Hearts Divided

part 2

Lois

Lois longed for nothing more than to be home, in a comfortable, schlumpy robe, eating chocolate ice cream and watching the Ivory Tower. Instead, she was standing on the street wearing a leotard and feathers, waiting to see if the Metro Club was going to burn down. She hoped the guy who'd so rudely ordered her outside would hurry up. She couldn't go home until she'd gone back inside to change clothes and collect her things.

"Lola, there you are!"

Lois turned to see Melanie approaching her, relief written clearly on her face.

"Are you all right?" Melanie asked anxiously, then relaxed as Lois nodded. "I didn't see you come out at first, and I couldn't find you, and when I tried to go back in to check, Toni *yelled* at me!" she concluded, pouting slightly.

"I should think so!" Lois replied, torn between concern that Melanie would so heedlessly risk her life for her, and wary that she'd blown her cover. "I just saw a fire extinguisher, and, you know, once a Girl Scout..." She smiled brightly. "But then this guy wanted to take over." No doubt he wanted to be the hero, an attitude which normally grated on her last nerve, but tonight, it had probably been a good thing. 'Lola Dane' could not afford to stand out too much. She looked around the few clumps of employees still keeping vigil outside the club. "So, um ... where's Brenda and Francine?"

"Brenda's over there." Melanie pointed to a small knot of people surrounding Tanya, who was having loud hysterics. "I don't know about Francine; I can't find her."

"She took a cab home," a new voice said, and Lola looked up to see a professional-looking blonde. "Hi, I'm Toni Taylor," she introduced herself briskly. "You're Melanie and ... Lola, right?"

Melanie smiled. "That's us."

Lois raised an eyebrow. "She took a cab dressed like this?" A gesture indicated the garish, skimpy costumes worn by both dancers.

Toni smiled wryly. "Apparently at the first sign of trouble, she headed for the dressing room, collected her things, and went out the back way. I'm glad I spotted her or I'd worry. Anyway, I wanted to let you know, I'm sorry the evening ended like this. I want you ladies to take cabs, too." She offered them both a thin collection of bills. Lois was reluctant to accept, but Melanie had no such qualms, grabbing the proffered cash with alacrity. More slowly, Lois took her share. "Come in tomorrow at the regular time; we'll do our best to get the damage repaired before tomorrow night." She glanced back at the doorway to the club, a slight frown crossing her face.

Lois voiced the unspoken thought. "Assuming the place doesn't burn down."

Melanie shook her head firmly and announced, "It won't. I *know* these kinds of things."

Toni shrugged. "Well, whatever happens, I'll deal with it."

Lois fingered the cab money, wondering what exactly had prompted the offer. And Toni's wording tickled her curiosity. Looking around, she asked, "Where is Johnny, anyway?"

Toni's smile flattened. "He and his cronies have gone to find someplace to recover from their ordeal. But don't worry, ladies," her tone sharpened slightly, "he'll be back tomorrow, no doubt in fine, traditional form. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." She nodded curtly, then moved away to check on the next group of employees.

"My goodness," Melanie murmured, "you should just *see* her aura right now."

Before Lois could figure out how to respond to that, the club door opened, and the stranger emerged. He looked a little tired, but with no damage, or even dirt that she could see. He sought out Toni in the crowd and headed to her with a grim look. They conferred for a moment in low tones, hugged once, and then he simply walked away.

Toni faced her employees and announced, "The fires are out, people. Go back in to collect your belongings, and then go home. But we need to see you all tomorrow, right on schedule. Good night."

Lois turned to re-enter the club and nearly ran into a dreamy-eyed Melanie. "Oh, sorry!"

"Oh, it was my fault," Melanie said immediately. "I was just watching Kal."

Trying to make the inquiry seem casual, Lois asked, "Kal? Was that the guy who put out the fires?"

Melanie smiled. "Kal Lewis, I think Brenda said his name was. Isn't he dreamy? He has the most marvelous vibrations, you know."

"I'll just bet," Lois answered sourly, feeling unaccountably grouchy.

"He's friendly with Toni," Melanie chattered on as they made their way to the dressing room. "But I've never seen him bring a date, and Brenda said he's never been a pest to the dancers - you know, trying to get in anyone's pants. And *you* talked to him! I wish he'd talk to me..." She sighed, her wistful words in stark contrast to her brisk movements as she stripped out of her costume and quickly dressed.

Lois smiled, her mood considerably lighter. "I'll see if I can introduce you." Grabbing her belongings, she retreated behind a privacy screen to change. Time to put this ridiculous evening into proper perspective. She hadn't made much progress on her case, but neither had she blown her cover. True, Kal Lewis was very attractive, and she counted it in his favor that he hadn't stayed around to soak up any offered adulation. She frowned, however, when she thought of him hugging Toni Taylor. Not that she wanted to see him again - he might ask too many questions - and not that she was interested in dating anyone who would patronize the Metro Club. Of course not. Still, a tingle of anticipation ran through her as she wondered if she was likely to see him again.

Ching

In the pre-dawn dimness, Ching used the homing beacon to expertly land the ship. The landing zone was not overly large, requiring some tricky maneuvering between local buildings, but it was perfectly flat and reassuringly solid under his landing gear. He was unsure what to make of the pattern of straight yellow lines covering the black surface, but so far as his instruments could discern, they were harmless.

The camouflage force screen seemed to be functioning; the only way the humans would discover the ship would be for them to run into it, as Lord Kal-El had pithily suggested. Ching devoutly hoped that this area would remain undisturbed. The Council had been most emphatic about avoiding discovery.

When the ship's engine was cut and the systems locked down, Ching leaned back in his chair, and saw his subordinates relax as well. "Good work, men," he praised them, rather perfunctorily. Whatever else they might be, they were a competent team, honing their skills over the past half-cycle in space. **My Lord Kal-El?** he sent telepathically.

**I am here,** came the instant reply.

**We have landed at the appointed place. Are you prepared to board?** Part of Ching hoped that the answer would be no; he had been on duty for the past eight hours already, which had disturbed his rest cycle; and by his calculations Kal-El must have had a short night, also. The lord's mental voice was disappointingly strong and steady.

