Part Three
Lois Lane
Chapter 1
Metropolis
Saturday, December 19, 2020
The phone lines had been jammed all night long as people called in to ask Lieutenant Robyn Williams questions about her experience with the Avenging Angel of Mercy. The four-hour show flew by faster than Iris had ever remembered even though some of the questions became repetitive or silly, most were genuinely captivated by Robyn's story.
As they approached the 4 AM hour, Iris Carmen Bell-Madden reminded listeners that next two weeks of programs would be a recorded 'Best of SWS' since they will be taking the day after Christmas off and won't be back until January 9th of 2021. She then announced that they had time for one last caller. "Our last caller for our last live show of the year is Alexander, from Metropolis. Go ahead, Alexander, you're on the air with ICBM and Lieutenant Robyn Williams. What is your question?"
"It's less of a question about this mystery being and more about a question of right and wrong. Do either of you believe that it is right to glorify vigilantism by some inhuman being when Metropolis has a perfectly capable police department and functioning government to pass laws and ordinances to maintain social order? How do we know what this…thing's…true motives are? How do you hold it accountable for its actions? Where do you go to address it when it hides in the darkness and eludes the public? Our system may not be perfect but surrendering it to a nameless, faceless, and untraceable being is dangerous, don't you think? Why won't it face the public so the public can decide if we want it to exercise the authority that we entrust to our law enforcement and elected officials?"
Iris frowned and made a face. She looked at Robyn who pointed to herself and nodded. "Whoa, I wasn't expecting that. Robyn, do you care to take a stab at unpacking the caller's question?"
"Sure. Alexander, you pose a perfectly logical and important question that I think we need to consider. It would be foolish to dismiss your concerns and others who share them. Clearly, I am a bit prejudiced because the man saved my life. And he is a man, not a 'thing' or an 'it'.
"Whether he is metahuman or extraterrestrial, I don't know. But I came here tonight to tell everyone that he's not some specter, he's not divinity, he's as real as I am and not some media hoax or urban legend. I want to dispel the silly rumors and theories that have swept through Metropolis in the last six months or so. It seems to me that knowing he's real, he's not supernatural, and he's not a hoax is what people want to know most and what they are most interested in. All the other stuff will be answered in time, I imagine.
"Believe me, I wouldn't allow myself to be used to glorify what he does if I believed he was a vigilante. There's a town not far from here with a vigilante and that town is a total mess. That's not Metropolis though.
"I think tonight was about telling the truth about an individual who cares enough for the citizens of Metropolis to spend his evenings keeping them safe from harm. I'm sure when the time comes, he will reveal his reason for remaining anonymous, but I don't think that reason is because he sees himself as a vigilante. I've always viewed him as a guy protecting people from injury or death, not stopping crime. There are plenty of crimes that he doesn't try to intervene in. So, I don't perceive him trying to be a supercop."
Iris was nodding, "And to follow on to what Robyn said, the purpose of my show was about revealing the truth about him. It was not to glorify or demonize him. It was not to judge whether his efforts are extrajudicial or legitimate. People in Metropolis have been going crazy with theories and nonsense about him and Robyn had first-hand exposure to him and I wanted this to be about his existence, not his right to intervene. Hopefully, this show addressed some of the wackier theories and inaccuracies about him."
Before the caller could say another word, Iris cut his call and said, "Thank you for calling, Alexander.
"We've reached the end of our program tonight. I want to thank Lieutenant Williams for her time and making this probably the most important show I will…"
Bryan was in the control room waving his arms and got Iris's attention through the glass wall. He cut in. "I know you're about out of time," he began, "but you'll want to take this call."
"Go ahead, caller. You're on the air and you have about 30 seconds."
"Thank you, Miss Madden. I just want to respond to your last caller."
"Please give us your name, caller," Iris said.
"I'm the person you call the Avenging Angel of Mercy." He paused. "I'm not calling to throw water on your last caller's concerns. His concerns are thoughtful, well-intentioned, and legitimate. But for those who fear that some super race of beings are here to take over the planet, I want people to know that is not the case at all. There's only one of me.
"As for what I do, I ask only that you judge me by what I do for the citizens of Metropolis, not what some think my motives might be. I do not create my own laws or rules and then enforce them. I intervene to keep people and other living creatures safe and possibly unharmed if I can, and that includes those who intend to do harm to others. Our elected officials make laws and rules and I, like every person, must obey those laws.
"This is not Gotham and I'm not a vigilante. The times I have restrained criminals was only to prevent further harm to their victims, not to detain them for the purpose of arrest. I do not punish those who commit crimes against others because that is the role of our courts and penal system. Our police are outstanding, capable professionals, as are our firefighters, EMTs, state police, and other first responders. They don't need me to enforce the laws of this city.
"But I call Metropolis my home too, and I care about the people, the community we live in, and I do what I can do to help keep it from becoming what other cities have become." He paused. "But to address one issue the previous caller raised, I agree with him the being a nameless, faceless person can lead to suspicion and distrust. I ask that people understand that I have a life outside of what I do to protect people. In order to have a normal life and to protect those around me, I've kept in the darkness and shadows. But I will find the right time and reason to come into the light so that everyone will see that they have nothing to fear from me.
"Thank you for giving me the chance to explain my side of the issue that Alexander raised, Miss Maddox."
