Chapter 9
Metropolis – 2017
When it was all over, the loss could not be blamed on Clark Kent. Rather, the loss was caused by a collapse of the defense and questionable coaching calls at the end of the game that allowed Georgia Tech enough time to score as the time expired in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. The final score was 29 to 28 with Georgia Tech on top.
Clark was disappointed and Pete was sullen. He knew that Clark could have won the game single-handedly and was miffed that his best friend did not do more to secure the victory. But Pete also knew that the defense, of which he was a part, failed to stop Georgia Tech from marching down the field with one minute and forty-seven seconds left in the game to score a touchdown and then add a two-point conversion to win. Clark Kent played no part in the defensive collapse and had put them in position to win the game.
Clark fist-bumped his defensive teammates and hugged some of his receivers and linemen. His coach shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder. "Next season, Clark. We'll get 'em then. Good game, Son!"
Cheerleaders from Met U had mascara running down their cheeks, crying at the loss. He saw one of them hugging Pete and he wondered if he should have done more to put extra points on the board. But in their defeat, Met U made a terrific showing on national television that portended even greater exposure next season, and greater television exposure meant more revenue for the athletic department at Met U.
His parents had made the trip and Lori had as well. They sat together in VIP seating with Pete's parents and made their way down to the sidelines after the game was over. Florida highway patrolmen ushered them onto the field after showing Met U VIP badges. They reached Clark and Martha hugged him fiercely and Jonathan took his son's hand and pumped it, clapping him on the shoulder, and then hugged him once Martha cleared out. Lori was less reserved than the Kents and threw her arms around his neck and planted a huge kiss on her boyfriend's lips just as ESPN sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, appeared with a live camera crew. The broadcast booth announcers laughed and later told Andrews that they flagged her for interference by interrupting such a great moment. Erin asked Clark about the game, his team and then turned to "Mom and Dad Kent" for a brief comment before handing the broadcast back to the guys in the booth. They replayed the interference call for Erin who watched it from an on-field monitor and laughed with them.
One of the booth announcers alerted her that Clark Kent's girlfriend was nationally-ranked women's swimming phenom, Lori Lemaris. Erin turned to Lori, who was hugging Clark and whispering in his ear, waited, and then asked her how she enjoyed the game, about her swim team, and if she was looking forward to competing in the NCAA Championship in March.
It was obvious to all that while disappointed in the loss, everyone felt a certain degree of victory after the game. Clark and the top Georgia Tech linebacker each received a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 truck after the game, courtesy of ESPN and a local Dodge dealership. Clark was embarrassed to be singled out but was named his team's most valuable player, as was the Georgia Tech linebacker.
After the Outback Bowl ceremony, Steve Lombard caught up with Clark as he walked toward the locker room tunnel. They spoke for about ten minutes, part of which was Steve thanking Clark for intervening at the Christmas party and apologizing for his behavior. "You're welcome, Mr. Lombard but it's not me you owe an apology to," Clark said. "I think you should be apologizing to your colleague."
In the locker room, the coach gave a short speech telling the players how proud he was of them and that there are things they needed to improve upon. But added that they faced a highly ranked national powerhouse in Georgia Tech and came within two minutes of beating them. He told them to have a fun time but reminded them that the bus left the hotel at 8 AM the next day and if they were staying behind to let him know. Clark told the coach that he'd planned on spending the rest of the week in Florida with his parents and girlfriend before returning to Metropolis. Now that he had a vehicle, he opted to drive back to campus with Lori instead.
After getting cleaned up, changed, and doing the paperwork to take delivery of his new truck, Clark met his parents and Lori for dinner at a beachfront restaurant. They sat at a floor-to-ceiling window in a private part of the restaurant, watching the sun go down and talking about a variety of topics, most of them oriented on school and what comes next.