**I am ready. Open the main hatch.**

At Ching's nod, Sev keyed the appropriate control, which both opened the hatch and made it visible. Ching stood, stepping aside from the command chair, and assumed a review stance. It was mere moments before Lord Kal-El entered the command deck, holding a small bag. Sev and Zak stood and saluted.

"Brother in service, I greet you." Lord Kal-El honored Ching with the most respectful of several traditional noble-to-officer salutations.

Ching bowed. "My lord Kal-El. We are yours to command."

"I accept the burden of command." Formal phrases dispensed with, Kal-El seemed to relax somewhat. "Introduce your crew, Lieutenant Ching."

"They are Helm Officer Sev, and Engineer Zak. We have spent half a cycle charting new territories and were on our way home when a courier intercepted us and redirected us here."

Kal-El tossed his small bag at Zak, who looked startled but managed to catch it against his chest. "Take that to my cabin, please." After Zak bowed and left, Kal looked back at Ching. "Why did they send you? I expected a normal courier ship, but this vessel seems larger than necessary."

Ching remained impassive. "I only obey, my lord. However, you were sent a sealed message. Perhaps that will explain." He picked up the packet from the console and handed it over.

Kal-El frowned at the sealed missive, and sat down in the command chair to open it. The message itself appeared rather short, but Kal-El's face darkened as he read it. The word he muttered was not familiar to Ching, but from stray telepathic leakage he deduced that it was an obscenity.

Kal-El looked up, the message crumpling slightly from the pressure of his hand. "Bad news," he reported succinctly. "And, I think, a change of plans. The Lady Zara has been kidnapped."

Ching instinctively clamped a firm lid on his emotions; this news was horrifying, but he would not allow his reaction to betray him. He kept his voice steady as he asked, "Who would do such a thing?"

"The Lord Nor," Kal-El replied, looking grim. "Or so the council believes. She was last seen five days ago, which, coincidentally, was the same time that Nor's ship departed for an unknown destination. They suggest several possibilities for search."

Ching forced himself to think strategically. "That would be why they wanted our ship, then. This is the fastest in the fleet, with ample quarters and cargo space. We will have the capacity for an extended search." He hated to think of Zara in Nor's power; he didn't know the noble personally but his reputation was not good. Nor had courted Zara's hand for years, not surprisingly as Zara was the last of the royal house, and whoever she married would become the new First Lord of New Krypton, displacing the current council. As long as she had delayed formalizing her birth-marriage to Kal-El, Nor had seemed content to wait and press his suit. Apparently his patience had deserted him.

"I trust our search won't be too extended," Kal-El mused absently. "But we should be prepared. How are we fueled and provisioned?"

"Our fuel storage is full, m'Lord - this ship harvests the atmospheres of gas giants, and this system has supplied us amply. Our food supplies, however, are running low."

"Hmm. Well, there's no help for it; we'll have to remain here another day." Kal-El seemed to come to a decision and looked up abruptly. "When did you and your crew last sleep?"

Ching blinked at the unexpected question, then began mentally calculating.

"If you have to think about it, it's been too long," Kal observed dryly. "We have time, and I'll need to obtain more of the local currency before purchase sufficient supplies. As soon as the ship is secured, you are all relieved of duty - I advise you to get some rest. When I return, I will have your assignments."

Lois

The dressing room was abuzz with excitement when Lois entered it early the next afternoon. That suited her; she was excited, too, so she'd fit right in. Her long-standing request for a few weeks' leave had been granted at last. As soon as she wrapped up this case, she could begin packing for a trip to the beach. She didn't even particularly care which beach it was, although she'd asked the travel agent to investigate airfares to Tahiti. It was just as well that planning a vacation would take a few days, though; she couldn't afford to be distracted on the job.

She'd already reported her meager progress to the colonel; he'd been quite encouraging. He'd also cautioned her to take measures to protect herself, just in case. With some reservations, she'd slipped a nine millimeter pistol into her oversized purse. The weight was reassuring on her shoulder, but she was careful to swing the bag under the dressing table and out of sight; she didn't want anyone here to know she had a weapon. She could hardly produce the proper permit as 'Lola Dane.' Not that proper permits would likely be the main concern of any Metro Gang members. She supposed she could always fabricate some story about a harassing ex-boyfriend, if need be. With any luck, however, the subject would not come up. And so far, her luck was holding - none of the men on base had made jokes about chicken costumes, or at least not in her hearing. Things were looking as bright as they could, she supposed. "Hey there," she called out as she slipped into an empty make-up chair.

"Hey, Lola," Brenda greeted, almost bubbling with excitement. "Did you hear that Tanya quit?"

"Yeah, I heard," Lois commented slowly, not really surprised. "She seemed pretty freaked by the fires last night."

Brenda shrugged. "Well, I guess I can't blame her for that - a girl's got a right to her phobias. But she was the singer! Now that she's gone, they've got to get somebody else - this could be my big break!"

Francine snorted derisively, hardly looking up from her newspaper. "You're not the only one here who sings, you know."

"No, but I'm good," Brenda insisted with a spark of determination. "And I've been telling Johnny he should give me a chance."

Lois caught her eye in the mirror. "Good luck," she said softly. "You deserve it." Belatedly, she wondered if she should have said 'break a leg' instead, though Brenda didn't seem to mind. Lois smiled slightly; she wasn't very good at acting the part she'd created for herself. Well, it only had to last another day or so.

"Thanks, Lola."

The dressing room door opened again, and the fourth dancer breezed in. In her gauzy top and multi-colored skirt, Melanie almost seemed to float, and she bore a wide smile. "Peace and greetings, girls!"

"And where have you been?" Francine demanded grumpily. "You're even later than usual."

"I was meditating with my crystals group," Melanie explained, settling herself into her seat and starting to look through her small costume rack. "We were calling interstellar visitors - to come in peace, of course."

"Of course," Brenda chorused, with only a hint of rolled eyes as she moved into some warm-up type stretches. "So which did you ask for - ET, or the kind from Aliens?"

