Episode 7 Part 2: A Machine for Pigs

Bruce and Clark both attend a party in Metropolis, where they learn precisely where the other dominoes have fallen.

Two weeks later, Metropolis community center, Celebration of Peace.

            A Parisian civil war was put to rest after seven months of violent protests and civilian deaths. Many credit Superman for the end to the conflict, as he was seen around the Elysee Palace a few times before the end. Not to mention the French response to the civil war seemed to be nothing more than an apology, and a humanitarian shift in leadership. Like suddenly the French government had a change of heart, and didn’t care about the things they staked this war over months ago.

            This great political shift for what many viewed the better, combined with the Batman’s successful defeat of the metropolis butcher and the completion of the new city piping, meant the citizens of Metropolis were in the mood for a celebration. There were two separate parties on two different days. The first was for anyone to attend. Food, drinks, music and games awaited any who had time to spend and an interest in comradery. The second was more of a political ball. This was for journalists, politicians, and the special people invited by the city. The city invited many big names, including the president of the United States, assuming that most of them wouldn’t have time to come to this little community party. To their great surprise however, almost everyone showed up. The community center was packed with politicians, rich men, security, associates and all manner of wealth. The city underestimated how many of the countries one-percent would be interested in a free evening that made a statement about their commitment to peace.

            President Kennith Green, Secretary Adams of the Department of State and the head of the Secret Service Calvin Moreland made up the group from the White House, along with their countless assistants and security personnel. From the city government was Governor Ronald McGavin, Mayor Brown, and the county treasurer. There were a few congressmen and women, along with a few from the US Senate. After the political types there were the wealthy, many of which decided to make an appearance tonight. Simon Stagg made a brief appearance, before tensions between him and the president drove him to make an escape. Garrison Slate of STAR Labs was here, as well as famous princess Diana Prince. John Stewart was present, both as a guest and a promise of security. Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor were both in attendance, naturally, and finally Lucious Fox was found on scene for an hour or two.

            As Justice Leaguers go, they were all there one way or another. Clark, Lois and Vikki Vale weren’t invited but they were all roaming about as journalists. Press coverage of the event was crucial, and everyone wanted the chance to say on the record what they thought of the France situation. Flash and Hawkgirl were present in their superhero form. They were asked to preside over the event and provide outdoor security, with John providing interior. Martian Manhunter, while not present physically, was monitoring the event via satellite footage and telepathic connection. While many were skeptical about the lack of Superman, Wonder Woman or Batman at this party, they were assured many times that all three were monitoring the party, and if anything went wrong they would surely step in.

“How come they always ask that?” Flash grumbled. “I’m here! How come I’m not good enough for them?”

“You have to admit Superman is on another level.” Hawkgirl said, trying to console him. “Could you save them if General Zod showed up?”

“I don’t get all the fuss about him. I’m fast enough to evacuate that entire building in seconds, they’d be fine with just me.”

“Are you?” She said, sarcastically.

“Yes!”

“Vega in 6.08 seconds fast?”

“There is no WAY he did that! He’s making it up! He has to be! Did anyone see him do it? Do we have proof?”

            Hawkgirl laughed and told him to pay attention, leaving Flash growling and grumbling.

            Down in the community center Bruce was leaning back against a folding table with a drink in his hand. These kind of parties exhausted him quickly. The social lubricant of alcohol was stingy and light here, Bruce having had six drinks and still felt nothing. He was pondering whether or not to ask the bartender for watered down rum and Coke number seven when he was approached by a familiar face.

“Wallflower as usual, eh Wayne?” Luthor said, sidling up to Bruce with a shot glass in each hand.

“You know me so well. Shots, Luthor?” Wayne questioned, taking the glass being handed to him. “Seems like a lot for this kind of party.”

“God help me it’s the only thing keeping me sane” Luthor chuckled. “It’s so stuffy in here my necktie is about to run for office.”

            Bruce laughed with him, sharing the awkward sentiment. He lifted the glass to the light to examine it for impurities. He swirled the liquid around in a spiral, watching the alcohol climb and drop predictably.

