(IC:
Clark Kent)
Keyser Soze said:
At first choosing to ignore Lois Lane's comment, Luthor instead shakes Clark Kent's extended hand.
"Ah! Oliver Queen's party! I thought I'd seen you somewhere before! I hope you are keeping Miss Lane out of trouble."
Luthor released the handshake, and turned to Lois Lane. He went to take her hand, but she didn't offer it. So, Luthor instead awkwardly held his hands behind his back.
"Slander, Miss Lane? Hardly. I'm raising genuine concerns that are felt by people all over the world. If you want to see slander, I suggest you take a look at some of the merry fictions you and Perry have been writing about me in your paper."
Luthor let out a jovial, but dismissive laugh. They could write whatever they wanted. They couldn't touch him.
"Well, here's some news for you. I was here to talk to Lord Doom about withdrawing my oil refinery from Latverian seas. We both agree that, as he rebuilds his economy, it is for the good of Latveria to be allowed to profit from its own resources. I'm not quite the money-grabbing tyrant that you think, Lois."
I've just about had it with him.
He wants to express concerns about me? Fine. I can't blame anyone for fearing what they don't understand, which is why I
am going to that debate. But for all everyone else knows, He was the one that orchestrated the attack on the Fantastic Four. He may have even organised the first terrorist attack that I put to halt. And on top of that... He insults the principals of two people I consider friends.
I'm about to speak up, not in anger, but rather question of why he thinks Superman can't be a responsible soul, when-
Andy C. said:
"No, I'm afraid that the tyrant would be me."
The three humans turned to find a man in black armor floating only a foot above the ground. He was not particularly large, but well-built for his apparent age, his muscles a contrast to his white beard and the tufts of white hair on the sides of his balding head. His most striking feature, however, was the \Z/ symbol embedded into his armored chest-plate.
Zod had watched in the skies above as Luthor and Doom swore enmity towards each other, and in this, the General saw great opportunity. The addition of press agents would make things a bit more complicated for his plans to play out, but something else had drove him to reveal himself: an irregular hearbeat, picked up by Zod's super-hearing. It was slightly different from the Earth-people's pulses; in fact, if Zod didn't know better, he would say it was....Kryptonian. If Kal-El was in the area, Zod decided that now would be the time to force his hand.
"Mister Luthor, may I first say that I am quite pleased to meet you. You have made some rather bold statements about myself and my kind, and I think it is time we address that issue, as well as some...other affairs which may be of interest."
"Halt! State your name and business with--"
As the Doom-Bot approached the intruder, Zod nonchalantly glanced over his shoulder and let loose a powerful blast of heat vision, catching the robotic century by surprise and blowing off its head.
"Perhaps that was unnecessary; after all, I do have business to discuss with Lord Doom. In fact, it may be time we all had ourselves a group discussion. So if you will, it would be my pleasure for the three of you to join me in entering the Castle....now."
My eyes widen, under the glasses. Apparentally, this is the 'Zod' everyone has been talking about. But that's not what catches me by surprise. My hearing can detect his heartbeat... And, despite earlier assumptions of his existance being a hoax... His heartbeat isn't human.
And the fact that he's
floating off the ground, much like I could if I weren't in a different guise infront of everyone in the room, doesn't nessacarily make me feel any less threatened by his prescence. If I could figure out a way out of here, and change into my costume...
As I look around for an exit... Things unfortunatley take a turn for the bizzaire, again.
LibrarianThorne said:
Doom strode to the group, his determined steps ringing off the stone.
"If business is what you wanted to discuss, Zod, there are better ways of getting my attention than destroying one of my robots," said Doom as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"General, I know you have more than enough power to shatter the planet but you did not have an appointment. Ms. Lane and her friend, however, did. In fact, their presence was requested whereas yours was not. If you desire an audience with me, then you will have the decency to wait. Am I clear?"
Zod threatened Doom's gambit, and his arrival at this point could only harm Doom's future plans. The General would prove to be a valuable ally, but only when all the other metahumans were dead and gone. He risked much by rebuking the General at this point, but he had no other option.
Doom? This is Doom? He wears metal. A mask... a green cloak. This is the ruler of a nation? Though I shouldn't be one to judge. Especially considering what I'm wearing under
my clothes...
His voice... It makes me uneasy. He certainly has a prescence. I decide to keep quiet, watching this...
Andy C. said:
"Of course. Where are my manners? My most sincere apologies about your robot," Zod said, taking a slight bow, "but after the attack on my soldiers, I do hope you can understand if I am a bit on edge.
"The American reporters are indeed your guests, and it would be less than courteous of me to keep them from their host. I do hope, however, that you will grant me to have a few words with Mr. Luthor in the meantime?"
The General knew that he could not leave this planet without Doom's technology, and it would be a costly mistake to lose access to it by upsetting him. This would also allow him to further search through the Latverian castle without attracting Doom's attention, and could possibly give Zod the time he needed to pinpoint the location of the other Kryptonian pulse nearby.
Most importantly, Zod had to make sure Luthor stayed here, in order to put his plans into motion. Either as potential allies or enemies, Luthor and Doom would be crucial figures in Zod's stratagem to get to Kal-El, and thus destroy him.
For now, though, the General had to play the gracious guest, and allowed Doom his authority.
I look at Lois. She looks back at me with the same blank stare I'm giving her. This is quite a strange set of circumstances.
I don't want to be Clark Kent, now... But I have to be patient. If I can time this right... I may be able to confront Zod soon enough.
Keyser Soze said:
Lex Luthor's eyes widened. His frantic eyes stared back and forth from Zod, to Kent and Lois, back to Zod, then to Doom.
"That's preposterous! This...Zod...is a psychopath! Doom, tell the alien that having a...few words with me is absolutely out of the question!"
Huh. And this was the man who was shouting at both Zod and I behind the protection of a Television scream. But now that he's lost the protection, and facing the actual thing...
Well, I guess we all know how courageous Luthor is, now.
LibrarianThorne said:
"Luthor, I believe you have made the grievous error of thinking I care what happens to you. General, feel free to address Luthor in whatever manner you deem appropriate. Know this, however, I will not tolerate harm coming to Luthor while he is in my castle. An attack on Luthor will be considered an attack on myself, for he is my guest."
He turned his head, addressing the reporters. "Ms. Lane, if you would be so kind as to follow me?"
Lois looks at me, unsure of what to say. Then she becomes serious again, turning her attention to Doom.
"Gladly. You're prescence seems to be the most ...comforting, here.", She says, looking at Luthor evilly, before following Doom.
I look at Luthor and Zod for a moment, before following her and Doom. This is... interesting. Definatley. But, the only question is... how long it will be before Superman's prescence becomes nessacary?
