Wormhole and Meteor Showers
Things going rough at work and slowing down on updates again, apologies and thanks to all my readers for continuing the display of patience between updates.
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Lois woke into a world of pain. There was no haziness and she knew exactly where she was. The smells and sounds of the hospital were as familiar to her as the feel of her own bed. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that Clark would be sitting tensely in a chair on one side of her bed and Chloe would be sitting on the other side. There would be a bouquet of hated wildflowers send from her father's assistant and stamped signed by him. "Is he alive?" she asked, her voice surprisingly steady and strong. Usually when she woke in the hospital her voice was hoarse and her throat dry.
"Yes." a surge of relief filled her as the familiar voice replied to her question. "But it's still too soon to tell if he'll recover. He had a bad hit to the head and swallowed a lot of water before I could get to him. He's lucky though that the propeller missed him when the speed boat cleared through the yacht."
"And me?"
"Grade 2 concussion. Lot's of blood lost, maybe a dozen more stitches to add to your collection. Or rather, there would have been stitches, but I was able to pull a favor, and borrow Sam Carter and a healing device to close the wounds."
"Nothing to do for the concussion? What about Richard?"
"The device doesn't work well on head wounds. Sam thinks a full Tokra could have healed it and made you complete good as new, but as for Richard, well she's just not skilled enough or have enough. . . Call it power to control the device enough to heal Richard. And I tried but I couldn't get them to waive security clearance for him."
Lois finally opened her eyes, having enough experience with concussions and hospitals to do so slowly and not throw them open. "What about the drivers of the boat?"
"Dead on impact. The driver's chest impacted the steering wheel, crushing his ribs into his lungs and other organs. A passenger was knocked over the side, landed on the deck of White Wash head first breaking his neck. A second passenger was thrown through the windscreen at impact then fall back into the water and is in serious condition in the ICU. They were pulling a skier who slammed into the side of White Wash, impaled on a broken piece of the hull. There were enough empty beer cans and empty bottles in the cooler that the police have no doubt that they were habitually drinking/boating while drunk. Both boats are write offs and if he survives the passenger, who is the owner of the speeder will face a lot of charges."
Lois closed her eyes again, feeling a slight bit of guilt for the pleasure she felt knowing that the ones who had caused the accident had paid for their crime. "I was coming." she said, wanting to talk about something else.
"Coming? To what?" Clark asked, confused by her statement.
"Richard and I were turning around to head in to dock, then we were going to head over to your party. He reminded me that what ever else has happened we are friends and that you needed me, us there."
"Thank you Lois. I know things have been odd between us recently, but you are a part of my family and it hurt to think that you didn't want to be at a party for me."
Lois snorted but wished she hadn't as pain flared in her head. "Let's be honest Clark. That party was for the Glam Princess more then it was for you. She was trying to put her brand on you publicly and you were letting her. I don't know why you can't see that all she wants is to control you and show to everyone that even though you're the strongest man in the world, you're controlled by a woman."
Clark quirked his brow, he'd known Lois didn't like Diane, but he'd never expected this kind of vitriol. "Do you really think that, Lois? I mean she's a bit overbearing and controlling at times, but then again, so are you." he let his voice edge into a teasing tone towards the end.
Lois grinned. "Okay, so maybe I do have some issues. But those are private. I'm not trying to dictate every detail of your life. Let me guess, she picked out what you wore to the party, and made sure that it was something that reminded everyone of your costume and your origins, leaving nothing that would tie you to Clark. She wanted Kal under her thumb. She probably wore a matching dress that subtly implied that she as an Amazon was superior to you in some way."
Clark shook his head. "I have to admit, she is getting rather aggressive about it recently. I think she made some kind of attempt to seduce Bruce and it backfired on her. She had left him off the original guest list, but I was able to have him re-added."
Lois smirked. "Bruce is still hung up on Catwoman and doesn't really consider any other woman worth his time."