Iris said, "Okay caller, what you said is great, but can you prove to us that you are the Avenging Angel of Mercy? Otherwise, it was a beautiful statement that's simply nothing more than a counterpoint to Alexander's comments."
After a brief pause, the caller said, "Sure. Lieutenant, do you recall the stylized 'S' that saw on my chest when we met?"
Williams replied, "I don't think I'll ever forget a detail from that night. So, yes, I remember it clearly."
"Miss Madden and Lieutenant Williams, watch the glass wall separating you from the control room, please."
Before Iris could utter a syllable, the control room exploded in a flurry of printer paper and on the glass wall appeared the diamond-shaped shield with the stylized 'S'."
"Holy shit!" Iris said and Bryan was too numb to bleep the word.
"Lieutenant?" he asked.
Lieutenant Williams had tears in her eyes. "Yes. That is the symbol…that's it exactly," she replied as her voice began to crack. "And before you go, let me say this. My kid has her mom for Christmas because of you. I don't know what I can say other than thank you again…," she whispered hoarsely.
"You're welcome, Lieutenant. Thank you for what you do, too. I must be going now. Good night," he said and disconnected from the call so quickly that Iris did not have a chance to speak with him further.
"For listeners, I want you to know what just happened, and let me apologize to our sponsors and the hosts of our morning show for running a little late.
"As we looked out at the control room, what appeared to be a ream of paper burst into the air out of nowhere and floated down to the floor. On the glass window between me and Bryan, a symbol in the shape of a cut diamond with an 'S' in the center of it appeared on the glass. Lieutenant Williams confirmed that was the symbol on the Avenging Angel's chest and I would say we have our proof that we were talking to him. I don't know how it could be construed as anything but proof. We'll post videos and photos of the symbol on our webpage." Iris paused and Bryan was smiling incredulously at the symbol and at Iris.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our show for tonight. Bryan and I wish you all a wonderful and blessed holiday season and look forward to you tuning in again on January 9th in 2021. Be safe and thanks for listening to Seriously Weird Stuff, here on 1230 AM WJOB. Good night, everyone."
Metropolis
October 2017
Over two years before the record-breaking SWS broadcast, the investigation into Lori Lemaris's suicide was concluded. Her body was never recovered and there were two avenues of thought to explain it. One theory suggested Lori became trapped below the surface by eddying waters commonplace in the West Metropolis River, and her body later wedged amongst the concrete and rebar demolition rubble that had been dumped where the river emptied into Metropolis Bay to prevent erosion. The other theory was grislier and later became the official story. It suggested that Lori's body had surfaced days later in Metropolis Bay during the hours of darkness and was virtually emulsified by countless spinning propellers of tugs, freighters, and large luxury yachts in the waterway that were constantly coming in and out of Metropolis Bay. Shreds of what searchers believed was Lori's clothing had been found and supported that theory. Lori's DNA had never been captured to compare against the DNA found on the clothing, so the case was officially closed at the end of August.
Following the case closure, Daily Planet owner Franklin Stern ordered a complete review of the circumstances leading to the young woman's demise. He did it out of concern in the event a lawsuit was filed against the Daily Planet and its parent corporation. However, Stern was also keenly invested in preserving the Daily Planet's reputation and professional standards of conduct the paper demanded and realized how damaging the event could be. Ordering an investigative audit of activities in the case of Lori Lemaris was a proactive step that sent a strong message to Daily Planet employees regarding journalistic integrity and decorum.
Lois Lane was absolved of any inappropriate action in violation of company policy and procedure, acting in violation of any verbal guidance, or exercising judgment detrimental to the good name and reputation of the Daily Planet. She was absolved of everything; absolution which did little to mend her conscience. She should have known better, and she knew it. She knew Perry believed that too, although he would not say it out loud. That knowledge led to her nearly giving up journalism. But an impromptu visit and pep talk from an unlikely source, her sister Lucy, changed her mind about leaving journalism.
During a meeting with Perry after the review, Lois admitted that she had seriously considered resigning and leaving journalism altogether. Much to her surprise, Perry shared a story of his early years as a reporter where a witness had died as a result of a similar mistake he made. "You know what I decided after that?" he asked. Lois shook her head. "I decided that rather than not doing the job any longer, I was just going to do it better so something like that never happened again. That's all you need to do, Lois, and I have faith you'll do it."
She decided to rededicate herself to her craft. Lois's early success had come from a passion to tell the full story rather than telling the story before anyone else did. While scooping the competition was always a priority, it would no longer be her top priority. She would not force a story to print simply to be first to report on it; no more making the news and instead, stick to reporting the news better than anyone else. If she was going to kick over rocks, it was to find more details behind her assigned stories from now on. Her rededication meant ignoring the urge to snooping around to dig up stories and instead focusing her talents on the ones that Perry had assigned her.
But what she could not ignore were the memories of the look on Clark Kent's face, the words he spoke to her on the bridge that day, or the feeling she had in the pit of her stomach when she learned that Clark was planning to propose to Lori Lemaris in a matter of weeks. Being absolved of any wrongdoing was different from being innocent. Those were memories that she thought she would never be able to bury.
