Home: Circle of Fate 6/?
by Nan Smith
Previously:
"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 the South Pacific -- there's a huge typhoon threatening the whole area."
"Not that I wish any bad luck on the South Pacific," 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.
**********
And now, Part 6:
As Lois reached for the phone, the doorbell rang. She paused and grimaced. "Nice timing," she said. "I wonder who that is."
"It could be Tempus," Lori said. "He might figure that I'd go to you for help in this time period."
"Tempus is more devious than that," Lois said, heaving herself to her feet. "He'll be after you, but he's more likely to be sneaky about it. I've got an idea about how to make it harder for him, though."
The doorbell rang again and Lois pushed the kitchen door open. "Just a minute!" she called, making her way slowly toward the door. Lori followed.
The bell rang a third time as Lois reached the door.
"Hold on, I'm here!" Lois called. She leaned forward to peek through the spy hole to identify her caller, and then hastened to open the door. "Perry! What are you doing here? I thought you were still in talks with the Board of the Superman Foundation!"
"Finished them an hour ago." Lori stood quietly in the background as a man entered the Kent townhouse. She had seen his picture at the Superman Museum. This was Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet, who, together with Superman, Murray Brown and Lois Lane, had been instrumental in the founding of the organization. The editor was probably in his mid-fifties, with thinning grey hair and a wide smile. He looked Lois up and down and grinned.
"I guess it won't be much longer," he commented.
"Well, the due date is two days from now," Lois said, "but our childbirth instructor told us not to be surprised if things go on longer. She said first babies are often late."
"Yeah," Perry said. "Our first was a week and a half overdue. Alice's obstetrician was going to induce her if she'd gone another two days." He turned his head and Lori thought he looked surprised. "I didn't realize you had a visitor."
Lois closed the door. "This is ... my second cousin, Lori," she said. "She just arrived a little while ago. Lori, this is my editor, Perry White."
"I know," Lori said. "I mean, I've seen your picture, sir."
"My picture?" Perry asked.
"Um -- the one where someone was interviewing you about the Superman Foundation."
"Oh," Perry said. "I'm surprised you noticed, with Superman standing there."
"Well," Lori said, "I knew my cousin Lois worked for you, so I remembered. They should put something about you in their museum, or something. After all, if it hadn't been for you and Lois, it would still be just a little charity organization making Superman dolls and comics and stuff and donating the money to underprivileged kids. It has the potential to be so much more now, and to do a lot of good for the whole world."
Perry raised an eyebrow. "Your cousin seems pretty well-informed about the Foundation."
"I follow the news," Lori said.
"I can tell. It's nice to meet you," Perry said. He had moved forward and now took her hand. "I'd know you were a Lane, even if Lois hadn't told me. You sure look like her."
"Thank you," Lori said. "It's nice to meet you too, Mr. White."
"Call me Perry," he told her.
"All right Mr. ... Perry."
"So, How long are you here for?" Perry asked. Lori had the feeling that Perry White hadn't missed a thing about her.
"We aren't sure," Lois said. "Do you remember Tempus, Perry?"
"That nutcase, John Doe?"
"That's the one. He escaped from prison a few months ago, remember?"
"Sure, I remember him. Don't tell me he's shown up again."
"He tried to kidnap Lori," Lois said. "We don't know why. He may have mistaken her for me. Anyway, since her husband's on a business trip, she's going to stay with Clark and me until he's under wraps again."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Perry asked. "Sure as Elvis wore blue suede shoes, the first place he's gonna look for your cousin is here -- besides, if he was after you, he'll be sniffin' around here, anyway."
"We have our reasons," Lois said. "Besides, we'll be watching for him. Lori and I owe him a few things after all the trouble he's caused."
"All right," Perry said. "I hope you know what you're doin'. As for what I'm doing here, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd drop by to see if there was anything you needed, since Clark had to take off for that assignment." He glanced from one woman to the other and grinned. "I feel like I'm seein' double."
Lois glanced at Lori. "Do you think we look that much alike?"
"Honey, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think she was you. She looks exactly like you did when I interviewed you for a job at the Planet ten years ago."
"There's a strong family resemblance in the Lane family," Lois said. "Perry, you could do something for me, at that. Could you dig out an old photo of Tempus and put it in the paper? Maybe if the readership is reminded of what he looks like, and there's a report that he's been seen in the area, someone will spot him. A few tips from the public would probably help the police find him."
"That's a thought," Perry said. "If you want to write up somethin' about it, I'll do just that." He glanced at his watch. "If there's nothin' else, I'll take off. Alice is expecting me on time for once. If you need anything, you give me a buzz, and if something happens, or that baby decides to make an early appearance, be sure you call me. If Clark hasn't got back yet, I'll get you to the hospital. You got it?"
"Got it, Boss," Lois said.
"Good." He turned back to Lori. "It was nice meeting you, Lori."
"It was nice to meet *you*, Mr. White," Lori said.
