Feburary 3rd 2011
Location: Metropolis
It has been a week since the incident at Star City. With the amount of destruction and death that had occurred, it was impossible for the incident to be kept hidden. Soon, many conspiracy theories started circling the web, ranging from the government testing a new drug and using it on the public to a new meta-human that had awoken their powers and gone berserk.
Deciding to settle the matter, I scheduled a news interview with the Daily Planet. In this world, the Daily Planet realized that newspapers would eventually become outdated as technology progressed. So, they created their own website and cell phone app that showed local and world news. The local news section of the website featured posts submitted by the community, which Daily Planet employees monitored and screened before posting. It showed local events, job listings, local advertisements, and even missing pets.
The other half focused on hard journalism, where both Lois Lane and Clark Kent worked. It focused on events that could be considered historical, both nationally and internationally.
However, I wanted some ground rules to be set. First, I wanted the interviewers to be specifically Clark Kent and Lois Lane. I wanted to create a better relationship with the two of them, especially since I would need to work with Superman when intergalactic threats began to occur. Two, it could not be a live interview. As much as I valued the truth, I needed public perception to be on my side for my plans to work out.
When the interview date finally arrived, Mercy and I were on our way there in our limo. I tried to grope Mercy's thick ass when she pinched the top of my hand. I retreated my hand, shaking it.
"You can have me later. Right now, you need to focus. Even though we had a deal with them, you did not build that great of a rapport with them these past few times you have met. Also, Ms. Lane is a reporter; through and through, she might ignore the deal altogether."
"You are right, but I just wanted a little touch before the interview."
"Lex, it's never just a touch with you."
When we finally arrived, someone was waiting for us outside the building. It was a red-haired man with a thin build and a slightly tanned complexion, due to spending a lot of time outside. He looked pretty similar to the actor Seth Green.
Excited, he rushed towards me. Mercy stepped before me, and her previous demeanor had disappeared entirely. In its place was the cold, stoic Mercy that everyone knew her as. She grabbed his sleeve with her left hand. Then, with a smooth pivot, she used her right foot to sweep back in a precise arc behind his heel. She dropped her weight, steadily pulling the sleeve and slamming him to the ground, performing an osotogari. Mercy then placed a knee to his chest and yanked his left arm over her right shoulder.
"Hey! What is going on here?"
I looked up and saw that it was Clark, and he had a disapproving look on his face.
Sighing, I instructed Mercy, "I appreciate the concern, but get off him, Mercy."
She got off of him, her eyes not leaving him. She then expressed, "In light of current events, it was not wise that he came rushing at us, especially since we don't know him."
The redhead slowly got up and, trying to ease the mood, apologetically said, "Yeah, it's my fault, Clark. When I saw it was the Lex Luthor, I kind of got too excited and ran at him."
"You okay? You must be Jimmy Olsen. If anything happens, here is my card, and I'll pay for any medical treatment," I said
He made a huge smile and, instead of taking the card, clasped my hand and shook it. "Oh no, Mr.Luthor! I'm alright; how do you know who I am?"
"Well, I do make it business to know people. Plus, how could I not know the man behind the amazing pictures of Superman?"
"Well, it is an honor that you know me, Mr. Luthor!"
I gave Clark a helpless smile for some assistance. I wanted Jimmy to stop shaking my hand so enthusiastically and let go, but I did not have the heart to make him feel embarrassed. Clark merely shot back a slight grin, clearly enjoying my misery.
"Let the poor man go, Jimmy; he looks like he is being forced into a conversation with a crackhead," said a stern womanly voice. Lois Lane had arrived and stood beside Clark. She looked displeased, as if I had given her some bad news.
Realizing that he may have come on to me a little too strongly in our very first meeting, Jimmy quickly let go of my hand and once again apologized: "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor! I am just a giant fan of your work! The arc reactor is just a stroke of genius, and I..."
I cut him off because I really needed to get this interview over with and tie up some loose ends from the incident. "It is okay, Jimmy, and you can just call me Lex. I appreciate that you're a fan of my work and can look forward to more from me in the future. If you ever want a personal tour of one of my labs, just let me know."
"Hopefully, you have room for two more for that tour. We are very interested in making an article on LexCorp's next biggest object," Clark declared.
"Of course, I will even hint right now what its name is. I call it Project: Life Cradle."
