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Luthor's Revenge take 2
By Tank

Lex Luthor winced in pain as he shifted his position in the wheelchair that had become his prison ever since his last encounter with Lois Lane, and that infernal Boy Scout, Superman. He should be dead, and there were many days when Lex wished he had perished under the rubble of that underground subway station hideout.

But he hadn't. A loyal underling, one he hadn't ever paid much attention to, had found him and rescued him from the stony tomb. With his body wracked and broken, Lex had spent many agonizing months just getting healed to the point where he could sit up and feed himself. It had been more than two years and Lex was reasonably self-sufficient now, but he was forever consigned to spend his waking hours in a wheelchair. His legs had been crushed beyond any hope of repair. He would never walk again.

Someone was going to pay for the pain he'd gone through and the pain he continued to live with, and it was time to put into motion the method of that payment.

Lex adjusted the blond wig, and smoothed the fake moustache before his appointment arrived. It had been years since Lex Luthor had been in any front page stories or his image plastered across newspapers, but it didn't hurt to be a bit cautious. It was too early in the process to make a mistake now.

Just then there was a quiet knock on the door and a young woman poked her head through. "Mr. Thorul, you're appointment is here."

Lex nodded. "Thank you. Send him in."

She pushed the door open and stepped aside to let a young man enter the office. He was moderately tall; around six foot or six one. He had dark hair that looked as if it hadn't seen a regular barber in a while. He was a handsome man, but currently presented a somewhat scruffy appearance. Lex had done the research and this fellow would be perfect.

"Come, sit down, Mr. ...?"

"Carstairs, Barry Carstairs Mr. Thorul." The young man nodded meekly and sat down.

"I understand that you used to be a Superman impersonator."

"Yes sir. I was the best, if I do say so myself."

"So, what happened, Barry?" Lex waved in his direction, indicating the young man's current appearance.

Barry frowned. "Things were great for that first year after Superman went public. I had more offers than I could handle. The money came flowing in. Everyone wanted Superman at their event, whether it was a big public gala, or just a very special private affair. There was even talk of a feature motion picture. They couldn't be enough of me - er - him."

"But?"

"But, after a while things began to cool down. Everyone was used to seeing the Man of Steel flying around. The offers tailed off. He just wasn't that special anymore."

Lex nodded in what he assumed looked like an understanding manner. "I see. The old familiarity thing again."

Barry shrugged. "I guess. The last Superman gig I did was over six months ago, and that was for a little girl's tenth birthday. I didn't have my old costume anymore so I had to use a cheap Halloween style one. It was actually pretty embarrassing."

"I see. So, Barry, what are you doing now for employment?"

"Up until about two weeks ago I was employed at Fred's Garage. I'm pretty handy with tools and he needed the extra help."

Lex folded his hands on the small desk he sat behind. "What happened two weeks ago?"

The young man shrugged again. "I don't really know. One day we're busy as all get out, the next Fred calls me in and says that he doesn't need me anymore and that I'm being let go."

"Ah, the continued unpredictability of business." Lex had to hide his smile behind his hand. "I suppose it's been pretty hard on your family."

"I have no close relatives. My parents both died years ago, and any other family is in California. I haven't had any contact with them for years."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Family can be important in times of struggle. What about a girlfriend?"

Barry's snort of laughter was hardly amusing. "No one for quite a while now."

"Really? I'd think a big, handsome lad like you would have to beat the girls off with a stick?"

"That was true when things were going good. When I had the money and a little bit of celebrity I had all the women I could handle. But once a guy falls on a little tough luck, suddenly, as far as they're concerned, you've ceased to exist."

"I'm afraid I understand where you're coming from, Barry, only too well, but I think I have a proposition that will help us both out. You need a job, and I just happen to have a need for a Superman impersonator. But not just any stand-in; I need the best."

"That would be me." Lex could see a little arrogance slip back into Barry's demeanor. "So, what are we talking about here? I don't have a costume anymore."

"Not to worry. I'll provide the costume, as well as professional hair and make-up people to get you back to the proper look." Lex saw that he had the young man hooked. "Now I can't provide you with a steady income, but what would you say to five thousand dollars for a couple of days work."

"I'd say, where do I sign up?" Suddenly Barry got a bit of a wary look on his face. "This doesn't involve anything illegal does it? Even for that money I won't do anything crooked."

Lex chuckled. "No, nothing illegal. I just have a... short film project in mind. One that needs to star the Man of Steel, and that's were you come in. Still interested?"

Barry nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, yeah I am. The money will help pay a few bills until I can find another job." He rose and shook Lex's hand. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, Barry. Make sure you leave your contact information with my receptionist when you leave. We'll be in touch within a couple of days."

Once Barry closed the door behind him, Lex picked up the phone on the desk. He pushed a single button. When someone picked up on the other end he didn't wait for a response. "It's time to make the crucial acquisition. Put the plan into motion."

