All Shook Up - Matchmaker Style
Rated PG-13
Lois and Clark now live in Clark's ‘old' apartment.
In this particular story a lot of the dialogue is taken from the script text. I wish to express my thanks to my Beta readers Artemis and Ray Reynolds for their invaluable help. This was a VERY rough draft when it first landed in their hands.
* * denotes emphasis
< > denotes thoughts
As always comments are welcome. (ken.janney@kjanney.com)
Previously
Lois had time to make it all the way back to the Planet before interception and she along with everyone else there were staring at the TV in the newsroom watching the coverage from EPRAD Headquarters.
There was a full screen graphic that reads,
“SUPERMAN FOR THE EARTH.”Suddenly there was a voice-over, “Continuing our special LNN Report: Superman For the Earth -- And now, here is Frank Madison at EPRAD Command and Control.”
The graphic faded and was replaced by the image of Frank Madison, the reporter that Lois had shoved Clark into. He started speaking, “Several hours ago, Superman said his final goodbyes to the crowd. He was described as calm, but determined. Witnesses say his last words were to the President -- I'm quoting now -- "I'll do my best.' And with that he took off, gaining speed as he rose into the sky. And this time the entire world was watching.”
Suddenly the screen switched to a montage from around the world. The banner headlines of many papers in as many languages flashed across the screen and over that was heard JAPANESE, SPANISH, SHONA, and RUSSIAN in voice over. The only word common in all the broadcasts was "Superman."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
All eyes remained glued to the TV. The people in the newsroom hardly dared to breathe.
The graphic across the bottom of the screen was the count-down clock and it read, 79:56:17 when Madison put his finger to his ear to seat the earphone he was wearing more securely. Then he started to speak, “I'm being told we have a transmission from Superman. Let's take that 'live' feed, direct from mission control.”
The screen switched back to the
SUPERMAN FOR EARTH graphic. The count-down timer was still at the bottom and suddenly a Chiron appeared which said, “
Voice of Superman” and his somewhat distorted voice came from the set. “I can see it now. In fact, it’s hard to see anything else. It’s immense.”
The feed from EPRAD switched from the graphic to a tracking monitor. There was a large blob in the center of the screen and a small dot was approaching it from the side.
Then the voice of ground control cut in, “Roger, Superman. We copy you on the ground. Do you have stress point acquisition in visual?”
Superman replied, “Yes, I do.”
Ground control replied, “Stand by for final briefing procedure.”
Even though it was somewhat distorted, Superman’s voice was calm and confident as he replied, “I know what I have to do.”
Ground control replied, “Superman, you're cleared for initiation on your cue.” There was a brief pause and then ground control was back, “And there's a lot of people here who want you to know you're the best friend Earth's ever had.”
Superman’s reply was short, “Thanks. Well, here I go.”
Lois winced. Even though she knew what her memory contained, she was scared.
The next thing they heard was Superman, “I look like an ant next to this. I'm going as fast as I've ever gone before, actually maybe faster.”
Superman came back on with a count-down, “Ground control, Superman, impact in five, Here goes, four, three, friends. two...”
Ground control announced, “Impact! The asteroid has been shattered into pieces. We’ve lost track of Superman.”
They apparently try to cut to Superman, but when they do all they got was loud static.
“Ground control to Superman. Come in Superman.”
Again there was static.
“Superman this is Ground control. If you can respond, please do. Come in Superman.”
More static.
Ground control came back on, “This is EPRAD ground control, we have lost all communication with Superman.”
All eyes turned toward Lois. They all knew how close she and Clark were to the superhero and they all hoped that she would be able to answer the question that was on everyone’s mind, “Is he still alive and will he come back?” But Lois didn’t have any answer. All she could think to say was, “His mic went out, that’s all.” But her words were unconvincing, even to herself. Fortunately, Perry White was standing next to her and when, as she finished speaking she started to collapse he caught her. With her hands covering her face she allowed Perry to escort her to his office.
All of the Planet staffers were reacting with shock at the loss of contact, but none as much as Lois.
And now:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 4
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Some minutes earlier.
