From last time:
"Assemble your guards and see Zara and Kal El to their quarters. Watch over them as we are not safe even here."
"Aye, sir," Ching replied with a solemn bow. "Parth, Rul," he called to his two subordinate officers, who followed him as he led Clark and Zara down another hallway.
********
New Stuff:
Lois chewed her lip as she regarded the sentence she'd just typed. It wasn't quite right. She held down the 'backspace' key and the blinking cursor gobbled up the previous two and a half lines of text. She frowned and started typing again; her fingers flew over the keyboard, tapping out an uneven staccato, punctuated by the louder sound of her thumb hitting the space key at the end of each word. It still wasn't right. Holding down the 'backspace' key again, she consigned the offending words to oblivion. She paused and stared at the bright monitor and the five paragraphs of a story that certainly wasn't writing itself.
Without the sounds of her own typing to fill the air, the other sounds of the newsroom managed to work their way to the forefront. In the background she could hear a copy machine in the copy room as it rattled off page after page. The coffee machine whirred and hissed almost silently on the other end of the bullpen. Reporters and editors yelled back and forth as eight different conversations unfolded simultaneously. A dozen people having more luck than she with the writing process typed like maniacs on their keyboards, filling the bullpen with the clattering of plastic keyboard keys.
Over the din of the newsroom, her computer's hard drive whirred, as though patiently waiting for her to give it something to do, to make it part of the magical process of crafting an award winning article. Fat chance. Lois's fingers were not busy typing. They hovered over the keys, waiting for inspiration. She closed her eyes and tried to block out the million and one distractions that the newsroom afforded its staff during any given moment in the workday.
A soft sound intruded upon her ruminations. It didn't quite sound like the computer fan, or at least it didn't sound like the computer fan did when it was working properly. The computer wasn't subtly trying to tell her that it was on the verge of crashing was it? She strained to listen to it, distilling it out from all the other sounds in the newsroom, willing the rest of the newsroom to go quiet.
There it was: fluttering, faint but unmistakable, and certainly not imagined. She'd been listening for that sound for weeks now. And there it was, as if it had always been there, waiting for her to hear it. Tears immediately formed in her eyes and soon threatened to spill. She tried to move or speak, but could do neither. Lois was struck dumb. As far as she was concerned, the whole world had come to a grinding halt and there was nothing left in it save that miraculous, whisper soft sound.
She sat frozen for several minutes, aware of nothing except the sound of the baby's heartbeat. After a long while, she finally dared to breathe, afraid that even that slight sound might drown out the heartbeat and she'd lose the ability to tune in to it. But the sound stayed with her. It was with her all afternoon, bringing a smile to her lips; one that finally reached her eyes. One felt throughout every fiber of her being.
Later, curled up under the covers and with the phone to her ear, she tearfully relayed everything to Martha, keeping an ear tuned in to the sound of the baby's heartbeat. She couldn't believe how much this simple thing could affect her. She'd known it would happen, and soon. It wasn't unexpected, but it caught her off guard nonetheless. She spent hours that night just listening to it. And wishing Clark were there with her. Lying in his bed, she could picture them sitting together, all through the night, just listening to that wonderful sound.
********
Clark saluted Parth, who maintained his vigilant watch outside Zara's quarters, and knocked on the door. "Enter," she called from within. Parth opened the door for him and Clark walked inside. The rooms were nicer than the ones on the ship--with real beds and furniture instead of bunks and metal chairs--but they were still simple, functional, utilitarian, and soulless. Zara was pulling on the long, black mantle on over her uniform.
"It's almost time," he said.
"I know," Zara replied as she adjusted the heavy, metal cuffs on her wrists. "Shai suggested that the vote might be close. Most of the Councilors are glad to have your assistance, but some are still skeptical."
"I don't exactly blame them," Clark replied.
There was another knock at the door. "Come in," Zara called.
The door opened and an older man Clark hadn't yet seen stood in the hallway. "Good tidings, my daughter," he said with a smile.
"Father!" Zara exclaimed as she ran across the room to embrace him.
"It is good to see you, again," her father said as he hugged her. "We have missed you terribly."
"It is good to see you, too," she replied. She stepped back. "I'm sorry, I forget myself. Kal El, this is my father, Tek Ra."
Clark bowed deeply and respectfully. Tek Ra bowed in response. "I am very pleased to meet you, sir," Clark said.
"And I am honored to meet you at last, Kal El, son of Jor El and Lara. My thanks to you for responding to our request. Though I knew that if you were a man like your father, you would not deny us your assistance."
