At roughly three hundred and sixty miles northeast of the Ronne Ice Shelf, Stangin Research Facility was the closest to the South Pole Lois ever wanted to get. The last ten minutes of the helicopter ride had been a nightmare. The storm they were tracking was well on its way into the area, and as far as Lois could tell, based on the dips, dives and otherwise bumpy ride; they were flying right into the heart of it. As it turned out; as Jeremiah had been kind enough to explain to her, the storm was still a good way out. What they were experiencing were just gusts and side winds. "Great" Lois responded, her head firmly between her legs.
Now on the ground, she had a better understanding of what he meant.
The wind assaulted her relentlessly. The only the thing worse than the forty mile an hour gust that tried repeatedly to knock her off her feet, was the cold; the bone-chilling, lip chapping, skin biting cold.
She was wearing four layers of clothing; from under-alls to a heavy down parka with a fur trimmed hood. She was carrying two small pieces of luggage, one filled with more layers of clothing, the other filled with her unmentionables, make-up, and shoes. She also lugged her laptop case over her shoulder.
The combination of the weight of her bags, the ice and snow up to her shins, the wind in her face, and the tether line she was attached too, made her forward progress difficult to say the least.
Jeremiah had climbed out of the helicopter behind her, and now, noticing how difficult a time she was having, grabbed her under her arm and led her forward slowly. Lois was grateful for the assistance.
The helipad was roughly fifty yards from the facilities main entrance. Lois and Jeremiah, and the large throng of the scientific elite, approached a large pair of reinforced steel doors that were set into a structure that resembled more a small warehouse than a research facility.
They stepped inside and stopped.
Warehouse was wrong, as Lois now realized looking around. It was a garage; a motor pool to be exact. Lined along the walls to the left and the right were a collection of snowmobiles, six on each side, each row bisected by a large snow cat; a massive truck-like vehicle designed specifically for traversing snow covered landscapes. Instead of tires it had two large tracks of tank treads. The cabin sat a good eight feet up, and the front and roof of the vehicle were lined with high-powered lights.
Along the far wall, opposite the main entrance, was another pair of steel doors. They were now firmly shut.
The motor pool was filled with all the passengers' from the helicopter; all the scientist, journalist, pilots and crew. Twenty eight people in all, Lois noted, including her. They all seemed to be looking around to one another for direction, or a general idea of what was going to happen next.
As if to answer everyone's silent question, the pair of doors they had just passed began to slide closed, load motors and grinding gears booming to life and forcing the large metal slabs together. They closed with a thunderous sound of metal meeting metal; then the motors and gears stopped working, and only deafening silence followed. The sound of the roaring wind and snow was completely inaudible.
"Well that seemed ominous…" Lois remarked, her voice echoing throughout the vast space. Jeremiah looked at her then. He smiled.
Before anyone else could speak, the sound of motors and gears flared to life once again, this time from the opposite end of the structure. The two large double doors at the far end of the motor pool began to slide open. Before they were completely apart, a group of men in jeans and polo shirts stepped into the motor pool and began walking towards them.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" a man began, smiling brightly, his warms spread wide. "Welcome to the Stangin Research Facility. I am Peter Stangin. I hope you are all ready for a glimpse at the future of nuclear energy. I'm sure you all have many questions, which I am looking forward to answering; but in the meantime, let's get you all out of those heavy clothes and into something a little more comfortable."
The rest of the facility was subterranean; one hundred and thirteen yards underground to be exact. Behind the large steel doors Dr. Peter Stangin and his team of Nuclear scientist had emerged was a large cargo elevator, roughly half the size of the motor pool itself; it was easily big enough to accommodate all the new arrivals, their luggage and equipment.
Lois was standing near one of the walls, her new friend Jeremiah slightly behind her. The elevator was slowly descending now, the large motor working loudly above. Louder still was the chatter that was buzzing throughout the lift; Dr. Stangin was at the center of a preverbal storm of questions and greetings. He was trying to shake as many hands as he could reach, thanking people for coming, asking them about the trip, all the while attempting to side step any and all questions about his research, the facility, and the impending demonstration of his new technology. "All in due time!" he repeated politely whenever a question arose he didn't want to answer yet.
Lois regarded the man as he spoke. He was tall and rail thin, maybe six-three or better, but easily less than two-hundred pounds. His hair was bright blonde, with a great matching beard and mustache. His eyes were bright blue, small round glasses covering them. His skin was pale from lack of sun, but that didn't seem to affect his demeanor; he was all smiles and giggles.
