Chapter 21: At the Crossroads
Metropolis Police Department
The next morning, Lois and Clark arrived at the police station, responding to Henderson’s invitation. He was waiting for them impatiently in the lobby and escorted them to his office.
Once they were seated, the officer, visibly exhausted after a night of interrogation, began to speak:
"I spent the night questioning the suspects, and I managed to get full confessions. Nico Barone planned the opera attack in every detail. Ethan Caldwell played a crucial role in ensuring that the maximum number of people were trapped, with no escape once the fire started. The other two were just the executors. Their pasts and behaviors show that they are also dangerous criminals, fully aware of their actions, with no external influence. Dawkins lives up to his nickname, Viper; he’s cold and sly. The Torch, on the other hand, is a psychopathic arsonist, obsessed with fire."
"Do you think they acted alone, or were they hired?" Clark asked.
"They claim it was all their idea, but I haven’t found a clear motive..."
"That confirms our suspicions, Inspector. We believe Mindy Church is behind all of this," Lois asserted.
"But I suppose, like me, you have no proof?"
"Exactly," Clark replied.
"Inspector, what about the fires at the orphanage and the office building? Have they admitted to being involved?" Lois continued.
Henderson nodded, visibly worn out by the cruelty of humanity:
"Yes, they confessed. Barone orchestrated everything meticulously. Their goal was to cause as many casualties as possible. Fortunately, Superman and Ultrawoman saved hundreds of our citizens."
"And what is their motive, according to them?"
"They just want to terrorize the population. They pretend to be terrorists, but their cause is non-existent."
"How so?"
"Terrorists usually aim to send a message... but not them. They just want to spread fear and kill." He shook his head. "It doesn’t add up. We need to keep investigating."
"Alright," Lois replied, a determined glint in her eyes. "We could try to align our leads."
Henderson nodded, his face marked by exhaustion but also intense concentration.
"Okay, where do you want to start?" he asked, sitting up slightly in his chair.
Clark briefly exchanged a look with Lois, and without a word, they silently agreed.
"We could go over all the events we suspect the Churches of being involved in but haven’t been able to prove," Clark suggested, his deep voice betraying the seriousness of the moment.
"Good idea!" Henderson approved with a small encouraging smile.
They then began listing the investigations, the tension rising as each memory resurfaced. First, they brought up the museum bomb, the day when Bill Church Jr. and Sr. were arrested. Then, they mentioned the virus meant to kill Superman, a threat that had nearly cost their friend and hero his life. They continued with the near-simultaneous crime spree that had struck the city: armed bank robberies, embezzlement, leaving behind a city gripped by panic.
When they reached the Baker Orphanage fire, Lois paused. She turned her head towards Clark, and their eyes met. In that gaze, there was a depth of understanding and shared pain. Clark felt a pang in his heart, recalling that tragic event, but he knew they had to move forward.
With a slight hesitation, he spoke again, carefully choosing his words to protect their secret while providing the necessary information.
"We have evidence placing the Brown brothers at the orphanage fire. And in our investigation, we found their hideout."
Henderson frowned, pondering the implications of these new findings.
"I could send the forensic team there, just in case," he offered.
Clark shifted slightly in his chair, a hint of worry crossing his face. They hadn’t been very cautious during their investigation, and it was likely they had left behind fingerprints or stray hairs. Lois, always attentive, placed a comforting hand on his arm, silently offering her support.
Henderson noticed Clark’s discomfort but chose to ignore it. He knew that journalists sometimes took liberties that the law wouldn’t approve of, but he was willing to overlook these details. After all, Lois and Clark had proven time and again that they were on the right side, even if their methods were sometimes unconventional.
"Alright, I see. How about we all go together, the three of us?" he added with a resolute tone, as if to signify they were all in this together.
348 Hyperion Avenue
Many hours later, Lois and Clark returned home, exhausted but still determined. They had spent the afternoon and much of the evening at the Brown brothers’ hideout with Inspector Henderson, exploring every corner, examining every object meticulously. The goal: to find any clue that could finally link Intergang to these heinous crimes.
Despite a few intriguing finds, nothing seemed enough to directly accuse Intergang or implicate its leaders. A palpable frustration hung in the air as they shed their coats, their minds still filled with details of the investigation. Yet, deep down, a glimmer of hope remained. Every small clue, every lead, no matter how insignificant, brought them one step closer to the truth.
Lois turned to Clark, a tired but encouraging smile briefly lighting her face. She felt that despite the obstacles, they were on the right path. The comfortable silence that enveloped them was suddenly broken by a characteristic "whoosh," announcing the arrival of a visibly upset Ultrawoman, who swiftly descended from the upstairs.
"Where have you two been!? I’ve been looking for you for hours!" she exclaimed, her gaze moving from Clark to Lois with barely concealed worry. "You’re investigating without me, fine. I know I have to stay discreet... but not a call, not a message, nothing! I was worried! I thought you were stuck to a concrete block at the bottom of Hobbs Bay or dissolving in a vat of chemicals!"
