Blackout - Part 2/8
Title: Blackout 2
Beta: ladydreamer, with many thanks!
Chapter Summary: Lori is under attack; Lex meets Maggie Sawyer
3 - Spring Cove - next morning
Lori entered the solarium just after 8 o’clock to check up on Kyle. They’d finally made it home yesterday late in the afternoon, taken care of Red Storm, and snagged a quick snack. Lori had then given him a quick tour of the rather enormous house and left him in the solarium while she prepared dinner. By the time she’d finished though, Kyle was sound asleep on a sofa. He’d looked so peaceful in the light of the setting sun that she hadn’t had the heart to disturb him. Instead she’d covered him with a blanket and left a map showing him where to find leftovers when he woke up.
Kyle was still sleeping restlessly, and Lori smiled at the sight of his raven hair spiking up at odd angles. For such a tall man, he looked strangely vulnerable and all too lean - as though he hadn’t been fed properly in years. She frowned as she again noticed the bruises on his arms, though they seemed to have faded a fair bit. Hesitantly, she reached out a hand to stroke his face. Kyle gave a low moan and twisted sharply away in his sleep.
Lori drew her hand back, bit her lip, then lightly shook his shoulder. She spoke softly, “Kyle, it’s time to get up. I think we need to get some food into you.”
Kyle’s eyes opened with a snap, pupils distended as in fear. He sat up with a jolt and looked around with confusion. “Who, who, what…?”
“I’m Lori. We met yesterday - do you remember?”
Kyle stared at her blankly for a moment, then his eyes cleared. “Lori… Lorelei Lee. You fell off a horse and I helped you out. This must be your place.”
“That’s right. You were so tired you fell asleep just after we got here. I’m sorry for waking you, but you must be hungry.”
Kyle gave a hesitant nod, clearly still a little disoriented. “I… yes. That sounds great. But I need to wash up first.”
“Down the hall, third door on the right. Then just keep going all the way down the hall to find the kitchen. Be careful not to make a wrong turn - people can get spectacularly lost around here.”
Lori said this almost proudly, because the resemblance of the ground floor layout to a maze was one of the house’s defining features. Spring Cove Manor had been built at much the same time as Wayne Manor, and looked somewhat like a smaller cousin of that noted landmark from the outside. The inside though was a completely different matter. Spring Cove had a very modest entryway that on one side led to expansive sun-filled rooms looking southward onto the enormous gardens. At the southeastern corner lay her favorite room, the solarium, which bowed out from the rest of the house to get full sun practically all day long while also looking out on the ocean. A somewhat winding passage led to the kitchen in the northeast corner. And filling the northern side of the ground floor were quarters for the 40 odd servants who used to be required to run the place. The unique set up had been prompted by a distant ancestor’s regard for his somewhat arthritic butler and cook, which led him to build them comfortable quarters near the kitchen. The large rooms for the senior staff were interspersed seemingly at random by smaller rooms for the junior servants along a veritable labyrinth of corridors, apparently designed to prevent the staff from mingling late at night. Most of those rooms were empty now, or stored relics of bygone ages. Lori was the last of her branch of the Lees, and sometimes felt the need to repopulate the house very intensely.
Kyle gave her a quick smile and Lori felt her smile brighten in return; Kyle’s moods seemed almost contagious somehow. She helped him up and then headed towards the kitchen to finish preparations for breakfast. It seemed as though Kyle was like her and needed some coffee to truly wake up - she’d start a new pot.
After she’d done so, she looked around the kitchen and noticed the newspaper that the night watchman had brought in before going off shift. Her eyes widened at the headline:
Lex Luthor Arrested for Murder
Cyborg Sabotage Suspected - Martial Law Invoked in Controversial Move
Lori looked at the pictures splashed across the front page: a stony-faced Lex being led away in handcuffs, Lionel smiling arrogantly in a publicity shot, Victor Stone staring in bewilderment at the camera. She touched the picture of Lionel and felt a swell of emotion, part grief, mostly anger. She’d never really known him, and still couldn’t quite decide if that was a good thing or not.
Kyle entered with another smile, which faded as he took in her expression. He read the headline over her shoulder and gave her a questioning look. “What does it mean that they invoked martial law?”
“It’s code meaning they have proof that Lex is a metahuman and therefore not covered by constitutional rights.”
Kyle looked at her in disbelief. “That can’t be right!”
“It’s definitely not right but it’s been the law of Kansas for the last four months because of all the violence. Lots of groups are trying to appeal to the Supreme Court but are being blocked by some very powerful special interests.”
Kyle was silent for a moment then tapped the picture of Lex. “Do you know him?”
“Lex? No, our paths never crossed. But Lionel…” Her voice trailed off, and she gave Kyle a shy look before rushing out, “Lionel’s my father. Or he was. But never, not really.”
