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Chapter 12

"Man, we have so royally screwed this thing up…"

"Garth."

"Don't 'Garth' me!" Effectively ending the pacing that had occupied his time since being shoved into the blue orbed prison cell with his team, Garth swung around to face Rokk. Anger flashed in his eyes. "You know it, I know it. And soon, when our entire world crumbles into a pile of ash, everybody else will know it too!"

Rokk sighed, feeling the weight of Garth's accusations. Garth was the over-excitable one in the group. This time, however, he wasn't exaggerating. Rokk's own response, meant to reassure, sounded hollow. Even to his own ears. "We did what we could."

"What we could?" Garth took a challenging step forward. "What we could?!"

Jumping to his feet, Rokk met the challenge. "You know as well as I do the last thing we expected was Lois coming through that time warp. We were prepared to battle evil and instead…"

"We met the most amazing woman we've ever known! She and Kal-el are the very foundation of our world, Rokk!" Garth exploded. "And all she wanted to do from the second she got here was to get back to Kal-el and we…no, you stopped her!"

"We saved her life, Garth!" Rokk shot back. "If she'd gone back right then, Doomsday would have killed her and then where we be? At least now, we have hope."

"Hope." Garth scoffed. "In case you've not picked up on it, dude, Liam Luthor has her in his evil little hands. I can't even imagine what he's doing to her right now."

"She's fine." The calm of Imra's voice cut through the tension like a knife. From her position on the floor, her haunted blue eyes rose to connect with those of her teammates. "For now, at least."

Garth dropped to his knees in front of her, his expression animated with hope. "You can talk to her? I…I thought when they separated us Liam would take her to the Chamber. To block her mind."

"He has." Imra confirmed. A small, proud smile titled her lips. "She's a strong one."

"Can she hear you?"

Imra nodded.

"Tell her we're sorry. Tell her…tell her we're going to get her out of this. Tell her…"

A gentle hand on Garth's shoulder stopped his frantic rambling. "She knows, Garth. She does not blame us."

Garth opened his mouth to speak, but was halted by the look on Imra's face. "Shhh. She's speaking."

Any word on that help you promised? I'd really rather not face baldy again if I don't have to.

I've already made contact, Lois. Help will be there very soon. Just hang on.

Hanging on, I can do. Fighting, I don't know. They have me pretty strapped down right now. And this contraption I'm in…

It's called the Chamber. It's not a good place.

I didn't think scumbag put me in here for a picnic. Lois' sigh was deep and resigned. You know, this is so typical of me. I'm always doing stuff like this. Ending up in trouble because I rush into things. Because I don't think…

Lois, what are you talking about?

If I hadn't fought with Tess. Hadn't picked up that ring...

We wouldn't have met and you wouldn't know your destiny.

Destiny is destiny, right? Eventually, it would have found me. A pause. But I would have missed the meeting you guys part. Is Garth with you?

Yeah.

Is he ok?

Imra smiled at Lois' concern. Physically he's fine.

And otherwise?

Frantic for what you're going through.

Tell him I'm good. But I won't be if my numero uno fan doesn't chill. Last thing I need is him joining me in here. I need as much help as I can get on the outside of this thing.

Her smile deepened. Restrained, scared and still finding a way to reach out to comfort others. To make them feel needed. Her bravery knew no limits. No wonder Kal-el needs her so much.

I'll tell him.

Another pause.

You know, I think this deserves a new rule in my book when I get home.

Clearly, Lois was a talker. Especially when she was nervous.

You mean your Rules of Reporting?

No, this one's more personal. It has stuff like…don't date homicidal maniacs, murderous mind readers, mobsters, that sort of thing.

Oh.

So, I'm thinking a variation of 'don't put strange things in your mouth.' Maybe something about strange rings and how you never know where they may take you…

Lois, none of this is your fault. It's ours.

Yours.

After the first time we went back in time to warn Kal-el, we were forbidden to do so again. Rokk broke the rules when he returned to warn him about Doomsday, essentially making us enemies of the State.

Enemies. Lois paused, obviously mulling that news over. It didn't take her long to reach a conclusion. Well, it saved Clark's life. So…I, for one, am glad he did. Silence stretched on longer then expected.

Imra wondered if the Chamber's power had begun to work after all. Lois?

I just don't get it. Why would that be against the rules? To warn the world's greatest superhero of his impending death…you did the right thing.

Not according to Liam Luthor.

That was enough to pique her interest. That and the fact, he was held the very large key to her very unique jail. Tell me about him. Why is he so determined to turn the pages of history in a different direction? And in exactly what direction does he want to turn them?