“Is this just vodka?”

“Rum, actually. I wanted to do vodka but the bartender talked me down.”

“Talked you down? I didn’t know that was possible.”

“Ha! Neither did I. Salud?”

“Salud.”

            They fired their drinks back like socking a punch, both having a momentary pain of discomfort, then a sigh of relief as the warmth in their chest began. Bruce set his drink down on the table and began to disassociate almost instantly. He let his vision blur as he stared into the tangled mess of black suits and dark dresses before him. His thoughts wandered off into pondering the global crime situation. Since he and Clark had been regularly having lunch, a serial killer emerged in Metropolis, no name thugs got their hands on an Amazo, he had been given a yellow lantern ring, and two IRS agents had broken into his place of business.

            He tossed the events around in his head looking for a connecting theme. Why all at once? Why so soon? Worst of all, why so easy? Every threat he thought of he took apart as soon as he got his teeth around them. The IRS agents were defeated by Superman yelling at them. It was the fastest and easiest court hearing in Bruce’s life. The yellow lantern ring was dealt with in only a few hours. He had no trouble handling Sinestro on Qward, and the ring wasn’t calling to him. A problem that takes most poor souls a lifetime to escape from Bruce did in one single day. The serial killer took longer than Bruce would have liked, but in reality he had to be thankful for how mercifully brief it was. He caught thugs on camera one time, they led him straight to the culprit, and he apprehended them like he was capturing a pig.

            Even the Amazo went down easy. The agent of destruction made to emulate the strongest heroes in the universe was turned to dust in only a twenty minute battle. It made no sense. How could it have died from that? Bruce kept kryptonite in the Batsuit at all times. Even if he trusted Superman, mind control was too common. He needed a neutralizer. He pulled out this neutralizer, weakened the foe down to a weaker version of Bane, put plastique on it’s eyes, and blew it to pieces. How? How did that work? The last Amazo the league had the misfortune of tangling with leveled the city. It’s never been that easy. How could it be? Something was brewing on the horizon, he knew it. He could feel the pieces moving against his will. Someone, or something was putting all the components right where they wanted them. What was the game? He didn’t know. All he knew was he wasn’t the one playing it, and that made him uneasy. He built theories as to who could be manipulating things on such a scale as this. It did not escape him that Amanda Waller was not in attendance tonight. A yellow lantern ring seemed too far for her, but he wasn’t ready to rule anything out. He ran down the list of possible masterminds, and high on the list was standing right next to him.

            Lex Luthor was also lost in thought, and his were not a million miles away from Bruce’s. Superman? Stopping a war in Europe? No, that wasn’t like him. He didn’t intervene in politics. Something else did. Lex had met the French president, the last thing he was going to do was have a change of heart. Something forced him. Something big. Something loud. President Laurent was consulting Luthor on the possibility of purchasing guidance missiles. You don’t bring that conversation up when you’re considering ending the war. Something had to come along that was either so exciting that Laurent would end the war peacefully, or so frightening, and whatever it was, apparently Superman knew about it.

            Luthor considered that someone was playing a game he didn’t realize. A puppet master with limitless wealth and connections moving pawns on a massive board. If they were doing that, then Superman intervening probably threw a wrench into whatever plan they were hatching. Unless the goal was to get Superman’s attention, in which case Lex didn’t know whether to laugh at this unseen saboteur or salute him.

            Whether it was foolish or genius Luthor did not care. This cosmic game had gotten the man of steel into politics, and nothing had ever made Luthor quite so happy. This was the first of many dominoes to fall that would get Luthor whatever he wanted. He just had to do it right. And that was no risk. Luthor always did it right.

            Now who was this puppet master? He wasn’t sure. He found himself somewhat disarmed, usually the one making grand schemes behind curtains was him. He started going through tonight’s guest list and looking at suitable names on it, or notably off it. It didn’t escape him that Amanda Waller was not in attendance tonight. She wasn’t bright enough to concoct this on her own, but perhaps she was somebody’s tool? President Green? Maybe. He certainly liked the sound of that. But why wouldn’t Green come to him? He found himself getting too wound up in his own thoughts. He still needed to keep up the friendly façade. Conversation must continue.

