Action FanFic #2

When Lois Met Clark

Ma told me it'd be a few hours before my 'mystery man uniform' would be close to ready. She's done things like this before, especially when I was in theater. I took that just shortly after the talk Pa gave me about putting myself to better use than sports. And if it's true that this uniform could make a difference then maybe the acting could help me. I better file my story, it's only been about 20 minutes or so. Kansas to Delaware at my speed shouldn't be much of a problem.

I get back to the office in record time and I do as Pa suggests, I put the glasses on my face and I slouch a bit. I look at the photographer they have on staff; Olsen is his name. He waves at me and I shyly wave back. This is very strange. I'm used to hiding my powers, but not my personality as well. I can still be a good person, be honest and dependable. But that's where I'll have to draw the line. I can't let them know what I'm planning to do.

I look around to see if anyone's watching and in moments, I've typed the story and moving at a normal human rate, I proofread the results. I make the minor changes necessary. I type up 'Flying Man Saves Space Jet'. I figure that's a catchy title, and I print the hard copy, sending the file to Mr. White anyway. I want to make sure he got it though, figures it adds a bit of something if I do that, makes me look a bit more like a workaholic and general...geek. I go and knock on his door and he looks through the window at me.

"Kent! Get in here!"

"Yes, Mr. White?"

"I just proofed your story!"

"But sir, I just sent it to..."

"A good editor checks out the new talent to make sure he was worth the hire, don't need bull cookies in my paper! That's what the Daily Star is for! The second any story hits my computer I read it Kent, and I read it fast. Man and boy I've been here, my first job was at the printing press. Learned all about it and knew how every aspect of the job worked. Then I was taken under the wing of Mr. Swann. He was the editor before me and he made me a shutterbug. Told me to go and take pictures, showed me what to look for out there. How to identify newsworthy photos. But the best thing the man ever did for me was put a pencil and paper in my hand and told me to report what was out there in the city. I could find the pictures but now he wanted me to find him the story behind them. I handed him my notes and he'd critique me Kent, wouldn't take him but a few glances. He'd tell me where I went wrong, what I should do better! I was one of the best reporters here at the Planet all because of that man. The day he retired, he turned the Editor-in-Chief job over to me. Said make the seconds count because news is always moving! "

What could I do but smirk at that. This was after all the Daily Planet and Perry was right, there is a reputation to uphold with this institution, in the nearly 175 years the paper's been running, not one single issue has failed to go out. And for all those years that Perry White has been here, he's made sure of it. I looked back up at him ever so humbly and bumbled to push the glasses off the tip of my nose back onto my face. "Well, Mr. White? Is there anything I can do to change it?"

"No, you did a fine job Kent. Not as good as I think you can do. I can see where you could improve just a little. There's a lot of raw and untapped talent here. You could really be big here! I like the fact you got to the scene and put the news in it. Used a lot of descriptions too! Valiant, strong, selfless, but there's a level here that sounds personal! You gotta remain objective Kent. That's the key to trade! You aren't the best, but you could be. You wanna be the best, then I've got the person for you to learn from. Her name is Lois Lane, she's been with the paper now for years. She's got the iron in her guts to give a real story. And luckily you'll still be able to meet her!"

I paused for a moment, confused by the last statement. "Was she going to quit, sir?"

"No, Kent! She was on that Space Jet that this mystery man brought down. She wanted to report about the newest spacecraft that they're hoping will one day help us to reach outside our own galaxy. Trained with NASA and even went through LexCorp's own rigorous security scanning. She got on by sheer determination that she would report that story for somewhere around the Moon! And that's what I'm talking about Kent, determination! Get the story, get the angles from all sides that you can. Do what seems impossible and that'll make you the best!"

I absorbed every bit of this that I could. I didn't know what to say! My teachers in college never told me any of this sort of thing. Of course they always told me to be objective no matter your personal feelings, but to do what Lois Lane did to get her story… What could I say? The tenacity of a woman like that could rival any power that I might have. I looked back up at Perry and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. White. I'll definitely keep that in mind."

I turn to go out of his office when up I look and see this dark haired woman stomping towards Perry. She's still in a space flight suit and got a digital recorder in her hands, this is so very obviously Lois. The way she smiles isn't that of a person happy to be alive, but more like a politician that knows they've landslide an election. She goes through the myriad of people that are rushing up and asking her if she's all right. She keeps telling them she'll explain later, but right now she's got a story worth telling. Perry was right, she's as tenacious as she comes.

She sees me at the door and actually shoo's me away. She swings the door wide, which hits me in the gut slightly, I barely take a step back so the glass doesn't shatter on impact. "Perry, I have got the story of the year in my hands!"

"Lois, don't be rude! I want you to meet our newest employee!"

