Lex Luthor

“How generous of you,” Lois chirped, one eyebrow raising at his matter-of-fact responses. “I think you underestimate the talent involved in making good chili dogs, Lex, but it certainly isn’t something to be scoffed at.” Not that it mattered. She didn’t come here to eat. Dodging low blow insults from Lex Luthor was something she was fully prepared for, however. 

Surprised, she set her pencil horizontally on her pad, as if to make it clear she wasn’t writing that one down. “What do you intend to do for the city? What do you think it needs?” It wasn’t the answer she expected, but it was certainly an intriguing one, and she intended to follow it despite not being wholly convinced of his honesty.

"Really Lois, I’m surprised you hadn't noticed.  You’ve been here long enough to get a feel for the place, to see how close it is to disaster,” Lex answered, inhaling the bouquet of the wine in his glass, before taking a sip. 

“You must have seen the shipping district with its empty warehouses and rusting containers.  The likes of Queen, Wayne & Stark abandoned this city a long time ago and started the rot. After years of neglect, there is high unemployment & low wages for the masses, and now these citizens are having their constitutional rights stripped away by a Government-backed paramilitary force, all in the name of public safety and national security.”

Moving the napkin back to his lap, Lex took up his cutlery and started to slice his food again. “The people are scared and looking for someone to blame, all while a mutant ghetto grows and that underclass segregates itself from the rest of society. It’s not going to take long before the situation turns violent and ugly, and this city tears itself apart.”

Stabbing a morsel on his plate, Lex held up the fork and regarded it before putting it onto his mouth and chewing thoughtfully. “Metropolis was all but destroyed when those aliens invaded, but now it is a beacon, rebuilt as the City of Tomorrow - Thanks to LexCorp.”

“When the time comes - and it will come, Lois - When that time comes, I shall do the same for Star City.”

“You’re right, Lex, that doesn’t answer anything.” Conner said with a slight grumble. “Superman has never made you out to be reckless in that sense though,” He answered honestly. “He notes your intelligence and the logical patterns you use to go about things – just wishes you used it for the greater good in his eyes. Things like that…” Conner responded, looking at Lex uncertainly when he crossed his office and placed his hands on his shoulders before letting them drop.

“That is your answer? That heroes should basically sit on their power and only use it in limited forms? The police and firefighters… those types of jobs can only do so much. Vigilantism may not be preferred but it lets us use our powers on a greater scale than what the limits of a simple day-job can.” Conner explained shaking his head. He took in Lex’s words before he suddenly went rigid – body straightening up.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and the sounds of the world washed away - as if someone turned down the volume on the universe and all that Conner could hear was the office. His gaze locked forward - settling on Lex as a specific pairing of Lex’s words echoed in his mind. Well-read, son…. read, son… Red Son… The words faded away, dragging Conner’s consciousness with it. What was left was a militarily stiff young man with dilated pupils; gazing into an unseen void. A genetic trigger - words (or more appropriately, homonyms spoken numerous times by Clark while explaining Kryptonian’s weaknesses under different sunlights – yet, with Lex’s voice imprint they seemed to shut him down. Conner was, for lack of a better description, frozen in time; a computer terminal awaiting input from its user while no other non-essential processes continued to run. 

Lex observed Conner as the verbal trigger took effect, watching as the normally animated young man quickly became slower and more unfocused, until he was reduced to little more than a human-shaped statue.

“I’m relieved that much conditioning imprinted at least,” Lex said, breathing a sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. “That conversation had long since become tiresome.  You’re too limited to grasp what’s going on... such a disappointment.”

Turning his back on the clone, Lex crossed the office and opened a panel in the wall to reveal a drinks cabinet.  “You wanted to know what you were... what your purpose was?,” Lex rhetorically asked the motionless figure as he poured himself a drink. “You were supposed to be my scalpel; a precise tool with which I would have shaped the world. An alien/human hybrid with immense power combined with the infinite adaptability of the human genome...” 

Lex sounded wistful as he spoke, almost hopeful, before his voice trailed off and he shook his head.  “But instead I got this. You are incomplete and half-finished, thanks to those interfering children.  Little more than a blunt instrument,” Lex said with a sneer, the disgust clear in his voice.

