From: "L-Soft list server at Indiana University (1.8d)" To: "ARTF@MemoryAlpha.nil" File: "LOISCLA-GENERAL-L LOG9801A" ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 14:40:20 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Genevieve Subject: Krypton Club fic; Sam's nickname for Lois Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I've been talking to Craig Byrne about this. I tend to forward him anything about the Krypton Club that comes up on either the fanfic list or LOISCLA. He admits that the Krypton Club Webpage is down (possibly forever) it would be beneficial to repost them, and/or put them in the archives. He's given permission to repost his two stories, and I forwarded it to Lori, since she has copies of them. Maybe the rest of us who have copies of of Krypton Club fanfic should make an effort to contact the authors and try to get them to send it to the archives. I have a copy of two that Lori didn't mention: "DINNER FOR THREE" By Valerie Howlett (LittlRed1@aol.com) and "RENAISSANCE" By T. Ackerman (ackerman@dorsai.dorsai.org). Also I'd like to thank everyone who sent me Sam's nickname for Lois. I figured asking the list would be faster than rewatching HIWTHI (*not* one of my favorite episodes) but I didn't expect it would be this fast! Lots of people came answered "Princess" with one "Sweetie" and one "Kitten." The consensus is that "pumpkin" came from RFAS, but it was Allie that called her that not Sam. Actually, it's hard to imagine the Sam in RFAS calling her anything but "Lois"; it's only the third and fourth season Sam that would have been so sentimental. Happy New Year's everyone! ======================================================================= Genevieve (NightSky@erols.com) "I must say that television is very educational. The minute someone turns it on, I go to the library and find a good book"--Groucho Marx ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 16:29:45 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: ACdrift Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: KATHY'S CHALLENGE Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Happy New Years All! I've been enjoying my vacation and catching up on my fanfic reading. I am enjoying the Challenge that has been going on. I remember plots a lot better than titles. So I end up saying: "Oh, oh, I know that one"...... but never can think of the name. Anyway, I hope you don't mind me throwing in a challenge. It's from one of my favorite L&C stories: Clark "mortgages his underwear" for a small red Lotus. Good Luck... Anne (ACdrift@aol.com) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 17:02:22 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Patric6928 Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: Re: KATHY'S CHALLENGE Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-01-01 16:54:26 EST, you write: << Clark "mortgages his underwear" for a small red Lotus. >> Wait, I've got that one. Heaven's Prisoners by Demi. I love that story!!! Must have read it 12 times when I first got it. Patricia (finally a title I can come up with) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 11:01:12 +1300 Reply-To: xtr47618201@xtra.co.nz Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Chris Lawson Subject: Re: KATHY'S CHALLENGE MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ACdrift wrote: > > Happy New Years All! > > I've been enjoying my vacation and catching up on my fanfic reading. I am > enjoying the Challenge that has been going on. I remember plots a lot better > than titles. So I end up saying: "Oh, oh, I know that one"...... but never > can think of the name. > > Anyway, I hope you don't mind me throwing in a challenge. It's from one of my > favorite L&C stories: > > Clark "mortgages his underwear" for a small red Lotus. > > Good Luck... > Anne (ACdrift@aol.com) Wasn't that in Heavens Prisoners? Chris ********************************************************* Chris Lawson * Veni, Vedi, Velcro clawson@xtra.co.nz * I came, I saw, I stuck around ********************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 19:21:26 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: ACdrift Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: Re: KATHY'S CHALLENGE Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Well, you guys are too fast! I posted a challenge at 4:00 with: Clark "mortgages his underwear" for a small red Lotus. Within 10 minutes, Patricia (Patic6928@aol.com) and Chris (xtr47618201@xtra.co.nz) responded with the correct answer: "Heaven's Prisoners" by Demi I'll have to come up with some new challenges while I'm enjoying my fanfic review. Thanks for playing, Anne (ACdrift@aol.com) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 18:14:41 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Michelle Glenn Subject: Excel with x-El MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I don't think this has been answered yet. If it has, sorry. Could Excel with X-El= Jimmy X? Michelle ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 01:40:51 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: LoriMcE Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: KC Fanfic "The Day of Tempus" Comments: cc: CraigByrne@aol.com Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 96-07-21 00:51:20 EDT, CraigByrne writes: << ***************************************************************************** ******************* KRYPTON CLUB FANFICTION***ISSUE #21***JULY 21, 1996 **STORIES BY MEMBERS OF THE KRYPTON CLUB** "THE DAY OF TEMPUS" ***************************************************************************** ******************* Welcome! Welcome to today's installment of Krypton Club Fanfiction. We are sending fanfic twice a week this summer to help relieve the undying stress that LCWS (Lois & Clark Withdrawal Syndrome) has been bringing us. For those of you who didn't know already , fanfiction is stories about Lois & Clark that are written by fans of the show. With fanfiction your best L&C ideas can come to life. All you have to do is send it to us at KryptonFX@aol.com. (Please send it as e-mail rather than attached files though; my computer doesn't respond well to attached stuff for some reason). Anyhow, tonight's fanfiction is called "The Day of Tempus," and it is the continuation of "Tempus is of the Essence," which was sent out Thursday. Everything that has come before is recapped at the beginning of this story. Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed me telling me what they thought of part 1. Hopefully you'll like the conclusion! Craig Byrne President of the L&C Krypton Club ***************************************************************************** ********************* Previously, in the last Krypton Club Fanfiction... The Lois Lane and Clark Kent from the first season of "Lois & Clark" have been brought into the future by H.G. Wells to stop the maniacal Tempus from ruining their future selves' wedding. Wearing holographic-image-changing suits making them appear to be Clark's cousins "Wendy and Marvin Clark," Lois and Clark attend their future selves' wedding with hopes of stopping Tempus from destroying it and thus obliterating the "Utopia" that Tempus hailed from. Unfortunately, they did not succeed. Tempus not only was able to abduct the Lois of 1996 and take her away from the wedding, he also exposed the Clark of 1996 as being Superman! Meanwhile, Clark, Wendy, Marvin, and Perry enlisted the aid of a man named Luke in following the squad car that Tempus had stolen to take Lois away. When Luke and company finally caught up to Tempus and Lois, the squad car was nearing a cliff, and Tempus and Lois flew off to their apparent doom! And now here's where we pick up, on "The Day of Tempus!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- "The Day of Tempus" By Craig Byrne (CraigByrne@aol.com) The squad car began getting closer and closer to the cliff, without slowing down. Was Tempus that crazy that he would kill both himself and Lois Lane to prevent "Utopia" from happening? Up in the squad car, Lois looked over at Tempus. "Please... don't... I'm sure there is another way!" "There IS no other way, Lois... duh!" Tempus said. The squad car, with both Tempus and Lois in it, went flying off the cliff. While in mid-air, Lois was in a state of panic. "You... demented bastard! Couldn't you see that this is not a road?" Lois screamed. "Roads? Where we're going we don't need... roads. Duh!" Tempus gloated. Soon the bare air that they were falling through was replaced by... water?!? Tempus put on an oxygen mask so he'd be able to breathe, and he put one on Lois as well, who had since fainted. He then opened the door of the squad car, and with Lois in hand, he swam to the surface. He then pulled Lois onto the ground, and sat beside her on a the shore. Apparently in the 13th century, the area where the cliff stood in the future was once a lake. "Ahhh," Tempus said, "with her out of the picture and the time machine utterly and completely destroyed, there is no way Lois can return to the future. Meanwhile, I will head towards Wazaphomi Cave and find the spare time machine that I have strategically hidden so I can return home and dear Lois will be forever stuck in this 13th-century hellhole, with no food, and no civilization. And finally, Utopia will not be a reality! Today is my day... the day of Tempus!" Tempus raised his hands in glory. He walked away towards the cave as Lois remained in her slumber. ----------------------------------------- 700 years into the future, Perry, "Wendy," "Marvin," Clark, and Luke looked down the cliff, and saw no remnants of the squad car Tempus and Lois had flown off in. "I should have saved her," said both Clark and "Marvin" at the same time. "Marvin" then approached Clark and told him, "We need to talk." Clark followed "Wendy" and "Marvin" into the woods where Perry and Luke could not see them. "Clark, we have something to tell you." said "Marvin." He and "Wendy" touched their wristwatches and soon, their true identities were visible. Clark stood in shock. "What-- uh, how--?!?" "I can understand why you're confused. Don't worry. We don't mean any harm. You--are still us, and we--are still you. At least, we were you, or you were us, you know what I mean," the Clark of the past explained. "What are you doing here?" Clark-1996 asked his other incarnation. "H.G. Wells sent us," Lois-1994 said, entering the conversation. "He figured we were the key to stopping Tempus. Fat lot of good we did." "Believe me... Clark... if there's anything we can do to help, we'd be more than happy to," Clark-1994 said to his future self. "I'm sure we've both done a thorough search of the area around the cliff. I know for a fact that I did. But maybe while we're out there we can find some sort of... clue as to where we can find your Lois." The Lois of 1994 quickly turned back into Wendy as she and Clark-1996 returned to the scene with Perry and Luke. In the meantime, Clark-1994 put on his Superman suit and scouted the area down below for clues. When Perry asked Clark where "Marvin" disappeared to, Clark told him that Marvin took a little while longer in the woods because he had to use the bathroom. This was not a good time for Clark. The last time he and Lois had tried to get married, she ended up being cloned and having amnesia, and Clark almost lost her. This time, unless he and his two "friends"--people who claim to be past versions of Lois and himself--find out where exactly Tempus and Lois disappeared to, he may have lost her for good this time. Clark then called "Wendy" over to him to talk privately again. "You said that you travelled here through time with H.G. Wells, and you are wearing 'belts' that can transport you through the timestream, am I correct?" Clark asked her. "And let me guess... you want to travel back in time a few minutes, to stop Tempus and Lois from going off the cliff?" Wendy suggested. "Something like that... is it possible?" Clark asked. "I'm not sure, I think we should try anything else we possibly can first. We don't want to screw up the timestream any more than we already have. Earlier H.G. Wells was telling us that if we did TOO much to affect our futures the results could be devastating. So tell me, Clark--when did I, I mean she--finally let my guard down and let you in the door?" "Ahh, Lois, no fair cheating! You'll find out soon enough. I'm sure you already know a little more than you should have found out; I mean, my 'Lois' never found out the truth about my being Superman until about a year ago!" Clark told her. Wendy sighed. "Oh... that." She still hadn't confronted her Clark about how that made her feel, what with the car chase and the search for clues kind of distracting them. It was definitely something that took some getting used to. She wondered how she would be so blind as to think that the man who she once labelled a "hack from Smallville" and the man who she once considered to be a "God in tights" could be one and the same. "Tell me, Clark... how did she... err, I, take it?" "Probably the same way that you're taking it right now. Except she gave me a MUCH harder time about it." Clark grinned. He really missed his Lois. "You know what's even worse?" Wendy asked Clark. "I've had... feelings... for you, err him, for a few months. But now, if I ever tell him, he'll think I'm a hypocrite taking advantage of him because I know that he is Superman!" "Lois, you would NEVER take advantage of me... err, him... however you want to refer to my past self." "What about those times when I'd send him off to get a taxi, and I'd call articles in for myself, taking the scoops?" "Lois, that wasn't taking advantage. You were just... testing me." Lois looked at her future fiancee and realized what made him so special, and how her future self could have fallen in love with him. Suddenly, "Marvin" flew up between the two of them. "Clark...!" Lois, still in her "Wendy" disguise, ran up to him and gave him a big hug. "Did you find anything?" "Actually, I did. On my way back here I passed through the woods, where I put back on my 'Marvin' disguise. What I found there was QUITE interesting." 