Three Rules
Folc4evernaday
Chapter 13
A/N: Okay I know I know I know. It's been a hot minute. There's been all this build up and I kept you guys hanging for awhile. I'm sorry. I had been juggling several things in RL and the posting of this fic kinda fell to the back burner. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.
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The car door slammed from the distance as Carol Sherman gazed upon the glowing green stone in front of her. She pointed to the large box the stone was in, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to another. “I believe this was what Mr. Luthor was looking for.”
“Sherman!”
She turned to see Agent Wilder by the entrance of the tent, pointing outside.
“We got company.”
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Jason Trask rubbed at his wrists from behind his back with the edge of his fingertips, looking to the windshield in front of him as the patrol car continued down the gravel road. His fury written on his face as the deputy drove in silence toward the brick building plastered with a hand painted sign that read, ‘Smallville Precinct’ in bold white lettering. The handcuffs rubbed against his skin as they rode over another bump and he felt a hard blow beneath the seat he was on. The car spun and the deputy let out a sharp scream before darkness took over.
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The red and blue lights filled the night sky and a high beam fluorescent light shone across the abandoned tents that were strewn open with deputies inspecting each one for contraband. Rachel Harris bit her lower-lip tapping her hand across the hood of her police car, watching as more and more impersonators of the EPA were escorted off the property.
She turned to the woman at the helm, jutting her chin out firmly as she asked, “Hey Sherman, still want to give me another line about pesticides or you ready to fess up about what you’re really doing here?”
“I’ll wait for my lawyer,” the woman remarked coldly, allowing herself to be escorted away.
Rachel shook her head in dismay. It appeared finding the reason for the team that had been impersonating the EPA was something she would have to discover on her own. “Well, next time you want to run a scam make sure no one in town has contacts with the agency you’re supposedly associated with. Enjoy prison.”
“Hey Sherriff?” one of the deputies called out to Rachel and she moved through the matrix of abandoned tents until she found Deputy Blake at the end holding up a large metal box.
“What’cha got there, Blake?”
He lifted the lid off the box revealing a green glowing rock, “I’m not sure. Think we should bring in the big guns?”
“Not just yet,” Rachel shook her head, gesturing for him to close it. “Let me take this and I’ll meet ya down at the station.”
“You got it.”
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Jonathan Kent peaked over the edge of his newspaper, glancing to the end of the couch where Clark was seated. The pale ghost white pigmentation that had Clark too weak to walk had subsided and in its place was the disheartened and lost expression that filled his son’s eyes. For years he had heard the yearnings from him.
“I just want to be normal.”
Normal seemed like some mystical idea to Clark as he sought to pursue this idealistic life he envied every neighbor and classmate for having. Now that it was facing his son square in the face like a ton of bricks he suspected those yearnings felt much different. He had finally found himself in this alter-ego with a cape and boots, fighting against criminals and protecting those that couldn’t protect themselves. He was making a difference.
Now, in an instant that was all gone.
It was unfair.
Normal was an illusion.
Normal for Clark was being super.
If only he could give that back to him.
Jonathan set his paper down, turning to Clark who looked as if the weight of the world sat on his shoulder. He leaned forward, standing up from his recliner and walking to the couch where Clark was seated and taking the open seat next to him.
“Quite the adventure you stumbled on, huh?”
Clark let out a low chuckle, shaking his head, “Something like that.” He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, looking down before turning to meet Jonathan’s expectant gaze. “This agency…if they even really exist…I don’t know. I don’t know what to make of it.”
“Well, you got that nutcase in custody. That’s a start.” Jonathan commented.
“For now,” Clark shook his head. “We don’t even have a name.”
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The Kent farmhouse was quiet as the hum from the fax machine let out a long shriek, printing out the pages and dropping the printed fax pages on the kitchen counter. Lois reached over to pick up the sheet, scanning it with a crease of her brow. “Looks like we have a match for our mystery man.”
Martha Kent glanced over to her from in front of the oven where she was inspecting the inside of the oven, crouched over with a critical gaze. “The mystery man from the mill?”
“Some information on this Bureau 39 too. Doesn’t appear anyone wants to claim this agency though there are reports of the name being mentioned in official White House briefings, FBI reports, and NIA reports.” Lois paused as she continued reading. “Looks like our mystery man was a founding member.”
