Chapter 15
Meanwhile back at the fortress…
"Listen, Gramps"
"My name is Jor-El…"
"Yeah, Whatever…"
This had been the just a brief taste of what the past few hours as she had explored around the large fortress of solitude.
"…is there a food court around this place?"
The AI whose voice to her annoyance always followed her replied.
"You require sustenance?"
Lois stepped around expecting to speak to someone when she forgot he was a voice and only that.
"When you mean sustenance…please tell me you are referring to a cheeseburger?"
There was a flash of light behind her as she looked and saw a crystal table and what was on it made her smile.
On a crystal plate with a spray of lettuce and fries was a beautifully placed and tasty looking cheeseburger with all the trimmings as she quickly sat down and dug in.
"Thanks Jorrie…"
"My name is Jor-El…" The AI said this time with a raised tone.
Lois in that moment had a mouthful of burger in her mouth when she spoke.
"How…did…you…know…that…this was m…favourite…food…" saying between chewing.
Jor-El impressively analysed her speech through her distorted chewing and replied.
"When Kal-El is training in this fortress this is the sustenance that he finds more appropriate"
Lois smiled into the glass of water provided also on the table as she thought of there similar choice in meals.
"So you and Clark…do you get along with each other?"
"My Relationship with Kal-El is as your culture would call…Dysfunctional"
Lois was surprised by his statement.
"Why?"
Jor-El voice hinted with sadness in his reply.
"To Kal-El I will never be his true father…"
Lois immediately realised dropping the burger and said sombrely.
"Mr Kent…"
"You are correct…Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent in Kal-El's mind will always be his parents…however they have raised my son into the man he is today which I am very proud of…"
That's when Lois realised what the missing link into Clark and his biological father's relationship.
"Do you tell him?"
"Tell him what Miss Lane?"
"That you are proud of him? Do you love him?"
Jor-El immediately replied more insulted.
"I love my son very much…"
Lois then said with burger in her hand as the breakthrough was confirmed.
"Then maybe you need to tell Clark that now and again and maybe he will look at you at the father figure I know Clark has needed since Mr Kent passed away…"
"I will try that Lois Lane…thank you"
Lois nodded as she took a final bite out of her burger as Jor-El spoke once more.
"I can see now why my son has such strong feelings for you…"
Lois nearly choked on her food as she quickly looked up to nowhere in particular.
"You mind running that by me again because I swear you said that Clark had feelings for me…"
"You seemed to not realise the importance you are to Kal-El's life…"
Lois was now stuttering as she tried to put the information together.
"I am not that important to Clark…yes we work together…yes there is a whole office in the trenches spark thing…yes I would trust him with my life…but Clark doesn't feel that way about me…so all the more reason you shouldn't keep me here because I am not some special key to bring Clark back…"
She said with a tear running down her cheek.
"Lois Lane…in the 3 weeks of your absence I have tried as much as all of his companions have to reach behind the walls he has created around him since the events of Doomsday…but you have accomplished that within a day of your return because of the feelings you have for each other…such a bound between two people can never be broken no matter how difficult a situation is thrown in front of either person...so in answer to your reasoning Miss Lane…you are special in my sons life"
Lois was lost in her thoughts for a moment when she stood up and said with new found figure.
"What do I have to do?"
Jor-El replied with calmness at her sudden question.
"You must be patient you yourself will know when the time is right and what you will have to do…"
Lois accepted this for a moment but her inability to not speak for less than 5 seconds took over.
"So is there a jukebox in this joint?