“But still, a blunt instrument may have its uses, just not very subtle ones. And now that I know you can still be programmed, I’ll give that some consideration.”

Finishing his drink, Lex closed the wall panel and checked the progress of the scan on one of the inline monitors.  He had more than enough data to begin an analysis of Conner’s current abilities and limitations, so there was no need to keep the clone here any longer.

Lois snorted. “The lady,” she mimicked good-naturedly, her mood light despite Lex’s clear hostility. “You better be footing the bill for this Chateau Margo. That’s how men in such a regal establishment treat ladies, right? And god forbid I don’t fit in.” Not that she was hurting financially, but she didn’t waste her money on ridiculously expensive wine when it all tasted the exact same.

His comment made her shrug. “Oh, I’m sure such distinguished chefs can riddle their way around a chili dog. I can be a charming guest, Luthor, or a very embarrassing one.”

Rubbing her hands together, she leaned forward (purposefully putting her elbows on the table, for good measure). “Why are you in Star City?”

“Lois, please... I always foot the bill. It has nothing to do with you being a woman or the fact that you don’t fit in,” Lex replied, offering a pleasant smile. “And it isn’t about whether the chef could prepare a chilli dog... I’m sure they could.  

“However, I would no more ask a chef of their calibre to prepare such a dish,  than I would ask you to write a parish newsletter. Talent and skill deserve respect, Lois. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

Lex took a sip of water before continuing, as the waiter returned and poured the wine he’d ordered.  “And to answer your question; I am here because Star City needs me, just as Metropolis once did.”

Of course Lexcorp was moving to Star City. This couldn’t just be a formal visit, it couldn’t be on just business. No, he had to move, definitely. It was much too close of a coincidence to keep it out of Diana’s mind, but honestly, there wasn’t a lot to be done about it now. The Registration ban kept them from engaging, kept them civil (in a way). She was always one to be diplomatic, regardless of the company, but Lex Luthor made her wary. Especially now, as he stood before her in the opening lobby of the museum. There was too much at stake here for them to have another monkey wrench thrown into the equation, one that was very much not needed. His presence would surely only elicit stress among them, but until something were to happen, he was just another adversary to keep an eye on. She supposed she’d add him to the list.

“Coincidence is definitely an interesting way to describe it. Though I doubt many people see it that way,” Diana returned easily as guests were funneled to her coworkers — the conversation lingered longer than she expected, so her attention remained on him solely, for the moment. “Such as financially filling in for Bruce Wayne at museum fundraisers?” She queried innocently enough, though the inflection in her tone suggested otherwise.

“It’s not ideal, but we make due.” It was far from ideal, but Diana wasn’t about to vent off her worries and concerns to him. “We require permits now to remain open after hours, but that is hardly a pressing issue.”

“Since Bruce is no longer playing up to his playboy philanthropist image, it’s no surprised that he’s also stopped supporting such charitable efforts. But that’s no reason you - or the museum - should lose out,” Lex said, folding the flyer and tucking it away. “If there is ever anything I can do to assist, you can always reach me at my office.”

“Whatever else you may think of me, Diana, you should know that I have always held a deep regard for history.  These artefacts... these examples of all that humanity has achieved... deserve to be shared,” he smiled, gesturing at the assorted exhibits and their contents.  “Not with these ignorant automatons, but with those who can learn the lessons that these histories offer to teach.”

“No one deserves to die just because they don’t see eye-to-eye with someone, I don’t think. Not if they aren’t causing harm to others…” Conner stated, but Lex’s words had acted like tiny little hooks and now the gears in his head were starting to turn. What if those ‘innocents’ were causing harm by standing in the way like Lex was saying? The teen shook his head quickly to dismiss the thought. “I want to know where I come from… on both sides.” Conner quietly answered Lex’s question about the reason for his visit. “There’s parts about me that I want to know if I just developed them on my own, or if they come from your side of my genetics, or if I’m just crazy and they’re just a part of who I am because of what I am.” The clone shook his head. “So much… temper; an innate desire to act first before stopping myself to think about what I’m doing…”

