The Shape of Marble
Part 1: Welcome to the Base
Dot… Dot…
Barbara Minerva reporting in to General Sam Lane…
Followed the trail of Colonel Trevor to an unknown island in the Atlantic. Trevor was found in chains. The natives, a bunch of half-naked women, were about to kill him. But he was saved by their 'Goddess'. From what I have observed the called her a war goddess. She possessed lightning seeping eyes. This woman wasn't human. She could be an asset to the military, how would you like me to proceed Sir?
Dot… Dot…
General Sam Lane reply
Bring in this 'goddess' for scientific research. We can't have the Soviets getting their slimy hands onto something this valuable. Use the utmost force if you have to…
Unknown Island in the Middle of the Atlantic
A devilish smile spread across a woman's face.
"Finally a little fun," the woman says as she places the receive down. "LUTHOR! Bring me my big game gun. I'm going hunting."
A few weeks later outside Metropolis at an unmarked military base
The dust filled the air as we drive out of the city of tomorrow. Heading down some unknown road I sit beside my colleague Lois Lane. I can't help but watch how she vainly looks at herself as she drives us god knows where.
I tap her on her shoulder and sign "Where are we going Lois?"
Taking her eyes off the road to watch my hands move she loses control of the car for a moment.
"Damn it farm boy," she hisses as she regains control of the old yellow Cadillac.
"Sorry," I sign back.
"Are you trying to kill us?" she continues. "No of course not, that would require you to have a brain. My father has something he's hiding and I'm going to report on it."
"If its military business maybe we…"
"Inform the masses," she adds interrupting me. "My father can never tell me no farm boy and in the end I'll have a story to give Perry. I can smell that new door label now. Lois Lane lead reporter!"
As Lois speaks I feel the sinking feeling. Why do I like her talk me into these things? The rest of the drive was quiet and solemn. She was too busy thinking about her future door label to bother to inform of what her plan was to get this information from a military base that was the comics would say was unmarked.
The Cadillac came to sudden stop.
"We're here," she says breaking the silence.
"What now?" I ask. "Do you want me to get out and knock?"
Lois swats my hands away, "Just let me handle…."
As Lois spoke men in all black and guns surround us.
"Get out of the car…"
"Afternoon Lieutenant," Lois coos as she bats her eyes at the guard on the driver side of the car. "I'm General Lanes…."
"Ma'am get out of the car now," the soldier continues to shout as he points he's gun at her.
I lift my hands to sign but the soldier beside me presses his gun against my head. I gulp hard. Stay calm Clark, just stay calm. We can't let them see….
"So the military trains you to point your guns at a mute man and a woman?" Lois scoffs. "Some military training my tax dollars paid for."
The soldiers look at each other puzzled as they lower their guns.
"As I was saying," Lois continues. "I am Lois Lane, daughter of General Sam Lane, the man who runs your lives here…"
Sliding her sunglasses down her nose Lois smirks, "My father knows I'm coming. Go on call him."
Lois points to the phone receiver in the booth beside the gate. One of the solider runs over to the gate. He lingers over there for what seems like an eternity.
"He's taking really long time Lois," a say.
"My father never tells me no," she kept saying under her breath.
The soldier at the gate rushes back over to use. He talks to the solider beside Lois.
"Sorry for the inconvenience ma'am," the soldier says as he waves for us to pass through the gate.
Lois smiles as she starts to drive. I let out a sigh.
"Told you farm boy," she says. "He couldn't tell me know."
Driving us through the gate we enter an old hanger. A line of men in white robes stand as if they were waiting for us.
Remain calm Clark…
"Lois!" a big booming voice says as it echoes off the hanger walls.
"Daddy," Lois replies as she gets out of the Cadillac.
Running over a man in blue suit Lois give the man a hug. The man never takes his eyes from me as he embraces Lois.
"Who's the kid," the man says.
Exiting the car, I sign, "Greetings General Lane. I am Clark Kent. I work with your daughter at the Daily Planet."
Lois's father scoffs at me, "Oh you're the farmer mute…"
His words sting as the hit my ears. I nod.
"Well At least he would be able to tell anyone what he'll see." He laughs as he walks away with Lois.
Following close behind I try not to ease drop their conversation. A chat between family was something I didn't wish to partake in but Lois's voice echoed off the walls.
"So did you get it?" I hear Lois ask.
The general grunts, "My huntress Cheetah has brought me special present. Colonel Trevor has been found and is in the medical bay recovering."
Lois didn't seem pleased with her father's answer.
"Don't play dumb pop," Lois replies harshly. "You know of what I speak…"
The general suddenly came to a stop. I look around us to find we have stopped in front of a massive metal door. The general nod to a soldier who was standing in front of the door. The solider presses a red button beside him. Slowly the door began to open. As the door cracks open to eye level an empty room is before us.
"Its just an empty room," Lois hisses as she throws her hands up into the air. "I can't make a story out of an empty room!"
As Lois shouts something pulled me to come into the room. Gradually I take a step into the room. A line of lights clicks on revealing a wall to wall glass. Walking over to the glass I tap on the glass. The sound of rushing wind hurdles towards me. I stumble back as I see an imprint of a hand touches the glass from the other side.
I was tiny as if it was a woman's hand. Why would they have a woman behind glass? Curious I place my hand over the tiny hand. It was so small underneath mind.
I tip Morse Code against the glass, "Hi, I'm Clark…"
I linger for a moment wondering if whatever was behind the glass would reply. The tiny hand fades into the blackness. My heart sinks.
Knock, knock… I am Diana…
"What did you do?!" General Lane shouts.
"Nothing," I sign. "It said I am Diana…."
"Get him out of here!" General Lane continues as he pulls me away from the glass.
Throwing me back out into the hallway I fight the fire burning behind my eyes.
"Don't be too harsh Lane," another voice interjects.
A hand was outstretched in front of me.
"We've had her for over a month and she hasn't tried to communicate with us," the man continues as I take his hand. "But he got her to use Morse Code. We could be of use for us…"
Standing to my feet I look down into the face of a bald man in a white lab coat.
"I'm Lex Luthor kid," the man says. "How about you work for me? She seems to like you and you might even get a story out of this…"
Lois places herself in between us.
"I'm the reporter here!" she hisses. "His just the coffee boy…"
"You may join him too," the man continues.
The man called Lex extended his hand towards me, "Do we have a deal?"
I look back at the blacked out glass.
I am Diana…
The message rang in my ears as I took Lex's hand.
"Welcome to the gang you Mr…" Lex pauses.
"Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas," I sign with a smile.
"Smallville 1945?" Lex asks as he steps closer to me.
I nod.
"I look forward to working with you Clark Kent," he replies with smile.
"You mean us," Lois adds.
Lex didn't replay to her. He just continues back into the glass room.
"What an ass…" she continues.
"Yah…"
As Lois speaks I slowly stop listening to her never-ending droning. Something wasn't right about this Lex person. How did he know about 1945 and Smallville? What have I gotten myself into?