Disclaimer: Superman and his fellow characters are the property of Warner Bros. Studios and DC Comics and created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel.

The fact that Clark is my real brother's name, and there is a small town in Alberta that believes he is Elvis, is REALLY beside the point. it's also an eerie coincidence. That his name is Clark. Like Superman. And he has black wavy hair.

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7. Till Death do us Part

As Lois settles down in her worn down, but comfortable computer chair, the monitors dotted around the Daily planet bullpen come alive with the news of Superman's latest feat. The nearest one, tuned to a Metropolis channel, catches her bleary gaze. The less than stylish, big-haired, blonde news anchor is not a favoured colleague, and Lois lets out a shuddering sigh.

"Cat Grant, reporting with GBS news – astronomers have confirmed that Superman is attempting to stop the, so-called, New Krypton satellite from terminally crashing to earth. As we speak, he is rocketing his way to intercept the incredibly ill-fated island in its deadly orbital decay. Naysayers dare to criticize the Man of Steel, mostly claiming that it is practically his fault that the problem exists, and it really is his responsibility to make it right, while his supporters wish him all the luck in the world. As always, this reporter is impartial, and wonders -- if he falls to earth, this time will the Man of Tomorrow become the Hero of Yesterday?"

Shame on you Cat, and the writing -- can we say run-on sentence? And all those adverbs -- inexcusable and sloppy.

"Guh, Perry, television reporting sucks the big one -- Man of Steel, Man of Tomorrow -- artistic repetition, how original. "

Perry grabs Lois by the shoulders to stop her.

"Lois, you're rambling. You named him Superman, they coined Man of Steel – which name did he choose? Relax, he knows who his friends are."

Lois smiles at Perry, and they both look at the screen where a new report gets their attention.

"This view from the Hubble space telescope shows Superman approaching New Krypton. Rumours are this satellite is made from Kryptonian materials. As an aside, Lois Lane of the Daily Planet newspaper, known to have a special relationship with Superman, coined the name, New Krypton -- inspired by Superman's long-gone home world."

With paternal concern, Perry observes Lois's hollow, haunted eyes, and the tiny, involuntary twitches at the corners of her mouth. "Lois… maybe you should take a break – get out of here for a while."

She doesn't move, and all eyes in the bullpen continue to stare at the unfolding drama with a weird sense of déjà vu, fearing a repeat occurrence of events still only weeks old.

"How is he doing this – isn't he still sick?"

"I can't watch."

"Lois, have you seen him since…? Do you think he…"

The voices cut out and Lois hears a soft buzzing sound -- I'm going to faint -- her bloodless fingers grip her coffee cup… and her desk, while her eyes glue to the monitor like a rubbernecker's at a fatal car crash.

This is too much -- I have to get out of here.

Perry watches her bolt for the door.

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A tremendous rumble reverberates through the Fortress, and Superman awakens with a start. He shakes his head, and for a second has no awareness of where he is and why.

The crystalline monstrosity -- I had to… stop it… destroy it.

My father's gift…

He turns his head and feels soft silken sheets against his cheek.

–-bed -- I'm lying in THE BED.

He sits up and grasps his chest, dizziness overwhelming him, and he falls back into the downy pillow and mattress, breathing in Lois's presence still there from so many years past.

Why am I here? I haven't used this bed since…

A booming voice interrupts his thoughts, "My son. Kal-El. You are awake –- good."

"Father?"

"Yes, it is I, Jor-El, your father."

Clark looks over to the crystal mainframe and sees that it is once again complete –- all but one of the stolen crystals returned to their receptacles. His memory of how he recovered them a painful white-hot blur.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Three days. The crystals protected you from physical damage. They brought you here, where you reinstalled them in the mainframe. Your mind was most affected, and you needed rest."

A sweeter voice cuts in, "You were sleeping so well, I did not want to wake you."

"Mother?" Kal-El's lips quirk. "I had a… dream."

A larger tremor shakes the foundation of the Fortress, and Jor-El speaks again to Clark.

"My son, there is need for action. The humans have precipitated a great crisis. I would rather you left them to most of their designs, but this could destroy them all if left untended."

"What, father, what is happening?"

"The ice, son -- Earth's Arctic ice – it is melting."

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Four days… four days -- too long. Where is he?

Sobbing, Lois throws a handful of bills at the cabbie and tries to open the door while the car is still rolling to a stop.

Is he…?

The cabbie jams his hand down on the auto door locks to keep her from tumbling out into the heavy traffic. "Lady… waitaminnute, you could kill yourself."

