Earth
It was close to midnight before Lois entered Clark’s dark and lifeless apartment. She and Talmadge had spent the better part of two hours informing Henderson of what they had seen and insisting that Simcoe be arrested for breaking his bail agreement. With the pictures she had taken it was all Bill needed to have Detective Reed and a couple of uniforms drive down to Simcoe’s place to pick him up for questioning.
Henderson told them to get some rest and he would call as soon as he heard something.
Despite the sheer exhaustion of working at the office all day and then three hours sitting in a chilly antique compact car with Talmadge, adrenaline was still pouring through her veins. Barring unforeseen circumstances tonight there should be a holographic message from Clark. She unlocked the front door, switched on the lights, closed the door, dashed down the steps through the living room and then into the bedroom.
Thanks to the sliver of illumination from the streetlights below, she could see through the sleeping alcove’s glass and wooden French doors the outline of something parked on the balcony, its metallic exterior gleaming like quicksilver, lay the extraterrestrial mechanism. Lois opened the doors and stepped in front of it.
The device, upon electronically sensing her presence, began shining a faint light over her body and authenticating her DNA sequence. Once that was confirmed, it lifted off the mortar and brick patio and with a faint metallic hum glided past a couple of old wooden deck chairs and past the doors and into the apartment. It moved through the sleeping alcove and into the living room. There, like some great silver cat, it settled on the carpeted floor and silently waited for Lois to activate its latest message.
“Finally!” She whispered. Last month when Molly wanted her to come over for another food tasting, Lois had been able to get out of it by saying she needed to pick up yarn from Rhapsody Knits for Martha and afterwards have her monthly family phone conversation with Martha and Jonathan.
All of her friends thought staying in contact with the Kents on a regular basis was a great idea and a good way to encourage one another. She wondered what they would say if they knew the real reason for those special phone calls? These holographic messages appeared on the fifteenth of the month and usually right afterward she called the Kents to discuss Clark’s latest message.
The courier’s message from last month had been brief, but cheerful. Clark was determined not to burden Lois with his own fears about what was happening on New Krypton. But she could see he was weary, the dark circles under his eyes had grown deeper. He was much in need of rest. She prayed this month’s message was more optimistic.
The hologram formed in a shower of light and color in what looked like a study or office. Clark sat at a desk with what appeared to be a black and gray computer screen, but it was flat. He wore burgundy sleeping garments that were covered by a silken dark gray robe, not the official black garment with the symbol of the house of El on his chest. The black, wavy hair she loved to run her fingers through was long, touching his shoulders, apparently the style of a young Kryptonian nobleman. As always, she could see the plain, slender white gold wedding band on a silver chain around his neck. The sight of that simple piece of jewelry gave her hope as nothing else did. He was tired, yet in an attempt to appear lighthearted, his lips tugged into a tiny smile, he then ‘spoke’.
Lois, honey, your reporter’s instincts are probably burning to know more about this conflict, but I wanted to tell you how much you are missed and loved. I want this Splinter War to be finished, so we can be together as husband and wife. I have to admit, I’m getting a little tired of all the preparation that I have been doing. You know that I haven’t studied any of the martial arts the way you have. Well, all that has changed. On Earth, I could rely on my superpowers. Living in a stellar system without the empowering rays of a yellow sun has been a humbling experience.
That brings up a point, I know we didn’t really go over this at the time, but that is the exact reason why you couldn’t accompany me. Let me give you an example. In our Solar system we have several other planets and of various sizes. The gravity on those planets is different from that of the Earth. Jupiter is the most massive planet, but its gravity is only about 2.5 times that of Earth. If you were to try to stand up on Jupiter you would be weighing approximately 300 pounds. New Krypton is even more massive than Jupiter. On New Krypton you would weigh almost 600 pounds. Your physiology is Terran not Kryptonian, the simple act of lifting an arm would break it! Primarily for that reason it was advisable that you remain safely at home.
Lois, knowing he could not hear her switched off the machine and snapped, “Clark, a science lesson about the differences in our DNA structure is not what I want to hear! How are you coping, living, and working among people who are very different emotionally from us? The three I met were so distant, they seemed more like Vulcans than humans … minus the pointy ears of course! I guess I should be grateful, the strain of living under those harsh physical conditions would be more than I could tolerate. I intend to tell him this in my response! No more science lectures! He’s not talking to Bernie.”
Impatiently, Lois reactivated the device and continued listening.
I wish more than anything you were Kryptonian and could be here by my side. This conflict has been very frustrating. It is not a true war with Generals, soldiers, and a definite battlefield, Nor and his followers have been waging a guerrilla war. They strike unexpectedly. Until recently, these small skirmishes have been against military bases and power stations, now he is starting to attack outlying estates and civilian population centers, apparently raiding them for supplies. Sometimes before we are able to react and send reinforcements, the raiders have disappeared. They refuse to stand and fight. It doesn’t matter how well we plan; they strike where and when we least expect it. Our military forces are spread sparsely over the planet. As a result, because we have so many key places to protect that wherever they strike, they have an overwhelming force and thus, the advantage.
It is the coward’s way to fight, a way without honor.