Martha peeked over her shoulder and looked at the photo that Lois was pointing to. “Bureau 39?”
“Looks like it’s some code name.” Lois scrunched her nose up and pointed to the black and white photo with the names identifying each individual. She jabbed her index finger against the face of the man she and Clark had found at the Smallville mill raving about Superman. “That’s him. Jason Trask.”
“What in the world would an ex-naval officer want with Clark?” Martha wondered aloud as the timer went off and she turned to the oven, grabbing the oven mitt and opening the oven.
“I guess that’s what we need to find out.” Lois watched as Martha reached in the oven to pull out the golden-brown pie. “Do you need any help?”
“No, no, I’ve got it,” Martha beamed, setting the pie on top of the stove to cool before flipping the oven off. She pointed to the papers in Lois’ hand, “It doesn’t look like this Trask was the only one…”
“No,” Lois bit her lower-lip, looking across the names.
“Who wasn’t the only one?”
Lois turned her head, catching Clark’s gaze for a brief moment as she gestured to the papers that had been faxed over. “My contact at the bureau came through. We have a name. Jason Trask.”
“That’s our raving mad man?” Clark asked, leaning over her shoulder to scan the page in her hand.
“Looks like it.” Lois let out a heavy sigh. “I wonder what Rachel was able to find out from his fingerprints…”
“Mmm, mmm, that pie smells amazing, Martha,” Jonathan crooned leaning over to taken in the aroma of the freshly baked pie Martha had sitting on the stove.
Martha swatted at his shoulder, “Careful, Jonathan, you’ll burn yourself. It has to sit.”
“Surely, a small taste won’t hurt,” Jonathan held up a fork to take a small bite with a teasing smile.
“Something tells me that’ll be your last slice if you do,” Clark chimed in from the other side of the table.
Lois felt the corners of her mouth twitch, watching Jonathan and Martha’s antics. She set the papers down, helping pull out the plates.
Jonathan gestured to her, “Now, look it would be a waste not to share such a perfect pie in its perfect state with company…”
“You’re impossible,” Martha held her hands up in protest.
Lois laughed, watching as Jonathan reached over to wrap an arm around Martha in a loving embrace. It was strange to see Clark’s parents so at ease with one another. Seeing the two of them together felt so surreal. They were so different from the way her parents had interacted when she was growing up. Watching the Kents together, she could understand how Clark had turned out the way he did.
A rapid tapping at the door interrupted her thoughts as Jonathan jumped up, mumbling to himself, “Who could that be?” He disappeared behind the corridor entryway, and she heard Jonathan’s gruff tone full of surprise, “Martha, it’s Rachel Harris. Put on some coffee.”
“Evening, Jonathan, Martha,” Rachel stepped inside and flashed a smile to where Lois and Clark were seated. “Clark? You doin’ alright?”
“Better,” Clark answered with a disheartened expression before flashing a quick cover.
“Glad to hear it,” Rachel responded, holding up a large metal box.
Lois’ eyes widened, and she looked back at Clark, who was shaking his head.
“Listen, I know some pretty strange things have been going on around here. First with the large oak. The accident in Schuster’s field and that Trask character…now with the attack on the station and Trask’s escape….”
“Wait, what?” Lois slammed her palm against the table and focused on Rachel with a steely gaze. “He escaped?”
“About an hour ago. Right after we rounded up all the imposter EPA agents off Wayne Irig’s property. If it weren’t for my friend out in Topeka, they may have even fooled me with that song and dance. That Sherman character has a little too much confidence to be associated with any government agency. Tracy Oakes …you remember her from KSU, right Clark?”
Clark nodded and added a quick, “Vaguely,” as Rachel continued her explanation.
“Well, anyway, she’ll be here tomorrow to start looking into what these guys were after.”
“I’m guessing this has something to do with it?” Jonathan asked, pointing to the box in her hand.
“I don’t know what this is. I don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands because we all know what’ll happen if we end up with another Trask out here.” Rachel gave a pleading look to Jonathan, and something came over him. It appeared to be an almost epiphany that washed over him. The same as Lois, looking back at Clark for some kind of confirmation but found none. She knew. Rachel knew. Whether she knew he and Superman were one and the same was yet to be determined. Though it was clear, Rachel at least suspected there was something different about him.
“So, what would you like to do?” Clark asked, cutting through the uncomfortable silence as the focus turned to Rachel.