"You'd never guess he is one of the ten smartest people in the world." she heard Jeremiah say softly behind her.
She glanced back at him. "Is that a note of jealousy I detect in your voice?" she probed.
Jeremiah laughed. "Not in the least!" he said shaking, his head. "After all, I got a ninety-eight on our physics final. He only scored a ninety-two!"
"You went to school with him?" she asked, a little impressed.
"MIT." Jeremiah answered, indicating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We were lab partners, for awhile…" he added.
Lois's eyes narrowed. "You don't seem eager to reminisce over old times with him." She probed.
Jeremiah took in a deep breath. "Let's just say he and I didn't part on good terms." he sighed. "He stole something from me that was very dear."
Lois turned back towards the tall man with bright blonde hair and brighter blue eyes. "He doesn't look like much of a thief." Lois noted.
"Appearances can often be misleading, Mrs. Kent."
"Lois." she corrected, turning to him once again. "Please."
Jeremiah nodded towards her and smiled. "As I was saying, Lois," he continued. "People are not always what they seem. I'm sure in your many years of journalism you've come across more than a few people who hide behind… masks…"
Lois smiled sheepishly. "You have no idea." she whispered.
Jeremiah smiled widely at her. "We all have our skeletons; things we try to hide from the rest of the world. Some more than others, I'm sure, but we all have are secrets." His eyes turned back to Dr. Stangin. "He did steal something from me once." a dark smile crossed his lips for a moment. "Than again," he continued. "If you ask him, he may just say the same of me."
"A little 'tit' for 'tat'?" Lois mused.
Jeremiah looked at her, his light green eyes studying her carefully. "You could say that" he answered.
The lift slowed to a stop and the throng filed out.
Lois couldn't believe her eyes.
Her mind told her that she was in the middle of the Antarctic, over three hundred feet underground, a blizzard heading towards them at the same moment; but her eyes told her a completely different story.
The lift let out into what looked more like a lavish hotel lobby than a research facility. Marble floors spread out before them in cream and black. The walls were adorned with large works of art, depicting various landscapes and settings. The overhead lights were recessed into a high arching ceiling that was painted to resemble a blue summer sky with scattered clouds. Intricate crown moldings ran along the walls, florescent lights recessed into them to help illuminate the ceiling and maintain the illusion.
There were four large ivory pillars spaced equal distance apart from one another, making a perfect square, at the center of which was three steps leading up to a raised landing, a sitting area featuring two leather sectionals, two chase lounges, four sitting chairs, and five small tables.
Behind the landing was a large archway, a branching corridor heading to the left and right beyond it. A map of the facility was on the far wall, the words "Common room, Cafeteria, Dorms, Gym" with an arrow pointing right at the top, and "Labs, Storage, Maintenance" with and arrow pointing left below it.
Dr. Stangin was standing atop the landing now, the members of his staff flanking him. He was facing the group, all of which were waiting intently for him to speak.
"Again," he began. "Welcome to what has been my home for the last fourteen months. I thank you all so much for coming. Many of you are the best and brightest minds in the field of nuclear science. Others are the foremost journalistic professionals from around the world. You are all here for the same reason; to bare witness to what I believe is the single greatest advancement in nuclear science since the splitting of the first atom! Today, we stand on the edge of a glorious new frontier, and I am proud and honored to have you all here with me to take the first bold steps!"
Applause then.
Lois wasn't sure what to do, as she wasn't sure what they were applauding, so she kept her hands at her sides.
"I know you all have questions," he continued. "And I promise to address each of them, but by know I'm sure you are all beginning to notice the difference in climate…"
It wasn't until he said something that Lois did notice it. It was warm. There, buried three hundred feet deep in a block of solid ice, Lois noticed the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead. In fact, in the four layers of clothing and down parka coat, she was beginning to burn up.
"This facility is state of the art and has all the connivances of home, including AC." Stangin mused. "Down the hall to my left, your right, are the dormitories. You will all have a warm bed to sleep in and a hot shower for those who require, as I'm sure your journey has been a long and exhausting one. In as much, my staff and I have prepared a feast for you, our honored guests; so please, take a moment to change and unwind. Feel free to tour the facility; all but the labs are open to you. And please meet for dinner in the cafeteria in an hour. Tonight we will eat, drink, and be merry… we will rest well and warm, and tomorrow… tomorrow will be a bright new day for not only for us… but for all of humanity!"
Applause again.
And again, Lois's hands remained at her side. After hearing some of the speeches her husband had given, she was admittedly a little hard to impress.
