Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic FDK: After Nightfall: The Return of Superman (12/12)

Morgana It's funny that this never came up. I was trying to leave the details a little vague, but I completely misses that misconception. I knew that Martha was only told about Lois's "prisoner" status after Martha was already locked in the apartment. I had no idea that the words left that point unclear.


Hi, Mary

I think this is the fist I've see of you for this story. I'm glad you decided to take a look. I was worried that I had left way too many clues along the way and that everyone would have seen the ending from as far back as chapter 7.

So, you posted the "evil May" challenge. You know this isn't my most evil idea, (my evil story idea #2 is way, way beyond this) but what did you think of my foray into the shadows?

Thanks for the note.

Bob

You got me. I'd watched your posts with interest, but decided to wait until this one was finished and then read it all at once. I suspected that it was going to be one of those "Must Have Next Part ASAP" fics, and didn't want to have to be left hanging until the next post. Alas, I ended up hanging a couple times anyway, since things like sleep and RL got in the way of reading. <_<



Impressive, sir; impressive. Even though it clearly *had* to end happily (because it just had to), this was still very chilling. You obviously know how to do Dark.

Mary No worries. To be honest, knowing what I know about my publishing style -- the fact that I tend to post the whole story very quickly -- if the story looked to be angsty at all, I would probably wait for the end too. The REAL story was always going to end this way. However, I had to fight off the temptation to post an alt-chapter 12 where, instead of Clark ending up immune to kryptonite, he had his powers burned out and Lex killed him. In that version, the brainwashing worked and Lois ended up being the exact Mrs. Luthor that Lex wanted.

Bob

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by bobbart:
<strong> I had to fight off the temptation to post an alt-chapter 12 where, instead of Clark ending up immune to kryptonite, he had his powers burned out and Lex killed him. In that version, the brainwashing worked and Lois ended up being the exact Mrs. Luthor that Lex wanted. enough.

Framework4 Too true.
Even doing what I did here was a huge shock to my system. I have some of those ideas, but none of them ever seem to find their way out.
And they probably never will.

Bob

Just read this story. Quite good. The ending is potentially quite troubling though.

Superman with no vulnerabilities now? Superman is not a God and absolute power is what he now has. No one and no thing can stop him. How long before his "God-like" status gets to him?

Unless, and this is not stated, his decreased power level applies to his overall invulnerability. Even though kryptonite no longer affects him perhaps, hopefully, very strong conventional weapons can now hurt him and maybe do him in.

Again, absolute power corrupts and the world would rightly fear a totally unstoppable power - no matter his claim to be there to serve and protect humanity.

Hi, Randi.

I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

You said: I understand your concern, but that is part of what makes Superman special. He can and does make mistakes, but unlike the rest of us, he is incorruptible.

Now, he isn't indestructible, and his powers have been weakened, but I do agree that he is effectively without any vulnerabilities. However, since this is Clark, everything will be fine. Sorry, but when it comes to this version of Clark/Superman, I'm not worried about the potential down side.

Thanks for the note. I hope my optimism about Clark isn't too irritating.
Bob

Your optimism is not irritating, but I think unrealistic. Superman is not a God and absolute power will eventually go to his head IMO. That would make for an interesting follow-up story.

There have been several great comic stories investigating this very thing.

In one he began overriding government decisions he thought were harmful to humans. He slowly took more control and eventually, in stopping a nuclear attack by a sub, accidentally killed the sub's crew. Batman reluctantly agreed, at the UN's request, to help with a "permanent solution" to the Superman "problem". As no jail could hold Superman, Batman killed his former friend and, as he lay dying, Superman actually thanked Batman. Superman realized he was losing control and was a growing menace to humanity.

Well, I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree.

