WHAM WARNING – For those of you that insist on a WAFFy ending at this point you should go back and re-read Volume 1 Lois Lane Mother of Utopia. This chapter starts with the creation of a new universe which had a different outcome.
For reference purposes the following will hold true throughout.
Universal Locator Designation Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 - Canon Lois and Clark universe also called – Prime Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 036 – Canon Alt Clark universe also called – Alt 1
At around 10:00 AM Lois got a telegram. Since telegrams are so unusual it piqued the interest of all present including Perry. Lois said, “I wonder who sent this to me.”
Perry said, “Why don’t you open it and find out?”
She looked around to make sure that she had everyone’s attention and then replied, “Okay” and slowly opened it. She then read it out loud to all those assembled around her.
“Lois Lane, Advance notice. I have you scheduled for a delivery in seven months. Signed, The Stork”
Perry, who had been reading over her shoulder looked at her and said, “Is this some kind of joke?”
Lois and Clark both laughed and said, “No.”
“Well, congratulations you two! It’s been a long time in coming, but, I’m happy for you.”
Jimmy said as he was clapping Clark on the back, “CK! You da MAN!!! Way … to … *go*.”
Clark said, “Thanks, Chief, Jimmy, everyone. We are extremely happy about this, but, I guess you could tell.”
“Seven months huh? Lois, I don’t suppose I’ll be able to convince you to cut back any?”
“Chief, I’m pregnant, not dying. I’ll be fine. Right now I’m just really tired.”
“Well, darlin’, if you need to rest, you can use the couch in my office any time.”
“Thanks, Chief.” She laughed, “I’ll probably take you up on that.”
“Alright folks, the entertainment is over. We still have a paper to put out. Let’s get back to work.”
A short time later the child within her began to manifest its own aura. That was the point at which Lois’ tiredness disappeared and she developed a tremendous feeling of well being.
Imperceptible to human or even superhuman senses there was a disruption of the space/time continuum when the child’s aura manifested itself. What could most easily be described as a ‘snap shot’ of the current universe - Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 was created, although it was slightly out of phase with the original. This was caused by a difference in the vibratory characteristics of the copy. A later analysis of the data would show that a new universe had been created with vibratory characteristics Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -124.
In a doubly locked closet sat a device. There was nothing which would distinguish it as anything unusual. It was simply a featureless cube approximately 1 meter per side which made a very soft humming sound. The only markings on it were “Property of TTEMPO”.
The key question was, however, what caused the creation of the ‘new’ universe? The data was recorded and a detailed comparison of the events of the time line to the recorded time of the disruption and universe creation would be done later. Much later as it turned out. This was a LONG TERM experiment. But then, when you are talking about people that can travel through time; anything was possible.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Universal Locator designation Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -124 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
In the normal course of time Jonathan Joel Kent was born to loving parents. Two years after Jon came Lara Martha. Then they had the twins, Celeste and Sean. Then came Jessica, James Perry (Jimmy), Lucy Ellen and Sam.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * July 30, 2031 AD 7:30 PM local time (Sidereal) Outside Metropolis, New Troy Kent residence, Wisteria Lane * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A, for want of a better term, portal opened in the air just over the walkway which led up to the house on Wisteria Lane. Herb, the 1917 persona, stepped through and then did a final check of the information on the display of the TaDT. To outward appearances the TaDT could be a smart phone and it could even surf the web if need be, but, in actuality it was a marvel of technology. It was a blend of Kryptonian and future Earth technology capable of creating openings in the space/time continuum allowing for passage from one of the universes within the greater multiverse to another. Herb looked at the display and read:
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -124 July 30, 2031 AD 7:30 PM local time (Sidereal) Metropolis, New Troy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Satisfied that he was at the correct location and time he placed the TaDT in his pocket. It automatically locked itself and would not turn back on until Herb handled it again. It was coded to his bioelectriomagnetic signature which is unique to each individual and disappeared at death.
