Initiating Regenerative Protocol
Within the cold depths of space itself, in an entirely other galaxy that is far from discovery, the dreams of a machine echo throughout the cosmos. Hidden from sight by an asteriod field, the being shifts in it's place, awakening from what feels like a thousand years' slumber. It's mind probes it's surroundings, it's body feeds off of itself. In many ways, it is completely self-sufficient, save for the capacity to yearn for knowledge. Yet as it's many memories unfold upon it's programming and it is greeted with many sights horrific and unspeakable, it's thoughts are only that of a single vendetta.
Curled in place and tucked away in the darkness, the being seems to stir - and eventually, it seems to grow. It's metallic skin lashing out at it's surroundings, the shape becomes a cylinder, forming immediate features upon it's final size. It's face seems to morph into that of a human skull, yet it is anything but human. It's eyes forming dark emerald windows, giving way to the hint that there could possibly be a passenger to the twisted vessel, the eyes begin to glow, sending an unnoticed shockwave throughout the universe. The energy collapses onto itself and forms a black hole. It's signal is sent through the barrier, heading straight into the milky way at an incredible rate.
Stablizing System Directory. Complete.
Activating Module Transmission. Sending...
Lightyears away on the planet Earth, a cornfield in the town of Smallville, Kansas begins to glow a bright green. Patches of stalks and and pieces of a great harvest give way to something else that grows beneath the ground. Large pods begin to form, their arrival harboring the source of the glow. And in minutes, at a speed that is unfathomable, they are finally given the transmission from space. Their reaction is vast and simultaneous. They begin to move with life, forming several different beings made up of any great horror story, varying in size, weight - and most importantly - power.
The pods each send a transmission that is somehow sent at an even faster rate, recieved by it's dark creator in a matter of seconds. From within the metallic hull, the being that originates this rests itself, organically born within the span of centuries out of nothing more than a genetic splice of data and DNA. It's eyes closed, it feeds through the circuitry of it's craft, becoming attuned. Until it finally feels the burst of life coming well before it does.
Transmission Recieved.
Beginning Artificial Replicant Generation.
And in the most unnerving moment, the being from space's eyes slowly open.
BRAINIAC Version 5.8... Online
"I'm not going to cut corners with you this time, Kent. I'm not a young fool anymore."
Clark pushed the rim of his glasses closer to his face, realizing the somber tone that Perry's voice was taking. Truth be told, if you'd have asked the now seventy-three year old editor-in-chief on any day since the start of the millenium, it would have been apparent that this conversation had been looming over the paper for years, ignored only by the merits of it's record-breaking headlines and award winning columns. Clark had never personally worried about the state of The Daily Planet himself, preferring to assess the situation with a positive outlook. After all, the paper's status in history seemed to reflect the very heart of Metropolis itself - tireless and ageless in it's unrelenting search for the truth. But for Perry White, who made The Planet's day-to-day his solitary passion for over thirty years of his life, running the paper was beginning to take it's toll. And it didn't take a man with x-ray vision to see it clearly written on his face.
"Well, Mr. White, I would certainly never put it quite so abrasively, but..."
Perry shook his head.
"Can the modesty, son. There's a time and a place, and this is neither. My days as editor of The Planet are coming to an end. And I think deep down, we've all known it for some time."
"If this is about that cancer scare from a few years ago, then I think it's safe to say that..."
"Kent."
Clark paused.
"This is one decision that I'm not taking back. I tendered my resignation last week, it's just waiting to be processed. I've already scheduled my leave for the end of the month."
Clark was silent. Though he tried to at least look surprised, his respect for Perry wouldn't allow the indignity. So instead, he simply looked off, allowing the moment to truly sink in. After all of the near misses and close calls, Clark had actually began to think that if the one constant in the world wasn't Lex Luthor, it was the grizzly determination of his employer. But in a conflicting turn of thought, he realized that none really deserved a retirement more. The truth is, he just didn't want to face it so soon. Not with all that was happening in the recent months - all of the substantial changes to his life.
"Perry, I don't know what you want me to say. Why are you telling me this?"
Sitting down at his desk, White looked him square in the eye.
"Because you're one of my best reporters. If it weren't for that tough-as-nails wife of yours, you would be the best. But more importantly, I've always liked you. Even if I've never let it on after all these years, your opinion means way more to me than half of the clowns I come across every day in this miserable business."
