Hi Mary!
Her Story
John Doe was reportedly obsessed with science fiction, particularly time travel and the works of H.G. Wells.
I would call that reasonable research. I mean, in modern times, you also check out your destination and probably the airline via Yelp, don’t you?
His fixation was so intense that the psychiatrists had never been able to get the truth of his past from him, only an elaborate fantasy about living in the distant future and traveling in Wells’ fictional machine.
He probably was kept in a science experiment/Truman Show from his birth. Or at least before turning three years old.
Doe was also obsessed with Superman and the reporters Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
Perhaps one of Lex Luthor’s illegitimate brothers, kept by Lionel Luthor for experimentation and inherited by Lex Luthor.
“Unless you want to hold a séance so we can talk to a dead 19th century author.”
He’ll show up once it becomes clear that Claire no longer has any romantic intentions with her wife.
“Then again, my sense of what’s impossible has been changing, recently; I probably shouldn’t be surprised if he *does* turn up.”
Just poison Lois. Works like a charm.
This was allegedly the house where Clark Kent, a man with an incredibly big secret, lived with his wife Lois Lane, the reporter who thrived on exposing big secrets.
Sounds unlikely.
The high privacy fence surrounding them lent more credence to the idea, but it still went against everything Claire remembered of the woman.
That’s because Lois is into *male* billionaires with criminal hobbies, too.
Inside, Lois’s voice was speaking animatedly to someone.
A 19th century writer?
“Martha, he just came back! I’ll have him call you.”
Awww…poor dear.
“You *both* need information?” Lois furrowed her brow, looking at Claire again.
Claire cleared her throat. “Um, yes. Do you know much about his obsession with time travel and…uh…alternate universes?”
This is cute. They’re protecting Superman’s secret from his wife in case she’s unawares.
Lois stared at them for a while, then closed her eyes and groaned. “Oh, great! Not again!”
she correctly identified this Clark to not be her Clark.
Lois sighed. “Come on; we can talk about this inside.”
There’s a row of Clark photographs in the foyer. They all wear different glasses.
, one hand curled around a cup of hot cocoa
Nice hint. Probably would have dismissed the significance if I hadn’t finished His Story first.
Based on what I thought I knew about the Lois Lane of my world, it didn’t seem possible.”
Wait, is her Lois more into the double-x side of the dating pool?
. “Well, it was a long, rocky road to get to that point,
Filled with lots of Rocky Roads.
After our first real date, I slammed the door in his face.”
“Date went poorly?” Claire sipped her drink.
Lois shook her head. “No, date went too well. I realize that probably doesn’t make any sense…”
“It does.” Bruce shifted in his chair, apparently studying the far wall.
Did Bruce bat Claire or did Claire ghost Bruce?
Claire sighed. “I must have a type.”
So it *was* a batting incident.
Her eyes trailed over Bruce, narrowing as they lingered on the mask.
I did not realize before he’s come as Batman!
He met her scrutiny with a cool and even stare. “How did you get back from the other world?”
Lois blew out a breath, suddenly fascinated with her cocoa.
She shook her head. “No. I mean the real, live man with a real, working time machine. He’s kind of a self-appointed guardian of that future Clark and I are supposed to create.”
“Of course.” Bruce’s face became expressionless beneath the cowl.
Mad Hatter. It’s the Mad Hatter all over again.
“He usually shows up whenever there’s a problem in the time-line that needs fixing.” Lois frowned. “Actually, I’m surprised he hasn’t been in touch, yet.”
it’s because she’s already pregnant. They no longer need to…further procreate.
She paused, closed her eyes, and rubbed her head again. “…I hate time travel.”
Writer: I love time travel.
Writer, a few pages later: I hate time travel.
“How will we get it into the capsule?”
“I’ll take care of that.” Bruce held out his hand.
Of course. Also did Miss Fooled-by Glasses not yet connect “Bruce” and Batman” and “Gotham”?
As soon as Lois placed the folded paper in his glove, the air began to tingle.
Lois bolted to her feet and answered it, revealing a small, Elderly gentleman in a waistcoat and bowler hat. Behind him, some kind of sleigh was now parked in the snow-covered yard, right across the trail of footprints they had left.
