A waiter came over and showed the two the wine menu. After their selection, the waiter left to get their drinks. "You know, Lex, a girl could get spoiled being treated like this."
"Well, Lindsay, I guess I have to make sure that you don't go bad now," I said with a smirk.
"A couple more times eating out like this and who's to say how bad I'm going to get,” countered Lindsay.
Sitting across the table from a girl like Lindsay, I was thinking that I didn't care how much money I spent on her. Lindsay was the type where I could confess all my sins to and still know that she'd stand beside me. For a beautiful woman with all the right curves, she had the personality of a tom-boy and ambition equal to that of my own. All of this was due to her father who raised her without a mother while he was in the military. I met Lindsay during our first year of college, and what drew me to her was the fact that she didn't know who the Luthors were. We shared a business ethics class, and that was where I found out that we think alike. I approached her after class one day and asked if she would like to go out. We went out to a place called 'Scardino's' and I learned her Italian was very good. Months went by and stories were told about how I came from money and how she was a military brat.
It's been nearly three years, and we're here holding the same menu's from our first date. Now that I had ownership of my family's estate and complete control over its company, I had decided that I would ask Lindsay to be my wife. Actually, I had two surprises for her.
"Excuse me, Mr. Luthor, but there's a phone call for you,” my personal assistant informed after he walked over to my table.
Unaware of the urgency, I said, "Take a message, Langley. I'm busy."
"Sorry, sir, but it's Fu. He says it's important."
I looked at Langley, and he gave me a nod. "Excuse me Lindsay. I have to take this call."
I took the cell phone from Langley and went to a more secluded area of the restaurant. "Fu, what'd you find out?"
Fu had to raise his voice due to the machinery in the background. "You know those green specimens you sent me down here to look for?"
"Yes, Fu, what about them? Did you find any?"
"We didn't just find some rocks, Luthor. We found a package."
"A package?" I was unsure of what he meant.
"Yeah, it looks like someone or something had this delivered. But there is no way they could have used the post office for this long distant delivery. If you know what I mean."
I couldn’t believe this great accomplishment. If I was with anyone else, I would have joined Fu in an instant. But I felt I kept Lindsay waiting long enough. "Briefly describe it to me."
"Well, it's about the size of a bread box, but in a diamond shaped metal vessel. And the only insignia on it is an engraved smaller diamond shape with the number "8" within that."
"Did you get it open?"
"Yeah, but it sure took a hell of a lot to figure out how. We tried every piece of machinery we had and not a scratch on it. Finally, I got frustrated enough where I just threw one of those green rocks at it. And the son-of-a-bitch dented it. We took those rocks and cracked it open like a squirrel with an acorn."
"What was inside, Fu?" I said very eagerly.
"The boys in white coats think they are some kind of crystal. I don't mean no small gems or anything. But twelve inch long crystals, kind a like giant icicles."
A bit worried I asked, "Were they damaged?"
"We noticed that they started to turn green the closer they came in contact with the rocks. After we removed them, the crystals were fine. They went back to the original clear color and seemed nearly indestructible."
"Fu, listen closely. I want you to take these crystals and get a flight to Smallville as soon as possible."
"Luthor, sorry but there are no direct flights from Okinawa to Smallville, Kansas. It's gonna take about a day and a half."
I was upset about having to wait. "Fine, call me when you're in the States," I said simply before I hung up. I walked back to my table and noticed that my other surprise had arrived and was sitting next to Lindsay. I was about to offer my greetings to our new guest when just then someone clumsily walked into me…"Why don't you watch where you're going?"
"I'm sorry…,” the man said. After he recognized me he said, “Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr. Luthor."
I couldn’t stand the sight of this man. Had I known I wouldn’t be the prime suspect in his murder, I would have taken care of him years ago. "Scurrying after a paper chase are we? How are things at the Planet anyhow?" I asked not really caring about the answer.
He said, "Things couldn’t be better. Looks like I'm going to make Junior Editor by the time I'm 35."
"And that pays what, 45, 50 grand a year?" I asked with a smile.
"More like 65, but hell, we all can't inherit billions like you, now can we? What was the rare cancer again that your father died from… “disappointment”, was it?"
Insulted I asked, "Don't you have some place to be, White?"
