Thanks to those who left fdk both times
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Carol
From Part 1:
"What do you want, Sarah?"
"You do remember me this time."
"I told you I would. Now, what do you want?" Lois was beyond annoyed at this time.
"I have an urgent need to talk to Mr. Kent about Kal-El. It's a life or death matter."
"What makes you think Clark knows anything about Kal-El? Who *is* Kal-El anyway?"
"Miss Lane, you and I both know that a certain mild-mannered reporter is much more than he appears to be."
Lois eyed her warily. "Perhaps you'd best come in. But I assure you, it is in your best interest not to refer to me as 'Miss Lane' again. I'm married to Mr. Kent."
"No, Miss Lane, you're not. You see, Mr. Kent – Kal-El – is already married... to me."
*****
Part 2
*****
Lois stormed around the room. She'd refused to go put on some more normal clothes, despite the pronouncement from this stranger that she wasn't married to Clark. This was her honeymoon, dammit, and she wasn't going to let this... this... hussy ruin it for her.
Sarah had done very little explaining, except to say that Kal-El was married before he left Krypton and that if he violated that marriage on earth – even if he was unaware of it – there would be dire consequences for him, his earth wife and her – his Kryptonian wife, but since he'd been unaware, he would have one – and only one – chance to set things right. If he refused... well, she didn't say what would happen, but Lois had the distinct impression it wouldn't be good.
She thought of hollering for Clark, but didn't want to give Sarah the satisfaction and so she roamed the room muttering to herself and mentally cursing any archaic system that would marry their children off before birth as Sarah claimed.
"You might want to sit down, Miss Lane. Mr. Kent won't be home for some time."
"And just how do you know that?"
"There was a train wreck in upstate New Troy. Toxic chemicals were involved and *Superman* is busy helping clean up."
"How do you know?"
"Superhearing."
"Oh, so you think you're super too?"
"No, I'm Kryptonian. I've been on earth long enough for some powers to start manifesting."
Lois glared at her and continued her pacing. "If it's going to be that long, perhaps you should go and I'll pass your message along."
"No, Miss Lane, I believe I'll stay right here."
*****
Clark heard his wife – what a wonderful word that was – muttering to herself long before he ever reached the apartment. Even superhearing had a hard time making out what she was saying though and he resigned himself to waiting until he arrived home to find out what it was.
He hated that he'd been away from her for so long, but knew that she'd understand.
He landed on the balcony and spun back into something much more comfortable and, he hoped, much more sexy than the suit – though he knew there were those who would claim the suit was quite sexy. Maybe he'd have to give Lois that show she'd asked for sometime.
As Lois paced around the wall that separated the bedroom from the living area, he could tell she was deep in thought about something – and they weren't the happy thoughts he'd left her with.
He waited until she was close to reentering the living quarters when he slid in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her ear.
"What's wrong, Mrs. Kent?"
She jumped, and before she could say anything, his lips were on hers and he lost himself in her kiss.
It left even him breathless and he started to pull her back towards the bed when she pushed away.
"Clark..."
He could see she was having some trouble regaining her composure, though he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why she'd need to.
"...we have company."
He stared at her, wide-eyed. How could he have been so careless? There was someone else here? A quick scan with his hearing verified another heartbeat nearby – one that sounded a touch... off. Did they hear or see him come in? Was the secret out? Was it someone they could trust?
"Miss Lane, I'll thank you to get your hands off my husband."
The voice startled him and Clark looked over to see a young woman he recognized as Sarah from the Daily Planet standing in their bedroom, hands on hips and looking at them quite disapprovingly.
"Excuse me?" Clark raised an eyebrow. "I think you're mistaken. I'm married to Lois, no one else." He put his arms back around Lois and pulled her to him. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a honeymoon to get back to."
He drew Lois even closer to him and made a point to turn his back on the intruder. He kissed her gently and could feel her reservation.
"Lois, honey, what do you say I go find Superman and get him to take us somewhere a little more... private?"
Lois pushed herself back from him again. "Clark, I think we need to listen to what Sarah has to say." There was pain and confusion in her eyes, he could see it. "She says she's married to Kal-El and has been since they were born."
*****
They sat on the couch – Lois in a slightly more buttoned shirt of Clark's and a pair of comfy shorts, Clark out of his silk boxers and matching shirt and in a pair of sweat shorts and T-shirt – as they listened to Sarah's story. Clark pulled Lois close to him on the couch, wanting to embrace her as much as he could, comforting her during what was to come.
"Kal-El..."