"As much as I enjoy the small talk, we are on a time crunch, people. Let's hurry up and get this show on the road," Lois declared.
We all entered the building and headed to where the interview would take place. Lois walked ahead, seeming not to want to be near me. Wondering what I had done wrong, I whispered to Clark as we walked, "Hey, did I do anything to upset her? She seems not to like me more than usual."
Clark apologetically smiled and explained, "I apologize, but Lois takes being a reporter quite seriously. It is her whole life. She was thrilled to hear that we were going to get an exclusive interview with you about what had occurred that day, but when she heard the conditions you set, she wasn't happy, saying, 'How can we call ourselves an unbiased news source if we cater to these demands?'"
I walked quietly the rest of the way there. I admired how she strove for the truth, but I would not get myself set up as the villain in this scenario. I needed the people to be on my side. I would make it up to her in the future, since if I got along with Lois, I would also get along with Clark.
As we entered the interview room, I went over to Lois for a private conversation. Clark watched me intently, and I could almost sense his urge to unleash his heat vision. To ease his worries, I whispered, "Don't worry, Romeo. I have no interest in your woman." He turned red, but I noticed he seemed less tense around me afterward.
"Ms. Lane, may I have a minute of your time?
"Make it quick, Mr. Luthor. I have a real story to tell after this," she said, not looking at me.
"Ouch, but fair. I know you are not happy about the rules I have set in place, but I promise you that in exchange, I will give only you and Clark an exclusive interview when Project: Life Cradle is finished. It might not seem like a big deal, but I promise it will be as revolutionary as the Arc Reactor."
She quickly turned around, a big grin on her face, as if the whole thing was just an act. She declared, "Let's put that on paper, and you've got yourself a deal." She put her hand up to shake on it. I sighed, reluctantly shook it, and felt that I may have been played.
"Well, now that that is out of the way, let's start this interview!"
1 week later
February 10, 2011
Location: Santa Cruz, Texas
A man was pacing back and forth in a luxurious office room, frantically thinking. This man was Samuel Cabot, one of the 15 individuals who tried to assassinate Lex Luthor. It had been a little more than a week since the two mercenaries that Ashton Ford had hired were sent out, and for some reason, he could not contact the other 14 members. Worried, Samuel Cabot quickly phoned Ashton Ford, hoping to hear some news to put his mind at ease.
However, when he tried calling, he only heard the messaging system. Frustrated, he had left Ashton Ford some choice words, "Why are you not picking up you old fuck! You think you can ignore me! It has been over a week now, and no one has heard a thing from the men you've hired! You confidently promised us; you promised me that these oh-so-legendary figures would show us results, but not only did fucking Lex get away from them somehow, he is still showing up on TV and the internet doing fucking interviews!"
He had seen the video that the Daily Planet had posted. It was an exclusive interview with Lex Luthor, in which he recounted his version of what had taken place that day. He even showed proof by showing CTV footage he had collected and even had the legendary assassin Deadshot in custody, in which he gave a confessional. Not only did Lex's fame rise, but the story he spun made it seem as though he was a martyr; as a result, stock prices for all companies related to fossil fuels fell significantly.
He then threw the phone onto the marble ground as hard as he could, shattering his cellular device into many pieces. Feeling stressed, he decided he needed something to soothe his mind, so he slumped on his extravagant leather couch and yelled at his secretary, "Get me a drink! Now!"
A young, pretty woman shaking in a corner nearby started stammering, "Y...yes, sir, I'll...I'll get your favorite whiskey right away, sir!" She dashed away to retrieve it from the bar in the room.
She quickly returned with an imported bottle of expensive whiskey and began pouring it into a glass cup. However, Samual just roughly snatched the whole glass bottle of whiskey from her hands, stating, "Give me that fucking thing." He chugged it, trying to drown his anxiety away. Within 20 minutes, he had finished the bottle.
Seeing that no whisky was left, he demanded, "Go get me more now! His secretary quickly ran to get more, tears running down her face from the constant verbal abuse and the fear of losing her job.
After ten minutes had passed, he began to become frustrated.
"How long does it take to get a goddamn drink, you dumb bitch!" he roared as he stood up and turned around. However, instead of his secretary, Lex Luthor smiled at him with the same mercenary Ashton Ford had hired, Deadshot, standing right behind him.