Adjusting his glasses even further, the expression on his face was more than a little flustered.
"Gosh, I... I'm flattered. Really, I am. It's just that this is all such a big,"
"Kent, do me a favor. If you're going to keep up in this conversation, lose the act. We both know you're not as clumsy or oafish as you pretend to be, so I want you hear you speak with some honesty in your voice. Tell me how you really feel. Give me all you've got, son, because I can assure you that I can take it."
Clark placed his hands together, casually looking at his shoes. He hadn't been quite so hesitant to speak up since the day of his interview. Lighting up one of his trademark cigars, Perry leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, waiting for the slightest hint of a reaction that he could work with. Instead, with a calm, collective breath, Clark looked back at him without so much as a tremble.
"Honestly speaking, sir? I'm not sure if I believe you."
Perry removed the cigar from his mouth, intrigued.
"And I'm not trying to be cynical when I say that, but when you think about it, you've handled alot worse than age. You're an inspiration to all of us. Even with everything you've sacrificed and all that you've lost, you managed to keep the paper alive for as long as I've worked here. There isn't a more dedicated man in this building than Perry White, and you know it as well as anyone. The integrity that you bring to the newsroom is absolutely vital, and to lose that now would be hard to even imagine."
White wanted to speak, but for the first time, Clark was brave enough to hold out his hand to motion him to stop. It was enough to surprise the editor into compliance, as Clark looked around at his many trophies and achievements gathered over the years.
"There's a saying that my father has - well, that my father used to have. That when you're ready to quit something, you should be ready to quit on your own terms. And I've taken that to heart in recent years. I've never been ready to give something up, because I do all that I can to never allow the possibility. That isn't just something that I learned from him, sir. I also learned it from you."
Perry tapped his cigar against the ashtray to his right, and nodded.
"Keep going. I want to hear this."
Trying to find the words, Clark finally shook his head.
"Perry, I really don't know what you want to hear. If you're trying to get me to object, you're going to need alot more than that for me to stand in the way of your retirement."
"All I want is one thing. The truth, and I want to hear it in your words. Not this persona that you've managed to develop for yourself."
Closing his eyes, he gave a heavy sigh. As if for the first time in his life, Perry White seemed visibly scared of something.
"Are you disappointed in me?"
It took a moment, but Clark finally replied.
"I could never be disappointed in you."
Seemingly frustrated, the editor tried to muster up the gusto to sound off on Kent in order to get him to lose that ever persistent modesty, but Clark's face said it all. There was nothing held back. No words that were hollow, no reactions that were forged. He was being absolutely serious.
"If this is what you want, if it's what you really want. Then there's nothing more to be said."
Perry seemed to turn away at that.
"I'm very glad to hear that."
Getting up from his chair, he slowly rounded his desk and made his way to Clark directly, placing a firm hand on the journalist's shoulder.
"I'll be honest, too. If I had went to Lane with this first, I would have had a heart attack long before I could hang up my hat. She would never allow me to leave like this, and she'd fight tooth and nail to get me to change my mind. That's the real reason I came to you first. You're never as direct, but I'll be damned if you're not one of the most sincere people I've ever known."
Clark rose out of his seat, returning an offered handshake.
"I appreciate that, sir."
Perry pointed straight into his face.
"It's the truth. And don't you forget it. Truth is how you thrive in this business, and it's the reason you've always earned my respect."
Looking out of the office window, Clark took a glance at his wife from behind her desk, as her head shifted from staring into the office to try and gather a sense of what was going on, resuming work with her latest article.
"Do you want me to be the one to tell her?"
"No, that won't be nessecary. After all that she's done for this paper, and for me personally, I at least owe her one last chance to chew me out. She's like the daughter I never,"
At that moment, something from the outside began to glow.
As Clark and Perry both turned to the nearby window, overlooking the cityscape of Metropolis, they both witnessed as a being coated in a bright energy suddenly appear in the skies above Metropolis Square and hover, before quickly falling from the clouds and smashing into the pavement below. With it's actual landing obscured from their view, it was clear that whatever happened, it wasn't good.
"Great Ceaser's Ghost! Kent, did you..."
But by the time Perry turned back around, he was already gone, rushing his way out of the offices.
"Blasted, there he goes again! Always disappearing when you need him the most."
In a nearby janitor's closet, Clark slammed the door behind him and began loosening his tie.
Sorry to cut our little chat short, Perry...
But this looks like a job for Superman.