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Clark was sitting on top of the world. Literally. He was currently seated on the metal Globe that was the icon of the Daily Planet. From here, he could watch the hospital where Lois and Richard were recuperating. Lois was in a chair next to Richard's bed in the ICU.
He was mentally reviewing the discussion he'd shared with Lois. He knew he had to do something, or Diana would continue to try and run his life. The problem was that when she relaxed she was a good friend with a surprisingly witty and dry sense of humor. It was the other times, usually when it came to interacting with the public when the harsher side displayed itself. Then, she became manipulative and controlling. It was even causing issues in the League as she sometimes tried to exert authority over other members of the League.
She kept trying to use the history of the Amazons and the influence they had exerted on historical figures to brow beat others to accept her decisions, even though she was only 1 voice on the tribunal. The Tribunal was a bit of a misnomer as there were 7 members. 3 were of the original founders and 4 from the general roster. All were voted in by the entire Roster. Since there were the 7 original members, only 3 could serve at a time. Currently Chloe, Victor and Bart were the 3 originals on the tribunal. Oliver, Dinah, Arthur and (depending on who you asked) Clark himself were the other 4. Clark didn't consider himself one of them, and instead always insisted that it was J'jon Jonzz who was the 7th. The two each considered the other to be the 7th, no matter what others said. A few didn't like to consider Chloe part of the group as she was more of a support role then field work. All 7 of the others counted her among them.
Diana's main issues were that she wanted to be considered a founder, as she had been the next to join the group, right after they officially became the JLA. She was then followed by Bruce and his crew and then others started to swell the ranks. Diana apparently felt that her age and experience should allow her to be elevated to rank among the original members. Granted she had been around to watch the stars when Jesus was born, and had fought in countless battles against many evils more destructive then most of the villains they encountered. She couldn't grasp that this didn't mean that she was automatically the best suited to lead.
As Bruce proved every night, superpowers and age didn't mean anything if you didn't have the compassion to temper the more aggressive emotions. Despite his dark nature, Batman was at the core an outlet for Bruce's compassion and selflessness. He was Bruce's way to use the abilities he'd trained to try and ensure that no one else suffered as he had. And for those he could not prevent, he could help them find justice so they would not be tempted by vengeance.
A nearly inaudible pin and gentle vibration indicated that someone had joined him. He knew who it was before they spoke and without turning to face them. He was upwind slightly but with his sense little things like the wind direction were minor details. Now that he had full control over the intensity of his abilities, he was working on focus. Right now his hearing was mainly focused on Lois' breathing and heartbeat, his smell was dissecting the individual components of the perfume his guest was wearing. When she landed, he had switched his vision to normal so was now watching traffic on the ground far below.
"I heard what happened, Kal. Are Lois and Mr. White going to be okay?" She sat next to him, leaning a little too close for his comfort.
Clark shrugged. "Lois has a concussion and some bruising. She'll be fine. Richard... Richard is in a coma and no one knows yet if he'll ever wake up. Even if he does, the force that hit him broke several bones and did damage to his skull and spine. At best, he'll be a quadriplegic and in a wheel chair. At worst, he'll remain comatose and only survive while connected to life support." He stood and started pacing, not noticing he was walking in midair. It was a habit he had picked up in recent years and he never noticed if it was the ground, wall or the ceiling. Or as it was the case now, in midair. Since everyone pretty much agreed that a pacing Clark was easier ( and more amusing) to deal with then a brooding Clark, no one mentioned when he did display his casual disregard for the laws of gravity.
"What is going to happen to those responsible?"
Clark tilted his head as cries of pain reached his ears, but he could also hear that there was already someone helping the injured party (some type of kitchen accident from what he overheard). He ignored the cries and tuned back into Diana's questions. It was situations like this that he'd had to learn to ignore. It had been one of the hardest lessons for him to learn. He was only one man and couldn't be everywhere and do everything for everyone. He didn't have to stop every single mugging, be there to prevent all accidents or rescue every cat in a tree. He had learned to be a symbol of hope, something for others to strive to become and not an omniscient being controlling the fates of billions. As Lois had told him, "Don't sweat the small stuff. Let the cops and emergency crews handle the average situation and you do what they can't. Let them do their jobs and help when they ask because they would ask if they need you. They are trained to handle the things they do, and know the risks with their jobs. If they can't handle it, they'll call for your help."
