Amazingly, today was fairly quiet, so I managed to find time to write one more part. I'm posting it now because tomorrow is going to be very busy. The roofers are arriving, at long last, to tear off the old roof, assuming, of course, that we don't get any more predictions of thunderstorms. And on Friday, I'll be at LAFF.
Enjoy. See you next week.
Nan
Comments and constructive criticism welcomed.
Home: Circle of Fate 5/?
by Nan Smith
Previously:
"You're in a lot of trouble, aren't you?" Lois said suddenly,
"You have no idea," Lori said.
Lois eyed her thoughtfully. "Look," she said. "Let's go into the living room and you can tell me about it. My husband is working late tonight, so we have some time before he gets here."
Lori nodded. "All right."
"By the way, you know who I am, but you haven't introduced yourself. What's your name?"
"Lori," Lori said. "Lori Lyons."
"All right, Lori. After you."
And now, Part 5:
In the living room, Lori sank down on the armchair again and put her feet on the ottoman. Now that she was facing Lois Lane, she wasn't sure of how to begin. She closed her eyes for a long moment and took a deep breath to steady her tightly stretched nerves. So much depended on this. Even with her eyes closed, she was aware of Lois's sharp eyes watching her curiously, and she could almost feel the bright, hard mind of the other woman. Every second she stayed in Lois Lane's presence, the sensation that somehow the other her was becoming more and more attuned to her became stronger. By all rights, Lois should have called the police the instant she had found Lori in her house, but somehow Lori had known exactly what to do to forestall that. If she lied, even a little, she had the uncomfortable feeling that Lois would know and she would lose any chance of gaining her as an ally.
She bit her lip and opened her eyes to look directly at her counterpart. The truth. It would have to be the truth, as far as she dared.
"So, Lori Lyons, who are you?" Lois said, taking a seat on the sofa.
"That's going to take some explanation," Lori said quietly. "Have you heard of a man named Tempus?"
Lois's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, sure. He was the nutcase that called himself John Doe, two, nearly three years ago --"
"No, I mean Tempus, the time traveler," Lori said baldly. "The man who conned HG Wells into bringing him back in time so that he could take over Wells's time machine and try to kill Superman, and thereby destroy the civilization that you and he founded. *That* Tempus."
Lois seemed struck dumb for a full ten seconds, then she appeared to gather herself. "What are you talking about?"
Lori sighed. "Ms. Lane, I know you're trying to evade because you don't know what else to do. You don't need to. I'm not about to tell anyone else. For one thing, everyone would think I was either crazy, or trying to make fools of them. For the rest, I need your help. I'm not from this time; I'm from a hundred years in your future. Tempus kidnapped me."
For a long moment, Lois didn't answer. She sat regarding Lori thoughtfully. "Would you care to explain that a little further?" she said, finally.
"I'm an investigative journalist for the Daily Planet News Service in the year 2099," Lori said. "This afternoon -- or what was this afternoon for me -- I was home on --" She gestured vaguely down at herself, "-- maternity leave. I'm on half time until my baby is born. Tempus stepped through this weird window in space directly into my apartment and dragged me into it." She closed her eyes again. "I'm not explaining this very well, but he told me that he was going to dump me somewhere that I wouldn't be able to get help or use my investigative talents."
"Then how did you get here?" Lois asked. "It doesn't seem to me that this time period exactly fits that description."
"He didn't intend to drop me here," Lori said. "I guess he expected me not to make any trouble. I kicked him where it hurt, and tried to grab the control mechanism away from him. We fell out of the time window and he dropped it. I kicked him again and knocked him out, but the control broke when it hit the ground. I need help. Unless I can find a way to repair it, I'm stranded in your time forever. Tempus is stranded here too, because I took his controller. He's going to be after me to try to get it back." She felt the sting of tears in her eyes and blinked them back. "Please help me, Ms. Lane. I have a husband back in my own time. He's going to be frantic, and --" She stopped the flow of words forcibly. She didn't need to go into babble mode right now. "I just want to go home to him."
Lois was silent, apparently having followed the involved explanation without difficulty. After a moment she said, "What makes you think I can help you?"
Lori took another breath, forcing the desperation she felt back under control. "Because you're married to Superman, and he knows people who might have the scientific knowledge to repair this thing," she said, her voice trembling as she removed the time window control from her pocket. "It's my only chance to get home."
"I'm married to --"
"Clark Kent," Lori said. "I know. I also know Clark is Superman. I know all about the tricks he used to convince the world that they're two different people. I even know about the Superman from the alternate universe who helped you stop John Doe. I'm not interested in exposing any of the things I've told you. That would change my future, and I don't want to see it changed. I have too much there that I don't want to lose. It would make your lives impossible, and the last thing in the world I want to do is hurt either one of you. I just want to go back to my own time, and I can't do it alone. Please, Ms. Lane, help me."
"You really do know all about it," Lois said, a note of amazement in her voice. "Is all of that common knowledge in the future?"
