Note: this actually is a Superman Defeated story, wherein to save the life of a friend Superman, Elias Danvers gives up his own freedom to Lex Luthor. This might be the only time the origin of Earth-9 Superman's name is ever concisely explained. He is Jeremiah's adopted son but when all one hears is that "Jeremiah and Alex found me" You might not see it clearly, who 'Alex' is.
Elias as Superman brings his own Revelation to the table.
184 has been raised/conditioned for the last 12 weeks to believe Lex's lies about him. Lex has fed him a fabricated narrative that Superman is an arrogant, smug, superior-minded being who revels in the adulation and glory his heroics bring him. A perfect lie that he demands recognition and reverence from the normal people he protects. Superman -according to Lex Luthor- is a super-powered alien who places himself above normal people in almost every way. Superman's comments about 'however I have wronged you' and 'you think I'm a false hero' in this case are not the actual history between them being misunderstood by Elias amnesiac'd brain. He can see that Lex genuinely hates him. Because of the fabrication, he concludes he has actually wronged Lex somehow. And that Lex captured him because something deeply personal happened between them and Lex now wants to settle the score.
“Please she's harmless, let her alone.”
“If she's harmless, you won't miss her.”
“Lex please, I know you see me as a false hero, a sanctimonious monster. And I accept it. I'm not lying to you. I'm not sure I have it IN me to outright lie. But one thing I know completely is that she is innocent. There is nothing she could have done to incur your wrath.”
“How can you be so completely sure of that?” Lex inquired.
“Since I woke up 17 weeks ago I have learned enough to come to exactly 2 conclusions. One: I'm alone in the universe in that there are no others of my kind on this planet. Two: Because of Nikita I don't feel so alone.”
“You Love her.” Lex said with half-real incredulity.
“She...is the most important person in the world to me. I don't feel passion for her. But I treasure her. Sir PLEASE. I know what I just said. Please don't make her suffer for MY sins. I beg you, take your revenge upon me alone.” Superman fell to his knees as Nikita was lowered into the phosphorus liquid.”
“I would start to think you are the one with no heart. Why are you doing this to her?”
“Concern for another human life Superman?”
“I'm not a human being but I am still a BEING. Nikita was...screw this!” Lex looked at him, as if eagerly expecting a fight. Instead Kal-El of Krypton dropped his head to the floor.
“My name is Kal-El. I know nothing of you except that your name is Lex and you are a human hero. I swear to you, on anything that would matter__ I am defeated before you. I swear on my life, my Life is yours. I believe I do love her. For her innocence, her endearing hope, her compassionate heart. She is the only thing good and decent in my life. Please, the world needs people like her in it, even if it doesn't need me. This I vow with my lifesblood: If you let her die, you will get nothing from me. And you will become the monster you see it me. I know enough to say that.”
Superman flew up to the balcony of the third floor, west wing of the Luthor Mansion. He saw Lex Luthor standing just inside the room. He glided in softly, stopped almost 10 feet in front of Lex, who said nothing, but merely glanced down at the floor. Without hesitation he sank to his knees, keeping his eyes on Lex. “Superman, there are some basic rules you must come to accept and follow if you wish to live in my house rather than find yourself confined in the facilities below. One thing that will become inescapably evident is that I intend to me quite florid in reminding you of your...defeated status in life. There is nothing you can do to change my attitude toward you. Not right away anyway. By, to be blunt verbal abuse of you will be a small source of joy, knowing you cannot and will not contradict me. I am a most impressive human being basking in the humiliation of my greatest enemy. And will take every opportunity to enjoy your choicelessness.
“We will make no public displays of the new reality between us. Publicly you will keep being Superman. Keep being the hero this city and this world so desperately need you to be. Stop speeding cars, save people from burning buildings, bring bank robberies to grinding halts. Pretty much everything you would have done had you not surrendered to me. But if you speak a word against me in public, I will hear about it. And I will find a way to make you regret it.”
“Yes, of course Master.” Superman said humbly.
Lex held up a silver collar. “This is made of tungsten steel, meant mostly to remind you of your position in life. You will wear it every second you are under this roof. Put it on.”
“Yes Master.” Superman said as he slowly, without hesitation obeyed the command.
“I have another made of Nth metal, something even you won't be able to break. For when you need a less ceremonial reminder. I'll call you 'Superman' or 'slave' most of the time. When I am particularly angry or disappointed with you...I'll call you something else.”
Superman let himself fall to the floor. He put his hands on the ground, palms flat and bowed his head. “Hank told me my name is 'Kal-El'. I sweat to you on anything that matters – I am defeated before you. I'll do whatever you ask I swear it! Just please leave him alone.”
“I've never known you to wear your heart on your sleeve like this. Risking your life for a total stranger is to be expected. But...why do you humiliate yourself for him?
“Dar-Ek Teck Ho-chin.” Superman replied harshly.
“I was unclear. Why are you willing to go to such lengths for his sake? What is he to you that you think nothing giving up your freedom for his life?”
“...He's my father.”
“What?” Lex replied, understandably taken aback.