"Most likely, they'll face significant jail time. Some are as bad off as Richard, and 1 of them died. So that's manslaughter and then drunken driving resulting in death makes it a murder charge. The severity of injury could add a charge of attempted murder or reckless indifference instead of just assault."
"Is there anything that we can do? Perhaps some Amazonian magic or the technology of non human allies could assist Richard."
Clark walked over and took a seat. "As a favor to me and to Lois the SGC is contacting several allies. Kara and Jjon are looking into Kryptonian and Martian technologies while Bruce is funding Victor and some of the others research for just this type of injury. Since is run in with Bane, spinal cord research is one of Bruce's pet projects." He finally looked at the woman, again marveling that such beauty held a strength that might rival his own.
Diana winced as she recalled her behavior towards Bruce during his recovery. He had finally reached out for her and she had derided him. Their relationship had never recovered so she had set her sights on Kal. She had cared deeply for both men, but her upbringing often over rode her emotions. She was aware that she was occasionally a little overbearing, but she could not help herself.
The world of Man was confusing and she then retreated to Themyscaran behavior. Men were even more wild and savage then she'd been taught and though they wore a veneer of civility and social progression, it was a very thin veneer. They easily reverted to and embraced barbaric practices and even some they claimed as 'humane' were just a cover for their often cruel and vindictive natures. Of course it never occurred to her that the same could and was thought in consideration of her own culture. It was in fact an inherent reaction of any culture advanced enough to have the ability to consider such esoteric thoughts. A culture evolved enough to recognize the nature of their own civilization and compare it to others was normally incapable of considering that their own culture held within it many of the flaws and draw backs that they derided in others.
"Kal...." she started then trailed off as she saw him tense. "Clark." she started again. "I'm sorry. I know I've been a bit pushy but I realize that it will never work between us." she looked away, tears glistening in her eyes.
Clark let a breath as some tension released inside. Only in its absence did he realize it's existence. "Maybe in a different life, but no, it would not work between us. Not in the long term, and I think that's what we are both looking for. I just don't understand why you were so aggressive and possessive."
It was Diana's turn to look away. "When I was young, or rather, when I was newly crafted, an Oracle had a vision of my life. As I was born of Earthen clay and not of mother's womb, no man of Earth born would be able to sire a child through me, yet one day a child born from me would rival the power of the Gods. Her sire would be one fallen from the Sky- a Lord born of another world. For a long time I watched the skies until eventually, I moved on. Then Steve's plane crashed and he washed ashore, and for a while I thought he was the Sky Lord. I returned with him to man's world and tried to live as one of them. That didn't work for long and so I set aside the prophecy and returned home.
News reached us of the struggles in man's world and of the emergence of super powered beings both good and evil. My mother decided it was time to rejoin man's world, as a beacon of peace. I tricked her into naming me as Ambassador. Then I met the League during the crisis in Japan. We got to know each other, and I came to care for Bruce. But like you, his heart belonged to another and during the one time I could have won his heart, I was a complete and utter bitch." She turned back to Clark, her tears running silently down her cheeks.
"To my shame, I immediately attempted to refocus my energy. I tried to seduce Arthur, and we shared a short affair. By this time I had forgotten the vision, until I overheard a pair of aides from Themyscara discussing your . . . attributes and origins. I raced to my library in the Embassy and found the Book of Prophecy and sure enough, you fit all the signs of the Sky Lord. And learning through Jjon and others how races referred to Kryptonians, I knew- - I knew that you were the one I'd been waiting for. The one I had longed for and that the Gods feared. But I knew that your heart belonged to another. Yet because of the vision, I also knew that we were destined to be together, That you would be the sire of my child. So I decided that I would watch you. What I learned startled me.