Imra paused. This was one discussion she'd been trying to avoid. Had things worked as planned Lois would have never had to know…certain things. As things stood now, there was no other choice but to tell her the truth.

Imra took a deep breath. Lois, besides being a Luthor, he's also a descendant of...

Yeah?

Lana Lang.

Wow. Lois breathed. Didn't see that one coming. Especially given how much Lana hates Lex.

Hatred and family rivalries have a tendency to fade through the years. And several generations have passed from then till now. It was Liam's great-grandparents, Lucas Luthor and Linda Lang that brought two families back together.

Well. I guess some things are just meant to be, right? Lois quipped, though it was clear the news disturbed her.

That's the problem, Lois. Liam believes destiny was cheated when Kal-el chose you.

Cheated how?

He's part of a faction, a small faction, that believes you came in between Kal-el and his true destiny.

That being?

Lana.

Right. Of course. She sounded disgusted.

There's more.

Imra could hear Lois pull in a ragged breath, steeling herself. Hit me with it.

Liam is not only part of this faction, he is, in fact, the leader of it. They long for a return to the past, Lois. A return that would place Lana by Kal-el's side. Not to save the world…but to rule it.

Rule it.

With Kal-el's powers and…Lana's…

Whoa. Wait. Back up. She swallowed hard. Lana has powers?

Acquired recently in your time, yes.

And these powers?

Are very much like Kal-el's. Making her…in the minds of Liam and his followers…a perfect match.

I see. Lois' silence was deafening.

Lois wasn't an idiot. She knew Clark. Despite all she'd seen here in this world, she knew his long-held dreams, his feelings. It wasn't hard for her to put two and two together and come up with a disconcerting four.

While she'd been in Star City…Lana had been in Smallville. With Clark. And when she'd returned…the mixed signals were…well, off the charts. They'd been driving her insane, in fact. Now, she knew why. Liam wasn't the only one that had seen Lana's powers as the answer to everything…

Imra could only guess what Lois was thinking. And feeling. When she finally did speak, it was not with a question Imra expected. How does Lana being with Clark aid Luthor's cause?

He plans to marry their daughter and take control of the world.

Their daughter. Lois repeated, a new layer of disgust filtering through her voice. She pushed it aside to focus on the issue at hand…not only saving Clark in their world, but saving him from this one as well. But if he succeeds in getting Lana and Clark…if he succeeds in his plan, wouldn't that alter his own reality? After all, his own lineage is the direct result of a Luthor-Lang union.

No, it wouldn't. As the Minister of Time Travel, he could easily suspend himself in a time warp until he was ready to put his plan in motion. In that one aspect, he has ultimate control. History could change a million times and he would still remain the same. At his bidding, he could then enter her world, her time, to gain her without suspicion.

How could someone so evil gain such power in a world like yours?

Because the Luthors spent generations revamping their images. And…

And?

And because he's secretly a master of mind manipulation.

Great. Well, I guess that gives me an idea what I'm in for.

Lois, I'm so sorry. We hadn't planned for you to be here long enough to be affected by any of this.

It's not your fault. Dismissing Imra's apology with a mental flick of her hand, Lois' focus became clear. Look. Imra, you said something earlier about how you didn't have proof. What kind of proof would you need?

A goal snapped into focus.

I…I don't know. Something major, something big enough that Luthor couldn't talk or manipulate his way out of it. Something that the Council of Justice would believe.

A plan formed.

Something like, say…kidnapping and torturing Superman's wife for the purpose of changing history and ruling the world?

Imra gasped at the thought. Lois, no. Lois, you can't just…

What? Save Clark? Maybe that's why I'm still here, Imra. Maybe I have to save him from this world before I can deserve him enough to go back.

Lois, you're already everything he needs. You don't have to prove anything. So, don't even think about...

A peace born of conviction sealed her determination.

Too late. He's back. He's brought reinforcements. And he's looking pretty pissed.

Imra began to plead. Lois, please don't. Just sit tight until help comes. Don't do anything to anger him. To push him into revealing his true self. It won't do any good. You have no idea what he's capable of.

Looks like I'm about to learn. A pause. A softened voice. Good-bye, Imra.

Lois! Lois, no! NO!

Another voice entered her mind. Breaking through her panic. Issuing a deep, resonating command.

Let her go, Imra. She's with me now. There's nothing more you can do.

Tbc…

p.s. I sense some of you are getting really anxious for a Clois reunion so I've altered some plans on this story and hope to have a reunion to you in the next few chapters. Sorry, that's the best I can do with how I've written this so far and still make it make sense. Hope you'll stick with me till then. I promise to do my very, very best to give a reunion worth the wait.

wait.