Chapter 3 "Yeah, But Who? Godzilla?"
"I brought you lunch, chicken salad," Lois’ sister Lucy said as she walked with Lois into the Daily Planet the morning after Lois had stolen Chloe’s story. "That reminds me, can I borrow your gray suit?"
"Lucy, you're already wearing my gray suit," an annoyed Lois said. "You know, you stayed out half the night, you were totally irresponsible --"
"So I'm grounded?" Lucy joked.
"I am not trying to play big sister here," Lois said.
"No, but you're unhappy with yourself so you're ragging on me," Lucy said.
"You are so wrong!" Lois yelled.
"Really? Who was it who called me last night, practically in tears because she stole a story from her cousin?" Lucy asked.
"I did not steal Chloe’s story," Lois denied.
"You stole it," Lucy told her sister.
"I competed for it," she corrected, "And I won!"
However, Lois was truly regretting her earlier actions. She had acted without thinking, something that she actually did very often. This time, her quick actions might have done a lot of damage. She had gone against her morals, and she would now have to live with that for the rest of her life. Even worse, Chloe was probably both angry and hurt by having her own cousin steal a story from her.
"I stole it! I have never stolen a story before in my life! How could I do that? It's him," she suddenly added. “It's the Green Arrow. I mean, ever since he held me in his arms... There's something between us, Lucy, I know it! There's this connection!"
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Lucy scolded her sister.
"I am ashamed of myself; I'm ashamed of myself," Lois finally said.
"And you'll never do it again?" Lucy asked.
"I won't, never again," Lois promised.
"And you'll apologize to Chloe immediately?" Lucy asked.
"Not in this millennia," Lois stated.
Lois may have regretted her actions, but she still would not publicly admit that what she had done was wrong. She didn’t want to show a sign of weakness to anybody, including Chloe. Anyways, after having some time to cool off, Chloe would most likely forgive her, and in a few days, it would be like nothing had ever happened.
"Good-bye," Lucy said as she walked out of the room, annoyed with her sister.
"Lucy, you're limping," Lois told Lucy.
"Your shoes are too tight," Lucy replied without even looking back.
Lois sighed. "My shoes are too tight," she muttered.
However, it was then that Chloe angrily approached her cousin. She was holding out the front page of the Daily Planet. How could Lois have done this, especially to her? Chloe knew that Lois was very spirited when it came to getting any story, and obviously, the Green Arrow story was of particular interest to her, but Chloe had never seen this bloodthirsty side to Lois. In the past, it had always seemed as though Lois had some boundaries, such as not stealing another reporter’s story. Chloe figured that there must be a reasonable explanation behind Lois’ actions, or at the very least, there must be an apology.
"The Justice League Averts Double Suicide," she read from the headline. "By Lois --" She threw the paper on Lois’ desk. "-- Lane. First of all -"
"Chloe, don't even start," she told her upset cousin. "You got what you deserved."
"What?" she asked, shocked by Lois’ reply.
How could Lois say such a bold comment? Had Chloe ever done anything to Lois? Chloe was very confused as to what Lois was trying to say.
"I know it's tough, but one day you'll thank me," Lois added.
"Thank you?" she repeated, not understanding her cousin.
"You're welcome. Never, never let go of a story. Trust no one, period," Lois said in a cocky tone as she laughed a little bit.
"I see!" Chloe said as she stared at her cousin.
"Consider this a life lesson," she told Chloe, "no charge." With a smile on her face, she patted Chloe’s cheek twice, choosing not to let on that she was regretting her actions.
Chloe chose smartly to just turn around and walk away, not having anything left to say. Lois was relieved that this argument was over. Hopefully, Chloe would forgive her after having a chance to calm down.
At that very moment, an older man with a mustache stepped up to Lois's desk. "Excuse me, my name is Cleveland; I'm looking for Eduardo Friez."
She glanced over at Eduardo's empty desk. "Uh, he went to lunch."
"But we had an appointment," the man said in a puzzled tone.
"I'll tell him you came by," Lois told the man.
"Don't bother, I'll tell my story elsewhere. Perhaps the Metropolis Star would like to receive some information concerning the Green Arrow," he said before walking off.
"The Green Arrow?" She perked up immediately and ran to catch up with the man. "I... uh... Cleveland!" she screamed after the man. "I've been expecting you. I'm so sorry, I'm Lois Lane," she told him while shaking his hand. "Eduardo told me that you would be coming by, I just... uh... please, forgive me. Let's go to the conference room and talk, shall we?" she suggested, stealing yet another reporter’s story.