"Clark and I have journalism courses to finish up and we're signing up for more in the next semester." She looked at Clark. "In our junior year, I'm applying for an internship with the Daily Planet. I think it would be a good way to get my foot in the door for a job after we graduate. Clark could get a job there too, or a job as a reporter with Galaxy Broadcasting so he could put his, um, special talents to good use," she said.
Martha smiled and Jonathan nodded. "Honestly, I wasn't happy when Clark first mentioned journalism," he said, "I always hoped that he'd take over the farm someday. But I've always felt that he had a bigger purpose for being here. And while farming is obviously important, we both believe he will someday change the world, but he won't be able to do that as a farmer. The more Martha and I talked about it, the more sense a job in journalism made to us, too."
Martha agreed. "It will be hard not seeing him every day, since he is our only child," then added, "but I guess like most parents, it makes us proud to see him becoming an adult, pursuing his own dreams, and building a life for himself. And what do your parents think about it, Lori?" she asked.
"You know, they haven't really said anything about it one way or the other. I think like you, they're just happy to see me finding my way." She looked at Clark and added, "And happy I've found someone as good as Clark to help me along the way."
She excused herself to visit the ladies' room and Jonathan and Martha took the moment to say how much they liked Lori and how uplifting it was to listen to her talk about him. "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy, Sweetheart," Martha said.
They were grateful that Lori accepted him for who he was without judging him on what he was and were also thankful that she protected his secret as fiercely as Clark did. He started to say something, paused, and then said, "Mom, Dad, I am thinking of getting engaged," Clark said. The look of shock on his parents' faces told him he needed to say more. "I mean, Lori is special in so many ways. You've just said it yourselves. She accepts me for who I am and what I am is not important to her. I'm special, not different in her eyes. I couldn't ask for more from someone I want to build a life with, and I guess I don't see any need to even want to look further. We've been together for a year, and I think I would have spotted any warning signs by now. There just aren't any and it's so easy being with her." He paused. "I want to know what you think."
Martha teared up and Jonathan surprised his son. "I can't find a reason to disagree, Clark. Lori checks all of your boxes, and you bring along a load of boxes that no one else has." He reached out and took Clark's hand. "Just make sure you talk about it with her first. Maybe she's not interested in married life. Don't put yourselves in a difficult position if you don't know for certain it's what she wants.
"Your Mom and I think she's perfect for you. And I think when you've found someone who checks all the boxes, that's when you quit looking." He looked at Martha and smiled. "That's when I did."
"I don't plan to do it right away," Clark said. "but probably before the summer recess. I just want her to know that I'm committed to her." He reached out and took both their hands. "I love you both. Thank you for supporting me in this."
When Lori reappeared, Martha was dabbing her eyes and smiled, imagining she was looking at her future daughter-in-law. Clark stood and pulled the chair out for her. "Thank you, Clark," she said. She could tell that they had spoken about something, and Lori fought the urge to read the Kents' minds.
"So, what happens now," Jonathan asked. "Are you two going to follow the team back or are you staying a little while in Florida?"
"Now that I don't need to rent a car," Clark said, grinning, "I thought maybe I'd take Lori back to her home, spend a few days there, meet her folks, and then the two of us drive back to Metropolis." He glanced at Lori. "Do you think your parents would mind if I visited for a day or two?"
"Are you kidding?" she said, and shoulder checked him. "They're dying to meet you. All I've done is talk, talk, talk about you and I know they're anxious to finally meet the guy I've worn them out talking about." She grinned. "If you hadn't brought it up, I was going to."
"Well, we fly out in the morning, so we won't be involved in your plans either way," Martha said. "Clark, I think it would be a great opportunity to meet Lori's parents as long as they're agreeable. You're so close already."
They stayed and watched the sun go down while they ate dessert and had coffee. Martha and Jonathan wanted to walk along the beach before it got dark, and Clark made plans to pick them up in the morning.