Nor refuses to publicly face anyone from the house of El. To do so would mean he must hear and acknowledge the challenge of single combat. Lady Lo extended the challenge to him at the last council meeting before he went rogue in order to head off this conflict. But he refused for two reasons: She is not of the house of El, only her daughter – my mother - had married into the house… and despite being first born of her house, is a woman.
“Terrific!” Lois snapped, rolling her eyes. “Go halfway across the galaxy and we still have to deal with the arrogant male ego!”
Clark’s mouth quirked into a half-smile and Lois’ heart leapt at the sight, the man she loved was peeking out from behind that weary face of iron. I can just imagine what Lois Lane is saying right now about arrogant men. Don’t let the silver hair fool you, Lady Lo is a warrior of the old ways. Nor is aware of this; she shall not be an easy opponent nor grant him quarter.
Again, Lois halted the program and stared at Clark. This was not the man who went to New Krypton months ago. His speech pattern and body language, even the fact that he called Earth, Terra, demonstrated how much he had changed. The gentle reporter was being submerged and a warrior King was emerging. In one sense, she was proud of Clark, helping his Kryptonian relatives, but at what cost to himself? The transformation frightened her. Quickly she started the program again and listened.
Since arriving here, it has been a constant round of learning not only how to fight, the Kryptonian way, but also to learn about its laws and customs. There are sports like our boxing and wrestling, but nothing like the karate that you are so proficient in. Those have been relatively easy to master. Whenever we are not planning or trying to assist a group under attack, I train. Ching is my primary instructor for those particular skills. Then there is swordsmanship. Grandmother has been an excellent instructor ... a real taskmaster! I have learned so much from her in such a short period of time; it is incredible. He nodded thoughtfully and said with a shadow of his old self, When I get back to Terra if I ever lose my powers, I can fight criminals with a sword … like D’Artagnan of the Musketeers!
The training I am receiving is to prepare me for what will have to be the resolution to this conflict. Since Nor’s guerilla forces refuse to engage in a decisive engagement, the plan is to confront him and use the ancient laws of Krypton to our advantage. In order to stop this conflict, once and for all, Nor will have to be challenged to single combat. That shall be the final phase, and that is why I am being prepared so thoroughly.
Clark put his head down and sighed a little, as if trying to decide whether or not to tell Lois something she definitely would not like. Finally, he looked up, the expression was one of resolve, and he spoke again.
Lois, there’s one other thing, please be careful, especially if the RoxxTen investigation is still going on. I have complete confidence in your abilities. For the first time in this message, the holographic image smiled, that ‘sunrise over Metropolis’ smile she missed so much. After all you were a hot shot reporter long before a ‘Hack from Nowheresville’ showed up. But lately, I haven’t been able to sleep for worrying about you. Please darling, take care, and know I hold our love as precious as ever and close to my heart. He touched the ring around his neck, smiled once more and then his image vanished.
With that Clark’s study on New Krypton faded and she was once more in the now unnervingly quiet apartment. Clark’s image was gone, taking all the warmth and sound with it. The stillness so profound and all-encompassing, it hurt like a physical thing.
With a deep sigh, Lois shut her eyes, holding on tightly to the memory of Clark’s voice, praying that it would not wither from her memory.
Upon opening her eyes, she felt the gray tendrils of exhaustion tugging at her limbs. It was late, too late and the night too cold for driving home. The adrenaline rush from the stakeout and listening to Clark’s holographic message was fading and her body yearned for rest. She could respond to his message in the morning and then after the courier recharged its solar power, the device could return to New Krypton.
She walked over to the sleeping alcove and opened a drawer in Clark’s bureau that she had claimed as her own after he departed for New Krypton. It contained an aloe and lavender sleeping masque, some pajamas, and several pairs of colorful, thick pillow socks Martha had knitted for her.
She entered the shower, toes flinching as they touched the cool, white tiled floor. Her mind was a kaleidoscope of images reliving Clark’s message over and over. She turned the dial, old and metallic, releasing thousands of warm, then very warm droplets of water which splashed over tired limbs and soothed tight muscles. It took only a few minutes to shower, the cascade of warm liquid was now lulling her into sleep. Quickly she rubbed rose-scented lotion over her body and then brushed her teeth. The heavy cotton pajamas felt deliciously warm as it slid over her head, shoulders and back.
Lois Lane turned back the bed covers and sighed as she cuddled down into the welcoming sheets. She lay on her back for a few minutes, looked up at the ceiling, trying to ease her mind into relaxing. Unfortunately, the disturbing message from Clark was making that almost impossible. He was untold thousands of lightyears away from Earth and like the wives of men on the sailing vessels of old, she was powerless to help him.
After a few more minutes, she got up and retrieved the lavender sleep masque from the drawer, climbed back into bed and allowed the soothing scents to ease her body and mind away from toil and conflict. She rolled over to her right side, wrapped the blankets around her like a warm cocoon and willed her thoughts towards happier times and memories of Clark. In a strange way it was like falling in love with him all over again. The last thought to move through her mind before her body gradually fell asleep in this apartment and this bed, what better place in the world to be close to the man she loved?
