**Chapter 17**
**Intergang Headquarters**

Mindy Church was fuming. She had devised the perfect plan to neutralize Superman. She had him in captivity with the journalist. She controlled them with Kryptonite and Nitrogen, she had everything to make a great reality show. She could control them, then make them suffer before killing them... and those idiot henchmen had let them go together to the bathroom, giving them the opportunity to escape!
Okay, the police arrived quickly afterward, but it didn’t change the incompetence of her staff.

Still furious, Mindy paced back and forth in her office. She couldn’t believe that her meticulously prepared plan had been sabotaged by such a ridiculous mistake.

- How could they let Superman and Lois escape? - she hissed through clenched teeth. - I had everything orchestrated! They were under our control, I had the fate of Metropolis in my hands...

She suddenly stopped in front of the large screen in her office, images of the villa where she had held Lois and Superman being broadcast in a loop on the news channels. Her hard gaze darkened even further.

- The police recovered them, and now the whole city will know I was behind all this, - she murmured, lost in thought. - But it’s not over... I won’t let these fools ruin my plans.

Mindy turned to her henchmen, who were standing nervously in a corner of the room. They all lowered their heads, unable to meet their boss’s sharp gaze.

- You have a chance to redeem yourselves, - she said coldly. - Find me a way to regain control. Superman may be weakened, but he's not out of commission yet. As for Lois Lane... She’s going to learn what it costs to meddle in my affairs.

Her men nodded, relieved to have another chance to fix their mistake.

- What I want now, - Mindy continued as she walked toward her desk, - is their public humiliation. Superman must never again be seen as a hero. I want Metropolis to see him for what he really is: a threat.

She leaned over her desk and pressed a button. A male voice came from the speaker:

- Yes, Mrs. Church?

- Prepare "Operation Disgrace." It’s time for Metropolis to start doubting Superman.

Mindy straightened up with a satisfied smile, the shadow of an even more Machiavellian plan forming in her mind. She may not have succeeded in neutralizing them this time, but she was far from losing the battle.

**Star Labs**

Superman slowly opened his eyes. An intense headache made him immediately shut them again. He murmured Lois's name. Dr. Klein, who was nearby, opened the capsule and joined him.

- Superman! It's good to have you back with us!

- Dr. Klein, what happened? How is Lois? - Superman’s voice was weak, but he tried to sit up.

Dr. Klein urged him to stay down, placing a hand on his shoulder.

- Take it easy, your body just went through a terrible ordeal. The Kryptonite was attached to your red blood cells.

Superman didn’t really listen to the response.

- How is Lois? Where is she?

- She’s fine, she’s resting. I’m going to go get her.

Dr. Klein quickly left the room to fetch Lois. Meanwhile, Superman tried to concentrate, but exhaustion was overtaking him. He sat up slightly, recalling the events that had transpired: their capture, Mindy Church’s threat, and most of all, the fear of never seeing Lois again.

Soon after, Dr. Klein returned, followed by Lois, who seemed still exhausted but relieved to see her husband awake.

- Superman! - she exclaimed, rushing toward him, tears in her eyes. She knelt beside him, taking his hand in hers. - You’re finally awake!

Superman gave her a faint smile.

- I’m sorry I worried you. I was afraid I couldn’t protect you.

- Don’t apologize, - she replied, wiping her tears. - What matters is that you’re here now.

Dr. Klein watched the scene with a mixture of admiration and compassion.

- He’s still very weak, but I’m sure that with rest and time, he’ll be back on his feet.

- Do you still have any treatments to give him?

- No, the latest tests are good, I’m confident his body is handling the rest.

- Then I think I should take him back to Clark’s and my place. He’ll be better off resting there than here, where there’s so much going on, and most importantly, it’ll be easier to hide him while he’s weakened. Clark suggested this when I called him earlier... well, if that’s alright with you, of course, - she finished, turning to Superman.

- If you don’t mind, Lois, I’d appreciate that.

**Intergang Headquarters**

Meanwhile, Mindy Church stood in front of her screen, watching the footage her teams had prepared. She had written her speech, ready to present her version of events.

- The whole world will know that Superman is not the hero he pretends to be. I’ll make everyone doubt him. It’s time for my revenge to begin.

She smiled, confident that her plan would work, ready to spread lies to achieve her goal.