“I have a feeling that whatever’s in this box is somehow connected with the accident the other day,” Rachel replied calmly, patting the top of the metal box. “I’m always a champion of facts. The more facts and information that can be gathered on whatever this is, the better-armed anyone that may or may not have an adverse effect to it is.”
“I agree,” Lois replied, nodding her head, looking to Clark. “But the technology needed isn’t something you’re likely to have in town.”
“It’s not like we can ship it off to STAR Labs,” Clark shrugged his shoulders.
“No, but we could take it to the lab out in Kansas City. There was a scientist from Metropolis presenting to the university. Not sure if he’s still there, but it may be worth a shot.” Martha reasoned aloud.
“Dr. Silas Stone,” Jonathan recalled the name. “If he’s still there…but what makes us think he’d help us.”
“We’ll take it to him,” Martha responded firmly. “We’ll plead our case.”
“There are no flights anywhere….” Jonathan reminded her.
“Then we’ll drive.”
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Perry ran a ragged hand across his face, craning his shoulder out of the uncomfortable position it was in as he readjusted the phone's earpiece with his neck. "Imposters? You don't say…."
"Yep, they had badges and everything, Perry. Whoever was footing the bill spared no expense. I looked them up, and they showed up in the EPA database." Lois let out a snort of disgust. "It's disgusting what's happened here, Chief. Someone's got to do something."
"And you think the Planet should cover this?"
"Government conspiracy and federal corruption…." Lois listed off the items on her hand.
"Well, even if I wanted to get you two back here, it's impossible right now. Every flight and satellite has been shut down by order of the President." Perry reminded Lois with a heavy sigh. "See what you dig up, and if there's enough there, we'll run it, but be ready. I don't like this quiet. Feels like the calm before the storm."
"You haven't heard anything from Phil on the shutdown?" Lois asked.
"Just be careful and keep your ears open," Perry advised once more before hanging up the phone. As much as he would love to be wrong, he had learned over the years to trust his gut.
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Two Weeks Later…The situation room was bleak as General Zeitlin turned to his fellow generals and the E.P.R.A.D. directors seated at the table with the tactical team. A large screen with the image of the Nightfall’s projected impact countdown showed in yellow digital print, ‘168:23:27 Estimated Time to Impact.’ At the head of the table was the President’s Chief of Staff, waiting for the intel to debrief the President.
“Still no sign from Superman?”
“It’s been over two weeks since the last sighting,” the Chief of Staff remarked with a frown. He looked over the rim of his glasses to where Zeitlin was, “Unless your department has more current intel?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Zeitlin shook his head as he tapped his hand across the table. “We’re on our own, Gentlemen.”
“And how exactly are we going to take care of this?” the E.P.R.A.D. director pointed to the screen. “We have days left until Nightfall is projected to hit. Then, our entire ecosystem destroyed and life as we know it completely destroyed….”
“We have a plan,” Zeitlin assured him.
“A plan?” the director asked, raising her brow.
“A missile….well rocket is being developed. We’re confident it will cause enough of an impact to throw the asteroid off the course of Earth’s orbit.” Zeitlin explained calmly.
“And if it doesn’t?” the E.P.R.A.D. director asked. “How are we going to explain this to the world?”
“We won’t have to.” The Chief of Staff interrupted. “The world won’t have to know.”
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The soft whistle of the tea kettle chirped through the farmhouse as Clark reached over to remove it from the stove, pouring the steaming hot water into the two awaiting mugs. He stirred each cup, tapping each spoon on the rim. Clark picked up both mugs and carried them with him to the table where Lois was set up with her laptop and the files they had collected on Bureau 39. A waft of steam crossed his face, and he winced, feeling the heat tingle across his cheeks as he set the mugs down on the table, setting one in front of Lois.
"Thanks," Lois flashed him a quick smile, reaching for her mug and stirring in a teaspoon of sugar.
Clark gestured to the screen in front of her, "Anything from Jimmy on this Bureau 39?"
"Nothing we haven't already been able to find," Lois let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head as she leaned her arms back to stretch them over her head. "Secret government agency formed to investigate the paranormal. Funds seemed to be siphoned from different government-aided programs. No documentation on who is giving the agency director or authorizing the missions they feel are their territory."