She had no idea how he felt about her after reading the letter she wrote expressing her sickening grief and remorse she felt over the death of his girlfriend. She hoped that because of their special connection, that maybe he would forgive her. She hoped he believed that she had no idea that Corben was going to do what he did. She hoped that he knew that there was no clandestine plan for her to keep him occupied and apart from Lori. All these things Lois hoped for were never realized because Clark never responded to the letter. She was left accepting the worst: she was persona non grata to him now. She was a pariah in his world and what looked like a special and promising relationship with a man, aside from the fact that he was planning to propose, would no longer come to pass.
So, while Lois would never forget the looks, the words spoken, or the feelings surrounding the death of Lori Lemaris, she put them back into the farthest corner of her mind and hoped never to have to dwell on them again. And for the most part, she was successful.
However, every so often at night, when lying in bed and entering that ethereal realm between lucidity and sleep, Clark's image came to her. The image was not of his anger but the warm, wholesome, smiling face on the bench in the park. Memories of his gentle manner, the ease with which they acknowledged mutually feeling a special connection, and the thudding of her heart like a lullaby that would usher her into peaceful slumber.
When she awoke, the memories of her final thoughts before slipping into sleep the night before nagged her. Lois needed closure or the memories would continue, and she would always wonder why that connection had been so compelling to her and wonder if she could have done more to repair it. Laying in bed that October morning, she decided it was time to 'lay the ghost' as she heard the British SAS soldiers say. She would find closure.
Lois began by planning a return to Met U by accompanying Steve Lombard to a Met U Bulldogs game against the Michigan State Spartans that coming Saturday. She met Steve in the stadium parking lot and together with their press passes, went to the press box to watch the game. She leafed through the press packet given to Steve and recognized Pete Ross, Clark Kent's roommate.
The Bulldogs beat the Spartans by one point but the game was actually won by the defense. A late game interception had put the Spartans in position to score but the defense sacked the Michigan quarterback and recovered his fumble. Throughout the game, comments were exchanged by writers in the press box about the current Bulldog quarterback's performance relative to last year's quarterback, Clark Kent, who left the college football scene due to personal tragedy. Although she never looked in his direction, whenever Clark's name was mentioned, she felt Steve's eyes on her. Steve knew that Lois had known better too.
After the game, the coach, quarterback and the defensive captain all were present to take questions in the press availability area in the locker room. While Steve waited for his chance to ask questions, Lois told him that she was ready to go and would see him Monday, thanking him for bringing her along. Slipping out the back, she caught a glimpse of the girlfriend of Clark's roommate among a small group waiting just beyond the tunnel that led to the locker rooms under the stadium. The girl was wearing a cheerleader outfit and Lois quipped under her breath that she had not been very cheery to her, so she watched her from a distance. She was hoping to talk to Pete Ross who had been civil with her. And as players began to exit from the locker room, she saw the girl throw her arms around a different player and walk off with him. Shit!
She waited a few more minutes and just before she had decided to leave, Pete exited the locker room. He shook hands with a couple of the guys who were there and started to leave when Lois caught up with him. "Pete Ross?" she called.
Smiling, Pete turned around to face Lois. "Yes?" His smile dissipated. "Oh," he said as he recognized Lois. "What can I do for you, Miss Lane?" He forced a quick smile.
"I just need a second of your time, Pete. I was wondering if you ever gave my letter to Clark? He's never acknowledged it, and I was left wondering if that was because he never got it or didn't want to respond to me."
Pete's annoyance with reporter Lois Lane was softened when he realized that she was not there as a reporter. He saw her in a different light, more different than the light he saw her when she visited the room in May. He detected angst in her voice but at the same time, Pete knew that she played a role in Lori's disappearance and because of that, Clark left.
"Miss Lane, I have to be going. But I'll tell you this, I don't know if he read the letter but I left it with his belongings. He came and got them when I was not in the room."
"And he hasn't returned to Met U for the new semester?" she asked.
"No," Pete replied. "He had to stay at the farm and help while his dad recovered."
"His dad didn't pass away from the heart attack?"
"No, he recovered, but needs Clark to do the work at the farm so he's stayed there." He noticed a glimmer of something in her eyes. "I have to be going now," he announced. "Have a good day, Miss Lane."
"Thank you," Lois said to Pete's back. "Good game, today!"
So, he's at the farm, she thought. I should go there. I'll go there and talk to him face-to-face. She paused in thought. Maybe I should call first. But what if he won't talk to me? No, I should go there.
When Lois returned to her apartment, she searched for 'Kent' and 'Smallville' until she saw a listing for 'Jonathan Kent' and 'Jonathan and Martha Kent' among articles about Clark's football prowess. She found an address for the Kent family and mapped it. She figured it would take about two and a half hours to get there. She decided that she could not afford to sleep in the next day.
Lois left her apartment at 7 AM the following morning. She was filled with feelings of trepidation but also nervous excitement. She told herself that either way, she would get some closure and that is what she was seeking.
She arrived at the address and saw the name 'Kent' on the mailbox and a makeshift driveway off the dirt road that led to a farmhouse. Clark Kent's home, she thought. She sat at the mailbox staring at the home and having second thoughts about just showing up unannounced. "Let's go! Get your shit together, Lane," she muttered, took a deep breath, and pulled into the driveway and up to the farmhouse. She got out of her car and began to walk to the front door. It opened before she got to it and an older man, presumably Jonathan Kent, came out onto the front porch.