It’s Santa Claus!
. “The Batman? My goodness, I hadn’t expected your path to cross with theirs for years, yet!”
Right… they should only meet when no-longer-little Claire Kent brings home the little bat-cat boy.
Claire returned to her seat, brushing her cape aside and crossing her boots at the ankles. “In my universe, I’m Super*woman*.”
Wells’ eyebrows raced to the brim of his hat. “Good heavens! That does quite explain a few things…”
Most adorable!
His smile was knowing. “Quite right. And how would you respond to the knowledge that a child would soon be born whose closest match to a father is you?”
Oops?
LOIS:
Lois flushed, and her voice lowered. “Clark doesn’t know yet.”
Awww… she does know already.
Utopia is founded on the ideals of selflessness and always trying one’s best to do good; ideals that Tempus cannot internalize.”
Tempus is philo intolerant
Claire sat straighter in her chair and folded her arms. “No, Tempus did not win. Some way or another, either my husband will find me or I will find my way back to him. That’s just how things are with us.”
How?
/Points/
![[Linked Image]](https://cosgan.de/images/smilie/figuren/g080.gif)
He gaped at her. “The tracking beacon Utopia’s peace keepers placed on Tempus at his last incarceration! Quite naturally, it stopped transmitting shortly after his escape; doubtless found and destroyed. But somehow, it’s now transmitting again!”
If they implanted it right next to the brain stem…?
Lois rose to her feet. “Well, there’s one obvious way to find out. Mr. Wells, let’s go!” She darted to the kitchen door, flung it open, and headed straight for the time machine.
Beneath the cowl, Bruce’s eye twitched.
Claire shrugged apologetically and pushed her chair back from the table. “It’s how she works. It used to drive me nuts back when I worked at the Planet, but I’ve got to say, it always got results.”
Batman probably got PTSD from that.
BATMAN: Joker. It’s Joker all over again.
The world dissolved in a swirl of color as the machine lurched in a direction that didn’t exist. Claire’s hand automatically found Bruce’s. He tensed a moment, then reached over and patted it.
Sweet touch!
“—change us back!”
Wells held up a placating hand; the other gripped another strange-looking device. “Quite right, quite right. Now, do hold still; this won’t take but a moment…” He fiddled with a few dials. “Let’s see now…there.”
It would be so awkward if the baby got swapped, too.
“Thanks.” Claire scanned the room for the other Bruce and found the big goof trying to blend into a patch of shadows in the corner.
It’s his happy place!
Before releasing his hand, her husband leaned closer to his counterpart and lowered his voice. “Take risks.”
Awwwww…cute!
Next week Bruce Wayne will decide to visit the Highjinks Playhouse for the Off-Broadway show “Catwoman Tales”.
“And if you ever get an opportunity to have Martha Kent in your life, take it!”
Awwwwwwww
She reached for a pickle, dunked it in the eggnog, and savored a creamy, crunchy bite.
BRUCE: Darling, I know you can munch bombs for breakfast, but…umm…are you pregnant?
“How can you eat those together?!”
She grinned and dunked it again. “Happily, now that I don’t have to worry about hiding clues from a detective anymore!”
Bruce chuckled and took a sip from his brand new mug.
Awwwww
There’s a man inside who looks like some kind of historical re-enactor.”
Awww…the Steam Punk fair is in town.
Her dad stared at the newcomer. “The *dead* writer?”
Yes. And you can stuff the garlic.
“Ms. Lane, your renewed friendship with Mrs. Wayne here is an asset to both of you, the importance of which I cannot overstate.”
Now, neither Lex Luthor nor Ra’s al-Ghul can bring down Wayne Enterprises.
BRUCE:
.
“And of course, in my own universe, years of mistrust between Superman and the Batman have now been completely elided.
Joker is now enjoying an extended visit to the Phantom Zone and Selina is nesting in Wayne Manor.
“Indeed.” Wells smiled. “I may look in on this world from time to time, if that suits you all. In the meantime, a merry Christmas to all of you!”
_And A Happy New Year_
This was a most adorable Christmas outing!
Michael
