Clark and Lois The Lost Years Matchmaker Chronicles Vol 3 32/46
By Ken Janney
This version is rated PG-13
* denotes emphasis *
< denotes thoughts >
[ playback of a recording or TV Commentary] / telepathic communications /
(#) footnotes
As always comments are welcome. (ken.janney@kjanney.com)
Reminder:
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
Previously:
“Speakin’ of the Congo, when are you goin’ to write that part up so that I can see it? That part has to be at least Kerth material.”
“Chief, I just sent the film down to get it developed. I was planning to have Jack do some research for me. The information he gathers for me will be added to the file we’re building. If we can get some more on Luthor added to what we have on him in the gun running story like the Prometheus sabotage, he will be going away for a very long time and it will definitely be Pulitzer material. He was the source of the guns here in Metropolis. We have the proof. We’ll write it up, but we need to hold it back until we have the complete package.”
“Wow, okay, run with it. Book the Honeymoon Suite at the Lexor for the time around the ball. Write up whatever you need printed to build the cover story. I’ll intercede with the suits upstairs if there is any need, just get me that story.”
“You’ve got it Perry. Lois and I’ll do our best.”
By the time they were back at their desks, Jack was waiting for Clark. “What do you need Mr. K?”
Clark pulled out the notes from the warehouse. “Jack, I’d like you to trace these weapons from manufacture to last owner. Think you can do it?”
“Sure Mr. K. Piece of cake.”
“Thanks Jack. If I’m not here, please give the data to Mr. White. Put it into an envelope with my name on it.”
“You got it, Mr. K.” Jack walked off whistling.
And now:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 32 – More Changes to History
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
While Clark had been speaking with Jack, Lois’ phone had rung. “Daily Planet, Lois Lane.”
“Lois?!?”
“Lucy?!?”
“Lois, where have you been? I’ve been frantic! I’ve been trying for months to get hold of you! Every time I have called in I’ve been told you were on rest leave. When I’ve tried your home number, I couldn’t even leave a message because your message machine was full. Then I saw your byline on the shuttle story and I knew you were back. How are you? What was the problem?”
“Lucy, it was nothing. Where are you now? What have you been doing?”
“That’s why I’ve been trying to get hold of you. I’ve been finishing up on my training. I’m now officially a computer nerd.”
“Well, congratulations! What kind of work are you going to be doing?”
“I don’t know yet. I could go into network administration or programming.”
“Wow, you’re a *real* computer nerd. We could use someone like you here at the Planet!”
“That’s another thing I was calling about. I’ve met someone. He’s a computer jockey like me but he wants to start his own business. His name’s James Olsen. He’s really nice. We’ve been dating for a while now and we’re getting kinda serious. I sorta feel like I need to hold off though, being the younger sister and all. I feel like I should wait for you to be married first.”
“Lucy, don’t you let that hold you back. Go for it girl. Have you heard from Daddy or Mother?”
“Yeah, actually Daddy is out here and he’s getting back into medicine, legitimate medicine. Mother is back with him as his nurse. She’s in AA and hasn’t had a drink in six months and he is not stepping out on her. It was really tough on her when we thought you were missing. The fact that she avoided drinking during that period is promising. We couldn’t imagine what the ‘sick leave’ meant.”
“Luce, do you think you could arrange to get together with Mother and Daddy and let me know where and when?”
“Sure, what’s goin’ on Lois?”
“I’ve got some news, but I want to break it to you all at once, not piecemeal. Here’s my new home number. Make the arrangements and get back to me.” She gave her the number. “Some time mid week would be good. Just call and let me know.”
“Okay sis, I’ll try for Wednesday. How would that be?”
“That should be just fine. I’ll look for your call. Bye Luc.”
“Bye Lois. I’ll call soon.”
Lois went over and sat on the corner of Clark’s desk again. “I just had a call from my kid sister.”
“Good, I was hoping we’d be able to track her down.”
“She tells me she’s met someone. His name’s James Olsen ..”
With a shocked expression on his face he blurted out, “Who?!?!?!?!?!?”
Surprised at his response she asked, “James Olsen, is there a problem?”
“Conference room.” He got up and escorted her into the nearest conference room and closed the door. “In 1997, James Olsen was a billionaire who made his money in computer programming. He had his own conglomerate. He bought the Daily Planet from Franklin Stern. You say Lucy and he are dating?”
“Wow, yeah, they’re dating. She says that they’re pretty serious.”