"Good morning, Miss. Can I help you?" he asked.
Lois pasted smile on her face. "Yes, good morning," she replied as she approached him and stepped up onto the porch. She extended her hand and Jonathan shook it. "I'm looking for Clark. Is he here?" He noticed an older woman had moved to the screen door and stood watching, presumably Martha Kent.
"No," Jonathan said flatly. "He's not."
"Oh," Lois replied, deflated. "Can you tell me when he'll be back?"
Jonathan looked back at Martha who then stepped out on the porch. "What's this about?" Martha asked.
"I'm so sorry. Let me start over. I'm Lois Lane from the Daily Planet and I came to speak with Clark." She braced herself for the blast she expected. She saw Jonathan's jaw tighten and exchange a glance with Martha, but a blast never came.
Martha responded. "Well, Miss Lane," she began.
"Lois!" she interrupted.
"Well, Lois," Martha continued, "we don't know when Clark will be back or if he'll ever be back. He left several weeks ago." She saw the gratuitous smile on Lois's face quickly fade and another expression emerge.
"Oh," Lois muttered and sighed. "I guess I should have called first."
"It would have saved you a long trip if you drove here from Metropolis," Jonathan offered.
"Well," she began, "then I'm sorry to have bothered you, Mr. and Mrs. Kent. I hope you have a nice rest of the day," she added before turning and starting down the steps. As she reached the ground she turned and said, "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, if you speak to him or he returns, would you please let him know I stopped by to see him? I'd just like him to know that I did." She turned back and began to head to her car.
"Lois Lane?" Martha called out. Lois stopped and turned back around. "Didn't you write him a letter?"
She brightened, hopeful. "Yes, I did." She quickly walked to the steps. "Do you know if he opened it? Or did he say anything about it?"
Martha noticed the desperate look in Lois's eyes. The young woman was searching for an answer, and it was a personal matter; she could tell by the intensity in that look. The young woman was tormented. "Would you like to come inside and talk, dear?" Martha offered. "At least a cup of coffee before you head back."
Lois's eyes brightened. "Oh my gosh, yes, I would love that Mrs. Kent. Thank you."
Their talk lasted about a half an hour. Lois learned that Martha had found the letter buried among Clark's belongings from his dorm room while storing the stuff after he left. The letter was unopened, and his mom surmised that Clark had never even seen it or knew it existed.
His dad explained that Clark just dumped his belongings in the loft and had not revisited them to the best of his knowledge. He was fully involved in taking care of the farm and he thought Clark's things were just how he left them when he came back from school, until his mom went to store them away.
Lois sipped coffee and explained to his parents that she had been with Clark the day his fiancée jumped to her death. Teary-eyed, she told them of the contents of the letter and how guilty she felt about Lori's death. She mentioned that on the day Lori died, she had been speaking with Clark because they had met previously at the Daily Planet Christmas party and, frankly shared some mysterious connection. She said that Clark had described it as the connection that twins who had been separated at birth might feel when meeting for the first time not knowing they were twins. Lois admitted that she had been desperate to find out more about their special connection, but the events of that day had ended her pursuit. Until now.
She had recounted everything and when she was finished, Jonathan opined that it sounded to him like she did not have anything to feel guilty about. She nodded her appreciation for what he said. She wiped her eyes and sipped her last bit of coffee. "Coming here, bothering you on a Sunday…I feel foolish," Lois said. "This is my problem, not yours. But thank you for the hospitality and I guess I better be heading back." She stood.
"You know," Martha said, "Clark never really talked about what happened that day but the little bit he did say, he never mentioned meeting with you. He had some strong words about Mr. Corben but I don't recall him mentioning you by name." She looked at Jonathan. "Do you?"
"No," the older Kent said. "But you know Clark, he's not one to talk about grudges either." He looked at Lois. "So, either Clark doesn't blame you, Lois, or he does, and he didn't want to discuss it with us. I just don't want you to leave with a false impression."
She shook their hands. "Thank you again, for everything. I can see why Clark is such a good guy," she added. "If you can think of anyone who might know where he's at, please let me know. I still want to speak with him if I can find him."
"You might try Pete Ross," Jonathan offered.
"I've talked to Pete. He thought Clark was still living here. Is there anyone else who might know something?"
Martha chimed in. "The only other person he wrote to is Lana Lang. He may have written her, although I doubt it. But if there was one other person in the world who might know, it would be her."
"And that's Lang, L-A-N-G? No E?" Lois asked.
"Yes, no E. I have no idea where to look for her. Last we knew she was heading to New York City to attend an art and design college there but that was a few years ago. Her parents live next door and if you need to find out a contact number or address for her, you might start there." Martha smiled weakly and was about to say more but did not.
Lois thanked them both again and left the house and headed back to Metropolis. She stopped at the Lang house but found no one home and decided that she would be able to track down Lana Lang for any information that she may have.
The drive back gave her time to reflect on the Kents. They were kind people…salt of the Earth types that there were just too few of these days. Given what Pete Ross's girlfriend said about Clark, it was easy to believe and understand why he was the wholesome guy he seemed to be when they talked in the park. She was not sure that she would have been as welcoming and thoughtful as the Kents had been if the roles were reversed. But that is who the Kents are, she thought. If she ever had to return there, she could do it now without feeling insecure or anxious of the reception she might receive.