A being with the power to enslave nations and crush planets in your hands and yet you allowed Lois, a common mortal woman, to treat you as little more then a servant, even when she was aware of your love for her. Even your coworkers at the Planet, the field workers on the digs you traveled with, and the soldiers of the SGC all seemed to regards you as little more then a beast of burden, someone they could order about and exploit you abilities for their own ends. Even your enemies mocked you. I decided you needed a strong hand to guide you, to help you become the man you should be by throwing off the mundane shell and embracing your heritage and gifts.
"But that's not who I am. I might have been born Kal El of Krypton, but I am Clark Kent. Clark is who I am, and Kal or Superman is what I can do. Lois is the one who taught me that."
"I've been a real bitch to her, haven't I?" Diana stated rhetorically. "I'll need to find a way to apologize and that is not something that we Amazons do easily. I just could not understand how she could hold your heart and not seem to want what you had so obviously given her."
Clark grinned for the first time since leaving Lois at the hospital. "I'm sure you'll think of something." His grin faded and his head cocked to the side.
Familiar with the look on his face, Diana stood and her own features settled as she blinked away the tears. "What do you hear?"
"Problems with a couple of planes. One is over Glasgow, leaking fuel and with 1 engine running. Another on the way to Tokyo out of LA. One of the passengers is threatening to kill everyone... it seems like his partner left him and he wants him back."
Diana didn't bat and eye, already signaling for her specialized transport. "Which one do you want?"
Clark spun into his suit. "I'll go to Glasgow, there's rumbling in Europe I want to look into anyway." He disappeared faster then even her eyes could track.
"Coward." she stated, knowing he could hear her. Clark wasn't phobic, but had a distinct unease of the attention he drew from his male fans. He had a huge following of men and women who dreamed of him and practically worshiped him. The adulation they showered on him made him squirm, not knowing how much the people he rescued enjoyed feeling him squirm. She had a hard time deciding whether he was more put off by the women or the men. She herself was flattered to be considered an icon for the lesbian and gay community while also being a sex symbol for the heterosexual population. She did not limit herself to such ridiculous labels or ideals in terms of her sexuality. She enjoyed the companionship of both men and women, though given that she'd spent most of her life on an island devoid of men had limited her options drastically until her relationship with Steve.
As the jet angled and sped off, she shook her head to clear it. As she traveled, she began to consider the best way for her to solve the issue of the hostage situation on the plane over the Pacific ocean while part of her mind struggled with ideas for how to apologize to not only Lois but Kal's parents for her presumptive behavior.
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Pete swore as he rolled to avoid the return fire from the squad of Tenekrian soldiers. He and Lajjan, along with Jacob and Selmak had been sent on a recon mission centered on a remote outpost the Tenekrians claimed was a weather and seismological testing station on the edge of the newly claimed Tokra/Jaffa space. The council believed that it was being used as a spy center where Tenekrians gathered information on Jaffa/Tokra troop movements and selling that information to the Goauld and other enemies of the reforming Alliance.
There had been complications right from the start. The moon was supposed to be a dessert planet with several oasis' ranging in size from a few hundred square miles to the larges which was roughly the size of Yosemite on Earth. Instead, they'd Gated into a dense forest that seemed to be a cross between the Florida Everglades and the Canadian arboreal forest. The red sun glared down, filtered by the orange and yellow plant life and warming the skin but too distant for a deeper warmth. Distant sounds indicated wildlife appropriate for the Eco-sphere but again, far different the results from intelligence probes had indicated.
They had immediately turned for the dial sphere but it was not there. Sharing a look they had pulled their chosen weapons. Jacob had a rifle based on the Jaffa staff weapon, while Pete carried the specially redesigned P90. It was a 9mm weapon that the SGC had commissioned to be able to share ammo with the SGC standard 9mm hand guns. It's appearance was that of a P90 but it carried the larger 9mm rounds which caused it to have a slower fire rate and muzzle velocity.
