"We Ought Not Die Continues" and things go wrong
!This message was sent with High priority
To: Lex@lexcorp.com
From: Gabe@lexcorp.com
Sorry to interrupt your extended honeymoon, I'm glad this marriage seems to be lasting but I need you to come to Metropolis and meet with the board personally. I can understand not wanting to be in the same room with some of them. Bruce Wayne is making a bid for our Gotham division again and this time the board is less inclined to fight him off. What is it with man? One minute his jetting off to ski in Europe with some princess and the next he's engineering a hostile takeover?
Gabe Sullivan
Vice President In Charge Of Handling Things While He's Not There
**********************************************************************
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*****
Lex pushed back from his desk in annoyance. He didn't want to leave Clark alone at the farm while he dealt with Bruce's petty business games. It was getting tiresome. Lex was of a mind to let Bruce win this round. It wasn't as if Bruce would dissolve the division and put people out of work. It had just amused Lex to be a key supplier of components for Batman's toys.
"What's up?" Clark came up the stairs of the old Fortress of Solitude in the barn which had been converted into a home office. It didn't have the panoramic view of Metropolis, but it had all of its technological amenities.
"I need to go to Metropolis to deal with the board. Apparently Bruce is trying to gain control of my Gotham division again."
Clark settled down on the comfortable new sofa that had replaced the old castoff one. In a sentimental mood, Lex had chosen one similar to that disreputable piece of furniture, but of higher quality. It made the space seem more like the place they'd shared so many confidences before they'd lost their way.
"And they say your business tactics are 'questionable,'" Clark laughed. "At least I don't ask you to manufacture my capes."
"Only because my tailor would never speak to me again if he knew that I had anything to do with that hideous costume. Do all of you super heroes have your fashion sense removed when you get your powers?" Lex got up from the desk and sat down on the sofa with Clark. Clark turned so that he could lean back into Lex's arms.
"You just worry about someone oggling my ass."
"Damn right. That ass is mine."
Clark smiled brightly. "So how long are you going to be gone?"
"Just until this evening. I wouldn't miss dinner with you. I'm going to discuss this with the board and if they really don't want to fight Bruce this time, I think I'll surprise him and take his offer for the factory. It will cost him a pretty penny and make him crazy wondering why I did it."
"That will give me today to get some of my own work done."
"What do you have planned?" Lex was curious.
"I've got the first six chapters of my new novel roughed out."
"You're actually writing a new book?"
"Mom won't let me do any of the chores around the farm anymore, despite the fact that I'm flying back and forth to the Fortress for my check ups with the AI. I know that our employees can handle everything, but I have to do something or go stir crazy. Besides, this whole male pregnancy thing has given me ideas."
"So you are writing a horror novel this time?" Lex jokingly asked.
Clark elbowed Lex -- lightly.
"Ow!"
"Will you be driving to Metropolis or taking the helicopter?" Clark stood and pulled Lex up with him. He might be pregnant, but Clark was still Superman.
"The helicopter. I want to get back as quickly as possible."
*****
"I wasn't expecting to see you here, Bruce. You don't get out much during the day." Lex needled the somberly dressed Wayne when he found him outside the boardroom.
"I thought I'd present my offer to your board members one last time. They agreed to see me."
"That won't be necessary, Bruce. I plan to advise them that we will be accepting your takeover bid."
Bruce's stunned exclamation of disbelief was cut short by the shattering of the massive windows as something fushia colored impacted with them. Only their unique design saved Lex and Bruce from being cut to ribbons by flying debris.
The men dove for cover. Outside the building, an aerial battle was taking place between Green Lantern and Parasite. It appeared that Parasite had drained Wonder Woman of her abilities and was using now them against Green Lantern.
"Aren't you going to yell for Superman?" Bruce asked as he reached for the communications device in his ear.
Lex used surprising strength to stop Bruce. "No and you aren't going to contact him, either. Call some other super hero this time, Batman."
*****
Meanwhile
Flight 211 from LAX landed safely at Metropolis airport.
"Welcome to Metropolis, the local time is 9:47 AM. Please refrain from smoking in the airport except in the designated smoking areas."
Lois defiantly carried her cigarettes in her hand all the way inside and glared at everyone who looked at her disapprovingly.