Superman raised his head and his eyes. “His daughter found me when I was about 6 years old. He adopted me. He IS my human father. Which means if you hit him one more time I will at least TRY to kill you. Rather the more you hurt him the more you run the risk that I will completely lose control and try to kill you. Please sir, you have what you want: You have me. Let him go.”
“This Does explain a lot.” Lex mused. He released the lock on Jeremiah's handcuffs. “Take him where you wish. Then come back here and take me home.”
Superman sighed with relief and Joy. “Thank you. A hundred times over: Thank You!”
Superman gently lifted his human father into the air and held tightly to him as he flew.
“Where are we going?”
“The road to Arias.”
“My son, Lex will make a slave of you, literally.”
“Even so, I'll pay that price gladly.”
“Superman, where IS Arias?”
“Jeremiah what do he do to...Who are you?” Superman looked down at the man he'd believed to be his father. The man's face was white – pale and troubled. A few minutes later, they alighted in the middle of a coffee field. “We're South of Xalappa Mexico. They have a curfew for children here, the nearest village is 80 miles away; we should be safe. Now answer me: Who ARE you?”
“I'm someone who will die in three days outside of a LexCorp facility.” The man replied mildly, as if he were merely noting the time of day.
“And do you know who I am?”
“You are a great hero and somehow very important to me. Beyond that, no.”
“Your name is Jeremiah Danvers. At least, the man you were created to look like, that is his name. Most people know me only as a hero called Superman. But my human name is Elias, Elias Danvers.” They said in the same instant.
“What happened? I mean, why didn't Mr. Luthor's plan work?”
“Jeremiah lived at Arias for more than six years before coming home. He wouldn't have needed to ask me what it was or where we were going.”
“Superman, you have every right to tell me to go to hell. But please, I can't live outside of Lex's laboratories. And I still very much want to live.”
“You're innocent of anything my friend. You've done nothing wrong. And even if you had, I would not Let you die if I had the power to save you.”
“Because I look like your adoptive father.” The man said with confidence.
“Because you're human. And I'm a hero.”
Superman flew back to LexCorp Laboratories, carrying Jeremiah in his arms. He did not move and for a moment he did not speak.
“Superman, report to room 1182 for refit. Jeremiah report to sub-level 17.”
“What are you going to do with him?”
“Mr. Danvers is about to become an organ donor.”
“You can't fix him?” Superman was incredulous.
“Oh he's not broken Eli. As long as he gets his weekly injections. I'm just answering his failure with the only thing suitable.” Lex aimed a high-powered rifle at Jeremiah. “Now report for your refit as ordered or watch your twice fake-dad evaporate before your eyes.”
“NO.” Superman said with confirmed resolution. “I surrendered to you for this man's life. I told you if you let him die, you risk your life at my hands. That stands.”
“You'd give up your life for a stranger?”
“I admit, he's enough like my father...I feel for him. It's not just his face.”
The Jeremiah clone, for lack of another word was escorted out of the room.
“Mr. Luthor, I do not understand how I know this but I KNOW Nikita is the most innocent and compassionate person on the face of this planet. I would die for her if I knew how to do that. And I will kill for her if it comes to that.”
“You mean you would take a life if it would keep her safe? That doesn't sound very heroic.”
“No sir. I mean if you don't get her out of there, if you let her fall again into that pit of death, I'd cast aside any delusion of being the people's hero and would TRY to kill you.”
“And if I let her go? If I take her out of that pit and let you fly her home?”
Superman's face brightened. A small, but hopeful smile appeared. Still he kept his voice measured. “If you will let me take her home. If you will let her live and let her go___ Then I am your slave for life. Promise me that you will to ask me to kill, and I am a hostage to you sir. Let me save her life and you can do whatever you want to me_ in payment of that debt.”
At long last Nikita was lifted out of the dark liquid. Her skin shone green and her face was swollen but she was otherwise unhurt. “In that case, my first command to you my vassal is to save the life of your friend.” superman bowed his head, flew up to Nikita and put his arm gently around her torso. With one swift movement he broke the apparatus that held her suspended above the pond of phosphorus liquid that was for her species a literal pit of death. He carried her to the rampart and laid her gently on the ground.
“Take her home. Fly her home. Then report to 5700 Highland Avenue and I will give you further instructions.”
“You trust me that far?”
“Do you trust me not to turn you against the people of Metropolis?” Lex countered.
“I suppose I must.” Superman answered simply. “But...I believe I would anyway.”
Superman reported to 57000 Highland Avenue as ordered. He squeezed through the bars of the front gate and knocked on the front door. “Come in. A voice said from the other side.
“I am to escort you to the East-side study.” Said the dark-haired, pale skinned man who greeted him. Superman followed easily, neither spoke nor tried to speak to the other. When they came to their destination, the man stood aside with his eyes to the ground.
Lex sat at a mahogany desk at the far side of the room. Superman walked to stand within 20 feet of him and stopped suddenly. “This is my home Superman. And from now on, this is your home as well. I have yet to decide if you will be entirely my prisoner here. But this is where you will live, eat and play from here on out. You will NOT leave the premises without my express permission. And you are most certainly my slave.”