Searching his memory to ensure that he was actually relating the facts correctly Clark stated. “In 1997 they are not married and if they get married, then that is yet another change in history. I had been in contact with her when I had started looking for you and she had really been crushed by your disappearance. She had really withdrawn into herself.”
With some joy in her voice Lois replied, “She said she was waiting until I got married since she was the younger sister. Now that *we* are married it opens the door for her. Wow, change upon change, upon change. I asked her to arrange a meeting with Mother and Daddy.”
Almost in shock Clark asked, “What? Say that again.”
“I asked her to arrange a meeting with Mother and Daddy. She said that they were back together and Mom is in AA and doing well.”
Responding in some disbelief Clark said, “That’s another change. When you were declared dead your mother drank herself into her grave. Your father went from one hair brained get rich quick scheme to another.”
With a relieved tone in her voice Lois replied, “I must say, I prefer this version of the future to the one you were just telling me about.”
“Me too, don’t get me wrong. Someone once said that time is fluid like a river with currents, backwash and eddies.(8) We have changed the flow of time and I guess that these are some of the results of those changes. These are all changes that have apparently flowed from your survival. We just have to hang on and see where this current takes us.” He pulled her into a hug. “I wouldn’t have wanted to leave things the way they were for anything. I’ve got you with me now and that’s all that matters. As it is, all of these are positive changes. I can’t wait to see what else happens.”
“Luce said that she would try to arrange a meeting Wednesday. They’re all out in San Francisco, actually, Silicon Valley, do you think we could chance flying out there or should we phone?”
“I think it’ll have to be by phone. Otherwise it would be too late a night and we have so much to do.”
They had some planning to do so they left and after grabbing a bite to eat they went home.
“What kind of costume are you thinking of for the ball?”
“We want to make it look good so I think I need to wear the full set. That means I need a bare midriff. Something on an oriental or perhaps Persian style I think. Something like what I wore to that dance club in Brazzaville. A halter top with a see through over blouse. Hot pants style bottoms with see through pantaloons. Think of ‘I Dream of Jennie’ with a veil. Or a long skirt with a long slit”
“Okay, but to pull that off you’re going to have to work on your tan. It’s the weekend and we don’t have to be in the office. How about we pay Jacques a visit and spend the weekend onboard the Ubuntu?”
“I’d love it.” A wicked little grin slowly emerged as she continued. “Especially since I won’t have to pack much in the way of clothes.”
That afternoon they packed a few things and after darkness fell they took off. Clark flew them straight up until they were out of sight and then bent his course south-eastward.
This was Lois’ first really long flight and she loved every minute of it. Part of the time she just relaxed in his arms while every now and then she would sneak in a few kisses. She made sure that she didn’t let that get out of hand since they had a deadline and she didn’t want to have them fall out of the sky. They arrived on the outskirts of Brazzaville just before sunup, headed for the port and the Ubuntu. On the way they stopped at a market and picked up enough food for a couple of days.
Clark released the spring lines and Lois eased them out of the slip. It was still early when they anchored. When Clark returned to the after deck Lois threw her arms around his neck and gave him a very deep kiss, one which held much promise. When they broke from the kiss she said, “I just love being here on the boat with you. I have since the first day. Just the two of us … away from it all … together.”
With his arms still around her Clark said, “Ditto, I love being alone with my beautiful wife, anywhere, anytime.”
She gave him a slightly bashful look and said “Flatterer.”
Stepping back so that he could look her in the face, with a grin and a somewhat awed tone in his voice he said, “No, I always try to speak the truth! That’s one of the things I find I need to do as Superman. Superman must be perceived to be incapable of lying. He can refuse to answer questions, but when he chooses to answer it has to be truthful. That’s the only way that people will place trust in him. I’m not in the suit right now but as Superman I can truthfully say that you’re *the* most *beautiful* woman I have *ever* met! I still can’t believe that we’re together.”
“You say the nicest things. Are you trying to seduce me?”
With an arched eyebrow he asked, “Do I need to?”
She moved over and put her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. When they separated she said in a sultry tone, “You can seduce me any time you want to. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it every bit as much as you do.”
Chuckling at that he changed the subject by asking, “How about I make us a snack then we can grab some sleep. This time zone hopping can be unsettling. After a while we can sun bathe.”
“Sounds like a plan. I am kinda tired. I just thought of something. We need to do another refit. We need a married couple bunk. Right now it’s two single people bunks.”
“It might get a little crowded, but, maybe we could share your bunk. If need be, I could float next to you ...”