Dr. Stangin waved to his guest and disappeared down the corridor and to the right, towards the labs and such. His staff remained, broke his guest up into smaller groups, and escorted them towards the dorms.
The Common Room was first on the tour. "Lavish" was too weak a word to describe it.
There was a pool table, an air hockey table, and a ping pong table. On the wall to the left hung a seventy inch flat-screen television, surrounded by shelves; the top a collection of video game systems, the left holding the largest DVD and Blue-Ray disc collection Lois had ever seen outside a video store. On the right was the largest video game collection she had ever seen. Directly opposite the television was a collection on love seats and lounge chairs.
Large landscape art hung here and there. A few scenic photos were also scattered about. There was even a large fish-tank along the far wall, a dozen exotic looking fish swimming back and forth through it.
The path branched again, all the women heading off to the left, all the men to the right.
There were not enough rooms for everyone to have there own, so Lois found herself bunking with a woman she recognized as a reporter from Gotham. Her name was Tanya Marshal. She was in her late forties, her hair and eyes showing more of her age than she would have liked, Lois was sure.
Lois smiled at her.
She smiled in return, but it didn't reach her eyes.
The room they were sharing was made up like an average college dorm; two twin size beds, two small desks, two lamps, and two closets; all placed on opposite sides on the room, mirroring each other. The bedding on both beds was composed of a sheet, pillow, blanket, and bedspread, all of which looked expensive and out of place in the room.
Lois looked at the older woman. "Any preference?" she asked.
The older woman didn't respond, but tossed her belongings on the bed to the right and began unpacking.
Lois shrugged and did the same on the bed to the left, removing her heavy parka and the sweater underneath. A thick flannel button up remained.
The silence was deafening and there was the undeniable sensation of mounting tension.
"So…" Lois began, never one for uncomfortable silences. "You think we'll get a decent story out of all this hoopla, or do you think this'll be another one that'll just take up space on our hard drives?"
"I delete all my old stories." Tanya replied dryly.
Lois sighed.
"To be honest," Lois continued undaunted. "I'm just glad the heater works down here. I think I came this close to getting frost bite on my big toe! I tell you a hot shower and some food and I'm going to sleep like a baby!"
Tanya didn't respond.
Lois sat quietly for a moment, the silence pressing against her like a solid thing.
"I'm sorry," Lois said finally, intent on making to other woman converse with her. If she could get the leader of one of the worlds largest terrorist organizations to invite her in for tea and tell her his life story, she could certainly get this woman to acknowledge the fact that she was in the same room with her. "Did I do or say something that offended you in some way?" Lois asked.
Tanya stopped unpacking then and took a slow deep breath. She drew herself to her full height, which Lois just then noticed was considerable, and slowly turned to face her.
The two women locked eyes for a moment; Lois' full of curiosity and a little confusion; Tonya's full of annoyance and a subtle fury.
"You really don't remember, do you?" Tanya asked after a long moment.
"Remember what?"
Tanya smiled then. Not a happy smile, but the kind of smile you get when you're about go off on someone, but you're going to choose your words very carefully. "New York. Summer of '06. World Peace Conference."
Lois blinked at her. She looked at the older woman for a long moment, studying her face intently. The peace conference she did remember, a five day affair that was attended by everyone from the President of the United States, to the rulers and Leaders of nearly every nation on the planet. She ran through nearly every event, every party, and every press conference she could recall. Tanya was no where to be found in her memory.
"I got nothing." she replied finally.
Tanya laughed; a dry, harsh sound.
"Five days!" Tanya began, swaying slightly as she spoke. "Five days of pushing, shoving, and clawing for position, pen poised, audio recorder at the ready! Five days in the proverbial trenches. I spoke to nearly every dignitary, spokes person, liaison; hell, I even tried to get the scoop from a few limo drivers! And just when I think I've talked to everyone there was to talk to, just when I think I've pressed stop on my recorder for the last time, guess who flies into the conference center!"
"Superman." Lois breathed, her voice a whisper, the events of the last day of the conference coming back to her.
"Superman!" Tanya repeated. "Bright as day and larger than life! And he strolls right up to the center stage, right up to the podium, and say his little speech about the importance of global peace and unity… blah, blah, blah! But that wasn't the most shocking thing to happen!" Tanya stated, shaking her head.
"It wasn't?" Lois asked, her forehead creased with confusion.