“Superman has helped so many people, Lex.” Conner stated. “He—” The words suddenly fell flat. “Without him, who would have stopped Metropolis’ crime—” Another statement cut short by his own thoughts: Criminals that only began rising up in larger numbers to try and stop Clark. It was a statement that he had heard once before in regards to Gotham City and the Batman – that the very presence of Batman made the number of criminals and villains in the city skyrocket because they had someone to try and ‘beat’. Was there truth to that statement? Did it apply to Metropolis as well; to any city that a hero called home? The perplexion was clear as day on Conner’s face for several moments. If Superman wasn’t helping people, then why was I created to stop him or  be his replacement?

“How can Superman or anyone do anything to better people’s lives when they enact things like the Relocation program and outlaw heroism?” Conner bounced off the subject slightly to help ease the confusion in his mind.

"Ah yes, the old ‘Nature vs Nurture’ debate... It certainly is a worthy topic for inquiry.  Are we slaves to our innate temperaments and inherited genetics, or are we born as blank slates on which our experiences are writ large?,” Lex nodded sympathetically, crossing the office and placing his hands on Conner’s shoulder.

“Let me answer your question by asking one of my own; From what you have been told, do you consider me to be someone who acts without thinking?  Am I someone who gives in to anger?”

Luthor raised an eyebrow quizzically, while offering the confused young clone an amused half-smile. “No, I am not... But that is only because I have claimed my place in the world. I know who I am, Conner.  While you... You struggle to find yours, and I understand that there is frustration and anger in that.”

“I probably haven’t helped in that,” Lex sighed, turning away again and letting his hands drop.  “You’ve come to me for answers and all I’ve done is offer you more questions to ask.  So, let me give you a straight answer to your last one; How can Superman better people’s lives when they outlaw heroism?  To that, I say that heroism has not been outlawed, only self-serving vigilantism has. 

“Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Paramedics... They’re all everyday heroes.  The Army, Navy and the US Air force, all are heroes fighting for our right & freedoms around the globe.  He could even have chosen to use his reputation in the services of the diplomatic corps, bringing peace to the world.  At any time, Superman could chose to drop his nom de guerre, reveal himself and join any one of these to use his great power in the service of his country.  

“But no... Instead of working within the system and becoming accountable for his actions, he decided to exile himself and do nothing.  Personally, I wouldn’t call that any kind of heroism.”

Nothing June did was out of any particular opinion about mutants and metahumans themselves. She wasn’t a political person, and she was horribly bored by the usual talking points people used. NOVA was not the first organization of its kind, nor would it be the last. If humanity wanted is place at the top of the proverbial food chain, that would be up to science, to ingenuity, not squabbling about who was owed what. 

“And how do you determine who deserves that power, Mr. Luthor? What merits does one need to have before they’re worthy of being given abilities?” She’d given herself extraordinary abilities because she wanted them and because she’d been intelligent enough and dedicated enough to learn how to take them for herself. Had she bettered the world with them? Oh, no. The world hadn’t wanted her help when she’d, and she wasn’t so sure it deserved it anymore. 

June sat back, taking a thoughtful bite of crab as she considered her answer. “For myself? I suppose I want what everyone curious mind wants. Answers to all of my questions. I cannot say that I entirely care what other people do with those answers once I have them, so long as they’re mine to give.” 

“ 'Deserve’? Oh my dear doctor, perhaps you misunderstand me,” Lex smiled. “This isn't about whether an individual is worthy to wield power, and we most assuredly do not live in a meritocracy.  This is simply about having the tools and the strength of will to use them.”

“I’ve no interest in granting powers to myself, as I am now certain that you could do, but having the right person in the right place with the right abilities can be the lever that moves the mountain.”

Setting his cutlery aside, Lex raised a linen napkin to his mouth, removing traces of the sauce from his lips. 

“But that’s of no interest to you, is it, Dr Covington?  For you, the work is it’s own reward... a puzzle to be solved for its own sake, whatever methods the solving requires.”