Lori stayed with Clark that evening and followed him to the airport the next morning to say goodbye to the Kents and to drop off her rental car. After seeing them off, Clark and Lori set out on I-75 headed South for the Florida Keys. Driving that distance was deceiving and would take nearly seven hours by vehicle. Clark did not mind. He enjoyed his new truck and all the gadgets it had. Lori just enjoyed being with Clark.
They had stopped for lunch in Miami and stopped again to stretch their legs in Islamorada, east of Summerland Key where Lori's home was located. Clark marveled at the water. It was so much different than the dark, murky waters of Metropolis Bay and Hobb's River. The water was turquoise and blue. The sun danced on the light chop and created a kaleidoscopic display on the light sand below the shallow surface. He watched the seagulls and the pelicans soar on the light warm breeze, and breathed in the fresh humid air. It was peaceful and the serenity matched that of his family's farm in the early summer morning hours before machinery or vehicles spoiled the stillness. He understood how Lori always seemed so relaxed having lived in this environment.
"There's something we should talk about before we get to my home," Lori said reappearing from behind.
"Sure," Clark said and got back into the truck but did not pull out onto the road.
"We have about thirty minutes or so before we get to my house and there's something I should be more transparent about."
Clark frowned. "Transparent? That's an interesting term."
"Well, you'll understand when I tell you. I said that my family descended from a line of people that were water people. They lived on an island off of Key West, but not part of the Florida Keys archipelago. It was an island that was miles beyond Key West. Centuries ago, it was in an area about forty miles north-northwest of Key West. That island is no longer there, obviously." She paused, popped a piece of gum in her mouth, handed one to Clark, and then continued.
"The people that lived there were water people, they lived both on land and in the water. This is going to be the part that's hard to wrap your head around," she said. "Those people evolved over centuries, Clark. Evolved not like people who lived on land and simply fished on the water, they lived in the water and had adapted to breathing underwater."
Clark was putting a gum wrapper in the cup holder and was not certain he heard Lori correctly. "Wait! Did you say breathe or breed?"
"Breathe. Like fish. Although I'm fairly certain some breeding took place in the water too," she said, smirking.
"You're not kidding right now, are you?" Clark asked.
"No, I'm not."
Clark paused, processing the information. "So, your people are what? Descendants of mermaids?"
"Well, not mermaids. I suppose our ancestors could have similar DNA to mermaids but if they did, it was evolutionary. They started as regular humans. Those that spent most of their time in or underwater had webbing in their hands and feet, allowing them to swim more efficiently. But they never had fins or tails. Our line of people have lost the webbing but most can still breathe underwater. In fact, I can breathe underwater."
"This is really hard to swallow, Lori. Honestly, you're not joking around?" He had turned in his seat and was now staring at Lori and she became a bit self-conscious.
"Seriously?" she asked. "A guy born on another world in some other galaxy finds this hard to swallow?"
He grew defensive. "I'm not accusing you. I just can't picture a human breathing underwater. It's just, I don't know, so unnatural."
Lori frowned. "But a person that melts steel with his eyes is what, an interesting anecdote?" The instant she saw the look on Clark's face she regretted saying it. "Oh God, Clark, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way. Don't be mad at me for saying it."
"No, you're right," he replied. "I'm the last person who should question human abilities that are outside of the norm." She took his hand and looked like she wanted to make amends, but he said, "No, it's okay. I'm fine. Go ahead."
She stared at him and did a quick read. She learned that she had humbled him but not hurt his feelings. Still, Lori felt bad for doing it and would find a way to make it up to him later. "Our ancestors were a part of the Atlantean race and can live in either environment. Our island city is abandoned but it still exists and many of us still occasionally visit and congregate during special times. It's named Tritonis, and it is from that underwater city where all those artifacts and antiquities were stolen."
Clark frowned trying to process what he just heard. "So…," he began, "having that ancestry, do you have to do anything special or have any limitations?"
"No, not limitations exactly. But, in order to retain our evolutionary ability to breathe in water, we must submerge ourselves and breathe underwater about once every couple of weeks. If we don't, we end up losing our ability to breathe underwater forever. We call it being 'landlocked'.