At TTEMPO Herb had received a letter from Lois and Clark in Prime which had been more or less placed in a time capsule dated for delivery to him in 2454 revealing to him the true answer to the mystery of the multiple Lois Lane/Clark Kent reporting teams and how they had duped him as well as the entire population of the Earth for over three hundred years. He was here to see just how different this universe was from Prime. Herb walked up to the door, reached up and knocked on it and waited patiently for it to be answered. When it was, he was greeted by a stunningly beautiful blond woman with long straight hair of about 25 years of age. She was wearing a maternity dress in dark burgundy.
“May I help you?” she said after looking him over.
Herb was speechless for a few seconds. This *definitely* was not the individual he was expecting to meet at the door. After clearing his throat Herb removed his derby hat and held it in both hands in front of him as he replied, somewhat hesitantly, “Uh, Yes, Un, I would like to speak with Lois Lane-Kent if you please. My name is Herbert Wells. I’m an old acquaintance of hers.” His surprise was evident in the unconscious habit he had developed of shuffling his hat in his hands, spinning it by shuffling his hands around the brim. The more nervous he was the faster he spun the hat and he was spinning it rather fast at this point.
“Won’t you come on in then and make yourself comfortable in the living room while I get her?” Seeing what he was doing she reached out and took Herb’s hat and placed it on a table in the foyer. She then escorted Herb into the living room and saw to it that he was comfortable before she exited and proceeded to another part of the house.
After a wait of something over 15 minutes an older but still very attractive Lois Lane came in. She was dressed in a gray pinstripe business suit, which matched the color of her hair, a jacket that came to below the waist and a skirt that fell well below the knee. A white blouse with a high neck and frilly collar and gray ribbon tie and low heeled shoes completed the ensemble. As she came in from the hallway Lois approached Herb and held out her hand in greeting. Herb stood up and took her hand in his. “Herb, sorry I had to make you wait, I wasn’t exactly presentable. It’s been a long time since you’ve visited us. To what do we owe this honor? More trouble in the alternate universe that you need us to help with?”
“No, not this time.” <Talk about Déjà vu>
Getting a worried look on her face she asked, “Is Tempus on the loose again?”
“My gracious no, not this time. This is more on the lines of a *social* call, if you will.” Herb said, playing out the scene he had acted out previously.
Looking quite relived at this news, Lois said, “Clark’s out on patrol right now, but should be returning shortly.”
After they had both taken seats Herb began, “I have been in the process of updating the Kent Family History and I would like to have your help with it. The, uh, young lady that answered the door, who was she?”
“That was our daughter-in-law, Jennifer or Jen for short. She and our son Jon moved in with us when we bought the new homestead. Jen is expecting our first grandchild in about two months. We were thrilled when they decided to join us here. It will give me an opportunity to help her with our grandchild full time now that we’ve retired from the Planet. I’m going to be a grandmother Herb! I can’t wait. You know, it was just like what happened to Clark and me. For Jon it was love at first sight. It took a little time for Jen to make up her mind. At least she didn’t fight it the way I did. They started dating right away.”
We had taken a vacation and gone to the Kent farm for the first couple of weeks of July. It was July 5th and the whole family had gone to Smallville Lake for the day. We were going to picnic and swim.
One thing that all of the Kent women had in common was their feminine form. They were all at the top when it came to ranking feminine beauty and if they had all entered the contest for the Corn Queen, it would have been a four way tie. One of the problems that Clark had was the fact that all of his daughters knew just how beautiful they were and enjoyed showing off their beauty so when they were on the beach, only the skimpiest swim suits would do. The guys were almost as bad. They weren’t vain but they knew that thanks to their Kryptonian physiology they had bodies like extreme athletes and they also wore as little as possible at the beach.
On Friday, July fifth they were at the lake and the girls were playing two on two beach volley ball to a crowd of male admirers and among them was the life guard.
Jon happened to glance out to the float and was attracted to a girl that had just swum out. As she climbed up the ladder Jon used his telescopic vision to get a good look at her. His breath was taken away at the sight of her. She was wearing a black bikini top which barely covered the essentials and extremely brief red bikini bottoms with a yellow band, almost like a belt as the top strap. Jon marveled at the fact that her bikini was a match for his uniform and was mesmerized by her and just stood there frozen as he watched her. She was a vision of beauty! She was the only girl there that could rival his sisters in the beauty department. Her beauty was in stark contrast to his sisters though; all of his sisters had dark hair inherited from their parents. This girl was a platinum blond and she had a knockout figure which was amply displayed by the extremely brief bikini.