Melanie smiled serenely. "Neither, silly. We want the real kind. You know there has to be other intelligent life in the universe - somewhere. We just want to get in touch with them - there's so much they could teach us!"

Lois smiled at the young woman's enthusiasm. Had she ever believed in anything that whole-heartedly? She loved her country, of course, and had gladly followed her father's footsteps into the army, but she was not unaware of the flaws in either of them. "So what are we rehearsing today, and what do we have to wear?"

"They haven't said yet," Francine said, obviously unworried.

"They'll need to pick a new singer first," Brenda agreed, moving into leg lunges. "Maybe I should go talk to Johnny."

"I wouldn't," Francine cautioned. "He doesn't like it when women take the initiative."

Brenda scowled. "You're the one sleeping with him, you should know."

Francine snorted. "I'm hardly the only one, but yeah, trust me, I know."

A knock at the door drew all their attentions; after a short pause, perhaps to allow half-clad dancers to cover up, the door opened and Johnny Taylor poked his head in. "You all here? Good." Lois turned back towards her make-up table, keeping an eye on him in the mirror. "You probably heard that Tanya took off ... good riddance to bad rubbish, right? Well, we need a new singer..." His gaze wandered the room, touching on each of them briefly, then he smiled. "Lola, here's the sheet music, be ready to sing tonight." He tossed a file folder across the room; startled, she failed to catch it. As the papers fluttered to the ground, Lois looked anxiously at Brenda.

Brenda was standing, staring at Johnny in shock that rapidly turned to rage. "Johnny, why her? Why not me?"

Johnny shrugged. "I like her looks."

That only served to further inflame Brenda's temper. "Damn it, Johnny, is this because I'm black? Is that it? You think the customers won't want to see a black body out there? Because I've got a few names for you - Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin!"

She sputtered for a minute, and Melanie helpfully supplied, "Tina Turner."

Brenda picked up on the suggestion with a bare nod in her friend's direction. "Exactly! Those sisters had soul."

"Those sisters could sing," he retorted brutally.

"You never even heard Lola sing!" Brenda fumed.

"I've heard you. No, don't throw anything, girl." Johnny moved his hand towards the inside of his jacket, and Francine and Melanie moved hastily to the sides of the room. Brenda stood still, breathing heavily, staring stormily at her boss. Then, with an obvious effort of will, she put down the hair brush she'd grabbed. "That's a girl," Johnny crooned. "You're a good dancer, Brenda; just concentrate on that." Her eyes narrowed, and he gave up. "After Lola's number, we're doing two dance routines - the details are in the folder. I want to see all of you tonight, you hear?" With one final glance around the room, he retreated, closing the door behind him.

Brenda's shoulder's slumped as he left. Lois tentatively approached her. "Brenda ... I'm so sorry."

The black woman glared at her for a moment, then closed her eyes. "I know it's not your fault, Lola. That SOB isn't ever going to give me a chance, and it's time I realized it." An angry glare in Francine's direction defied comment. "I'll dance tonight, and then by God, I'm finding a better job."

Lois watched Brenda storm out of the dressing room and reminded herself to relax. This drama was entirely unrelated to her mission. She made it a rule to never get personally involved in her cases, and she couldn't break that rule for a woman she hardly knew. The important thing, as always, was the mission. After all, she had a reputation to maintain.

When Lois had first discovered that she had been, however inadvertently, named after a character in a comic book, she had been embarrassed - and reluctantly enthralled. Secretly, she'd devoured each weekly chronicle, hiding under the blankets with a flashlight. She'd thrilled to her counterpart's adventures, and sighed dreamily over the relationship that the fictional Lois Lane had enjoyed with Clark Kent, AKA Superman. Theirs had been a true partnership, and Lois had always hoped to one day achieve a similar union.

It had taken several disastrous relationships to extinguish that dream. Since then, she had thrown herself into her work. Perhaps she was destined to go through life alone, without a personal Superman - she certainly wasn't eager to risk her heart again. But she was determined to match her counterpart's successful career. That would have to be enough.

Kal

Kal made his way back towards the ship, struggling to concentrate on the tasks of the day. The first task had been to reacquire local currency; he'd discreetly disposed of his remaining cash yesterday, thinking he would no longer need it. Accordingly, he had pawned his two remaining gemstones. The pawnbroker/fence had offered him a ridiculously low price for the gems, had they been real, but it was enough for his purposes. They would need time to re-supply, and the supplies would have to be purchased at several different markets to remain inconspicuous.

Remaining here, however, had a deleterious effect on his concentration. He found his thoughts slipping back to the dancer from last night with dismaying frequency. She had been beautiful and brave, and wholly unlike any woman he'd ever known ... the thought of never seeing her again was tearing him apart. He was baffled by it. He'd found women attractive before, both here and at home, but had always been able to keep his feelings under proper control, deciding whether or not it would be prudent to explore the attraction. Perhaps this was merely pique, because she was unavailable - a perverse longing for what he could not have, simply because he could not have it.

If that were true, though, he would be very disappointed in himself. He'd known for some years that physical satisfaction was fleeting, leaving him emptier afterwards than before. What he really wanted was a deeper connection ... the last thing he could expect with a professional dancer. And yet, the fascination remained.

Making his way through the busy mid-morning crowds, Kal acknowledged that he wasn't entirely happy to be leaving Earth. He had come to enjoy this bustling Metropolis with its carefree, emotional inhabitants. Very likely his subconscious was using this dancer as a symbol of all he was leaving behind, and his strange feelings were just a manifestation of his deep ambivalence. It made no difference in the end, of course. Duty was duty.

Glancing casually up and down the busy street, Kal slipped into the alley that took him to the ship's landing zone. The parking lot had been empty for weeks, but as a precaution, he'd added a chain and padlock to the already-closed gate. He wasn't happy with this delay, but it was necessary if they were to be prepared for a long search.

As he approached the ship, Kal carefully controlled his thoughts, unhappily reminded of their mission. He was not emotionally attached to his birth-wife, but he did value her as a friend and ally. And if Kal hadn't volunteered for this observation assignment - if he had formalized their birth marriage earlier, instead of following some inchoate restlessness - Zara would not now be so vulnerable. If Nor mistreated her in any way, Kal would make him pay for it, and pay dearly.

