Kagome smiled as she looked out the window, enjoying the view below. This was just one of the reasons she loved her job. It had been the main factor, drive to take this job, but now... she loved everything that came with it.
Her partner in crime was looking a little smug, enjoying not only her excitement, but taking in the view as well as knowing what waited for them when they finally landed.
"I wonder what their expressions will be when they see us." Kagome mused.
"With them being the military, none too pleased I expect."
Turning to the other woman with a raised brow, Kagome smirked. Shaking her head, she chuckled at Lois' attempt at a serious look. "You enjoy this part far too much."
Lois blinked before a slow smile. "You know me all too well. But I'm not the only one."
Kagome shrugged, moving to hold a rail when the helicopter started to buck as they descended. "True. But it's just one of the perks that come with the job."
"That's why I like working with you, Kagome. That and you have sharp eyes."
Kagome gasped, laying her hands above her heart in an obvious play of being flattered. She didn't stop when they landed and the door was opened.
"Oh Lois... you say such the sweetest things." she faked sniffling and turned to the first person standing next to the helicopter door. "She says she likes my pretty eyes!"
The man merely blinked wide confused eyes up at her. The poor man was rescued when Lois spoke up, drawing Kagome's attention.
"Kagome... for someone so grown up... you sure act immature at times."
Pouting, Kagome huffed as she was helped out of the helicopter, stuck her tongue out at Lois. "Life would be really boring if we acted mature and like the adults we are all the time. There are times for being mature and there are times where we can act out our inner child."
"You have a gift... to make such silly things sound so profound."
"Most think it's due to my Japanese heritage. And... thank you."
"Miss. Lane, Miss. Higurashi. You're early, we were expecting you tomorrow."
Both women turned towards one of the men that was there to greet them. Unlike the one that was helping with their bags, this one was part of the military. Kagome jumped forward to take her camera bags while Lois dealt with the one introducing them and beginning a short explanation of things they were willing to share.
"Thanks, I can take my bags."
"It's alright Miss, I got them."
"Please..." she pouted a little as she held a hand out to take her bag. Looking up at the man, she implored him with her eyes.
He fidgeted a bit as they stood there, Kagome staring up at him, while he continued to hold their bags.
"Please... I feel naked without it while on the job." she raised her hand, offering a shy smile which bloomed into something more brighter when he reluctantly handed her camera bag back. "Thank you!"
"Kagome... stop flirting with the guy, we got work to do."
Spinning about, she offered a mock salute to Lois. "Aye, aye mon capitan!"
"Game face Kagome, we're officially on the job."
"Alright." turning to the one in charge, she asked with a straight face. "I'll need to know the locations, what and who I am allowed to shoot. While we're on it, a few papers need to be signed on both our ends."
The man raised a brow in silent questioning.
Smiling, Kagome canted her head to the side slightly. "Nothing more than us stating we'll abide by the rules and cannot take legal action should we break those rules that result in injury or damaged equipment. And the others to state that you and your are allowing us to use the gathered material, and not confiscate it or use it against us, the Daily Planet and so on and so forth."
"Right... this way. We can discuss more in detail inside."
"And the rest of our bags?"
"Oh, Joe can take care of them."
Lois and Kagome turned to Joe, seeing him standing there already arms full with the rest of their bags. He looked a little lost at the unsaid command but could only shrug his shoulders as they began their trek to where they would be informed of the exact details.
"Be careful, those bags are heavy!"
"Than offer him a hand, or are you worried about your equipment?" Kagome asked, teasing her work college.
"You know how I get with my equipment after a flight."
"Yeah, you get twitchy and check through everything like a person that suffers OCD to make sure they're in working order. Let's just hope this meeting doesn't run long..."
Unknowing to the two women, Joe could only smirk at their conversation. They were certainly not what he expected for reporters. He couldn't deny that they were... good looking, he had been especially thrown off at seeing a pair of blue eyes similar to his own staring back at him.
