A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone for the incredible feedback! So here's Doomsday. This is a combo I'm dying to see, and be warned, there are a LOT of spoilers (from the promo) that are hinted at. After this, the next moment will be when we get spoilers for season 9! Thanks again!
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Moment #11 ~ Doomsday
He watched her from the entrance to the bullpen, the hint of an admiring smile on his face.
It was just as he'd always pictured her. Sitting at her desk, pencil in her teeth that every once in a while was removed to scribble something frantically with one hand while the other clicked her mouse, her eyes scanning the information popping up on her monitor.
She was lovely, of course, though that was no surprise to him. But it wasn't so much her looks, as gorgeous as they were, that affected him. It was seeing her in the habitat she was meant to be in, and feeling the slightest surge of happiness, despite the dire circumstances, that she was just as he'd always imagined her.
Honestly, though, he wasn't surprised. Lois Lane's dedication to her career as an investigative journalist was second only to her love and devotion to Kal-El.
And even though, in this time, they were only at the very beginning of their legendary love story and their epic careers at the Daily Planet, Rokk Krinn couldn't help but feel a bit of a thrill at seeing the woman who was the love of Superman's life, and who was, as the history books said and as he'd learned himself through the plethora of examples the annals had given him, a hero in her own right.
Which is why he found himself here now, watching her quietly in an otherwise empty Daily Planet bullpen.
If anyone could save him, she could. Even if she didn't know who it really was she was saving.
He'd have to be careful, and while that was true anytime he or any member of the Legion travelled through time, it was even more important here.
There was so much Lois didn't know at this point in time. And yet, deep down Rokk knew she was his only hope.
Especially since Kal seemed determined to play things out. On some level, Rokk could get that, understand it. Messing with time was a tricky business, he knew that better than anyone, and he knew that Kal had seen the consequences of it firsthand.
But this…this was different.
This time, Kal's reluctance to use time, to send Doomsday to when the Legion would take care of him, would cost the world, the future, a hero. And not just any hero, but a hero who, along with those close to him, helped open up Earth and its people to those from other planets.
Rokk knew it had to be hard for Kal to understand the impact he'd have in the future, and how he could absolutely not die tomorrow. Even if it could be explained without repercussions, Rokk wouldn't even know where to begin.
It was unexplainable, the impact so enormous and meaningful for so many.
And when he'd refused the Legion ring, Rokk had begun to feel his own future slip away.
Until he remembered Lois.
She'd been away in Star City the last time the Legion had found themselves here, and they hadn't had the chance to see her. But he knew she was here now and, moreover, she'd had recently struck of a friendship of sorts with the Red/Blue Blur.
That would be the card he'd have to play. And hope that her famous investigative instincts would take a breather and not pummel him with questions he couldn't answer.
Taking a deep breath and softly clearing his throat, he took a step into the slightly darkened bullpen.
"Excuse me, Miss Lane?" he asked quietly, his voice strained slightly with the nervousness he was feeling, both at the circumstances and actually getting to talk to Lois Lane.
She tapped a couple of keys quickly, before turning her head in the direction of his voice. Dropping the pencil from her lips, she looked him over.
"Awfully late for an intern to be here, isn't it?"
"I'm not an intern."
Her eyes narrowed, and he could see the suspicion shining in them. Suddenly, she stood up, her chair rolling back slighty.
"Not an intern. Okay, wanna tell me why you're skulking around the bullpen at this hour?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About?"
Aware that, despite the fact that she was ostensibly alone here, it would still be wise to take this conversation somewhere behind closed doors, he took a step toward her.
"Not here."
"Why not?"
"It's…it's private."
She shook her head, sighing. "Look, kid, I've had a really crappy night and a horrendous past couple of days," she said, and for the first time he noticed the red rimming her hazel eyes, and the fatigue splayed across her perfect features.
He knew part of that was due to the death of Jimmy Olsen. Yet another casualty of the messed up timeline that needed to be rectified. However, he was certain, due to the tenseness in her stance, that there was something else that was affecting her.
Unintentionally, his eyes flickered to Clark Kent's empty desk, and then to the phone resting on hers. Finally, they found the computer screen, and noticed the search window open to an article on the serial murders in Metropolis and the 'beast', Davis Bloome in his human form, that was purported to be behind them.