"Our race of people developed the ability to process the oxygen molecule in water through our lungs like gills do on a fish. Hypothetically, we could stay underwater indefinitely but not if we exert ourselves beyond just simple swimming. Our lungs can only process enough oxygen to sustain us, but we cannot do much more than swim with the oxygen we can process. But if we don't exercise that lung function, it quickly goes away and won't ever come back.
"And just so you know, we communicate underwater telepathically. It's why I can read minds when I want. But in all other ways, we are no different from land dwellers," Lori concluded. "We have to the same physical makeup."
He started the engine and pulled out on the road. "So, how many descendants are there?"
"Maybe two thousand or more. But many are landlocked and no longer cling to their ancestry like my family. There are fewer than 400 people that still honor their ancestral roots and have maintained their ability to breathe underwater. Many of them choose to live in the water instead of on land."
Puzzled by this revelation, Clark interrupted. "Wait! How do they live in the water; like sleep there?"
"No, they mostly sleep on boats. They just don't have homes on land, but they spend more time in the water than they do out of it," Lori explained. "But if needed, they have relatives or friends that have homes on land.
"My parents live on their boat most of the time and rent out their home on Summerland Key to vacationers. On weekends when they can be alone, they spend most of their time in the water. The money they make in rentals is fantastic, and it's in addition to their contract work with the government. The last couple of weeks, they didn't rent it out the house though because they knew I'd be home for the holidays. And when they knew Met U was playing in Tampa, they were hoping you'd come down so they could meet you." She hesitated and then added. "And for the record, I was going to kidnap you and bring you down with me if you hadn't mentioned it last night. I would have never heard the end of it if you hadn't come back with me."
"So your folks do know I'm coming, right?"
"Are you kidding? All they've been doing is texting me since I got to Tampa asking if I asked you, if you were coming, what you might want to do, what you like to eat, all of that."
"And they know I'm…different, right?"
"Yes. They are aware that you weren't born here. They aren't fully aware of all your abilities though and those aren't important at this point." She slapped at his leg. "I don't think even I know of all your abilities and powers, do I?"
"I think you do," he replied and did a quick mental inventory of his powers and abilities.
"I just wanted you to know all of that in case a visitor comes by and starts talking about doing something underwater and you end up thinking that they were crazy or something." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Lori was filled with nervous excitement when they pulled into the driveway of the Lemaris residence. It was a nice concrete block and stucco home built on pilings twelve feet above the ground. It was a two-story home, coral pink in color, with white trim, white Bahama shutters, and a galvalume metal roof. There was pea gravel instead of grass, but the property was thick with exotic plants, coconut palms that had orchids growing from them, large sea grape shrubs, cocoplum hedges, and flowering plants in beds lined with old coral rock.
When they pulled in, Elizabeth and Lawrence Lemaris flung open the front door and scurried down the concrete stairs to the ground. Lori gave them a quick hug and turned to present Clark to her parents. Clark shook their hands and then Mrs. Lemaris pulled him into a hug. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Clark. Lori won't stop talking about you. We've been so anxious to meet you and I'm happy we're finally getting the chance to do it."
Lori's father clapped Clark on the shoulder. He had a broken-hearted expression and said, "I'm sorry about the Outback Bowl. We watched it and just knew you guys were going to win it."
Clark chuckled. "I'm happy we showed up so well," he replied. "Georgia Tech is a big-league school and Met U wasn't given much of a chance. We would have liked to win but everyone on the team is just glad that we did so well. No one has regrets about it other than some of the guys on defense."
Lawrence smiled. "That's great, then. We were concerned that you'd be depressed about the outcome."
"Well come on up," Mrs. Lemaris told them. "We'll celebrate your visit; I hope you like seafood, Clark."
