It was a big event to celebrate your first year as a hero. A big dinner and award ceremony done by Mayor Frank Berkowitz (It is an election year). The mayor was just wrapping up his big speech, calling you up to accept a plaque. Whoops, the audience is clapping it must be time for you to get up there and speak.

Woah, always awkward, speaking to the public.  Levi was actually fairly good at it, by now, but it still felt like such a huge thing.  Why her?  (She knew the answer, of course.)  But she still was so unsure...

She stood up, and walked to the podium.

"Thank you all so much for this honor!  I'm very, very touched..."

She went on a bit, giving the usual speech things.  She touched a bit on environmental issues in passing, though.  She always tried to.

The audience claps for you, you can spot several prominent figures there. Dr. Emil Hamilton, head of STAR labs; Morgan Edge, owner of several media companies; Lois Lane, the major reporter for the Daily Planet and it's new website and even Lex Luthor, his face not betraying the hatred he has for you.

Well, this was an awkward gathering, wasn't it?  Why did Lex even show up?  Okay, that was PR, surely.  Fine.  She'd smile and shake hands and whatever, and not even give him the crushing grip he deserved.  She gave Lois a warmer smile, and, well, she'd see what everyone had to say.  She put the plaque to one side and sat down to eat.

Food was soon brought out. It was some sustainable raised maple salmon, a nice seaweed salad and a shrimp cocktail. They even had some expensive wine. The mayor sat with you and began to chat about you giving him your support in the upcoming election.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Levi.  "I try not to get too involved with politics in the public eye, beyond environmental concerns and human rights.  I'm here for everyone, and I don't want people thinking that I'm only here to help certain people."

That made her a leftist in a lot of eyes, but whatever.  She just didn't really want to get too tied to anyone she didn't really back 100%.

"Ah, right," the mayor said, as dessert was being brought out. A rather luxurious chocolate cake of some kind. You're not sure what it'd be called, but it is tasty.

Levi was all appetite, and she tucked into the cake hungrily.

Soon enough the cake was eaten and the people approached you. Lex Luthor was first and he gave you a warm smile and an outstretched hand.

Well, Levi wasn't going to make a public fuss.  He might have some kind of sinister plan, but there wasn't a good way she could dodge it, so she shook his hand.

"Isn't it good to put things behind us, Ms. McNaught?" Luthor asked as you shook his hand.

"Oh, I agree, Mr. Luthor," said Levi.  She kept the handshake brief.  She honestly didn't believe a word he said, but there was no point in making a fuss in public.  He could spin that all kinds of ways.

"We have to look to the future."

"Indeed," Luthor said, giving you a bigger smile before leaving.

Ominous.  Well, Levi moved on to the next guest, after checking her hand and discretely wiping it off.

"Hello, Ms. McNaught, you do still owe me an interview," Lois said.

"I do indeed, Ms. Lane," said Levi.  "So, should we go somewhere less crowded?"

"Certainly," Lois said.

Levi considered.

"How nearby do you need to be?" she asked.  "Are we avoiding Mr. Edge...?"

"No, he's certainly not a reporter and he sold controlling interest in the planet a while ago," Lois said.