Lex leaned back, a large smile growing on his face. He glanced down at the desktop as if looking for the humidor that used to always grace his office desk. There wasn't one there. He really would have liked to smoke an expensive Cuban just then, but he wasn't quite back to that kind of reality. Still, he had a lot to look forward to. The fun was just about to start.


*****************************

Lois woke up to the feeling that something was wrong. She reached over and felt the emptiness in the other side of the bed. The sheets on Clark's side of their bed were cold. He hadn't come home at all last night. She frowned as she rolled over and sat up, knowing that she'd have to get going if she was going to make it to work on time. It didn't look like there was going to be any quick trip to the Planet via the Superman express this morning.

You'd think that she'd be used to it by now. It's not like they were still newlyweds or anything. She couldn't begin to count the number of times that she'd woken up alone but it still made her crabby. She missed the way he would wake her up.

Of course, even though she'd had to wake up alone many times, with Superman having been needed in the middle of the night, it was unusual for her to have to go to bed alone and wake up alone. She wondered what could be keeping Clark so long.

She threw on her robe and quickly moved down the stairs to the living room. Grabbing the remote she turned on the television and flipped to LNN news. She watched it for several minutes trying to find something that might be occupying Superman's time. She couldn't think of anything less than a major disaster that would keep Clark all night like this. There was nothing out of the ordinary. She was beginning to worry.

There still hadn't been any word on where Clark was an hour later when Lois arrived at the Planet. She quickly booted up her computer hoping that maybe he emailed her with some message telling her what he was up to, but her mailbox yielded only the typical clutter and spam that usually had to deal with every morning. Her frown deepened and her anxiety level rose.

"Lois, where's Clark?"

Lois looked up from her screen to see her Editor-in-Chief standing next to her desk. Perry had a sour look on his face. Great, he'd probably just come back from fighting with the suits upstairs and that always put him in a bad mood. What was she supposed to say?

"I... I don't know, Chief."

His eyebrows rose. "You don't know? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you two living together?"

She rolled her eyes at Perry's sarcasm. "Yes we're living together. And yes, we're still happily married." Her worried frown broke through. "It's just that Superman contacted Clark last night about some bank robbery or something. Clark went out to meet with him but he hasn't come home yet. I've checked the newscasts, but haven't heard anything about what Superman might have been doing last night. There hasn't been a word on him."

Perry's brow furrowed in a concerned frown of his own. He reached down and gave Lois' shoulder a squeeze. "Well, I wouldn't get too worried just yet. Clark a big boy and can take care of himself. There are any number of reasons why he'd be late coming back home." Perry plastered a fake smile on his face. "Why, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come off that elevator anytime now with a big story that will scoop everyone."

Lois realized that her boss was just trying to make her feel better. "I guess."

"Of course I am." He patted her shoulder. "Until he does, why don't you get together what you've got on that Melville Construction story you're working on and bring it into my office. Maybe a fresh perspective will help you find the angle you need."

"Sure." Lois knew that he was just trying to take her mind off Clark. There was nothing going on with the Melville story because there was nothing there. It was small time graft that wouldn't even rate more than a page three filler.

Lois spent the next three hours in meaningless tasks. Her 'brainstorming' session with Perry had been exactly what she had assumed it was going to be... pointless. There just wasn't enough going on with it to make it anything more than a filler piece. Finally Perry told her to write it up and they'd find some place to put it in the Metro Section.

Lois had it finished and sent to Perry before lunch. She had taken a walk during her lunch hour hoping the exercise would help her keep her mind off wondering where Clark was. Normally she would spend the time window shopping. Nothing could take her mind off her worry.

When she got back to the Planet she noticed a small package on her desk. A brief flare of hope surged through her. Maybe it was from Clark. When she picked it up it just confused her more. It was a small box, plainly wrapped, with no tag or card. The only way she knew that the package was meant for her was that her name was scrawled in pencil on the plain wrapping.

"Jimmy?" He came over to her. "Did you see who left this on my desk?"

Jimmy shrugged and shook his head. "No. I didn't see anyone."

Frowning, Lois tore off the wrapping. The box was as plain as the wrapping had been. She pulled the cover off the box and a gasp escaped from her lips. Inside the box was a pair of glasses. The lenses had been smashed but she recognized them anyway. They were Clark's glasses.

She fell into her chair and stared at the spectacles. The nagging worry that she'd been feeling all day blossomed into a full blown fear. A few tears began to spill from the corners of her eyes. Where was Clark? What had happened? Was he hurt? She wouldn't allow herself to think of the other alternative. She chewed on her lower lip as she frantically tried to figure out what to do.

