Simone the Hypnotist

2006 - Metropolis, Kansas - Coffee Shop

I was finishing up an article for The Daily Planet, when I looked up and a blonde woman sat opposite me. She held a turquoise amulet in her fingers that was dangling from her neck and said, "You're that reporter Clark Kent, right? You break all those big news pieces?"

I answered, "Yes. Can I help you?"

"You're going to listen to everything I say. You're going to follow all of my orders." The amulet seemed to glow with her commands.

I stared at it for a while before looking into her eyes and said, "Awfully bossy, aren't you?"

"What!?" She exclaimed in surprise.

"Your name is Simone and you're trying to use mind control," I said.

I snatched the necklace from around her neck and threw it to the ground and stomped on it, destroying it.

"Luckily, since I'm an important reporter for the most prominent newspaper of record, I have set up several precautions including these special glasses that filter out potential visual-based mind control methods. Now, if I ever catch you doing this again, I will run an article on the front page of The Daily Planet that involves you drugging and raping men. I also won't fail to mention that you murdered your father for a priceless piece of jewelry to fund your extravagant lifestyle. I'll have to take some liberties with the story, but the truth of the matter is that your days of taking advantage of people via that mystical gem are over." I stated confidently. "Now, tell me...did Lex Luthor send you after me?"

"How did you...there's no way you could know that!" Simone declared.

"I'm the best reporter at The Daily Planet. You don't think I got to where I am without my investigative skills? Now...are you going to answer my questions? Or do we have a new topic for the front page involving Lex Luthor hiring a seductress to stop the Freedom of the Press?" I threatened her.

Simone looked panicked, "Yes, you're right. It was Lex Luthor. He ordered me to insinuate myself into your life and find out how you break all these news stories, to get all of your sources, if they are multiple people, target them, and give all the information to Lex Luthor so he can eliminate them. Then, when I pumped you dry of information, I was instructed to have you write a suicide note about all the lives you destroyed, then kill yourself."

"Wow. That's quite the elaborate plan Lex cooked up. Since you're being so forthcoming, I don't mind making the story more favorable to you. How do you feel about helping turn this around on Lex Luthor?" I proposed.

"And how would you manage to do that?" Simone asked.

"Well, if you're willing to go on the record that Lex Luthor gave you these orders, make a signed confession, and go to the police with your story. And let's make audio and visual recordings for good measure for my story to hold up… then, I'm willing to not only give you some cash, a new identity, and a one-way trip to any city on the planet. All you have to do is name the price. How much cash would that cost? My backers have deep pockets, and if I can get another article on Lex Luthor doing something like this, they'd be willing to spend money to help further tarnish his reputation." I offered.

"One million in cash. And if you can get your contact to set me up with a new identity, we have a deal," Simone said. "And I've always been partial to Australia."

"Done. That shouldn't be a problem." I said.

We went to the police and made a statement, I recorded her via video and audio, she even had an audio recording that she made on her phone of Lex Luthor threatening her - we got all of it. I had her talk to the FBI as well. Then, I gave her the money (from one of my many drug den takedowns), used Kelex to set her up with a new identity, discreetly knocked her out, and flew her to Sydney, Australia. Finally, I went forward with publishing the story to further tarnish Lex Luthor's reputation.

Lex Luthor Threatened Woman to Seduce Daily Planet Reporter in Order to Expose the Reporter's Sources; Luthor Also Conspired to Kill Reporter

By: Clark Kent

Needless to say, Lex Luthor lawyered up immediately. This would take him a while to deal with. Even if he manages to get out of the legal trouble, this has further damaged his already terrible reputation. Since Simone is still alive (and neutralized through the destruction of her mystical hypnosis amulet), she can be used to testify against Lex Luthor whenever needed. Nevertheless, my audio and video evidence is very damning. Simone fulfilled her purpose of my campaign to destroy Lex Luthor through legal means. And since my story was solid, he can't sue for libel.