It was the night before Christmas and not a creature was stirring... except the person reading this on their computer screen right now. Whenever my co-writer and I write a fan fic, we have made it a tradition to post 1-3 chapters on Christmas Eve. Well, our Christmas present to you... 3 NEW CHAPTERS!
Chapter 25
Later that night, they all sat in the parlor of the White Manor. Everyone was out of their armor and dressed in a causal manner. "Countess Lane, Sir Perry, what can you tell us about General Slade Wilson?" Kal-El asked.
"Slade is just as ruthless and merciless as Alexander. He has made Grand City a fortress and has forced all its residents out to the other cities and towns to make room for his troops." Perry said.
"Not only did he do that but Wilson surrounds himself with his own soldiers and not Genesis soldiers. These men have all sworn an oath to serve him and die if they disobey him. Wilson will not surrender and his men will fight to the last man." Lois said.
"Perfect." Kal-El said. He sighed and ran his right hand through his hair. "We should wait for the Amazons to arrive before we march onto Grand City. We may need them to take the city. No to mention, they will most likely skin us alive if we commence this battle without them." Kal-El said and everyone muttered their agreement.
"The important thing is if we want to march onto Metropolis, Grand City must fall or this invasion will fail. It was difficult but the Resistance was able to get some men inside as cooks, chambermaids, stable hands but they are constantly watched." Lois said.
"Lieutenant Cam-Zel!" Cam-Zel entered the parlor and went for his sword when he saw Lois. "Lane is no threat to me." Cam-Zel let go of the hilt of his sword. "Bring General Fine to me now." Kal-El ordered. Cam-Zel bowed and slowly left the room while keeping his eyes on Lois.
Fine entered the parlor a few minutes later and bowed. He stood erect and put his hands behind my back. "You sent for me, Your Majesty." Fine said. He cut his eyes to Lois, then back to Kal-El.
"What do you know of General Slade Wilson?" Kal-El said still examining the map.
"Wilson is known as the Deathstroke because every town and city he has attacked, he left no intentional survivors. Alexander has made him the general in command of Grand City because like Luthor he is a brilliant and ruthless tactician." Fine said and he glanced at Lois again.
"Say what you wish to say, Milton. You may speak opening with me since we are to be family, after all." Kal-El said and everyone exchanged shocked expressions.
"I am curious about why Commander Lane is in on this war council, Kal-El. She is an enemy soldier loyal to King Alexander." Fine said. Kal-El walked up to Fine, who took a deep breath.
"If you must know, Countess Lane is here as an ambassador for the Resistance." Fine cut his eyes to Lois and then back to the Kal-El. "Thanks to the information she retrieved as a commander, we were able to plan this invasion and send troops to help defend Themyscira. She has never been loyal to King Alexander so I believe you should show the Countess some respect, Your Grace." Kal-El said.
Fine stiffen and held his chin up high. "He does not have to. We are both soldiers so we do not need to speak of our respect." Lois said and Fine relaxed somewhat. "You are a soldier too, you should know that." She said. Kal-El sighed.
"Yes, I know this but I am only trying to defend your honor." Kal-El said.
"Does it look like I need defending? I am capable of defending myself." Lois said.
"So you do not want me defending your honor?" Kal-El argued.
"As noble as your actions are, I am saying that you do not need to defend me." Lois said.
"It is like watching Carter and Shiera." Oliver said.
"But I want to defend you because you do not deserve to such mistreatment." Kal-El said.
Bruce scoffed. "No, it is like watching you and Dinah." He said and Oliver scoffed.
"And it is sweet that you want to but you do not need to save me when I do not need saving." Lois said. The two had forgotten where they were and that they were not alone.
"As entertaining as this is, we need to get back at the task at hand." Bruce said and Perry agreed with him. Carter and Oliver wiped the smirks off their faces and became serious again.
"Yes, we do. Countess, we will speak about this later." Kal-El said.
Later
Clark and Lois fell onto of a bed kissing heatedly. They had not made love in months and they desired each other desperately. She pulled his shirt over his head and he threw it down onto the floor. She straddled him and slowly began to remove her shirt. Clark tried to sit up but she pushed him back down and she finished pulling her shirt over her head.
Clark sat up quickly and kissed her. His fingers run through her hair and her corset rubbed against his bare chest. Then there was a knock on the door and their lips parted. "By Rao! Can we get any privacy?" Clark said breathing heavily and Lois applied kisses down his neck.