Shaking his head, he would continue to be 'Joe', but once it got dark, he was going to do what he came for.
"Does he really expect us to use a bucket in the corner?"
"What did you expect? We're so far up north that running water is a luxury here. And I don't even know the physics of those portable toilets in these freezing temperatures." Kagome commented as she went through her camera bags.
While she had checked for memory space, and battery life, these were much colder temperatures than she had ever been in with her camera. Raising the device to eye level, she took a few test shots to make sure the lens was also working properlly.
"Besides, we have been through worse." turning to Lois, camera still on, she smiled as she got some surprise shots of her work college and friend.
"Oh do you always have to do that?"
"The pictures that are sudden are always the best. True emotions. Now, ready to head out there in the freezing night?"
Lois smiled, her own smaller digital camera ready in hand. "Let's."
Kagome was more than happy that she had bought herself the thicker winter coat and the new fleece lined gloves, the air outside was freezing!
"I don't know which is worse, this freezing temperature or being out in the scorching sun that time we did a report on Egypt and the demonstrations in the middle of summer!"
"Oh hush you, you enjoy wherever we go."
"Too true."
"Good, now zoom in as close you can to the plateau top."
Following Lois' lead, Kagome zoomed in to where the actual site was taking place. Just like Lois, Kagome was more curious than cautious. Which was most likely why the two of them worked so well with each other. They also believe in the truth. But whereas Lois felt that every story had to be told, Kagome knew that sometimes, some things were best left alone.
Especially after her stint in Jr. High where she was time traveling and fighting battles and enemies that most people though were mere fairy tales. It was why she choose photo journalism as a carrier. It allowed her to travel, something that she couldn't give up after the past, meet and learn new people, customs, and stories.
Looking at the display, a brow quirked up at a rather odd sight. Zooming in on the area, her brows furrowed at what she saw, but not comprehending.
"Lois, take a look at this and tell me what you see." Leaning the camera towards Lois, she tapped lightly next to what she wanted her to inspect. "Is that... what I think it is?"
"A man in a t-shirt?"
Kagome nodded her head.
"Than that's what it is. But I'm more interested in where he's going." with a smile that Kagome was only too familiar with after working with Lois for so long, she began to lead the way.
Pursing her own lips, Kagome hesitated but a moment before following after. She was sure she was not going to like what was to happen when they discovered where their mystery man was. Slinging the strap for her camera over her head, she figured with where the guy was going and with them following, she was going to need her hands free.
When they finally got to the cliff face, Kagome pressed her back against the rocky wall behind her and looked for footprints. "Just step where I've stepped. Safer this way."
"How do you know this?"
"I've been in mountains before, it shows that it's stable and will hold our weight. Also keep a grip on the wall behind you."
"After all this time working with you, and you still manage to surprise me."
Kagome threw a smirk at Lois. "Then I've done my deed for the day."
Turning the corner, Kagome paused at the large hole in the ice. She stared for a few long moments taking in the smooth ridges that continued on deeper, she shook her head and watched her foot placement. "Careful, it's icy up here. Keep a firm grip on the rock wall."
She put a little more push in her last step off the rock and into the entrance of the icy tunnel. Turning about, she watched Lois and her steps, keeping her hands out just in case.
"How do you make this look so easy?"
"Lots of experience." helping Lois keep her balance, she waited a few moments before they both turned to face the tunnel.
"Whoa..."
"My thoughts exactly." Kagome commented as she took off a glove and felt the texture of the wall before her. It was smooth to the touch, and slightly warm for ice. "Thermal?"
"What was that?"
Turning to Lois, with her hand still pressed against the ice. "Come feel this."
Lois did just that, her own brows quickly furrowing. "It's still warm."
"Exactly. And we don't have the technology just yet for thermal or laser drilling. At lest, not of this magnitude." stepping away and making her way down the tunnel, Kagome observed the tunnel walls and roof, there were no breaks or interruptions. That obviously meant the same method was used throughout the entire drilling, which was recent.
