Kal-El and Lois had been abandoned at the breakfast table, and Lois didn't think it was by coincidence. Jor-El and Lara hadn't been very subtle about it.

"So do you know where all the brides went?" Lois asked, hoping she sounded casual.

He looked surprised at first and then recovered, "I know the husbands."

"Can you show me where they live?"

"I can," he answered, "or I can give you directions."

It was Lois' turn to be surprised. He was making it so easy for her. "Directions would be great."

He brought an electronic device to the table and began typing in information.

"Are you terribly lonely?" he asked in a quiet voice as he handed over the GPS-like device to her.

"If you were on Earth and there were only 4 other of your people, wouldn't you seek them out?"

"I guess I would," he conceded. "And you want to see if they're happy with the arrangement, don't you?"

She was taken back by how much he was learning about her. It was unsettling. "It's just idle curiosity."

He looked as if he believed that it was more than idle, but he didn't question her further and Lois hurried out the door.

The machine led to Ruth's house. She ignored it and moved onto the next address. She was searching for the brides she hadn't seen yesterday.

She knocked on the door of the second house and was glad when Maggie, the environmentalist, answered the door.

"May I speak to you outside?"

Maggie nodded and followed her out.

"Are you happy?" Lois asked, getting right down to business.

"I'm content," she answered. "The fact that I still get to eat what I want was a nice surprise. It will take some adjustment getting used to the new culture, but it's not a bad one."

"But do you love your husband?"

"I didn't expect it to be love at first sight, but I will not jeopardize the arrangement. I am doing this for the environment. I do like him though. We're getting to know each other better. Who knows? One day I may learn to love him."

Lois sighed in frustration. "So if you had the chance to escape back to Earth, figuratively speaking, you wouldn't take it?"

"I wouldn't even be tempted."

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around. I just wanted to know how it was going for you."

Lois knew that Maggie was yet another one she could mark off the list. If the last bride was happy, it looked like she would be going back by herself.

Renee was sitting outside her home alone. She had an unhappy look plastered on her face. Lois couldn't help but be pleased by it. Here was a chance to help.

"You don't look very happy. Isn't married life treating you well?" Lois asked.

Renee looked up to see who it was and then answered, "It's nothing like I expected. Oh sure, the wedding night wasn't so bad, but it's been downhill from there."

"Then come back to Earth with me," Lois pleaded. "This isn't the Middle Ages. We have rights."

"How can we go back to Earth?"

Lois didn't want to give her the details. She couldn't take a chance on anything being jeopardized. "I have a plan."

"I'll think about it," she said slowly.

Lois was satisfied with the answer for now. After all, Renee still had 9 days left to think about it. "Good. I'll talk to you again soon."

Lois walked back to her temporary home with a smile.

"That was fast. Did you have a nice time?" Kal-El asked, noticing that she was smiling.

"I did. I got to talk with one of the women."

"You like going out, don't you?"

"It's better than being stuck in this fortress all day."

He smiled at the word fortress. At least it was better than her previous word, a prison. He studied the walls and ceiling. "I guess it does resemble a fortress in a way, but don't worry. It'll become home before you know it."

"Not if I can help it," she said to herself.

"I was thinking it would be nice if we spent the day together tomorrow," he continued.

"Why?" she asked, startled out of her contemplation.

"Well, we are married, which means we'll have to start spending time together sometime. Besides, I don't think you're impressed with your new home. I want you to become more acquainted with it."

"Okay," she agreed. It couldn't hurt to learn more about the place, she reasoned, and it would help wile away the time.