He looked back at her, and with sudden clarity, he realized she knew, at least part of it.
Kal had called her to say goodbye.
"Hey!"
Her weary voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Sorry. Look, it's important that I talk to you, Miss Lane. Alone."
"What about?"
He glanced around the empty bullpen one more time before lowering his voice and answering, "I'm a friend of the Red/Blue Blur."
Her eyebrows rose at that. "Isn't everyone? I can't tell you how many phony leads I get a day claiming to be best buds with the guy."
"I'm not sure why you'd need those leads anymore, since the Red/Blue Blur has put you on his extremely short confidante list."
Bingo. That was information that no one (beyond a time travelling Legionnaire) could know, seeing that Lois and Kal had kept that particular connection between them, well, between them.
Her eyes widened for a moment, before she nodded slowly, her features softening into a slight smile.
"Well played, kid. And call me Lois. Follow me," she said, gesturing toward an empty copy room on the edge of the bullpen. He trailed behind her, walking into the room and turning to face her as she closed the door.
"What's your name?"
"Rokk."
"How do you know our primary-colored hero?"
"That's not important right now," he said, hurrying on before Lois could interrupt, "what is important is that you know him. And, I assume you know what's going on."
She tilted her head slightly, lips pulled to the side. "What's going on?" she asked all-too-innocently, which elicited a small grin from Rokk.
Ever the secret-keeper. Even if she didn't know the whole secret yet.
"The monster, Lois," he responded, growing serious again. "The beast that's responsible for the murders around Metropolis."
She exhaled loudly, and he could swear he saw wetness shining in her eyes.
"I thought he was invincible," she said softly. Sadly.
Rokk considered her for a moment, the strength she was known for seeming to drain out of her as the hero she'd come to believe in was on the brink of certain death.
The worst part was he knew what she was going to lose if his plan didn't work.
"I know it's silly," she continued, "but ever since he called, I've been racking my brain trying to think of a way to help him. Any way. I've been searching for any information I can find on this thing and hoping to come up with …something. Anything. Stupid, right? I mean, if he can't think of anything, why should I think I can?"
"It's not silly at all," he said, his voice gentle yet determined. Taking a deep breath, and knowing this was the moment of truth, at least as much as he could divulge to her anyway, he said, "What if I told you there was a way to help him? To save him?"
Her head shot up.
"I'd say why are you wasting your time here with me and not tracking him down and letting him in on it?"
Rokk closed his eyes.
"I already did."
Lois' eyebrows knitted in confusion. "So why do you need me?"
He met her question with silence, and after a moment, he could see realization dawning on her features.
"Why?" she asked.
Rokk moved toward her. "The way…what he'd have to do, it could have consequences if things don't go exactly as planned. And, I think he thinks this is what he's destined for," he said, keeping it as vague as possible.
"What would he have to do?"
This was it. The moment of truth. Reaching into his pocket, he took out the large ring, and held it out to Lois.
She looked at him quizzically in response. "Um, interesting bling and all but, what does that have to do with helping the Blur?"
"Lois, this ring, it allows the wearer to go to a different time."
He didn't know whether to be worried or surprised at the silence that suddenly settled over them. All he'd read about Lois, she wasn't called Mad Dog Lane for nothing. He'd expected a barrage of questions, and was met with nothing but shocked quiet.
Her jaw worked for a few moments before she finally spoke.
"Wanna run that by me again?"
The ring rested in the palm of his hand as he continued to hold it out to her. "Essentially, it's a ring that allows the wearer to move through time."
She scoffed lightly, and then shook her head. "Time travel?"
"Pretty much."
A dry chuckle escaped her lips. "You know, I thought I'd seen everything living in Smallville. Clearly I was wrong."
"I know it's hard to believe…"
"Ya think? And yet, it makes perfect sense, in some weird Smallvillian way. So, what, you wanted the Blur to hightail it to a different year?"
"No. Well, not exactly anyway."
"Then, I don't get it."
"You don't need to, at least that part. Just know that he turned it down. I need you to do something a little different."
"Why me?"
Talk about a loaded question. One that he'd have to answer very carefully.
"Because," he began, pausing to gather his thoughts, "because you're his friend. Because he trusts you. Because," he said, his voice softening, "this isn't supposed to happen."