"Feels like another dead end," Clark grimaced, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Just like Luthor," Lois shook her head, "Disappears in the blink of an eye along with any lead we had on Trask while we're all grounded. It must be wonderful to be able to buy your way out of messes like that." Her mouth twisted, looking at the screen with a curious glint in her eyes.
"What is it?"
Lois read the subject of the email aloud, "'Confidential - Next Steps in Nightfall Asteroid Destruction'."
"Who is it from?" Clark asked.
"It doesn't say," Lois frowned, gesturing to the email. "What is Nightfall?"
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“Olsen!”
Perry waved the young man inside his office, turning on his heel and not waiting for a response. Instead, he returned to his desk, moving the large pile of folders from his desk to the table next to the plaid printed couch. The last two weeks had left him burning the candlestick at both ends. With the satellite freeze for all air travel, over half his staff was isolated to different parts of the world. Lois and Clark were stuck in Smallville. Ron Troupe was in Washington D.C. Steve Lombard was in Gotham. Thankfully the Planet was set up to operate with his journalists out of pocket. Still, he wasn’t used to running the Planet without key staff members for such a lengthy time. The more he tried to dig into the cause behind the grounding of all airports, the more his suspicions rose up.
“You wanted to see me, Chief?” Jimmy called out, entering the office.
Perry waved him in, “Come on in, Jimmy,” He gestured to the file in front of him. “That arsonist you were looking into…Bermuda?”
“Joey Bermuda,” Jimmy nodded. “He’s admitted to the helicopter bombing of Dr. Baines.”
“And Lois and Clark think this guy is connected to Lex Luthor,” Perry recalled, shaking his head.
“Detective Henderson has a signed confession from Bermuda naming a Mrs. Cox as the one that hired him to bomb Dr. Baines’ helicopter,” Jimmy responded with a shrug.
“Any idea who this Mrs. Cox is?” Perry asked.
“That’s where we’re stuck. Henderson said there’s a deal with the feds for him to turn over and give up the list of his jobs and the clients he worked for.”
Perry nodded, letting out a deep sigh. “Well, make sure you read Lois and Clark in. As soon as you all have something, I want to know about it.”
“You got it, Chief.” Jimmy nodded as he walked toward the door.
Perry let out a heavy sigh and turned his attention to the monitor he had with the latest layout of the Planet’s evening edition up for display. A soft ping echoed from the speakers as a new message icon appeared. He clicked on the message to open it.
The subject read, ‘Nightfall Asteroid Projected To Destroy Earth While Government Says Nothing.’
“What in the Sam Hill?” Perry frowned, looking at the message he had received to see who had sent it. There was no sender.
“Olsen!”
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Lois raked through the report that had been sent to her from an unknown source, feeling the static charge of uncertainty in the air as she contemplated her next move. In the report, she found details of secret meetings determining how to combat an asteroid the size of Metropolis and its projected impact in less than a week with Earth. Every level of the government had been informed of the imminent doom looming around the corner. Every time they had made a choice to not inform the public. Everyone would continue life as normal; not knowing each waking second could be bringing them closer and closer to the end. Not knowing it could be their last goodbye or hello.
"This is insanity," Lois murmured, running her hand through her hair. "They can't just not tell anyone."
"There would be panic everywhere." Clark pointed out with a disheartened shrug. "They think they're doing the right thing."
"The world deserves to know what's going on," Lois countered sharply.
"I don't disagree, but it's a lot more complicated than that." Clark gestured to the printouts in front of her. "What happens if they can't destroy the asteroid? Then the world is in panic, and mayhem is everywhere. It's not like they can call Superman for help either..."
"So, what do we do?" Lois asked.
"I don't know," Clark shook his head. "It's been nearly two weeks, and Dr. Stone is no closer to having an answer on how to destroy that meteorite than I am to figuring out how to restore my powers."
The phone rang, interrupting Lois' train of thought, and she reached over to answer it. "Hello?"
"Lois? It's Jimmy. Listen, you're not going to believe what the Chief just got..."
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The Nation Demands Answers: What is Nightfall?
By Perry WhiteThe headline ticked across the twenty-four-hour news circuit, with the newscaster repeating the question that had been plastered in everyone's vision across the nation. Every news circuit and tabloid that laid ink to paper was asking 'What is Nightfall?' while the mouthpieces to the government remained silent. Press conference after press conference remained nothing more than a dog and pony show attempting to distract the public with non-answers to the burning questions everyone was asking.