“I am willing to offer you the funding and resources to continue your research, without the moral or bureaucratic impediments which you may encounter elsewhere.  You will be free to follow your curiosity wherever it leads.”  

“Long enough for you to call me Lois and not Miss Lane.” Lois wrinkled her nose as she settled comfortably in the chair opposite his. “You know how much I hate betraying my strong ethical responsibilities, even if it means getting the interview, so that part is actually true.” It would have been a lot easier to set up a fake interview with a fake person, but she wasn’t going to underestimate Luthor. Better to have all bases covered. 

She smiled at the curious waiter who paused by the table. “Oh, he’s still waiting for someone, but I’d love a glass of red. Doesn’t matter which red, I like surprises.” After he left, she snorted softly and closed the menu, pushing it aside. “Speaking of Margie, how are the kids? I heard Julian’s graduation went without a hitch. Tell her I’m still working on that recommendation letter for Princeton.” If the man weren’t so meticulous, Lois would just as soon assume he wouldn’t have bothered learning his secretary’s first name.

"The lady will have a glass of the Château Palmer Margaux,” Lex said, catching the arm of the waiter as he was about to leave. “And make sure it’s at least the 2006 vintage, Henri... nothing younger is worth considering.”

“Really Lois, if you’re going to insist on staying, then you could at least try to fit in,” he continued, shaking his head disapprovingly.  “I would invite you to share dinner with me, but sadly I don’t believe they offer nachos or chilli-dogs here...and besides, neither of us will be staying that long anyway.” 

“Now, since I assume you’ve arrange this little ambush to ask me some of your trivial little questions, I suggest we get on with it and not waste time discussing my soon-to-be ex-employees or their families.”

@lexcorp-ceo

Jim hadn’t lived under so much of a rock in Gotham that he wouldn’t recognize Lex Luthor on sight. The SCPD was overworked and still understaffed, but he kept a cursory awareness of big players that moved in and out of the city. Had to. He needed to know what kind of crowd they were working with.

“That’s a hell of a costume,” he said, holding out his hand toward Lex. “I hope you’re not trying to steal my thunder by launching a campaign.” Not that any of what was going on was in any way for Jim, personally. It was a damn headache to have to put together a whole party just to get the money he needed to run his department the right way.

"Now, why on earth would I give up the power and influence I already have, just to be President?” Lex replied with a good natured smile, accepting Jim’s hand and gripping it firmly. “It’s quite the gathering you’ve put your name to, Commissioner. I’m always happy to support the good works of the Police Department, whatever city I happen to be in.”

“I was always rather partial to Conan Doyle’s stories myself when growing up, although it might be considered an unusual decision for tonight,” he continued with a nod towards Jim’s costume, taking a glass of champagne from a passing waitress. “In fact, if I recall correctly, Sherlock Holmes held a particular disdain for police, when he was forced to work with them.”

“Evil and dangerous about sums up everything I’ve heard about you.” Conner said with a small nod. He listened as Lex spoke about Metropolis and how he had been the reason the City was safe and flourishing these days. The way he spoke about the city as if it were a project made Conner frown some. He didn’t understand the sentiment, but he wasn’t a businessman either. Even his small little shop operated more casually than a normal business would. 

“Your methods are dangerous, Lex.” Conner remarked. “The things I’ve been told; the things I’ve seen in some of the news reports… innocent people often get hurt because of your methods.” He stated and shook his head slowly. His expression wasn’t hard though. The clone couldn’t argue that sometimes, Lex’s methods were incredibly effective even if they weren’t the safest or most humane. 

Conner wasn’t exactly sure how to react when Lex referred to him as ‘son’. The word caught him off guard, like it had been some sort of unseen assailant. “I just…” The raven-haired boy sighed. “I don’t want the people of this town to suffer anymore. There is already so much happening to them, almost daily, and I don’t want anything to add to that fear and anxiety people are feeling out in the streets.” Conner remarked quietly.

“I’ve spent every moment since being freed from your Cadmus lab trying to be a hero; trying to live up to Superman’s reputation and legacy. I don’t know…” Conner frowned a little more, “I don’t know if I’m ready to stop a Luthor if your vision for Star City begins threatening people’s lives.” He stated openly and honestly. There wasn’t a need to lie to the other really.