His eyes rolled with pleasure and he began kiss her shoulder. There was another knock on the door and he stopped kissing her shoulder to look at the door. "Ignore it." She whispered in his ear and he kissed her again. The knocking was more urgent now so they stopped and pressed their foreheads together.
They both sighed as she got off him. They quickly put their shirts back on and Kal-El ran his hands through his hair a few times. He unlocked and opened the door still breathing heavily. It was Carter. "Yes?"
"An urgent letter just arrived from Shiera." Carter said and noticed Lois composing herself in the background. "Did you two have that talk yet?" Carter asked sarcastically.
"We were trying to." Kal-El answered catching his breath and he stepped aside so Carter could enter. Carter entered cautiously. Lois nodded at him and he nodded back. The first thing Carter noticed was the two half empty goblets of wine on the table and their rumpled clothing. "What did her letter say?"
"It said that the invasion was a distraction. It allowed for John Corben to slip into the Amazonian Palace. He killed two guards and got the stone. He was gone by the time they hurried back to the palace." Carter explained and Kal-El sighed.
Kal-El stroked the stubble of mustache and goatee growing on his face. Lois had already said that she was not a fan of it but he did not have time to shave. He ran his hand over his face and sighed. "Now Lex has two stones and he will be coming for mine." He walked to the table and saw the stone lying on top of his sword belt.
"The women are sailing here as we speak but they are right behind Luthor and they are trying to stay out of sight. With the wind, they will be here in a few nights." Carter said.
"Good. That gives us time to plan our attack on Grand City and hide the Atlantean fleet." Kal-El said.
"We have already taken care of the fleet. Sir Perry says there is a cove where they can hide the ships until they set sail. And we have ordered the men to hide in the valley until we march again." Carter said.
"Good but we should have one regiment from each of our armies remain in the city once we march just in case." Kal-El said and Carter nodded. "Will Luthor sail pass here?" He asked Lois.
"Not likely. He will probably take the Argean Canal to the Argean Sea. It is the fastest way back to Metropolis by ship. The canal is quite narrow, that is why he did not sail the first time. If the Amazons did indeed massacre half his fleet, he can use this route back to Metropolis." Lois said.
"Let us hope that he is racing back to Metropolis." Carter said.
"I have no doubt he is. I know Lex. He will want to be behind the safety of the city walls. Being in the open for too long leaves him vulnerable to attack." Kal-El said.
A week later
Kal-El and Carter waited for the Amazons to arrive. Much to their relief, Luthor's fleet had not been sighted meaning they were sailing the Argean Canal.
They watched the Atlantean battleship, the Trident of Poseidon, dock and they waited for their women. Kal-El motioned for Milton to come and greet Kara. Milton was so cautious with Kal-El as if he would change his mind of their betrothal any second.
Figures left the ship and started walking to them. The men stood up straight and put their hands behind their backs. The women walked up to them and examined the men. "Well they are not dead so I guess they do not need us after all." Diana said. All the women scoffed and laughed.
Carter smiled as Shiera walked into his arms and their lips met. Kara walked passed Kal-El and straight to Milton. Kal-El opened his mouth to say something but when he turned around, Milton and Kara were kissing tenderly. He closed his mouth and grinned.
Dinah tapped his shoulder and he turned around. She was wearing her black mask. "King Oliver is in the manor. He is expecting you." Kal-El said officially. "He is in the last room down the hall on the second floor." He whispered and winked at her. She grinned as she walked passed him for her moment of passion with the man she loved.
In the morning, Kara was walking through the halls when she noticed something. Kal-El and Lois were talking quietly at the end of the hall and they were holding each others' hands. She saw him take off the ring from around his neck and give it to Lois. She shook her head to him but he was insisting that she take it.
Then he leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Kara was beyond shocked, especially when Lois did not pull away from him. Lois then took the chain and put it back around his neck.
Later, they were in the parlor going over the plan. Kara kept eyeing Kal-El and Lois. Lois stood next to Fine, who was examining the plans for Grand City. "This is going to be difficult. General Wilson has indeed prepared for every kind of attack a soldier can think of." Fine said.
After a few moments of silence, Kal-El spoke first. "Then we have to plan an attack a soldier would never think of or expect." Kal-El said and looked at Kara. Kara nodded for she understood what he was saying.
"It appears we have no choice. As you said, Grand City must fall if we are to take Metropolis." Kara said and Kal-El nodded.