**Lieutenant Ching,** he sent as he arrived at the ship's position. There was a slight shimmer visible in the air, betraying an active cloaking field, but the locals wouldn't understand what it meant. If they could see it at all. Kal reminded himself of the need for caution. He felt more comfortable back among his own people ... but concealing his strange powers was even more important among the people able to take advantage of it for their own gain. Not that he doubted Lt. Ching's honor, but the crewmen were another matter. For the first time, he wondered if these powers would fade once he was away from Earth. He had assumed it was a local condition, but what if a permanent change had been affected? Resolutely, he shook his head. That was a problem for another day.

In silent answer to his query, the ship's hatch opened, making a startling hole in the apparently empty parking lot. Kal walked inside quickly, checking behind him for witnesses, then closed the door, making the ship disappear once more.

On the flight deck, he found the entire crew waiting, looking more rested. "Greetings." He sorted through the lists in his hand. "Who among you can speak the local language?"

"I have some proficiency," Ching replied gravely.

"M'lord, I learned it too," Sev volunteered in broken but passable English.

Kal raised an eyebrow at this show of initiative. "Good work, crewman." He turned his attention to the last member of the crew, who blushed and hung his head. "Well, you can take Zak with you; perhaps he'll learn on the job." Learning the language should not be difficult; telepathy offered a strong advantage in matching familiar concepts to unfamiliar words. "Crewmen, you are in charge of food stocks. I have listed local merchants and written detailed lists." He passed the list to Sev. "We need enough food for at least six weeks. We do not want to attract undue attention, however - you'll need to spread your purchases out over three or four establishments." Kal handed over a large bundle of bills. "This is the local currency, and it should be sufficient. You will appear to blend in with the locals, and you are to do nothing that would reveal our existence, understood?"

They nodded submissively and Sev began pouring over the long list. Kal switched his attention to Ching. The lieutenant was looking dubious. "Six weeks, m'lord?"

Kal sighed. "I trust this mission will be over quickly, but I would not be caught under-prepared. The Lady Zara is depending on us."

Ching nodded gravely, maintaining his bland image.

"You and I, Ching, have our own mission. I do not know what weaponry you have on board-" Kal paused expectantly. He feared he knew the answer, and he did not look forward to challenging Nor on an unarmed ship. Very few New Kryptonian vessels had weapons, preferring to concentrate on passive defenses, such as the ship's cloak.

"Why, none, other than the ship's mining equipment."

Kal cheered slightly at that. Mining lasers could be used against ships as well as against asteroids - though with unpleasant consequences for the inhabitants of the ship. "Well, we won't use that except as a last resort. But it's something. What we really need are some hand weapons, and I know where we can procure some." He wasn't sure if they could manage to actually practice using the weapons, but if they were careful they might be able to extract some relevant information from the dealer, reading his memories to learn his skills. "We will have to leave the city, so it will take some time. Fortunately, the crew can be purchasing the food stocks while we're gone."

Kal looked up to see that crewman Sev was no longer perusing his long list; he was watching his superiors carefully. Seeing that he had his lord's attention, he lowered his eyes. "Begging your pardon, m'lord ... but what, exactly, are ... Ho-Ho's?"

Lois

"We're taking this organization to the next level. Out of the back room, and into the boardroom."

Eavesdropping from the closet, Lois couldn't help feeling a small surge of admiration for Toni Taylor. She had coolly faced down her brother and taken command of the Metro Gang. Not quite single-handedly, of course; Lois had been able to see some of the men backing Toni, with their guns drawn. Luckily, Johnny had had the sense to surrender peacefully, and two of Toni's new 'associates' had already escorted him out. She supposed the Metro Police would be interested to hear of the gang's ambitions; they would all have to wait and see if it were possible to transform a bunch of petty criminals into legitimate businessmen.

Toni was now receiving updates on the gang's various enterprises, and Lois took desultory notes. The police would like to know this, but it wasn't getting her any closer to the source of the fires. Unless of course, the fires *had* been a weapon against Johnny, in which case they should stop.

There was noise of movement in the meeting room, and Lois returned her eye to the peephole. She saw Toni raise a hand before the first man reached the door. "One more thing, people ... what happened in this room is private, at least for now. I don't want wild rumors flying around."

"Word won't leave this club," a beefy man rumbled.

"That's not good enough," Toni snapped. "I don't even want club employees to know. Especially not the girls." She smiled derisively. "They're all either sleeping with Johnny, or want to, and if they knew he was out, who knows what would happen. Let's not screw up tonight's show."

Lois rolled her eyes. Either Toni had an extremely poor opinion of her lower-status sisters, or Johnny's inflated opinion of himself had been catching. Probably both. There was a murmur of agreement from the men in the room as they filed out of the meeting.

Lois relaxed away from the peephole, stretching and rolling her neck to recover from the awkward position. It seemed that she was no closer to discovering the truth behind the fires, or the source of the Toasters' technology, and she was no longer certain that she was spending her time profitably here. Trapped in her "Lola Dane" persona, she could hardly start asking questions around the neighborhood. Of course, she'd already asked around, to no avail. And now that the Metro's little internal quarrel was solved, the next meeting might be more informative, so perhaps it was worth one more day.

She grimaced. Realistically, if she left the club now, she'd be leaving the neighborhood and unable to make any further progress, no matter what name she used. That was unacceptable. The Metro Club might be a slim chance, but it was better than none. And if she were going to stay, she'd better go practice her solo. The glittery white gown she'd be wearing was hardly her typical wardrobe, but she knew she would look good in it. She couldn't help but wonder if Kal Lewis would be in the audience. She refused to entertain the suspicion that he was a factor in her decision to stay.

Kal

When the New Kryptonians rendezvoused back at their ship, night was falling, further disguising their vessel. The hatch opened by remote telepathic control, briefly rousing Kal-El's curiosity. The transport pod that had dropped him off three years ago had had permeable walls that opened wherever necessary. Then again, the interior of the pod had been small and open, with nothing dangerous waiting if one chose the wrong section of wall to open. So perhaps a designated entry made sense. Even if the stairs descending from nothingness did look a trifle bizarre.

