocating to more informal surroundings. But Abrihet had convinced him that this location would work for them. Still as a couple, they wanted to retain something of their Metropolis uptown/Parisian lifestyle. They were faced with an old design dilemma. How to spruce up a ‘mature’ house for contemporary living without losing sight of its history or sacrificing the charm? Considering their tight timeframe, the best answer was to keep the process simple: strip it down, update the essentials, and invest in handsome furniture. Not to mention a little ‘super’ help from old friends.
They eased the transition into Townhouse living by keeping some furnishings from his old apartment and Abrihet’s finds in Metropolis, such as a large mocha colored comfy sofa they could stretch out in after a day’s work. Mixing these and several other items into the new setting made them feel more at home, although Abrihet still stayed at the Lexor.
“It’s funny, last year at this time, I was wondering why both of you were so closed mouthed about what happened to him. Now the truth is known.” Bernie said.
Aykira set a tray of four delicate blue and white cups filled with hot strawberry champagne tea and four cannoli filled with mascarpone and sprinkled with bits of chocolate onto the wide coffee colored leather ottoman. “What a frightening experience! How is Ms. Milan?”
After taking an appreciative sip, Clark said, “Zara managed to heal the wound without even leaving a scar. She was returned to her office later on Sunday. No one knew she was missing.”
“What about your secret identity? Is it still safe?” Bernie asked with a hint of anxiety in his voice.
Lois and Clark exchanged looks that only two people in love and in a close martial bond could ever exchange. Her face was a mixture of embarrassment and consternation when she cleared her throat and muttered. “Ah, yes and no. Aykira was not completely unconscious; she overheard me when I called ‘Superman’, Clark and when Jor-El addressed me as Lois.”
Before either scientist could comment, Clark spoke up. “Aykira had a long talk with both my father and Lex. She had no intention of saying anything about what happened in her office. The last thing LexCorp or rather MetroCorp needs is any adverse publicity.”
“Besides, who would believe her? There’s no proof to back up her story. It’s amazing how that team of technicians came in and cleaned up all the wreckage from the swordfight. Lois said with a shrug, nonetheless she was still nettled about her slip of the tongue. Under other circumstances it could have proved utterly disastrous.
“Mon dieu!” Abrihet lean back into the couch and added softly. “What a relief!”
“You’re not kidding!” The Kents said in unison.
Bernie laughed, took his fiancée’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You two are really a married couple! Abrihet and I have a lot to look forward to.” He turned serious and said. “What has Jor-El’s experiments regarding Green Kryptonite and Metal X revealed?”
“So far his conclusions are in line with your own and Abrihet’s. He’s very concerned and puzzled that Metal X doesn’t prevent the radiation from harming Kryptonians.”
Abrihet cleared her throat as if in apology and said. “We have discussed this matter at length and the only explanation we can come up with is that Clark’s living on Earth all your life your body has developed an affinity with Earth. The same theory applies to Lois. Green Kryptonite will not harm you as long as Metal X is around you. But the New Kryptonians bodies are different, down to the molecular level. The food, air, and soil, even the sunlight is different.”
An expression of deep thought shadowed Lois’ face. “In theory, would that work on a human?”
“It’s a … possibility. But without a subject, proving the hypothesis might be something of a challenge.” Bernie responded hesitantly, he had an uncomfortable sense where this conversation was going.
His fiancée immediately grasped his thought and spoke. “Monsieur Luthor’s body at the molecular level is altering to become Kryptonian? That would mean he and any human who remains on New Krypton for a long period of time will eventually become invulnerable if they were to return to Earth? After all, Lois is now invulnerable.”
Three sets of eyes turned and stared at Bernie waiting for an answer.
He swallowed took a deep breath and began, hoping his words would put their fears to rest. “No. There are several factors that caused Lois to become Ultra Woman. One. She has been in close contact with Clark’s aura for over three years before they started dating. Two. Your physical intimacy as a married couple only increased that contact. Three. The exposure to Red Kryptonite caused part of Clark’s aura to ‘spin-off’ and became a part of you. As long as you live, you are now biologically a Kryptonian.”
“Yeah, but Lex is surrounded by Kryptonians! Remember how Dru-Zod struck him twice and both times he recovered rather quickly.” Lois reminded him.
“True, but think about this, Aykira stabbed him at key points in his armor and he bled. His armor was protecting him from Dru-Zod’s blows. It was forged on New Krypton of New Kryptonian metals. Lex Luthor has no more super powers than I, neither will he ever acquire any.”
The atmosphere in the living room immediately lightened, the last thing anyone wanted was a super-powered Lex Luthor on the planet. His attitude and personality may have adjusted, but the temptation of such power might turn him back to the man Jor-El had originally thrown into prison.
“Aykira is an amazing woman. She thought on her feet in the midst of a swordfight. I’m glad she’s on our side. Hmm, I wonder what might have happened if she and Lex had met under better circumstances?”
A gentle laugh escaped Lois’ lips, “You mean like in an alternative universe they marry and with her help he guides LexCorp into being a kinder, gentler corporation? You Clark Kent are an incurable romantic, which is why I love you so much.” Lois leaned over and pecked her husband on the cheek.
Bernie said, “Speaking of amour, let’s remember why we are here.”
Abrihet broke in, all smiles, “Oui! It is time to put super adventures, mysterious metals and genetic hypotheses away and talk about our wedding in Paris which is going to take place in less than two weeks! We have much to accomplish in a small amount of time. Lois, I must ask a favor, since Amandine has agreed to make the cake, could we fly to Paris tomorrow for a tasting ….?”
Lois smiled at her friend and said, "Definitely, but there are a few things I need to take care of before we go."
*Marie Colvin (January 12, 1956 – February 22, 2012) was an American journalist who worked for the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1985 until her death. She died while covering the siege of Homs in Syria.
Last edited by Morgana; 04/27/15 07:05 AM.