When he had gone, Lori looked through the window at the editor's jaunty figure striding down the stationary walk outside the townhouse. "I never thought I'd get to actually meet Perry White. It was really thrilling to hear him say that stuff about Elvis. Clark's told me about him."
"Don't tell me you're an Elvis fan," Lois said.
"We ... ll," Lori said, "only a little. I have some of the copies of his songs. Unfortunately, a lot of Elvis's songs were lost during the ..." She broke off.
"During what?" Lois asked. "War?"
"No," Lori said. "A period of social unrest, but not war. Not exactly, anyhow."
"That's reassuring."
"I really can't tell you much about it," Lori said. "I wish I could, but if I did, it might change things, and they mustn't change. Anyway, lots of recordings from the Twentieth Century were lost -- not just music. It was the same period of social chaos that let Clark hide his origins and kept people from realizing that the original Superman was still alive."
"Somehow, Tempus found out, though," Lois said.
"Tempus has resources that most people don't have," Lori pointed out. "Besides, he's a certified nut. Who's going to believe him?"
"There's that," Lois said. She studied Lori thoughtfully. "This is really weird, you know?" she said finally.
"I know," Lori said.
"No, I mean, *really* weird. By all rights, I should hate you. I mean, you're married to my husband in the future. I shouldn't actually *like* you, but I do."
"I was afraid you would," Lori said. "Hate me, I mean. I didn't know if I'd like you, either. You're married to Clark, and he hasn't even met me. But -- I don't quite understand why, but I don't dislike you either. I mean, you're his first wife. By all rights, I should be jealous of you, because you were his first choice. But I'm not. I like you, too."
"I hadn't thought of it that way," Lois said. "You shouldn't be jealous, you know. You're his soulmate in your time, just like I am in mine." She shrugged. "Logic doesn't have a lot to do with relationships, but it's hard to hate yourself. I know you aren't exactly me, but in a funny way, you are. It's like I know what you're going to do and say next. It's not exactly mind-reading, the way Clark did with the New Kryptonians, but it's like our brains are on the same wavelength or something."
"Yeah," Lori said. "I noticed it when we were talking before."
"So did I."
"Clark can talk to the others," Lori said, "but we aren't 'talking', exactly. It's as if I'm feeling the way your mind is working. Like we have mirror image brains or something. I know *how* you're thinking and feeling -- and I guess you know how I am."
"Exactly." Lois stopped. "The 'others'? The New Kryptonians didn't come back, did they?"
"No. Your descendents. There are lots of them, and I can't tell you any more. You'll see when you meet some of them in your future."
"That brings me to something I meant to ask. You've met CJ as a grown man." She rested a hand on her middle.
"Yes, I have."
"So he's like Clark."
"In more ways than one," Lori said.
"So he's a superman, too. Dr. Klein thought Clark's descendents would have super powers, but he wasn't sure."
"They will," Lori said. "I've flown with CJ. He's awfully nice."
"That's reassuring," Lois said. "I guess Clark and I must have done a good job with him."
"You will," Lori said.
"You're uncomfortable telling me this stuff, aren't you?" Lois asked. "I guess I shouldn't ask, but it's hard to have a source of information like you around and not quiz you about things. I can't help it. I'm a reporter."
"I know," Lori said. "I am, too. I guess whatever it is about you that makes you a good journalist carried through to me. I get in trouble a lot by sticking my nose in where people don't want it."
"So do I," Lois said.
"Clark told me you regularly gave him heart failure after you became partners," Lori said. "I guess I do, too."
The two women met each other's eyes, and suddenly both of them began to laugh.
"Poor Clark," Lois sputtered. "I guess he's doomed, isn't he?"
"I'm afraid so," Lori said, grinning. "It's all right, though. I'm reliably informed that he needs a woman who will keep him on his toes, so I guess we qualify."
"I guess so." Lois was still grinning. "Come on, I still need to call Dr. Klein."
**********
STAR Labs was dark, except for the lobby, when Lois pulled the Jeep Cherokee into the parking lot and cut the engine. Lori looked at the building, comparing it to the one she knew in her time.
"I've seen pictures of this building in history books," she said.
"Is STAR Labs still around in your time?" Lois asked.
"Yes. They've replaced it with a larger building, though." Lori fumbled with the door and finally got it open. "How do I lock this?"
"I'll do it with my remote," Lois said. "I guess cars are different in the future, too."
"Yeah. Clark and I own a Jeep Predator," Lori said. "I wanted an aircar, but Clark didn't like the idea because aircars aren't as tough. He wanted something that was armored like a tank, in case I needed the protection. I guess he was probably right -- but I'd still like an aircar. I love to fly."
"So do I," Lois said.
Again they looked at each other and laughed.
"Dr. Klein said just to ring the bell," Lois said, as they crossed the stretch of grass toward the front doors of STAR Labs. "He notified Security that we'd be coming."
Lori glanced around cautiously. The grounds were lighted, which was a good thing, but the shadows were still too thick for her liking.
Lois glanced at her. "You're nervous, aren't you? It's all right. We'll see anybody coming long before he can get to us."