"I want to know how something like this happens," General Zeitlin fumed angrily, looking across the faces seated at the table.
"A blatant breach in security, General," the President cleared his throat looking around the table. "I want an investigation. Whoever is responsible for this will be answering to the highest court."
"Of course, Mr. President, but right now our resources are preoccupied with getting the Asgard rocket launched to take out Nightfall."
"And don't you think it will be difficult to do that with a nation in panic?"
"Mr. President, we've been dealt a difficult hand, but we have little choice in the matter. The public will not continue to accept the answers we're giving them." General Zeitlin explained with a heavy sigh.
"The longer you remain silent, Mr. President, the worse the fall out will be." the Chief of Staff advised.
"Schedule the press conference with the press," the President said, shaking his head before stopping to wag his finger at Zeitlin. "I want every resource directed to getting the Asgard rocket launched tonight. If I'm going to address the nation then it'll be with some good news."
"Yes, Mr. President."
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Clark tapped his index finger against his chin, leaning over the coffee table as he stared at the screen in front of him with its empty page and blinking cursor. The words he had spent the better part of a year angling to write refused to come. The blinking cursor taunted him with the same callousness his powers did. The uselessness that continued to plague him fueled his frustration and he finally admitted defeat, slamming the lid closed to the screen.
Joey Bermuda's testimony and plea agreement connected the Messenger sabotage to one of LexCorp's top directors, Beverly Cox. And also connected Cox to several working theories the police had about someone referred to as 'the boss.' It was unclear if it was Cox that was the boss or someone higher up pulling the strings but it was enough to investigate Lex Luthor and his fellow directors for their involvement. It was what he had been waiting for. A smoking gun to force Lex Luthor out of the shadows. But he couldn't help but wonder if it was enough. If any of it would be enough.
He turned his attention to Lois, who was jotting down her notes on the report from the anonymous source that had exposed the destructive asteroid headed for Earth. A chuckle escaped his throat, “Still obsessing over that whistleblower report, huh?”
“Existential threat and end of the world seem big enough to give it a second glance,” Lois flashed him a weak smile as she set the report down on the table.
“Yeah,” Clark nodded his agreement. Truth be told, had he not been stripped of his powers a few days ago, he would have been digging into the report and trying to find the source himself. Instead, he found himself in unfamiliar territory, unwilling to face the threat of Nightfall without a way to act on it. For the longest time, he solved problems he came across with action that typically tied into the powers he had been given. Now they were gone.
He felt lost.
"Jimmy said Perry had the same report sent to him along with several other editors at news outlets," Lois shook her head in dismay. "Someone really wanted this to get out." She pointed to the screen in front of him. "How are you coming with the Bermuda story?"
"I don't know," Clark ran his hand across his face. "We spent months trying to prove the connection between Luthor and the Messenger launch. Finally, a smoking gun comes through, and all I can think about is I should be doing something more."
"Well, we have everyone looking at Luthor. That's a start," Lois pointed out.
"I guess," Clark shrugged his shoulders.
Lois pointed to the television that was silently playing in the background with the news coverage from earlier replaying the President’s message requesting Superman’s presence at the White House. A pang of guilt ran through him followed by the bitter taste of hopelessness as his jaw tightened. He wanted desperately to run into action and do something.
The reality was he couldn’t.
“Looks like that’s all they’re going to be covering tonight,” Lois glanced toward him with a silent question written across her face.
“There’s nothing I can do,” Clark lamented, tightening his jaw as he looked toward the footage once more in despair. “Even if I could manage to pull off getting to the White House, I have no way of helping whatever emergency is so great they think Superman is the only answer to.” Clark groaned, shaking his head in disgust. “It’s time to face reality. Superman is gone.”
“You are Superman,” Lois reminded him, turning her head sharply as she stared intently into his eyes, piercing him with the subtle gaze that threatened to overpower him.
“Not anymore,” Clark hung his head, running the back of palm against his chin.
“Superman is more than just a suit, Clark.”
“I can’t be Superman without my powers,” Clark muttered in disgust, looking away as his shoulders fell in defeat.