100 feet away, Perry and Luke wondered what was going on. Perry was still in a state of shock over the cliff-jumping, whereas Luke was quite used to cars jumping off cliffs in his county. Luke remembered how he and his cousin Bo accidentially drove their cousin Daisy's car off of that cliff 15 years before. Almost forgetting that Perry and Luke were 100 feet away, Clark, Wendy, and Marvin walked over to the tree that "Marvin" was talking about. The word "Lois" was burned into the side of a tree. That seemed to be the clue they were looking for. Clark used his heat ray vision to chop off that chunk of the tree. "I'm going to take this sample to Dr. Klein back in Metropolis. Maybe he can analyze it and tell us how old the burn marks are. If that is the case, hopefully we can travel back in time to wherever Tempus took her and bring her home... and Lois and I.... can finally get married." Clark spun into his Superman costume, making sure Perry and Luke weren't looking in his direction. He then took the chunk from the tree and flew to Metropolis with it. ----------------------------------------- Back in the 13th century, several hours had passed. Lois had awoken to see that Tempus was nowhere to be seen. Not quite knowing where she was, she figured she was still in her own time and that Clark would find her very soon. "Help! Superman!" she screamed. No answer. Lois's hope turned into fear. She waited longer for Clark to respond, still screaming for his help. She waited longer. And longer. Soon it had been several hours, and Lois was getting very hungry. Luckily Clark had taught her that several plants are edible and could be eaten to keep from starving. This helped her a lot. She then went to sleep on the cold, bare ground. As she awoke the next morning, she realized that she still hadn't seen anyone around, nor had she seen any of the lights of airplanes flying through the sky. Several more hours passed, when suddenly she realized and remembered what had happened. Tempus had brought her into the past, and had planned to leave her there! For several minutes Lois was in a state of panic, having no idea what she was going to do next. Then she realized that the best way she'd get any kind of message to Clark in the future was to leave something somewhere so it can could stay around and hopefully last the test of time. Unfortunately, Lois didn't have a pen or paper so that idea was out of the question. But... if she could create a small torch, she may be able to etch a message into the side of a tree for Clark to see in the future, and hopefully he could can test the age of the message and return to her time period to save her, and they could FINALLY be married. She remembered the time when she and Clark tried to make a fire together when she and Clark they were stuck on Spencer Spencer's island. She got two sticks and began rubbing. Faster and faster she went, until suddenly... she had light... and a writing utensil! Lois walked up to the largest tree she could find and etched her name into the side of it. She had to be very careful and slow so the entire tree wouldn't burst into flames. She hoped beyond all hope that Clark would receive her message. ----------------------------------------- Back in Metropolis in 1996, Superman conversed with Dr. Klein and several of his colleagues, who were able to determine that the burn marks on the tree were 700 years old, give or take a few years. "Thanks," said Superman quickly as he sped out of Star Labs and back to Smallville as quickly as he could. He landed in the woods beside Wendy and Marvin, and then proceeded to put back on his tuxedo so Perry wouldn't think anything. "Got a date. Since I, uh don't have one of those time-belts, any chance I could borrow one?" Clark said, looking at "Wendy." "Hey, don't look at me! I want in on this action!" Wendy assured him. *She hasn't changed one bit,* Clark thought to himself. "Marvin" decided to let his future self wear the time-belt. "Good luck," Marvin told them. Suddenly the Clark of 1996 and the Lois of 1994 disappeared into nothingness. ----------------------------------------- "Wendy" and Clark arrived back in the 13th century, and it turned out Dr. Klein's estimations were correct. The two of them had landed there only hours from the time when Lois had left the message. And there was Lois... sitting alone, weeping... in the middle of the cold November ground. "Lois!" screamed Clark, running up to her. "Clark!!! Oh, Clark!" Lois ran up to him with her arms wide open. This may have been the happiest and most thankful moment of her entire life. The two of them were finally reunited. Clark introduced Lois to "Wendy," who revealed her true form. Lois looked at "Wendy" with her mouth agape. "Another clone? Oh, Clark!" "No, Lois... don't worry," Clark said. He then explained to his Lois everything that had transpired for him in the last few moments. Once Lois got over the shock of meeting herself, "Wendy" decided to walk away and give the two of them privacy. \ Lois and Clark then embraced in a passionate kiss. "Come on, Lois... we have a wedding to go to," Clark told her. ----------------------------------------- They happily returned to 1996. Perry saw Wendy, Marvin, Clark, and Lois and like a proud father, he felt a great feeling of joy that Lois was back. "Great Shades of Elvis, she's okay!" Perry was beaming. "I don't know how you survived that crash, and I don't care, we have a wedding to go to!" Everyone but "Marvin" got back into Luke's car to get back to the wedding, because Luke's car could only hold four passengers. The sound of Dixie rang from Luke's horn as they arrived back at the park in Smallville. They all got out of the car, including Lois, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The wedding was about to go through as planned. Everything would be perfect--except for the fact that everyone now knew that Clark and Superman were one and the same. Or did they? Suddenly Superman flew down to greet the newlyweds. "Sorry I'm late," said Superman, "Let's get these two fine people married already!" Since everyone saw Clark and Superman together at the same time, they had no reason to think that Tempus was anything more than a blathering lunatic. Little did they know that "Superman" happened to be Clark's past self. ----------------------------------------- Ten minutes later, the words were finally said. "I now pronounce you man and wife." The Lois Lane and Clark Kent of 1996 were married at last. Everyone went up to them in congratulations. "Wendy" and Superman looked back to the the entrance of the park, where they saw H.G. Wells standing and waiting for them. Looking back at the things that they hoped to someday take part in, Wendy and Superman left the wedding and left with Wells. "Congratulations," said H.G. Wells to the two of them. Since they were far away from the wedding, Lois turned back into her true self, disposing of the holographic "Wendy" disguise. "Now, it is time for the two of you to return," Wells informed them, "But first... don't either of you worry about Tempus messing with either of you in the future. Apparently after dropping your future person into the past, he travelled into the 19th century, where he accidentally landed in the middle of one of the greatest battles of the Civil War, and was killed." Both Lois and Clark were ready to return to their own time period, and both were excited as well. Clark wouldn't have to worry about hiding his identity from Lois anymore, and Lois had finally realized what a great guy he actually is. On the same token, Lois found out that not everyone in the world is a psychotic, and she was glad to know that information as well. "But... I must inform you... as I return you to your own timelines, I will have to dispose of any memory of this adventure. The two of you will not remember a thing," Wells told them. Both Lois and Clark looked disappointed, much like a child after being told he couldn't go to the toy store. But, they couldn't do anything about it. Wells turned their three timebelts into one large belt so Lois and Clark would not still be wearing them when they returned to 1994. ----------------------------------------- The next thing the Clark from 1994 knew he was back in Hatcher Park beside the wishing well. He could have sworn that he had heard a cry for help there, but no one was to be seen. Realizing that there was no danger, Clark decided to fly back to Rahilly's and finish the pizza that he had begun eating with his two young friends. As Clark returned to Rahilly's, he saw Jack sitting there. Jimmy must have been in the bathroom. "Well, that didn't take you too long, a total of 2 minutes. Who needed saving this time?" Jack asked Clark. "You know, Jack... for some reason... I can't remember?" Clark said. "Uh-huh. Whatever, man." Jack said, sure that Clark was hiding something and the confusion was all an act. Suddenly Jimmy returned. "Hey C.K., everything work out with Lois and dinner tonight?" he asked Clark. "Uh... yeah. Everything's fine," Clark responded, "everything's uhh... fine." ----------------------------------------- Back at her apartment, Lois sat on her sofa, also having a sinking feeling that something important had just happened but she couldn't figure out exactly what. Soon Ellen walked out to Lois with a bowl of banana pudding ready for her. "Thanks, Mom," Lois said. "You know, I think I'm going to give Clark a call, and see how he's doing." She then picked up the phone and dialed. What she got was an answering machine. "Hi, you have reached the apartment of Clark Kent. Leave your message after the tone, and I'll try to get back to you faster than a speeding bullet!" "Hi. Clark... this is Lois. I was just... wondering... how you were doing. Maybe we can get together for lunch sometime. By the way, I miss you..." That night Clark returned home and listened to his messages. Lois's message was the first one he could hear. Was it true? Had Lois finally fallen out of her rut? Whatever it was, Clark knew that he wasn't going to "look a gift horse in the mouth." He returned her call, and the two of them planned to meet for lunch the next day. THE END ***************************************************************************** ******************* Coming Up... Join us on Thursday for new fanfic, and join us for a new newsletter tomorrow! Craig "The who's of Hazzard?" Byrne President of the L&C Krypton Club (with Vice-President Matt Combes, vacationing in Indiana!) ***************************************************************************** ******************* SEND YOUR FANFICTION TO KRYPTONFX@AOL.COM ! (Please send fanfic in e-mail rather than as attached files! Thanks!) ***************************************************************************** ******************* >> ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 01:41:09 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: LoriMcE Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: KC Fanfic 'Tempus is of the Essence" 1/2 Comments: cc: CraigByrne@aol.com Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 96-07-18 01:30:14 EDT, CraigByrne writes: << ***************************************************************************** ******************* KRYPTON CLUB FANFICTION***ISSUE #20***JULY 18, 1996***E-MAIL 1 OF 2 **STORIES BY MEMBERS OF THE KRYPTON CLUB** "TEMPUS IS OF THE ESSENCE" ***************************************************************************** ******************* Welcome! Welcome to today's installment of Krypton Club Fanfiction. We are sending fanfic twice a week this summer to help relieve the undying stress that LCWS (Lois & Clark Withdrawal Syndrome) has been bringing us. For those of you who didn't know already , fanfiction is stories about Lois & Clark that are written by fans of the show. With fanfiction your best L&C ideas can come to life. All you have to do is send it to us at KryptonFX@aol.com. (Please send it as e-mail rather than attached files though; my computer doesn't respond well to attached stuff for some reason). Anyhow, tonight's fanfiction is called "Tempus is of the Essence," and it was written by... well... me. I'm quite proud of it , and I'd love to hear what you think, so be sure to e-mail me (and all you have to do is hit "reply!" How novel!) I hope this will be the first in a series of fanfictions that I will write that will take place during the few months in between Seasons 1 and 2 of "Lois & Clark." So here it is, hope you like it, and tell me what you think! See you later! Craig Byrne President of the L&C Krypton Club ***************************************************************************** ******************* "Tempus is of the Essence" By Craig Byrne (CraigByrne@aol.com) The first scene opens with a shot of a newspaper being placed on a table. It is the December 6, 1916 issue of the Daily Planet. Looking at it is an aging man with rounded glasses and a handlebar moustache. The man's name was H.G. Wells, and if you're assuming that this is the same person who wrote such fantasy as "The Time Machine," you are correct. Wells had recently returned from another adventure in the future thwarting the maniacal Tempus's plan to rule another dimension that was very much like our own, but in other ways very much different. He had returned to his home time and is prepared to destroy the machine that has aided Tempus and himself in travelling through time and space. Getting a saw, Wells was about to cut apart the machine that had brought him so many problems. Suddenly, he felt a gun touching the back of his head. "Herb, don't ruin the fun by breaking my toys! Give me the machine, do not touch it, and you might not end up with your brains splattered all over the wall... duh!" said a man with an evil grin, holding the gun to Wells' head. (Run Credits) In another time and another place, Lois Lane was sitting in her apartment, reflecting on the past few weeks of her life. The largest part of her life -- the place she was employed, the Daily Planet -- was blown apart, and it would take several more weeks for it to be rebuilt. Even worse, the person who blew it up turned out to be the man she almost married... billionaire Lex Luthor, who jumped to his apparent doom on their wedding day. To top all of that, Lois discovered that she had feelings for her co-worker, Clark Kent... who claimed to have been lying when he said he was in love with her. Suddenly, she hears all of the locks on her door unlocking... her mother, Ellen Lane, was back. "Lois, I'm really sorry things didn't work out for you, but he was probably a creep, like your father, anyway," she said. "Mother... I really don't want to hear it..." "Lois, you're going to have to listen to me... who brought you up? Who put up with all of those years of marital hell?... not marrying that Luthor guy was the best thing you ever did," said Ellen. Lois REALLY wasn't in the mood to hear her mother's stories about her father and his lack of responsibility that she's heard hundreds of times before. She felt that there was no good excuse from her mother, who continued to babble even though Lois was not paying attention. Suddenly, the phone rang. "Hello? Oh, hi Cat! Haven't heard from you since the Planet blew up... did you hear they're rebuilding? I can't wait... I have been SOOO bored... What do you mean I don't have a life besides work? Well, excu-use me Ms. 