"Unless the military is hiding such technology."
"How? It's still in a research stage. Such drills have accomplished nothing more than holes big enough than a few millimeters."
"Then lets find out who and with what accomplished this."
"You ready for it?"
Lois turned to Kagome with furrowed brows. "Just what are you getting at..."
Kagome raised a brow, as if testing Lois' resolve. "Well... since we, as in humans, don't have the technology to dig or mine so... smoothly and our answer will more than likely be at the end of this tunnel..." Kagome turned to face forward once and started walking once again. "... it only stands that what did dig this tunnel is more than human."
"Are... are you seriously talking about aliens?!" a soft bark of laughter echoed around them from Lois, but Kagome wasn't laughing with her. "In all this time, not once have you even brought up the subject of aliens and UFO's."
The laughter turned to giggles but soon those stopped as well. "Kagome? You don't seriously believe in that sort of thing... do you?"
"Well, we're about to find out..." Kagome trailed off when she noticed that the texture up ahead, while smooth, was darker and not ice.
Despite it's foreign texture and questionable age, it had an organic flow to it. It was the oddest mix of technology and organic architecture she had ever seen. But if this really was something from another planet, it made a lot of sense.
Pulling her camera, Kagome was already adjusting the setting and lens and taking pictures.
"Kagome... are you...?"
"Uh-huh."
"Is this really...?"
"Yup. Even I'm still having trouble processing all of this." turning this way and that still taking pictures, Kagome paused and lowered her camera when she saw... something.
Wide blue eyes stared at the floating object, more than sure that it was observing them in turn. No matter how hard she took the thing in though, she couldn't make out any known form of a camera or lens. So how was it following their movement?
She slowly raised a free hand and slowly waved it up and down, cautiously watching how it followed her hand.
"Kagome, what are you-! Oh my..."
The two of them stood in silence for what seemed like eternity. Them staring at... well it... and it staring back. Or at least what could be considered staring, it was hard to tell what with it having no eyes or camera lens to speak of.
Lois leaned into Kagome, whispering under her breath. "Quick... take a picture."
Kagomes eyes shot to Lois. "Are you crazy?! We don't know what that thing is or what it's capable of!"
"If it could have done something, it would have done it a while ago now. So just take a picture. Just one picture isn't going to hurt someone."
Pursing her lips, Kagome knew it was no use arguing with Lois. At least not on certain subjects. While her friend knew when to back down, certain matters she would butt her heads against anyone and anything to get a good story.
"Fine just one..." with furrowed brows, Kagome turned her attention back to the... thing. Raising her camera and focusing on it, she jumped when it suddenly... changed. Quickly pushing Lois out of the way, Kagome's world exploded into pain.
"Kagome!"
She heard Lois' voice echoing around them, the sound of her camera breaking to which she mentally cried about, and metallic hissing. She herself groaned after she came to a halt when she finished rolling. Her back was killing her after impacting with the wall behind her, at least it was solid material whatever it was, she was sure she had whip lash from how quickly it all happened, and her right side was... in pain.
She wasn't sure if it was burning or freezing... it was hard to tell and compare the injury to. Never before had she been shot at... well not with anything that really struck her down like bullets and the like.
Letting out another groan when she felt her world settle and the pain in her side blooming outwards, she vocalized her protest against being moved.
"Kagome! Oh my god... I'm so sorry!"
"Heh... taking a picture... wouldn't hurt... anyone... my ass." she blinked dazed eyes to meet with Lois' upset ones. Offering the best smile she could muster, she tried to reassure her friend. "Hey... don't worry. I'm more in shock and dizzy than hurt."
The sound of metal crushing and slightly grinding... caused Kagome to turn her head to where that... thing had been floating. Blinking a few times before the quickly widened, she was shocked at the great strength the man was displaying.