Lori went completely still, a tiny bud of hope beginning to blossom in her chest. "You believe me?" she whispered.
"Well, I don't know how you'd know all of this unless your story is true," Lois said in an acerbic tone. "We've never told anyone. Clark must have babbled his head off, though, for everyone to know all about those things in your time. I'm surprised they didn't lock him up as a dangerous lunatic!"
Lori gave a half-hysterical giggle. "Oh, no," she said. "He didn't. In my time, only the Kent family knows Clark is Superman, and only a few of them know the whole story."
"Then how did *you* find out about it?" Lois asked.
Now came the touchy part. "He told me," Lori said, cautiously.
"Then you're part of the family?" Lois said.
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you say so in the first place?" Lois demanded. "What are you, my great, great grand-daughter, or something?"
"No. Actually, I'm your sister Lucy's great, great grand-daughter," Lori said.
"And you say Clark *told* you all of this?"
"That's right."
"A favorite niece, or something? I take it Clark is still alive in your time," Lois said. "I guess he's probably a pretty old man." She tilted her head, and Lori could feel the other woman's mind working. It wasn't an illusion, she thought. It was as if she knew what Lois Lane was going to say next, and she could sense the conclusions she was going to draw, almost before she drew them.
"Uh --"
Lois was looking closely at her. "Isn't he?" she asked.
"Uh -- no, not exactly."
"What does 'not exactly' mean?"
Lori swallowed. "Timewise, I guess he is," she said, almost in a whisper, "but he looks just the same in my time as he does in yours. I've seen pictures of you at the Planet. You and he are one of the most famous reporting teams in its history."
"But nobody knows it except the family?"
"No one," Lori said.
"Then how do you fit into this, Lori Lyons?" Lois was regarding her steadily, and Lori squirmed. "Why would Clark tell you about the things that happened in his life before you were born? Who *are* you, exactly?"
Lois was hovering around the truth, Lori thought. There was no evading it. She was going to have to tell Lois everything. If she didn't, Lois was going to figure it out by herself. She almost had, already.
There was a big, decorative, plate glass mirror against one wall, reflecting the scene in the living room. Lori got slowly to her feet and went to stand in front of the mirror. "Look," she said.
Lois frowned. "Look at what?"
"Look in the mirror," Lori said.
Lois gave her an odd glance and came to stand beside her, fully facing the mirror. Their reflections looked back at them, one a little younger than the other, one a little taller, but in all other ways the same.
"Do you remember," Lori said cautiously, "what HG Wells told you and Clark on your honeymoon night, just before you went into the past to undo Baron Tempos's curse?"
"He told us several things," Lois said, with equal caution. "Which one are you talking about?"
"He told you that your souls were intertwined, always together, never one without the other. Soul mates."
Lois was staring at her, and there was comprehension in her eyes. "You're --"
Lori took a deep breath like a diver ready to plunge from the cliff into the churning water below. "I'm you."
**********
There was a long silence as the two women looked at the telltale reflection in the mirror. Lori could feel Lois's mind working furiously as she took in the reality of what HG Wells had told her. She had been others in the past, and beside her stood her future self.
"Well," she said finally. "I guess this pretty much forces my hand, doesn't it?"
"I don't know about that," Lori said, "but it would sure help a lot."
Lois cast a look at her. "I guess your baby --"
"Is a superbaby," Lori said. She nodded at Lois. "If I remember correctly, Dr. Klein told you the sex of that one."
"Yes."
"I know him as an adult," Lori said. "You'll be proud of him. He and the others are excited about this one."
"The others?"
Lori hesitated. "I don't think I should tell you too many specifics," she said. "I don't know how much of what I say will affect the future, so let's just say his siblings are excited, too. Tempus said he couldn't let this baby --" She gestured to her middle, "-- Be born in my time. He said I helped complete what you and Clark started."
"He should have known not to underestimate you," Lois said, with a grim little smile.
"Well, he doesn't know the part about soul mates -- or, I don't think he does," Lori said. "If he had, he might have been more careful. You wouldn't believe the stories I've been told about you. The whole family is incredibly proud of you, you know. It scared me a lot in the beginning."
"Scared you?" Lois said. "Why should it scare you?"
"I was afraid they wouldn't accept me, after you," she said. "How could any woman live up to your example? They did, though."
Her stomach took that moment to growl and Lois's echoed it. Lori giggled, and Lois laughed. "Come on into the kitchen," she said. "If you feel anything like I do, you're probably starved. Let's eat."
"I don't want to eat your dinner," Lori objected.
"The chicken's not dinner," Lois said. "That's my snack. I don't cook very well -- but I guess you know that."
Lori nodded. "Neither do I," she said. "Clark calls me a survival cook. I cook to survive. I'm really good at making frozen dinners, though. And ordering out. I can even scramble eggs."
