LATER THAT WEEK!
Tyrone and Tandy were back at the mansion, morning light spilling through the massive windows while downstairs, the operations center was mostly dim, not in active use.
Most of the holographic displays had been minimized, leaving only a few active screens floating above the main console while data quietly scrolled by in muted blue text.
The endless sirens that had haunted the city throughout the week had dulled into the distant background noise of emergency reconstruction and cleanup efforts. Helicopters still crossed the skyline occasionally, but they were news choppers now instead of tactical response teams.
Tyrone was in the living room, sitting back in one of the chairs wearing a black sleeveless hoodie and sweatpants, one arm resting against the arm-rest and the other holding his mug of coffee while he watched TV.
Tandy was sitting curled on the couch in an oversized cream-colored sweater and shorts, one of Artio's massive paws resting across her lap while the dog snored happily beside her.
Neither of them had slept much the night before, but for once, exhaustion wasn't the thing dominating the room, anticipation was.
On the screen, news anchors were speaking rapidly over footage of flashing police lights near the destroyed dock facility.
"…developing overnight into what may become one of the largest corporate investigations in modern American history…"
The camera cut to footage of federal agents swarming shipping yards while reporters crowded behind barricades.
Then another clip rolled showing medical harnesses and blue chemical containers. The footage swapped to stretcher after stretcher carrying the unconscious experimentation victims.
The footage quality wasn't perfect, clearly captured in chaos, but it was enough to horrify the public and force attention onto the situation, giving Tyrone and Tandy the time to come up with a suitable plan themselves, and divert attention away from them.
Tandy slowly sat up straighter as she watched the broadcast, "They actually aired it…"
Tyrone didn't answer immediately.
Because the next image that appeared on screen made both of them focus harder. A woman standing outside a federal courthouse, dark hair moving slightly in the morning wind while reporters swarmed around her.
The headline beneath this lady read: LOIS LANE BREAKS MASSIVE HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION STORY
The broadcast shifted to recorded footage from earlier that morning.
"We have obtained evidence connecting the illegal experimentation sites discovered in National City to former assets and personnel tied to the now-defunct company Jaded Energy," Lois said clearly into a forest of microphones.
Behind her, massive digital screens displayed timelines, shell-company structures, shipping records and leaked facility images.
"The investigation further suggests financial overlap between these operations and multiple Roxxon-associated subsidiaries."
The reporters around her erupted immediately.
"Are you accusing Roxxon Corporation directly?"
"Do you have proof of executive involvement?"
"Where did your source come from?"
Lois didn't flinch once.
"What I'm saying," she replied evenly, "is that there is enough evidence to warrant immediate federal investigation into potential human rights violations, illegal bio-experimentation, corporate fraud and unlawful human testing."
The screen shifted again to images from the dock facility. Somebody had anonymously leaked photos, which were of rather high quality.
"When you said you had a cool idea, I didn't think you meant contacting Lois Lane," Tandy said as she looked at Tyrone.
"She's probably the most respected investigative journalist on the planet," Tyrone said simply. "And more importantly, she doesn't scare easy."
"How'd you know she'd even investigate and break this story?" Tandy asked.
'Because I know her from the comics' Tyrone said in his mind. Anyone who read enough comics knew Lois was always willing to break the big cases, and investigate every lead.
All Tyrone needed to do was give a slight tip and she would jump on the opportunity, especially with Superman backing her.
"I just knew she had integrity," Is how Tyrone answered Tandy.
Artio lifted his head briefly at the sound of Tyrone's voice before immediately falling back asleep and Tandy looked back at the screen.
The news station replayed portions of Lois's report again, this time diving deeper into Jaded Energy's disappearance years earlier.
Archived footage rolled across the screen. Then overlays began connecting former Jaded employees to current Roxxon subsidiaries. Exactly the kind of connections Tyrone had spent nights uncovering.
Tandy looked at him again, realization slowly spreading across her face.
"The data from the facility…"
"I scrubbed it," Tyrone said. "Removed anything that could trace back to us and transferred anything we needed to myself,"
"And then you leaked it to her."
"She got enough to start digging herself," he replied. "Once Lois Lane starts asking questions publicly, people pay attention."
On screen, another anchor spoke rapidly.
"…Roxxon Corporation has denied all allegations and released a statement this morning calling the accusations 'baseless conspiratorial misinformation.' However, federal officials have confirmed multiple raids are currently underway following evidence supplied to investigative journalists overnight…"
Tyrone's eyes narrowed slightly at that. He knew this wouldn't hamper Roxxon much. A corporation with that much influence had many ways of getting out of this pickle, especially since they were no doubt backed by very powerful people.
However, the point wasn't to bring them down, it was to put some slight pressure on them.
Tandy leaned back into the couch slowly.
"You're forcing them into the spotlight."
"Yes."
"And making them panic."
"Exactly."
The screen shifted again.
This time to Roxxon's stock value dropping sharply in pre-market trading.
Several reporters discussed shareholders demanding explanations while footage showed protestors already gathering outside one of Roxxon's corporate offices.
Tandy let out a slow breath.
"…Wow."
Tyrone finally allowed himself the faintest trace of satisfaction. For the first time since this entire nightmare had started, Roxxon was reacting instead of controlling the narrative completely.
"They'll start cleaning house now," Tyrone said quietly. "Destroying evidence, relocating facilities and silencing people."
Tandy frowned slightly, "That sounds bad."
"It is," Tyrone admitted. "But it also means they're under pressure, pressure creates mistakes. It'll be hectic, and in that chaos we can find our openings,"
On screen, Lois continued speaking.
"Sources within federal oversight agencies have privately admitted concern over the scale of the operations discovered overnight. One official described the recovered evidence as 'industrialized human experimentation.'"
Tandy's expression darkened again as the images of the restrained victims flashed briefly across the screen.
"…At least people know now."
Tyrone looked at the screen silently for a moment. He thought about the underground chamber and the fear he'd felt radiating off those people through Tandy's Light.
Then he looked back at Lois Lane calmly dismantling years of buried corruption in front of millions of viewers.
The broadcast shifted again, with now reporters were discussing public reaction. Outrage was spreading rapidly online.
Families of missing persons were already contacting authorities and former Jaded Energy employees were being hunted down by journalists.
Several lawmakers had publicly demanded investigations less than an hour after the story broke.
"…Sources close to Roxxon leadership report emergency meetings are already underway following Lois Lane's exposé…"
Tyrone's eyes narrowed slightly and he smiled, "Now's our chance to actually land a big hit,"