They ate dinner on the veranda, taking in the pleasant tropical air and watching the sunset. The rear of the home had a pool and Clark was surprised to find it was a saltwater pool. "It's how we keep our lungs working properly," Lawrence said with a wink. "It's salt water instead of chlorine and acid. It's not like sea water but it's better than all those chemicals. We worry about the effects of those chemicals on Lori when she breathes in the school pools."
They talked about the artifacts being safely returned and that they continued to trickle in. They explained their plans for getting them all back in place and thanked Clark for helping Lori get them back. Lori did not say anything but nudged Clark under the table and smiled.
The food, the conversation, and the hospitality were great and by Thursday, Clark felt completely at ease around Lori's parents. He envisioned his parents having fun with Lawrence and Liz Lemaris. He thought about what it would be like asking Lawrence for Lori's hand in marriage and he knew it would not be a difficult thing to ask when the time came. His mind swirled with thoughts of sharing a life with Lori, growing old with her, and raising kids if they could reproduce. He thought Lori would want to get married in Summerland Key and that they could honeymoon there while her parents lived on their boat. He began to imagine a week alone there with Lori. With the privacy the home afforded, he began to think about what their honeymoon could be like if they were truly free and uninhibited…and he suddenly remembered that he was in a room full of people who could read minds. He abruptly forced himself to think of something else and switched gears to journalism and what classes he and Lori might be taking next semester and what core courses he had left to complete.
On Friday, after they had finished dinner, Lori went to her room to get ready to take Clark to Key West for their last evening in the Keys. Clark and Lawrence were on the veranda watching the sun go down and making idle chatter when Liz joined them. "It sure has been nice meeting you, Clark," Liz said. "I hope we see you again soon. I can see now why everything is Clark this and Clark that when Lori starts talking about anything."
Liz was going to say more but Lori appeared at the glass sliding doors. She looked amazing in her jeans, blue Candies sneakers, and a fancy top. She had her hair pulled into a fashionable ponytail and Clark smiled just looking at her. "Ready?" she asked.
"Yes," Clark replied and bid a good evening to Lawrence. He thanked Liz for dinner and the two got in the truck and headed west to Key West.
Key West was crowded with college students and tourists on vacation from the cold. The sun had gone down and they were among a throng of people all celebrating the sixth day of the New Year, which was also the celebration by the Latin population of The Epiphany or Three Kings Day in Mallory Square. They wandered around the little stands and enjoyed listening to the street music as they headed toward Greene Street. It was just past 9 PM when things began to turn from celebratory to raucous. Lori and Clark were still underage so they could not be served legally but they could order set ups. Like most of the underage students, Lori had a flask that she spiked her soft drinks with and had been doing so for over an hour since they arrived. Clark declined since he would not be able to experience the effects of alcohol with the amount Lori had brought.
A friendly but obviously intoxicated group of college-age guys had followed behind them from Mallory Square. One of them moved past and stopped dead in front of Lori and spun around. "Hey, didn't I see you on TV?" he asked, a block away from Captain Tony's saloon. "I saw you talking to that woman reporter, right? After the game in Tampa?"
Lori was surprised. "Yes, that was me," she said before thinking.
The young man insisted on taking a selfie with her as his friends laughed and began to move closer. Clark was not amused but refrained from intervening. He stood behind Lori and the young man moved next to her, holding his cell phone up. While standing there with his cell phone raised, he put his arm around her side and before snapping the picture, he quickly dropped it and grabbed her backside.
Lori jumped and spun away from the guy who laughed and began to reach for her breast. She slapped him just as Clark grabbed him by the collar and pushed him face first up against the wall of a shop along Greene Street. The speed with which he moved the young man caused him to vomit as his face was pressed against the clapboard siding of the old store front.
"Clark!" Lori screamed and Clark let the college student go. He crumpled to the ground and continued to vomit the alcoholic contents in his stomach onto himself and the sidewalk on which he lay.
"Dude!" someone from behind Clark called. "What the shit was that for? Shit!" He crouched down by his drunk friend.
"What happened?" one of them asked, his view apparently blocked when Clark acted.
