ONE WEEK LATER-
The Kryptonian take over of Earth was swift and shocking. Or it was to anyone that was not Kryptonian.
There were Kryptonians dispatched to all ends of the Earth, with Jor-El and Lara headquartered at the White House. Lex Luthor had disappeared to parts unknown and left Lana and Lionel, high and dry and ready for capture.
Lara was not especially pleased with Jor-El, since Ella went on television and told the whole world what a liar Jor-El was...and that he was bad in bed! After that interview, all media was shut down on the planet until journalists swore allegiance to the new Kryptonian rule AND agreed to only report what they were told.
Dictators were not too happy with the new arrangement, but oddly, they were the first to conform. The Kryptonians knew they couldn't be trusted, but still, they hoped that once these Earth people saw others of their kind, falling into line, they would as well.
A true divide and conquer strategy.
Zor-El was working on ridding the planet of the processed foods that permeated the human diet. That caused many earth people to complain of being starved. In other parts of the world, many people that hadn't been eating well at all, were eating more often and better than they had before.
So not everyone was that unhappy about the Kryptonian rule.
There were prison camps that held the many that would not 'go along to get along'. Ella was thrown into the same one as her ex, General Lane. Moira was there with Chloe, who was just devastated with Kal-El would agree to put her in one. She felt like more than a damned fool for not listening to Lois, who had never trusted the Kryptonians.
And speaking of...yes, Lois was gone. And Kal-El was less than pleased about her disappearance, the events that lead up to it and just life in general!
For when Dr. Hamilton, Orin Curry and Ella Lane rushed Lois to the Smallville ER, they found that the original doctor that had seen her, a 'David Duckworth', was not doctor at all! He didn't even work there and yet witnesses remembered him. Many on staff were told by him that he had transferred in from Metropolis University Hospital.
Once Orin heard the alias, he knew. He knew that the killer that now called himself 'Black Manta', had posed as Lois's doctor and lied about her status, knowing she would probably regress in some way.
Dr. Hamilton didn't have the time to try and understand how such a horrific slip up could have occurred, as he insisted on overseeing Lois's care. But then something even more fucked up happened.
Lois awoke. The bump on her head was gone and it was ascertained that she was indeed carrying a child. But...Lois seemed to think that she was only SIXTEEN YEARS OLD!
Ella had to make a decision. The Kryptonians were closing in and had actually invaded the hospital they were in. Lois recognized Orin and cried with relief that he had not been killed by the shark! Dr. Hamilton had no idea what Lois was going on about and Ella realized there was no time for any of this.
Lois would have to know the truth. Amnesia or not.
So she was told that she was pregnant by an alien, that Orin had married someone else, that Ella had divorced her father, and married the father of the alien that she was pregnant by...and so on...and so on...
Lois didn't take it well at all.
Lois slipped out of the hospital and had not been seen in a week!
Kal-El had expected to find Lois SOMEWHERE and when he couldn't, he had Orin and Dr. Hamilton detained.
Dr. Hamilton was let go.
Orin was kept.
And now Kal-El was about to start a new day, after another sleepless night worrying about Lois, attempting to extract information out of Orin Curry. He had learned much more about him and his past with Lois, than he cared to know.
The detainee headquarters was a former LuthorCorp, underground installation that Luthor used for no good purpose, this Kal-El was sure of. He was about to leave his quarters, when his mother appeared on the console he had had installed.
"Kal-El, how are you? I know that you are worried for your unborn child, as am I. Have you found this Lois Lane?"
"No, Mother. But do not concern yourself with this problem. I know that you are burdened by other things. I am sorry for the part I played in deceiving you. Sorry and deeply ashamed." Kal-El said, half hanging his head down.
"It has been a struggle. But I am the one your father has come back to, and not that wretched woman. I am going to try and show her some understanding, since she will be the child's grandmother as well. And your father is an attractive man. Losing him in such a treacherous way, cannot be easy for her."
Kal-El looked back up at her. His mother was an angel. She was nothing but pure good. He himself could not stand the thought of Bruce Wayne or this 'swimmer' putting their hands on Lois! But his mother could forgive his father for living with a woman on this planet, as her husband. He wished he could be more like her.