He hesitated, looking as if his mind was in another place. "I'm suddenly rather hungry, perhaps after lunch."
"Take mine, chicken salad," Lois said as she grabbed the paper bag Lucy had brought for her.
"Home made?" He smiled as he began to eat. The two of them walked into the conference room together.
Chloe and Jimmy had been watching as Lois walked off with Eduardo's source. Chloe was disgusted with her cousin’s actions. First, she had stolen her own cousin’s story. Now, she was taking Eduardo's source.
"Jimmy?" she asked.
"Yeah, Chloe?" he responded.
"Tell me something. Do you think Lois is always so aggressive going after stories?"
"Does the phrase 'Mad Dog Lane' sound about right?" Jimmy joked.
"Seriously," Chloe said.
"Seriously? Yeah! *But*, I have never seen her this worked up. This Green Arrow guy has really pushed her buttons. Hey, I heard she aced you out of your story yesterday. Tough break," he tried to comfort her.
"Someone ought to teach her a lesson," Chloe said angrily.
"Yeah, but who? Godzilla?" Jimmy laughed, not realizing that “Godzilla” would be involved in Lois Lane’s downfall.
Chloe changed the subject. "What are you supposed to be doing?"
"Big assignment from the Chief," he replied. "I’m supposed to get some Green Arrow photos.”
"Don’t worry Jimmy, you will get your picture of the Green Arrow,” Chloe told him.
“And I’m sure that you will scoop Lois on the next big Justice League story,” Jimmy told her.
"Where's Lois?" Grant suddenly demanded.
"She must have stepped out, Chief," Chloe said quickly, knowing full well where Lois was.
"All right Sullivan, Schwartz, Hallson, come here! We’ve got a bomb in the lobby of the Carlin Building. Third and Ordway. Get down there, take a photographer with you."
"Chief, I'll go!" Jimmy volunteered, thinking that this could be his chance at getting a photo of the Green Arrow.
"What are you gawking at? Let's go, let's go!" Grant hollered, causing them to flee immediately.
*****
Meanwhile, Lois was talking with “her” source, not realizing that she was missing the real story.
"Is this regular mayonnaise or reduced calorie?" Cleveland asked.
"Reduced," Lois said, starting to get annoyed. "Could we just --"
"And just a touch of dill, right?"
"Mr. Cleveland, you claim to have information about the Green Arrow. Let's hear it!"
"The Green Arrow is definitely an alien entity," he told the reporter, who began taking notes immediately. "He comes from a planet Trofax, and he's not alone. I've been on the ship, there are thousands like him."
She stared at him, listening to every word.
"Freeze-dried, awaiting the call to arms," Cleveland added.
"Freeze-dried?" Lois asked, starting to realize that this information was no good.
"Now, my involvement in this won't be publicized, will it? I'm planning another run at the Presidency."
"The Presidency?" she repeated.
"Yeah, to follow up my two previous terms in eighty-four and ninety-two."
"Mr. Cleveland, I --"
"Oh please, call me Grover," he told her.
Lois snatched her sandwich from his mouth and marched out of the conference room. She had been wasting her time.
*****
Linda Montoya, a TV reporter, was standing before the Carlin Building, facing the camera crew. "If you've just joined us, the original report of a bomb planted in the lobby of the Carlin Building has now been confirmed. The bomb squad is on the scene, awaiting the arrival of what is termed a containment blister as well as a team of deactivation specialists. Once the blister is in place, they can work to neutralize the threat. Meanwhile the entire building has been evacuated, and we are being told to get out of the way, just back up, so for now, I'm Linda Montoya, and -- what?" She looked behind her. "The Justice League is here!" she said to the camera, feeling excited. "The Justice League is about to enter the building!"
At the same time, Lex Luthor watched from his monitors, hoping to see the group in action again.
Finally, Lois pulled up in a cab, leaped out, and pushed her way through the crowd. She wasn’t too late to see the Justice League in action! However, when the superheroes walked out into the sunlight a few minutes later, they quickly left the scene despite Lois’ attempts to get an interview. Lois began to walk around aimlessly, upset that she didn’t get her interview. She then saw Chloe talking to a man from the bomb squad. Lois wasn’t about to let Chloe scoop her, so she joined her cousin.
"Well, where would they have to be?" she heard Chloe ask.
"Somewhere within a two mile radius, but that's about all we've got," the man replied.
"What've we got so far?" she asked Chloe.