She crossed the float and climbed up on the diving board and walking out to the end gave a couple of experimental bounces before returning to the float end of the board. She did her approach and bounced on the end of the board, went into a short arc and hit the water cleanly.
Jon watched for her to surface and when approximately fifteen seconds had elapsed he started to worry. He took off at a run and had a hard time restraining himself and maintaining a normal human speed as he crossed the beach to the water. He hit the water in a shallow dive and stayed underwater and started to fly, cleaving the water like a torpedo. He arrived in the vicinity of the float within seconds and started using his enhanced vision to locate her. When he spotted her she was tangled in some submerged debris which had been washed into the lake from a storm the previous month. She was unconscious as he freed her from the debris and brought her to the surface.
As soon as he had her head above water he started administering mouth to mouth resuscitation. As he did so, when his lips came into contact with hers he felt something akin to an electric shock pass between them. It startled him but didn’t keep him from doing what needed to be done. He gave her a couple of breaths and then started to move her back to shore. When he got into shallow water he picked her up and carried her to the beach where he continued his life saving measures, talking to her as he did, “Come on, breathe. Come on, I know you can do it, breathe. Come on and breathe.”
Suddenly she started coughing and spitting up water. Jon lifted her up and pulled her into his chest in an embrace. As she started to come to her left arm came up and around his neck and her right arm came up under his left and across his back.
After a couple of minutes she realized the position she was in and pulled back to look Jon in the face. Jon asked, “Are you okay now?”
She asked, “What happened? All I remember is I dove off the board and suddenly I was caught.”
Jon replied, “I was watching and when you didn’t come back up I swam out to find you. Once I had you free I brought you back to shore. I’m Jon, by the way, Jon Kent.”
“Hi Jon Kent, Jen, Jennifer Jenkins, pleased to meet you. You’ll never know just how pleased.” She looked at the way he was holding her and relaxed in his arms. She used her arm around his neck to pull him down and she kissed him. When she released the kiss she said, “Thanks, Jon Kent. You saved my life.” When her lips touched his she felt the same electric like jolt that Jon had when he was doing the mouth to mouth and it surprised her. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
Jon picked her up and carried her over to his towel and laid her on it before sitting down next to her. Before he was able to get settled she noticed a very prominent bulge in the front of his Speedos and began to smile a Mona Lisa smile.
She propped herself up on her elbows and they talked. They talked and they talked and they talked some more. Neither of them was inclined to do anything that would break the rapport that they had established. Jon found out that Jen was a second cousin to Lana Lang and that she was eighteen. The single item that he discovered that made him happiest was the fact that she didn’t have a boyfriend.
Before the end of the day Jon had her contact information and asked, “Would you like to go to the movies? They are doing a ‘Back to the Future’ marathon at the Talon. They’re going to show all three movies, back to back.”
Jen said, “Only if you promise to buy me pop corn.”
Jon began to smile as he said, “The biggest tub they have, if we can share.”
She laughed and said, “You’re on. We’ll share.”
Before the end of the vacation Jon and Jen had spent the majority of their time together.
Lois and Clark had seen what was going on and had allowed things to happen naturally. Clark knew just what Jon was going through and he and Lois had asked if they could have a talk with him.
Jon knew what they wanted to talk about and was surprisingly relaxed as they sat down in the living room of the old farm house with his parents.
Clark started it, “Well, Jon, how are things going?”
“You mean with Jen?”
Lois said, “Yep, how are things going. You’ve been spending a lot of time with her.”
“Yeah, I guess I have.” He got a little bit of an embarrassed look as he asked, “Dad, how did you know that mom was the one?”
Clark responded, “I just knew. From the first moment I laid eyes on your mom I knew that she was the one.”