"I am glad that you have found a peaceful way to deal with our betrayal. I will be questioning Sam and Ella Lane, again, today about Lois's whereabouts, but I am afraid that I may have to use harsher measures."
"I hate the idea of torture son, but a full blooded Kryptonian child...there is much at stake."
"How are things going with that mirror? Has Darkseid returned to claim anyone else?" Kal-El asked.
"Not so far. I was never that fond of Zod, but I know that Darkseid does not just want him."
"He wants to rule this planet, I can feel it." Kal-El said. "I will be questioning Moira Sullivan as well. She is connected to all of this, despite her protestations."
"Do you think her daughter might know something?" Lara asked.
"No. But Ella may. I should get going. I feel as if every moment that Lois is missing, my unborn child is in peril. Lois would have no idea about the proper care she should be taking for herself or the baby. And it does not help that she thinks she is sixteen." Kal-El grimaced.
"That look that just crossed your face? What is it, Kal-El?"
"It is just that Lois was sixteen when Father...well when Father married her mother and we all became this sort of 'family unit". She was impossible to deal with, Mother! And she is only slightly less so as an adult. But I don't think I can deal with that again." Kal-El asked, looking truly pained.
"Son, what is that saying that these earth people have? Yes, it is called a 'do over'. You have been through Lois's teen years with her once. Therefore you will know what she is like, what to expect behavior wise, etc.. Use that to your advantage this time around." Lara counseled.
Kal-El nodded, seeing his mother's point. He not only understood what she was trying to say, but a plan formed.
"Thank you, Mother. That is the best advice I have received in a long while."
Kal-El walked into Orin Curry's cell and took the bucket of water that a Kryptonian guard was holding, then flung chlorine filled pool water on Orin! He cried out! Chlorine and the King of Atlantis did not mix!
"DAMNIT TO THE GODS!" Orin screamed, coughing and sputtering. Kal-El handed the bucket back to the guard and nodded at him to bring some more. He then turned to his prisoner.
"You will tell me the exact details of your relationship with Lois and of your own family life. I see you have an older brother named Orm. Has Lois ever met him?"
Orin gave Kal-El a quizzical look. What the hell was this? Why did he want to know about his family? Orin wasn't telling this Kryptonian filth anything!
"So you still won't talk? That is alright. I will be your 'long lost brother'."
Orin stared at Kal-El as if he were crazy! And he was beginning to think he truly was!
"What ARE you talking about, Kryptonian? Why would I tell anyone we were related?"
"We're not going to tell 'anyone'. We're going to tell Lois." Kal-El answered calmly. Orin began to laugh just as the guard returned with a new bucket of pool water. Kal-El took the bucket and flung the contents in Orin's face again!
"MOTHER OF ATLANTIS!" Orin screamed. Kal-El handed the bucket back to the guard and signaled for him to bring some more. Once the door closed, Kal-El addressed his prisoner again.
"You are going to tell me where Lois is. Then we are both going to this location where you will introduce me as your brother. I will take it from there."
"I don't know where Lois is. And if I did..."
"Yes, yes, I know. You would not tell me. Let me add a caveat: if you tell me where Lois is, we will not use the missiles we now have control over, to blow your little underworld home of 'Atlantis', away."
Orin's facial expression changed from defiant to uneasy. Kal-El smiled.
"Imagine the loss of sea life, Mr. Curry. Now here is how things are going to go: I will allow you your freedom long enough for you to convince Lois that she can trust me as your 'brother'. Then you will be brought back here and executed for having relations with my future wife."
"Nice deal!" Orin snapped.
"You are not dying in vain. You are protecting your home. I would do no less for Krypton, if it still existed."
"I know nothing. And I would never deceive Lois. Not again."
"Yes, you're referring to that shark incident? Really, Mr. Curry. It is bad enough that you were secretly betrothed to another while engaging in indecent relations with a minor, but to feign your own death..."
"I did not fake my death! I did not want other predators coming after her because of me!"
"Then why didn't you tell her that and then leave?"
But Orin didn't answer that. Instead, he had a caveat of his own to offer.