"The bomb was a fake. Also, there were video cameras installed in the lobby which were not a part of the building's security system or any other system that the management company knew about. We think the two are connected,” the man from the bomb squad said.
"So, you're saying that someone waited for the Justice League to appear and watched them enter the building, but there wasn’t even a bomb?" Lois asked.
"It seems like somebody just wanted to see how quickly these new heroes would react to a bomb threat," he added. "Excuse me." He walked away.
"I can't believe that! A fake bomb," Lois commented.
"That's horrible!" Chloe exclaimed.
“That poor man," Lois whispered.
"What man?" Chloe asked.
"The Green Arrow. He comes here to help us, and somebody is trying to test his team. Can you imagine how he must feel?" she asked softly.
"I think so," Chloe replied.
*****
Chapter 4 “Lois Pulls the Last Straw”
Back at the Daily Planet, Chloe was on the phone with Clark, explaining to him about the testing. “If you can tell Oliver, then maybe, he can get to the bottom of this. In addition, I’ve learned that those jumpers were also probably involved in this test. That’s all I know, Clark.”
At the same time, Lois was still working on getting her Justice League story. While she was working, Jimmy announced, “I think I know how to find the Justice League!”
Lois looked up and said, “Great! Let’s hear it.”
Just as Jimmy was about to talk, Grant hollered, “Jimmy!”
“I’ll tell you later,” Jimmy said as he walked into Grant’s office.
*****
Later that day, Lex Luthor was sitting inside his office when he looked up. Somehow, the Justice League had made their way into his office!
"Green Arrow!" he said, trying to sound happier than he was. "Come in."
"You want to know how fast Impulse is, Luthor?" He shot an arrow directly towards Lex’s face.
Lex Luthor's eyes widened, assuming that he was about to die. However, Impulse caught the arrow just before it could hit Lex. The billionaire was stunned!
"Now, you know. I’m giving you a warning. The tests stop now," the Green Arrow told him.
Luthor stared at the group, fearing for his life at this point. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
The Green Arrow continued, “We know all about the tests. There is no need to lie, Luthor. Consider this you’re only warning.”
Lex stared at the heroes as they quickly exited his office. Then, he picked up the phone.
“I have decided to suspend the testing…” he said, obviously very shaken up.
*****
The next day, Chloe, Lois, and Jimmy sat in the snack area, finishing off their lunches. Lois doodled on a piece of paper, thinking about the Green Arrow.
"Didn't you say you had some idea for finding the Justice League?" Lois asked Jimmy.
"Forget it, it's a zero," Jimmy said.
"Tell me anyway."
"I just figured that these guys must have some kind of a secret hideout. Track down the hideout somehow, find the Justice League," Jimmy said, starting to feel more confident about his idea.
However, Lois just let out a little sigh.
"A zero, I told you," Jimmy said sadly. Then, he stood up. "Duty calls," Jimmy said, deciding that he should just head back to work.
Lois thought about Jimmy's idea some more, and realized that she had nothing else to go on. She got up from the table and slowly walked back to her desk. Then, she picked up the phone. “Yes, I need detailed maps of Metropolis."
Chloe had been listening to Lois. "Now Jimmy's idea!" she said to herself. "That's it, that's the last straw!" She was going to teach Lois Lane a lesson!
"Sullivan!" Grant hollered. "Drive-by shooting, Third and Walnut, get down there now!"
"Yes sir."
"Uh-huh? Okay, I'll hold," Lois said into the phone.
Chloe quickly drew a map on a piece of paper, with an "x" marked 'The Justice League's hideout'. She folded it, stuffed it in an envelope, and wrote 'Lois Lane' on the outside. Then, she picked up her phone.
"Hi, this is Chloe Sullivan in the newsroom. Can I get a messenger up here please?... Right, on my desk... Tonight, Lois Lane's apartment... Thanks." She hung up and glanced over at Lois, smiling.
"What kind of security clearance? Okay, I'll get one. How hard can it be?" Lois asked, still talking on the phone.
Chloe was already satisfied with herself.
*****
That night, Lois arrived at her apartment and looked through her mail. When she found the map, she smiled. “I’m about to get the biggest story of my life! I need to leave now! Maybe I can get the story before morning.”
Lois took off, not even bothering to change out of the beige jacket, beige skirt, and beige shoes that she had worn to work. Lois may have felt good now, but this trip would lead to the greatest humiliation of Lois Lane’s life.
To Be Continued...
Next Up... Chapter 5 “Lois Lane’s Comeuppance”
