Chapter 92: CHAPTER 92
After bidding farewell to everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs, Kaius returned home with a silver bracelet and a copy of Gideon.
He handed the second bracelet to Diana and explained how to use it. Diana's eyes lit up with excitement as she tested it, shrinking her sword and shield into the bracelet with ease. The bracelet fit perfectly alongside her silver bracers, seamlessly integrating into her ensemble.
"This is incredible!" Diana exclaimed, admiring the sleek design. "I don't have to carry a bag everywhere now, and I can always have my sword and shield on hand. It's perfect!" She gleefully kissed Kaius on the cheek, her joy evident.
Fiora, watching the exchange from the side, couldn't hide the envy in her gaze as she eyed the bracelets on their wrists.
Kaius noticed and turned to her. "Don't you Kryptonians have something similar to this? Your technology should be capable of replicating it, right?"
Fiora's response surprised him. "We did have such devices," she admitted. "But after Krypton's destruction, all we have left are warriors like me. Without scientists to mass-produce advanced technology, we've lost the ability to recreate these tools."
Kaius nodded thoughtfully, realizing that Krypton's downfall had cost more than just its people; it had erased centuries of scientific advancement. The warriors under Zod's leadership were formidable but lacked the technical expertise to rebuild what had been lost.
"Well," Kaius said with a smile, "if you keep performing well, I might just arrange for you to have one of these in the future."
Fiora's eyes widened with gratitude. She stood at attention and saluted. "Yes, General Kaius! I will not disappoint you!"
Diana, now lounging on the couch, turned on the television. As she flipped through the channels, a news report caught her attention. "Kaius! Look at this!" she called out, pointing at the screen.
The news showed footage from Metropolis, where a new Hero Statue Park had been unveiled. The three statues were grand and imposing: Superman stood on the left in a confrontational stance, Diana on the right with her sword raised and shield forward, and Kaius in the center, arms crossed and staring into the distance.
"They built statues of us!" Diana exclaimed, her joy spilling over. "We're officially recognized as heroes by the people of Metropolis!"
Kaius couldn't help but smile. The recognition felt good, even if he wondered how long it would last. "It's nice to be appreciated," he said. "Let's just hope nobody climbs up there to spray-paint 'false gods' on them."
---
Later That Night – Lexcorp Headquarters
Though LexCorp had suffered some damage during the Battle of Metropolis, the company's resources ensured a swift recovery. Lena Luthor had hired a top-tier construction team, and within a week, the building was restored to its original state.
In the presidential suite of LexCorp Tower, Bruce Wayne lay half-awake on the bed. Earlier that afternoon, he had met with Lena Luthor under the pretense of discussing a business partnership. While the conversation had been cordial, Bruce's true objective lay elsewhere.
He had hoped to slip away during the meeting to access Lena's office computer. His goal was to install his data-stealing hard drive, which could bypass firewalls and extract sensitive files from LexCorp's network. Unfortunately, Lena's office was heavily guarded. Two imposing bodyguards stood like sentinels on either side of the room, leaving Bruce no opportunity to act.
In a situation that left him little choice, Bruce Wayne decided to use his charm to gain Lena Luthor's trust. Lena, who hadn't been in a serious relationship for over a year, found herself drawn to the charismatic and enigmatic Wayne. It wasn't long before Bruce found himself in her luxurious suite behind her office—a room as grand and opulent as any five-star hotel's presidential suite.
Night enveloped the city outside the glass walls as Bruce quietly dressed, fastening his belt with practiced ease. From the pocket of his jacket, he retrieved his data-stealing hard drive. His eyes flicked back to Lena, still sound asleep in the bed, her figure relaxed and serene.
Bruce allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Despite her elegance and allure, Lena Luthor was no ordinary woman. Her sharp intellect and commanding presence reminded him that she was as much a challenge as she was an ally—or adversary. "Beautiful women are never easy," he mused silently.
Moving with the stealth of a shadow, Bruce approached Lena's desk and inserted the hard drive into the computer's USB port. The device, custom-built for such missions, made quick work of bypassing the sophisticated security protocols in place on the LexCorp president's system.
Once inside, Bruce began searching for information on the green meteorite—kryptonite—and any connections to LexCorp's activities. He expected to find layers of encrypted files requiring hours of decryption back in the Batcave. Instead, he discovered a hidden folder labeled cryptically.
Upon opening the folder, Bruce's eyes narrowed as he scanned its contents. The files detailed experiments and data related to the Doomsday project, along with specific mentions of kryptonite—its properties, applications, and current locations.
One document in particular caught his attention. It revealed that Lex Luthor, before his demise, had retained two pieces of raw kryptonite. Following his death, Lena had transferred the materials to a secure LexCorp warehouse in Star City, stored under the guise of food shipments.
Bruce clenched his fists as he read further. The document's latest revision date was after the Battle of Metropolis, confirming that the kryptonite was still viable. "They had the means to stop the Kryptonians all along," Bruce muttered bitterly. The memory of the Metropolis Wayne Tower collapsing under alien fire flooded back to him—the cries of his employees, the helplessness he felt in that moment. If he had access to kryptonite then, he could have prevented such devastation.
He noted the warehouse location: the LexCorp Food Factory in the southern district of Star City. Ensuring the files were safely copied to the hard drive, Bruce also took the opportunity to gather other potentially useful information for further analysis back at the Batcave.
With the operation complete, Bruce carefully packed his things, intending to leave before Lena woke up. But just as he reached the door, a soft, teasing voice called out from the shadows.
"Leaving so soon, my knight?"
Bruce turned to see Lena leaning against the doorway, wrapped in a blanket. Her expression was a mix of amusement and feigned disappointment, her eyes shimmering in the dim light.
Bruce quickly masked his surprise with a charming smile. "Lena, I have an important meeting back in Gotham tomorrow morning. I hate to leave, but duty calls."
Lena pouted playfully, her voice still tinged with drowsiness. "Always the gentleman, aren't you? Be careful on your way."
She yawned and waved him off before retreating back into the suite. Bruce watched her for a moment before slipping out of the room, his mind already focused on the next steps.
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