Chapter 156 - Elizabeth Visits L-Corp

Lillian has now been in the Leviathan base for what seems like a month at this point. However, it has honestly been hard for the Luthor matriarch to keep track of time, as she hasn't seen the outside since before she was taken from her prison cell. So, the only thing Lillian has to rely on to keep any sense of time, is the clocks and dates within the Leviathan facility, but for all Lillian knows, they could be inaccurate. Either way, Lillian has just been occupying her time by working on the red Kryptonite task that Talia Al-Ghul has set her.

At first, once Lillian got all the things she requested, she bought herself some more time by drawing out the preparation process, but eventually she knew she had to get into things, especially as Leviathan had other scientists watching her. So, Lillian began to work on the red kryptonite, and slowly build some trust with the other scientists, and in turn, other members of Leviathan too. Then eventually, Lillian did produce her first bit of red kryptonite, although it did have a fatal flaw in it that thankfully went unnoticed. This fatal flaw is that the effects, whatever they may be, even if the kryptonite is adapted, will always be temporary. Lillian has achieved this by essentially breaking down the chemical structure of red kryptonite. So, even if Leviathan adapts red Kryptonite to give other Leviathan agents Kryptonian powers, the effects would only be very temporary, literally finished within a few seconds. Lillian just hopes that the Leviathan scientists will put down the effects being temporary to their own modifications to the red kryptonite, and not her work.

Currently, Lillian is still working in the lab that Talia set her up in, studying more about the red kryptonite. So far, Lillian has made Leviathan a sizable amount of the substance, all of which has then been taken from her, and moved to other facilities. Lillian still hasn't been able to get out of anyone what Leviathan specifically want to modify the kryptonite to do exactly.

"Mrs Luthor, how are you today?" Talia asks, as she walks into the lab, with a smile on her face.

"I'm sure the usual answer would be to say 'good', but I'm not one to give out formulaic platitudes." Lillian replies, "I am.... working.... That's all I can say."

"Hmmm.... I see that." Talia nods, "I know that you have already made a decent amount of progress on the red kryptonite task I set. I am impressed."

"Don't expect me to say 'thank you'." Lillian replies, "I'm not like your other Leviathan agents who bow down to you like you're their queen or something."

Talia chuckles.

"You're direct. I like that." Talia smirks, and walks closer to Lillian.

"Then you won't mind me being direct and asking, again, what you are exactly going to do with the red kryptonite. How are your scientists going to adapt it?" Lillian says, "Maybe if I knew, then I could better adapt the red kryptonite so it would fit those needs, and help?"

"Hmmm..." Talia hums, growing a thoughtful look on her face, "I appreciate your offer. But I believe our scientists now have the task well in hand. You have.... got them over the first hurdle.... they can take it from here."

"So, you are not going to tell me what you are doing with the kryptonite?" Lillian asks.

Talia chuckles, once more.

"I suppose you deserve an answer." Talia says, and then begins to walk around the lab, looking at all the lab equipment, "Like I mentioned to you a few weeks ago, our scientists have found that red kryptonite can be adapted. It is 'malleable', or so our scientists say. They believe that it can be adapted for all sorts of different things. This ranges from, what I am sure you have already guessed, in giving non-Kryptonians Kryptonian powers, to emotional manipulation, as well as a few other interesting things. However, right now, this is all theoretical. Our scientists are still working on it. But they are one step closer to achieving these goals. And that is all thanks to you, Lillian."

After Talia says that, Lillian accepts that that is all the information she is going to get about what the red kryptonite is going to be used for. Lillian doesn't want to press the issue further, and draw suspicion on herself. In fact, so far, Lillian is honestly surprised by just how honest Talia has been about the intentions for the kryptonite.

"Well.... I'm happy to be of service.... Just as long as this takes us one step closer to making Lena, and Supergirl, pay for what they've done." Lillian says, making sure to turn on the faux-evil charm.

"I'm sure it will." Talia nods, "Anyway, discussing your work on red kryptonite is not entirely why I came in here."

"Oh, then why did you?" Lillian asks, intrigued.

"As you know..... Leviathan runs many operations throughout the globe at once...... doing all sorts of things....." Talia explains.

Lillian nods her head.

"Recently.... one of our.... more important operations.... has hit a bit of a snag.... I believe that your.... expertise might be very useful to us." Talia says.

After Talia says this, Lillian has to use a lot of willpower not to make her eyes go wide in surprise. Lillian is, of course, very interested in getting access to information about a Leviathan operation, as that takes her one step closer to digging her paws deeper into Leviathan, and another step closer to doing something that will help Lena, and her friends and family, take Leviathan down.

"And what expertise are you talking about?" Lillian asks, after a few moments pause.

"Well.... I understand from your years of working at Luthor Corp.... and more recently running Cadmus.... you are good at gathering information, and figuring out where certain people's weaknesses are. I am specifically referring to weaknesses that don't involve violence or intimidation tactics." Talia explains.

Lillian now grows a confused look on her face at Talia saying that.

"You look.... confused...." Talia comments, noticing Lillian's expression.

"Yes.... I guess you could say I am a bit...." Lillian replies, "As.... I thought with all of Leviathan's resources, and more specifically their agents, you would be more willing to go about things via the more direct and physical method."

"Ah, I see." Talia nods back, "You are incorrect in your assumption. Leviathan only takes more direct, and physical methods, sometimes using violence, in extreme cases. It just so happens that you have been more aware of our more.... extreme cases, but I can assure you, we do not go about our.... work.... doing things like that all the time.... I mean.... if we did.... it would be extremely hard for Leviathan to be as secretive as it is today."

"Hmmmm.... I see." Lillian hums, taking it all just as more information that she can store in her brain about Leviathan, that hopefully she'll be able to use against them later, "So, what specifically do you need my help with on this occasion?"

"Come with me." Talia says.

Lillian then follows Talia out of the lab, and the two begin to walk through several corridors.

"Currently, one of the operations that Leviathan is running is located in south America, in multiple countries, including Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Columbia." Talia explains.

"All countries that are known for some form of government corruption at some point over the last century or so." Lillian says, with a smirk.

"Yes." Talia replies, "And some continue to have that corruption today, much to our benefit. Anyway, the goals of the operation are rather broad, but it ultimately boils down to us continuing to search for certain alien artifacts that we believe are located somewhere within South America."