The doors to Lex's elevator open and Lex steps out of it into his office. Lex's chair behind his desk is turned away from the elevator, facing out at the windows which look out over Metropolis. Brainiac/Vril Dox is sitting in the chair staring out into the city.

"Hmm. Primitive post-industrial society inhabited by a high level primate species. Barely worth the trip."  Vril says to no one in particular.

Lex walks up to his desk, "Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?"

Vril Dox spins the chair around to face Lex. Vril is a green-skinned alien with a protective head gear around the base of his cranium and he's dressed in what resembles a white suit robe. The top of his head looks like the top of a green brain.

"But apparently it's not without its bright spots." Vril says as he gets up from Lex's chair and begins to walk around Lex's desk, "Lex Luthor I presume?"

Lex does not respond.

"I am Vril Dox, of the planet Colu. After I received your message, I initiated an investigative probe of your information centres to familiarize myself with your customs and rituals. As I understand it, a first meeting is often celebrated by what you call a handshake." Vril says, extending his hand in greeting, "Vril Dox."

Lex looks down at the green hand being extended to him and shakes it.

"Lex Luthor."

"I believe the phrase is, it's a pleasure to meet you. Especially since you appear to be one of the most advanced of your species. From what I've seen so far, these other primates appear incapable of decoding such a complicated mathematical equation. They simply don't appear to have the brain power." Vril says.

"Well I've always liked to think of myself as exceptional." Lex suggests.

"And on this planet, you appear to be just that. I'd be curious to know how you managed to detect my ship from such a large distance away, let alone send the response you sent with your technology." suggests Vril.

"And I wouldn't mind sharing that information with you. Assuming you wouldn't mind answering a few questions of my own." Lex says.

"A thirst for knowledge. Now there's something I can relate to."

Lex and Vril continue to idly shake hands for a moment of silence.

*               *               *

Young Lex is standing over his mother's grave at her funeral. The tombstone has already been erected, and it reads 'Lillian Luthor, loving mother and devoted wife'. An older man is standing next to Young Lex. He puts his hand on Young Lex's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Alexander."

The background changes to inside a room.

*               *               *

An older man has his hand on Young Lex's shoulder. Young Lex is looking down at a box of possessions in front of him.

"I'm sorry but it's gone. We had to sell it just to make sure that the company
stayed afloat the way your parents would've wanted it to so you could
inherit it one day. And we're not even certain that it will be enough."

"But it's my home. Where am I supposed to go?" questions Young Lex.

"We'll find you a place."

Young Lex picks up the box of possessions and follows the older man out of the room.

*                  *               *

Young Lex is shoved to the ground by the main bully of the group that have surrounded him outside the Metropolis Orphanage.

"Not so rich now, are you rich boy?"

Young Lex turns over to sit on the pavement and looks at the main bully.

"We heard it on the news. That big company you always talk about inheriting? It's about to get a whole lot smaller. They're selling it off piece by piece. My guess is eventually there's going to be nothing left. Which means you're about to become a poor helpless orphan like the rest of us. What do you think of that rich boy?"

Young Lex tries to get up but the main bully starts kicking him to keep him down.

*               *                *

Young Lex, bruised and beaten by the main bully, walks into his room at the Metropolis Orphanage and looks around.

All over the walls are drawings of Young Baby Kal-El's space ship and pictures of various other similar looking aircraft. On his desk are books about aeronautics and space travel. Young Lex walks up to the wall behind his bed and stares at one of the drawings of Young Baby Kal-El's space
ship.

"This is all your fault."

Young Lex rips one of the drawings off the wall and squeezes it into a ball.

*                *               *

Clark makes his way to work at the Packaging Plant. John and a mystery woman are standing off to the side trying not to be noticed as they have what appears to be a heated conversation. Clark watches them intently before using his super-hearing to listen in on the conversation.

"There's not supposed to be any evidence. That's how this sort of thing works." John says.

"That doesn't mean that there isn't any. And it's your job to find the evidence before they do. This was your idea remember, and you better deliver." the mystery woman insists.

Foreman Jack approaches Clark, "Kent."

Clark stops listening to look at Foreman Jack.

"You okay Kent? You looked a little spaced out there for a second."

"Yes sir Mr. Laurel. I'm okay."

"Good. I wouldn't want you getting sick in your second week on the job. We're already short handed with O'Reily and Baker out for at least six weeks. Can't have you dying on me now."

"Don't worry sir. I'm all right." confirms Clark.

"You know what else is all right Kent? You calling me Jack. This is a warehouse not some swanky news office. Relax."

"Yes sir."

"All right now, I'd like you to meet someone."

"Who?"

Foreman Jack leads Clark over to a large man standing inside the Packaging Plant.

"Clark Kent, this is Bruno Mannheim."

"Nice to meet you Kent." Bruno says with a smile.