"What are you two talking about?" Oliver asked.
"The stone…" Kal-El placed his hand over the stone beneath his shirt. "I am going to unlock it powers so we can use them to seize the fortress." Kal-El said.
"I know I have slept through a number of lectures but I sure did not sleep through the previous lecture about the stones, Kal, because I particularly remember you saying unlocking its powers was bad." Oliver said.
"Together, the crystal makes the bearer a god but separate… it grants us a taste of its true power. When we reach the age of fifteen, we are allowed to tap into the power for a week as a rite of passage. And so we may be ready to do again if Krypton were ever in peril." Kal-El said.
"Each stone divides the powers of the crystal. This is the Stone of Fire; with it we should be able to start fires with our eyes. The Stone of Water allows us to see things at great distances, through solid objects, and things that are too small to see. The Stone of Air should allow us to fly, hear upon great distances, and blow winds strong as like a hurricane and cold like the winter frost from our mouths." Kara explained.
"The Stone of Air sounds fun." Oliver said and Carter immediately slapped the back of his head. Dinah covered her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from laughing. "Why must you always do that?" Oliver exclaimed.
"It is the only way I know that my teachings get through to you, to all of you. And do not deny that this works." Carter said. No one spoke, thus proving his point.
Lois was the first to speak back on subject. "Is this safe?" Lois asked.
"I will be fine. I know what I am doing." He answered and gave her a reassuring smile. "Will the Resistance fighters inside Grand City be able to help us?" Kal-El asked.
"Yes. They are ready to burn down the armory and the stables once the attack begins. That will give us a small advantage for their cannon fire will be limited along with their armor piercing arrows. They will leave the city through this escape tunnel before they seal it." Lois pointed to the tunnel on the map.
"Good." Kal-El flashed a grin at Lois but she still had a worried expression her face. Kara observed them closely. "I will do it at noon, when the sun is at its highest."
"We should do this together, Kal-El. It will take our combined knowledge of the great power to defeat Alexander whilst he has two of the stones." Kara said and could see the worry on Kal-El and Milton's faces. "I do not always need your protection. I can take care of myself and I will not let you do this alone, Kal-El." Kara said.
"Alright." Kal-El said not even putting up a fight.
"Do not think just because…Alright?" Kara was surprised by his answer. "Should you be telling me that it is too dangerous and that it will be safer to do this alone, because that is the Kal-El I remember." Kara said.
"Kara, I know I cannot do this alone so for once I am not going to argue with you" He said and put a hand on her shoulder. "Sir Perry, we are going to need somewhere private to do this, preferably out of the city." Kal-El said.
"I know a place." Perry answered.
It was a few minutes to noon and they found themselves in the middle of the ruins of a village. "When Alexander took the throne, his first act as king was to round up all who opposed him. This was once a peaceful little village before General Wilson and his soldiers came and burned it to the ground." Sir Perry said.
They all dismounted their horses and walked among the charred ruins. "My father and I could do nothing but observe the aftermath once this reached our ears." Lois said as she picked up a charred doll. Kal-El put a comforting hand on her shoulder and she placed her hand over his.
"Kal-El, it is time." Kara said and he nodded. Milton was nervous. "I will be fine, my love. I have done this before." Milton forced a nervous smile.
Kal-El removed the stone from around his neck and took a deep breath. He had not done this in years but he remembered how to unlock the power of the stone; he could never forget. He and Kara looked at each other as they touched the stone together when the sunlight reflected off the stone. There was a light glow and Kal-El turned to look at Lois. The group was then blinded by a bright light and they shielded their eyes.
The light disappeared and Kal-El and Kara stood there as if nothing had happened at all. They both took deep breaths. "You feel it?" He asked her and she nodded. They both balled their hands into fist and then they smirked at each other. Then they were both gone in a blur.
"Where did they go?" Oliver asked and everyone looked at each other. Kal-El then returned just seconds after Oliver asked the question and then Kara returned.
"You cheated." Kara said. Kal-El grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
"Where did you two go?" Oliver asked again.
"A small village not far from Smallville." Kal-El said and then he walked up to Lois; ignoring everyone's shock expressions. He was obviously hiding something behind his back. "For you." He said and revealed a magnificent blue Kryptonian rose. Lois smiled as she took it from him and smelt its sweet scent. Kal-El smiled at her.