“I heard about that IRS thing.”

“Oh yeah.” Bruce said, after a pause and a sigh bringing him back to life.

“I knew the IRS was staffed entirely of dicks, but I didn’t think they’d break into your office.”

“Neither did I. I don’t get it. We were trying to be cooperative.”

“Nah, the feds are like the devil. Give ‘em an inch and they’ll become your ruler.”

“You’re telling me.”

“How’d you manage that? Nobody came out hurt, that’s incredible.”

“Yeah it was something. Clark Kent was there, he really scared ‘em. Man can yell, you ever heard him get worked up?”

“Maybe I’m about to, here he comes now.”

            Clark Kent came pushing his way through the crowd. He held his notepad and pencil up high, trying not to get them scuffed or lost. Bruce found it funny, he played the meek, socially awkward journalist so well. The stumbling, constantly apologizing, vocal and physical stimming. It was so darn stereotypical he was amazed it ever worked.

“Mr. Luthor! Mr. Wayne!” He called, trying to get the attention of two men who’s attention he already had. Clark finally closed the distance and caught his breath.

“How are you, Kent?” Luthor asked, politely, but with a hint of disdain pushing through.

“Thank God I found you two together, this is going to go great with my boss. You two mind if I get a special?”

“Not at all, I’m all yours” Lex said, seeming genuinely excited.

“Perfect! Glad to hear it. And you, Mr. Wayne?”

“Yeah just…do him first.”

“Absolutely, whatever you say.”

            Clark flipped frantically to an open page. Bruce watched him pathetically make his many planned errors as he poured over his notepad for fresh space. Bruce’s paranoia forced him to take extreme interest in the pages being skipped over. He watched to make sure Clark wasn’t trying to send him a message of any kind. What he saw was a written list of important names, scribbled notes on interviews he’d already conducted, and a page that had nothing written on it at all except a strange symbol. It was circular and asymmetrical. Bruce didn’t recognize it instantly, which sent small signals of relief through him. That meant it wasn’t a lantern corp and it wasn’t a League of Shadows Sigil. Bruce not recognizing it did frighten him, but in this circumstance he couldn’t find time to ask. He made a note to ask about it later. Clark finally found an open page and began his interview with Lex Luthor.

“Mr. Luthor, the city and I want to express our tremendous gratitude in you being here. It means a lot to see a celebration of peace get people as important as yourself in attendance.”

“Please, it’s my pleasure!”

“The city states that the celebration of peace is nothing more than a party to bring together the many communities of Metropolis and a coming together of something we all value, but many say it celebrates more than that. What does this night mean to you?”

“I know exactly what you mean Kent, and I’ll just come right out and say it. I think this is celebrating the newfound peace in France.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely! The conflict in France was a particularly gruesome one. In this age of massive global connectivity, every aspect of this war was televised. We saw every civilian death, every orphaned child, every soldier tearfully following orders, it was awful. The people were exposed to the true horrors of war. Now that it’s over people are rejoicing no longer having to hear more dreadful stories on their morning news.”

“It’s interesting that you bring up how awful this war was because I’ve spoken to many here tonight who share the same sentiment. All of them are confused as to what caused such a sudden change of heart in French President Laurent, as only two weeks ago he was making statements like ‘I’d rather watch every one of them die before surrendering peace.’ Do you have any comment on this subject?”

“I’m still formulating my thoughts on that myself. I had spoken to President Laurent briefly on my trip to Paris and he seemed quite dedicated to victory. I too was surprised when he decided to wave the flag of peace. With a situation as complex as this it’s impossible to tell what was really going on in his head.”

“Some say it had something to do with Superman. He was seen flying in and out of Paris just a few days before peace was declared. Do you think he might have influenced the Presidents decision any?”

            Lex looked around the room like someone about to tell a scathing peace of gossip. He leaned in and muttered his response.

“Absolutely not.”

“Really?” Clark said, visibly excited at this unexpected response.

“Really?” Bruce said, staring at Luthor in disbelief.