With a wicked grin she finished his sentence for him, “Or, I could lie on top of you, but only if you promise to seduce me.”
He was laughing as he said, “Yeah, I like that idea best of all. Let’s eat something so we can go to bed.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lex Luthor called Nigel and asked him to come to his office. When he came in Luthor asked “Nigel, I need an update on your inquiry into the newspaper reporters.”
“There has only been a single reporter absent from the Metropolis office of the Daily Planet, Lois Lane. The report is that she has been on a ‘rest leave’. The pressures of the job had been getting to her and she needed some time off. She left some time prior to the arms shipment and has only recently returned.”
“Lois Lane … I’ve heard that name. Wasn’t she involved in the investigation that broke up our car heist ring a little over a year ago?”
“One and the same. Fortunately we were able to cover our tracks and all she was able to get were the lower level operators. It was a minor hindrance at worst.”
“But a hindrance none the less. Apparently she’s back now and she is working with a partner. I saw their byline on the story about the Prometheus shuttle. Now that she’s back I want her watched. I don’t want her interfering in any of our other operations.”
“We’ll have to find out what she looks like. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen her picture.”
“See if you can get a picture from the DMV.”
“I can do that.”
“See to it that you do. That still doesn’t tell me who the pair was that was in the Congo. Continue to follow up on that. Wait a minute. There was a pair in the Congo and now Lois Lane returns from a rest leave with a new partner. If you asked me that would be too much of a coincidence.”
“The story I got was that they met on a cruise. They left the cruise ship at one of its ports of call after the Captain married them and had their honeymoon. He had been a playboy but had squandered almost all of his inheritance so when they got back he joined her at the Planet. It was all very romantic.
“Ah, but is it believable? Check on it.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Oh, and Nigel, when you get the picture have it wired to our people in the Congo and see if they recognize her.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Luthor depressed a switch on the intercom. “Mrs. Cox, have we received the report on that weapon as yet?”
“I have it right here.”
“Bring it to me, please.”
She brought it in to him and stood by as he examined it. As he read he mused aloud “Mmmm, partial finger prints, not enough to get a match. Weapon fired once since cleaning. Force required to deform the metal … What?? That much? That’s physically impossible! I never would have believed it possible to generate that much force. Surely no human hand could generate that much power. There *must* be a mistake here. Have them recheck their findings.”
“I already did Lex. This is the confirmatory report. When I saw the initial one I immediately requested confirmation. They took new weapons of the same type and used a hydraulic system to crush it. That’s how much force was needed.”
“Unbelievable!” He was stunned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In a basement workshop the Newtrich sisters were working on a project. Actually, to be more correct, Nell was working on a project because Nell was the technical brain of the operation and Lucille was the operational brain.
They had both been laid off from their respective positions, Nell as a technician in the Enhanced Optical Weapons Systems division of LexLabs and Lucille from her position as a reporter for LNN, which was another subsidiary of LuthorCorp.
Neither had been able in the last six months to find alternate employment and their funds were starting to be depleted.
They had been contacted a couple of months previous by a woman named Constance with an offer of employment; however it was something that neither of them would consider. When it was explained that they would be hired as ‘Hostesses’, they had both flatly refused. Even though they had an outstanding loan on their car and had been told that they had better maintain the payments or else they decided that they would rather rob a bank than sell themselves. They knew the source of the offer and were very angry. They had developed a determination to take out their frustrations on and have revenge against Lex Luthor as the head of LuthorCorp and the author of their difficulties.
Nell had been working on a Laser which was housed in the case of a video cam, very effectively disguising it. Power would be provided by a belt battery pack just like that used by TV crews. The only problem had been the crystal. They surely couldn’t afford a ruby rod so Nell had used a red rock crystal she had spotted in the lab. It had been small enough that before she was escorted out of the building she had been able to pocket it and take it with her. She had no idea as to exactly what it was. All she knew was that it was red like a ruby and it should focus the beam the way she wanted. She wasn’t sure exactly how well it would work though. It seemed that in the dark it emitted a red glow of its own and she didn’t know if that might not interfere with the laser beam as it was emitted. They would just have to try.
Lucille walked in while Nell was working. She was very obviously impatient with her sister. “Don’t you have that thing finished yet? Nell, the White Orchid Ball is only a few of days away. We need this ready for that event.”
