Author’s Note: The following story is intended to be a sort-of prequel to “Tornado” (and its sequel “Hurricane”). I decided to write a story that fleshed out certain things I talked about in chapter 3 of that story.
Chapter 1
”You need a life.” What Lois had said echoed through the mind of Tess Mercer, as she walked through the streets of Metropolis on a rainy night, clutching an umbrella. Making her way from the apartment of Lois Lane and Clark Kent back to S.T.A.R. Labs. The closest she’d had to a home on this planet for months, since the destruction of the old Watchtower building. Tess used to live in a mansion. Now she lived in a small space at S.T.A.R. Labs, when she wasn’t at the Watchtower outpost on the moon. She and Emil had broken up months ago, so Tess didn’t have a social life outside of missions with the League and occasional visits to the other members homes for dinner. Every time she went to them, she felt like an obligation that the others fulfilled, rather than a proper guest.
But, getting an ordinary civilian life had been something Tess had put off for a long time. Some part of her had held onto the fantasy that one day she could officially become Tess Mercer again. A fantasy that she knew couldn’t happen. She was an android now. How could she prove that she really was Tess Mercer? She couldn’t pass any DNA test. Not to mention, there was a corpse in a grave - right next to Lionel Luthor’s - that could be used to disprove her claims in a court of law. Besides, Tess wasn’t so sure she’d want to live publicly as Tess Mercer, the android. Certain rights – in fact, any rights– didn’t extend to androids. No, if she wanted to have any rights – especially the right to vote – she’d have to start over. Set herself up with a new human identity. A new her to present to the outside world. But, Tess already knew, as she stepped into S.T.A.R. Labs, that she wouldn’t be able to do it herself.
No doubt, she would be able to set up all the records, but now she was thinking of becoming a brand-new person. She had used an alias a few times, during her time with Checkmate, and after she went underground to hide from them. But, they had only been temporary. Now Tess was thinking of creating something long-lasting. A permanent new identity. With her past aliases, she had shown up somewhere for a few days, then vanished. Either returning home to her regular identity and assuming a new identity. Tess didn’t doubt that there were more to it, if she wanted to create a lasting identity. Someone she could become and remain as for the next 10-15 years. She didn’t age anymore, so she figured that would be the window she’d have, before she’d have to abandon her new identity and set up herself with a new one. Tess knew that there was only one man who could help her.
Chapter 1
”You need a life.” What Lois had said echoed through the mind of Tess Mercer, as she walked through the streets of Metropolis on a rainy night, clutching an umbrella. Making her way from the apartment of Lois Lane and Clark Kent back to S.T.A.R. Labs. The closest she’d had to a home on this planet for months, since the destruction of the old Watchtower building. Tess used to live in a mansion. Now she lived in a small space at S.T.A.R. Labs, when she wasn’t at the Watchtower outpost on the moon. She and Emil had broken up months ago, so Tess didn’t have a social life outside of missions with the League and occasional visits to the other members homes for dinner. Every time she went to them, she felt like an obligation that the others fulfilled, rather than a proper guest.
But, getting an ordinary civilian life had been something Tess had put off for a long time. Some part of her had held onto the fantasy that one day she could officially become Tess Mercer again. A fantasy that she knew couldn’t happen. She was an android now. How could she prove that she really was Tess Mercer? She couldn’t pass any DNA test. Not to mention, there was a corpse in a grave - right next to Lionel Luthor’s - that could be used to disprove her claims in a court of law. Besides, Tess wasn’t so sure she’d want to live publicly as Tess Mercer, the android. Certain rights – in fact, any rights– didn’t extend to androids. No, if she wanted to have any rights – especially the right to vote – she’d have to start over. Set herself up with a new human identity. A new her to present to the outside world. But, Tess already knew, as she stepped into S.T.A.R. Labs, that she wouldn’t be able to do it herself.
No doubt, she would be able to set up all the records, but now she was thinking of becoming a brand-new person. She had used an alias a few times, during her time with Checkmate, and after she went underground to hide from them. But, they had only been temporary. Now Tess was thinking of creating something long-lasting. A permanent new identity. With her past aliases, she had shown up somewhere for a few days, then vanished. Either returning home to her regular identity and assuming a new identity. Tess didn’t doubt that there were more to it, if she wanted to create a lasting identity. Someone she could become and remain as for the next 10-15 years. She didn’t age anymore, so she figured that would be the window she’d have, before she’d have to abandon her new identity and set up herself with a new one. Tess knew that there was only one man who could help her.
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