"Sugoi..."
"Kagome?"
Turning back to Lois... she blinked her wide eyes. "Huh?"
"How are you feeling?" Lois's hands fluttered about, but she seemed unsure what to do with them.
"Huh? Oh... give me a minute... I'll be fine." gritting her teeth, Kagome proceeded to push herself up onto her elbows. But did it ever hurt!
"Lay back, you're hemorrhaging internally. The wound needs to be cauterized."
"Like I said, give me a minute... I'll be fine." she could already feel her abilities at work, repairing the damage. And as for the blood... her body would filter it so she wouldn't be killed by the very source that kept her alive. Enough injuries that involved internal bleeding were healed as such while she had been in the past.
Pushing concerned hands away, Kagome sat up completely and began her search for her camera. When her eyes landed on what was left of it... she let out a cry and scrambled for it on all fours. Picking up the pieces, she ended up ignoring the world around her as she mourned for her camera.
"So cruel... this was my first and favorite camera..." she continued to sniffle as she inspected the pieces. Not only were they broken, but some appeared burnt as well.
She jumped when a hand landed heavily on her shoulder and spun her about, but she didn't react until her jacket and shirt were pushed up.
"What are you doing?!" squawking and floundering about, she tried to push the hands away or pry the fingers holding her clothes up. But it was like trying to move or bend steel.
Letting out a squeak at the feeling of callused fingers brushing where her wound once was, Kagome blushed under the mans inspection and intense scrutiny. Even Lois leaned in to get a closer look. Lowering her hands, she covered her exposed stomach as best as possible, this was not how she saw things happening. Turning her eyes away, she avoided their questioning gazes.
Very few knew of her abilities, and those outside her immediate family always bombarded her with questions, stares, reacted oddly around her.
"How is that possible... I saw how deeply it went."
Kagome furrowed her own brows at those words. Turning to face him, she tried her best to ignore the fact that her stomach was still exposed by him, and that Lois' eyes were constantly darting between her face and stomach.
"Now that's impossible. How could you possibly know how deep it went?" she huffed yet again and pushed his hands away, most likely having caught him off guard with her own question.
"Kagome... there was so much blood... how did you heal so quickly?"
Stiffening, she turned to observe her friend. "Um... it was just a flesh wound?" she hated the fact that it had sounded more like a question than an actual answer.
"With that much blood?"
"It looked worse than it actually was."
"No, that was deep and bleeding heavily."
Narrowing her eyes on the man, she pursed her lips. "High white blood cell count."
Her merely raised a challenging brow.
Her eyes darted between Lois and the man that ultimately saved their lives from that thing. When they landed on Lois once again, she offered a sheepish smile. "Must be my Japanese heritage?"
"Kagome..."
"Oh all right!" smoothing her hands down the front of her jacket, she fidgeted with the zipper. "I've... I just heal quicker. I don't know how to really explain it properlly. Injuries, sicknesses... don't effect me like others. That and... other things."
Staring the woman down, Clark felt his eyes widen at her admittance. And all his life... he thought he was the only one. But here before him, he saw with his very eyes on how her wound healed so quickly, was someone that proved otherwise.
She fidgeted as they continued to stare at her, doing her best to ignore their gazes. Her own eyes were darting all over the place, reminding him of a scared and frightened animal looking for the way out.
"Oh Kagome! I'm just so glad you're safe!"
Clark watched how Lois threw her arms around Kagome, clutching onto the smaller woman that sat frozen in surprise. She awkwardly returned the hug before Lois began to fret over her, asking questions without really waiting for an answer. As much as Clark wanted to question the woman herself to get answers as well, he was sure the Colonel would notice the two missing from the camp.
So with a plan of dropping them off somewhere safe and to get answers to help him learn who he really was, he also planned on asking Kagome on who she really was. But that would have to come later.
AN: So this is what came to mind after watching Man of Steel. Read, enjoy, and review!