"Crewmen, report," Kal ordered as they entered the ship and made their way to the command deck.

"Mission accomplished, m'lord," Sev replied proudly. "It took five merchants and more time than it ought, but we purchased everything on the list. We've filled an entire cargo hold, but there's another available if you need it, m'lord."

Kal shook his head. "Our purchases today were not bulky." He and Lieutenant Ching had each acquired a handgun, and he'd even been able to find a gun range where they could practice aiming the weapons. They were unfamiliar to him, but that meant they would be unfamiliar to Nor, as well, and hopefully unexpected.

"Are we ready to depart, m'lord?" Zak asked, almost shyly.

"No, Zak," Kal replied. "We need to wait until the air traffic eases up, another ten hours or so. Do you need another rest period?"

The young navigator blushed and shook his head. "No, m'lord, thank you, m'lord, it's just... well, I was thinking, and Sev and I got to talking, and well..."

Kal arched an eyebrow and glanced at Sev, who was looking embarrassed as well. "Would you care to translate?" he asked sardonically.

"Women, m'lord," Sev said succinctly. "We've been out on this mission for a very long time. Lieutenant Ching said this wasn't to be shore leave, but we expected to be long gone by now."

Kal grinned, suddenly remembering Toni the night before, telling him to bring his friends to the club. The temptation to see his dancer again was too strong to resist. She had freely wandered around his mind all day, and he only hoped that Ching hadn't picked up on her echoes. Perhaps if he saw her again, he could satisfy his curiosity and exorcise her from his thoughts. Besides, they had the time, and the crew had requested it, so this wasn't mere self-indulgence. "We weren't planning this, but..." He turned to his executive officer. "Lieutenant? Have they performed their duties adequately?"

"Yes, sir," Ching replied, his face still as closed as it had been all day. Kal was beginning to wonder what it would take to provoke a reaction from the impassive officer.

"In that case, I know the perfect place to visit. This is entertainment only," Kal stressed, belatedly remembering that the crew were probably thinking of concubines rather than floor shows. "You may look, but not touch or interact. We cannot risk our presence becoming known."

Sev looked at the floor and mumbled, "Yes, m'lord."

Lois

"The world will pardon my mush, 'cause ... I have got a crush, oh my baby ... on you."

As the last note died away, Lois nodded to the bandleader; this last try had worked much better. "I think we've got it. Just keep an eye on me and follow my lead, okay?"

He nodded agreement, then turned back to his band members, critiquing their individual performances. Lois stepped down off the stage, pondering her options. The club would open soon, and she was expected to work as a waitress for a few hours before show time. She didn't mind dancing, and she found that she actually enjoyed the singing, but waitressing seemed too demeaning - especially considering the absurd costume. She reminded herself that it was all for a good cause. Still, there was a little time before the club opened; perhaps she could have another look around.

Wandering through the kitchen and storage rooms gained her nothing; no board meetings to eavesdrop on, and no incriminating evidence left lying about. She was about to give up when she caught a glimpse of Toni heading out a door that led only to a back alley. Her curiosity was definitely roused, but caution held her back. She needed a plausible excuse for going out that door. Looking around, Lois spotted a pack of cigarettes sitting at an unmanned guard station. She grabbed it, pulling one out and using the nearby lighter to ignite it. Trying to act normally, she headed for the door and exited the building.

The back alley was small, and the fading sunlight still illuminated the few flapping newspaper scraps. A few steps away from the door, Toni was speaking on a pay phone, her back to the door. Lois made a show of looking the other way, which both concealed her interest in Toni and hid the fact that her cigarette never actually touched her lips. With any luck, Toni would assume she was merely on a smoke break.

Lois stood very still, waving the cigarette occasionally, and strained to hear what Toni didn't feel she could say in her own office.

"Yes, you've done very well ... You screwed up the objective last night, but I managed anyway. No," her voice dripped sarcasm, "why should I blame you? Johnny's out of the picture and the club didn't burn down - no thanks to you, of course, but never mind ... you've served your purpose." There was a brief pause, then Toni spoke again, her voice harder. "I need to meet with you - all of you. Midnight tonight. The usual place." Another pause. "Yes, fine ... but this will be the final payment. And I don't want any more fires, understand? Good." Toni hung the phone up roughly, and after a moment, Lois could hear her footsteps approaching.

"Lola?"

Lois couldn't help flinching, but she tried to make it work for her. "Ms. Taylor!" she squeaked in simulated surprise. "I, um, didn't see you ... uh, I was just ..." She waved her cigarette around, then threw it down on the ground, crushing it with her shoe. "I've been trying to quit, but sometimes ... well, I was nervous about tonight and all, and ..." She let her voice trail off guiltily, keeping her eyes downcast.

Toni snorted. "Smoking is a very bad habit for a singer."

"Oh, I know," Lois said, raising rueful eyes. "And mostly I'm fine, honestly, but ... I'll do better from now on."

Toni studied her for a moment, clearly trying to work out whether Lois had heard anything, or whether to take her story on face value. "See that you do. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"Yes, ma'am," Lois nodded humbly, fully aware of the double meaning. She let herself be maneuvered back inside, then left Toni to head for the dressing room. It was empty, and from the main room she could hear the sounds of the dancers rehearsing their routine for the night. She sat down in her chair, glad for the respite.

So, Toni Taylor had been behind the Toasters all along - as part of her plan to take over the Metros, apparently. Lois was pleased that her speculation along those lines had been correct. She considered then rejected the idea of reporting to the Metro Police; if the Toasters were using stolen technology, that needed to be kept quiet. A quick call to the Colonel would set things in motion; he could arrange for a small squad to follow Toni to her midnight meeting - Lois was technically only responsible for intelligence gathering, not arrests. She was tempted to keep it all to herself until she could deliver the whole case tied up with string, but military discipline had taught her to share vital information. Sometimes another player on the team was in a better position to score, so it made sense to pass the ball.