The shock on her face hit him like a ton of bricks. The pained expression on her face sent a ripple of dread through him as he wondered momentarily if the friendship, he shared with her was based solely on the mutual agreement of her keeping his secret safe. Without it – without Superman – was there still a relationship to hang on to. In the depths of his soul he prayed there was. Her unconditional devotion to protect his secret had drawn him to her initially but the closer they became the more convinced he was of his love for her.
She was the lightning rod that kept him grounded in the chaos, but even with her unfaltering support this wasn’t something that could be fixed. He could not wave a magic wand and restore his powers and he couldn’t put his family and friends at risk to satisfy his curiosity.
The intoxicating mixture of lavender and orchards overwhelmed his senses as he stared into her eyes, feeling each excruciating second slip by slowly. He wanted so desperately to pull her into his arms and kiss her over and over again. The night she had been drugged by Miranda’s Pheromone spray remained forever seared in his mind, reminding him of how close he had come to succumbing to temptation.
‘Not like this,’ his mind screamed at him.
As close as he came to giving into temptation and telling her how he wanted to kiss her senseless from now until eternity the thought never made it out of his mouth as he shrugged his shoulders and jokingly commented, “Somehow I doubt the government wants Superman for his strategizing skills.”
“Just give it some time,” Lois reassured, reaching her hand out to brush her palm against his cheek. “We don’t even know what caused any of this.” Lois pointed to the television, “Maybe this will give everyone a chance to strategize their own solutions to this threat. You can’t be everywhere at once. They have to understand that. It’s theoretically impossible.”
“I am impossible,” he pointed out.
“You…” She stopped, pausing for a moment as her eyes moved over him with a gaze that sent a shudder through him before continuing, “…still have your limits.” She placed a hand on his chest and moved it up to run a hand across his cheek. “There’s only so much one person can do.”
“And if it isn’t enough?” Clark asked, glancing toward the television. “It could be the end of the world.”
“Then it’s the end of the world and…” Lois’ voice faltered as she spoke, brushing tears from her eyes. “It’s not going to be the end of the world. Everything will be fine.” She seemed to be trying to reassure herself more than him.
“You’re pretty confident over there,” he commented with a wary grin.
“I have to be,” she swiped at a tear that had escaped the corner of her eyes.
He clasped his hand around her wrist, holding it inside his grasp for a brief moment before brushing his thumb against her cheek.
“I can’t be Superman without my powers,” Clark muttered in disgust, looking away as his shoulders fell in defeat. “The world is literally in peril and I can’t do a thing.”
Her hand reached over to take his hand in hers and she gave it a tight squeeze. “You’re not curious in the slightest what they may want from you?”
“Sure,” he shrugged his shoulders, “but the moment I show up there the more questions that get raised. How am I supposed to explain why I can’t help them?” He raked his fingertips through his hair, letting out a ragged breath. “I can’t take the risk of someone finding out Superman is powerless.”
Lois seemed to relent, nodding her agreement.
“It’s been two weeks.”
Lois’ lower lip tucked itself beneath her upper lip, sliding her tongue against the tip of her lips as she seemed to be taking in the gravity of what he was saying, “You don’t think your powers are coming back, do you?”
“I can’t even get a single spark off,” Clark admitted, shaking his head in dismay. Her eyes softened, holding his gaze as she slowly processed what he was saying and inched closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder.
He let out a heavy breath, feeling the intoxicating sensation of her in his arms. He wanted desperately to prolong this moment and cement it into time, but it was an impossible and temporary. He felt his heart pang against his chest as she turned her cheek to look at him, letting out a soft whisper, “You’re still Superman without the powers. It’s not the superpowers that made the hero.” Her voice cracked and she shook her head, “The world is ending and I can’t even find the words to write the story. How ironic is that.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Yes, we do,” she whispered in a hoarse voice.
Her arms snaked around his neck and he felt the intoxicating sensation of her soft flesh pressed up against him as she turned so she was a mere inch away from him. The soft pink lips that had taunted him for months inched closer and she whispered in his ear. “I love you.”
The admission felt like the release of a floodgate of emotion. Pent up frustration and longing fueled his lips as he uttered his own admission before allowing himself to be pulled into her arms. “I love you too.”
The small gap between them closed as her lips clasped against his in a soul-crushing kiss that threatened to overtake him. A low moan escaped his lips and she turned in his arms, hovering over him as her limbs flung around him, wrapping him in a tight cocoon as she enveloped him in her embrace.
