Zal-El did indeed ask Lois to marry him.
Her answer? That she would think about it.
Then she proceeded to take Shelby and move back to her old apartment above The Talon in Smallville. She needed space and she didn't care what Zal-El or Lex Luthor thought about her being there-since Shelby had been banned.
Well, she didn't care what Lex Luthor thought.
Zal-El was another story. His proposal had come to her in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Lois, at first, had thought she had not heard him correctly, as she still felt consumed by the passion she felt for him.
And again, as soon as he asked her to be his wife, another splash of cold water seemed to hit her. What the HELL was she doing? This man essentially worked for the creep that was holding her sister hostage! She was being forced to play out a charade and marry this man's twin, otherwise, Lucy could end up in some space prison or worse!
And instead of studying how to impersonate Cera-Zod, she was sleeping with her 'teacher' and actually thinking about marrying him! Lois had to think of Lucy here. Lucy was her family. And until this whole thing was over, Lois couldn't be running off and marrying anyone, much less someone associated with Lucy's imprisonment.
If Zal-El understood where she was coming from, when she told him that, Lois could not tell. He seemed neither upset or understanding. She just couldn't tell. So, she packed up Shelby, who seemed anxious about leaving, and drove back to Smallville.
Now, back in her apartment with Shelby lying in front of the fireplace on the floor, Lois sat on her couch, lost in morose thoughts. She didn't even know if Lucy was still alive! She sighed, shook her head and turned on the TV. And old episode of Gilligan's Island was on. She turned it down low just as her cell phone rang. Lois fished it out of her purse and saw it was Perry White.
"Hey, Perry." Lois answered. "How are things going?"
"You're asking me how things are going? What's going on with the story? Do you know Cera-Zod's life story in and out?" he asked.
Lois paused and Perry knew he had been right to check up on her! Something was wrong!
"What is it?" Perry asked.
"Everything. I moved out of the Vellagio. I'm back in Smallville at my apartment."
"I thought Lex Luthor kicked you out of there?" Perry asked.
"He did. But I still have stuff to pack. Plus I don't see him around so..." Lois trailed off.
"Tell me what's going on?" Perry asked, trying to hide his worry.
"I got too involved. Way too involved. So involved that Zal-El wants to marry me."
"Wh...what the holy hell, Lois? What is going on with you two?"
Lois paused for a long moment before answering.
"There is something between us. There was from the moment I met him at work."
"Lois! He's only been on the planet for a day and some change! He's helping Zod hold your sister hostage!"
"I can't explain it. But when he popped the question that's when I left. I mean common sense seemed to come back to me. Yes, he's holding Lucy on another planet and I have to buckle down and be someone else to get her back! All I know about Cera-Zod so far is that she's a terrible person and it's no wonder that Kal-El does not want to marry her!"
"Okay, calm down. Is there anything else that I should know?"
Lois decided not to bring up the criminal party she went to. If Zal-El had no intention of joining that group of low life's, then there was no need to bring his name into it.
"No, not really."
"What does that mean?" Perry asked suspiciously.
A sharp knock on Lois's door, spared her from having to lie any further.
"I have to go. Someone is here. It's probably Zal-El."
"Lois, keep me posted! If this gets to be too much..."
"Perry, I don't have the option of pulling out of this. I have to think of Lucy. I'll talk to you later. Bye." Lois hung up and then walked over to her door to answer it.
Zal-El was not standing in the doorway.
Lex Luthor was.
"I'm just here to pack up some things." Lois lied, as Shelby lifted his head and growled!
"Would you keep him under control so we can talk?" Lex asked. Lois noticed that his tone was not as high handed as usual. She nodded, turned and turned to give Shelby a look. He stared at Lex but did not get up.
Lex walked in and Lois closed the door.
"What do you want to talk about?" Lois asked.
"My sister. Tess Mercer. She was supposed to meet me for dinner last night. Have you seen her?"
"No." Lois lied. She wasn't stupid. Tess probably went straight to Krypton after threatening Zal-El last night and didn't tell Lex. He was sniffing around her trying to blame Zal-El for something.
"I know you don't know my sister well, but she said she was headed to the Vellagio to speak with Zal-El. Since you were staying with him, I thought you might have seen her there?" Lex asked, not buying Lois's answer.