"L..Lex! How...how did you get in here?" he said, falling onto his butt. He then started to yell out, "Guards! Guards!"
Lex looked at him sinisterly and offered, "Ah, Mr. Cabot, it is a pleasure meeting you. Why don't you sit back down?"
"Look, Lex, whatever you heard from him, it... it isn't true!"
"Hmmm, and what did I hear then?"
Alex Cabott just sat there, sweat running down his shirt. The silence between them was palpable. That is when Lex Luthor finally broke the silence: "Give me Cabot Energy, and turn yourself in, and I'll spare you. Once you are released from prison, I will give you a million dollars to restart your life."
Rage erupted from the sheer audacity of what Lex Luthor had said. He rose, forgetting his fear, and started to walk towards him, shouting, "Give you Cabot Energy? Cabot Energy has been in my family for generations. I should ki..." *BAM*
Alex Cabott toppled to the floor. Deadshot had just shot his knee.
"AHHHHHHHH!" cried Alex
"I did not ask Alex; I demanded." Lex said coldly, "Not only did you go after my life, but you attacked what is mine. I did not say I forgave you. I was just being kind, but since you rejected my very generous offer, we will go with plan B."
Lex then turned to Deadshot and instructed, "Make sure he can still sign paperwork. I want Cabot Energy. Once you are done, finish him off." He then started to walk away.
The fear of death overtook his pain. He began to crawl towards Lex, begging, "Wait! Wait! Wait, Goddamnit it! Lex! I'll sign! Please come back! I'll sign!"
However, Lex only said, "Make sure you tell Ashton Ford I said hello when you go to Hell." Lex believed that if his enemies could be redeemed or had some use, he would spare them and give them a chance. However, if they did not meet either of the two criteria, he would permanently remove them; otherwise, they could come after him again in the future. He would never let anything that threatened him or his loved ones exist.
Time: February 13, 2011
Location: Unknown
Hidden in the Hindu Kush Mountains was a large fortress. Inside the fortress was a beautiful woman who looked like a 25-year-old Angelina Jolie. She had tan skin, stood at 5'7", and had a toned physique. She walked down a hall with fluid grace, like a shadow that possessed both beauty and lethal intent. This woman was the daughter of the Demon's Head, Talia al Ghul. She inherited his sharp intellect and unwavering will, yet cloaked it in an alluring sophistication that often lulled her adversaries into a dangerous complacency. Her appearance was a captivating paradox, a blend of exotic allure and steely resolve.
Her features were striking, framed by dark, lustrous hair that cascaded around her shoulders like liquid night. High cheekbones and a defined jawline lent her face a sculpted elegance, while her lips often held a subtle, enigmatic curve – a hint of a secret amusement or a carefully concealed threat. Her eyes, the color of the deep shadows of a desert night, held a keen intelligence that was both disarmingly charming and piercingly scrutinizing.
There was an undeniable magnetism to her presence, a captivating blend of confidence and poise. She could command a room with a mere glance, her voice a silken whisper that held the weight of authority. Yet, beneath the polished surface lay a formidable warrior and a cunning strategist, trained in the deadly arts by her father and driven by a fierce loyalty to his vision, however twisted it might appear to others.
She reached a large, metal, imposing double door at the end of the hall when four men emerged from the shadows. Each figure was a study in practical menace, clad in identical swathes of dark, tactical fabric that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. They were encased in matte-black body armor that protected their torsos and limbs, lending them a formidable, almost robotic silhouette. They also wore helmets, the same oppressive shade of black that obscured their faces, leaving only the cold glint of visors to hint at the eyes within. This uniformity stripped them of any individuality, transforming them into mere instruments. These four were assigned to guard the door.
"Let me in. I am here to see my father," she instructed.
All four men obeyed and pushed the doors, which revealed that it led to an extravagant throne room with a cold and cruel atmosphere. The room held enormous wealth: gold lining the walls, exotic silks hanging from the ceiling, and a long crimson carpet made from the most expensive cashmere. The carpet led to a set of stairs, and at the top of those stairs was a throne made of golden skulls. There sat a man who looked like the actor Ghassan Massoud. This man was the Demon's Head, Ra's al Ghul.