"No, no, no…" Tanya replied, her voice that of one you would use when speaking to a small child. "No, the most shocking thing wasn't until the next day; when the Daily Planet published it's report on the World Peace Conference, with an exclusive interview with the unexpected attendee, Superman!; written by none other than Lois Lane!"
Lois blinked again. "What a minute." she said, the shock and surprise evident in her voice. "You're mad because I got an exclusive with Superman?"
"I searched the entire convention center after he left the auditorium." Tanya continued. "I ran right up to the roof first! I checked every floor and every room. I even checked the men's room… all of them. But to be honest, there are just some things that even I'm not willing to do to get a story."
Lois felt like she had just been slapped in the face. She was on her feet and didn't remember standing.
"Are you implying what I think you're implying?!" she fumed, glaring at the taller woman.
Tanya raised her hands defensively and took a step back, a coy smile spreading across her lips. "Look," she said, turning back to her belongings. "A reporter's gotta do what a reporter's gotta do. And I'm sure there are more reasons he's called 'Superman' than just the fact he can fly. Personally, I have boundaries…"
Lois was stunned. She couldn't believe that this woman had the audacity to make such an allegation; but simultaneously, she knew she couldn't get that upset over it because it was true, partially anyway. She and Superman had just begun their love affair and had spent the night together. And he did talk to her about the conference and what it meant to him; and subsequently, he had given her permission to report it as an interview.
Lois found herself without a leg to stand on; her moral high ground now non-existent. Rather than say something that would have been an outright lie, or worse still, something that might lead to more questions, she remained silent.
Tanya turned back to her, her face a mixture of sadistic pleasure and satisfaction. She was holding a large rolled towel in one hand and an overnight bag in the other.
"I'm going to freshen up before dinner…" she said her voice dripping with venom. "I suddenly feel… soiled." And with that, she left the room.
Lois gave herself a lot of credit for watching her leave, as apposed to pulling her hair out as she walked away. As it was, as soon as her footfalls fell silent in the distance, Lois flopped onto the bed, pulled the pillow over her face and screamed into it; a string of curses muffled by the soft down pillow wrapped in a warm flannel sleeve.
There was a knock.
Lois pulled the pillow from her face and sat up quickly.
Jeremiah was standing in the doorway, a puzzled look on his face.
"I could come back..." he said.
"No, no…" Lois coughed, tossing the pillow back to the head of the bed. "I was just… venting…" she admitted. She stood and went back to unpacking her bags once again.
"Is something wrong?" Jeremiah asked.
"No." she lied. "Just let me know if you find out who's responsible for the room arrangements, so I can punch him in the face!"
Jeremiah blinked, and then smiled. "Roommate trouble?" he asked.
"You could say that. What's up?" she asked.
"I just wanted to make sure you were getting along alright. You seemed a little out of your element before."
"If by 'out of my element' you mean I feel like the kid that ate paste in kindergarten around all these big brains, then you're right!"
Jeremiah laughed. "Don't worry. Most of those big brains you're talking about are pretty harmless. A few drinks, and they'll be on top of the tables with lampshades on their heads."
"So say's the man that scored a ninety-eight on his Physics final." Lois mused.
"Touché." Jeremiah nodded.
"I just don't want to be sitting there with a blank expression when all the science hits the fan." Lois admitted.
"Tell you what," Jeremiah began, taking a step into the room. "I'll sit next to you at dinner, stay by your side throughout this whole ordeal, and anytime you feel like the conversations getting above your IQ range, you just tug on my sleeve and I'll explain it all to you."
"My own personal science translator." Lois joked.
"Exactly." Jeremiah beamed.
"Man, I sure could have used you high school!" Lois replied.
"And maybe you could have helped me get more dates." Jeremiah joked.
"I'm sure you did alright for yourself. I'm willing to bet there's someone back in the states just waiting for you to come back into their loving arms!"
A shadow passed over Jeremiahs face then; the quickest, briefest change in expression. Ever so slight, ever so subtle. If Lois hadn't have been looking directly at him, she would have missed it.
He smiled.
"I'll save you a seat next to me in the dining hall then." He said.
Lois smiled back weakly, her mind still puzzled about the almost non-existent change in emotion she just witnessed. She had been a reporter long enough, her instincts sharp enough, to know when she had touched a nerve. She had also learned, through years of experience dealing with people who had stories they were not quite ready to tell, when to press the issue and when to let sleeping dogs lie.
"It's a date." was her response.
Jeremiah nodded, turned, and left.
Lois stood there for a moment, her mind racing. Between the roommate from hell and trying to decipher Jeremiahs momentary lapse in facial control, her brain was working overtime.
