The one problem I have with Top Copy is that Clark is in love with Lois. He wants to date Lois. He has asked Lois out on a date and she has said 'yes', which means she's looking at him as more than a friend now too. AND THEN he willingly allows Diana Stride to kiss Superman! AND he doesn't think there's anything wrong with that! (i.e. he never feels guilty about the kiss, other than in the fact that it almost killed him.)
Personally, him almost dying is just desserts for treating his love for Lois in such a blaze`, take-it-or-leave-it manner. Maybe that's just me.
/steps off soapbox/
Feli, I love how Lois gives him strength to believe that he can survive, but if she knew CK=S, Lois would've pushed him out a window for acting in such a worse than lunkheaded manner. I would have liked to see him feel more guilty and have some remorse for kissing Diana, admitting that he was wrong to do so. The word stupid comes to mind for describing his actions. Jerk is another one. Am I the only one who doesn't understand what his motivation for accepting that kiss was? I don't accept: I'm a man and she was a willing woman. Clark's better than that! (okay, maybe I'm not quite off my soapbox.)
I know that you were working within the constraints of what was given to you and the Clark on the show didn't feel guilty about kissing Diana, that's not your fault. You were dealt a bad hand here.
This line is terrific:
I would never have guessed Diana Stride was an assassin for Intergang. But there she was, hiding in plain sight.
She's using Clark's strategy against him. Actually, this technique is used by many of the villains on this show, not just Lex and Diana. It makes Lois not seem quite so blind, after all.
Congrats on writing your own original novel!
I wish you the best of luck and hope you're feeling better soon.