Jimmy stepped up behind her. "What'd you get, Lois?" She didn't answer, but he could see the tears starting to fall and the object in the small box that she held in her shaking hands. "Omigod, are those... Clark's?" She just nodded. "Chief!"

Jimmy's cry brought the esteemed editor out of his office. "What in Sam Hill is going on here?" He strode down the ramp toward them. "Jimmy, what are you hollerin' about?" He suddenly noticed the state Lois was in. "Lois? What is it? What do you have there?"

She turned her head to look at him, holding the small box out as she did so. "These are Clark's glasses."

Perry stared at the broken spectacles for a moment, then put his hand on Lois' shoulder. "Are you sure of that, honey? They could just look like Clark's."

"Then why send them to me... like this?" She tried to sniff back some tears. "Someone is sending me a message."

"Are you sure, Lois? It could just be a prank."

Lois glared at Perry. "Clark has been gone since yesterday. He didn't come home last night and I haven't heard from him. Nobody knew that except me." She set the box down on her desk. "I come back from lunch to find this box mysteriously sitting on my desk. There is no delivery boy waiting for a tip, no card, no note, nothing. Just the broken glasses of my husband. What am I supposed to think?"

Perry frowned. "Jimmy, call Inspector Henderson."

Jimmy was just about to pick up the phone on the next desk when a shout came from across the room. "Chief, there's a call for you on line one. The guy says it's important."

Muttering a few soft curses under his breath, Perry grabbed the phone Jimmy was standing by and punched the appropriate button. "White."

He didn't say anything. He just listened for a few seconds, his expression getting darker, and then he hung up. "That was a friend of mine over at LNN. He said they received a tape earlier that they are going to show in a couple of minutes. He wasn't sure what was on it, but the producers over there are pretty spooked. He says they're going to run it anyway." Perry stepped over to the large television screen that hung from the ceiling of the newsroom and turned it on. It was always tuned to LNN.

The screen came to life just in time to see a middle-aged man come into camera behind the normal anchorwoman and whisper something in her ear. She seemed confused by what he said but simply nodded, got up, and left her desk. The man sat down in the chair and after getting direction as to which camera to look at, stared straight ahead. His expression was grim.

"My name is Richard Daimler, and I'm a producer here at LNN. Approximately thirty minutes ago we came into possession of the tape which you are about to see. While we cannot vouch for its authenticity, we felt that the public had a right to see it, and decide for themselves. We have contacted the police and immediately after airing this tape we will be co-operating with them in every way we can." He paused to take a deep breath, his expression getting grimmer. "I must warn everyone of the graphic nature of the contents of this tape and strongly advise the young, and those with weak hearts to turn away."

Lois had a sick feeling in her stomach as a scene shifted from Daimler to a static filled screen. The static stopped to reveal a scenario that instantly filled her with dread. A man in a wheelchair filled the screen, facing the camera. She recognized him immediately.

"Metropolis, I bid you greetings. I have been out of circulation for a while, so for those of you who don't remember me, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Lex Luthor."

"Doesn't that man ever stay dead?" Perry growled.

Lois could feel the bile rising in her throat. This couldn't be happening. Not now, not after all this time. Lex couldn't have come back into her life. It just wasn't possible. She glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of the broken glasses still sitting there. It felt like a huge hand was squeezing her heart. It couldn't be. Please, don't let Lex have Clark. The image on the screen continued talking.

"As you can see, I'm not quite the same man I used to be. I am now, literally, a broken man. The condition I find myself in is a direct result of my last encounter with two specific individuals. One was my own former fiancée, Lois Lane; and the other was that ever annoying do-gooder Superman." His smile for the camera held no humor, no warmth. "Now, as we all know, I'm no saint. Never have been. But what kind of hero allows a man to be buried under a fall of brick and stone then leaves him for dead? Nobody deserves that sort of fate, but that's what your precious Superman and Lois Lane did to me."

The camera panned back, revealing a scene out of one of Lois' nightmares. Her hands flew to her mouth as a fear-filled sob caught in her throat.

"No." It was all she could articulate as she fought to breathe.

Superman was on his knees, being held upright but some non-descript man that Lois had never scene before. Crisscrossing his chest were a pair of chains which appeared to be green. Lois could only think of one thing... kryptonite.

The hero seemed barely conscious. His eyes were closed and perspiration beaded up on his forehead. If she hadn't known what was actually affecting him she'd have thought he was drugged. But she knew that wasn't the case. It was worse.

Luthor continued. "I'm sure all of you recognize my guest. Oh, and Lois," He grinned evilly. "I hope you received that little package I sent." Her hands were clenched so hard that her knuckles were turning white. Lex pointed at the chains. "I know what many of you are thinking. How is our vaunted hero, Superman, being held by mere chains? The answer is quite simple. These particular chains are coated with kryptonite. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the substance, in its natural state it is a crystal form of Superman's old home planet. Somehow these crystals are radioactive. But don't fear for me and my assistant. Kryptonite has little or no effect on humans. Unfortunately the same can't be said for natives of the planet Krypton. If exposed long enough, the kryptonite can and will kill the Man of Steel."