Why didn't Clark ever mention her name if he mentioned Corben's, she wondered? Was it because he did blame her and was holding a grudge like Jonathan had said? Was it because he didn't blame her for any of it? She hoped that it was the latter until another thought came into her head. Did he not mention my name because it would be awkward explaining our situation and our meeting in the park; explaining our special connection and what it meant to him if he was so deeply in love with Lori Lemaris?
Lang, Lang, Lang. Where have I seen that name before? Lois pondered her next step.
When she arrived home, she made coffee, grabbed two stale maple donuts from the day before, and opened her laptop at the kitchen table. She typed in 'Lana Lang'. An image of a young woman appeared and listed Lana Lang as a production creative design director at the Galaxy Broadcasting System and WGBS-TV in Metropolis. There it is! That's where I've seen the name. Lois decided to reach out to Lana Lang the next day.
Lois arrived early on Monday morning presuming that Lana Lang would be in the office early as well. She was wrong. Lana did not arrive until 9 AM. Sweet, Lois thought. I should have been a production creative design director.
Shortly after 9, Lois called Lana's number and it was answered quickly. "Galaxy Broadcasting, Lana Lang speaking."
"Hello Ms. Lang, my name is Lois Lane with the Daily Planet, and I was wondering if you have a moment to talk?"
There was slight pause. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lane, I really don't at the moment. I'm about to go into a production meeting."
"Would you be available for lunch?" Lois countered.
Sounding wary, Lana replied, "Um…what's this about?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Clark Kent," Lois replied.
"Clark? Ah…sure, okay. Where and when?"
They agreed to meet at 12:30 PM at Manny's Deli and Diner, a few blocks away from the Daily Planet in one direction and about a half mile from the Galaxy Communications building in the other direction.
Lois sat at a booth that allowed her to see who entered the door. The diner portion looked like a derailed dining car from a luxury train in the 30's and 40's. The motif matched its outside appearance. Lana was prompt and arrived almost exactly at 12:30. She stepped into the doorway and Lois stood and waved her over to the booth. She introduced herself and they shook hands and took seats facing one another in the booth. A waitress was there to take their order before Lana even got her coat off.
After the formalities, they made small talk about Metropolis and working in the communications industry until their lunch orders arrived. Lana had a cup of onion soup and half a smoked turkey and gouda sandwich. Lois had a French dip and fries. Lois liked Lana and Lana seemed to like Lois in return.
With formalities and small talk out of the way, Lana asked, "So, Clark Kent. What do you want to know about him, Lois?"
Lois explained that she did not know Clark well but was hoping to speak with him about a story a few months prior and that he had sort of disappeared recently. She explained her visit to the Kent farm and her talk with Pete Ross. "You don't happen to know where he might be or how to get a hold of him, do you?"
She took a spoonful of soup and blew across it. "My gosh, I wish I did," Lana said. "I really do," she added, suggesting that she had a vested interest in talking to him and then put the spoonful of soup in her mouth.
"Are you two close?" Lois bit a French fry in half and swallowed it, already presuming she knew the answer. "The Kents made it sound like you are. They said if Pete Ross didn't know where Clark was, the only other person on Earth who might know was you."
"We were," Lana began and looked down, stirring her soup absently. She looked back at Lois and the past tense she used and sadness that Lois saw in her eyes told the story before Lana had a chance to. "He was my first boyfriend," she paused and then added, "my first love, really."
"Oh," Lois replied, feigning surprise, "that's a hard one to get over. But do you two still keep in touch?"
Lana looked down again and lightly shook her head. "No," she whispered. "I would do so many things differently if we did." She looked up. "The thing you need to know about Clark is that he's authentic and good to his very core. My family moved next door to Kents when I was about 11 years old and the first time I saw him, I thought he was the cutest boy I'd ever seen. But it was more than just his looks. He was innocent, patient, kind, and polite, almost to a fault. And he had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. As people go, he's in a class all by himself."
She sat in silence, reflecting on their relationship. Lois noticed a tear drop from Lana's eye into her lap and then Lois broke the silence. "Lana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry into your personal life. I'm just trying to get in touch with him." She reached across the table and patted her hand. "It's none of my business, anyway."
Lana looked up and her eyes were red and watery. "The thing is, I'm to blame. I did something stupid, something impulsive one summer in New York and it destroyed our relationship." Lois knew exactly what Lana had done. "I'm telling you this, so you know what kind of guy he is and why I wish I was still in touch with him." She snuffed and cleared her throat. "When I told him what happened, I knew he was angry but never showed it, he didn't yell, he didn't call me names or say anything abusive at me. But he was devastated and that look on his face when I told him…I can still see that look today. I can still hear the pain in his voice, the tears in his throat when he told me that he should take me home, him telling me that he could never look at me the same way…I can still hear him saying that as if it happened last night." Tears were running down her cheeks. "I still feel the pain I felt in the pit of my stomach when I remember watching him just crumble because of me."
"That had to be horrible," Lois said softly with a distant look, thinking about the moments that haunted her thoughts and wondering how long ago this had happened with Lana.
