It was Sunday, and Clark intended to observe it by attending church like he would back home with his parents. Brian had informed him that the service was at 11:00, but that he wouldn't be going. He'd passed by the chapel when Brian had met and taken him through the gate yesterday, so he knew where it was on his own.

He stopped on the sidewalk midstep, stunned and awed by the sight of Lois Lane in a skirt. He hadn't expected her to be the dress-wearing kind, but then she had just walked out of chapel. The floral pattern highlighted her femininity, and though he hated to admit it, she stole his breath away.

He didn't know why he suddenly took cover behind the nearest tree. Maybe it was because she walked beside her father, who despite having no powers that he knew of, created a fearsome sight with his heavy brows, grim expression, and highly decorated uniform. Most likely though it was that they appeared to be in an argument, a fact that was quickly confirmed when he couldn't help overhearing.

"You are not going to go to prom with that loser." He barked it in the same way he probably did to the troops.

It didn't deter her. "I am. I already said yes."

"You are the only one on the whole base who defies my orders, but you're going to obey this time. I know his kind. He only wants in your pants."

"You don't think I know that? I'm eighteen."

"Correction. You'll be eighteen in three weeks. Until then you follow my rules. And I say no daughter of mine is going out with-what's his name."

She gave an upward sigh, making her bangs flutter. "Robby Fitzgerald."

The general seemed to consider the subject settled and marched right on by. Lois had stopped near his tree, arms folded.

"Are you stalking me?" she asked suddenly.

Apparently his hiding place among the foliage wasn't as good as he'd hoped. He came out stuttering and red, "No. I just-well, I could see-that is-"

"Relax. I was only kidding. It's not hard to run into each other on a base this size, especially when there's only one chapel."

"Yes," he said, relieved. Sometimes it was hard to tell when she was serious or not.

"Trust me, if I could hide from the General too, I would. You know it's a shame I'm not going to the prom with you. You'd be exactly the kind of date my dad would love: churchgoing, considering a military career, boring. I bet you're even a virgin."

"Thanks?"

She got a gleam in her eyes that even on their short acquaintance he knew didn't bode well. "That's it!"

"What's it?"

"You can pose as my date. He'd be happy to let me go with you, and I could go with Robby. You will still be here on Friday, right?"

"No. I mean yes; I will be, but why would I help you lie? It sounds to me like your dad only has your best interests at heart. I'm sure there are other guys you can go with."

"At this late date? No. And there are few guys that could stand down a meeting with him even among this overabundance of men willing to give their life for their country. A girl only has one prom, right?"

When she put it that way, he did feel a little sorry for her. You could tell someone to go solo to a dance, but high school was brutal, and people would naturally assume you couldn't get one and look down on you for it. And prom was a big event in a person's life or so he was told, and it did only happen once. "I mean if you wanted me to-"

He was thrown off guard and cut short when she flashed him an alarmingly bright smile and punched him on the arm. "That's the spirit, Kent. It's one little meeting with my father and then we'll never have to see each other again."

What he'd meant to say is that he would be happy to fill in as a date to her prom. What she took it as is that he would be happy to lie and meet her father. What if Robby really was a creep? She hadn't denied anything her father had said.

She didn't wait for him to explain though. She crossed herself. "Who says God doesn't answer prayers? We'll meet at the dining facility on Wednesday at 1800 hours."

While he was left counting to figure out what time that was exactly, she had already disappeared.

He shook his head. She was like a tornado. Or more like a hurricane. He was starting to regret meeting her.

He went on inside the chapel. There was an American flag on the wall inside. Likely it was the one constant as the worship services rotated through denominations and religions. He barely heard the sermon though as he wondered what he had gotten himself into.