"Lois…" he let out a muffled moan against her lips as she snaked her arms around him, pulling him closer. “I love you.”
A deep sigh of satisfaction escaped his throat as her arms wrapped around him, holding him close while he lost himself in her arms. For a brief moment, he forgot about the threat that loomed over the world. For a brief moment he forgot and then his focus shifted from Lois to the blinding light that lit up the room.
“Kal-El.”
________________________________________
Lex Luthor leaned back in his office chair, looking out the balcony window as he took a long puff from his cigar, “You begin to take it for granted.” He mused softly, looking to the sky with a content gaze. “You assume that every day the sun will rise in the East and set in the West. You assume that every night the moon will be there for your inspiration. You assume that spring will follow winter.” He lowered his gaze to where the television screen was mounted on the wall of his study. The image of the President addressing the nation played in the background. “Nothing is guaranteed. If I am to learn anything from this it is to assume nothing.” He gestured to the door where Asabi stood, “How are we coming with Mr. Trask’s arrangements?”
“A car is waiting to take him to Ontario where he’ll continue his work for LexCorp.” Asabi advised, stepping inside the office. “It took longer than anticipated with the government’s freeze on travel, but he’ll be out of Metropolis by tonight.”
“Once Mrs. Cox returns from her visit with Detective Henderson we’ll need to make the same arrangements for her as well.”
“Something come up, sir?”
“Assume nothing, Asabi,” Lex responded, taking a long puff from his cigar.
________________________________________
Image after image filled Clark’s mind as the globe that had lain dormant for over two weeks lit up, floating in the air, beckoning him to reach out and claim it. As his hand clasped around it the globe changed its form and the image of a man dressed in white with a familiar ‘S’ emblem on his chest appeared.
“Do not be afraid, Kal-El.”
The image of the man he’d seen before reflected from the globe and spoke to him. “My name is Jor-El. And you are Kal-El, my son. The object you hold has been attuned to you. That you now hear these words is proof that you survived the journey in space and have reached your full maturity. Now it is time for you to learn our heritage.”
The images multiplied over one another and he found himself unable to turn away as he watched the entire history unfold before him. War. Famine. Women and children desperately seeking help as the very ground around them swallowed them whole. They were memories of a life…a world that had long since died off. The images finally changed to that of the one who identified himself as Jor-El—his father. No, birth father.
A flood of new images appeared and he saw the couple from the vantage point of looking down on them as they cradled a baby in their arms as the walls trembled around them. Jor-El’s voice resonated around him as the images came into focus.
“Time grows short, and we continue to search. The immensity of space is both a blessing and a curse. In that near infinite variety, there must be someplace suitable. Hope and desperation drive us in equal measure. Lara works by my side. She is tireless and endlessly patient. Considering what is soon to come, this is my greatest consolation: that we are together.”
The woman beside Jor-El smiled at the sleeping baby in her arms. As she spoke there was something eerily familiar about her that told him he knew her.
Lara. He had called her Lara but something told him she was his birth mother. ‘Yes, that felt right.’ Her tearful eyes focused on the baby in her arms and Clark felt a pang in his chest as he watched the scene unfold helplessly.
“He’s just a baby, Jor-El.”
“It’s his only chance, Lara. If he remains here he will surely die as…we will.”
“But why Earth, Jor-El?” Lara asked, “They’re thousands of years behind us.”
“He will need that advantage to survive. Their atmosphere will sustain him.”
“He will defy their gravity,” Lara said.
“He will look like one of them.” Jor-El countered with a pained expression of his own.
“But he won’t be one of them.”
Anguish filled Clark as he heard the words of his birth mother, feeling her love and concern for the life she was sending him to. For so long he wondered why he had been sent to Earth and the reason for his powers. Now he knew.
“His dense molecular structure will make him strong,” Jor-El responded, focused on the task at hand. “He’ll be fast and virtually invulnerable.”
“Isolated and alone.” Lara finished tearfully as she leaned in to kiss the baby in her arms.
“He will never be alone.”
The light from the globe filled the room and Clark felt an glowing aura run through him as he fell forward and as he had so many years ago he stopped himself from hitting the ground at the last second, floating inches above the ground.
‘Never alone, Kal-El.’ The voice in his head whispered in that of Lara’s voice.
Clark let out a shaky breath, looking around the room where Lois was standing over him, shaking his shoulder.