She wiped her face with a napkin and regained her composure. "I'm sorry," she said. "One last thing you should know that will tell you everything you need to know about him is this. Even after what I did to him, to us, we had a few weeks of our senior year left before we graduated. Rather than trashing me to everyone who would listen, like all the other guys did when they broke up with their girlfriends, he suggested we continue to act as though nothing was wrong between us just to preserve my reputation and image I had at school." Her voice began to crack. "I know it was killing him on the inside to do it and yet, he did it without complaint and was so sweet about it." She cleared her throat again and snuffed. "I left Smallville after that and only came back for the holidays. I went to college in New York and although I sent him a card on his birthday and at Christmas, stuff like that, we didn't correspond and I don't know what happened to him after I left, other than his football feats. I would read about him in your newspaper and see him in video clips at the station." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What I did to Clark, to us, was the biggest mistake of my life. We talked about college together and even building a life together after college. That could have been my existence." Lana let out a sad chuff. "Look at me now."
Lana's story left a lump in Lois's throat. "God Lana, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry to have dredged all this up for you," she added.
"It's okay," Lana replied. "It's good to talk to someone about it. It helps me. People don't know Clark and telling them about an old boyfriend who is so unlike any person you'll ever meet just doesn't ring true, so I don't talk about it with anyone," and then added, "except my therapist. So, telling you is good for me."
The situation had turned awkward for Lois. She could have unburdened herself by telling Lana her own story, but it was clear that Lana still pined for Clark and Lois did not know how she would explain the 'special connection' the two felt. Trying to end the conversation and move on from it, Lois said, "Well, I don't know Clark nearly as well as you do or did but the chances I've had to meet and be around him, I know everything you told me about him is true. He's one of a kind in my opinion too."
She knew she was facing a dead end in her quest to speak to Clark. He was gone, no one knew how to get in touch with him, and no one knew when or if he was ever coming back. She thought about herself and wondered if that had happened to her, would she come back?
Finally, Lois announced she had to get back to the office and said how wonderful it had been to meet Lana. They paid the waitress and before leaving, hugged and said they would keep in touch with one another, but both knew that would not likely happen. Not unless Clark showed up somewhere.
Smallville
Thursday, September 6, 2019
The sun had just begun to rise when Jonathan and Martha Kent heard the gentle rapping on their front door. Martha had made a large breakfast that morning knowing that Jonathan was going to be busy with the farm that day and needed the extra fuel to get him through it and they had just sat down to enjoy the eggs, biscuits, ham slices, and oatmeal.
Jonathan frowned and Martha appeared concerned. "Good Lord! Who would be at the front door at this hour?" Jonathan asked as he got up. "Keep your seat, Martha," he added as she began to rise. "Let me check this out first."
Martha eased herself back into her chair at the kitchen table. A moment later, she heard some muffled conversation, the front door close, and then some footsteps. Jonathan appeared at the kitchen doorway. "You think we have enough for one more?"
Martha frowned a bit and was about to give a reply when Jonathan stepped aside, and Clark stepped through the doorway. "I could use some bre…," he managed to say before Martha shrieked, jumped up, and flung her arms around his neck and pulled him into a fierce hug.
"Oh my Lord, Clark!" she cried. "My sweet boy, you're home." Tears streamed down her cheeks and Clark's as well. "I've missed you so badly," she said. "Your dad has too." She looked at Jonathan who was wiping his eyes.
He came up behind Clark and joined the hug. "It's good to finally have you home again, Son."
After all the hugs and kisses were finished, Martha quickly turned and grabbed a plate and silverware and set them at the end of the table. She practically dove into the refrigerator to get more eggs and butter to cook. "We're light on bacon, Clark. The doctors told us we needed to cut back, particularly your dad."
The chores for the day were put aside as they sat for three hours eating breakfast, drinking coffee, and catching up. Clark, naturally, had much to tell. He recounted the events since he left home over two years before in detail, explaining what the crystal did and the crystalline facility it constructed just below the surface of the Arctic where satellites and spy planes would never locate it. He told them it was his referred to as his fortress of solitude, a retreat for him to learn, to seek answers using the advanced interactive technology containing data from the 28 known galaxies, interfacing through a hologram of his biological father, Jor-El. He told them about the tragic fate of his home planet, Krypton, and why he was sent to Earth alone, his real name, and about the last ability he developed, flight.
Clark showed them one of the uniforms of his ancestral planet, made from exotic materials he had never seen before but adapted to his shape, kept him at a steady temperature unaffected by the actual temperature, and was virtually invulnerable to damage, just like his own skin had become. He told his parents that there were several different versions of them in several colors but he favored the blue, red, and yellow ones.
"When you say you can fly," Jonathan began, "how do you mean you fly? Do you have some device or equipment or something to propel you?"
Clark grinned wide. "No Dad, I can actually fly by myself at great speeds." He paused. "I'll show you once it gets dark. The explanation is pretty complicated. Essentially, it has to do with the extreme density of my molecular structure and the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up the atoms to create those molecules make it possible for me to defy gravity. Once it can be defied, all it takes is power and concentration. Like any learned skill, the more I do it, the less effort and concentration it takes."
They talked about the farm and the fact that Jonathan had considered switching from corn to wheat as the primary crop grown there. But wheat required buying and installing a silo and Jonathan did not want to spend for that.