"Yeah, hi... Chief, you've gotta hear this! I'm in the jet, right? We've just taken off in Florida, the jet goes out of the stratosphere, and then all of a sudden it just goes wild! The pilots can't control it and it's zooming back down towards Metropolis! People are panicking, there's screaming and shouting, and obvious sabotage is in place! The as we're about to hit the LexCorp towers, and get this, we're saved by some guy who's flying! He takes hold of the plane and lands it without any effort on his part! Perry, I smell Pulitzer here!"

"It's a great piece Lois, but Kent here has already delivered a story worth note." He turned his screen for her to look at.

She glanced it over, sharply turned, and for the first time Lois Lane noticed me. "Kent delivered the story did he? And you're going with this piece are you Chief?"

"Name one good reason why I shouldn't?"

"Because I'm Lois Lane and his piece is fluff in comparison to mine!"

"Maybe, but it's here and on time! I'll have to hold the presses up for you Lane and the Planet runs on a deadline!"

She turned her attentions back to me looking me over with the analytical eye of a police dog. "So Kent, where did you first become a reporter?"

"I was a reporter in High School, school newspaper of course."

"Charming. And where did you attend College?"

"I attended the University of Kansas actually, wanted to be close to my folks."

"You come from Kansas, eh? What brings you to Metropolis?"

"Well, Smallville wasn't exactly brimming with news." I smiled a little, trying to disarm her. She was so upset that her story had been scooped. Every reporter instinct this woman had went into full effect the minute she saw me as a potential threat to her reputation. Lois Lane scooped by the new kid, I knew that wasn't going to set well. However, I was hoping that maybe she'd give me the chance once she got to know me a little.

"You come from Smallville?" She laughed just a little. When she stopped she just stared right into my eyes arching her right her eyebrow. "Well Smallville, that's the first thing you said right all day. You needed to get out of Kansas. We're not into reading about wheat field disasters. After reading over you story I can tell ya it's good but it's not gonna win you the Pulitzer. And it's not only about reporting the news, it's about making sure the people feel what it is they're reading. Hard facts, close ups, the feel of the subject you're writing about breathing down their necks. You're story here's too mushy! 'This good-Samaritan with his mythic abilities...' Save the sap for the romance novels!"

"Well Lane, if you feel that strongly about Kent's abilities then maybe he should learn from the best! So as of right now you have a partner in crime! Kent you're gonna follow Lois around and you're going to learn from her. I want you both to collaborate on a few stories together. That should give him plenty to work with, don't you think?" Mr. White stopped and stared at Lois with that look like he was a principal at school. It was almost priceless to see the reaction on Lois's face when she heard it, but I remained as composed as I could only smiling. Of all the gifts in the world I really wish I had telepathy at that moment. Knowing what was going through her head would've probably frightened me. Still insights are always helpful, especially when you're obviously treading in someone else's territory.

"You can't be serious? Perry, I'm a REAL reporter! I don't have time to baby sit Smallville, no offense."

"Oh...none taken Lois. It's just so nifty to be able to work with you."

"Nifty? Chief, you're killing me with this!"

"Get over it Lane, it's happening! Three stories to show him the ropes, then you can walk your separate beats again. And by the way Lane, that better be some damn fine work you hand in to me. You know, Pulitzer material?"

She looked back at him and saluted. The sarcasm dripping off of it was almost alarming, where I was from people tried to be as courteous to one another as possible. This sort of mentality, especially in the work place would be something I'd have to get used to. Lois seemed to take it all in though. She sat at her desk, which conveniently was right across from mine and started in on her story. I, of course, had followed her there only to stop behind her as she started writing. I stood there for a few minutes doing everything I could not to stare at her computer screen. It seemed the best thing I could do was avoid the circumstance of being an over-the-shoulder reader. I always hated when the professors in college would do that to me. Eventually her hurried typing came to a stop and she whirled her chair around. She was definitely angry and yet there was a softness to her. This woman was as tough as they come, I could tell that. But the gentleness behind her features made me pause for a second. I noticed it in the office earlier. As long as I'd known Lana and the very idea that we'd be married with children by this point always seemed out of place. I've met several women that I'd befriended over the years, but this woman actually had taken me back just a bit.

"Well, Smallville? You got something to say to me or are you just going to keep staring all day?" She snapped me out of my own thoughts.

I tried to regain my composure, but I felt like the goofy character I was playing in that moment. "Well Lois, I...I...I was wondering if you had anything you were working on that might be a good subject for our first story. And it's Clark, by the way..."

"Yeah, Clark. I'll try and remember that Smallville. Now would you do me a favor and go chill somewhere else? I'm busy writing MY story about MY experience on the Space Jet. You know, the one you only saw from a DISTANCE?"