"Please, I'm Clark. I have been since my parents found me in Kansas decades ago."
Sarah stared at him and continued. "Kal-El..."
Lois muttered under her breath something about how some people never listen and never learn earning her a glare from their visitor.
"... is from the planet Krypton. It was destroyed a number of years ago and he was sent here by his parents, Jor-El and Lara. A number of other Kryptonians were also able to escape at the last minute and we have formed a new world on another planet – New Krypton.
"Before we left, Kal-El was sent to earth. Before that, we were married, legally, on the planet Krypton. In fact, we were married before we were even born."
Clark opened his mouth to interrupt but was stopped by the look on Sarah's face and a raised hand.
"In Kryptonian society, members of the ruling class are married before they're born, to insure that the line remains pure and that there will always be an heir."
"An heir?" Clark managed to get the question in.
"Yes, an heir to the throne of Krypton. It's not a society anything like you would find here on earth, but the leader of Krypton is very important. Kal-El, you are next in line to be maharajah and you are to take the throne and take on your duties as maharajah before your next birthday. Because you were not raised in Kryptonian society, you were not to be told until today – one year before you must take your rightful place on New Krypton."
"Uh, Sarah – listen – before you go any further, a maharajah is a ruling prince in India." It was Lois who had spoken.
"That is the closest earth translation to the Kryptonian word, Miss Lane, and I'll thank you to not interrupt again."
Lois glared at her, but Clark's gentle squeeze on her shoulder helped her to hold her tongue.
"Because your father, the last true maharajah, was killed when Krypton exploded, Lor-Van, your mother's father, took over the duties until you become of age to do so. He is in quite poor health and is not expected to live until you are to take over the throne yourself. The Council will rule collectively until you take the throne."
"You're assuming quite a lot, Sarah. What makes you think I will come to New Krypton with you?"
"You have no choice. It is your duty and you must abide by it."
"No, I mustn't. You can't make me do anything."
"First, you must let me finish my story and then you will understand."
Clark sighed and nodded.
"My name is not Sarah, it's Zara Tal-Ra of the house of Ra. It was decided before our birth that we would be the next rulers of Krypton. Unfortunately, Krypton was destroyed along with both of our parents. You were sent here, but the ship that was to carry me was destroyed in an accident and I was quite fortunate to make it on to the ship that took us to New Krypton.
"According to Kryptonian law, you are not allowed to marry or to... consummate a relationship with anyone but your birth wife, me, the next maharani of Krypton. The consequences are quite dire and will affect all three of us. Once married, concubines are permitted, but under very strict conditions including sterility on the part of the concubine. The main purpose of the maharani is to produce an heir, which is practically guaranteed on New Krypton. Consummation of the marriage is the preferred way, but all maharani undergo significant fertility testing so that any problems are known before hand and other measures can be undertaken if the need arises. Concubines are always sterile and there will be no other heirs to the throne of Krypton but those produced by the maharani." Zara gave Lois a forbidding look as though daring her to be pregnant.
"Should a concubine become pregnant and the maharajah is determined to be the father, both the concubine and the child, once delivered, are placed in the molecular disbander and their molecules scattered over countless distant galaxies. The reason for this is that the concubine must not have gone through the proper vetting procedures and it is the maharajah's duty to make certain that any woman he beds has been properly approved. The child is illegitimate and waiting until after the birth serves to remind the maharajah that all rules are to be followed strictly."
Lois and Clark sat stunned as they listened not only to the open acceptance of infidelity but the strict punishment for unknowingly impregnating a concubine.
"The molecular disbander is the fate that awaits the three of us if Kal-El does not renounce his marriage and come with me to New Krypton."
*****
"Clark, what are we going to do?" Lois paced anxiously around the bedroom. "You're a married man and if you don't renounce me, then we all get molecularly disbanded. That doesn't sound like a good thing to me."
Clark sat wearily on the bed and held his head in his hands. Zara had left momentarily to contact the ship that was apparently orbiting the earth.
"I don't know, honey."
"Did you see how she dared me to be pregnant? Like I could be pregnant! I mean I *could* be pregnant but it'll be weeks before we know!"
"I know. Unless a Kryptonian-human baby develops faster, it'll be at least a week before I could even tell with x-ray and telescopic vision."
"You can do that?"
"Yeah, I did it for a lady once in a car accident. She'd been trying to get pregnant and thought they'd finally been successful and was worried about the baby. I was able to tell her that everything looked fine, though her positive pregnancy test didn't come back for another week. She even sent me a picture of the baby and thanked me for taking care of them."