"Wait, what does that mean, this isn't supposed to happen?" she asked, eyeing him curiously before her eyes flicked once again to the ring. After a moment, now widened orbs rose back to Rokk's face. "Oh my God."
"Lois…"
"You're from the future aren't you?" she asked, almost excitedly.
"Lois…"
"So, when you said this isn't supposed to happen, what, is the future messed up because of this? Because the Blur doesn't survive?"
His future. Your future. The world's future.
When he failed to answer, Lois crossed her arms in front of her.
"I get it, can't tell me, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Hey, I like sci-fi as much as the next girl," she shrugged. "So, what do I need to do?"
He wasn't surprised in the least at that, after all, in the future, there was nothing Lois Lane wouldn't do for Superman. And even though they were years away from that time in their lives, that connection had already manifested itself between her and the Blur, even in the short time they'd been in actual contact with each other.
"The monster and the Blur will fight tomorrow. When you hear about it, you need to slip on the ring and think of two days ago. You'll be sent back to that time."
"Why do I have to wait? Why can't I just do it now?"
"On the off chance he changes his mind, and wants to change things himself. I have to give him that chance. If the fight starts, though, you'll know he didn't. You have the police scanner in here. The minute you hear something, you need to do what I asked."
"And why two days ago?"
"Because…other things need to be changed, too."
"Like?"
He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. "You aren't meant to be alone here, Lois."
She shook her head slightly, not understanding.
"Something happened yesterday. Something that shouldn't have."
A gasp escaped her lips. "Jimmy."
"Look, I've already said too much, alright? When you get back, find the Green Arrow. He can help."
"I knew Mr. Emerald Archer knew the Blur. So much for his Seriously Lois, it's not like there's a fraternity or something," she said, deepening her voice to mimic Oliver Queen, and Rokk couldn't help but smile despite the aura of seriousness surrounding them, knowing full well there was a fraternity of sorts.
Knowing Lois knew full well exactly who the Green Arrow was and wouldn't have any trouble contacting him, he continued, "When you find him, tell him he needs to stop the Blur any way he can. He can't be allowed near the monster. Arrow will know how to handle it, and the monster."
"But…I don't understand. So I'm the only one who will know that I put on that magic little reset button?"
"Right. The Blur will still have to face the monster, but if things go as planned, and I see no reason they shouldn't, the end result will have the beast taken care of, and the Blur alive to save the citizens of Metropolis for years to come."
Lois blinked quickly, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Lois, can you do this?"
She gave him a soft smile. "Are you kidding? I'd be dead about twenty times over if it wasn't for the Blur in red and blue. More importantly, he saves us on a daily basis and he never asks for anything in return. It's the least I can do."
"You're sure you understand what to do?"
"Yeah, I got it Future Boy. Gimme, gimme," she said, holding out her hand for the ring. He simply nodded, placing the ring in her hand.
"Thank you. And I know I don't have to tell you, but…"
"Keep it quiet, yeah, I figured. Don't worry. I never reveal my sources," she said with a smirk.
He turned to leave, but as he reached out to open the door, he heard her call out to him.
"Rokk?"
"Yeah?" he asked, turning to face her.
"I'm gonna be honest, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around all this. I mean, time travelling rings and reset buttons and all. I'm not entirely sure I believe it, not that I won't give it a shot, of course. But…I wanted to say thanks."
"For?"
She shrugged, a soft smile gracing her lips. "You gave me hope. Hope for him. And even if it's a slight hope at this point, it's hope nonetheless. I can tell you're a friend of his, because that's what he does for this city, every single day. He gives us hope."
Rokk returned her smile, an admiring note in his voice as he responded, "I learned from the best."
He reached for the handle once again, this time pulling it open. As he walked through, he turned back one more time to the woman who was a legend in his time, partly because of her selfless love for the man whose life she was about to save.
"Good luck, Lois."
"Thanks, Future Boy."
Rokk grinned at that, feeling a lot lighter than he had when he walked into the bullpen earlier. Things were going to be okay. Kal was in good hands, and he knew, above all, that Lois Lane would not fail.
As he reached into his other pocket, pulling out his own Legion ring and focusing on the year 3009, one amused thought raced through his head.
Garth was gonna be so jealous.