At Kyle’s dumbfounded look, she stopped and got her thoughts together. “I mean, he was my father, biologically speaking. He had an affair with my mother. He charmed her, lied to her about leaving his wife, the usual thing. When mom told him she was pregnant though, he gave her money for an abortion and threatened to have her locked up if she ever tried to contact him again. Mom went running back home to her dad, who arranged everything down to falsifying my birth. Until I was 18, I thought mom was actually a doting distant relative. It wasn’t until she was dying of cancer that she told me the truth.”
“Wow, that must have been so hard. To realize that the people you loved the most had been lying to you all your life.”
Lori sighed, grateful for his understanding. “It was. I know they did it to keep me safe but that only helps so much. So I struck out on my own and made a name for myself at Cal Tech and then became famous in Coast City as the newest whiz kid. And then one day I saw Lionel Luthor standing at the bar at a party I was attending. I don’t know what I was thinking - I just stalked up to him and threw a glass of wine in his face! Such a cliché, I know. But it felt good!”
Kyle looked down at Lionel’s picture and grinned, “I wish I could have seen it. He looks like this guy I keep seeing in my dreams. You know, the one who’s always chasing you around and doing things you’re helpless to stop.”
Lori looked at him soberly. “That’s Lionel for you. Anyways, he put the pieces together awfully fast - somehow, he even got a sample to do a DNA test to confirm his paternity. He called me up about two years ago and told me he was impressed with what I’d accomplished, and how disappointed he was with his sons. He wanted us to get to know each other better, but I brushed him off. We only talked a few times since. When I heard about his death a few days ago, it didn’t really bother me. I always thought one day he’d meet someone who wouldn’t put up with his bullshit and that would be it. For some reason though, this headline really hit me hard. Maybe it’s because I can’t help feeling sorry for Lex. Imagine being raised by someone who never had a kind word for you.”
Kyle placed his arm on her shoulder, and Lori gratefully leaned into him. She started to cry softly, “I don’t understand why I’m so upset. He doesn’t deserve it. He just doesn’t.”
Kyle was silent, at a loss as to what to say. He didn’t doubt that a lot of Lori’s grief was actually for her mother, so cruelly deceived all those years ago, forced to live a lie, and finally dying too young. He let her cry and tried to offer what comfort he could, even as part of him felt uncomfortable at being so close.
Lori finally pulled away with a sniffle and gave a small laugh. “Poor Kyle. Here I promised you food and instead you wound up covered in tears. I’m better now, so let’s get on with it. Let’s start with some cereal - I’ve got just about everything here.”
Kyle pulled down the Frosted Flakes and started to eat while Lori prepared some scrambled eggs. They made awkward small talk. Lori was surprised at how little Kyle knew of current events. It was as though he hadn’t read the news or even watched TV for a year. She tried to fill in the gaps in his knowledge without making him feel dumb. He seemed particularly drawn to her stories of the metahuman explosion, concentrated in Kansas but actually a worldwide phenomenon. Gotham’s problems seemed strangely different, almost as though someone was deliberately trying to amp up the levels of corruption, injustice and violence to drive people crazy. But she proudly insisted it was still her favorite city in the world and promised to show him the sights.
Crack!
Just as Lori was pouring a third cup of coffee, they heard the sound of glass breaking from the front of the house. They exchanged startled looks and silently agreed to investigate. Lori led him through the servant’s labyrinth, and they peered out at the lobby. The window next to the main door had been shattered, and the door stood ajar.
Lori whispered, “The entryways are all monitored. The silent alarm should have gone off by now.” She pointed to her wristwatch, which doubled as a security alert device. It shone green, even after she pushed what amounted to a panic button.
Kyle gave her a worried look and quietly mouthed, “Let’s call the police.”
They retreated cautiously to the phone in the kitchen. The room was filled with morning sun, which somehow did a lot to calm Lori’s nerves. She called the police who promised to send someone soon and advised her to stay by the phone in the meantime. She licked her lips anxiously, then looked over at Kyle for reassurance.
This room should be safe. Lori had held a few parties where one of the games was hide and seek, and it typically took her guests 15 minutes to run the maze, even knowing which room they were looking for. That should be just enough time for the police to arrive. And while she’d been on the phone, Kyle had lined the hallways leading to the kitchen with odds and ends from the cupboards. She smiled at his attempt to give them some warning if the intruder started to head their way. He whispered at her to stay out of sight, and they both went silent. Lori was very aware of the sound of her breathing and the rustle her clothes made every time she shifted weight. The house was eerily quiet.
As the minutes ticked away, Lori started to relax only to stiffen when they heard a rattle from along the corridor. Someone was getting near. Kyle pushed her down behind the counter then raised his head to check. “I hear something, but there’s nobody there,” he whispered.