'I've- Slept-With-More-Politicians-Than-I-Can-Count!' You got a new job? At WGBS? Fine! Great! Finally, we're rid of our resident TRAMP... I'd better call Steve Lombard and warn him about you!" Lois hung up the phone. "Lois... don't you think you were coming on a little strong there, love?" asked Ellen as Lois turned around. "It's just... Cat says I have no life, outside of work... maybe she's right... the man I almost married turned out to be a criminal, I won't get to be at the office for a few more weeks... I don't know if I can take it..." said Lois, breaking into tears. "There, there, honey. Things will get better. Look, I remember when you were younger, nothing could cheer you up faster than some nice tapioca pudding... let me go into the kitchen and fix you some..." said Ellen. "Mother, when will you ever learn that it was never tapioca that I liked so much... it's BANANA pudding that I like!" Lois replied. "Banana, tapioca, same difference... let me try to whip some up for you..." said Ellen, going into the kitchen. Suddenly a man appeared in the middle of her apartment, coming from out of nowhere. The man was fairly short, big ears, glasses, and a handlebar moustache. "Miss Lane... I need you... the world needs you... take this belt with me and come..." the man said. Lois stayed in her seat and screamed. ----------------------------------------- Across town, Clark was at the courthouse with Jimmy and their friend, Jack, who was awaiting a judge's approval for his release from the juvenile detention center. They stood in front of the judge, who told them that Jack could be released but only under the condition that he, being a minor, lives with an adult... Clark agreed to take him in... "for a while," at least, until Jack's 18th birthday that winter. "All right! Let's get out of here and get some pizza!" Jack said, happy to be free from the nastiness that was "Juvie." Clark, Jack, and Jimmy ended up at Rahilly's, a local eatery known for the best pizza and banana creme pie one could imagine. "So I guess they weren't too mad about your running out on the place last week, considering you're here with us now," Jimmy said to his friend. "Yeah, well, I guess since I helped the cops nab the REAL suspect, that may have had something to do with it," Jack said, "and thanks again CK for letting me room with you for the next couple of months. I just better not find a bunch of tights or anything hanging in your closet!" He grinned at Clark, who gave him a dirty look to shut up. Jimmy laughed, not quite knowing what Jack was implying. Suddenly, Clark hears a cry for help. "Look, you two--I, uh--" "Have to call Lois about some dinner plans," Jack said, finishing Clark's excuse giving him the okay to leave. "Uh... yeah... that's it. Don't want to miss that!" Clark said, running out of the restaurant. After Clark went out the door, Jimmy asked Jack "Why am I always the last to find out these things?" Several minutes later, as Superman, Clark spots an old man with glasses and a handlebar moustache sitting next to the Metropolis Wishing Well in Hatcher Park. This old man must have been the one who called Clark for help, considering no one else was anywhere to be seen in the park. "You called for help?" Superman asked the man. "Yes, young lad... or should I say Clark?... I need your help...the fate of the world is at stake!" said the man. "Wait a minute... did you just call me Clark?" Superman asked. "Yes, why that's your name... found by Jonathan and Martha Kent in 1966.... came to Metropolis and adopted the identity of Superman sometime last year.... strange visitor from another planet with powers far beyond those of mortal men. The history books tell quite a lot about you," said the man. "I am H.G. Wells... I desperately require your help in stopping the man called Tempus in the far future! He aims to destroy your wedding... and if you do not get married, the world will be a far worse place than it is destined to be in the future. Take this time-belt, Clark... I invented it as an improvement on my original time-travelling machine, as my original machine was stolen at gunpoint by Tempus nearly eighty years ago, your time. For me it has only been two weeks... I travelled into the future to a future which I have never seen... a future without a Superman! Luckily I created this belt and escaped, and Tempus has no idea where I have disappeared to! I implore you, you must help! Lois is waiting for you, in the future...." "Lois?!? Why is Lois helping you? You have to admit, she is sometimes a magnet for trouble, but I'm not sure throwing her through the timestream would really be good for her, especially with everything she's gone through--!" "Clark, my boy... put on this belt.... and all of your answers will be told." With that, H.G. Wells and Superman disappeared. ----------------------------------------- And in yet ANOTHER time period, in the future, at the rebuilt Daily Planet building in October 1996 to be exact, Perry White tells his prize reporters, Clark Kent and Lois Lane, that there is someone very important waiting for them in the Planet's conference room. Perry escorts the couple towards the conference room, opens the door, where they see all of their friends standing around yelling "SURPRISE!" Jimmy Olsen was the first to walk up to Lois and Clark with a present. "I can't believe the two of you are getting MARRIED tomorrow! It seems like just yesterday the two of you were paired up by the Chief. You didn't like him too much back then, did you Lois?" Young Jimmy couldn't have been more right, although he didn't know that secretly Lois liked Clark all along, she just didn't want to let her guard down. A lot had changed for Lois and Clark in the two and a half years since Lois almost married Lex. Lois and Clark have admitted their feelings for one another, they have begun dating, Lois has figured out that Clark is Superman, and one year before they were engaged to be married. They had tried the "wedding thing" earlier in the year, but the intervention of Lex Luthor messed that up somewhat. And, like Olsen said, their wedding would be the next day. Unlike their previous attempt at a wedding, THIS wedding would be perfect. The wedding was to be in Clark's hometown of Smallville, Lois's parents would be able to stay at Clark's parents' home instead of having to make hotel reservations and Lois's sister Lucy was planned to fly into Smallville for their wedding from her home in California. Since Lois, Clark, and Superman were all close friends, it would be Superman's wedding gift to the couple to fly Perry, Jimmy, Star, Dr. Klein and several of their other friends to Smallville via the Superman Express. A few others who couldn't make it to the wedding showed up at the wedding party, as seen here... "Well, you two are just the happy couple," said a woman walking up to Lois. "Who---?!?" Lois exclaims, as she turns around. It was none other than Cat Grant! Except for one occasion where Lois and Clark ran into their old friend at Central City, they hadn't seen their "feline" friend in quite a while. Cat was once a gossip columnist at the Planet before she got a job at the WGBS television station. After Cat's departure, relations between them, particularly between Cat and Lois, weren't too well, but they reconciled after the Central City incident. Lois was still curious as to why Cat would travel to Metropolis just to congratulate them. Cat explained that WGBS has her reporting on the breakup of Metropolis mayor Sonny Berkowitz and his estranged wife, Cher Berkowitz. Then she added, "Perry told me about the party they had planned for you, so I figured I'd stop by the office and say hey. I'm glad you finally found the right man to sink your teeth into. Tell me one thing Lois, I'm dying to know... boxers or briefs?" Cat asked. Lois blushes. "I... uh... am not sure." "I always seem to picture him as a briefs person myself. Clark's a sweetie, but like briefs, he can sometimes be so tight and restricting. Sometimes I wonder if there's a Superman inside of him just ready to fly out," Cat said. "You'd be surprised..." Lois retorts, grinning. Suddenly Clark walks up to the two of them. "Cat! Pleasure to see you here. You here for business, or pleasure?" "Meow...." Cat says, "too bad Lois snatched you up, or I could make it pleasure." Suddenly, Clark hears a cry calling for Superman. It was time to make an excuse. "Well, it really is nice to see you, but, I've got to... uh..." "Go see 'Heaven's Prisoners!'" Lois says as she finishes his sentence. Cat gives Lois and Clark a puzzled look. "Clark's got to watch the movie, because in it there are supposedly clues for our, uh lead. It turns out that one of the actresses of the movie had some weird kind of psychosis and she thought she was dating Superman. She ended up marrying that Jon Tenney, you know, the guy from 'Lassie'. Hey, you know now, that I think about it, he looks a lot like... ah, forget about it." Lois said quickly. "A movie? Now?" Cat whispered to herself. Clark made a point of thanking everyone who brought wedding gifts and food for them for their party. Perry walked up to him before he was out. "Uh, Chief, I'm really in a hurry...." "Dangit, Kent! Here all these people are having a nice party for you and you've got work on the head! Look, son, even Elvis took a break every once in a while. Take for example the time when he and Priscilla..." Perry rambled. "Chief, I've got to go... I promise you, when I get back I'll have a great story for you!" "Are you sure you don't want me to get Kesel and Immonen to cover this one?" Perry said as Clark walked out the door. It was too late. Clark was already gone. Wearing his Superman outfit, Clark flew near the woman he had heard screaming. What he saw before his eyes was beyond belief. Either Clark was seeing things, or he just saw the woman being rescued from the muggers--by Superman. *Oh, no, not more clones!* Clark thought to himself. Clark decided to fly up to the woman to make sure she was okay. "Are you all right?" "Why, yes, I am... thanks to you," the woman responded. "Uhh, er, when, ah, I just rescued you, did I act or look any differently than I am right now?" Clark inquired. "Actually, the only thing I noticed was that you looked a little bit younger. But it could have been my aged eyes in a time of despair. Thank you very much for your help Superman, it is appreciated," said the woman. Superman flew off. *A younger-looking clone of myself?!?* Clark thought to himself, remembering the nightmare of clone experiences in his past. Clark had accidentally married a clone several months before, but even before that he faced clones of several notorious gangsters and even a clone of himself. Clark even thought of the 'Superboy' comics that the comics publishers were printing to cash in on his name, and how irresponsible his younger clone version was in that medium. He decided to brush it all off. It could have been some hologram put together by some pranksters, much like the hologram that Clark's parents had put together when Clark denied allegations that he and Superman were one and the same. He just kept thinking to himself, that nothing, repeat NOTHING, would ruin his wedding the next day in Smallville. Clark Kent was happy, and he knew his weekend would be SUPER. Tomorrow would be his day. ----------------------------------------- Elsewhere, in a garage in Smallville in 1996, Kansas, H.G. Wells and the Lois of 1994 convened, and Lois was giving "Herb" the third degree. Wells had just told Lois the reason why she and Clark were brought into the future in the first place. "Okay, wait. What you're trying to tell me is, Clark and I are going to get MARRIED, and if we don't get married the world is doomed? The next thing you're probably going to tell me is that Clark is Superman!" Lois ranted. Clark caught the last half of the conversation as he entered the garage. "Now Lois, me... Superman? Aren't my eyes too dull, mud, insipid brown?" Clark said, grinning at Wells, who knew the truth. Wells had explained to Clark the whole reason for his being in the future earlier that day. "Besides, I don't even like Clark anyway! Well, you know, not like THAT. He's just... just... Clark!" she said, looking him over up and down and hiding her true feelings. "Clark! Tell him! Tell him that you were lying when you said you were attracted to me!" "Well, umm... Lois, I uh..." Clark fumbled. "Fine! This is probably some big hoax put together by you and Jimmy and the other jokesters at the Planet! Wouldn't be surprised if Cat had a hand in this, too! I've had enough of this crap! I'm leaving!" Lois said, storming out of the door. "Lois, wait!" Clark said, running after her. As he reached her, she turned around and he put his hand on her shoulder. "Lois... everything I said about my feelings for you... was true. When confronted with the idea of actually having a chance of being with you, I guess I just got nervous and told you that it was all a fabrication. Or maybe it was because I knew... or at least I thought... that things would never work out for us, because I..." "Clark, you don't have to tell me." "You mean, ...... you ...... know?" "Clark, I have always known." "Really? Wow!" Clark smiled. *This is easier than I imagined,* he thought to himself. *Wonder why she never said anything before.* "Yes, Clark, I have always known that you had some insecurities about making it with some big city girl. Believe me, if I was interested -- and that's a very big IF -- I'm sure you could handle it." *D'oh!*, Clark thought to himself. He was sure that Lois was about to tell him that she knew that he was the Man of Steel. Lois then continued what she was saying. "I just don't think I'm.. ready.. to have another man in my life right now. It seems like every time I've been in love I've ended up getting the short end of the straw. They always end up stealing my articles, or being criminals, or being allergic to my perfume. It's like something's out to get me. Besides Clark, I'm not sure that I'd want to ruin the special friendship we have." *Special friendship,* Clark thought to himself. Those were the two worst words in the history of male-female relationships. Clark was glad that at least his future self would have a relationship with Lois, and he hoped that his and Lois's trip to the future wouldn't create a paradox that would prevent a future of Lois and Clark being together from happening. He called H.G. Wells into the next room to talk privately with him about it, and Wells assured them that the only thing that would change--that is, if they were successful--is the fact that they would stop Tempus from ruining the future. ----------------------------------------- The scene then changes to the basement of Smallville High School. We see Tempus, the man from the future, walking down the steps and towards the boiler room where he held H.G. Wells captive. He opens the door to find it empty! "Damn!" Tempus says to himself, hoping that Wells doesn't plan to interfere with his destruction of the Lane-Kent wedding the next day. Tempus had just gotten through with combining Wells' old time-travel contraption with a police squad car he had stolen from some hick cop. He hoped to use it to accomplish his secret plan--to pluck the Lois of 1996 and bring her into sometime in the past where she would no longer be a problem. From there, he decided that he might just try to kill her, so there would be no margin for error. The Clark Kent of 1996 may have decided that the next day would be *HIS* day, but if Tempus succeeded, it would be the day of Tempus. ----------------------------------------- The scene shifts to several hours later. Superman flew Perry, Jimmy, and all of Lois and Clark's friends to a motel near Smallville that was owned by a friend of the Kents', who let them all stay there