He looked at my two guests and said, "Now I can't leave without being introduced to these beautiful young ladies I see you with."
I didn’t want to show Lindsay any disrespect and said, "Very well. Lindsay, I'd like you to meet an unmannered reporter from Metropolis’ own 'Daily Planet,' Perry White."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. White,” said Lindsay. She knew how rude he was and that he was beginning to agitate me, but was all too much the lady to say otherwise.
"Pleasure's all mine, miss.”
I continued, "Perry here did a wonderful expose on my father's business. Not to mention my father’s extra-curricular activities as well.” I turned and looked at Perry then asked, “Didn't you, White?"
"Well, you know I'm all about the truth and getting it out to the public."
"Truth!” I said amazed. “That story was a big pile of horse…"
"Lex!” Lindsay snapped and cut me off as she noticed my anger, “Aren't you forgetting to introduce my sister to Mr. White? Then I’m sure he can leave us to enjoy our dinner."
I calmed down and said, "Perry, this is Lindsay's younger sister, Lois. Lois meet Perry White. Perry White meet Lois Lane."
Perry instantly knew the infamous Lane family. "Lane? As in Joint Chiefs of Staff Lane?" asked Perry.
"That’s our daddy," said Lois.
"I would love to get an interview with the war hero. You know when your father might be free?"
I looked over at Lindsay and now noticed that she was the one upset. "Oh, looks like our food has arrived. It was very nice meeting you Mr. White," said Lindsay as if she and her sister were saved from Perry’s question.
Taking a hint Perry said, "Maybe some other time then? Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Perry then looked at me and said, “See you around Luthor."
Lindsay continued after Perry White’s departure, "Could you believe the nerve of that guy? Asking us for an interview with daddy.”
"I kind of admire what he does. As long as it is the truth that he wants to tell and not just to sell newspapers," said Lois.
"Now you sound like Aunt Laura. Why not become a reporter? I’m sure Perry White can get you a job at the Daily Planet," joked Lindsay.
"I think that's a good idea, Lois. The Planet could use someone there who would get the truth out. Just don't go partner up with a guy like Perry. Go get yourself someone with milder manners," I said.
"First of all, I work alone. And second of all, I just finished high school. Can I have some fun before the two of you plan out my future?” Lois looked over at me and gave me a little kick underneath the table. “And speaking of ‘future’, Lex, isn't there something you want to ask Lindsay?"
________________________________________________________________________
While both Emil and Molina looked down at the covered glass top off of the cage that enslaved the hovering mouse, Emil opened a special two entrance flap and placed a small meteorite inside with the mouse. He noted, "If I'm correct, then this green rock should incapacitate this mouse."
The mouse stayed hovering, yet now it seemed to be convulsing. Worried, Molina said, "Incapacitate my ass! Emil, it looks like you're killing it."
Getting a closer look, Emil said without concern, "I think you're right.” Emil reached back in and took out the meteorite. “Well, I guess that proves our theory."
"Proves our theory? You mean to tell me that you changed the mouse’s genetic code to match something from Bizarro?"
"Yes I did. And this green rock is the only thing that I believe can kill it."
"How the hell did you do it?"
"Quite simple really. When I figured out the use of the different lighting and power source, I manipulated the meteorites surroundings to that of its origin. When I cleared the rock of all radiation, it went back to its original state and form. I then needed to get a sample, but nothing would cut it. I used a green meteorite to weaken the state of its now pure form. When I put the green meteor next to the clear one, the clear rock started getting a little darker and softer. The green rock was transferring radiation over to the clear rock. This gave me a chance to get some tests done. Once I was done, I put the clear rock I was testing on back under the red lights and it shortly became clear again. I couldn't just use the samples I acquired because they didn't have any of the supernatural affects from our sun anymore. Being under the red lights took care of that; however, by exposing my samples under the yellow light which simulates our sun, I was able to allow the supernatural elements to take over once again. I now had a healthy supernatural specimen to test. I injected some mice and put them in different study groups. That flying mouse for example, isn't actually flying. That mouse is in a container with zero gravity and zero oxygen."
For clarification Molina asked, "Are you trying to tell me that that mouse is in a space simulation?"
"That's right. And he's been in there for almost a week."