Then there was a loud boom. Kal-El turned around to see that Kara had punched a hole into the ruins of a stone wall. He walked up to her as she was pulling her fist out. Kara grimaced as she flexed and extended her fingers. Kal-El began to examine her hand to see a bruise forming. "Although, it will be harder to wound us, we are still vulnerable to blades and arrows. We need the crystal to be invincible." She said.
Kal-El nodded. "I remember. Lex has a small advantage over us for he will be able to fly but we have an even special advantage over him." Kal-El said giving her a look and Kara nodded.
"Are there any other special powers you two are hiding?" Oliver asked.
"Shoot an arrow." Kal-El said and Oliver shrugged. He put an arrow on the quiver of his longbow and fired it up in the air. The arrow then caught fire and its ashes filled the air. Everyone turned to look at Kal-El, whose eyes were red. He blinked and then his eyes were blue once more.
Lex sat in his private parlor stroking his chin. "Your Majesty, Sir John Corben." A servant announced and Lex nodded. Corben entered the room and bowed. Lex took a sip of wine. He could hear the music from the banquet celebrating the Queen's birthday.
"We have not heard any news from Smallville or Argos City. I do not like this. You are to find out why they are silent and report back to me immediately." Lex ordered and Corben nodded. "You will leave at once with General Lane."
"General Lane, Your Majesty?" Corben asked.
"Yes. We have received word that the leader of the Resistance is assembling his lieutenants in Central City. They are planning something. I want Lane there to find out what and to capture or kill the leaders… I would prefer he kill them but I did not mention it. Lane has morals, which is his greatest weakness unlike you and me." Lex said.
Corben nodded in agreement. Lex motioned for him to leave. Corben bowed and left the room to prepare for his journey. Lex stood and looked out the window. The show of fireworks had begun and he could see Tess, Mia, and Helen in the courtyard watching. Baby Alexander held his hands up to the sky as each firework filled the sky.
"Boy!" He called and a servant appeared. "Once Sir John leaves the city, I want you to put the Royal Forces on alert. Something is afoot and I want to be prepared." Lex said and the servant nodded, bowed, and left the parlor.
Argos City was now covered in darkness and the moon was high in the sky. The army was preparing to march after dawn for it would be almost a four day march due to the catapults.
Kal-El twirled the stone in his hand as he sat in front of the fireplace. He closed his eyes for it was dead quiet and he knew it was the calm before the storm. The cackles of the fire made him envision the sounds of bombardments and a city in flames.
Then there was a soft but loud knock on the door. He eyes snapped open and Clark smiled for he knew it was Lois; all bad thoughts now forgotten. He put the stone back around his neck and stood to answer the door. He had barely opened the door when Lois pushed him inside and kissed him passionately. He heard the door slam behind her as the kiss deepened.
She pushed and pinned him against the wall. His head slammed against the wall, splintering the wood but he did not feel a thing. Lois then ripped half his shirt down the middle and ran her fingers across his bare chest. She slid the remnants of his shirts off his shoulders but it still hung from his arms. She then began to nimble on his ear lope and he closed his eyes in pleasure.
Suddenly, his eyes felt like they were fire. Lois saw that his eyes were turning red so she stopped kissing his neck and began caressing his face with her hands. They were both breathing heavily as Lois watched his eyes become blue once more.
Clark took a deep breath as he regained control. He then felt the sweet taste of Lois's lips on his. This kiss was more tender than the rough passionate one moments earlier. He ran his fingers through her hair while his shirt still hung from his arms. Her hands rubbed up his torso, to his shoulders, and then his face.
"We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow or the day after but I do know that I want to spend at least one more night with you... but first." Lois said and pulled away from him. She then quickly locked the door. "There will be no interruptions this time." Lois said softly as she flung herself into his waiting arms and they laughed.
The sun rose and Clark watched as it shined on Lois's skin. He ran the tips of his fingers along her left side and she moaned at his touch. He then kissed her left shoulder. She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw him grinning at her. "Good morning." Clark whispered.
"Good morning." Lois whispered back. He leaned in and pecked her lips. They cuddled and he stroked her right shoulder with his left hand. Her fingers traced the outline of the large scar on his chest. "I wish we could just stay like this." Lois said softly.
"Maybe not today, but one day." Clark said and kissed her forehead. "We will just lie together somewhere not having a care in the world except for each other." He said and she smiled.
"Will such a thing even be possible?" Lois asked. Clark pulled away from her and then sat up.