at a reduced rate. Back in Metropolis, Clark and Lois's future versions were preparing for the greatest day of their lives. "You know, it seems like only yesterday," Lois reminisced, looking at Clark, smiling, with a twinkle in her eye and hopes for a great future. "What was?" Clark responded. "Oh, the day you entered the Planet... looking back, I don't know how you even put up with me." "Lois, give yourself SOME credit! I have said it time and time again, I have loved you since the moment I first saw you! You had that... energy to you that just drove me wild!" "Crazy is more like it." "Eh..." Clark says, stopping as Lois ga ve him a dirty look. "Just kidding, Lois, it's the 'crazy' side of you that really gets me going." "Oh, really?" Lois said, still fishing for compliments. "What can I say? You swept me off of my feet," Clark says as he remembers back to the first week that he met Lois. He and Lois attended a function that was run by Lex Luthor and held in his estate. He remembered, as Lois danced with Lex, how her immense beauty nearly made him forget to stay on the ground. He knew then that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. "Hello, Clark? Mork calling Orson here! Wake up!" Lois says, noticing that Clark seemed out of it. "What's going on?" "Oh, sorry, just... reminiscing. So, Lois, when did YOU first fall for me? That is, me as Clark, not as Superman. Be honest!" "Well..." "Lois, come on!" "Remember when we shared that honeymoon suite at the Lexor Hotel when we were on that 'stake out'? I think it was then that I realized what a super guy you are. No pun intended." "What?!" Clark looked at Lois with astonishment. "You mean, all that time, I thought my love for you was a one-way street?" Clark's astonishment turned to laughter. "And to think Tempus thought YOU were the galactically stupid one..." "Hey!" said Lois, hitting Clark on the arm before grabbing it and pulling him closer. "What about that load of baloney you gave me about telling me you loved me just so I wouldn't marry Luthor?" "Ah... well... ah..." "And you know, *I* believed that! Guess we both plead guilty under the galactic stupidity clause." Lois then looked up to the sky. "What's past is past. And now tomorrow--and in the future--I will be Mrs. Clark Kent. Clark, there were times when I thought NOTHING could go right for me. But you turned it all around." Standing on her tiptoes, Lois put her arms around Clark as tightly as she possibly could, and their lips slowly made contact. After finally taking a breath, Lois said "Gee, it must be late. We should probably be getting back home. Do you have any idea what time it is?" Lois's query was quickly answered. Clark saw a bank down the street, but the time on the clock out front was too far away for the naked eye to see. Thanks to telescopic vision, Clark was able to tell her. "10:56... and by the way Lois, it's 68 degrees on this cool Metropolis night. It would only take, oh, five minutes to fly back to Smallville... why don't we try to catch a late show before heading out there?" "Depends on what's playing...." Lois said, a little drowsy but never hesitating to spend time with her Man of Steel. "Hmmm... let me see..." Clark uses his telescopic vision to see the marquee at the movie theater several blocks away. "Multiplicity is playing." "Multiplicity? Isn't that the one with the clones? I don't think so." "Lois, where's that sense of adventure?" "I lost it when my clone got married to you. Besides, I think it's a little spooky how the guy in that movie looks just like that Bruce Wayne guy that we interviewed in Gotham last month." "They don't look a thing alike, Lois! Me, I thought Wayne looks a little more like that Dr. Ross guy from ER. Oh well, to each his--or her--own... why don't we see 'Twister' instead?" "No, that's got Helen Hunt in it, and she makes me think of that show 'Mad About You,' and 'Mad About You' makes me almost as nauseous as 'Murder She Wrote' does." "Hmmm... why don't we go flying?" Lois's eyes lit up. She thought it was the most romantic thing in the world to be with her favorite super man at 3,000 feet. Before she met Clark, Lois had been a little bit afraid of heights, but in Clark's arms, she knew she was safe and NO height could bother her. And with that, Clark took Lois into his arms and they flew into the sky, and kissed in front of a star-filled backdrop. And to think the next day the two of them would finally be able to consummate their love. Things could NOT get better for either of them. Tomorrow would be their day--the day of Lois and Clark--if all went well. ***************************************************************************** ******************* CONTINUED IN THE NEXT E-MAIL! ***************************************************************************** ******************* >> ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 01:41:22 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: LoriMcE Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: KC Fanfic - Tempus is of the Essence 2/2 Comments: cc: CraigByrne@aol.com Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 96-07-18 01:37:15 EDT, CraigByrne writes: << ***************************************************************************** ******************* KRYPTON CLUB FANFICTION***ISSUE #20***JULY 18, 1996***E-MAIL 2 OF 2 **STORIES BY MEMBERS OF THE KRYPTON CLUB** "TEMPUS IS OF THE ESSENCE" ***************************************************************************** *********************CONTINUED FROM THE LAST E-MAIL.... ***************************************************************************** ********************* Flash forward to the next morning. The Lois Lane of 1994--who was brought into the future by H.G. Wells--was sound asleep. That is, until her time period's Clark walked up to her to wake her up. "Come on, Lois, wake up! We're only 10 hours away from the wedding!" "Huh?" said Lois, a little woozy. "Oh, Clark... I just had the strangest dream... we were brought into the future to save our wedding. Why I was going to marry you I have NO idea. Weird, huh?" "Lois... it's not a dream. It's really happening -- we are in Smallville in 1996 -- remember?" "WHAT???" said Lois, quickly sitting up straight, perfectly awake, and her eyes wide open. Then, in an attempt to keep her cool, Lois said "Oh... I knew that. I just wanted to see your reaction." *Good old Lois,* Clark thought to himself, *never admitting she's wrong, or swallowing her pride.* Clark wondered how it was that she finally recognized his future self as someone to love. Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, Clark just smiled and looked forward to the future. Suddenly, H.G. Wells entered the room, and revealed to Lois and Clark his plans for protecting their future selves from Tempus. He handed Lois and Clark two holographic image-changing suits that he picked up in the future from a 30th-century teenager by the name of Querl Dox. The wearers of the suits could look like anyone or anything that they chose to when wearing the suits. This way Lois and Clark could attend the wedding without being recognized as the two people who are supposed to be getting married. Wells petitioned them to avoid conversing with anyone but themselves at the wedding, or the effects they would make could create a greater paradox than the one already set forth by Tempus. Wells told them that had Tempus not interfered in the wedding, "Utopia" would not happen, and if Lois and Clark stop him from ruining the wedding, "Utopia" WILL indeed happen, and the future will be brighter. If Lois and Clark succeed their wedding day will be a day of hope--as will all of the days that would follow. ----------------------------------------- Several hours later, we see a clock hanging on a wall. The clock reads 3:30. In about an hour, Lois Lane and Clark Kent would finally be married. Lois's mother, Ellen, watched as her daughter finished putting on her wedding gown and looked in the mirror. "Hopefully THIS time when I do this, things will turn out right," Lois says, speaking to her mother behind her. "Don't worry, dear, things will be fine." Of all of the many boyfriends Lois had had over the years, it was Clark Kent who stood out as Ellen's favorite. When Ellen first learned that Lois and Clark were getting married, she was vehemently against such a union. She remembered how her marriage to her husband, Sam, had brought forth nothing but bad memories. Then... she met Clark. Clark was truly "a find" because he treated Lois the way every woman deserved to be treated. He definitely earned Ellen's seal of approval. ----------------------------------------- Outside, in an outdoor park in Smallville, everyone else sat on their lawn chairs, awaiting the wedding of the two prize-winning reporters. Lois and Clark tried the "wedding-in-a-church" route the first time they attempted marriage that February. This time, they decided on something a bit less formal... an outdoor wedding in Clark's home town of Smallville. The Lois and Clark of 1994 entered the park wearing their holographically- induced disguises as "Wendy and Marvin Clark." As "Wendy," Lois had very short dyed red hair, and "Marvin" had a buzzcut as if he was a member of the military. As they entered, they saw that Superman was able to fly all of Lois and Clark's friends and family to the wedding. Several of them they easily recognized; others weren't so recognizable. There was Perry, sitting near the front with a proud smile on his face. For some reason though, mysteriously, Alice was nowhere to be seen. Lois spotted her uncle Mike in the audience, as well as her father, who she was QUITE surprised to see, especially considering that she heard that her mother was inside helping her future self put on her wedding gown. Next to Lois's father sat Lois's sister Lucy, with the latest in her string of many boyfriends. Lois and Clark also noticed Jack Batson and his younger brother, Denny, were among the many who Superman brought to Smallville to attend their wedding. Behind them were Clark's high school sweetheart Lana Lang and Lois's high school beau, Joe Molloy, with his wife Debbie. Next to him were Lois's best friend in high school, Julie Keaton, and her husband Dick, and they were sitting next to Teri's best friend in college, Linda King. Suddenly, an African-American woman with a frizzy hairdo walked up to Wendy and Marvin, introducing herself. Even though Wells had warned them not to converse with others, it would have been bad manners to completely avoid her. "Hi, my name is Star. Lois's upstairs neighbor. And you two are--wait, don't tell me--high school buddies of Clark's!" the woman began. "Actually, we're--" Lois interjected. "No, wait... don't tell me... neighbors of Clark's when he was growing up!" Star continued. "Not exactly. Hi, I'm Marvin Clark, and this is my wife, Wendy. I'm Clark's cousin." Clark said to her. "Oh! Well, pleased to meet you anyway! Your auras just didn't seem to speak to me as being relatives of Clark's for some reason. I'm going to go sit down... talk to you later!" Star said, leaving. As Star walked way, "Wendy" turned to "Marvin." "Clark, you cannot honestly tell me that we're going to someday be friends with someone that... strange!" "Now Lois, be nice, I'm sure she's perfectly normal." "Clark, she's flakier than a bowl of Corn Flakes!" Suddenly, someone else walked up to them and introduced themselves. "Hi, my name's Jimmy Olsen. Star told me that you're Clark's cousins. Pleased to meet you." Jimmy stuck out his hand so they could shake it. Lois and Clark both gave each other dirty looks. *Jimmy?!?* both of them thought at the same time. "Ahh, well, 'Jimmy,' it's really nice to meet you. Clark's told us all about you. You're the guy who always says things are 'Smooth', right?" says Lois in the "Wendy" disguise. "'Smooth'? No, you must have me confused with another Jimmy Olsen," he said to them. Soon the wedding music had begun. "Uh-oh, the wedding's about to start, and I've got to get to the back and be ready with the ring!" Jimmy ran towards the back of the park where the aisle began, with the ring in his pocket. Lois and Clark, knowing they'd better stop standing around, went to sit in the closest available seat. The only seats left were next to a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt who really stood out in a crowd full of people wearing dresses and tuxedos. Clark turned to introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Marvin Clark, and you're---" "Dan Scardino. My friends call me 'Daniel'," the man responded. "Did you come here all the way from Metropolis?" Lois inquired. "Yeah, came here on the Superman Express. It's kind of odd being here though. I can't help but imagine what would have happened if Lois had stayed with me. Damn, did she have a fine pair of-- uh-oh, I'd better be quiet, here they come..." Dan began. "Wendy" looked at Dan with her mouth agape and in shock. What she could someday see in this jerk was unknown to her. Lois and Clark turned around, and they saw the flower girls beginning the wedding procession down the aisle. The two flower girls, Linda and Monique, were cousins of Lois's. They were now around 4 years old, which was kind of neat for the 1994 Lois to see because the last time she had seen them they were toddlers. Following Linda and Monique was Jimmy Olsen, holding the ring that Clark would soon place on the finger of his "little tornado." To avoid letting anyone feel left out, Lois and Clark decided against having "best men" or "matron of honor" at this wedding. Instead, they decided to walk the aisle alone. And walk alone they did. The Clark of 1996 was the first to be seen walking down the aisle. Clark's face had a confidence that nothing could go wrong. This day would be the best day of his 30 years on the planet Earth. As the Clark of 1994 watched him walk down the aisle, he was glad to see that someday he would be so happy. Next came Lois, in her beautiful gown borrowed from Clark's mother. She, too, had a confidence in her face that in less than a half an hour, she and Clark would be wed in holy matrimony. As Lois walked past them, Wendy turned to Marvin and said, "WHAT did I do to my hair?" Dan overheard what Wendy had said and he looked at her in puzzlement. Lois and Clark finally reached the end of the aisle. The man whom Clark knew as "Reverend Clyde" as he was growing up began speaking. "We are gathered here this day to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony..." the reverend began. The reverend then went on to tell about how he knew Clark since he was a small child. The reverend then continued, "...and now, Clark Kent and Lois Lane are to combine their love and become one." The Lois who was about to get married glanced over at the man who would soon be her husband. She remembered the many experiences she has had with him, the good ones (like the time the two of them cuddled together on her porch as the snowfall began) to the bad (such as the time when Clark announced that he had to leave for 'New Krypton'). Most of all she remembered Clark's words--when he told her that "Being with you is stronger than me alone." Similar thoughts ran through Clark's head. He remembered the time they made up from a fight when they were at Larry Smiley's camp. He remembered what a strange feeling it was when Lois found out that she would someday be his first. And, he too, remembered the sad moments, like the time when Lois had amnesia and he had feared that he lost her forever. Back in the audience, the Lois and Clark of 1994 looked around, and still found no sign of Tempus. *Maybe Wells was wrong*, they both thought, or rather--hoped. The reverend was nearly finished with his monologue. "So, if anyone here objects to the marriage of this man and this woman, speak now or forever hold your peace." Suddenly everyone heard a police siren approaching. Everyone looked back to see a man wearing a police uniform. He got out of his squad car, began walking down the aisle and screamed "I do!" The Lois and Clark of 1996 immediately recognized the "policeman" as Tempus, for "Wendy and Marvin" it took a little bit longer. Tempus then started addressing the many attendees of the wedding. "This wedding can NOT happen, for grounds as simple as this--aliens and humans shall not mate." Everyone looked at Tempus as if he was a lunatic. "Oh, duh, I forgot to explain. You see, you may all know this man as Clark Kent--" Tempus said, pointing to Clark, "but actually, he is none other than the man you all also know as SUPERMAN! How stupid can you all be, all you have to do is take his glasses off!" "Great Shades of Elvis," Perry said to himself. The others all stood there and watched in awe. "Marvin" tried to decide what they were going to do to stop Tempus, while "Wendy" looked at him in shock. In the past day and a half she had learned that she would someday fall in love with Clark Kent and they would eventually get married. But no one had told her the REAL reason why she had to save her wedding--because Clark Kent and Superman WERE one and the same! Clark, not wanting to make a fool of himself by knocking Tempus out at super- speed, just stood there looking at Tempus with an angry look on his face. In a matter of seconds Clark's life had gone from wonderful to terrible. All Clark could do was deny it. "Oh, please, Kent. Do you really think that once they all know, they'll BELIEVE you? God!" Tempus groaned. "So, furthermore, to prevent this wedding from occurring and preventing the beginning a race of inbred FREAKS, I will do the only noble thing and take Lois with me. Now, Clark, if you try any of the super-powered stuff right now, and I KNOW you want to, I will gladly shoot and kill Lois Lane. Ta-ta for now." Tempus took Lois in his arm, ran down the aisle, and threw her into the passenger seat of the squadcar, and sped away. Everyone in the audience at the wedding panicked. "Calm down everyone, I really don't think Clark and Superman are the same person, and I'm sure we can prove it as soon as we get Lois to safety," Marvin said to everyone, trying to calm them all down. Clark's lips spelled out the word "How?" and Marvin whispered "Wait and see" just loud enough so that Clark's super-hearing could pick it up. Marvin then told Clark to come with him and Wendy, and the three of them could work together to get Lois back from Tempus, which would be easy because as soon as they were out of sight from the others, they could use their super-powers and save Lois faster than a speeding bullet. For some unknown reason Clark felt inclined to trust them, and he decided to come along. A snag entered the plans, though. Perry INSISTED on going with Clark, Wendy, and Marvin as they went to save Lois from Tempus. That would mean that they'd have to get Lois back the old-fashioned way--without powers. The four of them ran out to Smallville's Main Street where they ran into two young men--one with dark hair wearing a blue shirt, the other with blond hair wearing a white shirt. "Excuse me, this is a major emergency. Can we borrow your car?" asked Marvin to the two. "Well, actually, where do you need to go?" asked the blond. "We need to catch that squad car. I--I mean, someone very important to us has been kidnapped, and has been taken away in that car." said "Wendy." "Why didn't ya say so?" said the dark-haired one. "My name's Luke. I can take the four of you here in my car and we can try to catch the squad car. Chasin' other people is almost a way of life for us in these parts. My cousin Bo here will stay at our friend Cooter's garage and we'll CB him if we have any trouble. I'll also give my other cousin Daisy a yell on the CB and have her try to scout out where that guy you're chasin' has gone to." Wendy, Marvin, Perry, and Clark all hopped into Luke's car, which was easier said than done because for some reason the doors were welded shut. Within seconds the car was off in hot pursuit of Tempus's stolen squad car. Luke was able to find out from Daisy that the squad car was last seen driving past Shuster's Field. Luke turned and sped through Siegel Farm, which was a shortcut to get to Shuster's Field faster. Marvin, Wendy, Perry, and Clark then saw that there was a ravine up ahead near the end of Siegel's property... and no bridge. "How are we going to get over THAT?" Clark asked Luke, who was still driving without slowing down at all. "Don't worry," said Luke, who subsequently jumped the car over the ravine, "you all okay back there?" Perry held his chest. "Aww... haven't had this much stress since the day Alice told me she was pregnant with our fifth child!" Wendy, Marvin, Clark, and Luke all laughed. Pretty soon the squad car was in sight. "There's a cliff about a mile away from here, not even this car could jump it. That's where we should be able to catch up to that guy and get your lady back, because NO ONE is stupid enough to try to go off of it," Luke said to his passengers. Luke's car quickly came closer and closer to the squad car. He had Marvin stick his head out the window and yell to Tempus to pull over. Tempus didn't hesitate. The squad car began getting closer and closer to the cliff, without slowing down. Was Tempus that crazy that he would kill both himself and Lois Lane to prevent "Utopia" from happening? Up in the squad car, Lois looked over at Tempus. "Please... don't... I'm sure there is another way!" "There IS no other way, Lois... duh!" Tempus said. The squad car, with both Tempus and Lois in it, went flying off the cliff. TO BE CONTINUED! ***************************************************************************** ******************* Next Issue.... Will Lois and Tempus survive the fiery crash? Will Clark ask "Wendy and Marvin" who they REALLY are? How will Clark get around the revelation that he is Superman? Will the Lois of the past get really mad at Clark after finding out the truth? Join us on Sunday for "The Day of Tempus"... same Krypton- time, same Krypton-station! By the way, before I leave, special thanks goes out to Christine/CFind1955 for editing this fanfic for me and helping me fix (most of ) the mistakes, and thanks also goes out to Lyman, Val, Emily, Chris, Russ, and Linda (hopefully I'm not forgetting anyone...) for taking a look at this fanfic to make sure it was all right before I went to send it out Thanks! Craig "Remember to write me and tell me what you think!" Byrne President of the L&C Krypton Club Matt "Away on Vacation" Combes Vice-President of the L&C Krypton Club ***************************************************************************** ******************* SEND YOUR FANFICTION TO KRYPTONFX@AOL.COM ! (Please send fanfic in e-mail rather than as attached files!) ***************************************************************************** ******************* >> ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 02:19:04 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: LoriMcE Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: Other KC fics Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Just got back into town - I've sent requests to the other authors about posting, if I get a positive response, I'll post. I'm having a problem sending to - Halloween Madness By Carla UFFanGator@aol.com The member directory shows her still on AOL, but my mail isn't going through - so if anybody knows her - please forward my request. Lori ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 03:52:12 EST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: AStory2873 Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Subject: Re: Other KC fics Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-01-04 02:27:46 EST, you write: << I'm having a problem sending to - Halloween Madness By Carla UFFanGator@aol.com The member directory shows her still on AOL, but my mail isn't going through - so if anybody knows her - please forward my request. Lori >> Lori - I know Carla and I will contact her and ask her to get in touch with you.....she is not accepting internet email on any of her accounts right now after having some problems with some unsolicited email.......I will let her know that you are trying to contact her about her story...... April ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 12:00:00 -0600 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Beverly Latham Subject: 1/4/98 WEEKLY UPDATE - KATHY'S CHALLENGE Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Wow, you'll never guess how difficult it was to put 98 in that subject line! Oh, and whilst combing through e-mails trying to catch up after Christmas, I found an inquiry I'd missed about Lois & Clark moving to the Artic Circle. Oh, and I've added a new note this time. Please remember that an inquiry or a challenge won't be counted as solved unless the *original* submitter confirms it, just to be fair and accurate. So, if you submit something, please check to see if anyone has responded. Also, all you very knowledgable FoLC, let me know if a story is found somewhere other than the archive so that I can make note of that also. Beverly :-) KATHY'S CHALLENGE SUMMARY [as of this posting & working backwards] #. trivia clue = fanfic title [author] submitted by : correct responses *all responses listed as recieved, right or wrong NOTE: Items labeled with I# are inquiries about fanfics someone is trying to find, not where they already know the titles NOTE: An inquiry or a challenge won't be counted as solved unless the *original* submitter confirms the answer, just to be fair and accurate. NOTE: Unless otherwise noted as *nfic* [distributed by Debby's nfanfiction list] OR *private* [distributed privately by author], all fanfics discussed are available at the LOIS & CLARK FANFICTION ARCHIVE at: *****STILL TO BE SOLVED OR CONFIRMED***** Just ignore the next two lines, they're simply to save my sanity. Next new challenge will be #25 Next new inquiry will be #I 7 INQUIRIES: I 6. Lois and Clark had to move to the Arctic Circle because for some reason they could no longer lead a normal life in Metropolis = ? Alyssa : I 4. Clark gives Lois a Superman bra = ? Beppo : *Joan - COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE *Loir - COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE [Lara E. Taylor (Chyronguru@aol.com)] I 3. Lois & Clark go film a commercial for the DP = ? Beppo : *Joan - TOP BANANA [?] *Pat - TOP BANANA [?] I 1. Superman teddy for Lois made by Martha = ? Pat : I S. All storied which refer to teddies = ? Peace Everett : CHALLENGES: 23. Lois sing songs from the "The Sound of Music" in the shower = ? LoriMcE : *Bec - TRIAL AND ERROR [Kim Gammello] 21. Clark buys daisies and a rose, all for Lois = ? Peace : 20. Lois tells Lucy that Clark is Superman = ? Peace : 17. "Excel with X-El" = ? Peace : Michelle : JIMMY X [?] *****EVERYTHING PAST THIS POINT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED SOLVED***** INQUIRIES: I 5. an undercover Clark purchasing a kidnapped Lois in an auction = BLACKMAIL [?] Tracy : Bec *Bec - BLACKMAIL [?] I 2. Lois & Clark shooting a music video = MAY THE BEST SUPERMAN WIN [Kendra Prince] Nethra : Joan, Bec, Patricia *Joan - MAY THE BEST SUPERMAN WIN [Kendra Prince] *Bec - MAY THE BEST SUPERMAN WIN [Kendra Prince] *Patricia - MAY THE BEST SUPERMAN WIN [?] CHALLENGES: 24. Clark "mortgages his underwear" for a small red Lotus = HEAVEN'S PRISONERS [Demi] Anne : Patricia, Chris Patricia - HEAVEN'S PRISONERS [Demi] Chris - HEAVEN'S PRISONERS [?] 22. "I'm going to start calling him Brenda if you don't start working." = QUICK CHANGE [Carla Humbert] Pam : Linda *Linda - QUICK CHANGE [Carla Humbert] 19. Since this fine review [of TOMORROW NEVER DIES] was written by the critic for the Kansas City Star, which fanfic featured Clark as editor of this paper = MEET ME IN KANSAS CITY [?] Pat : Mandi, Joan *Mandi - MEET ME IN KANSAS CITY [?] *Joan - MEET ME IN KANSAS CITY [?] 18. "Hey, *nice*," he said; this bland statement bore no resemblance to his internal reaction, which began with *Wow!* and moved on into near-incoherence. = BEEFCAKE [Phil Atcliffe] Peace : Bec *Bec - BEEFCAKE [Phil Atcliffe] 16. Sam figures out Clark is Superman ... and orders him away from his daughter! = THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS [Kathy Bell] Kathy : Bec *Bec - THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS [Kathy Bell] 15. Clark works the kissing booth = MISSING YOU [Kaytee Shultz] Kathy : Bec *Bec - MISSING YOU [Kaytee Shultz] 14. Chocolate Milk, a three year old who doesn't speak English, and a woman who can't have children... A FREAK ACCIDENT [?] Adrienne : Joan *Joan - A FREAK ACCIDENT [?] 13. Claude comes back ... and Lois goes out with him! = MENAGE A TROIS [Vixen] Kathy : PJ, Bec *PJ - MENAGE A TROIS [Vixen] *Bec - MENAGE A TROIS [Vixen] *Crystal - MENAGE A TROIS [Vixin] 12. Clark goes undercover as a male stripper (and no, it's not an nfic ) = GYPSY CLARKIE [Marta Olson] Kathy : Joan, Bec *Joan - GYPSY CLARKIE [Marta Olson] *Bec - GYPSY CLARKIE [Marta Olson] 11. Lois and Clark play truth or dare = TO TELL THE TRUTH [Gail Lefkowitz] *lost & gone* Kathy : PJ *PJ - TRUTH OR DARE? [?] [but she described the plot!] 10. "Oh, what a night! ... Late December back in '63 ..." = BAND [Bhavani Rao] Kathy : Bec *Bec - BAND [Bhavani Rao] 9. Random drug testing at the Planet = OOPS [Jenny Riecken] Peace : Kathy *Mandi - LITTLE BIRD [Debby Stark] *Kathy - LITTLE BIRD [Debby Stark] *Kathy - OOPS [?] 8. "Superman is probably straighter than God, actually," Jimmy informed them. "He sure hasn't hesitated to kiss you plenty of times, Lois--Superman, I mean, not God--" = DAWNING, D11 [Debby Stark] Kathy : Alyssa M, Peace *Alyssa - DAWNING #? [Debby Stark] *Peace - DAWNING #? [Debby Stark] 7. Lois: "Don't fall ON me, Farmboy." = STRANGE BEDFELLOWS [Lori Gorschboth] Becky : Mandi, Kathy *Mandi - STRANGE BEDFELLOWS [Lori Gorschboth] *Kathy - STRANGE BEDFELLOWS [Lori Gorschboth] 6. Lois' four food groups: "phone, fax, e-mail and delivered" = CULINARY DELIGHTS [?] Becky : Pam *Pam Jernigan - CULINARY DELIGHTS [?] 5. "The Hero" = HEIR: RETURN [Piper] Peace : Becky *Becky - THE HEIR [?] 