"With no air…”
"But take a look at this,” Emil brought Molina over to different glass cages one at a time, “ This mouse has been under water for a week, this one over here has been subjected to extreme high and low temperatures and this one has taken a beating that no man should take, let alone a mouse. And there isn't a single scratch on it. After a while, it stopped flinching during the process."
"And this is all possible due to the clear rock?"
"Well, the clear rock mutated the mice gene to become a Bizarro mouse, and when we subjected the Bizarro mice under the yellow lights, the supernatural gene attached to every cell in the mice and changed them all to become supernatural cells. This created the Bizarro mouse to have great abilities here on Earth."
Molina couldn’t believe what he had heard or seen. "This little bit of time under the lights changed all that?"
"I reconfigured the lights, Molina. One hour under these lights is like twenty-four hours exposed to the hot UV lighting of our sun."
"Luthor is going to be very pleased with this news. Then maybe I can get the hell out of corn country.”
The phone on Emil’s desk started to ring, and Emil went over to answer it. While waiting for Emil, Molina strolled around the lab to see all the different mice again. When he heard Emil hang up, he asked, "Who was it? Sounded like you were talking to Luthor."
"Yes, it was Mr. Luthor. He told me to tell you that someone named Fu will soon be on a flight coming here to Smallville."
"Well, I guess I’m not leaving anytime soon,” said Molina. “It sounded like he didn’t have time to hear about your findings.”
"When I started to talk about it, he said he was dining out with a Ms. Lane in Metropolis, and that he didn't have time to talk. But anyway, who is Fu?"
"His name is Sato Fu, and he is doing the same thing in Okinawa what I'm doing here. He must have finished the job. So, we better be able to collect more information for Luthor than Fu does."
Patting Molina’s back, Emil said, "I think we'll be just fine, Molina."
"You better be right, Emil, for both our sakes. You haven’t seen what Luthor is capable of."
________________________________________________________________________
The view from the second floor of the Kent barn was a rare sight. From the left you could see miles of crops and farm land. To the right you could see to the center of town directly past the Cream Corn factory that employed more than half of the population who weren’t farmers. Two souls were seated with their feet dangling out the open window on this very same floor. But they continued to look only at each other as if the other was just as an amazing sight as the scenery before them. The girl gazed into the boy’s blue eyes, while the boy was entranced by the girls flowing red hair that partly covered her naked shoulders. He was briefly disturbed by the noise created by the unwanted government agents that came from the girl’s farm. "You know Lana, I don't think these guys are who they say they are," said Clark.
"The guys in the suits do look a bit rough around the edges, but the ones in the lab coats look pretty genuine to me."
"I just think they have other plans on their agenda. That’s all. I mean the meteor shower happened when we were only infants. Your father hasn't received one complaint from the FDA or the Farmer's Association since that day. If something were wrong with his crops he'd a heard about it by now."
Lana understood where Clark was coming from. But she wasn’t the type to worry about things like that. Lana only saw the good in most people. "But Clark, this is the EPA. They're testing the air and the ground. Who knows what came down with those meteors?"
"Yeah, but…"
"Clark, are we gonna sit here all day and talk about my dad's farm or are you gonna take me into town and have some fun?"
Clark realized he had become too serious. "Sorry, Lana. You're right."
"I mean you act like you have the weight of the entire world on your shoulders. You need to loosen up sometimes. For starters, take those silly ole’ glasses off your face. We're not in school anymore," joked Lana.
Clark leaned back as Lana’s hand reached for his glasses. "I'll loosen up, but you know I need the glasses."
"O.k. But those glasses are the reason why I was your only friend in high school. You've done a good job creating your own fortress of solitude," she joked again.
"Stop playin'. You wanna get some ice cream then? My treat."
Lana stood up with excitement and said, "Only if we can take Jenny and Max."
"The horses?” Clark whined not wanting to go through all the trouble. “Tell you what, why don't we just fly into town? I could have my dad drive us.”
"Oh, now you can fly? First you're off saving the world from evil EPA employees and now you're flying around Smallville,” Lana laughed. “Clark, I'll get the saddles, you get the horses."
Convinced by her smile, he said, "That's a swell idea, Lana. Meet you back here.”
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