Clark & Lois – When Worlds and Universes Collide - Matchmaker Chronicles V 8 08/37
By KenJ <ken.janney@kjanney.com>
This version is rated PG-13
Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 – Canon Lois and Clark universe also called – Prime
Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -124 – Alternate Prime - Lori and Clark
Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 036 – Alt 1, Alt Clark and Kryptonian Lois – (Alt 1 )
Alpha -120 x Gamma 255 x Tau -190 – Alt 2 Kryptonian Lois' home universe.
Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 040 – Alt 1 alternate (Alt 3) Alt Lois and Alt Clark
Previously
Around 9:30 they had the costume judging contest. The costume judging started as a parade of all of the contestants. There was one very interested observer; Maisie. She was looking for her rescuers. There were a number of Supermen and Ultra Women but none like the costumes she had seen. Seeing these she realized that what she had seen was no store bought costume. The way it had been made, the materials, these had to have been the real thing.
At the conclusion of the parade the judges made their announcement as to the winners. It was a virtual sweep for the Kent clan. Second runner up was Little Bo Peep and her lamb. First runner up was Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Will Scarlet. First prize was awarded to a samurai and his geisha.
At the end, before everyone could disperse the sheriff, now with his hat back on, took the stage in the gazebo and made an announcement.
“While everyone was here at the party we had a series of robberies.” A gasp went up from those gathered. He continued, “The crook was caught in Maisie’s Diner by a couple of kids in costume.” Everyone started looking at the kids. He continued, “If they are here I’d like them to come forward and be recognized. This community owes them a debt of gratitude. They were dressed up like Superman and Ultra Woman and called themselves Kam … El and Ultra Woman two. If there’s anyone who knows who they are, please come forward.” Everyone started really looking closely at all of the superhero costumes.
No one made a move to go forward.
Disappointment in his voice, the sheriff said, “I’m sure we’ll be hearing about them again. They showed at least some of the powers that Superman and Ultra Woman have so they are probably their children. If they are I’m glad that they have the same motivation to help, as their parents. I’ll say this, wherever they are, thanks. Smallville thanks you.”
Maisie moved up beside the sheriff and added, “I want to add a special thanks. I’m sure that they saved my life tonight. If not for them …well, I don’t want to think about it. Thanks.”
The party broke up and families started moving to their vehicles. Mike walked with Jon and Lara as they headed for the van. Mike was beside himself. He said, “Wow! Another Superman and Ultra Woman! The sheriff called them kids. I wonder how old they are. I wish I’d seen her. I wonder what she looks like. I wonder how much like the real Ultra Woman she is. I wonder if she has a boyfriend.”
Lara was dying inside. Here she was and Mike was going bonkers over her secret identity. She wanted to hit him over the head with something, but, that would probably have given everything away.
Jon said, “I guess, sooner or later we’ll be hearing more about them. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Mike was flying out the next day so they said their goodbyes at the van and he and Lara promised each other to write and then he headed for his uncle’s truck.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Later – Back at the Kent farm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lois and Clark saw to it that the younger children were in bed and then called Jon and Lara into their bedroom.
Lois gave both of them hugs and Clark ruffled up Jon’s hair and gave Lara a kiss on the top of the head.
Clark was the first to speak, “You kids did really well on your first outing. How did you know something was happening?”
Jon told the story while his parents listened in amazement. When he finished, Clark looked at Lois and said, “Two chips of the old block. Well, what are we going to do to recognize this achievement? We should do something.” Turning to Jon and Lara Clark asked, “Do you want to make a formal announcement? You two could take over for Mom and me.” Looking at Lois he winked and said, “Wouldn’t you like to take a break and let the younger generation take up the task?”
Lois caught his wink and played along, “Yeah, it would give me the time to catch up on ‘The Ivory Tower’.”
With an air of offence at his teasing, Lara said, “Mooooommmmm, Daaaaaddddd, no I don’t want to make a formal announcement! I’m not ready for that! I need time to do my school work. Besides, Jon and I can’t fly yet.”
Clark said, “Well, I guess you have a good point there squirt. You and Jon can’t fly, yet, but, it won’t be long. Lois do you think you can wait?”
With a sigh of resignation Lois replied, “I guess I’ll have to. Oh well, I’ll just have to keep recording it. Maybe someday I’ll get a chance to catch up.”