"I hope that in some small way, my coming will help bring peace to your people," Clark replied. "I owe at least that much to my parents and their memory."
"This world is sorely in need of peace. I trust that you and my daughter will do all that you can to restore it. I am certain that you will want to know more about your parents, who they were, what they were like. I will tell you all that I can, later, when there is more time. For now, come, let us away, for the Council awaits the two of you." Tek Ra walked ahead of them as once again, Clark took Zara's arm, as protocol demanded. They walked, surrounded by guards, toward the Council Chambers.
********
"You're leaving?" Jimmy exclaimed incredulously. "You can't leave!" He paced anxiously in the conference room.
"I have to, Jimmy," Lois explained. "I need to be with Clark's parents."
He stopped abruptly. "But you don't have to leave the Planet to do that, you can be there in like five seconds, right?"
"I want to have the baby there," she replied.
"Oh," was all Jimmy could manage.
"I'll still come by to see you and Perry, I just need to get away from here for a while. You understand that, right?"
"Sure," Jimmy replied. "I guess that makes a lot of sense. So when are you leaving?"
"Two weeks. It'll be announced tomorrow."
"Oh," he said again.
"I'm going to miss you," she said at last.
"Me, too. I'm gonna miss you too, Lois."
********
"The emergency session of the High Council of Elders will come to order. With the seats of First Ministers still vacant, I assume, as elder of the Council, the responsibility of presiding over these proceedings." Shai's loud voice boomed throughout the cavernous Council Chambers. Like the rest of the central compound of the colony, the chambers were made of a reinforced metal and were utilitarian and almost militaristic in design. The large, semi-circular room resembled a lecture hall, with small desks crammed close together on the inclined floors. At the front of the room was a speaker's podium, where Shai stood, and behind it were the two vacant chairs of the First Ministers. To Shai's left stood Ching, Zara, and Clark. Slightly more than half of the seats in the chambers were full, noticeably absent were Rae Et and her followers, who had broken with the Council, declaring it a traitorous institution.
"In the absence of our protesting brethren, have we a quorum present?" Shai demanded.
The Council Guard stepped forward. "Yes, Councilor, barely," he said.
"Then we shall proceed with the day's order of business. We have gathered here to vote on the accession of Zara and Kal El, heirs designate, to the positions of co-First Ministers. Are there any who oppose the motion?"
"We are not aware of Kal El's credentials. How can we determine his fitness for the post?" A young councilor seated near the back of the assembly called out.
Ching stepped forward. "If it pleases the Council, I am here to speak to the issue of Kal El's credentials. I have known Kal El for several months now and am responsible for his training. I can assure you that he has demonstrated the necessary aptitude in training to assume his tasks, but moreover, his conduct on his adopted planet speaks for his character. In his world, he was known as a champion for the causes of peace and justice. At great cost to himself and to the people who took him in as a child and raised him, he left that world behind to bring peace to ours. He has demonstrated that his moral character is unimpeachable and that he is willing to make great sacrifices for a noble cause. As servant to the people of New Krypton, I give you my word and stake my reputation on his worthiness as a leader."
If he hadn't already been silent, Clark would have been stunned into silence. Ching's glowing praise made it sound as if he thought the world of him, as opposed to Clark's long held perception that Ching barely tolerated him. He supposed there was something to be said for praise from those who usually begrudge it. Ching was no sycophant, nor was he a liar. The only explanation was that he believed the things he was saying about Clark. Clark figured you didn't have to like someone to respect them, and though Ching's attitude toward him had changed ever so slowly in the last few weeks, he was still surprised to know that the other man actually did respect him.
"Councilor, are you satisfied as to Kal El's credentials?" Shai inquired.
"I am satisfied that Lieutenant Commander Ching's word is as good a vouchsafe as one could want," the councilor replied.
Another councilor stood and spoke. "I and others have spoken with Kal El during his journey to New Krypton and our opinion of him was favorable. I believe his desire to help us is honest and that despite the fact that he was denied his proper training, he is equal to the task. If the Lieutenant Commander is willing to guarantee his fitness, then I, too, am satisfied.
"Then if there are no further objections," Shai continued. "Let us proceed with the vote, first on the issue of the accession of Zara to the position of First Minister of New Krypton. All in favor?"
The aye votes were quickly tallied. "All opposed?" Shai demanded. Zara's confirmation was easily assured. "Now to the issue of Kal El's accession..."
"Hold!" a voice from the back of the chambers boomed. A tall, thin man with slicked back brown hair and a neatly trimmed goatee stood up. "I object to these proceedings," he stated calmly.
"Nor, you have no standing to object," Shai responded angrily.
