Master Plan / Side Plan 1: Lenity’s Debut

The LexCorp amphitheater was just one of many places that the tech conglomerate could make new product and initiative announcements. It was perhaps slightly more intimate than one of the large halls or showrooms. Better for showing off LexCorp’s more human side.

And this was certainly a very human event.

“Didja see the spread in the reception area?” Gus Loman of the Tribune was saying. “Ol’ Lex always puts out but this time he pulled out all the stops. Beluga caviar, wagyu beef, those little crab puff things?”

“Of course he did,” Lois Lane of the Planet answered. “He wants to make sure your taste buds and waistline add a little spin to your story.”

“Yeah, well. He gets a lot of spin outta those canapés, no joke. Oop — the man himself.”

As stated, Luthor took the stage, to polite applause. It was a press event but not a press conference. He was in his black power suit with the red tie.

Lois Lane made a small noise. Loman looked at her. “Lane?” he whispered.

Lane was flushed, all of a sudden. She shook her head. “S’nothing,” she murmured.

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and members of the press,” Luthor said, looking a touch serious. “Thank you for coming on admittedly short notice.”

Luthor looked around the amphitheater—his eyes resting on Lane for a moment. She made a very slight noise but kept watching, pen and pad in her hand.

“As you have been told, I’ve asked you here today on a matter of injustice. From time to time, it has been LexCorp’s duty and sincere honor to inform the public of the misfeasence of individuals, entities, or organizations. However, today, the injustice I must correct... is my own.”

There was a murmur through the crowd. Luthor let it build a moment before speaking again. “Approximately twenty years ago, I was a very different man. Brasher. Selfish. And, I think it is fair to say, inconsiderate of others. Some would say I still am. Be that as it may, some of my actions then had consequences that I have never admitted to nor acknowledged, to my own shame.”

He looked around. “At that time, I was involved in... indiscretions with a Ms. Chastity Graves. And, as you may imagine, those indiscretions led to the birth of a child.” The murmurs grew louder. “Being young, with the anger of youth, I refused to acknowledge that child, though I did quietly assume financial responsibility for the child’s care and education."

Luthor looked solemn. "All too early, Chastity Graves passed away. Her daughter spent years in boarding schools and other places as much meant to keep her out of the public eye as educate her. But educate her, they did, and extremely well, largely thanks to her own native intellect, pleasant demeanor, and indomitable will. For years I barely thought of her, but circumstances brought her into my life directly, and I realized how foolish I had been."

Luthor smiled, standing up straighter. "After getting to know each other, I asked the girl -- my daughter -- if she would take the family name that is hers by birthright. She agreed, to my immense pleasure. And though I cannot take credit -- beyond the obvious genetic legacy -- for her growth into such a remarkable young woman, I cannot help but feel pride as I introduce her to you all. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce all of you... to my daughter and heir, Miss Lenity Luthor!"

There was applause throughout the room as a truly beautiful young woman of nineteen took the stage, wearing a white dress with a black belt, with long, slightly curly strawberry blonde hair. She smiled a small, almost shy smile at the applause. Luthor stepped back out of her way, letting her take the podium.

"Thank you," she said. "It is... exciting to see all of you, and I look forward to getting to know you all. If any of you should have any questions...?"

"Miss Luthor--"

"Lenity, please." She smiled more brightly.

"...all right. Lenity -- that's an usual name. Is there some meaning behind it?"

"Meaning?" Lenity looked off to the right, considering. "The word is a variation on Leniency. Forgiveness and care. It was something of a family tradition among the Graves family, though I admit I am pleased it begins with L -- I am certain that helped my father to change his mind about me."

There was a good natured laugh. Lenity looked around for further questions.

"Miss Luthor," Lois said, standing. "Lois Lane, Daily Planet."

"I know who you are, Miss Lane," Lenity said, pleasantly.

"In the years since the **** of your mother, if Lex Luthor wasn't taking any interest in your progress, who acted as your legal guardian? Did you have any primary caregiver? I assume you weren't in the foster system if LexCorp was funding your schooling."