"So, what are you plans now, Clark?" Martha asked. "I hope you're planning to stay here, at least for a while."
"Yes, Ma'am," he replied. "I was planning to give Dad a hand with the farm and see if I can get on at the Smallville Sentinel." He paused. "I still think journalism is a good cover for showing up in places that most people would not dare to go. No one won't think twice if I show up at a dangerous situation." He looked at Jonathan who was nodding. "Working at the Sentinel will give me some experience and some credentials to move on to a bigger city like Metropolis or Gotham." He looked back at Martha. "I know there are people there who need help."
Jonathan nodded. "That sounds like a good plan, Clark. Do you have any idea when that might be?" his dad asked.
"Well, I'd like to get a job right now. As far as moving on, I think that I won't do that until after the last harvest and once the new year begins." He looked at his mom who seemed a bit disappointed. "But I won't be far away. Either Metropolis or Gotham, although Gotham could probably use me more."
Martha scowled. "Gotham already has someone trying to help clean that place up. You don't need to go there."
"That's true. Also, the thing about Metropolis is that I think if Lori ever wanted to reconnect," Clark began, "it might be easier if I was there. I would eventually have my own place in Metropolis once I get a steady job. I have the same phone number even though I have to get it re-activated."
"Well," Jonathan began, "when you're ready to move on and want to try Metropolis, we know the editor of the Daily Star, George Taylor. He used to be a reporter here in Smallville and we're friends. I helped him out a couple of times and before he left town, he told me if I ever needed anything from him to let him know." He gave Clark a half-smile. "Giving you an interview for a position isn't too much to ask him for. In the meantime, I'm sure Roy can use a part-time reporter at the Sentinel. They're always looking for help. I guess because it's a part-time job, reporters don't apply very often."
"Speaking of reporters," Martha said, "About two years ago, a lady named Lois Lane from the Daily Planet newspaper came to the house looking for you. It was only a few weeks after you left."
Clark frowned and cocked his head. "Lois Lane did?" He paused. "Did she say why?"
"Apparently, she had written you a letter to apologize for her involvement the day that Lori supposedly committed suicide and how terrible she felt about it. Clark," Martha said, "that poor woman is tormented by guilt over what happened."
"How long did you spend talking to her?"
"About 45 minutes."
"I never saw the letter," Clark said. He sighed. "I was very angry at what happened that day and I thought that Lois was part of a plan to keep me occupied while her partner badgered Lori. In retrospect, I'm pretty sure that's not what happened but I sort of took it out on her and him."
Jonathan chuckled. "Yeah, she sort of mentioned that."
"She also mentioned something about a special connection you two have? What's that all about?"
Clark blushed. "That's something different," he began. "I felt this spark between us the first time I met her when I was working at the Daily Planet Christmas part at the university. I checked her in and when we made eye contact, something happened between us…something unspoken." He paused and then added. "It was sort of embarrassing with Lori sitting right next to me." He looked at his dad and back to his mom. "I was embarrassed to even talk about it. I had wondered for months if it was just me or both of us until I bumped into her at the park the day Lori left. I was tracking Lori down and that's when I bumped into her. Anyway, I found out we both felt that spark and had both thought about it ever since the party that night. Lois wanted to see if I felt it too and so we sat and talked a while. But what happened afterwards and the things I said directly to her, I am pretty sure that spark was extinguished."
"I saw it unopened when I packed your things in the loft up," Martha said. "It's in one of those boxes in the loft if you're interested in reading it."
"I wouldn't be so sure it's extinguished in her mind though," Jonathan said. "But," he admitted, "it's been about two years since she came by, so…"
"I'm sure she's moved on since then," Clark replied. "A lot has happened since then."
The next day, Clark did go into Smallville and speak with Roy Russell, the editor of the Smallville Sentinel. He told him was interested in getting a position as a part-time reporter, making Russell extremely happy. "No one seems to want a part-time job," the old man said, "and we don't have the budget for full time employees. Besides, there just isn't that much to report. It's why we publish only three times a week." He extended Clark a job, paying him 20-hours per week and told him that he could work from home as well as the office. Russell said he'd send him the assignments by email and if he needed further guidance to call him on his personal cell phone. "Covering the Smallville football season should be pretty simple as a start."
The work at the farm mixed with the assignments he received from Roy Russell and the Crows' football season coverage, Clark stayed busy, and time flew by. For the New Year's edition of the Smallville Sentinel, Clark wrote a heartfelt and moving essay titled, Ode to 2020. Because he wanted the message, not the messenger to be its focus, Clark left the essay uncredited in the newspaper. Only Roy Russell, Clark, and his mom and dad knew he penned the essay.
In it, Clark reminded readers of the that hope every new year brings and eschewed dwelling on life's past trials and disappointments. He prescribed looking ahead to recognize the beauty of life around oneself and the promise of renewal that a new year offers if we just seize it, hold it close, and refuse to let it go. The tone and the inspirational message it contained compelled readers to forward the essay to friends and relatives outside of Smallville. Before long, Clark's Ode to 2020 exploded in social media and was shared across America and the rest of the world.