“Clark?”
________________________________________
Chaos.
Dread.
Unbalance.
The entire world felt off its axis.
The evidence she and Clark needed to finally print the story they had spent months on, proving Lex Luthor was behind the E.P.R.A.D. sabotage of Prometheus Messenger was finally within their grasp. The story of the year was about to go to press with both their bylines and Lois couldn’t even find the motivation to muster up enthusiasm over nailing Lex Luthor to the wall for his involvement in Baines’ death. She should be celebrating. Instead, she was stuck in place, consumed with worry over the continued absence of Clark’s powers.
Clark’s sudden powerless state combined with the whistleblower report she had received revealing an unknown threat that could end life as they knew it sent her through a tailspin. She felt numb as she remained frozen in place, unable to act on the information as she weighed the impact this information could have on the entire world. As much as she would love the credit of revealing possibly the biggest story of the century to the world it felt wrong. Reporting on the doom that was sure to follow and hope for the best while everyone and everything she loved disappeared from this existential threat.
She had no answers.
Each time she attempted to find the words to tell the story in her mind she froze up, unable to put pen to paper the threat that hung over the unsuspecting citizens of Earth.
She looked to Clark who was seated on the edge of the front porch steps, staring off into the horizon. Her mind was still reeling from everything he had told her. Images and memories implanted by the globe they had found in Trask’s possession.
How was that even possible?
“Clark?”
She stepped out onto the porch and leaned her head back against the door frame. A cool breeze bristled through her hair and she saw Clark turn to her with a disheartened sigh.
“It’s like it was never gone,” he pointed to the small burn marks against the large tree a few feet from the farmhouse.
“Well, isn’t that a good thing?” Lois asked, noticing the uneasiness in Clark’s expression.
“It is, but I still don’t know if I’m at full strength or what triggered my powers to return,” Clark looked to her uneasily. “Or if there is any more of that meteorite out there that may take my powers away.”
“Well, whatever the globe did, let’s just hope it can be repeated.” Lois flashed a weak smile to him. He nodded his agreement and stood up from where he’d been seated. “I’ll take you back to Metropolis in the morning and that should give me enough time.”
“Enough time?” Lois echoed the words before the meaning hit her. He was going to the White House. He was going to try and stop Nightfall. She bit her lower lip, shaking her head as she pointed toward the sun that was beginning to set. “They’re sending the Asgard rocket. Surely that means they think…”
“They are doing what they can, yes, but based on everything they’re not saying I don’t think it’s going to work.” Clark folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the door frame.
Reality of how much was at stake washed over Lois as she inched closer to Clark so she was just a faint whisper away from him, staring into his chocolate brown eyes. His eyes closed a brief moment before fluttering open and reaching out to cup her cheek, brushing the tears from her eyes.
“Lois…” His voice sounded so different. The faint hint of desire mixed with grief strained his vocal cords as he held her in his arms.
She felt a shiver run through her spine as she stared back at him, hearing her name on his lips. “You don’t have to…” she wanted desperately to talk him out of what they both knew had to happen. She had seen him commit impossible feats over the past few months but this felt so different.
“Yes, I do. If I can help…”
“Clark…”
The tears rolled down her face at their own accord and she didn’t even try to hide them. She closed the distance between them, claiming his mouth with hers. A low rumble vibrated against her and she heard him breathe out her name as a faint whisper.
He pulled his head back, catching his breath for a brief moment. Their eyes met and held onto one another as she smoothed her tongue against the warm tingle of her lips. Her eyes moved across him, taking in the effect she had on him in the raw and emotional state they both were in. The hard lump of his Adam’s apple moved beneath the skin of his throat tensing as she saw the muscle of his jaw flex.
His forehead pressed against hers and he whispered, “It’s the only way.”
She reached her hand around his neck, drawing him to her as she murmured in his ear. “I know.”
The last of his resolve seemed to melt away and she pulled him into her arms, returning her beckoning embrace with enthusiasm. She felt the deep aching desire in the pit of her insides cry out as his mouth covered hers, devouring her as his hands buried themselves in her hair. He walked her back into the farmhouse, shutting the door behind them without losing contact with him. His lips covered hers in a warm caress as her hands moved across his chest, aimlessly searching for the closeness with him she was yearning for.
“I love you.”
________________________________________
TBC...
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