To: Lex@lexcorp.com
From: Gabe@lexcorp.com
Sorry to interrupt your extended honeymoon, I'm glad this marriage seems to be lasting but I need you to come to Metropolis and meet with the board personally. I can understand not wanting to be in the same room with some of them. Bruce Wayne is making a bid for our Gotham division again and this time the board is less inclined to fight him off. What is it with man? One minute his jetting off to ski in Europe with some princess and the next he's engineering a hostile takeover?
Gabe Sullivan
Vice President In Charge Of Handling Things While He's Not There
**********************************************************************
This electronic mail transmission may contain confidential or privileged information. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or disclosing it.
**********************************************************************
*****
Lex pushed back from his desk in annoyance. He didn't want to leave Clark alone at the farm while he dealt with Bruce's petty business games. It was getting tiresome. Lex was of a mind to let Bruce win this round. It wasn't as if Bruce would dissolve the division and put people out of work. It had just amused Lex to be a key supplier of components for Batman's toys.
"What's up?" Clark came up the stairs of the old Fortress of Solitude in the barn which had been converted into a home office. It didn't have the panoramic view of Metropolis, but it had all of its technological amenities.
"I need to go to Metropolis to deal with the board. Apparently Bruce is trying to gain control of my Gotham division again."
Clark settled down on the comfortable new sofa that had replaced the old castoff one. In a sentimental mood, Lex had chosen one similar to that disreputable piece of furniture, but of higher quality. It made the space seem more like the place they'd shared so many confidences before they'd lost their way.
"And they say your business tactics are 'questionable,'" Clark laughed. "At least I don't ask you to manufacture my capes."
"Only because my tailor would never speak to me again if he knew that I had anything to do with that hideous costume. Do all of you super heroes have your fashion sense removed when you get your powers?" Lex got up from the desk and sat down on the sofa with Clark. Clark turned so that he could lean back into Lex's arms.
"You just worry about someone oggling my ass."
"Damn right. That ass is mine."
Clark smiled brightly. "So how long are you going to be gone?"
"Just until this evening. I wouldn't miss dinner with you. I'm going to discuss this with the board and if they really don't want to fight Bruce this time, I think I'll surprise him and take his offer for the factory. It will cost him a pretty penny and make him crazy wondering why I did it."
"That will give me today to get some of my own work done."
"What do you have planned?" Lex was curious.
"I've got the first six chapters of my new novel roughed out."
"You're actually writing a new book?"
"Mom won't let me do any of the chores around the farm anymore, despite the fact that I'm flying back and forth to the Fortress for my check ups with the AI. I know that our employees can handle everything, but I have to do something or go stir crazy. Besides, this whole male pregnancy thing has given me ideas."
"So you are writing a horror novel this time?" Lex jokingly asked.
Clark elbowed Lex -- lightly.
"Ow!"
"Will you be driving to Metropolis or taking the helicopter?" Clark stood and pulled Lex up with him. He might be pregnant, but Clark was still Superman.
"The helicopter. I want to get back as quickly as possible."
*****
"I wasn't expecting to see you here, Bruce. You don't get out much during the day." Lex needled the somberly dressed Wayne when he found him outside the boardroom.
"I thought I'd present my offer to your board members one last time. They agreed to see me."
"That won't be necessary, Bruce. I plan to advise them that we will be accepting your takeover bid."
Bruce's stunned exclamation of disbelief was cut short by the shattering of the massive windows as something fushia colored impacted with them. Only their unique design saved Lex and Bruce from being cut to ribbons by flying debris.
The men dove for cover. Outside the building, an aerial battle was taking place between Green Lantern and Parasite. It appeared that Parasite had drained Wonder Woman of her abilities and was using now them against Green Lantern.
"Aren't you going to yell for Superman?" Bruce asked as he reached for the communications device in his ear.
Lex used surprising strength to stop Bruce. "No and you aren't going to contact him, either. Call some other super hero this time, Batman."
*****
Meanwhile
Flight 211 from LAX landed safely at Metropolis airport.
"Welcome to Metropolis, the local time is 9:47 AM. Please refrain from smoking in the airport except in the designated smoking areas."
Lois defiantly carried her cigarettes in her hand all the way inside and glared at everyone who looked at her disapprovingly.