4. Rapunzel = CYBERLINK [Zoomway] Peace : KathyB, PJ *Kathy - CYBERLINK [Zoomway] *PJ - CYBERLINK [Zoom] 3. rollerblades *and* Lois has a very strange nightmare = ALIEN NATION? [LadeeV] Beverly : Joan *Crystal - GELLATO WITH A TWIST [?] *Mandi - OUT OF CONTROL [Gina Blank] *Kathy - OUT OF CONTROL [Gina Blank] *Joan - ALIEN NATION? [?] 2. horsechestnut shower gel = SAN FRANCISCO SWEETIES [Dom] *nfic* Beverly : Mandi *Laurie - THE NUTMEG ROOM [MizMollee] *nfic* *Mandi - WHISKEY GALORE [Dom] *nfic* *Mandi - SAN FRANCISCO SWEETIES [Dom] *nfic* *Ann - one of the NUTMEGs [MizMollee] *nfic* 1. Linda King & . . . Brad Pitt *and* RSVPs for wedding invitations = YOU DIDN'T NOTICE [Kyla Gurganus] Beverly : Michelle, Kathy *Michelle - YOU DIDN'T NOTICE [?] *Kathy - YOU DIDN't NOTICE [Kyla Gurganus] S. Superman teddy = LOIS' REVENGE [B.B. Medos] Beverly : Peace, KathyB *Peace - LOIS' REVENGE [?] *Kathy - LOIS'REVENGE/CLARK'S RESPONSE [?] ******************************* Beverly Latham blatham@hop-uky.campus.mci.net ******************************* ******************************* Beverly Latham blatham@hop-uky.campus.mci.net ******************************* ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 12:35:10 PST Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: Peace Everett Subject: Re: 1/4/98 WEEKLY UPDATE - KATHY'S CHALLENGE In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.32.19980104120000.006acfe8@hop-uky.campus.mci.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; X-MAPIextension=".TXT" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Beverly pointed out: > Please remember that > an inquiry or a challenge won't be counted as solved unless the *origin= al* > submitter confirms it, just to be fair and accurate. > > KATHY'S CHALLENGE SUMMARY > 17. "Excel with X-El" =3D ? > Peace : > Michelle : JIMMY X [?] Um.... no. Sorry, Michelle. ;) /me chortles with glee over the challenge... then takes pity and offers = another clue, from the same story: "'Who ever said I was nice?' Clark teased." > 21. Clark buys daisies and a rose, all for Lois =3D ? > Peace : Oh, my! Another challenge unanswered! Hmm.... how about if I tell you = this story also contains cheese and a Lincoln Town Car? Now there's a = good Inquiry Challenge - list all the cars that have been mentioned in = various stories. :) > 20. Lois tells Lucy that Clark is Superman =3D ? > Peace : But now this one ought to be easy! I mean, in how many stories does Lois= tell anyone else that Clark is Superman? I think I'm going to hold off = on extra clues on this one -- surely someone other than the author (who = of course shall remain nameless for now ;) knows which story I'm talking = about! Peace who thinks this game has gotten awfully quiet lately ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 14:25:49 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: demona Subject: "Heaven's Prisoners" Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hiya Everyone :) I posted some time ago that I would not send my fanfic (the PG version of Heaven's Prisoners) to the list because it's around 11 parts long..and might be a bit of an encumberance for some folk's mailboxes However, I have collected a handful of requests from people who, for one reason or another, cannot readily access the story off of the WWW, and have asked me really sweetly to please post it here. So... I'm going to. And I hope no one minds the 11 emails or so to follow ! :) Take Care All, Demi _________________________________________________ Demi (a.k.a) Demona or http://fantasia.simplenet.com/lcfantasy/demona.htm --- L&C Site http://fantasia.simplenet.com/lcfantasy --- "See, the thing is, I've loved him my whole life..." _________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 14:29:39 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: demona Subject: FANFIC 1/11 - Heaven's Prisoners (PG) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" HEAVEN'S PRISONERS (PG-13) By: (Demi/Demona) demona@shaw.wave.ca AUTHORS (editted ;) FORWARD To Everyone: Welcome to the Lois & Clark elseworld of "Heaven's Prisoners". This is the PG-rated version of an experiment which I felt the urgent need to explore ever since I saw "Contact" last year. Needless to say I couldn't make myself go to the necessary lengths for some time, but now that I have I do feel that I need to qualify. This is also by no means a "complete" or "total" story. The more I write the more I realise that there probably is no such thing. Life goes on forever, even the lives of two made up characters in a novel or on TV. We poor souls in the real world only get to see glimpses of some of the more interesting parts if we're lucky. As I delved into the "What If" premise my story based itself upon, I discovered that the primary "catalyst" would not, in my opinion, work! Fancy that. However I then decided to throw caution to the wind and follow the story anyhow, see where it lead me. What I ended up with (I believe) is my take on they way L&C might react were they in this 'made up' situation. Had any or all of my plot devices occured. I hope I haven't done them any wrong :) There are both Whams and Waffs in this story and I stand by all of them. If you cannot stand to think about L&C apart for any reason and might suffer direly if you read something like that then please read no further! Rest assured that I don't leave my toys broken, but I do take them apart along the way. That said, what you are about to read takes place in the future, but not so far into the future that things are completely off beat. Clark and Lois ARE married. (Well, it would be about 2 1/2 years into their marriage if things hadn't gone, wrong.) Now we KNOW how made for one another the two of them are so if you'll allow me some credit, there is no cliche 'falling out' scene...per se. Hear me oh great minds The first bit of story you will read is something of an unfinished prologue (until "Two Years Later"). It explains very briefly what 'happened' to change things. It too is another catalyst and not a reason in all fairness. Clark feels that he should have been able to stop 'it'. He blames himself completely and I think you can guess what a Clark like that might be like. In a nutshell, everything changes for him, and inherently, for Lois. This story is not registered with WGA so if you're a professional writer/producer -- go away ;P All copyright apologies apply..WB/DC's characters, my story blah blah! Oh and if you were wondering about the extremely inventive title, I decided to call it Heaven's Prisoners because its a direct copyright violation -- well, and every FoLC will read at least the first part of a story called "Heaven's Prisoners" Heartfelt thanks go out to all my guinea pigs, Zoomway, DaveL, LesS, Jeagan, Beth, Pam, Nancy and Judi (for whom I named one of my characters :) Special thanks also to KathyB for her wonderful ideas and suggestions many of which I blatently sucked up and used ..and to Rhen who inspired me to go with my heart instead of my sense of humor. She, as always, was so right about that, somehow I managed to write 60 pages 10pt without an A-Plot This version of the story has been edited for content and re-rated PG-13. Those scenes omitted contain somewhat more explicit sensual material. If you are interested in the 'unedited' version of this story, and you are over 18, please email Joyceef@mcs.com and ask for "Demi's HP". Thanks a lot. Take Care! Demi demona@shaw.wave.ca demi22@aol.com Without further adieu... NEXT POST... ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 14:32:23 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: demona Subject: FANFIC 2/11 - Heaven's Prisoners (PG) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ------------------ PROLOGUE ------------------ Clark watched in agony as the small explosive fell from the sky only yards away from where he was laying. He curled around himself in a futile attempt to rise, to do ANYTHING. Next to him, a tiny green rock glowed sullenly making it all -- impossible. Crying out in frustration with the last of the strength he possessed, Clark saw the device find its final resting place, clinking against the roof of his parent's farmhouse several yards away. There was a moment of nothingness when Clark couldn't even remember the sound of his own labored breathing. Or maybe he had held his breath. An instant later the Kent home exploded in a blinding flash of light. Shards of glass and wood fragments flew across the yard at terminal velocity; several of them finding new homes in Clark's now vulnerable flesh. Later he would regret that there had not been enough of them to kill him. The house was utterly gone. A charred heap of burned out wood was all that remained of the once beautiful home he'd grown up in. And the remains of his beloved mother and father somewhere inside. They'd had no warning. He hadn't been able to get to them in time and now they were gone , forever. All of it was. Clark knew in that instant that nothing would ever be the same again. Laying his head back against the killer rock next to him, Clark closed his eyes and prayed for death. It was the last thing he remembered doing before everything went black. ------------------------------- TWO YEARS LATER ------------------------------- "Clark, honey would you get my black coat out of the closet for me? We have to hurry or we'll be late." "Sure." Clark deftly unhooked the long dark coat from its hanger and slipped it over one arm before moving across to the window and looking out. The sound of the ocean roaring 17 stories below the building was almost inaudible, even to him, but he could see the waves crashing against the shoreline and he could almost feel their intense need. Something violent and rage filled. A part of himself that he had suppressed for a long time. He sighed when he felt two hands against his shoulders from behind. "What is it Clark?" Her voice was soft as ever and he chastised himself for not being able to take much of its offered comfort. "Clark?" "What?" Clark shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, causing her to smile. "Nothing. Really. Its just, I guess, I'm tired that's all." He tried to match her smile but made it only half way. "You've been living in Europe for a little over a year and you're only getting tired now? I'm impressed." She ran her hands down his back and put her arms around him, hugging him from behind. "We really do have to go, or we'll be late. You know I can make an excuse for you if..." "No. No more excuses. Let's show these people what we're made of." Clark really did smile this time and hugged her back. "All right." She turned and walked towards the door of the apartment. Clark watched her move away from him and admired the soft look of her curves. She was incredibly beautiful. "Marie, don't forget your coat." He reached his arm out and Marie skipped back to pull it playfully from him. "Whoops! Thanks sweetheart. Come on, we'd better hurry!" Clark closed the door to her apartment behind them and as he was placing the key in the third lock, his mind wandered, as it always seemed to, back to another time and another place. Another apartment with so many locks. Shaking his head and sighing, he followed Marie into the elevator which would take them downstairs to a waiting car. --------------- "Clark! Marie! You both made it. We were beginning to wonder if you hadn't decided to skip our little soiree for some more ... interesting entertainment." Jean-Marc winked at Marie and nudged Clark's arm knowingly while she blushed. Clark just shook his head -- and his finger -- at his playfully offensive co-worker. "You're lucky she doesn't work with us Clark. I doubt we'd ever see you then..." Jean-Marc continued on the same vein and Marie pretended to look affronted. "Jean-Marc you are absolutely incorrigible and I'll have none of it tonight. This is Clark's big evening. If everything goes well he'll " "Never have to work with YOU again," Clark laughed as he poked the edge of Jean's lapel with the tip of his finger. Jean-Marc mimed a knife in his chest and practically doubled over laughing. "You know Marie, Clark is the only American I ever met who speaks French better than the French do." "You mean better than YOU do." Clark grinned. It had been a while since he and Jean-Marc had gotten together for some friendly sarcasm. He'd missed that. Just like he knew he would miss Jean's sense of humor if he did get the assignment he'd been waiting for. The banquet hall was teeming with friends and colleagues, executives and news moguls from all over Europe. It wasn't an international event, but it was almost as huge. An annual gathering of everyone who was anyone in the European media, for no other apparent reason than to spend an evening schmoozing with 'connections'. Clark's editor at La Lettre was here as well, and he'd already dropped the bombshell that he had 'news' for Clark'. Something he wouldn't tell him until tonight. It was Marie who spotted the short, burly man first. Wearing an expensive custom tailored tux and sporting a large cigar which no one ever bothered (or dared) to ask him to put out. "Clark, there he is. Lets go say hello? Maybe he'll tell you his secret." Marie's excitement was infectious, so Clark took her arm and the two of them made their way across the room. "M. Benoit. It's good to see you this evening sir." Clark held out his hand which was firmly grasped by the older man. He had never been able to give up the sense of formality he felt around his new editor. He remembered with fondness the relationship he had once had with his former editor in Metropolis, Perry White, but here, everything had been so much different. Even if he hadn't withdrawn substantially from his former self, he might never have achieved the same rapport with Clemont Benoit. The man was friendly in a high school principal kind of way, but never more than that. "Clark. Clark Kent. Just the man I've been looking for." He smiled at Marie. "And you my dear Marie are looking as radiant as ever!" Taking her hand in his, he kissed the top of it and laughed from deep in his belly. "Clark, I hope she loves you!" Clark raised an eyebrow and stared at Benoit for a few moments, not quite comprehending. "My boy, La Lettre has been purchased." Clark's eyes widened. "Purchased? You mean ... " "Mmm. Bought out. A great merger! But this isn't bad news. It's good news! Especially for you! You see, an American broadcast news company, Planet News Network, has taken an interest in several European newspapers and magzines. We are now simply part of a much larger conglomerate, I'm afraid. But the good news is that this means GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP. And we need an operational head back in the US right away." Clark was amazed. "You want ME to be a " Benoit laughed loudly. "No, no, Clark, they've already got a woman assigned to that position. And you're probably the best damn reporter I've ever witnessed in action. There's no way I would ever stick you behind a desk pushing paper, so to speak, for the rest of your life! What we want, is for YOU to head up their investigative division. They've got a lot of pretty anchors but they need a few more brains!" Benoit glanced at