Chapter Text
“How are you feeling, Angela? I trust the process went well,” Lex asked as she sat down across from him.
Angela didn't have a clear answer for him. She still felt a little disoriented from the operation, and her whole body was buzzing with new energy. She was aware of the presence of every nanite in what had once been her bloodstream. Her heart was still beating, her body still looked the same. But she knew that deep down, nothing would ever be the same. It was both an exhilarating and terrifying thought.
“Fine, I think. I just need to get used to it.”
Lex said nothing, but she had known him long enough to know he didn't believe her. His icy blue eyes examined her with interest, searching for a crack in her armor. Or perhaps just a malfunction. After all, she was one of the first people to be artificially enhanced by Luthorcorp. It was cause for concern, given how Metallo had gone rogue a few years earlier. She wasn’t at LuthorCorp at the time, but Otis had told her the basics. She hoped she wouldn't end up like the cyborg, who had been destroyed by the Justice Gang and Superman after losing his mind.
Lex waved his hand and a young scientist wearing glasses approached her. The look she gave Angela was mixed with admiration but also a hint of concern.
"We're just going to run a few more tests before letting you go.”
Angela nodded despite her exhaustion. Better be safe than sorry. And she didn't want to look weak in front of all these people. Especially not in front of Lex. She may have lost her humanity, but she hadn't lost her pride.
Despite the late hour, the laboratory was busier than she had ever seen it. It was located on the outskirts of Metropolis, in a discreet, minimalist building. The kind of place where Lex supervised the unofficial experiments. Through an open door on the other side of the hall, she noticed an android prototype that looked almost human. If not for the cables coming out of it, she could have mistaken it for a young woman. She tried to get a better look but a scientist closed the door from behind and she gave up on the idea.
LuthorCorp scientists were coming and going all around her. They checked her pulse (which was now powered by nanorobots, as strange as that might sound), her vital signs, and even her reflexes with a few simple movement exercises.
“Everything looks good to me,” the scientist finally concluded. “Rest for now, and we'll continue the tests in a few days. And try not to use the nanites until you know how to handle them.”
Lex, who had remained silent during the tests, finally rose from his seat. In his three-piece suit, long black coat, and with his usual businessman demeanor, he might have seemed out of place. But he looked right at home among the scientists (and the monsters). He hadn't taken his eyes off Angela, as if he were seeing her for the first time. No one had looked at her like that in a long time.
“Let's go, Angela.” He said simply, turning his head toward the exit.
Angela grabbed the LuthorCorp jacket an employee handed her and hurried to join him. The automatic doors opened in front of them, revealing a purple limousine waiting for them outside the laboratory. Snowflakes covered the ground with a thin, pristine blanket.
Otis, Lex's favorite henchman, was waiting for them, leaning against the car. His hands were slightly shaking, and he wasn’t very good at hiding it. When he saw them, he let out a sigh of relief.
“So, did it go well?” he asked.
“Yes, Otis, otherwise we wouldn't be here,” replied Lex, exasperated. “Now let's get inside before we freeze to death.”
Otis hurried to open the door. Like all of Lex's employees, he knew it was best not to upset him. Lex was about to get in when he noticed that Angela had stopped. He turned around, curious.
“Is something wrong?”
She had caught a snowflake in her hand and was watching it melt.
“I'm not cold.”
Until now, it had only been theory. It wasn't as if she could actually visualize millions of nanorobots in her body. But now she had proof that she was no longer truly human. She had Angela's memories and emotions, but what had she become ? The thought made her heart ache. Was defeating Superman really worth sacrificing her humanity?
Lex tilted his head to the side, as if he couldn't understand her surprise.
“We created the nanorobots and studied their effects together. I thought you'd be thrilled.”
It was the answer she expected from him. Direct and logical. But she still felt a wave of disappointment wash over her.
“You're right. It's nothing. Let's go.”
She detected a hint of pity in Otis's gaze, which only added to her frustration. She didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her. She knew the consequences of her choices and she was ready to accept them.
She took a few steps before Lex put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to meet his gaze. They rarely touched. But when they did, she found herself wanting more. She quickly pushed the thought out of her mind.