Clark dropped the teasing tone and said, “All teasing aside, you kids did really, really good. I think that the best thing we can do is make more trips to Smallville so that you can practice here at the farm so that when the time comes, you’ll be ready.”
Lara gave her dad a hug while Jon hugged his mom and they both said, “Thanks! You guys are the best mom and dad in the world.”
From that point on, every holiday and a lot of weekends in between were spent at the farm.
Every holiday, at least, Mike just happened to be there spending time with his Uncle Wayne.
And now -
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 08 – Game Night
Monday, November 4, 2013
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Universal Locator Designation
Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 – Prime
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Jon Kent walked into homeroom. As soon as he crossed the threshold he spotted his best friend Hattie Kaplin and started to smile. Her desk was right next to his and when she looked up from her book she spotted him and smiled too.
Sitting down he said, “Hi Hattie, how was your weekend?”
“Booooorrrrriiiiiinnnnggggg! There was only one thing that kept me from dying of boredom.” She reached into her backpack and pulled out a brand new pad computer. “Ta da! At least I had this to play with. My folks bought it for me as a reward for my good grades. They think it will help in my studies. I still wish your family hadn’t gone away for the weekend. I missed hanging out with you guys. You were in Smallville. Anything interesting happen?”
Thinking about all that had happened he had a broad smile as he replied, “It’s a small town. What could happen?”
Hattie was looking at him while he was speaking and the expression on his face didn’t match up with what he was saying. There was a look of excitement and pleasure on his face even when he was asking that question, so she challenged him, “Yeah, just what could happen in a small town like Smallville, huh? All right, I can tell, you’re holding out on me. Come on, give! What happened?”
Jon was silent for a few seconds while he thought about just what he could tell Hattie. He was just about to speak when the teacher started taking roll, so Jon, thankful for the reprieve, said, “I’ll tell you later.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jon was distracted during Physics class because he was deciding just what to tell Hattie.
Could he tell her that Grandma Kent had made him his new uniform? Well, no.
Could he tell her about what they wore to the Halloween party? Definite yes.
Could he tell her what they had to eat? Probably.
Could he tell her what had happened to Miss Maisie? That would be a maybe.
Could he tell her about the thrill he had experienced the first time he did a spin change into his new Suit? No way!
Could he tell her about stopping the robbery and saving Miss Maisie? Nope
Could he tell her about turning the crook over to the sheriff? Not in a month of Sundays. That was far too embarrassing. He hadn’t given any thought to a super name. Obviously Lara had because she popped right out with Ultra Woman 2. He really didn’t want to ride Dad’s coat tails or his cape for that matter, so Superman 2, Son of Superman and Superman Junior were out of the question. When he had been put on the spot, all he could think of was his Kryptonian name, Kam-El and that’s what popped out of his mouth. What made it even worse was when the Sheriff mispronounced it as camel. How mortifying that was.
Okay, what did that leave? The costumes and the results of the costume judging.
He was shocked out of his reverie by the teacher calling on him to answer a question. Embarrassed, he had to ask for the question to be repeated. Fortunately he knew the correct answer, Archimedes. The teacher still admonished him to pay better attention in class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jon had lunch with the other guys on the football team and Hattie had eaten with some girlfriends so, right after lunch, in study hall, Hattie cornered Jon and said, “Okay, it’s later, what happened?”
Jon decided that he needed to be careful to follow his plan, so he said, “Well, it was a Halloween party and everybody was dressed up in costume. Lara and I were dressed as Maid Marian and Will Scarlet. My friend Mike Lee was dressed as Robin Hood. We won second place in the judging. Get this, Sean and Celeste were dressed as a samurai and his geisha and they won first prize!”
Laughing, Hattie clapped her hands and asked, “That’s great! Did you take any pictures? I can’t wait to see you as Maid Marian.”
“Very funny. Ha ha ha. Mom took a bunch of pictures. Say, we aren’t going anywhere this weekend. Why don’t we plan a game night for Friday?”
“Sounds good to me, it’ll be a lot better than last Friday. I missed my best friend.”
With a lopsided grin that he had inherited from his father, he asked, “You missed me, huh?”
“Not you! Lara!” Of course she was smiling as she said it so he knew that she was teasing. He still put on a hurt expression. She finally relented and said, “Oh, all right, best friends, you and Lara. There, feel better?”