Lois snorted and pushed open the kitchen door. "Grab the chicken," she said. "We can talk while we're eating."
"It sure smells good," Lori said. "I haven't eaten in hours."
"No wonder you nearly passed out," Lois said. "There's milk in the fridge. I'll get glasses."
**********
They demolished the chicken in record time. At first Lori simply ate, but after the worst of her hunger had been alleviated, she slowed her eating somewhat, watching Lois.
"What?" Lois asked.
Lori shrugged. "I can't help thinking," she said, "that you're taking this awfully well. I mean, I show up out of the blue with this incredible story, and you don't turn a hair."
"Well," Lois said, "I guess so many strange things have happened since I met Clark that I kind of have a different perspective than most people." She studied Lori seriously for a long minute while she cleaned off the last of the meat on the drumstick in her hand. "I guess, in a way, seeing you is kind of comforting."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, one of the things that worried me -- a lot -- was knowing that Clark was probably going to outlive me, and that after I was gone, he would be alone. Martha and Jonathan will be gone, I'll be gone -- He's not the kind of guy who does well by himself. It's nice to know that I'll be there, kind of, anyhow. That he's not going to be lonely." She studied Lori thoughtfully. "I know you can't tell me too much about the future -- not the specifics, anyhow. But can you tell me what happened to him -- after I -- well, you know."
"I guess so," Lori said. "A little, anyway." She hesitated, wondering how much she should say. "You're right. He was lonely. But he told me that he could feel your presence. He said it gave him hope. He knew you were there somewhere, that all he had to do was find you. He searched for you -- or me -- all over the world."
"How did you meet?"
"He saved me from being mugged and raped, and probably killed," Lori said. "I was a student, a journalism major, and he showed up in the nick of time. He told me later that when he saw me, he knew."
"Just like the first time," Lois murmured. "Did you?"
Lori shook her head. "I liked him a lot," she said. "Superman saved my life, after all. Then I met him as Clark. He stepped in and saved my reputation, and I liked Clark, too. When I went to work at the Planet I got to know him even better and fell in love with him." She smiled a little. "Clark is very easy to love, as I'm sure you know. We were married two months later."
"I guess he decided not to waste time," Lois said. "He does learn if you hit him over the head often enough. Did he tell you about me right away -- about having my soul?"
Lori shook her head. "No. I guessed. I kept remembering things that I shouldn't. Things that happened to you; not me. I recognized a picture of Martha and Jonathan Kent and I remembered key points in your life with Clark. I figured it out and when I asked him, he told me the truth."
Lois nodded, her eyes fixed on Lori's face. "That makes me feel better," she said. "That was the thing about this difference in our rates of aging that bothered me the most. I don't mind growing older. It happens to all of us, even Clark -- but I didn't want him to be alone. Seeing you, I know that I'll be there for him."
"You will," Lori said. "He needs you -- me -- us." She laughed softly. "Or however you want to say it. He loved you until the end, you know. He still loves you. He told me while we were getting to know each other that to him you were always as beautiful as you were the first day he saw you. I thought that was incredible."
Lois dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. "That's Clark all over," she said. She shook herself slightly. "Well, enough of that. We need to concentrate on getting the time control fixed and you back to your own time and your own Clark. I think the person to help us is Bernie Klein."
"Bernard Klein?" Lori couldn't help the touch of awe in her voice. "*The* Bernard Klein, of STAR Labs?"
Lois's eyebrows went up. "Do you know about him?"
Lori nodded. "He's in all the history books: one of the greatest scientists of the Twenty-first Century. Clark said he was a character."
"That's an understatement," Lois said, "but if anyone can figure that thing out, it's Dr. Klein."
"I hope so," Lori said. "We've got to swear him to secrecy, though. The less that people find out about the future, the better off we are." She hesitated. "Probably you shouldn't tell Clark too many details of what I've told you, either. If he knows too much about what will happen, and about me, it might change things."
"I was thinking about that," Lois said. "You're right. Do you want to tell him who you are?"
"I'll do whatever you decide, but do you really think that's a good idea?"
Lois shook her head. "I don't. I want what you told me about to happen. I don't want to risk changing it. I think we should tell him part of the truth."
"Clark is good at that," Lori said. "I'm open to suggestions."
"You're a distant relative of mine," Lois said, "staying with us to hide from a stalker until he's caught. That is, if Clark makes it back today or tomorrow. He was at the ceremonies of the Superman Foundation today, and as of an hour ago, he took off to Okinawa -- there's a huge typhoon threatening the whole area."
"Not that I wish any bad luck on Okinawa," Lori said, "but it's convenient."
"Yes, it is," Lois said. "Let me give Dr. Klein a call. We might have to tell him a little about what's happening, but just keep quiet and let me do the talking and if he asks questions, back me up, okay?"
"You got it," Lori said. She watched as Lois wiped grease from her fingers and reached for the antique telephone. Maybe, she thought hopefully, things were looking up.
**********
tbc