“Really!” Luthor replied, glancing back and forth between the two. “Look I’ve studied Superman, and he seems to be a man dedicated to only true good. Regardless of who needs it. The guy stops suicides, he saves people from car accidents, he stops convenience store robberies. He wants to be a symbol of hope, a symbol of what’s right! He’s not going to intervene in war, that means he’d have to pick a side. He doesn’t pick sides. He doesn’t want someone on one side to think he won’t save them, or worse yet reject his help just because of his politics.”

“You don’t think the people of Paris needed his help?” Clark asked, writing notes like a madman.

“Oh, absolutely! Those Parisian civilians were on their very last legs. But he can’t rescue those people without tacitly saying he’s opposed to the national French government and it’s decisions. Notice how we only got footage of him leaving the Palace? And only a few days before peace? Not a second of footage of him within a hundred miles of France before that. If he was saving civilians before then we would have seen it. Guy can’t risk it.”

“So what do you think he was doing in the Elysee Palace?”

“I have no idea. My best guess? Something else is coming. Something much greater than any human war, and Superman came to warn President Laurent. Think about it. What else other than a supernatural world ending threat could have changed the mind of a man as passionate as Laurent? He only turned his guns away from his own people because he needed to point them at something else.”

“Like what?”

“I guess we’ll find out.”

            This succinct response threw Superman, but after a brief pause he concluded the interview. Bruce found ending there to be an odd move that might reveal too much but he couldn’t bring it up now. He shifted as Clark began addressing him.

“Well thank you Mr. Luthor this’ll make a great story. Mr. Wayne you still up for a special?”

“…Yeah I just… uh… can we take it outside? It’s a little stuffy in here.”

“Certainly.”

            Bruce and Clark wormed their way through the messy crowd and headed for one of the back doors. It led into an alley where the building’s dumpsters were. It would be peaceful for a while, but heavily surveyed by secret service. They would have to guard their tongues as usual.

            On their way to the exit, they ran into President Green. They made eye contact and Green made a b-line for their position. Clark began to shift as he wondered what could be wrong. Very rarely did the president ever break off from what he was doing and bolt for you to tell you something good.

“Gentleman,” the president began when he arrived. “So glad I finally found you. I’ve been looking for you all night.”

“Sorry Mr. President, there’s so many people here my boss would kill me if I didn’t talk to, I got swept up. What’s on your mind?” Clark responded his usual way. Polite, easy and friendly. Bruce tried to emulate this in his response but couldn’t quite come up with it like Clark could.

“And I’ve been…drinking.”

“Well we all have our vices.” The president responded, clearly trying to hurry things along. “I need you two to get in contact with Superman for me.”

            Bruce and Clark looked at each other, then at the president, then back at each other.

“Why?” Bruce said, lacking the emotional energy to pretend not to be suspicious.

“I need to talk to him. I need answers about what happened in France and why he was there. Laurent isn’t working with us. Superman was there, he’ll cooperate.”

“Why us, sir?” Clark asked, growing more concerned by the moment.

“I’m asking Bruce because he’s the only person I think can track the man. Lex can’t find him, Slate can’t find him. Bruce, you have a knack for this sort of thing, I know you can do it. I’m asking you Clark, because you seem to get interviews and specials with the guy all the time. He trusts you. He likes you. Use that to get him to me.”

“…”

“Back up.” Bruce said, startling Clark with his anger.

“What?”

“Lex and Slate are looking for Superman? On orders from you? Why? Why before the FBI or CIA?”

“Some things you want to keep out of corporate. You understand.”

“I don’t.”

            The president narrowed his eyes, offended at this confrontational stance Bruce was taking. He measured his next response carefully, then responded.

“Mr. Wayne I can’t quite express to you the concern I feel at the man of steel entering into politics. Even if he’s entering aligned with our beliefs that’s still not a good thing. We need to have an audience with him.”

“But giving Lex Luthor the funding and recourses to find him is a good idea?”

“I don’t need to justify myself to you Mr. Wayne. I suggest you play ball and move on.”