The popularity and near universal consensus with its uplifting message caught the attention of many people inside and outside the world of journalism. In keeping with Clark's desires, Roy rebuffed requests to reveal the name of the author. Instead, Roy said the essay was an anonymous letter to the editor that he instead printed as a New Year's message in essay form.
So, in early February when Clark interviewed for a position at the Daily Star, Clark submitted the essay as an example of his writing and once Roy Russell confirmed to George Taylor that Clark was indeed the author of the essay, that submission alone would have earned Clark the position. But George saw the quality of other articles Clark had included with his application and offered him a full-time position knowing that he was making a sound choice.
By the end of February, Clark had found a 3rd floor apartment at 322 Clinton Street in Metropolis and relocated there. The money he had saved from his job at the home improvement store while at Met U and that he earned at the Smallville Sentinel was plenty to get him situated with basic living room and bedroom furniture and kitchen utensils. After some quick modifications to a closet, he moved two of the Kryptonian suits from his fortress to the apartment.
In the daytime, he was learning the routines of a large circulation newspaper. The reporting at the Daily Star compared admirably with the Daily Planet but it placed a distant second to the Planet in circulation. Taylor assigned him human interest stories and Clark thrived writing them, which secretly he found odd given his heritage. He attributed his acumen to the two years he spent training at the fortress and the lessons Jor-El had taught him about humanity. Jor-El's training was antiseptic and detached giving him a dispassionate view that, combined with his personal experiences, allowed Clark to understand humanity better than humans themselves. This translated into articles with great insight and depth that other reporters just could not muster.
His other favorite topic to write articles about was public corruption. This was the main purpose of a newspaper, Clark believed, and reporting on political and government corruption was the foundation of freedom and the purpose of the First Amendment.
At night, he would switch gears and protect citizens in a different way. He had settled on the idea that he would listen for signs of distress strictly at night in order to preserve his anonymity. Beginning slowly, Clark found ways to intervene to protect life and minimize injury without making actual contact with people. Using his incredible speed and abilities, he could remain in the shadows or blur through lighted streets and divert catastrophe, often using his breath, heat vision, or the combined force of his speed, strength, and invulnerability.
With the suit, he could move silently without resistance that street clothes could create. He could hover, he could fly slowly, avoiding lighted areas, and comb the night listening for those cries for help and sounds of struggle and distress. His weekday routine usually had him back to his apartment by 2 AM, giving him five and a half hours of sleep before getting up for work. On the weekends, he usually stayed out later and then flew to Smallville to help his parents when needed or sleep in.
By the end of June, people began talking about miraculous events that appeared to be supernatural or hoaxes. The talk began as whispers but grew over the weeks as more and more stories began circulating online in social media and social forums about the events. Those online stories were dismissed by serious journalists with local newspapers and broadcast news editors.
That all changed when former Daily Planet reporter John Corben, now working for The Metaverse, a local non-mainstream newspaper that specialized in off-beat stories, nightclub reviews, and yellow journalism, was involved in a horrendous one-car accident along a remote road on the outskirts of town. The accident left him barely clinging to life. Had it not been for a mysterious force that tore his vehicle apart to free him and mere seconds later, deliver him to the steps outside of Metropolis General hospital where an unidentified passing citizen alerted emergency crews, Corben would have died.
Police could not explain how the force of the impact had torn the vehicle apart just enough that Corben could wrangle himself free. Nor could they explain how, given the extent of his injuries, he was able to get from the site of the accident to the hospital about seven miles away. John Corben, unconscious through the entire event, could not offer an explanation either.
That story was picked up by an investigative reporter with WGBS-TV news team from the Galaxy Broadcasting System as an oddity that became the unofficial validation of the rumors, whispers, and theories surrounding the mysterious happenings.
Within a few weeks, more voices were speaking up and interviews with Metropolis Police Department personnel were attempted. The stories became more developed, and the name 'Angel of Mercy' was given to the entity alleged to exist.
Lois Lane discussed the clamor with Perry who dismissed the stories as a hoax. "Oh Lois, The Metaverse is a pathetic rag," Perry proclaimed, "and it deserves no more attention or credibility than any other fish wrap. Using your own staff's tragedy to generate attention just makes my skin crawl. It's the worst sort of journalism out there."
"So, you don't want me to look into this, Chief? I mean, even if it is an elaborate hoax, it's being broadcast now and it's past the point of being online chatter. I could dig around to see if we can expose it as a hoax."
Perry grumbled a bit and reluctantly gave Lois the green light to dig into the mystery behind the seemingly miraculous events that were occurring in Metropolis. "Just keep me briefed up to the minute in case Mr. Stern wants updated. Okay?"
"You got it, Chief," Lois responded and stood up.
He spotted Jimmy Olsen in the outer office talking with his aunt. "Before you go, how about taking young Olsen with you if you think you're on to something? He needs something to do," Perry asked. "I promised his Aunt Sally that I would get him more involved," he said and made a face that indicated the promise was made in the interest of keeping the peace with his secretary.
"Sure, Chief. I'll take him with me. But I may be working at night since that's when these things are allegedly taking place." She paused then asked, "He doesn't have a curfew or anything, does he?" She glanced around at the outer office, saw Jimmy. Lois turned back to Perry and grimaced. "Or a certain time he has to be in bed by?" She snorted.
He chuckled, rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "Okay, go on now and get to the bottom of it, Lois!"