Lois gave Clark a very loving look and added, “It wasn’t so easy for me. It took quite a while for your dad to convince me that he was Mister Right. Once he did though, once I realized that he was the one for me, we still didn’t have an easy time of it. It was like the fates were conspiring against us, trying to keep us apart. I just hope you have an easier time of it. Do you think she’s the one?”
Jon replied, “Yeah, I think she’s the one. When I’m with her I don’t see anyone else and when I’m not with her all I can think about is her. It’s like I have this hollow spot in my chest that only she can fill.”
Clark replied, “Okay, well, you know, you’re going to have to tell her, but you really need to be sure, after all, it’s not just you, the entire family is involved. How do you plan to handle it?”
“Jen’s only eighteen. I think I want to date her for a while to make sure. She’s been accepted at MetU starting in the fall in the primary education teacher program. I think that by the time she is a sophomore we should be sure. If we are I’d like to propose and then tell her next year.
Lois spoke up, “Clark, she’s part of Lana’s family. Will that complicate matters?”
After giving it a moment’s thought he replied, “No. I don’t think that will be a problem. We know the Lang family pretty well. I think that if there was a problem Pete or Lana would let us know. Why don’t we have a talk with them?” Turning to Jon he said, “That is, of course, with your permission.”
Jon replied, “Actually, I’d like to do that myself. Do you mind?”
Lois replied, “That would be preferred. We only offered in case you would be too embarrassed.”
“I can handle it. I’ll just talk to Uncle Pete and Aunt Lana and ask if they have any problem with me getting serious with their niece.”
Clark replied, “That sounds like the best way to handle it. I’m proud of you son.”
Lois chimed in with, “Actually, that’s, we’re both proud of you. We always have been.”
Humbly he replied, “Thanks Mom. I know you are and I always want you to be. You two are my heroes. I would never want to do anything to disappoint you guys.”
Lois responded, “We could *never* be disappointed with anything you do. You’re a chip off the old block. You make us very proud.”
As Lois finished telling the story she gave a quick wrap-up, “They were engaged the following year and Jon brought her in on our secret. The summer she graduated they were married and they are every bit as happy as we could hope they would be. Jen’s not only a beautiful girl in appearance she also has a beautiful personality and we love her to pieces. She’s more daughter than daughter-in-law.”
Just as Lois was finishing up they heard a whooshing sound and Clark entered from the hallway. He was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt and looked all of 25 to 30 years of age. He walked over to Lois and kissed her on the cheek. . Then he reached for Herb’s hand in greeting. “Herb, it’s so good to see you. So, what brings you around? I hope it isn’t another problem in the alternate universe.”
“No, as I have been explaining to Lois, this is more in the nature of a social visit. I have been in the process of updating the Kent Family History and had some questions. Lois has been kind enough to have provided the answers that I was looking for.”
Herb marveled at the fact that they didn’t know that at this point, they *were* in an alternate universe, both from the one they were thinking of and also the *original*, or Prime. Ever since he had received that letter from Lois and Clark in Prime at TTEMPO he knew what was happening with them. He was here to see just what differences there were between the two universes. The difference had become apparent shortly after Lois had walked into the living room. This Lois was *actually* aging.
Right about then a younger version of Lois entered the room, walked over to Clark and gave him a hug and then did the same to Lois. Keeping an arm around her waist Lois turned her around and introduced her to Herb. “Herb, this is our daughter Lucy. Luce this is an old friend of ours, Herb Wells.”
Herb thought, <My, my, she's grown into a beautiful woman. I remember seeing her when she was six months of age. She was a beautiful baby then so it makes sense that she would be a beautiful woman.>
Lucy stepped over toward Herb and stuck out her hand and said, “Pleased to meet you.” in a very forthright manner. Apparently any friend of her parents was okay in her book.
“Luce, would you please go to the kitchen and rustle up some refreshments for us? Herb, would you like some tea?” …
It was a bright sunny room with a southern exposure. There was a profusion of flowers in vases on just about every flat surface that could be found. The signatures on the cards read like a Who’s Who of the Journalistic universe, however there was a large area devoted to family. Most of the cards bore wishes for a speedy recovery. Lois was in a wheelchair next to the bed. Lois was still an attractive woman even in her 90s although she was quite frail in appearance with gray hair and glasses.
