Stopping Crimes

2007 - Metropolis, Kansas

Hovering over the city, I see a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel swerving into the other lane and almost hit a car. I flew down, tapped the truck over, opened the door, moved him over, then drove the truck over in the right lane, using the turn signal (of course), then parked the truck. The truck driver woke up and thanked me.

I raced to the other end of the city when I heard "HELP! SUPERMAN!".

A woman was trembling as a scruffy looking man was holding her up against a brick wall, ripping off her pants and trying to tear her panties.

"Shut up, you little bitch!" The man said and slapped her and held his hand over her mouth. "You know this is your fault, don't you? You don't have any cash on you. If you had some money, I might have just robbed you and let you go. Now, I need some compensation for my time. Give me some of that good stuff. You guys can take turns after me."

"Take your hands off that woman." I commanded, hovering above them.

One of them took out a gun and started firing at me wildly, so I grabbed all the bullets and threw them with super speed at their knee caps. I knocked them all out and ordered Kelex to send the police for an attempted rape victim to this location.

"Miss? Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes, I think so."

"Can you stay here to wait for the police? They're going to want to get a statement. You don't want them back on the street doing this to other women, so please make a statement and testify if this gets to court. As an added bonus, I'll turn to look away if you feel like stomping on his sensitive bits." I said.

She laughed, "Yeah, that actually might help." And she did so which caused the man to groan.

The cops were coming around the corner so I said, "That's my cue to leave. Take care, miss."

I flew towards the screaming I heard about a mile away. A construction worker was dangling from scaffolding that was tilted at a 45 degree angle; the man's fingers were gripping the edge of the base.

"Pull me up, pull me up! Dave! Shawn! Help me!" the construction worker frantically yelled.

The weakened supports for the scaffolding finally snapped, sending the scaffolding and the man tumbling through the air, the man flailing in the air to grab to scurry up the remains of the construction platform.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" the man screamed when suddenly he and the construction materials were halted in mid-air.

I managed to grab both and headed for the ground. I set them both down and the man looked like he was going to hyperventilate.

I turned to him and said, "Don't let this turn you off construction work. It's a good, honest day of work. But maybe the workers should wear bungee cords? If you ever manage to fall, all you get out of it is a rush of adrenaline and a recreation activity most people pay over $100 for. Just a suggestion." I smiled gently.

The man was shaking and just nodded his head frantically. I waved and took off into the air.

2007 - Metropolis, Kansas - The Daily Planet

A dozen men enter the building, flashing their badges casually, the official presence easing the worries of the workers of The Daily Planet. Their air of authority leads nobody to question why they're marching up the stairs to the editor's office, milling about through the entire office, seizing computers, and grabbing people to interrogate.

In a conference room doubling as an interrogation room, a federal agent is questioning Lois Lane.

"So, you mean to tell me, you flirted with this alien, he seemingly flirted back, he held you in his arms, flew around the city, and he didn't take you back to his place, go to your place, or make further plans with you even after you write such glowing articles praising this so-called god-like figure?" The man questioned.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Nothing has happened between me and Superman. Get it

through your thick head!" Lois said exasperatedly, "I'm not sure how many times I need to say this. He's just a guy doing the right thing. He's a hero. And why are you interrogating reporters, seizing computers, and being just general all-around thugs? Have you even heard of the 1st amendment? It's called Freedom of the Press for a reason, you fascist!"

"Ms. Lane, the Freedom of the Press stops working when there's a danger to national security in our midst. It doesn't matter if the national security threat dresses up in a red-and-blue costume with a cape, it's still a threat to this country. Now, for the last time… how did you contact this alien for the interview?" the man interrogated.

"That's none of your business. My sources are protected. You can't force me to answer any of this!" Lois said.

"This badge I have gives me the authority to put you in a dark hole where you'll never see the light of day again if I wanted to." The man threatened.

"My father is a 4-star general! General Lane? Heard of him!? Those threats may work on simpletons in the government that you're used to working with, but not me. I know my rights. You can't do that to U.S. citizens, especially those with prominence. If I went missing, I don't imagine it would take long for people to go looking for me." Lois said.

"Ms. Lane, we're taking you in for further questioning. Your refusal to answer a simple question of how to contact this alien and other simple inquiries is grounds for your detainment. Turn around." The man ordered.

"No! You can't do this! Clark, this man is trying to arrest me for not answering these questions that violate my rights! Clark!" Lois yelled.

Clarkbot immediately left the adjacent conference room and stormed into the room where Lois was being questioned.

"Umm...sir? Can we maybe talk about this?" Clarkbot said weakly, while adjusting his glasses.

Another man crossed the threshold of the door and said, "This so-called star reporter Clark Kent is refusing to answer these questions as well. He keeps verbally dancing around the issue. We're taking him in."

The other interrogator boldly said, "We're taking in this Lois Lane, too. Be careful with her. She looks feisty." He quickly puts handcuffs on her, and the other man puts handcuffs on Clark.

