Why Me?

"You could have worked up a cover story for why those women disappeared," Lois Lane said. "You wanted me to investigate, didn't you? With all of LexCorp's resources, I refuse to believe you couldn't find somebody with body confidence to expose to your alien genetic thingamizer. You wanted me here. Why? Why me?"

Lex Luthor had his back to her. His shoulders tensed...and then he turned to look the reporter in the eye. It was almost frightening how calm and controlled Lex was—that terrible intellect, twisted as it was brilliant, which calculated exactly how much information to give her—just what to say to get her to do what he wanted. Because that was what this was all about, Lois knew, she was sure of it. Everything about her night out had been leading up to this moment, and he needed her for something...and no one else.

"You fit both the ideal psychological and genetic profiles," he said, slowly. "Yes, there were others—but you have something more than that. This process is not without risk. If it works, you will be in your idealized form. If it does not...we will need to bring in an actual Kryptonian to facilitate the stabilization of your DNA. Your Superman will be much more complacent if he is faced with the genetic disintegration of the woman he loves."

Lois Lane's jaw dropped. That was cold, even for Luthor.

"But—Superman would help them anyway! That's who he is!"

The bald man smiled. "I may have neglected the fact that the genetic stabilization process will require...intimate contact. If you want your Man of Steel to make love to these women, I suppose we could try and contact him..."

Lois Lane shook her head. She didn't know if Luthor was lying or not, but every step took her further into the convoluted, mad logic of his.

"Just...let's do this, okay?"

The steel door opened, and for the first time Lois Lane glimpsed the machine.

"Of course. Step right this way."