“Lots. At least you put me first.”
She slapped at his arm as she said, “Don’t let it go to your head, Kent. Let’s go over these French declensions.”
He nodded and cracked open his book. They spent the rest of the study hall working.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Over the course of the week, Saturday’s events in Smallville, initially reported in the Smallville Press, a weekly paper published on Wednesdays, had made the wire services. It didn’t appear in the Metropolis papers until two days later. Since there were only two witnesses to the appearance of the two pint sized superheroes it wasn’t given much credence.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Friday, November 8, 2013
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They had been planning this weekend and Hattie had brought a small bag with her to school in the morning. She was spending the weekend with the Kents.
Since Hattie wouldn’t be taking her regular bus home Lois picked her and Jon up after school and dropped them off at the house.
They both started doing their homework and when Lara, Sean and Celeste arrived Hattie restrained herself. She wanted so much to spend time with Lara in girl talk, but they all had homework to do and her determination to excel in school took precedence and she kept her nose to the grindstone until she had it all finished. The only interruption had been snack time when Jon had prepared the snacks for everyone.
When she finally closed her last book she let out a loud sigh. She asked a rhetorical question; “Why do they really pile on the homework on Fridays? Don’t the teachers realize that we have lives outside of school?”
Jon laughed and said, “They probably just don’t remember what it was like when they were kids.”
Lara had finished her homework a little earlier and said, “Hey, while we wait for the rest of the family, let’s watch a movie!”
Hattie said, “Let me guess, ‘The Incredibles’, right?”
“Well, we could or we could watch ‘Kung Fu Panda’. I was actually thinking of an older movie, ‘Galaxy Quest’. It’s so cool! These actors from a TV show are recruited by aliens that look just like humans, to take charge of a ship they created to duplicate what they had in the show. They get into a battle and have to fight another bunch of aliens on the ship and keep it from blowing up and they had to get help from kids like us to figure out how to save the day.”
Hattie replied, “Sounds like fun. We all know that there are aliens and they can look just like us. After all, Superman and Ultra Woman are aliens, aren’t they? You can’t tell them apart from Earth people. Your mom and dad could be aliens and we’d never know it.”
Jon was getting a little uncomfortable with how close this was coming to the family secret so he changed the topic. “After Mom and Dad get home we can look at the pictures from Halloween. Lara, why don’t you put in the DVD?”
Having the same concern as Jon, Lara moved to comply and within just a couple of minutes the opening credits were running. A flaming comet crossed the screen. In the tail of the comet the name appeared and then a ship appeared out of a warp field.
Hattie was hooked. She forgot about the conversation they had been having and sat on the sofa between Lara and Jon and watched the movie.
When the actors were transported to the star base and the Thermians appeared in their natural form she was shocked and was ready to scream just as that extra guy did. Since he did, she didn’t feel the need, in fact she giggled at his reaction. Then suddenly the Thermians changed and looked human. They apologized for not having their appearance generators turned on.
Hattie grabbed the remote, paused the DVD and in an excited tone asked, “Do you think that’s how they do it?”
Puzzled, Jon asked, “Who, that’s how who do what?”
“Superman and Ultra Woman! Do you think that’s how they look so human? Do they have appearance generators to make them look human? They could really look like those Thermians and use some kind of device to look human! Wow, just think about it. There’s no way to know what they
really look like. They could be walking down the street … looking just like a normal human. They could look like you or me or your mom or dad and underneath they could look like,” she flung her hand toward the screen, “that! That just blows my mind! You know, when I become an investigative journalist, I’m going to investigate that. I’ll find out for sure.”
Jon asked, “What would you do with that information, once you have it?”
“I’d keep it a secret! That’s not something that should get around.”
Jon breathed a silent sigh of relief. Hattie would keep the secret if she found out.
About the time the movie finished, Lois and Clark with the rest of the clan arrived. Lucy shouted “Hattie!” and ran over to climb into Hattie’s lap.
Hattie gave Lucy a hug and said, “Hi Squirt! How are you?”
“Me’s fine. How’s Hattie? Is Hattie staying wis us?”
“Yeah Squirt, I’m staying the weekend.”