Out in space, where no one could see him, Superman started his run at the asteroid. He was surprised to see the actual shape. In the animation it had been spheroidal. This was more an odd cylindrical shape. Perhaps it was tumbling slowly and when EPRAD had gotten their shots it had been end on. Hoping that their calculations as to the weak spot held true, he accelerated as quickly as he could to an unbelievable velocity. The closer he got to the asteroid, the smaller he seemed in comparison, like an ant approaching a basketball. As he accelerated his orbital mechanics were affected. His plan was not to hit it head on, but at the last possible second to flip over and hit the object feet first. He followed his plan, but the effect on his orbit, small though it was caused him to hit just slightly off his mark. There was a silent explosion ... silent only because of the vacuum of space. Though it was silent, it was violent, throwing debris in all directions.
Superman’s plan was to use a principle that Lois had taught him about karate. When you strike, the force of the strike is transmitted to the surface that you strike and unlike a boxer you do not follow-through. You instantly recoil once the force of the blow has been transmitted. That was what he did. The instant after he struck he reversed course. There was one slight flaw in the plan however. The release of fifty megatons of energy resulted in no small portion of that force being converted to heat and light. That heat burned away Superman’s cape, which wasn’t so bad, but it also burned away his communications gear, the mask and the tubing from the oxygen tanks. The tanks themselves ruptured and the oxygen released added to the conflagration. Realizing that he now had to make it all the way back with no oxygen he ‘poured on the coal’ gathering as much speed as he could in the direction of the Earth.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Perry looked around and saw that there was panic and shock on all of the faces of the staff. He knew that something had to be done or they would all be one big, collective basket case within an hour. He barked out, “Hey, hey, hey! We're professionals. We have a job to do. Let's get back to doing it. Jimmy, I want photos of what’s happening out there. Ralph, Eduardo, man-on-the-street interviews. Cat, start calling your celebrities, get their take on this. Hop to it people. We’ve got a paper to get out.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the penthouse atop LexTower, Luthor had been watching the LNN coverage of the mission. When they lost communication with Superman and the static was broadcast, he had a satisfied smile on his face. He lifted his cigar and placing it to his lips took a long pull on it. Turning to Asabi, he said, “Static, Asabi, implies the absence of something. It's a beautiful sound, wouldn't you agree?”
As Luthor continued to puff on his cigar, Asabi agreed, “Quite pleasing, sir.”
Suddenly, like a switch being thrown, Luthor’s mood changed and he slammed his palm down on his desk and began to rant, “I have been deprived of my greatest victory over Superman and you think I should be
pleased?” He turned his back on Asabi and said, “Leave me.”
Asabi was confused by the mercurial nature of Luthor’s moods and left.
Luthor looked out the window and glowered as if the sky had taken his favorite toy, or most valuable prize.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Superman was pushing himself for all he was worth to accelerate away from the asteroid and toward the Earth, toward … home, toward … Lois. Faster, faster. He had to make it back to her. He had been flying for almost twenty minutes and he knew that he was nearing the end of his air reserves. Soon he would be unconscious, but as long as he could hold on to any shred of consciousness he would continue to push himself to, or perhaps even beyond, his limits. Faster, faster. He had to … for Lois’s sake and his own. He didn’t want to die and he knew that Lois didn’t want that either. They were meant to be together. They needed each other to be complete. Faster, faster. Using his telescopic vision he could see the blue-green orb that he called home and he zeroed in on it, focused all of his attention on it. Faster, faster. <Lois, I’m coming, Lois. I’m coming back to you.> Faster, faster. He was already traveling faster than he had ever flown before, but that didn’t mean anything, He knew that he had at least a little more in him and he would use all that he had to get back to her, to Lois. Faster, faster, ever faster. He started to develop tunnel vision. In the dark of outer space it was hard to tell since everything was dark already, but slowly he could detect the darkness creeping in and starting to blot out the Earth. He knew he was nearing the end. Faster, faster. The pain in his chest from his empty lungs was becoming unbearable. Like a drowning man his body was crying for air, but unlike a drowning man if he opened his mouth to take a breath he wouldn’t even have water to fill his lungs. All that there was, was … nothingness. The utter vacuum of space. His last conscious thought was <Lois, I’m sorry.>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After Lois’s near collapse in the newsroom, Perry had taken her to his office. She had nearly fallen completely apart. She wasn’t crying, but it might have been better if she had been rather than the state she was currently in. Her shock and dismay at losing all contact with Clark had completely unnerved her.