“Gentleman let’s keep it peaceful, shall we?” Clark fumbled his way into saying. “Mr. President, for my part I can promise you that I will do my best to get you a meeting with Superman, but I don’t control him. I’m not always there when he is, and when I am he doesn’t take orders from me, we’re just friendly. I can’t guarantee results, but I can guarantee an attempt.”

“Thank you Clark, I have every confidence you’ll get it done. Mr. Wayne, can I count on you for this?”

“Don’t expect much.”

            Bruce and the president had a fixed stare down for several tortuously prolonged seconds. Clark could nearly see the tension as it rose like a cloud of smoke. He cut in again, hoping to conclude this meeting.

“If you’ll excuse us Mr. President we were just about to get some air.”

            President Green nodded and stepped away wordlessly. Clark grabbed his friend by the arm and dragged him outside like a mother tugging their child by the ear. They charged for the back exit door and thrust it open, feeling the cool night air assail them the moment they stepped outside. Bruce stumbled into the dark and took several deep breaths, loosening his tie along the way. Clark turned around to make sure the doors were shut before he began his scolding. Once they were he turned around and addressed his friend.

“What in the world was that?”

“That jackass gave Lex Luthor legally sanctioned permission to track down Superman. He’s been trying to do that extralegally for months, and now he’s been goddamn told to.”

“I don’t care! That was your president you were talking to! You can’t talk to him that way!”

“What did I say? What did I say that was so disrespectful?”

“It was your tone!”

“Oh I’m sorry, the president can’t handle someone speaking with an angry tone? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“It’s not about him, it’s about you! You are supposed to have more respect for the president than that.”

“How can I respect a man who makes decisions like that?”

“By setting your opinions aside and realizing he’s the leader of your country!”

“I didn’t vote for him.”

“I don’t care! Nobody does! A ton of people did vote for him. That’s why he’s president! You don’t have to like him, but he is both a human being, and the leader of the country you live in. On both of those fronts, he deserves your respect and your social grace.”

“Nobody ‘deserves’ my respect or my social graces. You don’t just get that, it has to be earned. He hasn’t earned it.”

“Well where I come from you respect everybody.”

“Where you come from everyone is dead.”

“Bruce, I swear to God.”

            The doors the two men came from suddenly opened, and their alley was blinded by the lights of the community center shining through. A single silhouette stood resoundingly in the doorway, with other figures milling about behind it. It was Diana. She had apparently watched them leave and was coming out now to check on them.

“Gentleman.” She began. “Everything alright back here.”

“We’re fine, Diana.” Bruce said.

“Taking a smoke break?”

“I wish.”

“His social battery seems to have run out.” Clark said. He scoffed at the very idea of a social battery, wasn’t socializing supposed to refill you with energy? It was very real to Bruce though, so he had to respect it.

“Leave then, Bruce.” She said, walking over and putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to be here. Make an excuse and go. It’s supposed to be fun, it you’re not having fun go back to your hotel.”

“I can’t just go, I have more work to do.”

“Ok. Get it done, and leave. Don’t push so hard you hurt yourself.”

“Don’t cater to this!” Clark exclaimed.

“I’m catering to you both. Him leaving soon is easier on him and less of a hassle for you.”

“I still need an interview with him.”

“Get it at lunch” Diana and Bruce said simultaneously.

“Oh you two.” Clark sighed.

“What do you need to do, Bruce?”

“Work stuff.”

“Anything Lucious can help you with?”

“No.”

            This tipped Diana off that he meant Justice League work. She was confused as to what could be going on here that he would need to investigate, but with secret service no doubt listening in she couldn’t ask. Instead she pushed harder on getting him done with it faster.

“Anything I can help you with?”

“Not unless you can get the president to stop working with Luthor.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, D.”

“No problem.”

            Diana opened the doors again and strode through them. She turned around to close them, and as she did so she warned the men to finish up before they attracted attention. The door shut and the two men were alone. Bruce continued breathing heavily, trying to calm down, Clark continued seething. He wasn’t going to say anything, but one question was too pressing to ignore.

“D?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Language.” Clark responded, before giving up entirely and striding back inside.