Young Justice: Outsiders

Baby Shower

In the meantime, other news-journalists who had been informed of Lois' pregnancy, decided to take their spare time to meet in her Gotham apartment for a private baby shower...which also dealt with similar matters of politics.

"I am no happier than the rest of you about this," Lois said, gesturing at the pamphlet of the Superhero Act on the coffee table. "But I've known Lex Luthor for years; he was interested in politics once. I'm not prepared to believe this whole thing is his intent is to dismantle the Justice League."

"Why should he bother?" Linda Park countered. "As a practical matter-as of this morning-the government we once knew no longer exists."

Lois looked from one grim face to another. Tawny Young nodded her agreement. Emily Briggs kept her eyes down, pretending to be adjusting her dress. Jimmy Olsen ran a hand over his combed red hair.

Ed Raymond of the New York News Express leaned forward. His eyes were hard as chips of stone. "The President no longer has to worry about controlling the Justice League. By placing Luthor and his own lackeys as governors over every city in the United States, he controls our country directly.'' He folded his hands, and squeezed them together until his knuckles hurt. "Luthor will become a dictator if he takes such a position. We will not make him a dictator. He's a man blinded by corruption and greed in his campaign against Superman."

"And he's best friends with ex-husband," Vicki added. "I shouldn't even be mentioning Tom to any of you."

"But what can we do about it?" Emily asked, still gazing down at her dress with a worried frown.

"That's what we asked you here to discuss," Linda told her calmly.

"What we're going to do about it." Jimmy shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not sure I like where this is going."

"None of us likes where anything is going," Ed said, half rising. "That's exactly the point. We can't let a century worth of democracy disappear without a fight!"

"A fight that could blow up all of Washington?" Lois raised a crooked eyebrow.

"Not exactly. It has become increasingly clear," Linda said, "that Luthor and his followers have become enemies of democracy. He must be stopped."

"His father gave him these privileges," Lois said. "The law can rein him in."

Wally Tortolini, a gossip journalist from Spy! magazine, sat forward. "I fear you underestimate just how deeply the corruption has taken hold. Who will vote against the President now?"

"I will," Lois said. She discovered that she meant it. "And I'll find others, too."

"And until then," Raymond said. "We must keep it dark until there is solid evidence about the President being influenced. We must agree never to speak of these matters except among the people who are now in this room. We must bring no one into this secret without the agreement of each and every one of us."

"Agreed," Lois nodded.

And all she could think of after they party began to die down was...

Clark, don't let them get to you.