In an undertone, she kept muttering to herself, “He’s okay. He has to be okay. He’ll come back, back to me. He has to be okay. He has to come back.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
At EPRAD headquarters the scientists and technicians were taking observations and using uplinks to satellite based detection systems to analyze the effect that Superman had had on Nightfall. They contacted radio telescope facilities and requested data feeds. Virtually every telescope of every variety was focused on the area in question so there was an abundance of data available. It would take time to correlate all of the data into a cohesive picture. A preliminary evaluation showed that it appeared that Superman’s mission had been a startling success. But …
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Perry left Lois alone in his office and went out into the newsroom. “Steve, Frank!”
As Steve approached Perry saw Frank coming from another direction. When they were near he started giving orders, “Look, Steve, I know this isn’t exactly your thing, but look at it this way, there’s a lot of travel between here and that asteroid. Frank, you’re the food writer, Superman has to be hungry when he returns.”
Frank muttered, “If he returns.”
Perry was irritated and said, “Hey, hey, hey. None of that! He will be back. I want the two of you to go to EPRAD headquarters and sit on them until you get me some information.”
They both said, “Right, Chief,” and turned away.
Perry shouted, “Jimmy!”
Denise shouted back, “You sent him out to take pictures.”
“Eduardo!”
Peggy said, “Man-in-the –street interviews.”
“Clark!”
Peggy replied, “I haven’t seen him all morning.”
Perry muttered to himself, “Where could he be?” He looked at his office and realized that Lois was in no condition for him to ask where her husband was. “I guess he’ll show up, sooner or later with a big story.” Shaking his head he turned toward his office. <I wonder if she would be this upset if it was Clark that was missing. That’s probably unfair. Clark’s her husband and she would naturally be upset if her were missing. I just wonder who she would miss more.>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Superman had held onto the last shreds of his consciousness for as long as he could. His lungs were screaming for air. His vision finally failed completely and as the darkness absorbed his vision it also absorbed the remains of his consciousness. He became an uncontrolled projectile moving at tremendous velocity through the emptiness of space headed for that blue-green globe that had been his destination. As he finally lost consciousness his autonomic nervous system took over and made him try to relieve his lungs by taking a gasping breath, however there was nothing there to fill his straining lungs. The oxygen deficit finally started to affect the Medulla and it started shutting down bodily systems. The deficit also started to affect the higher brain functions while other systems went to a low energy state. The only thing that kept him from dying completely was his invulnerable body. As long as he was in the light of the yellow sun and not exposed to Kryptonite his body would continue to live. He coasted at constant speed toward the Earth, toward home, and toward … Lois.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lois was finally starting to come out of her blue funk. She looked around taking in her surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. She saw Perry at his desk and asked, “How’d I get here?”
“Well, Darlin’, when they lost contact with Superman we lost contact with you too. You kinda’ checked out on us. You okay now?”
“I, uh, I think so. How long have I been out of it?”
“Almost half an hour.”
“What’s happening? Is there any news?”
“No, nothin’. By the way, where’s that husband of yours? No one has seen him all day.”
Lois was now in a quandary, what should she tell Perry? Whatever it was, she had to make it good. “Clark, uh, well, you see, he was going to go out and do a series of interviews, you know, man-in-the-street stuff. Then he was going to try and get hold of his folks. You know how he worries about them.” Shakily she stood up and said, “I think maybe I should, you know, head home. Clark will be wondering about me.”
“Okay, now you take it easy going home. It’ll be a madhouse out there.”
“I’ll be okay, Perry. Thanks … for everything.”
“Take care of yourself, and I hope Clark’s folks are okay.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The object was approaching the Earth at tremendous velocity. The angle of approach took it into the atmosphere at a shallow angle and it passed through the Thermosphere and the Mesosphere, but then skipped off of the Stratosphere and back toward space. The lack of streamlining however added a significant amount of resistance to its passage building up heat as speed was converted to energy through friction. By this time the Earth’s gravity had a firm hold on the object and it continued to slow as it re-passed through the Mesosphere and into the Stratosphere again. All of this time it was leaving a fiery trail across the sky in its trip completely around the globe. After a few more skips it had finally slowed sufficiently to start falling through the Troposphere. It looked like a fireball and was still traveling very fast when it finally came to ground with a crash. The object passed through several structures in its angled approach finally crashing to the ground creating an impact crater.
Superman had been unconscious from lack of air for an extended period. His body’s invulnerability had been maintained by his aura; however it had been weakening with each passing minute and was barely existing when he crashed into the atmosphere. The heat generated by the friction had almost completely overwhelmed his aura. His aura had protected his body, but was too weak to even protect his skin-tight covering. His cape had been incinerated in the impact, but when he entered the atmosphere at least most of the Suit went the same way.