"On the contrary, I have all the standing required. My name has been put forward as an alternative to Kal El. Unlike him, I am one of you, my place is here on New Krypton, its people are my people." Ching signaled discretely to his guards before placing himself in front of Zara.
"Bad form, Commander," Nor chastised him. "I am a free citizen of New Krypton, in violation of no laws, besides, you don't think I came alone, do you?"
"He is right, Commander, you have no authority to arrest or remove him from these premises," a voice from the assembly added.
"He is a threat to the First Minister," Ching growled.
"This body is corrupt and it turns to a mongrel betrayer of the people to rescue it from its own failings. The decisions you make here carry no weight with the people. But if you insist on carrying out your charade, so be it. When he fails to protect our people from danger, do not say that you were not warned."
Clark stared at Nor - a man who had been his enemy in theory long before this meeting. Nor's face was expressionless, his eyes dark and unreadable. Clark guessed the only reason that Nor wasn't being attacked by Ching's men was that the Council, fragmented as it was, threatened to splinter even more over the issue of Nor. Several of the Councilors previously had seemed hesitant to blame Nor for the attacks on the settlements and outposts. Some had hoped that a negotiated settlement could be reached and had registered their support for Kal El on the condition that peaceful methods toward solving the problems be attempted first.
Nor and the men on either side of him left the assembly hall, unimpeded by the guards. A commotion rose up among the Councilors. They murmured among themselves about the significance of Nor's unexpected appearance.
"Secure the chambers!" Ching ordered his forces. "And sweep the perimeter." The guards rushed to comply as Ching returned to Zara's side.
"There will be order in these chambers," Shai demanded. "Let us return to the vote. On the issue of the accession of Kal El to the position of First Minister of New Krypton, what say you? All in favor?"
Clark waited in trepidation as the vote was taken. It was going to be close.
"All opposed?"
The nays were tallied and Shai mulled over them for a long moment as Clark, Ching, and Zara waited with bated breath. "By a majority of a quorum of this body, Zara and Kal El have been confirmed as its First Ministers. Their accession is immediate." Shai pounded his gavel.
********
The announcement that Lois Lane was leaving her position as an investigative reporter wasn't particularly surprising to the veteran members of the Planet, though they and the rookies alike had a tough time imagining a Daily Planet without Lois Lane. What was surprising, to every member of the staff save two, was the reason -- she was pregnant. Most couldn't help but think that when it rained, it poured for Lois. On top of losing her fiancé, she was now facing the intimidating task of raising a child alone, and Lois didn't strike any of them as the maternal type. Nevertheless, there was no challenge they would have placed beyond her and the way she'd held up in Clark's absence had been no less than inspiring.
Announced that morning, news of Lois's impending departure fueled the gossip machine all day long. Eduardo, and several of the other reporters stood around the coffee machine and spoke in low tones, constantly scanning the newsroom for Lois's presence.
"I can't believe it," Eduardo began as he sipped his coffee.
"First she loses him four days before they're supposed to get married, now she finds out she's pregnant," Stephanie, the society columnist who had replaced Cat Grant, mused aloud.
"Unless she knew before he was taken," Rick, one of the younger Sports reporters, replied. "I mean, she really doesn't look pregnant yet, but what do I know?"
Eduardo shrugged. "I guess it's possible."
"If it were me, I'd have fallen apart a long time ago," Stephanie confessed. "I don't know how she does it."
"I guess she just doesn't have a choice," Rick said. "What else is she supposed to do?"
"What really gets me," Eduardo said, "is Clark. He's out there somewhere, maybe dead, maybe not, but most likely he had no idea that he left his fiancée knocked up."
"Oh that's real sensitive," Stephanie shot back.
"Hey, all I'm saying is that any way it comes out, this situation sucks. Say Clark is okay, and he comes back. Suddenly, the world's biggest Boy Scout has been a deadbeat dad, and he didn't even know it. Say he isn't, say he's dead, and Lane's stuck raising the kid all by herself. Chances are, she'll never know what happened to Kent. Let's just say I don't envy her."
Rick nodded in seemingly reluctant agreement.
"And two months ago, if you'd asked me to name the one person who had everything and had it all together, I would have said Lois," Stephanie replied sadly.
********
"Lois, you with me here?" Perry asked. He sat on the edge of his desk, frowning
Lois mentally shook herself and turned her gaze away from the door. She tried to tune back in to what Perry was saying. Sometimes she hated this superhearing. "Sorry, I was a million miles away," she replied.
"I noticed. Something wrong?"
Lois shook her head. "No, it's nothing."