"That guy," motioning toward Clark, "threw Tommy up against the wall and it fucked him up."
While he attended to his friend Tommy, the others circled Clark. "Your asshole friend grabbed my ass," Lori shouted angrily, "and he was trying to grab my boobs, that's what happened!" Lori tried to intervene, but she was pushed back.
"Get your hands off her," Clark ordered, and the group closed around him. Step back, Lori, he said to her without speaking and Lori did what he told her. "Back off," he said to the intoxicated group. "Just take your friend and leave and there won't be any trouble," he said, standing firmly.
One of the four students stepped back. "C'mon guys, let's go. Just get Tommy and let's get out of here." He would end up leaving unscathed, but the others would not be so lucky.
What happened next happened so fast that even the security videos could not accurately record it. The first punch thrown caught Clark squarely on the jaw, shattering three of the drunk student's knuckles and breaking his wrist while leaving Clark unfazed. The second drunk stood up from his friend and swung at Clark, but Clark just slipped the punch and pushed the student forward causing him to skid face-first across Greene Street and come to rest against the far sidewalk. The two remaining moved to attack Clark simultaneously but he caught one in each hand and slammed them together, knocking them unconscious before laying them gently on the sidewalk and standing back up. He stepped away and back in front of Lori. The one unscathed college student just stared at him as though he was trying to process the blur he just witnessed. "I think you need to get help for your friends," Clark said and turned to face Lori. "Let's go," he said, and she turned without saying a word and moved on.
"Wait," she said, walked back, and picked up the phone that the first guy had dropped when Clark grabbed him. "Nuke this," she whispered, and Clark destroyed the phone and its SIMM card with a discreet burst of heat vision. He blew on it, handed it to Lori and she took it back to the first guy who was finished vomiting but had yet to get to his feet. "You don't want to forget this, creep," she said and tossed it in his soggy lap. Then she turned back and walked with Clark.
"Hey buddy," a guy standing outside of Captain Tony's Saloon said as they approached. "I think I saw what happened back there. Are you okay?"
"The guy grabbed my butt and then tried to grab my boobs," Lori said. "The others jumped my boyfriend."
Clark nodded and thanked him for asking. "We're all right but they may need some help," he replied, motioning toward the small group of guys lumped on the sidewalk.
"Yeah, I called 9-1-1," the man said. "I'm an off-duty Monroe County Sheriff's deputy and I saw the whole thing even though I'm not sure what I saw. I was going to intervene, but you took care of it so fast I didn't have a chance. It looked like a dang bomb went off." He smiled. "If they try to make a complaint, I'll make sure that the responding officer knows what happened."
"Thank you, sir," Clark replied, and Lori echoed it.
"You should consider a career in law enforcement being able to handle guys like that," the man said and patted Clark on the back. "Have a good night, you two. Sorry you had to deal with that," he added and headed toward the six young men huddled about half a block away.
They walked on and arrived at Sloppy Joe's that was just getting fired up for dancing. They danced for about an hour and once Lori's flask was empty, they decided it was time to head back to Summerland Key.
"Good God, Clark," Lori exclaimed. "I knew you were fast, but I didn't know you were that fast. I remember you getting me out of the way of that truck but there were six guys there. I didn't even see what you did! All I saw were the results." She paused trying to process it. "I saw the first guy swing at you, and it sounded like he hit a cement post full force. I heard him start screaming and he crumpled holding his hand. I thought for a second that he missed you and hit something concrete. After that, it happened in the blink of an eye. I didn't see anything other than the guy sliding across the street. On his face!" she exclaimed and then began giggling. "He looked like he was diving for second base. When I looked back, the other two guys were already laying on the sidewalk and you were standing between me the guy who didn't want to get involved, the one who chose wisely." She began giggling again. "Do you feel that at all?"
Clark said, "It's hard to explain. The easiest way would be to say that to me, it feels like being tapped with an inflated balloon, I guess. I feel the sensation of being touched but it doesn't hurt at all; not one bit."