“Goody, goody! Me’s like Hattie.” Lucy gave Hattie a hug and then jumped down off her lap and ran to the play room.
As Lois took Sam out of his car seat and handed him to Lara, she asked, “Can you watch Sam for a little while, Sweetie? I need to get his dinner ready.”
“Sure Mom, no problem.”
Hattie asked, “Can I hold him for a while?”
Lara handed him over and Hattie fussed over Sam until Lois called for him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The evening edition of the Planet carried the story from Smallville. It was on an inside page of the ‘A’ section. The family didn’t even know it was there.
Seeing the paper which Clark had carried in Hattie asked if she could read it and was given permission.
The headline story was of a Superman rescue written by Lane and Kent. The brakes on a semi had failed as it was on a down slope with a sweeping curve. It was reminiscent of a Harry Chapin song, “Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas” only with a better outcome. Superman had prevented the accident by slowing the trailer while Ultra Woman slowed the cab. Doing it that way prevented the truck from jack-knifing and continuing its path of destruction.
It was continued on page 2 so Hattie turned there to finish the story. When she finished she saw the story from Smallville. She said, “What’s this?” She started reading the article and was getting more and more excited as she did. She practically shouted at Jon, “You were holding out on me!!!! Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Not knowing what Hattie was talking about Jon asked, “Why didn’t I tell you about what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Jon Kent! You were in Smallville when they were there!”
“When who were there?”
“The new superheroes!”
With a mystified/concerned expression Jon cautiously asked, “What new superheroes?”
“The ones that rescued,” she referred back to the article, “Maisie Matthews, the owner of Maisie’s Diner and captured the thief that was holding her hostage and threatening to kill her.”
Jon blanched and said, “Let me see that.” Lara who was also an interested party looked over Jon’s shoulder as he read the article. She whispered something in Jon’s ear that Hattie couldn’t hear and then backed away.
Jon said, “Well, yeah, we heard something about it. The Sheriff said that something had happened and asked if anyone had seen a couple of kids in outlandish costumes, but, come on, everyone there was in costume. Who could tell? Besides, it could just have been a publicity stunt. There were only a couple of witnesses.”
“Yeah, but one of them was the Sheriff! I wonder. Could it have been Superman and Ultra Woman changing their appearance to make people think that there are more superheroes around? If they are using an appearance generator, they could, you know. There’s another thing, neither Superman nor Ultra Woman were seen anywhere else at that time, so it *could* have been them.”
Relieved that Hattie was going off on that track, Jon heaved another silent sigh of relief. He had almost started sweating; she had been getting too close for comfort.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After dinner Lois brought out the pictures from Halloween and Hattie was suitably impressed by the costumes. She complimented them, “Oooo Lara, you look so Regal. You look like you just stepped out of a story book. Jon, you were absolutely handsome. Those red tights, wooo woo!”
Jon started to blush.
Lucy was sitting on Hattie’s lap and when she saw the picture of herself she said, “There’s me!”
Hattie said, “Yes, Little Bo Peep come to life with her little lamb.”
With the directness of a child, Lucy replied, “That no lamb, that Sam!”
Hattie was laughing, “I know Squirt. Sam looks cute in his costume. All fuzzy wuzzy.”
With a childish chiding tone, Lucy replied, “No Hattie! Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. That Sam.”
They all had a good laugh at that one.
After a bit they got out some board games. Clark disappeared to run some ‘errands’ and Lois took Sam upstairs to change him and spend some one-on-one time nursing her youngest.
The younger kids were playing games like ‘Chutes and Ladders’ while Lara, Hattie and Jon played a kids version of Scrabble.
When playing games, Hattie had the same attitude that she had in karate class, take no prisoners and go for the kill.
Toward the end of the game she had a difficult assortment of letters and only saw one possible move. She placed her tile.
Jon said, “Hey, that’s not a legitimate word. You can’t use that!”
Hattie said, “Let’s see.” She pulled out her pad computer and surfed to a dictionary site. She typed in her word and searched. She found an entry and showed it to Jon.
CHUMPY
Use 1 - Chumpy Adj , state of being
Use 2 - Chumpy vb,
Def.: being or acting like a chump
Ex. 1: He was a chumpy man.
Ex 2.: She was being chumpy.
Jon said, “Let me see that.”