“Maybe he’s invisible,” Lori whispered back. At his dubious look, she continued, “Hey, it’s possible you know. Some of these people have the freakiest powers.”
Kyle looked unconvinced but reached into the cupboard and pulled out the flour jar. He opened it and heaved the contents up and out, across the room. “If there are any ghosts about, maybe that’ll help us spot them.”
Lori gritted her teeth as the flour slowly sifted down onto her. Somehow it seemed to avoid Kyle though, and he grinned at her apologetically. She was about to curse him for his crazy stunt when by the doorway she spotted an arm outlined in the cloud of flour. She gasped and clutched Kyle’s arm.
“I see you’ve set a trap for me, Ms. Lee. Very clever.” The gloating voice seemed to come from nowhere: the man must have stepped back from the drifting flour. “Unfortunately for you, I’m no longer trying to make this look like an accident. More publicity helps me find more business, you know.”
Kyle squeezed her arm and then scuttled away from her. She wanted to scream at him for running away, though logically she understood there was no reason for both of them to die. She moved in the other direction, trying to find a better hiding place.
She knew she’d made the wrong choice when the voice spoke again. “There you are! It’s a pity you know. I don’t like killing women, especially the pretty ones. But the money was exactly right for two days of my time. Tell me. Did you suspect anything yesterday?”
Lori gave a scream when an invisible arm snaked around her waist and pulled her from her hiding place. She tried desperately to get away, but her attacker was too strong. He slowly materialized into view, a tallish man with dark hair and a handsome face distorted by the manic look in his eyes. He smiled cruelly and whispered, “I always want people to watch me as I strangle them.”
His hands tightened around her neck, and she raised her hands to scratch at him while trying to get leverage for a karate throw she’d learned a few years back. But instead he leaned forward and knocked her off her feet, then landed on top of her. He kneed her in the gut, and smiled again as she started to wheeze. His hands tightened inexorably.
Lori’s vision started to turn to grey. But just as she began to despair, she noticed Kyle sneaking up on her attacker, frying pan in hand. He gave a huge swing and there was a loud clang as the pan made contact. Kyle had swung so hard that he couldn’t hold onto the pan and it ricocheted off the wall onto the floor. Kyle lost his balance and staggered forward, raising clouds of flour that got into his eyes.
Her attacker rolled away from her and reached down to his side to pull out a gun. Kyle leapt forward and the two grappled. The man had at least a thirty pound weight advantage and used it to push Kyle back. He then hit Kyle in the head with the pistol, leaving an enormous welt. Still too short of breath to move, Lori watched in horror as the man raised the gun and aimed it point blank at Kyle’s chest
Bang!
The sound of the gunshot was very loud in Lori’s ears, despite the silencer the assassin used. She watched in horror as Kyle jerked backwards: his blood seemed to be everywhere. The man then turned to her in what seemed like slow motion and raised the gun again. He looked down at her with a smirk and said, “Goodbye, Lorelei Lee.”
Lori could only stare up in stunned horror and wait for him to pull the trigger. But suddenly, the man lurched forward and fell to the ground. Lori looked around and felt a rush of gratitude to see that Kyle wasn’t dead. Despite all the blood, he had crawled forward and somehow succeeded in tripping the man. Lori summoned all her energy to reach for the gun, then quickly removed the bullets and tossed them across the room. Kyle gave her an approving smile, then picked up the frying pan and gave the man another whack. With a groan, the assassin collapsed into unconsciousness.
Kyle and Lori collapsed on the floor as well; too tired to wipe away the blood and flour that coated them. The police arrived a few minutes later to find them lying there basking in the morning sunshine, hands clasped in silent fellowship.
***
4 - Metropolis Police Department - next day
Lex sat quietly in the interrogation room, trying not to let his anger show. He’d been there for 40 hours now, with music blaring loudly whenever the police left him alone. They were currently playing what sounded like a child’s recital of the Moonlight Sonata. Every missed note made him want to scream in protest.
Seeking comfort, his mind shifted to happier days with Clark. Their relationship had never been easy given the secrets between them, not to mention the differences in their worldviews. Lex had tried not to push though because he’d recognized in Clark something unique, near limitless strength tempered by compassion. He’d also envied Clark his idyllic life with the Kents, only to realize after Clark’s disappearance that nothing had been as simple as it looked from the outside. Watching the chaos spread from Lionel’s political maneuverings in the metahuman debate, he’d come to appreciate how much Clark had to fear if his abilities were detected. He’d also gotten to know Jonathan well in the months before his death and had come to respect his somewhat prickly but deeply idealistic approach to life. He had supported Jonathan in his run for the state senate, and still felt a twinge of guilt that this support might have led to Jonathan’s death. Martha had tried to reassure him otherwise, but her judgment had clearly been clouded by grief. Why else would she have turned to his father?