They began a search of the area, finding several marked paths. Not even Selmak recognized the markings on the sign posts. Picking a path at random, they moved forward cautiously. The pair had been partnered for years now, and had developed a pattern and flow between them and had no need for words to be exchanged as they quickly and efficiently explored the area. After 2 klicks down the one path, they returned to the gate. They repeated the search on 2 more of the 7 paths before deciding to set up a temp camp just inside the tree line where they would be insight of the gate but not visible from anyone exiting the Gate. They didn't bother with the camo netting since it was a desert pattern and color design.
"Did we reach the right place?" Pete asked as he prepared portions of dried foodstuff. He would never have imagined it, but he craved a good old MRE spaghetti.
Jacob was fiddling with a new gadget that had been created by his daughter Sam and the science staff at the SGC. It was effectively a Galactic GPS, containing the locations and spatial coordinates of the entire Pan Galactic Stargate network. It, as many of the new techs in the SGC now were, was a amalgamation of various technologies. Designed and programmed for humans, it contained a mix of Kryptonian, Martian, Goauld and Asgard information and hardware. There was even the odd bit here and there from other races the SGC had encountered over the years. "GGPS says right planet, right location. Scanning indicates this forest is only a few years old, yet indications also show it's comparable to Old Growth forests on Earth. It's almost like someone moved the forest into the area. Either that or they have some serious plant grow formula."
Pete finished his meal as they considered their options. With no dial tone they couldn't gate out. Their mission was supposed to be silent, so base wasn't expecting to hear from them on any regular schedule. The moon was on the edge of the galactic network, just shy of extra galactic space. At full speed, their faster ship would take at least three weeks to arrive. So that means about 2 weeks for any one to notice the lack of contact, a week for them to worry and put off any action, then another of planning. 2 weeks to try and retrace their steps (they had taken 3 jumps to get here) before sending ships once they gather a search party and those who gated are also found to be missing. That means about 6 weeks for a ship to be sent and 3 weeks to arrive. They only carried with them a week's worth of food, and less than that of water.
"Wish we'd brought the new comm device too." Pete said.
Jacob chuckled. "I wish we'd brought a comm period."
"So what's the plan? Continue the mission, or try and setup a more stable camp while finding some way to survive until rescue?"
"We'll need to set a more permanent base. Somewhere nearby but out of sight and traffic. No further then 2 klicks from the Gate either. 1st priority is a base site with water and food, then other essentials. Once that's set we can explore, but no more then 10 klicks out from the Gate or Base. We don't know what's out there and I don't want to end up as some things dinner."
"Do not concern yourself with such things, Tokra. Concern yourself with this: You are trespassing on a sacred site and the Goauld will pay dearly for your capture. Normally we would sacrifice you to the Great Lord, but the Goauld have a bounty on the live capture of any Tokra or Tauri that we can not afford to ignore."
The voice came from nowhere and the two reacted instantly, reaching for their weapons,but freezing as a strange hum filled the air.
"Please, continue to arm yourselves. My men are eager for your deaths as punishment for defiling these holy lands. The price for a live capture is greater but the bounty for a dead Tokra is more then adequate."
The two exchanged glances then slowly moved their hands away from their weaponry. A shimmer in the air and they could now see the dozen heavily armed and armored soldiers as they trained their unusual but deadly looking weapons on them.
"Ah, wise choice. I would hate to kill you and loose the larger bounty. Gren Gar Toucha." 2 of the soldiers moved forward and disarmed Pete and Jacob. They placed everything into the captives packs before backing away. The leader, who was denoted by the full face mask and helmet he wore while the regular soldiers wore helmets similar to those worn by the Roman Legions while their armor looked more mid evil in style. Only their weapons indicated the advanced nature of their technology.
"Trek gana Schee." 2 other soldiers approached and bound the pair who were forced to their feet and pushed forward. "Come along peacefully. I want you in good health when our guests arrive."
"How we gonna get out of this?" Pete thought to Lajjan.
'Same way we always do. With style and explosions.'
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story notes-Richard as Tokra or brain dead, possible amnesia?
-Lois next of kin makes choice
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