"I don't know you sister at all, Lex. Maybe you should call the police?"
"I don't think you'd REALLY want me to do that, would you?"
"Why would I care?" Lois countered.
Lex did not answer that and Lois raised a brow.
"What the hell are you really asking me, Lex? I said I haven't seen your sister. I suggest that you try the police and you threaten me? Call them and I'll tell them what I told you."
Lex still said nothing. He did give her a hard stare though. He was here because Kal-El had contacted him with his concerns. And at first, Lex didn't think there was anything to his suspicions. But now...now he was just as worried as Kal-El was. What he could not figure out was Lois Lane. Was she really that low that she would cover up a crime?
Meanwhile, Zal=El drove a rented, black SUV and parked outside The Talon. He was on the phone with Zod.
"You are telling me that these people had the nerve to clone my daughter and yourself?" Zod seethed.
"Yes. Though I do believe that they believed Lois was Cera-Zod up to that point." Zal-El replied.
"Well it will have to do. Your parents will probably be contacting you about Yar-El. It will be a state funeral so you have no choice but to bring Lois Lane here immediately." Zod said grimly.
"I will wait for the call." Zal-El said drolly. He had had as much caring for Yar-El as he had for anyone else from the House of El. Which was nil to none.
"I plan to send some of our people to Earth to hunt down and eliminate the clones." Zod informed him.
"Do you know who their benefactor is?" Zal-El asked curiously.
"I have my suspicions. I would not worry over it. They have no organization without yourself or Cera-Zod. But I am concerned that other clones will be made." Zod said.
"What should we do?" Zal-El asked.
"I will make sure the clones are destroyed, then speak with this 'benefactor', to ensure that the cloning process is not repeated. You just make sure to get Lois on a transport ship by this evening after you are called-probably by Jor-El."
"I will." Zal-El said and hung up. He looked over at The Talon. Lois and Shelby had only been gone a few hours and he already missed them. He missed Lois's endless talking and optimism. He missed how she looked at him with love, even though she did not realize it. And he missed sharing a bed with her.
Zal-El missed Shelby as well and strongly suspected that the animal himself, now had two people that he was loyal to. He got out of the car and headed inside. He had been wrong to spring a marriage proposal on Lois. On this planet, Earthlings took an absurdly long time to decide such matters. He would just have to remember that.
But when he got to her apartment, Zal-El could hear that Lois was arguing with someone and Shelby was starting to growl softly! He opened the door and found Lex Luthor inside!
"What are you doing here?" Zal-El asked in a voice that made his displeasure known. Shelby hurried over to him and he bent down slightly to give him a comforting pet on the head.
"Lex here, thinks we did something to his sister!" Lois huffed.
Zal-El looked at Lex. Tess's body had not been found as of yet. When it was, Luthor would begin accusing people in Gotham.
"Lois hasn't seen Tess. Is that your story as well? I know she went to meet with you." Lex said, now facing Zal-El.
Zal-El was pleased that Lois had covered for him. The staff that Tess Mercer had bribed to be let in to his penthouse, had been dealt with. There was nothing that could tie her to him or the Vellagio.
"I don't know your sister. I am aware of her reputation. After all, she is sleeping with my brother."
"I find it fascinating that you would run my sister down for having sexual relations with your brother, when you're sleeping with Lois here. I mean it's rather obvious." Lex scoffed.
Lois moved to Zal-El's side.
"Zal-El and I are engaged, so it's not quite the same thing." Lois told Lex pointedly. She could feel Zal-El's surprise, along with his arm, which now slipped around her slim waist.
Lex raised a brow but said nothing more. He walked past them and out of the apartment. He then walked downstairs and out of the building. Once he was in his car, he called Kal-El.
"I think something has happened to my sister. And I think Zal-El and Lois are involved in it. And apparently, they are now engaged."
Kal-El's jaw hardened.
"Take the next transport ship here. I have sent you the proper credentials so it looks as if you are here for my grandfather's funeral." Kal-El said, before hanging up and facing his two guests.
General Sam Lane and Lionel Luthor.
Sam Lane was not in the mood for any bullshit!
"I want to see my daughter." he said gruffly, as he snuffed out a cigar.