It took only a few minutes to revisit the pay phone in the alley and report in to her Colonel. He had been very pleased at her progress, and she smiled to herself with justifiable pride. She had done a good job under demeaning conditions, and as soon as the loose ends were wrapped up - hopefully at midnight - she would be free to concentrate on her vacation.

It occurred to her that she could leave the club now, as the mission was all but finished. She could still follow Toni later with the tactics squad, properly dressed in uniform. She didn't have to demean herself serving drinks. She didn't have to display herself on stage. She didn't have to see Kal again ... She scowled. What was it with that man? Why did she keep thinking of him? He's nothing special, she told herself sternly, and if you saw him again you'd realize that.

She would stay at the club and do her job because she had agreed to do so; it was a matter of honor, nothing more. Besides, her practical side whispered, Toni and the Toasters hadn't been arrested *yet.* Toni had been suspicious of her earlier; if she disappeared, it might spook Toni into rearranging her plans. Okay, so she'd also see Kal Lewis again, but seeing him under such seedy circumstances would show his true character and allow her to dismiss him from her mind once and for all. A patron of the Metro Club was not worth mooning over.

Nodding briskly, she rose and began dressing for the evening.

Kal

Kal and Ching sat together, leaving the lower class crewmen to the relative social comfort of a separate table. Kal noted that Sev was enjoying the attention of his waitress, and using his new proficiency in English to attempt a clumsy flirtation.

Ching followed his glance. "I'll keep an eye on him, m'Lord. Zak should not be a problem, but Sev ... gets carried away." There was an element of distaste in the Lieutenant's voice, leading Kal to wonder just what Sev had done to annoy his superior - aside perhaps from being too obsequious. Kal had been annoyed by the man's bowing and scraping, but he realized he was far from an objective observer. Three years of being treated as nothing special, of no favor being unearned, had been strangely refreshing, and it felt decidedly odd to return to a system of enforced adulation. Whatever the offense, however, it couldn't have been too serious, and it seemed that Ching had the situation - and his feelings - under control.

Kal glanced around the club. It was strange to return to this place when he thought he'd said goodbye forever. There were hasty repairs and re-decorations to cover the scars of last night's fires, but all in all the club looked the same. The band was playing something soft and jazzy. Kal was disinclined to make conversation, and Ching seemed equally quiet.

It was impossible to avoid thinking about the dancer. He wondered why she had become a dancer; it was not a high status profession, at least not as practiced at the Metro Club. She had the body for it, but she hadn't seemed very comfortable on stage. That awkwardness had stood in stark contrast to her confidence later, coolly putting out those fires. Kal had seen many dancers come and go, and while they were generally decent people, this one was just different somehow.

Kal sighed. If only he had seen her a year ago. He sensed that she would not have been easy to seduce, which would have been a fascinating challenge. Kal had never really had to work at getting a woman into his bed, starting with the concubine who had been a coming-of-age present from his foster-father. Although he had tried to be considerate, he knew that his position in New Kryptonian society had guaranteed him access to the lower classes. But each coupling had meant less than the last, until he'd been nearly celibate. He had hoped that his liaison with Toni Taylor would have been different, made more meaningful by the fact that she was his social equal and a voluntary partner, but it still hadn't been enough. If a business executive had fallen short, he had no reason to suspect that a mere entertainer would be a more fit partner for him ... but something within him longed to make the experiment.

The house lights dimmed and the band began a flourish. Very carefully, Kal set down his drink and angled his chair slightly away from Ching, clamping even stricter control over his conscious thoughts. He and Ching had not communicated telepathically since the ship's arrival, but Kal was taking no chances.

The stage was set only with a microphone, and Kal relaxed; he could easily ignore Tanya. But the figure that moved forward, in a glittering white gown, was not Tanya's. "Ladies and Gentlemen," the speaker system announced, "The Metro Club is proud to introduce ... Lola Dane!"

Without waiting for a reaction, Lola began her song, crooning huskily about a lover's pursuit and her glad acquiescence. She was smiling as she sang, using subtle body language to express the joys of being in love. Kal was unexpectedly touched. Love had never been a feature in his relationships, and he'd never realized the lack of it before. Lola's gaze moved around the room as she sang, and as she began the first chorus, her eyes locked with his.

Was it his imagination, or did the song falter for a moment? He felt his heart stop, and even as some distant part of his brain told him how ridiculous it all was, he knew that this woman touched something deep inside him, a part of him that no woman had ever before been able to reach.

He watched in rapt fascination as she finished her song. After the first long look, she had broken eye contact with him to scan the room again, but he noticed smugly that her gaze returned to him, over and over. Beneath the facade of portraying a woman happily in love, he thought he saw puzzlement in her eyes. He would have to tell her that he didn't understand, either, but there was clearly a connection between them. Once her song was finished, he would seek her out backstage; he knew the layout well enough, and the bouncers would allow him access, he felt sure. He needed to know everything about her ... her background, her training, her views ... how her mouth tasted, how her body felt against his ... he was consumed with a need to get close to her, and to stay there forever. The song finished, and with one last look in his direction, Lola Dane left the stage. Kal shifted in his seat, ready to follow as soon as the lights came up.

"M'lord?" Ching's voice broke into Kal's thoughts, an unpleasant reminder of reality.

Kal blinked once, trying vainly to clear his head. When he felt he was somewhat under control, he turned to face his subordinate. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

Ching was regarding him carefully, with a hint of censure in his eyes, and Kal fought the stirrings of shame. No doubt his reaction had been clear, telepathically or not. "M'lord," Ching spoke mildly, "we have a mission to prepare for. Perhaps we had best retire to the ship. To plan our strategy for rescuing the Lady Zara."

Part of Kal raged and wept internally at the thought of leaving, but his training and duty were unrelenting. "Of course. Lady Zara is our first priority." He forced a smile. "I'll return to the ship."

Ching smiled back, just as falsely. "I'll accompany you, m'lord - if I may."