A rumble came from her stomach then, snapping her back to the here and now. The questions could wait until later, she decided, turning back to her suitcase, searching for something that better fit the warm new climate. It had been hours since she last ate, and as her stomach growled up at her again, Lois resigned herself to a single state of mind: no more questions until after dinner!
The dining hall, like the rest of the research facility Lois had seen so far; it looked completely out of place a hundred yards deep in frozen rock.
Twin oak doors opened into a large oval room. Along the left curved wall was a line of tables, all covered with food; everything from rack of lamb and lobster tales, to shrimp cocktail and inch and a half thick cuts of Filet Mignon. Bowls of salad overflowed, towers of rolls sat a foot high on large platters. Fruits and fresh steamed vegetables accented the tables with color.
And for all intents and purposes, the massive spread was almost completely ignored; all most everyone in the room had collected at the far end, all talking and drinking from champagne flutes. Lois headed that direction, her curiosity leading her.
As she approached, she saw what all the fuss was about…
The far wall was a large arch, nearly a perfect half circle; and forty feet across and ten feet from floor to ceiling, and wasn't really a wall at all. It was a window. And it looked out at the bluest, clearest water Lois had ever seen, a large group of sea lions swimming curiously back and forth before it.
Dr. Stangin was standing at the center of the group, apparently talking about the beautiful scenery: "… by complete accident, if you'll believe it. Initially surveys indicated that this entire area was solid ice and rock. But low and behold, when we began construction of the cafeteria, we nearly flooded the entire facility." Polite laughter followed. "When we realized we had tapped into the side of a subterranean lake, I decided that this…" he gestured to the transparent wall. "Was the best way to preserve the lakes integrity, but allow us a rare glimpse at one of nature's most fascinating wonders."
"Remarkable!" a woman said. Lois noticed Tanya then, practically ready to drape herself over Dr. Stangin. More than half the contents of her champagne flute had disappeared.
"Is that safe?" someone asked.
"Completely." Dr. Stangin answered. "It's six inches of a polycarbonate-glass composite. Temperature resistant up to plus or minus five hundred degrees, bullet proof, shatter proof, explosion proof… a tank shell couldn't get through here."
"What about an explosion from, say, a nuclear reactor?" a voice called out.
Every head turned, and standing at the back of the group, was Jeremiah.
He was wearing a black blazer with a white polo underneath, fitted blue jeans over dark brown boots. His hair was slicked back, his pale skin a contrast to his dark eyes. He was smiling weakly.
Dr. Stangin absentmindedly handed his champagne flute to Tanya and walked forward. The throng of scientist and journalist parted like a sea as the two men approached one another. Dr. Stangin face was a mask of uncertainty, looking almost as if he was seeing a ghost.
"Jeremiah…" he said softly. "It's been too long…" He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace. Jeremiah returned the gesture, patting Dr. Stangin softly on his back.
"Eleven years." Jeremiah confirmed.
Dr. Stangin pulled away, his hands grabbing Jeremiah at the shoulders and holding him at arms length. "I am sorry." he whispered. "So sorry…" he paused, his voice failing him for a moment, his eyes becoming noticeably teary. "She was," he continued softly. "She was an amazing woman."
Jeremiah nodded, but didn't speak.
Dr. Stangin wiped his eyes. "I was unsure whether you would have accepted my invitation in light of our history. I was sure Mr. Luthor would have sent someone… I'd hoped it was you… but to be honest, after the last time we spoke…"
"All water under the bridge, old friend." Jeremiah said, patting his shoulder.
"Indeed." Dr. Stangin smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he shouted, turning back towards his guest. "May I present to you and old friend and colleague: Jeremiah Kuttler; one of the finest minds in Nuclear Science!"
People applauded. Even Lois.
"I owe much of what I have accomplished her to this man. Without his influence and direction in college, not to mention a great deal of his physics notes, I dare say I would not be the man I am today, nor would we be in the great position we find ourselves!"
Jeremiah waved a dismissive hand. "The only truth is that Peter did barrow many pages of lab notes, most he failed to return…" Jeremiah gave him a sideward glance. "But that was a long time ago. A lifetime ago…" he paused. A staff member walked by, holding a tray of full champagne flutes. He grabbed two, handing one to Dr. Stangin.
"I have no intention on tarnishing the shine on this mans great achievements; the day is his, and if the things he's promised out of his new fusion technology are even half true, then the future belongs to all mankind. So if you would, join me in a toast…"
Everyone without a glass reached for one. Everyone with a glass raised theirs along with Jeremiah and Dr. Stangin. Lois was handed a flute and raised hers as well.