He was 5'10", and his lean frame held a wiry strength, a testament to countless battles. His face, sharp and angular, was etched with the lines of a long and complex existence. Deep-set eyes held ancient wisdom, often narrowed in contemplation or burning with fanatical conviction. He also had meticulously groomed, slicked-back hair and a beard; both were streaked with silver, despite the vitality that pulsed within him.
Talia approached the throne and genuflected before him, her head bowed down.
"Father, I came to report on one of the candidates you had selected."
"You may rise, my daughter," stated Ra's.
"One of your potential successors, Bane, was surprisingly defeated by the multibillionaire Lex Luthor in single combat. Afterward, it seems Lex also defeated and convinced the assassin, Deadshot, to turn himself in to the authorities. Lastly, he tracked and located all those involved in his assassination attempt and not only killed them but also took over their companies.
The man stroked his beard, contemplating his daughter's words. After a few minutes, he asked, "What do you think of this man? Is he more than just some greedy merchant also poisoning this earth?"
The woman considered for a few minutes and then said, "In my humble opinion, father, he would also be an excellent addition to the League."
"Oh? Big praise coming from you. What makes you say that?"
"From our information, Lex Luthor is a brilliant businessman. Not only has LexCorp thrived under his control in just a few months, but he has also expanded his influence into various sectors, including the military, medical, automobile, and energy. This is due to his acquisition of Queen Industries, which gave him access to the military industry, and also due to him receiving the enterprises from the 14 people who tried to assassinate him, which include both Caboth Energy and Ford Enterprises, which gives him control to over 33 percent of all energy in the world and influence in the automobile industry as well. He is an engineering genius, having created both the arc reactor and the weaponized robotic armor he used against Bane. Lastly, that fight showed that he is not only a genius but also a warrior proficient in multiple martial arts. If Bane were a warrior with the mind of a scholar, then Lex Luthor would be a king who is a warrior and a scholar."
The man studied her words and quickly decided, "It seems you value him very highly. Why don't you contact him?"
Due to her years of training and upbringing, she was unperturbed by her father's teasing. She kept her stoic demeanor and simply asked, "Is that an order, father?"
Sighing due to his daughter's stoic attitude, he stated, "Yes, Talia, if your assessment of him is correct, we must still control him to further the League's agendas. Contact him immediately and bring him into our fold through words or violence."
"Yes, father, may the will of the Demon's Head be done", Talia declared as she bowed and left.
Once she left the room, a figure appeared from the shadows. His appearance was a study in stark duality, dominated by the iconic mask, split cleanly between pitch-black that seemed to swallow light and a vibrant, almost aggressive orange. One unwavering eye, a point of lethal focus, peered out from the shadowed side, hinting at the strategic mind within. He stood at 6'4" and had a rugged physicality, clad in a tactical suit with the same contrasting colors of his mask, a practical armor that spoke of preparedness and deadly intent. His katanas, which were strapped to his back, served as a constant reminder of his preferred method of dispatch, a silent promise of swift and brutal efficiency.
"There is no need for some spoiled man-child to be part of the League Ra's. Especially when I inherit the League," the deadly assassin confidently proclaimed.
"Let me remind you, Wilson, that I have not yet chosen you to lead the League. You are still just a candidate. The same level that Lex Luthor killed."
Annoyed that Ra's al Ghul had used his real name, Deathstroke replied, "Don't put me in the same boat as that bloated ham. Everyone always said Bane was a genius, but he was a fool to the very end, addicted to venom."
Amused by the insolence of Deathstroke, Ra's al Ghul, "It seems Bane might not have been the only fool with the way you are taking that tone with me, Wilson. Know your place." Soon, 50 more warriors emerged from the shadows, the same ones that guarded the double doors. They all stared at Deathstroke, ready to attack at a moment's notice to protect their master or if ordered to do so.
Knowing he was outnumbered, Deathstroke looked at Ra's al Ghul and bowed, stating, "I apologize, master, for my insolence. I will make sure it does not happen again. I will return to my duties." He quickly stood up and left the throne room.
Once he was far enough away and knew he was alone, he punched a pillar, destroying a large part of it. "I have been his loyal disciple for more than 20 years, and as well as his greatest warrior, and yet he still has not handed me leadership over the League. Instead, he brings in outsiders who have done nothing for the League and even names them candidates. Demon's Head or not, no one will stand in the way of my destiny."