Kal nodded, accepting the hint of rebuke. After all, he'd earned it. As he rose, he spotted Zak and Sev, engrossed in the show. Zak wore an expression of almost child-like delight, and even Sev seemed to have toned down his earlier exuberance. Kal was tempted to order them back to the ship, as well - if he couldn't enjoy the show, none of them could - but he restrained himself. "The crewmen may remain for the rest of the show, don't you think?"

Ching shrugged, his attention clearly centered on Kal. "As you say, M'Lord."

Kal sighed, giving in to the inevitable. His duty was clear, and his future was set. And that future most assuredly did not include Lola Dane.

Lois

Lois made her way to the dressing room on automatic pilot, still in a daze. She had half expected to see Kal again - almost hoped for it. But she hadn't been prepared for her reaction when she'd spotted him. She'd nearly forgotten the words to the song at the shock of meeting his eyes. There had been such a sense of vulnerability from him, a sense of longing and desire, aimed squarely at her. She had expected, going out in front of such a crowd, to be lusted over somewhat. Part of her had even enjoyed the experience, secure in the knowledge that she remained in control. And she had received her fair share of appreciative looks, but they had all been impersonal. Except for the intensely personal scrutiny by Kal Lewis. Meeting his eyes had been an almost physical sensation every time she glanced his way.

She glanced at the dressing room door, wondering how long it would take him to find his way backstage. She was surprised he hadn't appeared already; his intent to follow her couldn't have been plainer if he'd shouted the words aloud. She had no idea what she would say to him, though. No matter how strongly she reacted to him - and she could no longer deny that there was an attraction there - these were still impossible circumstances. She was not who she appeared, and he was a long-time patron of the Metro Club - hardly the sort of man she'd dreamed of. She needed to be rational about this.

As the minutes ticked past, however, the quiet of the dressing room was undisturbed, and Lois slowly realized that he wasn't coming. Clenched stomach muscles relaxed suddenly, and she laughed softly at herself for over-dramatizing. Obviously, she had read too much into things. With slightly trembling hands she began changing costumes. In a few moments, she was due out on stage again with the other dancers. And this time, she wouldn't be rattled by intense stares from anyone.

Once she was changed and had touched up her face and hair, she made her way to the tiny backstage area, passing the other dancers as they rushed offstage to get into their new costumes in time for the next number. Peeking through the curtain, she ordered her stomach to behave, but it was unnecessary. Kal's table was empty, and was being cleaned. He was gone.

Zak

"This is amazing!" Zak enthused in his native Kryptonian, enjoying himself immensely. Never before had he seen so many beautiful women in one place, nor so scantily dressed, and he was busily trying to see and memorize every fascinating sight.

Sev smiled, somewhat condescendingly. "It is, yes. It's a shame we can only enjoy these entertainments for one night, isn't it?"

"I guess," Zak replied, his eyes never leaving the stage, "but what a night! Look at that one - I didn't know women could move like that."

Sev snorted amusement. "And you're not the only one enthralled tonight. Did you see the way Lord Kal-El was watching that singer?"

Zak shrugged. "I know how I was watching her; that's about it."

"You should have seen his face," Sev mused. "It almost gave me an idea."

It finally occurred to Zak that his crewmate had something in mind, and reluctantly, he turned to face him. "What sort of an idea?"

"Oh, just something to make the upcoming voyage more enjoyable. A souvenir, of sorts. But I'll need your help." Sev leaned forward, pinning Zak with an intense gaze. "We have an opportunity to gain favor - if you are brave and resourceful enough -" His look became challenging. "It will benefit all of us, especially Lord Kal-El. Are you in?"

Zak sat up straighter, determined not to disappoint his older colleague. "If you're up for it, I'm with you," he said rashly.

Sev smiled. "Good. Here's what we do..."

Lois

"Free at last, free at last," Brenda declared as they entered the dressing room after the final dance number of the evening. "Praise God Almighty, I am free at last!"

Lois couldn't help smiling at her new friend's defiant energy. "So when are you going to give your notice?"

"Already did," Brenda replied from behind the privacy screen, stripping out of her costume with practiced speed. "I wanted to give it to Johnny his damn self, but he wasn't here, so I told Toni." She snorted. "She almost fell over herself paying me off."

"We'll miss you, Brenda," Melanie put in, looking woebegone. Then she brightened. "But when you find a better job, see if they have a place for me, okay?"

Brenda smiled at her. "Sure thing." Emerging from behind the screen in her street clothes, she sat down in front of a mirror to clean off the stage makeup. "I'll keep you posted. You too, Lola, if you want."

Lois smiled, touched by the offer. "Thanks, but I have a feeling my entertainment career is going to be pretty limited." In fact, it was already over. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to meet up with the tactics squad, and then tomorrow she was going on well-deserved leave, and after that, her promotion to Captain would probably entail reassignment. Lois was hoping for duty in Europe, but she wouldn't mind going to the Pentagon, either. Not that she could explain any of that at the moment. "I don't think I have the stamina for it." She glanced over at Francine, whom Brenda had pointedly not mentioned. The older woman was concentrating on her mirror, looking only slightly grimmer than usual.

A knock on the dressing room door startled them all, and Lois turned, wondering if Kal was showing up at last. When Melanie opened the door, however, she saw two young men.

Something about them seemed familiar to Lois, but it took her a second to tease out the connection. They were wearing pseudo-military uniforms, markedly similar to the one Kal's companion had been wearing.

"Greetings." Melanie smiled at them. The younger one smiled back, blushing, but his friend's expression remained remote.

"Good evening," he replied. His speech bore a slight accent, but Lois was unable to place it. "I have a request."

"We're through for the evening, honey," Francine called out, not bothering to look at them.

"Yes," he agreed, "but we have a private party. We will pay you well for your time."

He had caught Brenda's attention with that, and Melanie stopped flirting with the younger man to become businesslike. "What sort of private party? We don't strip."

The younger man looked confused for a moment, then began blushing furiously. "No, no," explained his colleague. "Only dancing, like on stage. And singing." He glanced in Lois's direction, and she shivered, feeling a vague sense of menace. Which was ridiculous. Lois Lane feared no man; she was an expert in martial arts and had a pistol in her purse. She stiffened her spine and stared back coolly. He quickly looked away, choosing instead to speak to Brenda.