"I don't want people to suffer either, Conner... but they already are,” Lex replied, concern etched deep on his face as he turned back to the window. “Look at Star City. High unemployment, low wages for most workers, high rates of crime... and especially racial crime against mutants. The people of this place are angry, dissatisfied and lashing out.  The Police fight fires, while the Government oppresses but no one is actually helping them.”

“Take a look outside. Look at the government patrols on the streets and the people hiding, scared, in the homes and tell me that what I did for Metropolis... what I’m offering to do for Star City... isn’t better than that?  Can those people who stand in the way of a brighter future for this city really be called innocent?”

Lex spat the last word out as if it were a curse. He focused on his own reflection for a moment, making sure his face bore the right expression of angered exasperation, before letting out a sigh.

“I don’t expect you to understand me, Conner,” he continued, offering a tired smile to the young clone. “But I hope you coming here means that you are at least willing to try. But let me ask you a question, since you mention Superman's legacy; what has Superman actually done to improve life for people?  He flies around, fighting fires and saving individual lives, but what has actually changed for the better?”

Clark straightened to his full height and kept his eyes on Lex, ignoring the camera again for the time being. His hand dropped back to his side. “We’ll do only what’s necessary for the protection of innocent lives.” Truthfully, he had no answer to the conundrum that NOVA posed. It was a federal organization, controlled and funded by the government, and that added complications that Superman was usually not the one to respond to. 

He did not wonder at it for long. Mention of Bruce, by name, made him bristle, and he ignored Lex’s extended hand for a second time. Instead, Clark raised one of his own in a wave toward the photographer. “I can’t imagine why,” he said through a smile directed everywhere but the man beside him.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Star City!” he spoke to the people still gathered, his voice carrying over the crowd. He’d stood there too long already, and the longer he lingered the more he was giving Lex what he wanted. “For now, it’s farewell!” 

“Of course, you will,” Lex nodded, letting his hand drop but keeping the smile on his face. “You and your friends will wait and react, rather than be proactive... the same as always.”

The expression that had been offered clean off of Diana’s face had come of its own volition; under any other circumstance she would do well to keep her facial movements as passive as she were able, but her surprise in seeing the very man who had been at odds with the League caused that restraint to crumble — if only for a moment. Too long of a moment, of course, but there wasn’t much she could do about that now.

Nothing but to follow it up gracefully and civilly seeing as Lex was here for the event. Though, that did little to quell her uneasiness for him being in the city in the first place. It was ill-timed with Bruce’s identity reveal — or, perhaps, perfectly timed. Unfortunately, Diana was no mind reader, so she settled on taking his word to face value, if only because there was no room for a war here. Not when the population wasn’t necessarily on her side.

“Good evening to you, as well, Mr. Luthor,” she tensed, but continued her smile as she greeted the other patrons on the side. “Surely our little benefit is not the only reason for your visit to the city?” Visit. It was within her hope that he had decided not to move there, as Kal-El had. She couldn’t help but feel the pit of her stomach churn in uncertainty.

"Visit?,” Lex repeated, mock surprise in his tone. “Clearly you haven’t heard, Diana. I’ve decided to move LexCorps’ headquarters to Star City, so I’ll be based here permanently from now on.”

He smiled, watching the expression on the Amazon’s face as that piece of information settled in the brief moment of silence between them.  Of all the Justice League, Wonder Woman had always been the most interesting to interact with, as far as Lex was concerned.  Superman was too dull-witted, despite his power and the wealth of alien technology which he refused to share, while Batman had always been inscrutable. The rest were just... insects, but Diana was different.  The experiences she’d had and the things she must have seen during the ages she’d lived through made her unique and, strangely, the most human.

“Such a coincidence that Superman should abandon his exile at the same time.  One might almost think it was deliberate,” he continued, studying the flyer in his hands.  “But no matter, I have more important things to concern me at the moment.”

“Tell me, how are you finding the situation in Star City? I imagine the curfew doesn’t make it easy to host events such as like this...”