As the atmosphere became more dense air started to enter his lungs. As soon as this happened his autonomic nervous system sensed the increased levels of oxygen and started his diaphragm moving. Each breath pulled in a different amount of air as he skipped from atmosphere layer to layer. It wasn’t until he entered the Stratosphere that the air actually was dense enough for his system to respond.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In Suicide Slum the fireball was seen by numbers of people, but only one homeless man was brave enough to investigate. He wore a mish-mash of clothing that he had collected from numerous agencies. On his head was a knit woolen cap. Perched on this cap were a number of pairs of sunglasses and other glasses. It looked like a hobby of sorts so numerous were they. Braving the unknown, he wheeled the shopping cart with his belongings before him as he entered the alley.
There was a residual glow from the heat released by the impact as well as a cloud of dust and loose debris which drifted on the air currents.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After the impact Superman’s body was able to take great gasping lungfulls of air and his skin, which had been almost the same color blue as his now vaporized spandex suit, started to return to its normal color. With the return of oxygen in his system his heart started to circulate the oxygenated blood to his brain, but it had been deprived of oxygen for an extended period. Only very slowly consciousness started to return. With the return of consciousness there was a memory of excruciating pain, but that was rapidly replaced with a sense of wellbeing.
Slowly he started to open his eyes to check his surroundings.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Warily the homeless man approached the crater that he could see at the end of the alley. When he got close enough to look over the brink into the crater itself he was surprised at what he saw and almost couldn’t believe his eyes. He almost doubted his sanity, but not quite. Living on the streets had put him in situations where he had seen a lot of unbelievable things, this was just one more to add to the list. This was one for the books. In the bottom of the hole in the ground was what appeared to be a naked, or near naked man. As if he couldn’t trust his eyes or what he was seeing, he traded one pair of glasses for another and looked again. What he was seeing didn’t change significantly, just a little more blurry so he went back to the first glasses.
Superman sensed the approach of the homeless man. He didn’t know what to make of it. He was curled up in a fetal position which was his body’s way of protecting itself.
As he sensed the man’s approach he started to stir and look around.
The homeless man didn’t know that it was Superman that he was looking at, but he could see a look of dazed confusion on his face. Seeing his obvious weakness and vulnerability, how threatening is a naked man anyhow, he addressed him in a nasally, gravelly voice, “Hey, man, whatcha doin' there? You gotta be freezin'.”
Turning to his cart he sorted through his possessions and finding a stained and ripped work shirt and matching trousers he bundled them up and tossed them to Superman. He said, “Here, put these on. They’re almost clean. I only wore them a coupla times.”
Catching the bundle, Superman said, “Thanks,” and started pulling on the pants.
While he was doing that the homeless man turned back to his cart and dug around until he found a pair of shoes that were worn down at the heel and had holes in the soles. By the time he had found these and turned back to the crater, Superman was buttoning up the shirt. The homeless man tossed him the shoes and said, “Here, you need something on your feet or you could get frostbite.”
It was a slight exaggeration because it wasn’t nearly that cold, but Superman caught the shoes and put them on anyhow grateful to have something to cover his body. He expressed his appreciation, “Thanks for everything.”
The homeless man shook it off and said, “Those of us that live on the street, we gotta stick together. Where ya from anyhow?”
A look came over his face as he searched his memory and finally he answered, “I don’t know.”
The homeless man looked at him with understanding, “Yeah … no past. Starting all over. I been around myself. Started over a few times. You hungry?”
Searching himself he replied, “I think so. Maybe.”
The homeless man reached down a hand to help Superman out of the crater. Once he was out the homeless man said, “If we get a move on we can catch us some breakfast at the shelter.”
Superman shook his head and said, “Don’t let me hold you up. You go ahead.”
The homeless man let out a snort and said, “Don't put down no shelter, brother. You been sleepin' in the altogether inside a pile a junk.” Looking at Superman he decided to sacrifice part of his collection. Taking off a pair of his glasses he handed them over and said, “Here. Put these on. Make you look smarter.”
As the homeless man started away, pushing his cart, Superman shrugged his shoulders and donning the glasses moved off in his wake.