By now, everyone in the newsroom was clustered around the large television screen. There were muted whispers and mutterings of shock and disgust. Lois had one hand knotted into Perry's shirt sleeve. It was as if she needed his support to keep standing. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Lex wheeled himself over next to the slumping hero. "Kryptonite has one other added benefit." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slim, sharp letter opener. He used it to trace an angry line across Superman's cheek. A thin trail of blood seeped from the wound. "Long before Superman succumbs to the effects of the kryptonite, it renders him powerless. No more 'super' man. He's no more powerful than you or I. No more demi-god flying above the clouds looking down on mere mortals like you and I."

Perry had placed his arm around Lois. Her legs were like rubber as she watched her most hated enemy toy with her helpless husband. She could barely see the screen through her tears and all she could do was hang onto Perry and keep reciting no, no, no, over and over again. Her mind kept screaming at her to turn away. Not to watch what she knew was going to happen. But she couldn't turn away.

"Now, I thought about how this was all going to play out. I've had years to think about how I was going to get my revenge. I considered the melodramatic. I could've erected my own gallows and enjoyed watching Superman swing from the end of a thick knotted rope. Or I could have brought back the French Revolution and had a guillotine built. It might have been fun seeing the Man of Steel's head rolling across the concrete floor." He paused and gave the camera a smile any predator would've been proud of. "Instead I decided on keeping it simple and foolproof."

Lex pulled a large caliber hand gun from inside his jacket. Lois felt her breath leave her body. Her heart pounded hard against her breast. She thought she was going to have a heart attack... and part of her would have welcomed it.

"Vengeance is mine." Lex placed the pistol to Superman's temple.

A scream ripped through the stillness of the newsroom but it wasn't enough to drown out the horrific boom of the hand gun. Lois fell to her knees, still clutching Perry's shirt. Her throat inexplicably raw as fresh sobs wracked her body. Perry knelt to the floor and put his arms around her. He crushed her to his chest as her unquenchable tears soaked the front of his shirt. He held her until the hyperventilating caused by her crying finally brought about the blessed oblivion of unconsciousness.

***************************

Luthor wheeled himself into the small storeroom located in the far corner of his current hideout. The room was bare except for a lone prisoner chained against the far wall. Luthor approached, a wide smile upon his face.

"Well, Clark, old man, your execution is the hit of the airwaves. I dare say it's virtually the only thing that LNN has been running since the tape was delivered to them this afternoon. It's caused quite a stir among the populous. I think my reputation has received quite a boost."

Clark raised his head and tried to focus on his tormentor. "Why? Why kill that poor man instead of me?"

Lex chuckled. "Oh, don't be in such a hurry to die, Clark. I can call you Clark, can't I? I would think after all we've been through together that we'd be on a first name basis." Lex reached out and slapped Clark across the face as he looked like he was drifting off. "Don't pass out on me yet hero. Today was just the beginning of a much bigger plan. Don't believe that my vengeance is going to be that easy on you... or Lois."

Clark, with great effort, lifted his arms allowing the kryptonite coated chains to hand loosely from the cuffs at his wrists. "I don't think you'll have too much say in when I finally die."

Lex snorted in contempt. "Oh don't wimp out on my now *Superman*. I've had enough research done on the properties of kryptonite to have a pretty good idea on how long you'll be able to survive. I figure you'll last at least a couple of more days, which should fit into my plans nicely."

Clark shook his head slowly. "Again, why? Why drag it out?"

"Because this isn't just about you, Clarkie boy. Lois rejected me at the altar; and again, she escaped with you when the two of you left me for dead. I cannot let such actions go unpunished. She must suffer also." His smile grew wider and colder. "And she has started to. My sources at the Daily Planet have informed me that the indomitable Ms. Lois Lane fell to her knees and sobbed like a little girl after witnessing your execution."

Clark glared at Luthor. "She's my wife, what would you expect her to do?" The words were forced out from his clenched jaw.

Lex returned the glare. "Exactly that." He spun his chair and faced away from Clark. "You know, I think I'll let Lois stew for a couple of days. Let her really embrace her grief. Then I'll have her brought here. She'll find out that her beloved husband is still alive which will give her a burst of hope. Then I'll crush that tiny spark by showing her how hopeless the situation is for you and her. Her despair will come crashing back once again."

Lex grabbed the wheels of his chair and savagely spun it back to facing Clark. "Then I will kill her right in front of you."

His laughter echoed off the hard, bare walls as he turned once again and headed for the single door in the small room. Clark's head hung down as tears splashed to the floor.