"Sure, I'll just go and hang out somewhere else. It was good meeting you Lois, I'm very honored to be working with you."

"Great, the pleasures all yours. Beat it!"

I decided to take her advice on this one and just leave. I figure she'd probably start liking me better if she didn't have to see me at that moment. What did I expect though? She's a news hound and as a journalist it is very frustrating to have your story swiped by a newbie. The question in my mind remained, where do I go from here? I have an apartment now, but I just don't feel like being there. Ma wants me to come back a little later to try on my outfit, but that's still not for a little while yet. So in lieu of this I decide to go to my safe haven or as my father Jor-El calls it, my Fortress of Solitude.

The day I enrolled into college I had still not done anything with the crystal that was given to me by my father. He say when I found a place I felt was proper enough I could activate it and I would have a monument to Krypton. Obviously the problem with that was if I built this monument some where in the United States, someone would be bound to notice it. That could pose a lot of problems when they wanted to know about the alien technology standing out among the more modern structures. The government would be called and the battery of tests they would put me through...I couldn't bear that. Nor did I want to imagine the horrible fate that would await Ma and Pa in that situation. However, curiosity was getting the better of me so I went to the library and I found a globe sitting on the reference desk. I had the intent of actually looking at maps of the world to decide where I wanted to go, less populated places where no one would likely find this place. Then it struck me like lighting. I grabbed the crystal and I flew as fast as I could to Antarctica.

I went deep into the heart of the continent and I took the crystal from the bag I had on my back. I looked at the crystal and I didn't know quite what to do with it. It glowed slightly, but then it had always done that when I held it. I wasn't sure what to expect from it. It didn't react as I thought it would. I figured it would explode in light and there would be this huge structure standing in front of me. I sat down in the snow and ice and put the crystal down in the snow. At that point the crystal just sank in. My eyes widened and I went to go grab it, but it had someone melted through the several feet of snow and ice. The ground started to quake and as I examined it with my X-Ray Vision I jumped out of the way Out of the ground a spire shot up like an arrow, it was crystal and as beautiful as you'd ever imagine. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was actually terraforming the area around it, building new places deep within the snowcap. I examined it further trying to see what was going on. It was encoded with things that I could not believe. Metals were forming around the crystalline structures. What seemed to be computers were being put into place. Impossible things that I couldn't believe the crystal was programmed to do. If this was the last vestige of my homeworld then it was truly more of a loss than anyone could realize. It's a wonderment to me, but it also surprise me. My gifted vision was being put to the test. I started to use my abilities in unison, zooming in to microscopic levels while still using the X-ray ability. It was amazing. Inside the technology I saw little machines building it. They're nanobots! Science Fiction came to life before my eyes! They actually perfected nano-technology! Then again I was the 18-year-old boy flying above the ground and using my visual acuity to scan within an object at levels that would make eagles jealous.

Upon completion of the Fortress the nanobots went into the main computer bank and disengaged. They became dormant again. I pulled my vision back to see the full structure. It was so beautiful. I hovered in awe at the magnitude of this creation. I would defy anyone to not, even with all the architectural and technological marvels that we know today. I casually, or better cautiously, drifted into the structure. There I saw an image of my father and what I presumed to be my mother holding up a world. It wasn't Earth to be sure.

In mere moments a voice came from behind me, "That is Krypton, my son."

I turned in amazement over hearing my father's voice. "Father?"

"Yes my son, it is Jor-El. More correctly I am a holographic image based on your father's engrams and the knowledge."

I was so stunned I couldn't speak. I looked at the ghostly image of my father for the second time since finding out where I was from. But this time I could speak with him and he could react to me. I tried to find the words in my mind, anything that might express the sheer amount of happiness, wonderment, sorrow… It was nearly impossible.

"I understand your surprise Kal-El. I know you were not expecting this, but I felt it better for you if I gave you something more personal than just a computer bank in which to interface with."

"I can't believe this, it's so…incredible."

"I suppose on Earth such advancements have yet to be made. I assure you Kal-El, on Krypton such things were more commonplace. The construct you have here is a modified version of the home your mother and I shared. We had decided that it would be best if we treated this situation as Kryptonians would with any orphaned child."

"There were orphans on Krypton?"

"Yes Kal-El. Ours was a world of science, and unfortunately some breakthroughs came at a cost. After the practice of cloning was banned, we weren't able to replace our losses. Of course this was some years before I or even your great-great grandfather was born. So in order that we may have a child adjust to the loss it was put into place that all Kryptonians would record their engrams into a holo-matrix so that they may get to know their heritage or even the lost parent without fear of missing details. It also helped the Council to gain knowledge otherwise to help in other scientific areas. You will find that your mother's engrams were saved into these systems as well."