"What a creep," she exclaimed, snuggling up against Clark. "I guess I never said thank you. But thank you for protecting me," she said. He kissed the top of her head and then looked back at the road. "I love you, Clark Kent," she whispered and before they got to her home, she had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Before they left Summerland Key for Metropolis the next morning, Liz gave Clark a cup of coffee and asked him to go outside on the veranda. Standing there, she turned to him. "I don't think Larry or I have ever seen Lori so happy and even better, so content with her life. It's all because of you, Clark. I just wanted to thank you for being so special in her life."
Clark took a sip of coffee and smiled. "My parents said the same thing about me Monday night when Lori had left for the ladies' room. They really fell in love with her. So have I."
"Maybe it's because you're both different. Lori had a hard time in school with others, especially with boys. Most didn't understand her, and she closed herself off to them because of that. With you she has blossomed into the beautiful young woman we always knew she was. It used to break our hearts seeing her that way but now, seeing her find joy in her life, words can't describe how happy we are. And I wanted to thank you for being there for her and loving her as much as we do." She hugged Clark and kissed him on the cheek.
They said their farewells and Lori hugged her mom and dad. Liz had tears in her eyes. She hugged Clark, and Lawrence shook his hand, telling him that he was always welcome there. They waved and as they pulled away, Clark saw tears streaking down Lori's face. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, wiping them away. "I love them so much and they've always worried about me, Clark. I probably gave them good reason to because I closed myself off to others when I was growing up. They always worried about me, and I hated that I caused them that grief. They feared that I would never find love and someone to share mine with. It's sort of cathartic for me to see them so full of joy and unburden over me that it makes me cry to finally see them that way."
Clark tried to make idle chatter on their way leaving the Florida Keys. The time they shared there left Lori melancholy and introspective and Clark felt bad for her. He had enjoyed his time there and loved the natural environment. Her parents were wonderful hosts and very welcoming, but it was not Smallville, not the place he loved. He knew what it was like leaving the place he loved but unlike him, she could not return whenever she wanted to in a matter of minutes. So, he left her to her own private thoughts until she was ready to talk. When she was ready, the conversation was about her people, but Clark could not help but detect the underlying message.
"You know," she began, "my people have existed for hundreds of years…maybe thousands. No one knows for certain…records don't keep well underwater. Mostly, no one ever knew we existed because our island home was so far from land and there were no planes or satellites or find us.
"The time the island was reclaimed by the ocean was about the same time, we think, that Atlantis was reclaimed. The most logical theory is a meteor of significant size struck the Atlantic near Atlantis and caused it to fracture from the archipelago that the Atlantis and the Bahamas shared. The Atlantic poured in and in a relatively brief amount of time, Atlantis collapsed and fell into the deeper recesses of the Atlantic. The same thing happened to Tritonis, we believe.
"Our people have been quietly helping humanity for centuries. Did you know that the first underwater mines were placed just before the American Revolution? My ancestors helped clear those from New York and Boston harbors that long ago. There have been countless stories among my ancestors and current day descendants of helping save survivors from sunken submarines, warding off shark attacks against sailors during World War 2, helping stem underwater oil leaks at drilling sites, and helping untold numbers of swimmers caught in riptides and undertows over the course of our existence. Often, our presence was not seen but those that were helped knew something had happened." She paused and looked out the side window. "I've probably saved a dozen kids and even college students down in the Keys from drowning or being pulled out to the Caribbean."
"That's amazing, Lori. I would never have thought about that."
She turned to look at him. "Because we can exist on land just like everyone else, we can melt into the crowd and seem like average everyday people. So, when we help someone, it seems no different than any normal person helping. But we take pride knowing that it was one of us and if it had been anyone else, things may not have gone as well as they did." She paused. "It's why many of us still cling to our heritage."
He nodded, "You should be proud. Helping others is one of the greatest forms of compassion I think a person can display. Whether or not you take credit for it or are recognized for it is not the point. Helping is and those descendants who do are exceptional people."