Marie. "No offense, my dear. You are probably the best *anchor* I have ever witnessed as well!" Marie smiled. "None taken." She turned her attention to Clark. "I heard about this merger last week. I didn't think anything of it; TFN news has been purchased several times in the past and it has never affected our positions." "Sir, not that this isn't a terrific opportunity, but why me? When I came here I was very specific about my intentions. I don't want to work in the US again." "Unavoidable, Mr. Kent. If you want to work at all, you'd better start working with PNN. They will own much of the world's mass communications in very few years. You know as well as I do that they've been the largest global communications firm in the world since they took over the former LNN. So unless you'd rather work for a small municipal paper with no potential for growth, I'd advise you to take this opportunity now,before it's too late." Clark swallowed. He couldn't go back to the US. He had made that decision over a year ago. There were too many memories there. Too many still open wounds that he was not prepared to face again so soon. Oh he knew about PNN. Stern had founded the corporation soon after his revival of the "Daily Planet" newspaper. And now that there was no more "Daily Planet" and newspapers themselves seemed almost a thing of the past, PNN was *the* monolith in techno-journalism on a global scale. Clark didn't know if that excited, or scared the hell out of him, but either way, he didn't intend to find out. And what about Marie? He had known her for months but they'd been together for 3. How would she react to all of this? "Sir, I just can't." "Clark. They asked for you personally. You'll go, or you won't work." Benoit smiled as best he could and took his leave. Marie watched him go and saw a faint shadow cross over Clark's face. "Clark. You have to go." She whispered, taking his arm in hers. "I'm sure it won't be that bad. What could possibly be so bad that..." "Marie I can't." Clark cut her off and turned away. There was so much that she didn't know or understand. Things he had deliberately kept secret from her all this time. He hadn't used any of his powers in 2 years and were it not for the occasional dream where he woke up floating, he might have forgotten he had them. She couldn't know of that and she couldn't know about the rest of his past. That was over; a chapter in his life which he never wanted to look at again. And yet a part of him ached for something he didn't even know how to analyze. It was a deep and soulful yearning more powerful than what he might have even defined as "Love" and it was beginning to consume whatever the accident had left of him. Some nights, he would wake up and actually feel cold. He had never felt cold until the accident, but something had changed inside of him that night. Something had died along with his parents, and now though physically still invulnerable, he would pitch in bed for hours in his sleep, finally sitting upright, breathing raggedly and calling out her name as if it would save his soul. A name he hadn't heard in over a year. That was what he couldn't face right now. He knew he was acting like a coward but there was more to it than that. The desperate need he felt, the impossible anger he directed towards himself. All of it was tied in to Her. And as he turned to grab his coat from the check nearby, with Marie only inches behind him, he heard a soft voice in his head. A voice he recognized but hadn't heard in a very long time. And without a thought, his mind responded, whispering urgently from within. "Lois." He sucked in a breath and took Marie's arm. Leading her out into the night towards their waiting car. CONT NEXT POST... ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 14:32:45 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: demona Subject: FANFIC 3/11 - Heaven's Prisoners (PG) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ------------------------- 3 WEEKS LATER ------------------------- Clark fidgeted with his tie as he sank into the soft cushioning of the 747's first class seating section. He hated planes. Passionately. Well more to the point, he hated flying in 10,000 tons of steel casing when he knew he could be soaring through the clouds under his own power. But doing that would mean that he would once again have to use his powers and that, he vowed, he would never do again. It was bad enough that he woke some nights, suspended in the air. Often dreaming Lois was there with him. That was especially disconcerting when thoughts of Marie would intrude into his consciousness. He wondered vaguely what she would think of Metropolis when she arrived in two weeks. Getting herself transferred as an anchor had been easy enough, she was born in the USA; but she was originally from the west coast. Europe was probably less of a culture shock than Metropolis would be for her. Clark smiled inwardly. Well, at least he'd have those two weeks to get something 'homey' arranged. She'd need an apartment. And as much as he cared about her, he still wasn't prepared for any type of live-in relationship just yet. And it was because of this, that he was eternally grateful she had never broached the subject with him. "Can I get you anything to drink, sir?" The sound of a stewardess' voice ripped him from his reverie and he looked up. "No, no thank you, I'm fine." The older woman smiled and headed off towards the rear of the jet. Clark fastened his seatbelt and looked out the tiny window next to his seat. Well, at least they'd be in the air soon. The thought of returning to Metropolis worried him more than a little. For one thing, it was the last place he'd seen Lois. She'd been on assignment in Japan for the Daily Planet shortly after their separation but now that there was no more Daily Planet, she could be anywhere. There was no reason for him even to assume that she'd still be living in Metropolis. He was at least relieved that they hadn't ended things on an angry note. Mostly, they were both hurting so badly that it had numbed them completely to any form of hostility. And Lois was beyond anger. For almost a year, she'd coaxed and cajoled him. Trying desperately to find SOME way to get through the horrible walls he'd built after the accident. Neither one of them had talked much in that year. At least not to each other. And he had to admit, that wasn't because Lois hadn't tried. No, Clark conceded, if it weren't for her stubborn and seemingly inexhaustible fortitude in searching to resurrect what was left of him, things might have ended even sooner. But eventually, even she was forced to give up and admit defeat. He wasn't going to let anyone in. Not then, and maybe not ever again. When he told her that he would be moving to Europe, she'd cried. He hadn't seen her, but he could hear her tears even over the telephone. Her despair only added incentive for him to get away. Be the coward he always knew he was, and just let the world be a better place without his interference. Failure was even more painful than any death ever could have been. He'd wanted to take refuge and solace in the arms she held out to him night after night. But how could he let her offer him forgiveness when he couldn't forgive himself? And the two people who might have been able to forgive him would never speak again. Starting over was what he wanted. If he couldn't die, then he could let the rest of it go. All of it. Yet here he was, on a plane, bound irrevocably for Metropolis and all the memories that came with. Dimly, he noticed that the jet was already well into the air. It was only a matter of time now ... ---------------------------------- "What have we got?" Lois tipped her head forward and cracked her neck back into position, causing the older woman holding a file next to her to cringe. Lois smiled. "God, you have no idea how good that felt." "I believe you! I don't think I want to know!" Judi laughed. "Well, it looks like this is almost wrapped up. I can put it to bed." She gathered the file together and closed it, but before moving away she stopped and turned back. "Lois?" Lois pivoted around to face her. "Yeah?" Judi shook her head and smiled. "It's been really great working with you. We'll all miss you when you move on to that new promotion tomorrow." Lois sighed. "I'll miss this place too. But I'm sure I'll be back on occasion. I'll need information from all over and this is probably PNNs biggest stockpile." Grinning, she continued on to her office and Judi disappeared down a nearby corridor. Gathering the last of her belongings from her now empty desk, Lois pulled the final drawer open and stared inside of it. She never used this drawer. In fact, she'd almost forgotten that she had it, third from the bottom on the left side. Now, as she moved to empty it, she gently removed a framed photograph she had placed there so long ago. She and Clark. Shortly after they were first married. God, they looked so happy. She remembered how silly she felt inside when he held her like that, standing behind her with his hands at her waist, pulling her close to him. How loved she felt. When he put his strong arms around and just -- held onto her. She closed her eyes. She could almost feel his arms around her now. No, she *could* feel arms around her now! Opening her eyes quickly she dropped the photo back into the drawer just in time to be twirled around and into another man's arms. "Lois," David crooned in her ear. "Are you almost done?" Lois moved backward slightly, out of his grasp, the uneasy feeling of her previous thoughts making her completely unable to enjoy his hug. Making her more than a little uncomfortable just being in it. She hoped he hadn't noticed. To her relief, he didn't mention it if he had. "Yeah. Yes. I'll be done in a few minutes." "Good, I'll take you home." "No!" Lois responded quickly. She hoped not too quickly. "No, David, really. It's my last evening here; I just want to take it slow and maybe reminisce a bit. Is that dumb or what?" She giggled nervously. "No, it's not dumb. And you go ahead. Take all the time you need. I'll see you tomorrow." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek adding. "At work." Lois smiled. "Yes sir." "Well technically Lois, my being a producer for PNN puts me at about par with you on the food chain down there. Heading up the investigative team." David laughed. "Your 'co-administrator' better be good. He has no idea who he'll be up against!" Lois sighed. "Not *against* David, *with*. We'll be in this together. I gave up trying to outdo my partners a long time ago." She half smiled, remembering what 'a long time ago' meant. "Anyway, if I hate him, maybe I can just avoid all contact or something." She winked. "If you hate him Lois, I'd hate to even *think* about what you'd do." David flashed a brilliant grin and turned to leave. "Tomorrow," he pointed one finger back at her. "Maybe Perry will even let us in on who this mysterious 'He' is before he shows up. He'd never tell me, but maybe he'd tell you. He's always had a soft spot for his Lois." "What?" Lois mocked. "*Executive Producer Perry White* has a soft spot?" She grinned. "Well, maybe. Anyway, you better get out of here. You've got work to do and I need some me-time, so scram." "Yes, Ma'am." With a tip of an invisible hat, David brushed past the rows of desks and into an elevator. Lois turned her attention back to her desk and found herself staring once more at the happy couple inside of left drawer number three. What a mess. She sighed. Placing the photo upright on the desk, she rummaged through some old files before glancing up at the time. It was getting late. This floor of the building, at least, was already empty except for her. Moving out of her office and one desk down towards Judi's, she flipped a switch on the older woman's radio and felt better when she heard the calming sound of an evening DJ's voice break the silence. She walked back over to her office and picked up one of the large bags she'd be carrying out to her car. Suddenly, she put it down. The radio hummed softly and she almost choked when the familiar words to the first stanza of "Fly Me To The Moon" flowed past her. Perhaps through her. For a moment, she just stood there listening. And then something silly inside of her woke up and she picked up the photo. Lois closed her eyes and rested the smooth face of the glass pane against her chest, allowing the music to caress her mind. She swayed back and forth, feeling *connected* to something, however intangible, for the first time in what seemed like forever. It was such a profound feeling that she didn't even notice the tear which trickled slowly down her cheek. She clutched the photo to her and she could almost feel him .." ---------------------- High above the buildings of PNN, a 747 jet began to make its ascent into Metropolis from Paris. ----------------------- THE NEXT DAY ----------------------- "This is a joke, right? Someone knows about,the, about ," Clark stared incredulously at a shorter, balding man who continued to bustle back and forth across the tiny office, gathering up miscellaneous odds and ends. "I'm sure that I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Kent--and my name is Dan by the way, you don't have to call me Mr. Rollins. I'm just an admistrator, well below your own position, I assure you." "Perry White? But that's just ..." Unable to verbalize his racing thoughts coherently, Clark ended up simply staring incredulously at Dan. "Just exactly who is in that office waiting to see you sir. I really can't see why you're so upset; he's not so terrible ," Dan leaned in conspiratorially " once you get to know him." "I *do* know him! And I'm not upset, I'm just very -- surprised. that's all. To be honest, I thought he had retired." "Well." Dan laughed. "If you know Mr. White, then you must also know that he probably won't *ever* retire." "Yeah, yes you're right. He's waiting you said? Should I just go on in then?" Clark asked still trying to sort it all out in his mind. Of course, Perry wouldn't retire. The man would probably die of boredom if he gave up working. He supposed that that was one of the reasons he had always admired Perry so much. He was as dedicated as anyone could get. "That's what he said, Mr. Kent. For you to just come on in when you arrived. By the way, you aren't *single*, are you?" Dan inquired with a sly smile. "Actually, no, I'm not." Clark grinned. "But .. thanks." He turned towards Perry's door. "Damn." Dan pouted. "The really *good* ones are always taken." Clark turned the knob on the large oak door and felt it slide easily inward. The first thing that caught his eye was the immense floor to ceiling windows of Perry's corner suite. You could probably see most, if not all of Metropolis from this office. It was a spectacular view and one which Clark almost got lost in until his eyes fell on the desk across from him where Perry sat leaning over a stack of papers, in obvious concentration. Clark closed the door behind him and stood there for a moment while Perry worked, oblivious to his presence. He had to admit, the Chief looked really *good*. He looked even better than Clark remembered him looking over a year ago when things had begun changing at the "Daily Planet" -- as well as in Clark's own life -- just before he had left for Europe. This Perry was definitely a happier Perry. But why that was, Clark couldn't even begin to speculate. He cleared his throat. "Chief?" Clark walked slowly towards the older man's desk. "What is it--CLARK! When in the King's name did you get here? And why didn't Dan buzz me? Aww, forget about that. Come here son, let me get a good look at you. How's Europe been treating you?" Clark laughed. It really was great to hear a familiar friend's voice again. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed everyone back here. His friends in France had been wonderful but Perry had always been like a kind of an uncle to him. Perry rose from his seat and extended one hand which Clark took and shook, only to be hauled in for a familial-type bear hug. "Great, Chief. It's all been--great." "Well, good for you son. You've been missed back here. I guess you know that the "Daily Planet" sort of flew out by the wayside round about the time you left. And all .. *this* started!" Perry gestured around his office. "Mr. Stern's idea of 'advancement'. Hmm. Well, "Planet News Networks" have certainly taken the world by storm." Perry leaned forward and spoke more softly "But sometimes son, I miss the old days of lino-type and the smell of fresh newsprint. Well, but even the King knew about progress. You have to move on to keep up. And that's why you're here Clark. I guess you've probably figured out by now that I was the one who asked for you." "Well, I did have that thought, Chief." "Ahaha! That's the Clark I remember! Always one step ahead of the game. You and Lois were always," Perry suddenly looked up, aware of his unintentional faux-pas. Clark swallowed and looked generally uncomfortable. "Well, you were always a great reporter, and I always said that-- " "How is she?" Clark interrupted, unaware of any words Perry had spoken beyond her name. "I-I mean is she still in Metropolis? When I left she was--in Japan." Clark pulled self consciously on his tie and regarded Perry with what the older man considered to be a tortured gaze. "Well son, she's..." "Never been better." Clark felt his heart lodge itself firmly into his throat. Lois. She was here. She was--- "Perry. What is this all about?" He could hear Lois' voice, soft and controlled, behind him and he heard her shut the office door. Clark was almost insanely afraid to turn around. He stared at Perry, wanting an answer to the same question and desperately trying to compose himself. He did turn, finally, because it was the polite thing to do ... and because he could smell her perfume even from where he was standing. It mingled with the smell of just *her* that he knew so well -- and he was suddenly helpless against the cascade of emotions he was feeling. He faced her. And in that moment, it was much to late. "Lois," He half whispered. The name rolling easily off of his tongue as though it hadn't been so long since he had spoken it. She looked at him, but did not speak. At least not aloud. But Clark could see it in her eyes, a firewall of emotions never given in to, of things left unsaid. The same things, he was sure, she could see in his own eyes. "Lois, I'm glad you're here." Perry broke the silence and part of the tension from behind them. "The thing is, I needed to talk to both of you. That's the reason I pulled you from PNNs south side offices. Its also the reason I requested Clark here from our the European merger." Perry cleared his throat, hyper-aware of the discomfort in the office. The truth of the matter was that he wanted to explain things and get OUT of there. Let the two of them talk. The King knew they needed to talk. Especially if they were going to be partners again. He hoped he hadn't made a huge mistake in doing this. Oh, he'd known from the get-go what the risks would be, but there were some things more important than mergers or money or even the almighty scoop. It was Lois and Clark who had taught him that. It was their new love that had helped him make the decision to take a risk of his own. And he had Alice back in his arms today because of that risk. To have watched the two reporters back then, so happy and so much in love, one would never have been able to reconcile where they were right now. Only two and a half years later, so much in pain. Lois and Clark held eye contact and Perry sighed inwardly when he noticed just how much they seemed to be communicating without even verbalizing their thoughts. Suddenly, his long and flamboyant explanation flew right out the proverbial window, along with his caution. Ceremony be damned. These two needed time, NOW. "Ahhh, okay. Well, now that you're both here, you'll need to talk about how the new "Investigative Division" of PNN is gonna run. Congratulations. You're partners, again, and I don't wanna hear another word about it because quite frankly, I don't have the time. If you have any objections you can either quit, or take them up together. I gotta get out to a meeting so the two of you can use my office for, well, ah, whatever. But if I hear that either *one* of you threw a tantrum and left, you're fired. And don't think I wouldn't do it either. I care about you both as though you were my own children but this is it folks. I've got a News Network to keep up on its feet. Good Luck." Perry gave them each the sternest nod he could muster and charged boldly past a gaping Lois, through his office door, shutting it firmly behind them. "Dan, NOT EVEN GOD gets into that office until those two come out in a civil manner. If either one of them leaves in a huff, I want to hear about it." Dan nodded, mildly surprised by Perry's seriousness. But the older man turned gruffly away and headed down the hall, shaking his head.. CONT NEXT POST... ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 14:33:08 -0500 Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" Sender: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic" From: demona Subject: FANFIC 4/11 - Heaven's Prisoners (PG) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Silence loomed over Lois and Clark like an enormous fire blanket, and neither one of them was very willing to shove it away. Lois watched him, halfway across the office, standing with his hands shoved into the pockets of his suit like a little boy who knew he was in trouble. And *Damn* him to hell for playing the victim! He'd had more than enough time to feel sorry for himself, but it was quite clear to her now that he was still doing it. What was worse was that she knew him so well. Knew why he was beating himself up and it still killed her inside to watch him in so much pain. If she went over to him now, and took him into her arms and held onto him---maybe he would know that she had always been there for him and that she always would be. Maybe, just maybe he would let her in this time; let her take some of the enormous pain he steadfastly refused to share. She took one step at first. Moving slowly towards him. As if drawn to him, she continued until she stood only inches away. Standing so close, she could feel the heat of his body, could smell his aftershave, and it was all ... the same.. She looked up and found his eyes staring into hers. Slowly, she raised her right hand upwards towards his face. He didn't move; he just stared, waiting, barely breathing.. She felt his skin for a fraction of a second beneath her palm but then pulled back, hauling her hand away and bringing it back to slap him hard across the face. "Damn you." She brushed by him and stood, looking out the open window of Perry's office into the dusky sky. "Lois," Clark turned to her, even as she turned her back to him. His hand pulled up to touch the skin she had struck; not out of any sense of pain, but because it was the first time she had touched him in so very long. He let out a short breath when she didn't answer him. "Lois..." "You never said goodbye." Lois crossed her arms over her chest and ran her hands over her shoulders. "I couldn't..." "You never wrote, or called." "I wanted to but I-" "Coward." "I know." Neither one spoke for long moments. Finally Lois hissed sarcastically. "Perry thinks that he can just wave some magic wand and it will all be better. That he can throw us together like the first time and it'll be easy--" "The first time? The first time was NOT easy, Lois. Nothing about us was ever easy. " Clark cut in ruefully. **Except being in love. That was so--natural.** Lois sighed. **Falling in love with you was the only thing that was ever easy.** "We made it difficult, Clark." She shook her head. "We were always our own worst enemies." "And now?" Clark wasn't even sure what he was asking. It was just what he was feeling. "Now?" Lois almost laughed. "Now. There is no 'we' anymore, Clark. Lest we--forget. We may not be divorced, but we are legally separated." She reached out and traced the outline of a building through the window, absently. "NO, I mean--" Clark stumbled over what it was he was trying to say. What he really wanted to do was reach out and take her into his arms. But something inside of him refused to allow him that. "I'm seeing someone else." Lois' whisper wrenched Clark back into reality. "I have been for about two months." She held her breath, waiting for his reaction. Knowing she probably should not have told him this way. But she was angry and hurt. And he was the reason. He needed to know what that felt like. She heard him breath out and then in again slowly before he responded. "Me too." He sighed. This time she turned from the window and regarded him straight-faced. After a while, she nodded silently, and then turned her head ever so slightly. Her hair was longer now. It fell just below her shoulders, a deep chestnut brown just like he remembered it. And it framed her face like an angel. Through all this, Clark could see the moisture which had been gathering in her eyes throughout their conversation. Not yet on the verge of tears, but visibly headed in that direction. If some great claw had reached in and torn his beating heart from his chest, he couldn't imagine feeling any more agony than he felt now. So he made a resolution. If he never did anything more courageous in his entire life, he would take his pride into his hands and act on impulse this one time. He had nothing more to lose. Impetuously, he moved forward and gathered his wife into his arms; he pulled her body snug with his and wrapped his strong arms around her. He expected her to pull free, to wrench herself from his grasp and possibly even slap him again for being so bold, but she did none of those things. Instead, he heard her moan softly in the back of her throat; it was the closest to crying she had come so far and he felt her arms slide around his own waist as she clung to him. They held together like that for several moments. She cried softly, pressing her forehead against his chest and pulling him even closer. He could feel her hot tears through the fabric of his shirt and he couldn't get enough of her. He ran his fingers through her hair and down onto her back, he rested his head atop of hers and breathed in the smell of her shampoo. It was wonderful...it was miraculous ... it was Suddenly, Lois began to pull away. Clark caught her look of uncertainty and before she could go any farther, he leaned forward on one last whim and captured her mouth with his. It was a hungry, soul-shattering kiss and Lois let herself fall forward until she was pressed tightly against him. She opened her mouth and accepted his questing tongue as she too sought to join with him. Her arms slid up around his neck and his wrapped around her waist as the kiss continued, inexhaustibly. Finally, gasping for breath, Lois parted lips with his and Clark pressed his forehead against hers. She moved against him one last time and took his lips gently in a much softer version of the first encounter. Tasting him and allowing herself to marvel in the feel of his strong arms pulled around her. Slowly, this kiss too disengaged, as gently as it had begun and Lois let her arms fall slowly back down to her sides. She moved backwards to stand near him, but no longer against him. "That was goodbye, Clark." Lois swallowed and tried to hold her tears in check. "That was the goodbye we never had." Clark had known, somehow, that what had just happened was not the beginning of something. That it was an ending long postponed. They both had known. He nodded, backing still further from her to allow her space. She let out a breath and there was silence for a time. "Can we work together?" Clark asked the question first. "I don't know. I guess so." Lois managed in a small voice and Clark nodded but didn't speak. After a while, Lois spoke, answering the question she knew was on his mind. "His name is David." She smiled. "He's a producer for PNN, and he's really a wonderful man. I think you two could be friends." "If you care for him, then he must be a wonderful man." Clark moved with her to one window and they stood side by side, both looking out at the now darkened sky. "Marie." "What?" Lois turned towards her new, old partner. "Her name is Marie Rickard and she's-" "An anchor for TFN, I've seen her work. She's very good." Lois held her breath and tried not to think about the two of them together. Clark with this other woman. She had been his first and insanely she wondered--did he use any of the things they had discovered together, making love, on her? Did he make the same sounds when they were together? Was she-- "Yes, she's very good." Clark continued. "And I think you'd get along with her too. She'll be here in a few days." "She's coming here?" Lois wasn't really surprised. There was a time when she would have followed Clark across the universe, nevermind the tiny sphere of earth. She would have even followed him to Europe, if he'd let her. "Yes." Neither spoke for several seconds. "Did Perry have time to tell you about the Governor's Ball later tonight--around 9?" Lois continued to stare out at the starry sky as she broke the silence. "No, are we supposed to be there?" "Yup." She glanced at Clark and added playfully, "Good guess." Clark smiled. "Yeah, well I learned from the best." He felt her hand brush against his where she stood next to him and resisted the urge to take it. This was going to be far more complicated than he had ever envisioned. And while a part of him was joyful to be near Lois once again, to be able to work with her, another part was terrified. Marie would be in Metropolis soon. And that would only make things more difficult, for all of them. On top of that, Clark wasn't sure just how he'd be able to ignore the familiar street sounds which had called him to help so many times before in his past. One thing was certain. Superman was dead, and no matter what happened here, there was no way Clark could allow him to be resurrected. The city had been without him for over two years already. Initially headlines had speculated that he had left; gone back to the planet he'