Bruno Mannheim holds out his hand for a handshake. Clark shakes his hand. Clark doesn't react as Bruno squeezes hard.

"Mr. Mannheim is one of our biggest investors."

"I like to come by every once and a while, meet the new employees. Let them know I'm here for them if they need something. Extra cash, a place to live. I own quite a few buildings in the city. I'm sure I could find a place for you." Bruno explains.

"Thank you for the offer, but I actually have a place." insists Clark.

"Kent, didn't you tell me that you're new to the city? I thought you were looking for a place to live?"

"I was. But I was lucky enough to find a place recently. It's not much, but I'm willing to work for it." clarifies Clark.

"Perhaps I could help make the place better. Or I could set you up in a better place, let you subsidize the extra rent cost until you can pay for it yourself." Bruno offers.

"No thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I come from a farm town in Kansas. We like to make our own way in the world." insists Clark.

Bruno and Foreman Jack look at each other for a moment. Bruno does not look happy. Eventually, Bruno faces Clark again, with a smile on his face.

"Well then, let me know if anything changes. I'd be more than happy to assist."

Bruno holds out his hand again and Clark shakes it.

"I will. Thank you Mister Mannheim."

Bruno gives Foreman Jack an unhappy look before leaving the Packaging Plant. John comes into the Packaging Plant from outside, passing by Bruno as he does. Bruno bumps into John as he leaves and doesn't even bother to say something as he does. John looks at Bruno and then at Clark, standing next to Foreman Jack. John walks away to his first load.

"Get back to work Kent." Foreman Jack orders as he leaves Clark behind near the entrance of the Packaging Plant.

*                *               *

Clark and John move heavy boxes from the stack onto the back of a truck.

"So, you've been seeing a lot of her lately." Clark says.

"Who?" John questions.

"That brunette you're talking to. Who is she? Your wife?"

"She's no one important."

"So she's your girlfriend then?" Clark jokes.

"She's, someone I know that I'd rather not."

"Why?" Clark asks.

"What did Mannheim give you?" John comes back with.

"What?"

"Mannheim, what did he give you?"

"Nothing." pushes back Clark.

"Right." John says dismissively.

"He didn't. He offered me help. Said he could get me an apartment if I needed one."

"Did you take it?" questions John.

"No, I believe in living within my means. Earning what I paid for. Why?"

Clark and John are interrupted by the sound of a sudden crash nearby. John and Clark look at each other momentarily before rushing towards the crash with several other people in the Packaging Plant. When they reach the site, they see a young man trapped under a large crate, bleeding to death.

"HELP me! OH GOD HELP ME!"

John runs up to the crate and starts trying to lift it, "Kent, give me a hand."

Clark doesn't move, focusing his x-ray vision on the accident in front of him.

"Kent. He needs help."

"We can't. If we lift it off him, he'll bleed to death." Clark insists.

"And if we leave him alone, the pressure will kill him. We've got to do something."

Clark hesitates for a moment before looking to the others around him, "Come on, let's see if we can take some of the pressure off."

Clark and five other workers at the Packaging Plant move to positions around the crate. John prepares to assess the problem.

"All right, everybody ready?" John asks his co-workers.

"Yeah." one worker says.

"I'm ready." another confirms.

"Good to go."

"Ready."

"I'm good."

Clark takes the lead, "On the count of three. One, two, three."

When Clark says the number three, all six of the people start lifting the crate. Clark doesn't show the strain the other workers are showing. The young man yells out in pain at the relief.

"How is he?" Clark asks.

"He looks okay, but I need to get a better look and I think he could use a little less pressure. Can you guys lift it any higher?" John asks.

"We're barely holding it as it is."

"Come guys, we have to try." Clark says, making sure that the other workers are trying to lift harder before using his super strength to lift the crate higher.

"Good. That's good guys. I think that's enough. Hold it there." John insists.

The young man in pain looks at John directly as he struggles to deal with the bleeding from where the crate fell on him.

"This is all your fault John." the young man says before he collapses unconscious on the floor.

Foreman Jack comes over with several other workers, "What happened?"

"What does it look like happened?" John pushes back.

"You three, help these men with holding up the crate. And someone get a forklift over here before we end up with more injuries."

Three more workers move into position and begin helping hold up the crate as well.

"Reeve, Cain, Kent. Ease back on the lifting and let the new ones hold it till the forklift gets here." Foreman Jack orders.

"It's all right. I can manage for a few more seconds for the forklift." Clark declares.

"Don't be a hero Kent. Let other people help." Foreman Jack insists.

The forklift comes around the corner and begins positioning itself to take over the crate load.

"I'm not. I'm just trying to help."

The forklift operator uses the forklift to relieve some of the pressure of those holding the crate.

"Okay, I've got it, you can set it down and I'll take it from here."

"I hope someone bothered to think about calling an ambulance." Foreman Jack suggests.

The sound of an ambulance is heard getting louder quickly.