The New Earth Adventures of Chloe Sullivan
Issue 1: Familiar Faces
The story opens in a jungle scene at night, filled with overhanging trees, vine and a general sense of gloom. Yet up ahead a light shines through. In a cavern where scientists are conducting what seem to be complex tests on an object that would look more at home amongst archaeologists. The artefact is black and grey yet it gives a sense of not quite being all there. As the lab-coated figures continue their tests they are unaware they are being watched, through one of their own cameras, by an unknown observer.
In Metropolis in the Managing Editor's office of the Daily Planet, at 10:30 in the morning according to the clock on the wall, Lois is once again arguing with Perry White, who is not only irritated by her stubbornness but also by the new dieting patch Alice bought him, which itches his arm continuously.
Lois: ...but Chief! Why does this have to be me and Clark? Surely we're better than this!
Perry: Don't you Chief me! You two may be the best god damn reporting team in this city, but you're still my reporters and this is the most important damn story we've got in this town!
Lois: What about Mexico?
Perry: Evans is down there and the travel ban is still in place on all "non-essential persons". [Imitating quote marks in the air]
Lois: The Middle-East?
Perry: There's a team already assigned to it and on their way out
Lois: Can't we join them?
Perry: You know Mr Wayne's accountants wouldn't agree to that even if I would, which I don't
Lois: Car workers strike in Central City?
Perry: Harley... Look Lois this story is important. This discovery may have consequences for our understanding of the history of life on this planet.
Lois: Or it could be what it looks like. A lump of old rock!
Perry: Okay, Okay. I'm gonna make this real simple. Either you cover the museum piece with Clark or you can be covering lost kittens story solo for the next month.
Later that day at the Science Exporium, quite a crowd of reporters gathered, many from the scientific journals but also some mainstream reporters gathered out of a desire to serve the public interest and a slow news day. Clark and Lois are near the front of the small conference hall sitting in their usual positions.
Clark: Quite a number of familiar faces
Lois: I guess they couldn't get out of it either
Clark smiles amused
At the back end of the room, a blonde reporter strolls around like she owns the museum and everyone in it. As she does so she occasionally looks at a part of the room, then checks her watch. She moves easily around the crowded space being elegant and subtle, powerful and unnoticeable, in every movement. Her actions are interrupted as a man in a ill fitting suit and unkempt hair calls everyone to attention.
Professor Ignazi: um... members of...er ... of the... of the press.... can I ask you all... all to take your seats please.
The professor then begins to give a long and boring speel about what was known about the artefact, (which according to what can be seen Lois' notes could have been summed up in five lines). Eventually the presentation finishes.
Professor Ignazi: We... we... we will now take some que...questions.
Lois: [Standing Up] Lois Lane, Daily Planet. How long will the artefact be held at the museum and will it be on display to the public?
This question was answered not by Professor Ignazi but by the museum director, a man who looked more like a lawyer than a doctor. He had the expressions and mannerisms of an upright gecko. His smile could comfort his friends and unnerve his opponents.
The Director: Now Mrs Lane-Kent, that was rather cheeky of you! Asking two questions in one [smiles a crocodilic smile]. But I will answer for such a distinguished, and beautiful, journalist.
Amused but respectful looks pass among the assembled journalists. Most are press snobs and believed everything they saw on the Lexcom news and read the Daily Planet and their own papers, dismissing most others as biased, tabloid rags or both. Many of them were also single men and still harboured desires for Metropolis' famed reporter.
The Director: In answer to the first question, about three weeks whilst the experts study it in full. To the second question, unfortunately not. The artefact will be kept in the vault directly underneath this room. It is very valuable and maybe only superman could get inside.
The Director: Yes, you, the Blonde lady.
Blonde lady: [Standing Up] As the Director of this museum, how do you respond to claims this was a sacred relic of the Mbunuyu of the Sornliu, which was taken without prior permission.
The Director: Well Mrs... I'm sorry, I didn't catch who you were.
Chloe Sullivan: Chloe Sulivan, the Green Flag. And it's Miss if you must know.
Clark and Lois look shocked independently on hearing the familiar name.
The Director: Well Miss If You Must Know...
Several journalists laugh at the appalling attempt at humour.
The Director: ... the museum refutes these allegations, although they are the first I've heard of them. The artefact was bought fairly from the local landowner. Now next question.
But Chloe does not sit down.
Chloe: Then how do you respond to further allegations that the self-same landowner has been responsible for displacing the Mbunuyu from the region or does the museum feel that the pursuit of science overrides human rights.
The Director grew perceptibly colder.
The Director: [with Venom] Well, Miss Sullivan, we again refute these allegations. This institution takes a strong stance on human rights, only this year we started a committee to discuss the feasibility of divestment from arms investment. Although this selective evidence does not surprise me coming from a two-bit hack working for a conspiracy rag like The Green Flag.
Many of journalists titter among themselves, apparently agreeing with The Director's disdain. Clark and Lois however still sit in shocked silence.
After the press conference is over Clark and Lois are at the standard press buffet laid on by the museums. However, both seem far away.
Lois: Hey I have to go meet someone. See you at the Press Club for lunch at half one.
Clark: No problem. I have to run an errand myself. See you soon.