"You're exceptional, too, Clark," Lori said. "I know your situation is different but not terribly different. Your abilities are far greater than ours and I think your dad said it best when he said that they felt you were here for a reason greater than just growing food. With your abilities and powers, you can change the world, Clark. Your parents expect you to but that's not enough, is it?"
He furrowed his brow. "It's not so simple. It's not enough to want to do it. Yes, with my powers and abilities, I can make a huge difference." He glanced at her. "And this will sound selfish, but I want a normal life, too." He looked back at the road. "I just can't reconcile how I could have a normal life if everyone knows I have these powers and abilities. Can you?"
Lori shifted in her seat. "I don't think it sounds selfish to want a normal life. You deserve to have the life you want. I know it's not the same but I'm in heaven with the life I have with you in it. I'm living the normal life I never thought I'd have because I rejected people, mainly guys, and was determined to live only on my terms even if it meant living without others. But I was wrong, and I see that now. I needed to appreciate others and their differences, not reject them."
"Well, in fairness, rejecting jerks isn't a bad thing," Clark interjected. "But even good guys can have some unkind or unsavory thoughts at times."
"Yes," she replied. "You're right. But I never gave them a chance and look what happened. Until you, I was in complete control of myself and totally miserable." She paused. "I guess what I'm saying is that I took a chance with you and it's the best thing I've ever decided to do in my life." She put her hand on his leg. "Sometimes taking a chance feels like opening Pandora's box, you'll never be able to close it again. But that's not always true and what you sometimes realize is that if you take the right chance, you don't ever want that box to close."
"I do help people," he said, almost defensively. "I have in the past and I always will in the future. But I have always been careful not to expose my abilities to others. You are the exception."
"What about Pete?"
"Pete figured it out but not all of it. The funny thing is, he never said anything about it. And Pete's known me practically my whole life and is my closest friend." He paused. "I was going to tell him last year but when I started to, he told me he already knew. It was actually kind of funny."
"Did the world come crashing down for you?" Lori asked.
"No…but that is my closest friend, not some stranger who has no relationship with me. There's a big difference," Clark asserted. "Pete wouldn't be my best friend if I couldn't trust him and he proved his trust without me even trying to test him." He quickly added, "Like you."
Lori said nothing for a little while and then began. "Clark, I understand your point of protecting your identity and wanting to have a normal life. It makes a lot of sense and you deserve it as much or more than the next person. But it's almost like you have a responsibility to use these powers and abilities to help mankind, not hide in the shadows from it.
"What if you and I really put our minds to finding a way for you to use your powers and abilities to help people without exposing your identity? I mean, as fast as you can move, I think it's feasible that you could do some things to help or even save people without even being seen. Is that something you'd want, or do you think I'm just being too bossy?" She paused and then leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Choose your next words wisely."
Clark chuckled and consented to Lori's idea. She said that over the next few hours, they should work on finding a solution that he was comfortable with and can use to begin actively helping others without being exposed.
They had been on the road for thirteen hours and it was nearly 9 PM when they left Chattanooga, Tennessee on I-26 heading to Nashville. "We'll stop for the night around Nashville," Clark said. "I just need a couple hours of sleep and then I can finish the drive. We'll find a truck stop." Lori agreed, saying she had wanted to recline and shut her eyes but didn't want Clark to fall asleep if she did.
They were back on the road by 4 AM on Sunday and Clark calculated that they would arrive around 11 AM in Metropolis including a stop for breakfast. "Pete won't be back until Tuesday night since classes start on Wednesday. I'm guessing you'll stay with me tonight and maybe tomorrow? At least I'm hoping you will."
"Uh-huh. I loved spending time with my parents but it about killed me having you so close and not being able to make love to you. We have some catching up to do." They got back to Met U and immediately fell into bed together. Clark and Lori made love twice and then fell fast asleep in each other's arms.