The Price
by LO
Rated: PG
Written: February 2002 Published: July 2002
__________
For some time I have been wondering how Clark gets away with being absent from work so often. I realize that being a journalist allows some flexibility but... there must come a time when even Perry reaches his limit of tolerance. When coming up with scenarios for how that crunch point could come, I kept coming back to September 11. It was the most televised event ever and it places Clark's two jobs in direct conflict. The choice he has to make is obvious but what is the price of that choice?
This is not to detract in any way from the superhuman efforts of the men and women of real life New York City. Indeed, when you look at the logistics of it, even Superman would be unable, as one man, to do much more than what was done in this world. As far as I am concerned the firefighters, police, paramedics and people of New York are all heroes.
The purpose is simply to highlight the clash of Clark's two lives as he, like any of us, tries to live up to his ideals and beliefs.
Please note that it is not set in our world. It deals with equivalent events in the New York of the DC Universe and some of the names and places are different as a result. I don't own any of the characters (with the exception of President Jeffers) and am not seeking to make a profit or infringe copyright. I have borrowed or paraphrased some dialogue from the LnC series, the movie and the comics, both to enhance and support the tenor of the story. Oh and Lois does quote Star Trek at one point. In doing so, I acknowledge the writers of those works.
A particular thank you to Hazel for her insightful comments and encouragement, as well as the participants on the IRC for their many excuses for Clark's absence.
Written: February 2002 Published: July 2002
__________
For some time I have been wondering how Clark gets away with being absent from work so often. I realize that being a journalist allows some flexibility but... there must come a time when even Perry reaches his limit of tolerance. When coming up with scenarios for how that crunch point could come, I kept coming back to September 11. It was the most televised event ever and it places Clark's two jobs in direct conflict. The choice he has to make is obvious but what is the price of that choice?
This is not to detract in any way from the superhuman efforts of the men and women of real life New York City. Indeed, when you look at the logistics of it, even Superman would be unable, as one man, to do much more than what was done in this world. As far as I am concerned the firefighters, police, paramedics and people of New York are all heroes.
The purpose is simply to highlight the clash of Clark's two lives as he, like any of us, tries to live up to his ideals and beliefs.
Please note that it is not set in our world. It deals with equivalent events in the New York of the DC Universe and some of the names and places are different as a result. I don't own any of the characters (with the exception of President Jeffers) and am not seeking to make a profit or infringe copyright. I have borrowed or paraphrased some dialogue from the LnC series, the movie and the comics, both to enhance and support the tenor of the story. Oh and Lois does quote Star Trek at one point. In doing so, I acknowledge the writers of those works.
A particular thank you to Hazel for her insightful comments and encouragement, as well as the participants on the IRC for their many excuses for Clark's absence.