Clark, with graying hair and made up to look older than he is, was sitting in a chair next to her. In truth, the gray hair was a wig. Bernie Klein’s prediction that Clark would age at a much slower rate than Lois had come true.
They were talking, reminiscing about their various adventures while they were investigative reporters. For the last 10 years of their employment at the Planet they had been co-Editors-In-Chief and just as effective in that role as they had been as reporters. As they moved from topic to topic, often finishing each other’s sentences the easy familiarity acquired from over 60 years of marriage was very apparent. Eventually they discussed the arrangements for preparing the house to accommodate her needs and her move home from the Neill Center.
“Clark, I don’t want to go to the hospital this time. There really is no need. Since Celeste, Sean and Jessie are living here and all of them are doctors, why should I need to go to a hospital. I just want to stay here in my home with my family. I know that you don’t want me to be saying these things, but we have to be realistic. I am old and my body is starting to shut down. I hate it that I am going to have to leave you like this, but we have known ever since Bernie told us that your rate of aging would “stabilize and slooooowwww”, (I still hate the way he said that), that it would be happening some day. I want you to hear me say, one last time, that I wouldn’t have traded one day with you for a lifetime with anyone else.”
There was a radio playing softly in the background. A song came on and they listened to it and the lyric caught their attention.
"Come and sit here by my side For our time will soon be gone And these tears I cannot hide For it’s your turn to move on."
Lois looked into Clark’s eyes and she saw unshed tears. She listened more closely to the lyrics.
"I know you were never really mine You were given to me on Borrowed Time Now I shall stay here on my own For I know you’ll be called home."
Hearing this line brought home to Lois just what Clark was thinking.
"Now I know I must be strong For what else can I do? Won’t be easy to go on But I must learn to live without you."
Lois gestured for Clark to join her on the bed. Clark climbed up on her bed and lay next to Lois taking her in his arms as the song continued.
"You’re the light cannot be born And there’s nothing I should fear For you’ll go no further than God And God is very near."
Clark was openly weeping now.
"Turn out the light Let me love you One more whole night hold me tight tell me everything’s gonna be alright."
Lois turned her head and buried it in his chest as her tears started to flow.
"Now it’s time to let go Just part of the plan So many answers you don’t know Some day we’ll understand Some day."
"Turn out the light Let me love you One more whole night hold me tight tell me everything’s
gonna be alright." (6)
For a long time they remained in each other’s arms, comforting and being comforted
Finally, Lois pulled back and looked Clark in the eyes. “Clark, we have known, ever since Bernie told us about your rate of aging, that we were on borrowed time, but … I don’t want you to live out your life being lonely.” She got a very determined look on her face as she said the rest. “I want you to find me again. You know how Herb took us into the past to help remove the curse. That means that I will be back again and I need you to promise me that you will look for me because then, I can die happy; knowing that we will be together again. We’ve had a long and happy life together and there is no reason we can’t do it again. In the time I have left, I am going to concentrate with all my might and will power on us and what we have had and meant to one another, what you have meant to me. I can only hope that some of that will carry over with me.” Lois, with Mad Dog Lane determination set her mind to do just that. For the rest of the time they had left along with the easy banter there was a determined look on Lois’ face, committing even more deeply than ever every memory of their time together.
Obituary: Lois Ellen Lane - Kent Sept. 23, 1967 – Sept 23, 2063 Award winning journalist, former Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet passed away last night in her sleep in the arms of her husband of over 60 years. She is survived by her husband Clark J. Kent, 8 children, 23 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, her sister and her sister’s family. She will be missed. Interment will be in the Kent family plot in Smallville, Ks In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Superman Foundation.
The next day in a San Francisco paper a birth notice was printed. September 23, 2063 Lorelei L. Lane Girl, 8 pounds 13 ounces 17 ½ inches long Born to Phillip and Doris Lane This city