“I know, I know. I’m working on it. I just need a little more time. Polishing the ends of this crystal took longer than I had imagined that it would. The ends had to be perfectly parallel in order to prevent scatter or attenuation due to deflection.” She fumbled and dropped the crystal as she was trying to get it placed in its holder within the laser. Fortunately it only fell to the desktop. If it had fallen to the floor it might have shattered. Nell quickly grabbed for it but it skittered out of reach. Lucille reached out calmly and corralled the wayward crystal. Nell was somewhat appalled when she did this because she was not wearing gloves and was getting her fingerprints and body oils all over the crystal as a result. She then handed it to Nell who opened both gloved hands to receive it.
“Nell, be careful! Don’t break that, you know we can’t afford a replacement. I thought you said I could count on you.”
“You can! It just slipped, that’s all.” She continued, muttering to herself, “Now I’ve got to clean it again.”
“Nell, things are always slipping with you. You are the most *clumsy*, butterfingered person I know. That’s one of the things that got you fired from LexLabs. You dropped that weapon you were working on. What was it called the Quinton debilitator or some such idiotic name?”
As Nell was busy re-cleaning the crystal she was shocked at the name her sister had given the weapon she had been working on. She replied with some exasperation, “It was called a Quantum Disruptor!”
“Whatever! When you dropped it, it fried the scientist that invented it before he had a chance to complete the drawings just before destroying itself!. Now it’s an incomplete project. They don’t even have the prototype to look at!”
“But it wasn’t my fault! There was a grease spot on the floor and I slipped on it! It was an accident.”
“Nell, you’re an accident just looking for a place to happen. Now tell me about this laser again. How is it going to work?”
“Well, this is my own design. I needed to take some shortcuts because we didn’t have the money to buy what I really wanted. I was able to scavenge some of the parts from old TV sets. I built the circuit board from scratch. Here, you see these? These are the capacitors. The power comes from the battery pack and passes through this inverter which changes the current from DC to AC and then this module steps up the voltage and feeds it to this bank of capacitors. They store the energy and supply it in a burst to the exciter which initiates the source … “
“Whoa, you lost me back at AC and DC. Can’t you put all of that into simple terms?”
Nell, with an exasperated look at her sister pointed at the power leads and said, “The power comes in on this wire.” Pointing at the inverter “It goes through here and gets changed from one type of energy to another.” Pointing at the capacitors she said, “The energy gets stored here until the trigger is pushed. Then it lights the lamp and this directs the beam to the crystal.” Then she pointed to the red crystal and finished in a big climax, “and then it comes out here.” She pointed to the lens.
“That’s more like it. Don’t most lasers use a ruby?”
Nell, starting to lose patience with her sister and her complete ignorance of technical matters almost shouted, “Do you really think we could afford a ruby? Where was I supposed to get the money for that?”
”Okay, okay, no ruby. What’s this red crystal?”
“I don’t know. Nobody knew. It’s just a rock crystal that was sent in for analysis from some place in Kansas. Nobody had gotten around to the analysis and it’s not likely that anyone’ll miss it. I thought that I might be able to use it so I stuck it in my pocket. The only thing that concerns me is the fact that it glows in the dark. I don’t know if that will interfere with the beam or not. That’s one of the things that I need to test.”
“There we go back to tests again. When are you going to start testing this thing?”
Nell, her frustration becoming even more evident, raised her voice even higher “I’d be able to test it sooner if you didn’t ask me so many questions!”
“Shouldn’t you be working on putting it together so that you can start the tests?”
Nell said “I know!” as she picked up the crystal and finally succeeded in placing it in the clips, pinching her finger in the process. She let out an “Ouch” and stuck the injured finger in her mouth to suck on it.
“How much more needs to be done on this? It looks like you’re finished.”
With her head close to the mechanism Nell answered in a somewhat distracted manner as she had her hands working inside the mechanism. “No, it’s not finished. I have to check and then confirm the alignment then I have to check the exciter and the power supply. Then I need to check the collimator. Then I have to recheck the alignment and then we have to run a low power test … “
“Just tell me that this is going to work!”
“It’s going to work!”
“Tell me why.”
“Because we have to get back at Lex Luthor for firing us and we don’t care how we do it. Actually the more painfully the better.”
“Can’t we skip some of those steps? It sounds like it’s going to take you more time than we have!”
Nell looked away from her work and at Lucille, her hands still buried in the mechanism and said “No, we can’t skip any step, not if you want to be sure it’s going to work the way it’s supposed to.”
“When are you going to start the testing?”
“I should be ready to start the testing tomorrow
“All right then, keep working. Just work faster I don’t want to miss the ball.”
comments go here To be continued in Chapter 33 – Ellen Lane Gets a Shock