Grimacing at that thought, Lex brought his mind back to that magical moment so many years ago when he’d awoken from certain death to find himself in the arms of a dark haired, green eyed angel. First impressions are hard to overcome, and he was uncomfortably aware of all the times he’d treated Clark as his own personal Jesus, someone who could save him from the darkness around and in him. At the same time, he’d constantly felt judged and unable to live up to Clark’s unreasonable standards. How he wished now that he’d torn through the constraints between them and told Clark clearly how he felt. Or better yet shown him. Lex’s eyes drifted shut as he imagined the touch of Clark’s lips on his own. He wondered what Clark would taste like - something pure no doubt, like sunshine on a summer meadow. He then mentally rolled his eyes at himself for such a sentimental thought, and smiled.
The music in the interrogation room suddenly cut off, and a female officer entered. Lex recognized her from an encounter several years earlier - Detective Maggie Sawyer. For the eleventh time, he asked for his lawyer and for the eleventh time, he was denied. “Under the Metahuman Act, your right to an attorney is suspended.”
“You know that law was intended for criminals caught during an act of terrorism. It’s shameful the law was ever enacted, and unacceptable to apply it to what is, at worst, a familial power struggle gone wrong.”
Detective Sawyer looked him in the eye and replied, “There are a lot of people who would agree with you. And I personally think it’s a great pity that Jonathan Kent died before he could enter the senate. I know he was planning to push for more rights and he had a lot of popular support. But I’m under strict orders from the top - no lawyers. I’m also authorized to use any non violent means whatsoever to aid our interrogation.”
Lex sighed. “Making someone disoriented through lack of sleep doesn’t mean they’re all of sudden going to tell you what really happened. Sure I’ll probably break down eventually, but I’m just as likely to tell you what I think you want to hear as the truth.”
Detective Sawyer nodded. “That’s always been one of the best arguments against torture in my opinion.” She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling.
Lex fidgeted - he hated being ignored. “Can you at least tell me what made you arrest me now? I told you what happened last week and gave you the security tapes. What changed since then?”
Sawyer pursed her lips and opened a file. “All right, I’ll play. Have you ever heard of Cyntechnics?”
“They’re the company that created Victor’s cybernetic enhancements. I checked them out prior to hiring Victor - I was very impressed with the progress they were making.”
“So impressed perhaps that you acquired a majority share?”
Lex blinked. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Sawyer smiled wolfishly and pushed forward a computer printout showing his stock trading activity over the past month. Highlighted in yellow were several enormous transactions involving biotech companies. “Turns out, these are all some sort of elaborate shell game - they’re actually holding companies for Cynthechics. And all of these purchases mean you own 63% of the company. I have a feeling the SEC will not be pleased at your failure to notify them of your takeover.”
Lex stared at the record, baffled. “Those numbers aren’t right. Where did you get this? I want to see my own records for comparison.”
Sawyer gave him an assessing look, then flipped to another page in the file. “They were part of a data dump we got from your father’s lawyer, along with his documentation of your mutation. Apparently, you have superhuman healing abilities - congratulations. Anyways, when pointed in the right direction, we quickly confirmed the records. We haven’t found any correspondence from you directing Cynthechnic to sabotage Stone, but you know how cops are. We get suspicious when people withhold information.”
“Detective Sawyer, I can imagine how this must look to you, but listen to me. You can’t trust any electronic records. I don’t know how, but I know for a fact that many of them have been altered. Do you remember my father’s trial last year? Go look up the newspaper reports: see if they match what you remember reading back then. My best friend testified to seeing me undergo electroshock treatment at Lionel’s behest - but that’s now missing from the record. You can’t believe anything on the internet. And as for hard copy, you’d be amazed at how many of the battles over the last year have destroyed libraries and other public archives.”
Detective Sawyer stared at him for what felt like hours, then pursed her lips and stood up with a sigh. “You know Lex, I AM going to check. I’m going to check because the one thing that bothers me about this is that you’re too smart to have left such an obvious trail between you and your father’s killer. Your father’s files hint at lots of corporate malfeasance, but he was never able to get enough proof to use against you. That tells me something.”
As she left the room, the music resumed. Somehow though, Lex was cheered as The Sex Pistol’s ‘God Save the Queen’ started to ring out. At the very least, someone out there had a sense of humour. He joined in singing, “We’re the poison in your human machine. We’re the future. Your future… No future for you.”
After years denying he had anything in common with other metahumans, it felt somehow liberating to be exposed. He just hoped Detective Sawyer had really listened. Unless he missed his guess, things were set to get awfully bad for the entire human race in a big hurry.
(Part 3 - chapters 5, 6 and 7)