"I have a counter proposal for you: you allow me to leave so I can capture the man that is trying to kill Lois."
Kal-El eyed him. Yes, he had heard something about this fake doctor having a grudge against Lois and Curry. And this doctor was the cause of Lois's amnesia! Orin could see he was thinking about it and reminded Kal-El of something else.
"Lois is probably alone someplace. She is scared and pregnant. She would be easy prey for this fiend if he finds her first."
"And you are sure that you can find him?" Kal-El asked.
"After what he has done, I would make it my mission." Orin replied.
"Fine. You will find this man, help me with Lois and then surrender yourself for execution."
Orin kept his face passive. If this sonofabitch thought he was 'surrendering himself' EVER, he would have another thing coming. But it was a better deal than the other one.
"We have a deal." Orin told Kal-El.
Meanwhile, Lois Lane was actually hiding in plain sight.
She was squatting at the Kent Farm!
Martha Kent, some years back, lost her husband Jonathan, while he was running for the United States senate. Martha took over the position and lived mostly in Washington, D.C., but came home to the beloved farm she had shared with her late husband, at least once a month. There were no animals kept here, but the house was still functional. It had electricity and food.
The Kryptonians had thrown all members of congress into camps. So Martha would not be returning anytime soon. And back when Lois was sixteen, teens all over used to squat in the old barn, or have parties there. If Senator Kent ever noticed that, she never said or took any security measures to keep it from happening over and over again.
So Lois knew Martha would not be home. But she was careful. She kept the lights out and used very little heat, hence causing one of those flying aliens to discover her whereabouts!
A light snow was beginning to fall as she peered from behind a curtain. Lois let it drop and walked over to a kitchen counter. There was a box of Cheez-its sitting there. She picked it up, then moved towards a comfy rocking chair. She slowly rocked while scarfing down the crackers. Her mind was heavy, wondering how the hell she could have slept with a Kryptonian and not remembered it? How could years go by and she not know about it? And why wasn't the baby she was carrying, Orin's? Her parents were divorced? What the hell?
Her cellphone rang and she had been ignoring it, since Lois knew she was probably being traced. But when she looked at the Called ID, she saw it was from Lucy! Yes, where was her little sister these days? Lois shook her head. She would just have to take a chance and answer.
"Hello?" Lois answered cautiously.
"Lois, thank God! Where are you?"
"Off by myself thinking! I am actually in college?"
"Yes though I finished before you. I work for the White House."
"Thank God! So you can protect me, right?"
"Lois, the Kryptonians have taken over the White House. Our lovely step-father and his real bitch wife live here now."
Lois raised a brow.
"I don't understand. Mom left this guy?"
"He was lying to her the whole time! He was secretly married! Mom met the bastard at a gas station!"
"Oh." Lois said, eating another cracker. She swallowed then spoke again.
"Who is this guy that I'm pregnant by? Mom said that it was her husband's son."
"Oh Lois. That's Kal-El. He's...well...totally hot but remote. He's probably scouring the planet looking for you."
"Great!" Lois sighed. "Well why is Orin back in my life if he ran off to get married? And was that shark he was wrestling with even real? I don't get how our lives got so messed up?"
"Well we trusted the wrong people, Lo. You never liked the Kryptonians. You never trusted them and you were right to do so. I have to go. I'm on the run myself. I certainly don't want to end up in some prison like the rest of our family members. I'll keep in touch. Bye."
"Bye." Lois sighed and hung up, eating another cracker. She then stood up and walked over to the fridge to find something to drink. Behind her, her cellphone glowed. She didn't realize that she had been discovered.
Kal-El and Orin slowly pulled up to the Kent Farm and then quickly turned off the engine. They had been tracking Lois's phone and finally got a hit!
Kal-El got out first, carrying a bag of supplies. The farm looked almost like some sort of ghost town. How they had missed this location as a possible hiding place, he would never understand. Not that it mattered. Lois was here and hopefully alright.
Orin took the lead and headed towards the porch steps. He then knocked three times. Lois, who had been asleep in the rocking chair, awoke at the sound! She cautiously got up and headed towards the door. She assumed someone that was on the run from the Kryptonians, wanted to hide out here too.