“It'll be worth it,” Lex whispered in her ear, low enough that Otis couldn't hear them.
She wanted to believe him, wanted it more than anything. But what did he know about sacrifice? What did the great Lex Luthor ever have to sacrifice ? He had the world at his feet. She was just another Metropolis orphan.
“You don't know that,” the metahuman replied with a bitter tone.
“You underestimate me. Of course I know. You're the key, Angela. The key to killing Superman.”
And there it was again. His unhealthy obsession.
“But why me? Why not another candidate?”
Lex let go of her shoulder and a smile spread across his lips. What was so funny? she wondered, almost insulted.
“I don't think they would have survived the procedure.”
That was it ? A simple question of probability?
“Really?” she asked, unconvinced.
“You don't believe me?” Lex raised his eyebrows, pretending to be offended.
“I think it's bullshit.”
Lex's smile widened, and Angela couldn't help but find him handsome in the moonlight. His eyes were sparkling with newfound enthusiasm. When Lex smiled, no sane mind could look away.
“Humor. A rare quality at Luthorcorp.” He turned to Otis, who seemed very invested in the conversation. “I'm obviously not talking about you, Otis.”
Caught red-handed, Otis stammered a few apologies and took the driver's seat. Angela expected Lex to get in first, but he motioned for her to go ahead. Whether it was out of gallantry or concern, she couldn't tell. She took a deep breath and got into the car.
She knew one thing for certain: Lex Luthor was not done surprising her.
***
The following weeks were particularly demanding for Angela. She would rise at dawn to train. She followed a strict diet on her own initiative and spent her entire mornings practicing to control her nanites under Lex's supervision.
The first few days were the most challenging, but over time she grew accustomed to the nanites' presence. She'd read somewhere that a true warrior was one with their weapon. In a way, that was truer for her. The nanites were a part of her and soon, she could manipulate them as easily as any of her limbs. Part of Angela was ecstatic: she had become a miracle of science. Now she could finally make a difference. Now she could heal the world.
So when Lex asked her to accompany him to a charity ball, Angela's first reaction was to say no. In theory, she liked the idea. But there was no way she was going to be paraded around like a circus animal.
“I'm not asking you to come as a member of Planet Watch, but as a partner of LuthorCorp,” he explained.
Sitting in the chair across from his desk, Angela let out a sigh.
“Why not Ultraman or Eve? I'm not exactly...” She searched for the right word. "A people's person."
Lex folded his hands under his chin.
“In case you haven't noticed, Ultraman isn't exactly one for small talk, and Eve is... Eve.”
She sensed a certain disdain when he uttered their names. The Engineer raised her eyebrows. “And why am I a better option?”
Lex looked at her like she had asked the stupidest question of the year.
“You’re a beautiful and clever woman who can manipulate nanites and turn them into deadly weapons. Take a wild guess.”
She would have accepted the compliment under normal circumstances, but Lex only played nice when he wanted something.
“So, you want me to be your bodyguard. You already have hundreds of them.”
“But none of them can do what you do,” Lex argued, pointing a finger at her. “And besides, it's a charity ball for the orphanages of Metropolis. I thought you'd be interested.”
Angela’s eyes widened. She rarely spoke about her past, especially not about her dead parents. How much did Lex know about her life ?
“Is your life in danger?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
“Probably. I have good reason to believe so.” Lex shrugged.
"Do you know who wants to kill you ?"
"One of my creations escaped the laboratory. I don't know it's intentions yet, but I intend to find out."
“Then why go?”
“It’s my duty as a good citizen of Metropolis,” he said sarcastically.
Every day, Lex found a way to surprise her. He was perhaps the only man confident enough to walk into a trap without fearing for his life. She sometimes wondered if he was as invincible as he wanted to appear.
“All right. But just this once. I have more important things to do,” Angela sighed.
He may have had a strange way of asking for favors, but she wasn't going to let him down. And who knows, the evening might take her mind off things a little. Lex rose from his leather chair with a big smile.
“Perfect. This should be fun.”