They kiss on the cheeks and go their separate ways
A few blocks away. Chloe is working on her laptop in a Wi-Bro cafe, apparently on her story. The place is busy with business men at this time of day. She sits on a corner stool at an L-Junction in the abstract layout design, meaning that her screen could not be seen by others. From both sides of the junction she heard "Chloe". Looking up she sees both Clark and Lois standing at opposite points of the junctions. "Oh" they say, again in Unison.
Later, at the Press Club, Clark, Chloe and Lois all sit together chatting about the old times.
Chloe: This is so weird. You're telling me that neither of you knew about this.
Lois and Clark [in unison]: No not at all. [Look at each other and share a smile]
Chloe: I'm amazed we never met up before
Lois: I didn't know what happened to you. You just disappeared from my radar, back when we moved to Fort Richards. You must have been, oh, thirteen.
Chloe: I kept writing to you, I just never got any replies. I eventually gave up, I thought you must have gone abroad.
Lois: [Laughs] That's the army for you! They can send a cruise missile to the other side of the planet but don't bother forwarding your mail.
Chloe: [Jokingly] Well maybe it would of help if you told me when you were going to be moving about. I still can't believe the world famous reporter didn't deduce that two people in Smallville at the same time might meet. It's hardly the biggest town in America.
Clark: I think that may have been my fault. When I first started at the Planet I used to talk about you a bit too much. I used to say "Chloe would have done it this way" or "Chloe would've worked that out way before now." It got to the point where she would throw things at me.
Lois: He's exaggerating...
Clark: It was just lucky I was a good catch. I guess that, because of that, she was never able to connect the dots.
Lois: I imagined that this Chloe must have been such a witch that I couldn't have thought it was you. I didn't think you could have survived out in Hicksville for that long.
Chloe: [jokingly] Do I detect a bit of jealousy? I wouldn't have expected that coming from someone like you (!)
Lois: [smiling] Well you have to be competitive with other journalists or you get left behind.
Chloe: Wel...[She sees a look from Clark and knows it means to change the subject]l how is life at the old DP?
Some time later
Chloe looks at her watch
Chloe: Well it was great catching up with you guys but I have to go look for a motel.
Lois: [Concerned] Hasn't the Flag organised one for you already?
Chloe: No we all make our own arrangements. It's not got the circulation of the Planet so we don't get expense accounts.
Lois: Well then you'll have to stay with us.
Chloe: No, you're very welcome but I couldn't intrude on you.
Lois: [Mock frown] Chloe, I haven't changed that much since we were younger. Now are you going to come and stay with us or do I have to pin you to the wall with cutlery again
Chloe: [Laughs] That was only once and I am certain a carving knife shouldn't count.
Clark looks concerned and shocked
Lois: Oh you worry too much. You should know I don't miss. Now Chlo will you stay.
Chloe: [Laughs] Okay then, but only because I don't want to get you banned from here.
Following a Taxi ride back to Sullivan place, interrupted only briefly by a stop at the Planet during which Chloe remained outside, Lois, Clark and Chloe enter into the apartment.
Chloe: I like the address, it's very catchy.
Lois: Feeling a bit narcissistic?
Chloe gives her joking look
Chloe: I can't help it if it sounds good.
Chloe turns to the see the main window in the apartment is awed by the view. For the first time today she is speechless.
Lois: Amazing view isn't it. We were really lucky to get the place.
Chloe looks out of the window where she can see the two architectural icons of Metropolis, The Daily Planet and the Lexcorp building. When she was younger she would have seen it is an icon of the good and evil which could exist in the world. Now, older and wiser it was just the city itself that she found iconic, however rotten to the core.
Later on Lois left to meet one her scientific contacts to see if she could get anything more about the artefact, leaving Clark and Chloe alone in the apartment together. After an awkward silence Clark decides to break it.
Clark: Chloe, I...
Chloe: There's no need to say anything I understand.
Clark: But I mean... I was just a silly kid back then.
Chloe: I know. I don't blame you for it. Honestly, I don't. You had to do what you had to do. I mean I can't expect you to help me out just because I have problems. You had your own ones to deal with.
Clark: It was just that L...
Chloe: [Combination of slight anger and sadness being held back] Don't say it Clark. Just don't.
Another awkward silence emerges. Only interspersed by the minute beeps of Chloe's watch. After a while Chloe tries to break it.
Chloe: So why didn't you tell Lois?
Clark: About what?
Chloe: Oh come on Clark, about us. I can read you like an open book. You're hardly the best guy at keeping secrets
Clark: Oh that... Well, its not like it meant nothing... It's just that she can get so jealous... and what with you being a reporter...
Chloe: [Smiles] You know I'd forgotten how cute you are when you're nervous.
For that moment all the feelings they once had came back, the love, the jealousy, the hate, the tears, the laughs and companionship they'd shared. But the moment is interrupted by the return of Lois who sits down between them.
Lois: I wait for half an hour and my source doesn't even show up. I'm filled with enough coffee to be up for hours.
Hours later Chloe went to sleep on the coach. Clark changed into Superman and went out on patrol whilst Lois took some sleeping pills to counter the effects of the mammoth coffee she took. Because of this she did not hear as the dark figures crept into the apartment.
In the early hours of the morning, Clark rushed home after hearing Lois scream. When he got in through the window he saw Lois standing in the bedroom doorway.
Clark: What's wrong?
Lois: It's Chloe! They've taken Chloe!
Clark hugs Lois, both of them in shock for losing someone so special they'd only just found again.
To Be Continued in: Issue 2: The Gambit.