Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic FBK: Reality Check

Just a bit of unbeta'd "what if?" musing. Parenting teens is never easy, and neither is being one.

Feedback goes here!

Yikes! Is that what I have to look forward to? At least my kids can't fly! (she adds hopefully.)

Home*World* Security sounds like a scarey bunch of guys. That means that Clark had to give up his secret identity at some point to the government, and reveal Lois as his wife and that he has kids (even bratty, self-centered ones - oh, right, teenagers!). I don't know what is scarier the thought that they could have shot Kryptonite at L&C's son (even by mistake) or that the government has K or that they expect another NK invasion at some point. Why do I think that Jorden is going to be doing a LOT of walking from now on.

Hmmmm. Mentioning that the government has a K weapon in case of a NK invasion might have been a good thing to mention to said son upon him developing his flying ability. Does this mean that Superman has to issue a flight plan when he travels internationally (or does he just slow down and wave at the Satilite cameras so they can recognize his uniform)? What if the NK's came to Earth in uniforms similar to Superman's?

Great story! Loved this line here-
(My parents were lucky I didn't have superpowers- I was quite the holy terror. It's bad enough that my true calling in life is to be an evil genius.)

This was a reality check.

A very scary one.

Oooh! This should be fun!

Oooh! What did Clark do?

Hmmm...Not Clark...his son? His daughter?

Yup, definitely Clark's son! This should be fun!

Oooh, not good, kiddo. This is *Lois* you're talking to!





What a fun little story! I really did enjoy it. Something tells me that Jordan might slip up again in the future...after all, it sounds like he's inherited some of that patented Lane headstrongness.

Thanks for sharing that with us!

A delightful (to borrow Patrick's word) vignette.

My first thought when I started reading it was that the narrator was Clark, and we caught him after his primal scream upon having witnessed Lois agreeing to marry Lex. Then I thought it was Clark post-S4. But soon thereafter I realized that this was a next-gen story.

I can understand the government wanting to keep an eye on all Kryptonians after the invasion, but I wonder whether that makes Clark (and now Jor-El Jr., so to speak -- I love the subtle way L&C named him in tribute to Clark's biological father.) feel just a bit under the microscope. I know I wouldn't want to have to live like that. But Clark seems not only to understand the reasoning, but also to have come to terms with it.

I wonder how they track his movement? Does he have to wear a special device that transmits his location and lets the government know that that particular flying humanoid is one of the good guys? I would love to read the story of how Tom (or, possibly, his predecessor) first approached Clark and what Clark's initial reaction was.

Your vignette took less time to read than it has taken me to think about it -- that, in my mind, is a mark of an excellent short story.

Joy,
Lynn

Lynn - Maybe Tom is part of the Men In Black?

Also, I *so* didn't get the subtle reference to Jor-El!

I was thinking that too.

You're not alone, there, DC.

HG: What a cute story! And I missed Jor-El too. What a great reference. Doesn't look like it needs any beta to me!
r/
Artemis
P.S. We saw the new MIB 3 movie and it is really cute!

Feedback! Yay!

This story got its start when my oldest (a girl, in my case) turned 18 and I realized that, except for the pursestrings, I no longer had any real power (as opposed to influence) over her. A few years ago a group of high school students ran away from my town. The police tracked them down in another state and sent all the 17-year-olds back home to their parents. But one of the students was 18, and the police let him stay. He was an adult, so he could move away from home if they wanted to--nothing Mom and Dad could do about it.

Virginia--Yep, Clark has a bad habit of putting off important conversations a little too long. As for how the government know it's him, I like Lynn's transponder idea. I think it's time to issue one to Jordan as well.

Mouse--Scared straight for the superpowered is exactly the idea. I don't think Tom would actually do as much as he's implying to Jordan that he might. But he doesn't want any more late night calls from Canada either.

Morgana--Yes, it's scary stuff, but that's the world that Jordan lives in. After the NK invasion, any government worth its salt has to have contingency plans for a superpowered threat. Having their movements tracked is the price that Clark and Jordan have to pay for the fact that humans can't just assume that all Kryptonians are friendly.

DC--What delightfully detailed feedback. You reacted just the way that I hoped you would, and you saw the humor in the story. That makes me happy.

Lynn--I'm so glad you enjoyed the story, and that it stayed with you. That's the fun part about first person narrative--you can play with the readers' minds a little and make them have to figure things out for themselves. Yeah, I'll bet that was an interesting conversation between Tom (or his predecessor) and Clark. It probably started with Tom letting Clark Kent know that the government knew who Superman was and how and why.

Thank, you, Artemis! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I hadn't thought about that, but it would fit.

But you thought of MiB, so I guess we're even.

Joy,
Lynn

Like this - it's pretty much canon in the comics that governments, Batman, etc. have contingency plans to take out Superman and other Kryptonians if necessary, and of course part of that would be keeping tabs on them.

Re Homeworld Security - we have this organization as canon in Stargate SG-1 and mentioned in at least one episode of Dr. Who. MIB might be involved too, of course, wonder what other agencies might have fingers in the pie?

I was just remembering...Something like this was done by DC in "Superman: Secret Identity."


Spoiler alert


The story followed the life of an individual in the "real" world who was named after the comic book character Clark Kent. Like his namesake, he develops superpowers. The story follows him from the blossoming of his powers in his teen years until he is an old man. Part of the story involves him being kept track of by the government. I highly recommend the story.

Joy,
Lynn

I'm glad you like it, Marcus. I don't follow the comics, but it just makes sense to me.

What a wonderful story, Happy.

You covered so much - the emotions of the son, the strength of the family, a viable explanation for how he'd been tracked, a dash of humour, and a glimpse of next generation life - in just a few words.

Great job!

Corrina.

Thanks, Corrina. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Hi Michelle!
Great to see a new story up from you

No idea about the title…

Hmm…Clark? Doesn’t sound like him.

Junior Clark?

No. Must be grown-up Clark, since he’s calling her Lois.

Oh dear. What did he do this time? Or is that during the aftermath of Contact? Which wasn’t in August, so…

Hmm…That really could be Clark Junior. Or Mini-Lois for that matter.

Oh boy. Also, boy. Not girl. Oh, that could have been fun

So, sixteen?

Actually eighteen?

Kryptonite.

Well, he doesn’t really need a car.

/points to green rocks/

Michael

Hi Michael!

I love your wonderfully detailed feedback. I don't have further plans for Jordan, but you never know. I hope the muse will deliver a few more one-shots--they're a lot of fun to write. My two potential longer stories are both stubbornly refusing to gel.

You're very welcome Looking forward to shorts or longs

Michael