"My mother… This is so much to adjust to father. This Fortress, the fact you can talk and react to me, cloning, this technology! It's amazing compared to anything that I've seen. It's just interesting that right now our government has banned the cloning of humans altogether, and you're telling me that my native world was doing it on a regular basis"

"When the time comes we will go through the history of Krypton, and you will learn some of the horrors we've done and the wonders we accomplished. I will explain our methods in detail. Suffice to say the cloning is a gray area and it nearly cost us our society."

"I can't wait father. There's so much to discuss."

I reach the Fortress in no time and the computers react almost instantaneously. I land and start to walk through the room and the hologram of my mother comes to life.

"Kal! It is good to see you, my child."

"I'm happy to see you too, mother." After a time I programmed my mother to respond to when I entered the sanctum. It's not that I didn't want to talk to my father, but it seemed that my mother gave me the perspective that wasn't merely scientific. While my father too spoke from his heart, my mother and I have so many qualities in common that after a time it seemed that it might be easier to talk to her on certain issues. It's almost the same with Ma, but Pa has a way of understanding these things too. I guess when you raise an alien child it tends to open your mind to possibilities that wouldn't otherwise occur to you.

"What brings you back, my son. You seem to have something on your mind."

"That's very true mother. I used my powers in view of the public today."

"Is that so?" She raises her eyebrow. Her look really isn't surprise nor is it disappointment. I think it more 'it's about time you used you full potential.' She walked closer to me as I sat down. "And did the people act in fear of you?"

"I saved a spacecraft from killing people."

"Then I say you used your abilities admirably. Do you intend to keep using them in such a manner?"

"Actually, that's what I came to talk you and father about. " No sooner did it leave my lips as the other hologram came to life. They stood with one another and looked down upon me with a scientific interest. In the conversations I had with my father, he told me that they'd known that I'd have these abilities from the start. However, they were curious if I'd ever use them.

"What is it you intend to do my son?" my father questioned.

"If you access Earth's internet you will find multiple pages on a group called the Justice Society of America. The called them mystery men back in their day. They were a group of people with extranormal powers that banded together to fight for the good. My adopted father came up with the idea that it might help me to use my abilities without compromising the Clark Kent identity."

"I see." Father rubbed his chin with his forefinger. "There is a safety issue that you are concerned with then?"

"Yes, sir. My human parents and any friends I have or will make. If Clark Kent uses his powers for good anyone that wants to hurt him will go after those I love and care for. Should Kal-El of Krypton save the day, then I'm the last Kryptonian. I put no one in any harm." No sooner did I finish my last statement when my mother looks at my father and he turns away. I get taken back for a moment as if I've offended them. "I'm sorry mother, father… I wasn't trying to offend you in any way."

My mother turned back to me with concerned yet loving eyes that a mother trying not to tell something to her child has. "You did not Kal-El. Merely your father has a lot of things he has yet to tell you. You need not concern yourself right now."

"Are you sure mother? It doesn't seem like something I shouldn't be concerned with."

"Yes, my son. All is well for the moment. We definitely approve of your methods. It is a logical, yet conscious and caring decision. "

"I'm glad you think so. I feel better that ALL my parents approve of this."

My father turned and looked at me with a chiseled expression on his face. "Do not fear for any decision you should make Kal-El. For so long as you are not drunk on your own power, any solution you may arrive it would be looked at with support and caring. I assume your human parents would share that sentiment, given the information we have received about them."

"Yeah, they would've supported any decision I'd make. They know everything I do would be with great consideration to their well-being and feelings."

"You've grown up to be a fine man, Kal-El. Are you planning on wearing one of those colorful uniforms that this Justice Society seemed predisposed to?"

"Yes father." I smiled almost embarrassed. "Pa was a fan of the Flash, namely because he protected a city not too far from Smallville. At the time he was just a child and hoped to meet him."

"Ah, the childhood hero. I can respect such a thing, we all have people we look up to. The reason I ask though is because I have something for you. " The computers started activating and in moments the nanobots started reacting creating something…

I walked over to it to see what the finished product would be when I saw the symbol. It was the same crest that adorned the walls of the Fortress and was proudly being worn by my father and mother. I picked up the small piece of material and looked up with welled eyes. "I don't know what to say…"

"Wear this symbol proudly my son. Let it be a legacy from both sets of your parents. Your Flash wore a symbol emblazoned upon his chest, this I think would suit your needs. Should they ask, tell them it is the symbol from the house of El."

:"I will. Speaking of which, Ma should be about done with my uniform. I suppose I should get back to the house and see if she's got room for one more addition."

"Go my son, with our blessings and support."

I smiled again, lifted from the ground and waved goodbye as I flew home to Kansas.