As they were walking the homeless man waxed eloquent, “This thing in the sky hits, we all gonna be sleepin' rough, way I see it.” As if he suddenly remembered something he said, “I'm Henry O. You got a name?”
Superman’s response was less than helpful, “I ... I can't remember.”
Henry O. said, “Been there myself, man.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The scientists and technicians had been working feverishly, analyzing the data being fed to them from all of their sources and a picture was beginning to form.
Professor Daitch had been going over the data and as each new piece was added he had updated his projection. Finally he had enough data to feel comfortable with his analysis. It was with a heavy heart that he picked up the phone. When the operator answered, he said, “Get me the President.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lois was frantic. When she had gotten home there was absolutely no word from Clark. She wandered around the apartment listlessly. Suddenly it occurred to her that if she was worried, Clark’s parents must be also. She ran to the phone and dialed.
When it was answered, Lois recognized Martha’s voice and the tone of her voice told just how worried she was, “Clark?!?!?!?”
“No, Martha, it’s me, Lois.”
“Oh, Lois, Honey. I thought it would be Clark. Is he there?”
Lois started to break down in tears, “No, Martha, he’s not. I haven’t heard from him. Martha, I’m so worried. Where could he be? He can’t be dead. I’d know it if he was dead, I just know I would.”
Martha tried to console her daughter-in-law, “Lois, Honey, we both know that there isn’t much that can hurt Clark. He has to be okay. Maybe he just isn’t back yet. You know, he could be taking a victory lap or something.”
Tears still in her eyes, Lois laughed at that suggestion, “He wouldn’t do that to me … us … and you know it. He’d come directly here or there. Since he isn’t here and he isn’t there he must not be back yet, but he’s going to run out of air!”
“We’ve been watching LNN and they haven’t said anything about the asteroid since his interception. What do you suppose is happening?”
“Oh, I don’t know. They’re probably checking their data.”
“Lois, they just made an announcement. The President is going to be making a speech.”
Lois reached for the remote and turned on the TV. LNN came on and the Chiron read “
The President speaks.”
Suddenly the picture shifted to the Oval Office and the President was behind his desk. He started speaking, “My fellow Americans, it is my unpleasant duty to inform you that the Nightfall mission was not a complete success. Apparently Superman’s impact was slightly off target and complete disintegration of the object was not achieved. There is a mass of slightly less than twenty percent of the original still on a collision course with the Earth.
“It is also my unhappy duty to inform you that we still have had no contact with Superman. The time elapsed since his departure puts him outside the safety margin of his air supply. I’m sorry to say that it is our belief that Superman gave his life in his effort to save his adopted planet. I mourn with you his loss. I now pass you to EPRAD for more details”
The EPRAD spokesman came on and said, “The composition of the asteroid was almost a cross between a comet and meteor. The way a comet is an agglomeration of ice and rock this asteroid was a collection of lower weight rock and some medium density materials surrounding a dense, a very dense core, but the core, a mass approximately three miles across has the character of a nickel/iron meteor. As such, with its mass it will not burn up as it passes through the atmosphere as a smaller meteor would, but will, at impact, be virtually undiminished. There is also a cloud of the smaller debris, ninety-plus percent of which should burn up while passing through the atmosphere. It should provide an amazing light show.” He stopped before saying, “As if anyone would be around to see it.”
They returned to the Oval Office and the President came back on, “As more data is collected and we know better where the impact will occur further announcements will be made by EPRAD’s scientists. That is all we have for now. I would urge calm. The impact may occur on the other side of the globe from us, so please, do not panic.
“I know that the American spirit is strong and we will come through this stronger still. My fellow Americans, I bid you, good day.”
Lois almost dropped the phone, but then realized that Martha was still on it and lifting it to her face said, “Martha?”
All she heard was weeping. Again she said, “Martha?”
There were some sniffles and then Martha said, “Yes, Lois.”
Lois was firm in her conviction that Clark would return, she said, “Martha, why don’t you and Jonathan come to Metropolis. I’m sure that when Clark returns he’ll want you guys here.”
“Lois, Honey. Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I know he’d want you here.”
There was a pause and Lois could hear a muffled conversation in the background and then Martha came back on the line, “Okay, Lois. We’ll catch the first flight we can. We’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, Martha. I’ll see you soon,” and she hung the phone up.
She started pacing, the TV forgotten and was repeating, over and over, “Where are you, Clark? Come on, Clark, come home to me.”
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