But when she peeked out, she saw Orin! Orin...and some other guy that was kind of cute, but was still unknown to her. She opened the door a bit.
"Orin! What are you doing here?" Lois practically whispered.
"Lois, your phone is being tracked. My...er...brother and I found out and decided to come here and protect you. Please let us in." he said, smiling with relief. She looked unharmed.
"Your brother? That's nor Orm."
"No...uh my mother had another child with another man. My real mother. This is Orl."
Another 'O' name, Lois thought.
"Well, since he's with you, okay. Come in." Lois said, stepping aside. Orin and Kal-El walked in and noted how comfortable the house seemed. Kal-El wondered what made Lois hide here?
Orin closed the door and Lois walked over to the Cheez-it box and picked it up. She looked at Orin.
"Look, I know I shouldn't have left the hospital, but I needed time to deal with what I found out. What made you come back here? Why were you afraid for me?"
Orin glanced at Kal-El before speaking.
"David from the camp, has tried to kill you once. He has killed other people on the Metropolis docks. I was just worried about you."
Lois smiled at him in a way that made Kal-El ill!
"Awww! That's sweet but I can take care of myself."
Kal-El decided that now was the time to put his plan into play. He moved to set down the grocery bag on a counter. He had purposely wore black leather, so he took off the jacket to reveal a flimsy muscle shirt that exposed his massive arms. Lois's eyes left Orin's and focused on 'Orl'.
"And uh...you're helping Orin keep away from the Kryptonians?"
"Orin is helping me. I have killed a few. One when he was trying to kill my 'brother'. He was hoping I could hide here with you."
Lois's eyes practically sparkled!
"You've KILLED some of them? Oh, wow..."
Orin could barely restrain his rage! But he told himself that once he found Black Manta, he would get Lois out of this situation. The League, together, could defeat this takeover.
"Bro," Kal-El said in a light tone, "why don't you go and find that creep that's trying to kill Lois here. Lois, I will cook us a real dinner."
Lois nodded, then walked over to Orin.
"Don't worry. I'll help you hide your brother. I've been keeping the lights low and not using any heat."
"Fine idea except for the heat. Do not worry. Turn it on, use the fireplace or whatever. Just do not risk yourself." he told her. Lois smiled up at him.
"I won't. I guess once you find David you'll be going back to this chick you married? What's her name by the way?"
"We'll talk about this once I know you're out of danger." Orin said, rubbing her shoulders briefly. He then let go of her, since he could feel Kal-El's disapproving stare. He turned to him.
"Take care of my girl, 'bro'." Orin said, before walking towards the door. He gave Lois a last look, that Lois swore looked kind of fearful, before leaving. Lois stared at the door, then faced 'Orl'.
"So what are you cooking?" Lois asked. She moved to sit on a stool in front of the counter. She watched him pick up her box of Cheez-its and throw them in the trash!
"Hey!" she yelled. Kal-El gave her a hard look.
"Orin told me you were with child. You have to think about what our...your baby can eat as well."
Lois said nothing, but nodded reluctantly.
"Good. Why don't you lay down for a bit before dinner? I will awaken you when it is ready."
"Oh I'm not tired! I've been up for like two nights! I don't know what it is but I feel more energized than ever!"
The baby, Kal-El thought, is causing this. And the baby healed the wound on her head. But still, he was worried.
"I think you should try and rest anyway. I will keep a watch to make sure no other 'Kryptonians' sneak up on us."
Lois stared at him. Kal-El smiled at her.
"What? You are staring at me."
Lois shrugged.
"You're sweet. Like Orin. I can see how the two of you could be related." she said, before sliding off of the barstool and heading up the stairs. Kal-El's eyes followed her until she disappeared. Once she was gone, Kal-El refrained from throwing something! He hadn't especially liked that 'compliment', but he told himself that she trusted him. Trusted him enough to stay here alone with him.
Kal-El pulled some special Kryptonian supplemental vitamins out of the bag, that he planned to crush into Lois's food. No, he had not liked the comparison to Orin Curry at all. But he was heeding his mother's words. This was a chance for Lois and himself to spend some much needed alone time together. And he planned to make the most of it.
