Lex Luthor's POV

The research is progressing even more quickly than I had hoped. My team has already built a device that will allow me to see into other dimensions. I'm quite pleased with them. I must remember to give them bonuses before I have them disposed of.

What? Well, of course I'll have to get rid of them. Good lord, I can't have anyone else running around with this knowledge, can I? I already have another team working on the second stage of the project. In another month or two I should have the capability to make interdimensional transfers.

I find myself rather excited by the prospect. Imagine all the possibilities for meddling... I mean influencing other worlds. Add to that the fact that this will be excellent Scribe bait, and you can see why I'm pleased.

Oh, yes, I'm still interested in her. I think it rather surprises my closer subordinates. Generally speaking, women do not hold my attention for long. A few encounters, and I grow bored. Usually I settle some sort of lavish parting gift on them to insure a smooth separation. Unnecessary, but practical. It's worth a few thousand here and there to not have to deal with the emotional drivel.

A new ritual has been added to my morning routine now. Besides the papers I receive (Metropolis, Gotham, New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Beijing... Well, I must keep track of what goes on where I have interests, financial and personal) to peruse with my morning repast, there are several reports on the comings and goings of Miss Scribe. I'm learning a good deal about her habits and routines. I must say, I'm curious to see what she does with those supplies she purchased in the hobby and decorator shops. I can't for the life of me imagine what it will be.

And that disguise she used when she went shopping, very, very clever. What? Yes, of course I know about the disguise. I have photographs. Because I specifically instructed the private goons assigned to watch her building to follow any unknown quantity seen leaving the building, that's why. Well, it was only common sense, wasn't it? I knew she would want to slip out occasionally, and she's become too much of a public figure to do that easily.

It was really rather ingenious. I was only certain by comparing the surveillance photos with a number of others, using forensic graphing techniques on the facial features. What? Oh, it's just something I came up with while trying to determine the best way to hide the identity of any deceased that authorities might get hold of. Why? My, you are a prying sort, aren't you? But I'm feeling rather tolerant today, so I won't take offense. You truly do not want to offend me. It was simply an intellectual exercise. That doesn't satisfy you? How unfortunate. But I'm in a good mood, so I'll forgive your rudeness. This time.

The good mood? Yes, you're right, I don't have a genuine cheerful mood all that often. But I've had a piece of good news, you see.

Oh, I suppose I can tell you. There's nothing you can do to interfere with my interests. After all, you're just a reader. And one in another dimension, at that. Quite an interesting one, too, I might add. I'm looking forward to... um, extending my interests over there.

Now, as to the good mood. It's because of one of the pieces of information I received about my current obsession. As I surmised, she accepted the free health insurance. I knew that including the donation of matching funds would tip the scales in my favor. As much as she tries to hide it, she seems to have a wide altruistic streak. Very useful.

In general, she seems to be in good health. There was a notation that she was advised to lose weight. The nurse (who forwarded this copy of the information) noted that Miss Scribe replied to this with a comment about the doctor's possibly unnatural relationship with his mother, noted a well used ash tray on his desk, and told him to worry about his butts before he worried about hers. Delightful.

The item of interest cropped up in the gynecologist's report... What? Yes, I suppose it does qualify as 'dastardly' by most standards. But then, I don't measure myself by most standards. And I'm sure that by now you've deduced that my interest in the woman is not strictly platonic, so it makes eminent sense for me to be interested in her sexual health and history.

In this case it was the doctor himself who forwarded the information. There are no actual cash transactions to link us, but my companies do tend to favor him as physician of choice in their health plans. Quite a coincidence.

One of the first things he asks his patients before beginning an exam is if there is any possibility that they might be pregnant, so that he can take proper precautions to ensure no unfortunate accidents if the woman's pregnancy is tenuous. He gave an exact quote of her reply. "I don't think so. Why? Have you seen a star appear in the east recently?"

Oh my.

Well, you can see why that grabbed my interest, I'm sure. Or perhaps not. I've learned through sad experience that assuming perception on the part of others can be very... er, unperceptive. So I will say that, during the course of the exam, the doctor determined that her hymen was still intact.

In other words, she's a virgin. And if that is still too technical a term for your prosaic little mind to grasp, I shall resort to the vernacular.

She's cherry.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

You know, I had come to believe that 'post adolescent virgin' was a bit of an oxymoron. Oh, I suppose I'd better explain that. *sigh* Oxymorons are conjoining contradictory terms. Examples: deafening silence, ethical politician, jumbo shrimp. Post adolescent virgin. You get my drift. Good God, the state of education in the nation today... Perhaps you slept through English?

I read that report twice while my espresso got cold. Well, she certainly has most of the world fooled. They seem to consider her a cross between Catherine the Great and Lola Montez. And no, I will not explain that reference to you. Go invest in a history book or two.

What a rare find. These days, if one is interested in virgins, one is generally limited to flat chested near children, which may be fine if one is a bit of a pedophile. I am many things which the world finds reprehensible, but that I am not. Even an evil genius has his limits.

I've decided that this needs to be an acquisition, rather than a mere one time appropriation. That means that there will have to be accommodations provided. I'd better have those preparations started. Lead lining will take a little while to install...