"Lois, I want us to be together now and long after the war is over." Clark said looking down at her. "We love each other and that is all that matters. And I know that there is nothing in this world that can change my feelings for you." He said and Lois looked up at him.
"Must you always be so full of hope?" Lois said caressing his face.
"It is one of the reasons you love me." Clark said and Lois laughed. She quickly kissed him, then grabbed hold of one of the sheets and wrapped it around her body as she stood. "Please do not leave." Clark begged.
Lois leaned over the bed and kissed him again but longer this time. She pulled away when the kiss started to deepen. "I must leave if I want to sneak back to my room without being noticed." Lois said softly. She backed away and began to gather her thrown clothing.
"Lois, just about everyone knows about us. I believe even Sir Perry suspects as well, along with my cousin." Clark said. He threw the blanket back and stood. Lois quickly admired his well formed body. "What is the point of hiding this any longer?" He asked as they both put on their pants.
Lois flipped her hair after she put her shirt back on. "To avoid a scandal, of course. Do you think my father and your Council would allow us to be together if a scandal broke out? Because I doubt they will." She said.
Clark lowered his head in agreement. Lois walked up to him and began caressing his face. "You must not be so hard on yourself, Clark… but for now duty has to come before love." She said. Clark sighed and she raised his chin with her left index finger. "Only for now, my love, I promise." He nodded and she kissed him.
Clark unlocked the door and looked around. He nodded and Lois quietly left the room. They kissed one last time. She giggled and he held a finger up to his lips. Kara was watching from around the corner, confirming her suspicions. "Kal-El, what have you done?" Kara whispered.
Kal-El and Lois were the last to leave White Manor, besides Sir Perry. Kara watched the two of them as they kept stealing glances at each other, like her and Milton do. They have yet to announce their betrothal. Lois waved Kal-El off when he tried to help her mount her horse and he chuckled.
Sir Perry kissed his wife and rustled his sons' hair one last time before mounting his own horse. Everyone was shocked to see Commander Lois Lane riding beside Kal-El because her hatred for Kryptonians was well known. Kal-El nodded to the others and they rode out of the city to march onto Grand City.
Central City
General Samuel Lane traveled through the streets dressed as a commoner. He walked through the streets going to a shop that was rumored to be a meeting place for the leaders of the Resistance. Lane entered the shop and took a good look around.
"May I help you, sir?" The shop clerk asked from behind the counter.
"I am just looking." Lane replied. The shop clerk grinned and nodded. Lane walked up to the counter. "I was wondering if there have been any strangers coming through here as of late?" Lane asked slipping a few gold coins into the shop clerk's hand.
"Follow me." The clerk whispered. He first closed and locked the door so no one else would come in. Then he went to the back room and Lane followed him.
There were only supplies in the back room. "Why did you make me come back here?" Lane asked. The clerk covered Lane's mouth with a piece of cloth. Lane drew his dagger but the clerk knocked it from his hand. The more Lane struggled, the drearier he became. Soon, everything went black around him.
Lane awoke in an unfamiliar room with his hands tied behind him to a chair. Lane coughed several times and shook his head to wake himself up. He could hear voices but it took a minute to make out what they were saying. "And what do you plan to do with him?" A man asked.
"Nothing… He will remain here until the invasion force arrives." A woman said. There was something familiar about her voice but Lane thought nothing of it because all he heard was the word 'invasion.' He tried to shimmy out of the ropes but they were too tight.
"And when they do arrive?" Another man asked.
"None of you will touch him and that is an order." The woman answered fiercely.
"This man took part in the murder of a lot of our good friends and loyal followers and we are just going to stand by and let him live?" The second man snapped.
"You said the same thing about Lois Lane and now she is our most valuable soldier. I can turn him like I did her. You all have to trust me. I know what I am doing. It is why you made me your leader." The woman replied. Lane was thinking this woman must be mad or trying to trick him into betraying his king because there was no way that his daughter fought for the Resistance. It was impossible.
The door opened and a hooded figured entered the room. It was obviously a woman by her height and build. "You will never turn me." Lane said roughly. She removed her sword belt and handed it to a guard. She then closed the door behind her.
"And that is where you are wrong." The woman said and Lane tilted his head to the side because he recognized her voice. "Good. You know my voice. I would be disappointed if you did not." She said and pulled up a chair so she could sit across from him.
Chloe then sat down and proceeded to lower the hood of her cloak. "Hello uncle." She said.
"Chloe?"