"Okay. So how would it even help us if I was pregnant?"
"Well, you wouldn't be... disbanded until after the baby was born..."
Lois rolled her eyes at him. "And then both the baby and I would be, along with you and Zara – how does that help, Clark?" She paced some more. "And I fail to see why Zara would be disbanded anyway. Like it's her fault you *consummated* with someone else!"
"Is that really the part that you want to focus on?"
"No, it just occurred to me. You know women's lib and all."
"So how do we deal with this?"
"I guess we start with asking Zara for all the rules and by-laws and such of New Krypton and you can speed read them looking for a loop hole."
A light shimmered in the room and Zara appeared.
"Kal-El, Miss Lane, you are to return to the ship with me and we will head towards New Krypton where the trial will commence and you will have your chance to renounce your marriage."
Clark looked at her. "And what if I refuse to go? If I don't go, I can't stand trial and I can't be disbanded or whatever, right?"
Zara shook her head. "That's not the way it works. If you have to be taken forcibly, which we can do, then the disbanding will be preceded by years of hard forced labor."
"You can force me to go."
"Both of you. The transport beam will activate on my command and we all will be sent to the ship. If you go willingly, you and I will be expected to consummate our relationship immediately. We will then proceed towards New Krypton where the trial and your decision will be broadcast formally. Miss Lane will be returned to Earth. If you must be taken forcibly, then you will be kept in a locked cell. The same goes for Miss Lane. If we get to New Krypton and you still refuse to renounce your marriage to Miss Lane, you will spend twenty years in hard labor and then be disintegrated while Miss Lane and I both will be disintegrated immediately."
"And what if I am pregnant? Then don't we all have to wait till the baby's born to be disbanded?" Lois glared at the other woman.
"No. Because Kal-El and I have not consummated the relationship, any baby would not be that of a concubine and therefore both mother and baby will be disintegrated immediately."
Lois sighed. So much for that plan.
"If you go willingly, Miss Lane will have plush accommodations as a special friend of the future maharajah and will be treated accordingly."
Kal-El.
Clark heard Zara's voice in his head.
Trust me, Kal-El. It is better for us all if you both go willingly. I have watched you with Miss Lane and I know how you feel for her. Feelings are not something we put much emphasis on, but I know they do on Earth.
How is this possible? Clark was surprised when he thought something back to her.
Kryptonians are telepathic and telepathic conversations between a birth husband and wife are protected and cannot be intercepted or recorded. Please you must trust me.
Why should I trust you?
You have no other choice.
And if I come willingly, I'm expected to... you know with you and I'm sorry Zara, but that won't happen.
We'll find a way around it, I promise.
How?
I don't know yet, but we will. Most of how I have been acting towards Miss Lane is for the benefits of those watching us. They must not know that we are going to work together.
What if I go willingly but refuse to consummate until the trial? Would that buy us some time?
I'm afraid not. Miss Lane will be seen as the reason for your refusal and disintegrated immediately.
Clark sighed and ran his hands through his hair. I don't know what to do, Zara.
You have to trust me.
Is there any way I can have private conversation with Lois?
I'm afraid not. Is there some sort of code word that the two of you have to indicate that things will all work out or some sort of danger code that you could reverse or something?
No – usually she just yells, "Help, Superman!" and I come flying.
I'm sorry, Kal-El, but you must convince her to come. If you come willingly and she does not, it will not be good for her.
I'll try. Will you give us a minute?
Yes.
"Lois?"
Lois turned from the window where she'd been staring up at the sky, wondering where the Kryptonian ship was. "Yes, Clark?" She hadn't even noticed Zara disappear.
"We have to talk, but they're monitoring the conversation."
"How do you know?"
"Zara told me. Apparently, Kryptonians are telepathic."
"Really? So you've been standing here having a conversation with your *wife* in front of me without me hearing a thing?"
"Something like that." Clark walked to her side and turned her to face him. "I hate this as much as you do, but you have to trust me, we need to go voluntarily."
"Like hell I will!" Lois wrenched away from him. "I am not turning you over to *consummate* with that... that.... hussy!"
"Lois, remember when I froze you?"
She looked at him in bewilderment. "Yes."
"It took a lot of trust on both of our parts to do that and you need to trust me now. It's for the best." Clark looked at her and implored her to trust him, to read in his eyes that everything would be find, that they'd work it all out.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Lois sighed. Once they were on that bloody ship, Clark could find a loophole of some kind and the consummation would never take place – he wouldn't let it. She knew that.
Or she thought she did.
TBC
