*A quick note on my writing style: Anything between ~~ will be regarded as Alexander's thoughts. Please do not confuse this with the standard narration.
Chapter Two.
1918.
__Alexander Luthor sits at the window of his penthouse looking at the Metropolis skyline. He looks at his hand. It's pale, and spotted with imperfection.
~Six years had passed since I was first exposed to that green rock that robbed me of my strength. Six years and I was no closer to figuring out what it was. A thousand questions scurried through my mind. Why was that child sent here? What was that strange "S" symbol for? What made that green rock so poisonous?~
__Alexander stands up. He is skinny and sickly.
*The Kents took good care of me. They taught me the value of hard work.*
__An eight year old Kal-El runs around doing chores on a farm with Jonathan Kent. They bring water to some horses. They dig holes for fence posts.
__"Make sure you get the hole 15 inches deep, son." Jonathan instructs the boy.
*They called me Clark after her maiden name.*
__Alexander works in a laboratory at a microscope. He studies a green rock intently. The laboratory walls are covered with drawings of the classic "Superman" shield, a black triangle with its point down and a yellow outline and a red "S" in it. There are beakers and primitive machines and gigantic computers filling the rooms.
~It seemed to have some kind of radiation, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Somehow, it stopped photosynthesis in plants and blocked cell regeneration in animals.~
__Alexander's hands begin to shake violently. He clinches his fists and breathes.
~It created a violent reaction in me, but its effects became less intense over time. My body was developing a resistance.~
__Alexander continues his research. An old timey phone on the desk rings.
__"What is it?" Alexander answers the phone with a bit of irritation in his voice.
__"Sir, we've found something."
~The dig was starting to yield fruit. My research was starting to produce results. I only wish it hadn't.~
To be continued in Chapter Three.
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