"I'm sorry," Lori said. "I got mugged on the NTSU campus, the night I met Clark. I've been a little gun-shy about walking through places like that in the dark ever since."
"I don't blame you," Lois said. "To tell you the truth, I don't much like it, myself. I've got my tear gas, though."
"I wasn't able to bring anything," Lori said. "I wasn't expecting to be kidnapped right out of my kitchen."
"Better get used to weird stuff like that, now that you're married to Clark," Lois said. "How long have the two of you been married, anyway?"
"It'll be two years in August," Lori said. "We flew off to Las Vegas one night and got married."
"Wow," Lois said. "Clark really *didn't* waste any time, did he?"
"Actually, it was my idea," Lori said, a little sheepishly. "My mom was bugging me to come back and live at home, and I knew she'd be upset if she knew I wanted to marry Clark. She'd just called to check up on my whereabouts, and was really annoyed that I was at his apartment, working on a story with him. She said she wanted to talk to me in private -- and she'd already been looking into employment openings with the Herald for me."
"You're kidding!" Lois said. "And I thought my mother was controlling!"
"Yeah," Lori said. "I didn't want to quit the Daily Planet, and didn't intend to, but I knew she wasn't going to give up or accept my engagement to Clark, unless there was a really good reason to. I suggested to Clark that we go get married right then, and he didn't argue very hard."
"What happened?" Lois asked curiously.
"Well, Mother was pretty upset with me for a while. She got over it, finally, though. She even likes Clark, now."
"That's some story," Lois said. "My mother didn't trust Clark at first, either, but she changed her mind after she got to know him."
"He said my mother reminded him of yours," Lori said.
"I guess that would figure," Lois said. They had reached the doors of STAR Labs, and she rang the bell. After a moment, a uniformed figure appeared and looked through the glass at them. Lois fished out her press pass and held it up for him to see.
The man unlocked the door and opened it. "Dr. Klein said you'd be here," he said. "Come in, but stay with me."
Lois entered, beckoning Lori after her, and they waited while the guard re-locked the door. The man looked them over in the illumination of the lobby's lights and raised his eyebrows. "What's going on?" he asked humorously. "Is the Mad Doctor doing secret cloning experiments or something?"
"Dr. Klein is eccentric, not mad," Lois said. "And this is my cousin."
The man chuckled. "Come on," he said. "Bernie and me, we get along okay. I kid him all the time about the weird stuff he does."
"Does he know you call him the Mad Doctor?" Lori asked.
"Sure. He said I should. He says he likes the image."
"That I believe," Lois said to Lori, as they followed the guard into the nearest hallway. "Bernie has a strange sense of humor. He says it comes from being a scientist. Come to think of it, my father's is pretty weird, too."
"Here we are." The guard knocked sharply on a door. After a moment it opened and a man looked out.
"Are they here?"
"Right here, Dr. Klein," Lois said.
"Oh, great. Come on in. Thanks, Herschel. I'll call you when they leave."
"Don't mention it, Doc." The guard grinned and ambled back down the hallway at a leisurely pace.
Lori followed Lois through the door into Bernard Klein's office and they waited while he shut the door and locked it, and turned to them.
Lori, of course, had seen pictures of Bernard Klein. As she had told Lois, he was in all the history books: the scientist who had developed the anti-gravity field and done the preliminary work on the prototype of the space drive that, in her time, was carrying the starship commanded by her brother across 4.3 lightyears to the star system of Alpha Centauri. Klein had dozens of other scientific developments to his credit, including the stasis field that was utilized in every kitchen in the world to prevent the spoilage of food far better than the old refrigerators ever had. In her era, refrigeration units were utilized for the chilling of wine and freezing things like ice cream, not the preservation of food.
The scientist was taller than she had envisioned. He was actually an inch or so taller than Clark, balding, and obviously battling a case of middle-aged spread, not too successfully. He didn't at all resemble Rhonda Klein, his granddaughter, but there was something in his eyes that reminded Lori strongly of her, all the same.
Lois nudged her sharply, and Lori realized that she had been staring at the scientist in open-mouthed awe. "Lori, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Bernard Klein. Bernie, this is Lori. She -- and I -- need your help pretty badly."
Dr. Klein looked Lori over, and his eyebrows went up. "This isn't another clone, is it, Lois? I thought --"
Lois shook her head. "No. Lori's as human as I am, but we've got a pretty fantastic story to tell you -- and we're going to have to swear you to secrecy. You can't even tell Clark. You'll understand when we explain."
If it were possible, Dr. Klein's eyebrows rose even higher. "Are you sure, Lois?"
"Absolutely. Can we sit down?" she added. "Standing for very long right now hurts my back."
"Uh -- sure. Come on into the conference room," Klein said. "Now what's so secret that you can't even tell Clark?"
"This," Lori said. She removed the control for the time window from her pocket. "You're probably the only person on Earth that may be able to repair it."
Dr. Klein took the object, examining it as the two women took seats. "What is it?"
"That's what we're going to explain," Lois said. "And it requires a little background. Do you remember John Doe?"
**********
tbc