Hattie handed over her pad computer and Jon looked at the entry. He said, “Hey, this isn’t Webster’s! This is more like Wiki! People can add anything they want. He scrolled to the bottom of the entry and let out a groan.
Lara asked, “Hey, Bro, what’s the problem?”
Jon handed the pad to her and pointed to the bottom.
Lara read, “Contributor – Lois Lane”
Lois had just come downstairs with Sam and overheard this conversation. She walked over and as she was handing Sam to Lara she asked, “Okay, what’s going on?”
Jon said, “How could you, Mom?”
Taken aback, Lois asked, “How could I what?”
Jon pointed to the board and said, “That!”
Lois looked carefully at the board and spotted just what Jon was talking about. She moved the ‘Y’ tile aside and saw that it rested on a ‘Double Word Score’ space and started to laugh. She said, “Well played! Who placed that tile?”
Lara and Jon said in unison, “Hattie!”
That just made Lois laugh that much harder. She looked at Hattie and said, “I knew I liked you from the first minute that Jon introduced you to me. If you didn’t already have a set of parents, I’d adopt you.”
Hattie squeaked out, “Really?”
“You’d better believe it. You’re so much like me, it’s scary.”
Clark walked in just then, having returned from his ‘errands’. He asked, “What’s so funny?”
Lois didn’t say anything, she simply pointed to the game board.
Clark looked at the words spelled out and let out a groan. He said, “Is history repeating itself or what? Did you pull that on the kids?”
With a smug look Lois said, “No, I did not. Guess who.”
Clark looked at each of the three kids around the board and said, “Nah, it couldn’t be … Hattie?”
Lois burst out in more peals of laughter, such that the only answer she could make was a violent nodding of her head. When she finally composed herself she asked, “Can you believe that?”
Clark replied, “I knew right from the start that the two of you were like two peas in a pod. If she keeps this up she might even win a Kerth earlier that you won your first.”
The thought that this might in any way be possible sobered Lois up immediately. She choked out, “You really think so? Could that be possible?”
Clark replied, “Anything could be possible.”
Looking directly at Hattie, Lois said, “Not that I don’t wish you well, but I do hold the record as the youngest Kerth winner. You’re going to have to work really hard to beat that record.”
Sam started to fuss and Clark was reaching to take him from Lara when they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Clark glanced in that direction and said, “I wonder who that could be. Were you expecting more company, Honey?”
“No, I was expecting a quiet weekend at home. Why don’t you go see who it is?”
Popping up and heading for the door, Jon said over his shoulder, “I’ll get it. Pop’s busy.”
When he answered the door he immediately recognized the individual on the stoop and said, “Hi! I’ll call Mom.” Over his shoulder Jon shouted, “Mom, it’s your friend, Mr. Wells!” To Herb he said, “Won’t you please come on in?”
Herb smiled at this welcome and said, “Thank you, my boy. I’m so happy that you remembered me. It’s been a while. Let me see, it would be about three years since I was last here.”
“Yeah, it was Mom’s birthday, just over three years ago.”
Just then Lois and Clark walked up behind Jon. Lois said, “Hi Herb, what brings you around this time? You missed my birthday, not that I would expect a present every year. The last one you brought me was … special. I still don’t know how to thank you for that.”
Herb smiled and said, “As I told you when I dropped that off, it was a present from,” looking at Jon, who was taking this all in he finished, “an old friend of yours. I was simply the delivery boy, uh, man.”
“Well, if you haven’t already, please, give him my thanks.”
Herb was still smiling as he said, “In a way, that, is one of the things I came to see you about. Can we go somewhere to talk, privately?”
Indicating Sam, who was still in his arms, Clark said, “Sure Herb, just let me turn this one over to his sister.”
Clark went into the game room and handed Sam to Lara and joined Lois and Herb in the office.
Hattie asked Lara, “Can I hold Sam for a while?”
Lara said, “Sure,” and handed him over.
Hattie pulled Sam’s shirt up and gave him a raspberry on his tummy and he started squealing in delight.
Chuckling at this, Jon said, “I think I’ll go ask Mom if we can have a snack.” Jon got up and approached the office door. He knocked and got no answer. After a few seconds, he knocked again. He listened with his superhearing and there were no voices, not even heartbeats, there was only silence. He nudged the door open and saw that the office was empty.
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