Lex will eventually convince one of his superman clones that he, Elias is an arrogant, smug superior-minded being who wants adulation and glory from the human population he protects. That he demands respect and recognition for his heroism and places himself above normal people. And borrowing a page from Flash-Wells initial attitude Lex does Hate Superman. He had convinced this clone that his hatred comes from something he, superman did to him personally. We never learned the reason season one Thawne hated Barry so much. S8's reason was sloppy writing for plot convenience and impossible before Crisis. The timeline had changed twice and S1 Thawne – fake Harrison Wells was written different and His story was abandoned.
“Lex, she's harmless, let her alone.
“If she's harmless, you won't miss her.”
“Lex, please, I know you see me as a false hero, a hypocritical monster. I accept it. I'm not lying to you. Hell, I'm not sure I have it in me to outright lie. One thing I know completely is that she is innocent. There's nothing she could have done to incur your wrath.”
“How can you be so completely sure of that?”
“Since I woke up 17 weeks ago I have learned enough to come to exactly two conclusions. One: I'm alone in the universe, in that there are no others of my kind on this planet. Two: because of Nikita I do not FEEL alone.”
“You love her?” Lex said with half-real incredulity.
“She is the most important person in the world. I don't feel passion, but I treasure her.
Sir please! I know what I just said. Please don't make her suffer for MY sins. I beg you, take your revenge upon me Alone!” As Nikita was lowered into a vat of phosphorous liquid, Superman bowed his head to the ground, touching his face to the floor in front of him. “My name is Kal-El. I know nothing of you except that your name is Lex. But I SWEAR to you, on anything that would matter__ I Am Defeated before you. I swear on my life, my life is yours. I do love her, for her innocence, for her enduring hope. And her compassionate heart. This I vow with my lifes-blood. You kill her and you will get nothing from me. If you let her go, not only let her live but set her free, you will get a willing slave.”
”Then submit.” Lex Luthor demanded. Superman sank to his knees. He bent his head but kept his eyes fixed on Lex.
“I submit. I will do anything you ask of me, I swear it. Even steal.”
“Seriously, you?”
“Short of being turned into a weapon, I am yours to command. On this I take my oath: Promise me you will not ask me to hurt people – and I am your slave. All I ask is that you release her. Let me take her home first.” Suddenly Superman reached out and clutched his hand. “Sire please, I BEG of you, let her go free.”
Lex Luthor couldn't keep the look of delighted shock off of his face. And in an almost congenial voice he answered. “Superman...you have a deal.”
Superman breathed with relief and joy. “Thank you, that you...whoever you are.”
“My name is Lex Luthor. I'm a business mogul and a criminal mastermind. I'm also a Machiavellian student of all human philosophy. My first command to you is to break the claw holding your friend over that poison–it might as well be. Fly her back to me.”
Superman stood up and without a word flew over to Nikita. Wrapping his arm around her to support her, he broke the claw that held her by her waist. He carried the young woman to the rampart and laid her down in front of Lex Luthor.
“Where is home for her?” Lex asked.
“She works at a place called the D.E.O. She has living quarters there as well. And actually she works with my father.”
“Run that by me again?”
“I have a human father. His name is Jeremiah. He works under a man named Hank. Nikita led me there as soon as I woke up. Hank greeted me with respect. Jeremiah embraced me. I'll fly her there, ask Jeremiah to care for her like a daughter and I will return.
This scene between Barry Allen, everyone's greatest hero and a man in my opinion he has made into his worst nightmare tells me that MIRI exists in literally all stories I cherish. Eaobard Thawne wearing his original face claims to have no memory of Barry. Who with Flash-Cowl on rants for 5 solid minutes how he's taking this lying murderer into iron heights which is letting him off easy. Mena activates the machine herself then knocks both of them on their backsides just by speeding off.
Flash: She's gone. This is what you wanted all along isn't it, for the negative speed-force to corrupt her.
Eaobard: Why would I want That?! I didn't know the negative speed-force existed before today!
The Flash: She protected you from me why would she do that?
Eaobard Thawne: Because she LOVES me, you idiot! And I love her...more than anything. When I lost my memories, I had a singular focus in my life: Somehow, someway I was going to become a speedster and then I met Mena...everything changed. (Eaobard narrates a flashback showing him working with Mena to build a speed machine, sharing his desire to fight natural disasters not just criminals, and giving up his dream of being a speedster by putting Mena in the machine to save her life) Eaobard: So Please, even if I was this monster somehow or...in another life don't hold MY sins against her, I am Begging you...save her.”
The Flash: (seeing actual tears in his 'monsters' eyes) The Thawne I know has haunted my life since I was just a kid. He's killed people I care for. He deserves to rot. (Thawne is scared that he's still refusing to help) He could never put someone else's needs before his. (Eaobard sighs with relief) I'm sorry. You're not the man I thought you were. (offers a handshake that Eaobard shies away from at first, still shaken) You're someone better.