First off, I have to concede that there are some very good dark-Superman stories. However, for most of these, that Superman has a very different background than our Clark/Superman. Once you establish that Superman grew up as a different person, then naturally he could do very bad things. However, I don't see the lack of having a weakness as changing him. Remember that canon Clark grew up and created Superman – and was the quintessential good guy – all the time believing that he had no weakness. By canon, it wasn't until GGGOH that he found that any weakness existed. In Clark, the lack of a weakness didn't lead him to use his powers improperly.

I'm afraid that I'm not a believer in the adage of, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Over the years - as I've watched more and more of my hair turn grey - I've come to believe that just as there are people that seem to have a tendency for bad, there are people that will find a way to do the right thing whatever the circumstances.

I have come to the belief that the idea of power being a corruptive force has more to do with the motivation of the kinds of people that seek power, than it does with the power itself. Too often, those people that seek out power, want that power based on a personal need to control. Naturally a high percentage of those people will not "do the right thing" once they have that power.

The difference with Superman is that he never desired to have power or to compel others. His only desire was to help because his abilities allowed him to make a real difference.

Anyway, as I said at the opening, while I think I understand your concern, it will never be a problem with THIS Superman.

Bob

Hi Bob!

And now for the grand finale! I have no idea how you’re going to put everything back together in just a couple of pages

Well, what a fitting chapter title!

Huh.

Earlier, I thought the mention of the bright light might be an interesting tidbit but now it seems that he’s actually become immune to Kryptonite *an* is powered up on bright white lab light. This means he’s both invulnerable and kinda-sorta ticked off at Lex. Good thing Lois is programmed to like strong, dominant males who beat their competition senseless. Even the smell of cigars works well, considering that Clark’s going to have that fresh burn-smell on him after lighting up Lex’s…cigar with his heatvision.

Yeah, replace all the lowhanging Kryptonite with fakes while he’s unconscious. But no… I guess Clark didn’t hear Lex releasing his bowls at the thought of Superman not being continuously exposed to Kryptonite. Say, considering you made such a show of it earlier on the part of Superman, will Lex give in to his baser natural needs when he meets an angry Superman? Poor Clark’s never going to get that stink out of his super nose, though.

Ooooh, he’s so going to enjoy today’s session, then, isn’t he?

LEX:

Wouldn’t it be awkward if a sharp piece of Kryptonite spit Lex’s head apart? You know, ‘Human Killed by Kryptonite’.

What’s he doing? And I’m using Clark’s not hurt?

Oh, the indignity!

Yeah, so let’s review: a) Superman’s apparently impervious to a mixture of Kryptonite and metallic pieces flying at high velocities. b) he wants 4 guys to shoot at the ticked off alien stalking towards Lex in a room destined to produce ricochet from whatever bullets don’t flat out hit Lex directly. Yeah, not his finest out.

Yeah, probably wishing they had been wearing ski masks lined with lead fibres.

Uh-oh.

See? Told ya. But he did get off way to easy, don’t you think? I do wonder if the gun crew they fled because of Superman or because they killed the deadman-switch that kept their families alive.

He will have been busy finding and rescuing Mrs. Kent. Oops, sooo-ory.

Awwwwww…

Oh dear. That supply closet sure is going to get a workout.
PERRY: I’ve already commissioned they move the copy machine into the supply closet and retrofit the copy room. Lois will just have to make up a schedule with Cat for when to use it.

Probably still in her ‘strong man are hot’ phase.

*confused* Pregnant?

Oh, okay. Looks like I was right about that one.

Maybe Dr. M. simply expected Lex to die while trying to consummate with his Stepford wife.

Huh. So, the loss is permanent despite the immunity?

Huh, so, maybe it would be best for Clark to visit Dr. Klein on a monthly basis and sit for a day in a Kryptonite chamber.



Cute. He might actually wear a kryptonite ring, keep the exposure constant.

Yes, well, he really should have thought of that *before* allowing the police to dispose of Lex’s body instead of dragging it through the streets and mounting it on a lamppost in front of City Hall.

He could go to Washington, DC, establish himself at 1600 Penn.



Well…you did tie a nice bow on this whole mess. Well done!

Michael