Weeks later
Lex sat at his desk in the Luthor manor with a newly crafted lead box in his hand. Popping the box open, Lex looked closely at the green rock known as Kryptonite. The machine had already been built,and Brainiac rested calmly in the basement disconnected from any kind of internet.
Building the machine was no easy task, but with Brainiac's help in the blueprints it didn't take long. The machine was in a room next to Brainiac, not even Lana knew of its effect. It didn't matter though, she had her hands full.
The good doctor on the other hand had been slacking on his research. Lex frowned thinking about that weasel of a doctor.
Lex had tasked him with discovering the effects that kryptonite had on the atmosphere around them. How a blind lady who preached if knowing the future one day would actually be able to the next. How lightning would act like a power transfer upon contract with kryptonite.
Human testing was currently not a possibility and yet the Doctor had skipped town leaving behind none of his research. Lex could only guess that his father had a hand in it.
"Mr.Luthor, Jimmy Olsen from the Daily Planet is here for your 3:00 meeting."
Lex frowned, closing the box before sliding it across the table. Jimmy Olsen entered with a smile on his face, he wore his signature bow tie and had a camera in hand.
"Mr.Luthor thank you for your time," Jimmy took a seat as he spoke.
"What can I do for you Jimmy," Lex asked with a friendly smile on his face. He was currently Chloe's boyfriend and although Lex could care less about him he didn't want to be rude. Especially if Jimmy happened to tell Chloe, and then he'd have to explain himself to Lana. He signed as he thought about all that.
"Mr.Luthor, I just have a few questions, what is your relationship with this man? " Jimmy placed a photograph on the table for Lex to see.
Looking at the picture Lex quickly recognized him as Dr.Groll. "He was once a Luthorcorp employee but he quit yesterday."
Jimmy seemed to smile upon hearing that response, "So what was in this briefcase? he left it with you last night." Jimmy dropped another photo on the table.
He saw Dr.Groll entering a BMW with the words Lex on the license plate. Lex kept a straight face as he picked up the photo. It seemed that Dr.Groll hadn't disappeared without making contact with Lana. If only she had told him before, he truly couldn't understand what she was thinking. Once again his father seemed to have a part in this.
"Research, files, you know the boring stuff, fortunately, he was kind enough to deliver all of this before heading to the airport." Lex sat up pressing a button on the phone. "You see Jimmy of Dr.Groll had decided to cut all ties and not deliver the work he had done for Luthorcorp we'd have to sue. Who knows how many years that would take, and the money. He made the right choice. "
"Okay," Jimmy smiled but Lex could tell he wasn't convinced.
"I do apologize Jimmy but it seems our meeting is over. Please send Chloe my regards. Security will escort you out."
"Thank you for your time, Mr.Luthor," Jimmy raised his camera quickly snapping a few pictures. "I hope you don't mind I needed them for the story."
"I do, but I'll let it slide since I'm in a hurry. Good bye Jimmy." Lex waved him off and the security activity escorted him out of the building.
As Jimmy reached outside he looked closely at the pictures he had taken. His focus hadn't been on Lex but on the lead box. He smiled triumphantly as he left.
…
Lex stood in the basement, the lead box in his hand. It was time to do the procedure he was simply waiting on Lana. It wasn't too long before she arrived with a smile on her face. She placed a kiss on Lex's lips before taking her place beside him.
"What's with the box?" Lana asked.
"Before I explain I think you should start," Lex said, narrowing his eyes.
What are you talking about Lex?"
"You took the car last night, it was pretty late. I wonder what you were doing?"
"I had a craving for ice cream, you have nothing to worry about Lex." Lana smiled using her own beauty to lie.
"You know for someone who's all about honesty, you're pretty good at lying. I wonder what Dr.Groll told you to think you have to lie to me or was it my father?"
"Lying? You started it or do you think keeping secrets isn't lying?" Lana's smile faded as she returned Lex's narrowing eyes.
"How'd you find out what Dr.Groll was working on?" Lex asked, changing the subject. "It was my father wasn't it?" Lex already knew the answer, Lionel Luthor and his ploys.
"What you're doing isn't right Lex," Lana replied with disapproving eyes.
"What's so wrong about trying to understand the green rocks?"
"Human testing is wrong," Lana replied.
"I haven't authorized human testing, do you really think Dr.Groll could produce applicable results in the few weeks since I've assigned him to his task?"
"You and your father have been studying the green rocks for years. With the past research, it's perfectly reasonable for Dr.Groll to produce results." Lex frowned upon hearing that; she wasn't wrong.
"We researched the effects the green rocks had on people, not on the atmosphere around us. Dr. Groll's mission was to find out how certain environments would affect the green rocks. Human testing would be irresponsible and foolish, considering our inability to trust those who've been affected by the green rocks. How many of them have tried to kill you, Lana? How many have blamed me for their changes? Why would I create enemies for myself?" Here it was again, people truly believed Lex to be heartless. Why would he entrust Dr.Groll with such an important matter? With Brainiac's help, Lex could eventually give himself whatever power he wanted. But first, he needed Groll to study what environmental factors had which effect. Unfortunately, his father had gotten not only into the doctor's head but Lana's as well.
"You weren't planning human testing?" Lana asked, confused.
"No," Lex replied with a hint of sadness in his eyes. Was it too much to ask for someone's trust?
"Then why all the secrecy?" Lana asked.
"My father has been looming in the shadows. I couldn't risk him finding out. "
"Finding out what?"
"During Dark Thursday, you said I wasn't myself," Lex looked into Lana's eyes.
"You weren't, the things you had planned, they were-"
"Evil, " Lex replied, getting a nod from Lana. "You're right, I wasn't myself, one of the aliens that appeared with the ship last year took over my body."
Lana frowned when hearing that, but it made sense, the strength, flight, and his words.
"His name is Zod."