Clark, caught off guard by this sudden outburst of anger and concern, took on a contrite expression. He realized he had been so absorbed in the investigation that he hadn’t thought to reassure Ultrawoman, and he felt doubly guilty. The emotions she expressed painfully reminded him of what he felt every time Lois went out on her own, putting herself in danger.
Lois, meanwhile, gave a small amused smile. She found the situation almost ironic. Had her other self forgotten that she often got lost in her investigations without giving updates, plunging Clark into similar worry?
Clark and Lois remained silent, each lost in their thoughts, while Ultrawoman misunderstood the silence. Seeing Clark’s guilty expression and Lois’s smile, she immediately assumed the worst. They weren’t investigating; they had spent time together as a couple, ignoring the urgency of the situation. She interpreted this as a personal betrayal. A strong sense of jealousy and betrayal overwhelmed her, darkening her features.
The silence following Ultrawoman’s outburst was thick with tension. Clark, usually in control of his emotions, stood there motionless, unable to find the right words to ease the obvious pain in the eyes of the woman he loved. Lois, too, felt her heart tighten, seeing the hurt in her double’s eyes. Jealousy and pain intertwined in Ultrawoman’s mind, clouding her judgment.
Lois took a deep breath, her tone firmer than usual:
“Do you realize what you’re saying? Do you realize the pain you’re causing Clark? He loves you, he loves us more than anything in the world, and you have no right to doubt that, not even for a second.”
Her words hit with the force of undeniable truth. Clark, silent until then, lowered his eyes, touched by Lois’s fierce defense. He knew how strong Ultrawoman’s feelings were, how real they were, and seeing the confusion in her eyes broke him.
Lois continued, her voice soft but unwavering:
“I know your situation isn’t easy. We lost track of time, and yes, we should have told you. But you have to understand, we spent the day investigating with Henderson. Besides, why should I even have to justify myself? No one asks what you’re doing when you fly off, as far as I know. Our relationship has always been built on trust... Do you trust us?”
She paused, letting her words sink in. Ultrawoman’s face showed a storm of conflicting emotions. Anger, pain, and maybe even shame mixed in her gaze. Lois continued, more calmly this time:
“You know us better than that. You know very well we wouldn’t spend the day in a motel when the situation is this serious. You are the most important person in our lives, and you know that.”
The silence that followed was heavy with tension, but a glimmer of hope pierced through the discomfort, like a promise of reconciliation.
Clark hadn’t said a word during the entire exchange, letting Lois and Ultrawoman sort things out, but inside, he was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. Guilt gnawed at him, as did a quiet anger at this absurd situation they found themselves in.
Finally, he straightened up, his posture shifting gradually. His usually gentle gaze turned determined. His arms crossed over his chest, and his entire demeanor changed. In that moment, he wasn’t just Clark Kent but Superman, the Man of Steel, the symbol of justice and moral strength. He might not have been wearing his iconic suit, but his stance and expression left no doubt about the resolve within him.
He spoke, his deep voice resonating with quiet authority:
“I think it’s time we lay everything out for the sake of the three of us. This split, this division between you two, is a terrible burden, and I can’t bear to see the pain it’s causing each of you any longer.”
He looked at each of them in turn, his eyes filled with deep sincerity.
“I love you both more than anything, and that’s the problem. I’m constantly torn between you. Between wanting to spend time with you, Lois, without having to disappear at the first sign of trouble, and you, Lois, as Ultrawoman, who has to fly off whenever the situation demands it.”
He paused, searching for the right words.
“You, Lois,” he said, looking at Ultrawoman, “you often leave to save people, and I know you imagine that Lois and I are using that time to grow even closer. And you, Lois,” he said, turning to the other Lois, “you sometimes feel left out when the three of us are together because you see that I give more attention to your double. It’s an untenable situation for all of us.”
He lowered his head for a moment, letting his Superman facade crumble to become simply Clark again, vulnerable and honest.
“And then, there’s Superman... I need to be able to help people, to use my powers for good, but right now, I’m stuck, and I miss being Superman.”
His voice cracked slightly on the last sentence, revealing the depth of his pain. It was no longer the Man of Steel speaking but a man deeply in love, torn by a situation he no longer knew how to handle.
Clark fixed his gaze on the two women, his eyes pleading, hoping they understood the importance of finding a solution together. He knew their current situation couldn’t last, that they had to find balance again, even if that balance was far from conventional—at least for a couple of reporters, one of whom lived a double life as a superhero.
After a moment of heavy silence, he spoke again, this time with a determination softened by tenderness:
“Lois,” he said, turning to Ultrawoman, “could you take us to Smallville with the kryptonite sample? I’d like us to run some tests to understand exactly what’s going on. Maybe that will help us find a solution to reunite you two and help me get my powers back.”
He paused, watching for their reactions, ready to face whatever came next, even if it meant taking risks. For him, returning to “normal” was crucial, not just for their relationship but also so he could fully embrace his role as Superman once more.
