(Lois Lane's greatest fear.)

Chapter nine:

Uhh... what... what happened? Said Lois Lane.

Lois Lane groaned as she awoke. Rubbing her head at the point where Metallo had struck, she forced herself up into a sitting position. As she tried to look around through her blurred vision, she tried to remember what had happened.

Her vision began to clear as she turned to the open door, and suddenly her attention was focused on something else entirely.

She could see right though the main entrance to the docks, and she could see that the sky had turned blood red.

What...?

She rose to her feet, the pain in her head now ebbing away. Steadying herself, she kicked off the ground, and flew for the exit.

As she left, the furthest doors from the exit opened, and Scarecrow stepped out. He looked into the largest room, and grinned as he saw that Lois Lane had vanished.

Luthor, he said, hand on earpiece. It's begun...

No... Lois Lane.

Lois Lane had taken to the red skies, and as she peered out towards, Metropolis, what she saw turned her blood cold.

The city was in ruin. The skyscrapers that usually populated the skyline were caved in, torn apart or completely gone.

Lois Lane sped towards the city, and surveyed the streets. The roads were littered with rubble, and the silence was deafening.

How... how did this? Lois Lane asked herself.

She stopped, and gasped softly as she noticed, buried in a mountain of rubble, the gigantic globe that usually sat upon the Daily Planet building.

Travis... Travis! Said Lois Lane.

Faster than a speeding bullet, she darted towards the ruins of the Daily Planet, and immediately began to desperately dig through the rubble.

Travis? Can you hear me? Travis?! Said Lois Lane.

Eradicator...? Replied Travis George.

Lois Lane looked upwards as she heard the voice. She flew straight up, in order to properly view the entire site. It was then she noticed that trapped, under a collection of bricks, struggling weakly, was...

Jimmy...

She flew towards him.

Jimmy... she said sadly, kneeling down beside him.

Help... help me... Said Jimmy Olsen.

Lois Lane turned to Jimmy's trapped legs, and began to move the bricks away with relative ease. Returning to Jimmy, she cradled his almost lifeless body in her arms.

Jimmy... what happened? Said Lois Lane.

Jimmy struggled to keep his eyes open, as he tried to focus on Lois Lane's face.

You know... I was always... your... biggest fan... Replied Jimmy Olsen.

I know, Jimmy, and I've always appreciated that... Said Lois Lane.

I... I always thought... you... would... be there... for us... for me... Replied Jimmy Olsen.

I am, of course I am, said Lois Lane, almost pleading. I'm here now, and I'm going to stay with you.

Why... why didn't you... save us...? Replied Jimmy Olsen.

That's why I'm here now... Said Lois Lane.

No... too... late... Replied Jimmy Olsen.

With one final, shuddering breath, Jimmy Olsen closed his eyes for the last time. Lois Lane held the boy's body close to her, as tears ran down her cheeks.