As they're being led out the building, Lois yells, "They're arresting us and threatening to detain us indefinitely because we're protecting our sources! What happened to the Freedom of the Press!? Chloe!? Somebody! You'd better write an article about this! I'm suing the government. I'll have all your jobs, you government stooges! This isn't Russia or China - this is America, damn it! We have rights!"

"Not since 9-11, you don't. The PATRIOT ACT and other laws and policies allow us a lot of latitude in protecting this country."

Clarkbot said, "Don't worry, Lois. I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Maybe Superman can figure out what's going on and help us out of this jam."

Lois looked skeptical, "I don't know, Clark. He follows the law, doesn't he? If these government toadies are trying to abuse the authority of the executive branch, Superman might not bother with us. I mean, we're just reporters. Why would he care? I mean, he hasn't even been back to see me."

Clarkbot answered, "He cares about everyone. You know that, Lois."

They were finally taken outside to a waiting van. Hoods were thrown over their head. A man said, "Ok, we've got them. Let's get this over with so we can get paid."

"How many more jobs like this can he afford being in prison?" Another man asked.

"Be quiet. These reporters are right here. Are you stupid?" The first man said.

"Who cares? We're just going to kill them afterwards. Remember? No loose ends." The second man said to the first.

"Why do I get stuck with this retard who doesn't know the first thing about extracting information? Now, do you think they will want to talk knowing we're going to kill them?" The first man said to the second.

"Whatever. It just makes it more fun for me." The man replied, a smile could be heard in his voice.

"You mentioned your employer being unable to pay for many more jobs because they're incarcerated," Clarkbot said. "Your employer wouldn't happen to be Lex Luthor, would it?"

"Yes, how'd you know that?" The second man asked.

A slap was heard and the first man yelled, "Be quiet, you idiot!"

The van was driving along when it reached a warehouse, it stopped. Lois and Clarkbot were led into the warehouse where they were quickly tied to the chairs.

"Now, we're going to start cutting off toes, then we'll work on your fingers. Reporters need fingers for all that typing you do, right?" A buff, gangster type man threatened.

"You don't have to do this," Lois pleaded.

"If we want to get paid, we do. Now, hold still or I might just cut off the whole hand," the man said while holding large, rusted gardening shears.

A large crash was heard, and standing there in all my Superman glory was me. I punched the door of its hinges, rushed a few of the men and knocked them out.

"W-wait there, alien!" The gangster threatened. "If you come any closer, I'll cut her throat!"

I gave him a look like 'are you kidding me with this?', then flashed forward snatching the gardening shears from his hand, I melted the metal with my heat vision then grabbed his throat with the molten metal still in my hand. He screamed in pain until he passed out. I knocked out the rest of the panicked guys.

"Kelex, send the police to this location," I said aloud.

"The police should be here soon. Are either of you two hurt?" I asked.

"N-no, Mr. Superman. Thank you for coming to rescue us," Clarkbot stammered.

Lois still looked shocked by the experience but finally said, "Yeah, thanks, Superman. These guys are definitely not getting paid. They're working for Lex Luthor, but everyone knows he doesn't tolerate failure."

"I already know they're working for Lex. I followed them here." I said.

"Then, why didn't you stop them earlier," Lois inquired.

"I wanted to follow them to their base of operations. This just looks like a secluded place where they could extract information from you. There must be somewhere else these hired thugs work out of." I said, "But the important thing is that you two are safe. And it looks like you have a new story to write about, don't you?" I smiled.

Clarkbot responded, "Yeah, Lois! Call Jimmy so we can get some good pictures of these thugs. Superman, will you stay for a picture? As for the story, how's this for a headline: Lex Luthor Still Orchestrating Murders Behind Bars?"

I said, "I'll stay for one picture, then I've got to go."

While we were waiting for Jimmy and the police to arrive. I tied up the criminals with the rope they had on-hand to use for tying up and torturing people. I also used spare chains that were lying around in the warehouse.

Finally, the police arrived and Jimmy rushed through the door flashing his press pass.

I said, "I promised one picture because these people targeted you due to your association with me. Please be quick because I have to go. Other people in this city need help."

Jimmy looks starstruck, "Yes, sir, Mr. Superman!"

All the thugs were bunched up near each other and Clarkbot and Lois were towering over them. I walked between Clarkbot and Lois, placing my arms around them and smiled.

"How's this?" I asked.

"P-perfect," Jimmy stammered, adjusting the lens and snapping quick bursts of the scene in front of him.

"Okay, folks. I've gotta jet. Please make sure to nail Lex Luthor for this." I said.

"Don't worry. While his reputation couldn't get worse, I'm sure this story will lose what little privileges he has in the Big House. And eventually, he'll run outta money to even entice thugs like these." Lois said while kicking one of the men.

The police were setting up crime scene tape and started interviewing Lois and Clarkbot. I waved and flew out of there