"To Dr. Peter Stangin!" He announced, raising his flute a little higher. "And to the future of mankind!"
Everyone ceremoniously raised their glass and took a sip of champagne. Lois was by no means a wine or champagne expert, but she new the good stuff when she tasted it.
"Well, then…" Dr. Stangin said, lowering his flute from his lips. "The food is hot, the night is young and the bar is open. Let us enjoy tonight, for tomorrow is a new day indeed."
The guest slowly but surely made their way towards the tables of food and drinks. Lois made her way over to Jeremiah and Dr. Stangin.
"Very nice…" she said offering her hand to Stangin. "Lois-"
"Lane. Of course!" Dr. Stangin said, taking her hand, raising it to his lips and kissing it gently. "The Daily Planets top reporter. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize; not once, but twice." He noted. "The pleasure is mine."
"Ever the smooth talker." Jeremiah sighed.
"I learned from the best." Dr. Stangin smiled at him. "Mrs. Lane." he continued. "I'd be honored if you would join me and my old friend, Mr. Kuttler here, at our table. I insist."
"As long as you promise to use small words;" Lois replied. "I'd be honored."
"Splendid." Dr. Stangin smiled.
The table was large and round. Lois was seated next to Jeremiah, Dr. Stangin on the other side of him. Next to Stangin was a tall woman with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Dr. Stangin had introduced her as his fiancée, Natasha. She was a physicist from the Ukraine. Her knowledge on all things nuclear was as thick as her accent. Next to her was a short round man, American by birth, but with an Australian accent. He had introduced himself as Leland Strum, and was another scientist. In fact, of the ten people seated at the table, Lois was the only one not a member if the scientific community.
She looked up for a second and noticed Tanya glaring at her heatedly. Lois smiled and raised her glass of champagne to the older woman. The gesture was not returned.
The conversation was all science, equations, and numbers as far as Lois could tell. As for his part, Jeremiah had done his best to keep her included, by "dumbing down" the concepts and hypostases', explaining certain expressions, or outright ignoring the ones he didn't agree with. Dr. Stangin, however, was somewhat reserved. He deflected any direct questions from anyone, including Lois, about the exact nature of his research, or what the demonstration tomorrow had in store.
"All in due time." was his only response.
To Lois's dismay, the conversation did turn, when Natasha asked her about a recent story she had written involving Superman.
"Iz it true he can project heat from his eyes?" she asked.
"Yes." Lois replied dryly.
"Amazing!" Natasha exclaimed. "It must be zome type of zub-atomic fusion generated by his ocular zockets when held at a specific position, otherwise he would zat things on fire all ze time…"
Lois burst into laughter.
Everyone looked at her as if she had just gone mad.
"That is the first time I've ever heard a nuclear physicist try to explain his heat vision." and continued to laugh. After a moment Jeremiah joined her. Dr. Stangin followed, then the rest of the table seemed to join, either truly understanding how ridiculous it was to try and offer any type of scientific explanation for the super-powers of an alien being, or because they had all had too much champagne.
The rest of the evening went by rather smoothly and quickly after that. Lois ate too much and drank much more than that.
She was now leaning against Jeremiah, his arm cradling her back, and taking unsteady steps through the common room towards her bunk.
"…and then he says to me:" Lois said, her voice slightly slurred. "For the last time 'No Comment!'. And I tell him; 'Fine! But just let me shove this recorder up your butt, so when your pull your head out of it, maybe I'll get an exclusive!'"
They both laughed.
"Lois… I do believe you're drunk." Jeremiah noted.
"No way, Jose!" She pushed away from him and collected herself, drawing to her full height. She took two steps forward and almost fell into the wall.
Jeremiah caught her in time to save her from a nasty bump on the head.
"Damn heels…" she cursed under her breath. Jeremiah didn't reply,
They continued to Lois's room, where Tanya was already fast asleep.
Lois raised her finger to her lips. "Shuuuuuuush…" she said with more breath than she intended. "We don't want to wake up the wicked bitch of the west." she laughed.
Jeremiah smiled and helped her to her bed. He laid her on her back, pulled the shoes from her feet, and pulled a heavy blanket over her.
She looked at him and smiled. "You're a good man, Jeremiah."
The shadow fell across his face once more, than disappeared a split second later.
"Only time will tell." he said softly. "Good night Lois."
"Good night… Clark." was the last thing she said before she passed out.