"Her younger sister, Miss Mercy Graves, has always been my most prominent maternal figure," Lenity answered.

"My condolences," Lois said, to another chuckle. "During that time--"

"Excuse me?"

Lois paused, looking up from her notes. The young woman on the stage had lost her slight smile. Behind her, Luthor had arched an eyebrow. "My apologies. Miss Luthor--"

"Miss Lane, it is possible you and my Aunt Mercy do not care for each other. My understanding is you have always taken a particular interest in my father and his business, after all. So I can understand if perhaps you don't have a full idea of who she is or what she is capable of. Perhaps I can enlighten you.

"I remember a time when I was... perhaps four years old. There was a storm on the horizon and it was intimidating for one so young. It was very easy to think of oneself as the only little girl in the world, especially given... the circumstances of my childhood.

"Aunt Mercy came into the room, and sat next to my bed. She took my hand. She told me that the weather was very large, and could be very frightening, but that when we all worked together, we built buildings and cities that could withstand the weather. That together we could do what we could never do on our own. And she sang to me. Golden, Golden, composed by Andy M. Stewart, if you care for details."

She looked intently at Lane. "And when she left, I didn't feel scared any more. And since then, no matter the circumstances, I have not feared the weather." She leaned forward. "Perhaps I am not doing Aunt Mercy's reputation any favors with this story. But then, the reputation of the employees of LexCorp has never been your priority, has it? You have written many terrible things about my father in the past. I have no doubt but that you will write many terrible things about me in the future, no matter what I may do or how hard I work. That is perfectly acceptable. We are Luthors. We do not fear the bad weather."

Her eyes narrowed. "But if you ever cast aspersions on the care and love given to me by my Aunt Mercy again? I would suggest doing so when you have your Kryptonian bodyguard at hand to hide behind. Again."

There was more than light applause at this. Lane was flushed, even more deeply, and slid to her seat. She was usually more dogged, and not the sort to let anyone else have the last word, but this wasn't a normal day.

Lenity looked around, smiling a bit more. "Does anyone else have any questions?"

Lex Luthor stepped back into the small control room, where the proceedings had been filmed. Mercy was there, along with the small team.

"Lex, I'm sorry about that anecdote," she started.

"On the contrary, Mercy," Lex said, crooning a bit and smiling. "It was an inspired moment. Despite the circumstances requiring me to cast myself in a negative light, Lenity turned the entire affair into a positive, humanized herself in the public eye, and managed to put the entire Daily Planet into the role of petulant bully. It was a remarkable work of improvisation. I am very pleased."

"It wasn't improvisation," Mercy said. "Her timing and delivery were perfect but I remember that incident, too."

Lex arched an eyebrow. "Then I'm **** commend you on your parenting. It sounds like you made a better impression on Lenity's development than perhaps I've admitted. However, that doesn't change the facility with which she used the anecdote to so thoroughly disarm Lois Lane. If I didn't have much bigger plans for her, I'd make Lenity my head of Media Relations." Both his eyebrows went up. "And speaking of bigger plans..."

"Mm?" Mercy turned to look.

Lenity was one of the monitors, surrounded by amiable reporters in the reception hall. But, on one of the side monitors, Lois Lane could be seen making her way down a hallway.

"She shouldn't be back there," the media director murmured. "I'll call security."

"You'll do no such thing," Lex said. "This is all according to plan. I was careful to make certain Lois overheard a few details that suggested there was more to this than a simple debutante coming-out ball, and that details could be found deeper into the complex." Lex chuckled. "After all of these years, I do know how to blow a dog whistle only Lois Lane can hear. Stop all monitoring of this hallway or these three offices."

"...yes sir, Mister Luthor."

"Mercy, keep an eye on my daughter," Lex said, smiling a bit more. "I've been waiting a long time for this moment."

Mercy watched Lex slip out the side door to the control room. "Yes sir, Mister Luthor."