"This could lead to new jobs, yes? Our ..." he appeared to struggle for a word, "our boss is new in town, and will be opening a new club. We liked what we saw tonight."

Brenda raised her chin. "Great. I'll go."

He ducked his head apologetically. "We would like all of you to come. You dance as a group, after all."

Brenda surveyed her co-workers challengingly. "Well, ladies?"

"I'm not so sure," Melanie said. "I mean, we don't know these guys ... even if they are cute." She winked at the younger one, and set him blushing again.

"I am Sev," the leader introduced himself, gesturing towards his silent partner. "This is Zak. He does not speak much English."

"There's safety in numbers," Brenda told Melanie. "And this could be a good chance for us. You guys don't want to stay here forever, do you?"

"Not particularly," Francine admitted, paying attention at last. "But you'd better make sure it's a better deal before you leap."

"It's just an audition. Sort of. Come on, Francine, don't you get in my way here." Brenda turned back to the spokesman, demanding, "How long is this party? We've already worked a full shift."

"You will be home before you know it," Sev promised gravely.

Lois eyed him with growing distrust; something about him had her intuition sending danger warnings. Then again, her intuition had let her down once already this evening; she had been so sure that Kal would follow her backstage, when instead he'd left the club. She hated feeling so unsure.

"I'll go," Melanie declared, with an eye on her blushing admirer. "I think it could be fun."

"All right then, count me in." Francine shrugged. "I can always use extra money."

Brenda turned, searching out Lois. "Lola, are you in? You know you owe me this."

Lois hesitated. She did feel a residual sense of guilt over being chosen to sing, and more than that, she liked Brenda, and wanted to help her. If this were all on the level, she should go along. If it weren't, however ... things could get ugly. Even beside her instinctive feeling of distrust in Sev, Lois was uneasy about this "private party." The two men might have some sort of connection to Kal, but a similarity of uniform did not guarantee any other similarities; they could still be dangerous. For all she knew, Kal could be dangerous. But Brenda's reckless mood seemed to have spread to the others, and if they were determined to go, then the least she could do was go along to protect them. Regretfully, she gave up the idea of following Toni. The tactics squad could handle that assignment perfectly well on their own; these dancers might need help. "Okay, fine, if you're all going, I'll go too."

Sev smiled ever so slightly, his eyes glinting. "Excellent. We are most pleased."

Brenda smiled fiercely. "Great. Let's get our stuff and get out of here."

The men were banished from the room while the ladies got out of costume and into their street clothes. Lois held her bag carefully as they all left the club, her handgun reassuringly heavy within. Perhaps this was a normal occurrence - the other dancers seemed to find little amiss - but she paid close attention as they left the club through a back entrance and began walking towards the street. Zak, who still had not said much apart from a few mumbles to Melanie, was leading the way, but Sev seemed to be falling slightly behind them, a positioning that raised Lois's hackles.

"So where's the limousine?" Brenda asked, in determined high spirits.

"The party is only a few blocks away," Sev said. "A short walk."

It was a short walk, and though Brenda and Melanie were chatting, Lois felt her nerves growing tighter with every step. As they turned a corner down an alley, she could no longer keep silent. "Ladies, I'm not so sure this is a good idea."

For the first time, facing an unlit alleyway, Brenda's bravado faltered. "Well, maybe..."

"Keep walking, please," Sev directed in a firm tone.

Feeling a trickle of dread go up her spine, Lois turned and saw that he had drawn a handgun and was pointing it steadily at them. She was almost relieved to have the threat revealed, but with the two men bracketing the women, it was not a good moment to strike back.

"We will not harm you," Sev promised with an oily smile. "But we would like the pleasure of your company for a little while."

Francine rolled her eyes, and Brenda looked disgusted. "Oh, thanks. This is terrific. First I get screwed over by my boss, and now I'm being held at gunpoint. Could this day get any better?"

Lois winced at the defiant tone. She knew the black girl didn't lack for courage, and probably felt she had little to lose, but to maximize their chances, they had to wait for a better opportunity. "Calm down, Brenda," she soothed, moving a little closer to her new friend. "Let's see what they have in mind, okay?"

Brenda looked incredulous, but must have seen something reassuring in Lois's calm face. "Okay, fine, whatever." She threw up her hands and turned back towards the alley. "There's got to be a limit to my bad karma at *some* point..."

With a resentful glance at Sev, Francine followed, muttering something under her breath. Only Melanie stayed put, looking terrified. Lois walked up to her and gave her a brief hug, whispering, "I've got a gun." When she pulled back to study the girl's face, she saw comprehension dawning.

"But then, why...?" Melanie asked quietly, darting a pointed glance at Sev.

"Timing," Lois told her quietly, "is everything."

Melanie still didn't look convinced, but with one more searching look at Lois, she pulled herself together. Lois reached for her hand, and they both entered the alley.

"Very good," Sev said coolly. "Zak, you open the gate."

Lois strained to see as they passed a chain-link fence into what appeared to be a parking lot. There were no streetlights, and between these tall city buildings the darkness was thick. Sev remained close behind them, but tantalizingly out of range of a Tai Kwon Do kick. And she still didn't know if Zak was armed, so Lois forced herself to remain passive. Her opportunity would come, she felt sure.

Suddenly, a set of stairs appeared in front of them, dimly lit only from within. Zak helped Brenda and Francine inside. "Lola," Melanie whispered, a quaver in her voice, "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Be patient," Lois advised softly as they entered and began walking up the broad staircase. The surface of the stairs was unfamiliar under her feet, not quite as rough as concrete, tinted pink by the strangely reddish lighting. And there was a faint hum in the air. At the top of the stairs, Zak ushered them into a large room, remaining outside the doorless entrance. Lois turned as soon as she passed into the room. She finally had her friends on one side and the enemy on the other - this was her opportunity. She took a deep breath and reached into her purse.

Before she could even speak, however, the wall seemed to move, smoothly closing the entrance and shutting them all in. Sev's voice floated through the barrier. "Sleep well, ladies. It will be a long trip."