She wrestles with the handle, beside herself in her untethered emotion. The cab comes to a stop, and the driver releases the lock. As soon as he does, she catapults herself out of the door and trips on the way to the entrance to her apartment building. Her purse goes flying, and she gasps as she falls, skinning her knees on the cement.

The driver shakes his head. "Crazy broad," he yells out the window, then guns the cab and takes off.

Lois scrabbles herself to a standing position and bends to get her handbag. She holds on to it so tight that her nails threaten to pierce the leather. She loosens her grip and smoothes the soft calfskin against her chest, her tears falling and staining darker the chocolate suede.

At her door, the key doesn't want to fit the lock and Lois is in danger of losing it. Her hands quake, and when she is certain she will fall insensate to the floor, it slides in, and the deadbolt pops out as if to taunt her.

She collapses on her couch, thankful that Jason is still at his fathers place. His father – this is Jason's father – this may be all that's… left. This, being the missive he left on her desk, now resting on the coffee table before her.

Thank God for Richard -- I don't want Jason to see me like this – not till this… is settled.

For the umpteenth time, Lois looks at the small tear in one corner of the manila envelope and tests it with a finger. In a trance, she watches her hand rips the brown paper packet in half, and a white business envelope falls out onto the plush fur carpet.

It sits up on end, supported by the long pile of the rug, and Lois tilts her head to read the single line of neat script on its face -- My dearest Lois – his handwriting -- looks familiar.

Except… he's never written to me before, has he?

Is this something else I've forgotten?

Damn you, Kal, if I open this, does that mean you really are dead?

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Hovering high over the fortress, Kal-El marvels at his body's resilience. His memory of the impact with New Krypton is returning, and, with it, impressions of the crystal force cocoon that appeared, to protect him seconds before contact.

I could breathe as if in a spacesuit, and it buffered the collision and absorbed the shock. I remember… a… ripple in the ether – visual distortion through the crystalline barrier.

His eyes closed, his body warms to its full temperature, and his skin glows with health. His elation at being alive, and above the clouds, suffused by the suns photonic radiation, almost makes him forget why he rocketed up here moments before. In rapture, he casts his gaze downward at the treasured remnant of his home world -- recreated here on the northernmost tip of his beloved adopted planet.

He is horrified to see it for himself.

The fissure, kilometres long in the Arctic ice.

Rushing back to the fortress, a stricken Kal-El activates the crystal console. The image of Jor-El illuminates the cavern, and his voice nudges Clark's soul.

"My son. This change in Earth's temperature threatens not only the Fortress, but the global status quo."

Clark sits down and wrings his hands. He looks up to make eye contact with Jor-El's image.

"This is beyond anything I know, Father. This is the planet rebelling against human abuse – what can I do?"

The image of his father looks on his son with compassion.

"The earthlings will make their home uninhabitable in less than one hundred years if they do not mend their ways. The change will be painful and slow, and you must guide them along the entire way. Perhaps, with your help, they will broach the century mark safely."

Superman jumps to his feet and exclaims,

"One hundred years… I will be long gone before that time comes."

Jor-El takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Kal-el… is it possible you do you not know?"

Clark's innocence – the innocence of youth, and lack of carnal knowledge -- of only one time, with the one woman he will love forever, shines through his eyes and pierces his father's heart.

"Know what, father?"

"Your longevity under the yellow sun, Sol, far exceeds that of a mere human man… barring Kryptonite exposure, you are near immortal. This was why we discouraged you from attachment to them – to ONE."

Clark's heart threatens to stop, and he feels faint.

NO… I brought her back to life to watch her die? To see everyone around me I love die? NO… fate can't be that cruel.

"No…"

"Yes. Son, you will live a very long time, Rao willing, and can shepherd the humans through this crisis."

"But… Lois--"

"--will be gone before you are of a mature age. She will fade, and you will stay… youthful."

"No… please."

"I am sorry, son… you are a testament to our love -- and you must be strong. You are the last son of Krypton."

"Father, this is too much for me – for one man."

Too much for Superman… but maybe Clark can do something…

"Son… You must do this… you are the last son of Krypton."

"Father… about that… um."

No time for this now, Clark. You can tell him he's a Granddad later -- after we've solved global warming. In a hundred years.

Procrastinate much, Smallville?

Get out of my head Lois.

Funny… I know I've forgotten something.

Lois...

LOIS. THE LETTER.

I think I'm gonna throw up.

TBC

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