"General, I appreciate how difficult this is for you," Kal-El said calmly, "but I can assure you that Lucy will be on tomorrow night's transport ship."
"But you plan to take Lois into custody?" Sam asked.
"She is not in trouble, General. She is just as much a victim in this as Lucy. They are young. They tried to handle this themselves when they clearly should have just called you." Kal-El told them.
"Then why will she be detained?" Sam asked, not liking any of this.
"Because," Lionel interrupted, "there is still the matter of a betrothal to be dealt with."
"My daughter is not this missing girl! You actually expect Lois to go through with this?"
"No, but Lois is a witness. My brother and the House of Zod members will be tried and in all likelihood, placed in a prison."
"Add my daughter's murder to the list and yes, Zal-El has to pay." Lionel said, looking down. He hadn't treated Lutessa right. He should have acknowledged her long ago.
"We don't know for sure that he killed her." General Lane said, feeling for Lionel somewhat. He most certainly didn't like this Zal-El character being anywhere near Lois!
Kal-El took a deep breath.
"I hope that is not the case. But...I have a way of feeling what Zal-El feels. And when he murders, rage overcomes him. I can feel it as well. I just think..."
Kal-El said no more. If Tess was dead then it was on his hands...and soul. And he had quite a revenge planned for his brother if she was indeed dead because of him.
Shelby trotted off to Lois's bedroom and jumped up on to the bed. He soon fell asleep.
That left Zal-El and Lois alone.
"Did you mean what you told Luthor? That we are engaged?" Zal-El asked.
"Tess Mercer left like you said, right? You don't know what happened to her?"
"She left with the intention of flying to Krypton. That is all I know." Zal-El lied as he caressed her face.
That was all Lois needed to hear as she threw her arms around him and surrendered to his hard, demanding kisses! She had missed him in just the short time she had not been in the same room with him! They clawed at one another's clothing as Zal-El's meaty girth clenched and rose in anticipation of their lovemaking. His lips closed over hers hungrily again, as they fell to the floor and he entered her so deeply that he thought he would join them together for eternity.
Lois began moaned gratefully as she gripped Zal-El's muscular backside and responded to his fierce, pumping thrusts with equal intensity. She gasped with naked desire as his deep penetrations seemed to go and on...
When Kal-El's call was finally made to Zal-El's phone, it was mid afternoon and Lois was gently riding bloated thickness as Zal-El gently cupped her breasts. Zal-El heard his phone but did not want Lois to stop. He did not want to stop.
But it was Lois then ended her gentle ministrations upon his heavy organ and collapsed within his arms. Zal-El reached around on the floor until he felt his phone and looked at the Caller ID.
Kal-El.
"What?" Zal-El answered. Lois lifted her head. He only spoke in that tone when it was Kal-El.
"Zal-El, I am sad to inform you that our grandfather, Yar-El, has died."
Zal-El didn't even bother to sit up or let go of Lois.
"Oh. Well I am sorry for Father."
"Yes, well, it will be a state funeral. Cera-Zod and yourself need to return to Krypton. Preferably by tomorrow."
"I understand. I will arrange a transport."
"When?" Kal-El asked slyly. "Mother is anxious to see you."
Zal-El flinched, something Lois noticed.
"I will arrange transport for this evening."
"That sounds good. Mother is looking forward to seeing you." Kal-El said.
I'm sure Father isn't, Zal-El thought bitterly.
"We will let you know of our arrival." Zal-El said and hung up.
"What is it?" Lois asked. Zal-El had mentioned a transport ship.
Zal-El reached for her hand.
"We are out of time. My grandfather has died and tradition holds that we both must be there. We leave tonight."
Lois gave him a look of total fright!
"Zal-El, I'm sorry about your grandpa, but I'm not ready..."
"I will arrange for you to stay at the House of Zod-with me. You can see your sister, for she is there as well. You will marry Kal-El next week and we will both return here and be married."
"And I won't be a bigamist, hey?" Lois asked knowingly.
"You are not Cera-Zod. You are Lois Lane. I am marrying the real woman. Kal-El is marrying a fantasy."
Lois did not resist when Zal-El pulled her into a kiss, but her mind was racing! Because now it was becoming increasingly clear that she could not write a story about how she pretended to be Cera-Zod, and be married to Zal-El on this planet.