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Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 15:58:18 +1000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Jenny Stosser <jenerator@OZEMAIL.COM.AU>
Subject:      First and middle names (was Re: Help requested for new fanfic)
In-Reply-To:  <79C7BC7656CBD21190910008C7FA82ED372424@mxsemrstl01.emotors
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At 05:10 PM 07/06/99 -0500, Mr. D8a wrote:
>>>From MR. D8A's work email
>
>Just did a quick and dirty search of various web sites and found zip,
zilch,
>nada, nothing.  In my own experience of Supermandom I can find no reference
>to Martha's middle name and until the advent of L&C:TAOS I never heard word
>one about Lois' parents, though recently they apparently have appeared in
DC
>as Sam and Ellen.
>
>
>MR. D8A  A.K.A.  James

In the comics, they were Sam and Ella (not Ellen), and Sam was an old
soldier (and for a long time thought Clark was a wimp because he hadn't
been in the army).
jenerator@ozemail.com.au -*-This message is umop ap!sdn
(Jenerator or Some1Else on IRC) -*- JenerEight on AIM -*- ICQ: 11477318
Photos of David (6) and Megan (3) on the Stosser Family HomePage:
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/4583  Please sign our guestbook!
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 11:07:37 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      More fanfic help. <g>
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Hey guys! Again.

Having done so well on the Detroit question (Hi, Rachel! Thanks again!), I'm
now on the hunt for a FoLC from New England, who can give me some idea of
locale, scenery, local color, social habits, etc, etc, of the typical New
Englander. Be warned if you're of a mind to answer this one - I'm going to
have a *lot* of questions. <g> Probably obscure and pretty dumb ones among
them.

I'm especially going to be interested in any myths and legends, local
lore...specifically on witchcraft, paganism, that type of thing. In the
benevolent sense. No dark magic or satanic fire-dancing, thanks! I figure I
should do just a *leetle* more research on the subject than watching the XF
episode, Bunghoney, one more time. <g>

Actually, although New England would be my preferred choice of locale, I'd
be interested in hearing from anyone who lives in a part of the States which
has that kind of history in its past. No harm in keeping my options open.

So, if you're steeped in New England/Otherwise lore and up to the risk ;),
please contact me *privately*. I'll be delighted to hear from you.

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 12:01:21 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
In-Reply-To:  <f1885152.248dd22c@aol.com>
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>
> << My question here is Why? She should have gone after Superman, like a
hunter
>  stalking big game, not like a gaga groupie.<<<
>
>  She did go after Superman like a hunter.  Remember in Neverending
Battle
> when she almosts foams at the mouth when Perry tells everyone that
Superman
> is fair game?  "But he's MINE!"

I understood the original question to suggest that Lois should have
been suspicious of Superman's motives and should have wanted to find
out his 'angle', been convinced that he wasn't really as
'goody-two-shoes' as he seemed. When did (first-season) Lois ever
believe that anyone was perfect?  This, by the way, is what my
Alt-story (if it ever gets finished... okay, Yvonne, okay, I'll get
to it! <g>) argues.

Wendy
----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 12:17:31 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Info on US life, please
In-Reply-To:  <375C263C.97A3F115@bellsouth.net>
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>> This seems a bit anti-competitive to me.
>
> Well, see, the snacks are the theater's main source of profit -- or so
> it's been explained to me.  They don't make too much on each ticket,
> supposedly, but they make it up in outrageous mark-ups on the snacks &
> drinks.  If you bring your own, you're depriving them of revenue, so
> they're pretty careful about it.  And they're *all* like that, so the
> competition doesn't help...

I see the reasoning, but don't buy it, as you Americans might say
<g>. By the way, what I meant by 'anti-competitive' is that it
prevents other shops in the vicinity of the cinema/multiplex from
selling sweets or popcorn to people going to the cinema. I'm not sure
whether such behaviour would be permitted over here under
competition/restraint of trade law. It *is* different from bringing
your own food into a restaurant, since a restaurant's main business
is selling food.

Incidentally, someone much earlier in this thread queried restuarants
allowing people to bring in their own drink. This is quite common in
some Indian restaurants over here, particularly in areas with a high
proportion of student residents; the restaurant doesn't bother with
an alcohol licence, and gets more custom since customers know they
don't have to pay extortionate prices for their pint!

Wendy
----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 07:29:44 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Review: Little Man, Super
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Debby wrote:
> Review of Little Man, Super

Bought time.

I was beginning to get a complex to build onto all my other complexes
which makes me wa-a-ay complex.<g>  Anyway, this is one half of the
Debby Stark/Sandy McDermin mutual admiration society.  But, before I
jump into the part where we talk about how wonderful *I* am, I just
wanted to say that I did bop over to "Politics and Prose" (P&P) to hear
Richard Belzer aka Inspector Henderson talk about and read his book.

It seems that this book tour he's on is being filmed for a ... film.
So, everyone there, by our very presence, was agreeing to be in it.
(P&P is not a big store and it was very crowded.<g>)  The guy with the
camera did sweep by me a few times, so I may end up in this film.
Didn't count on that, but I did count on seeing a very funny guy, and he
didn't disappoint.  He was funny and a little crude, but that was okay
cause we were mostly all adults except....  When he made his entrance,
Belzer went straight for a woman who was holding an infant in one of
those little sling carriers on the front of her chest.  He pulled the
baby out and began whispering to him/her about all the conspiracies he
was there to talk about: the JFK assassination, Roswell, etc. -- clueing
the kid in early.<g>  When he gave the baby back, he/she started crying
and Belzer says,

"Whip out that breast lady, cause I don't want any crying while I'm
reading."

He was funny, and very lean, and all in black in hot weather, and
*really* into that conspiracy stuff.  He truly believes it.  Told us he
read six or seven papers a day (because he has the time while acting),
and listens to Pacifica radio.  He said he may be on the new "Law and
Order" spin-off as his "Homicide" character, Detective Munch.  He also
offered another little factoid.  He worked as a real, honest-to-god
journalist for a few years in the Connecticut area.  He named several
Connecticut papers. So, he was actually more of a journalist than L&C.

Now on to Little Man, Super:

> I laughed, I cried... mostly I laughed.

This sounds serious.

> And I'm glad I did! It's long--and worth every word--and, best of all, my
> headache's gone :D

I'll put that on my web site:  Sandy's Fanfic Cures Headaches!  And
then, rather than having the FBI after me for posting "indecent"
material, I'll have the FDA.

> I liked the many, many details: peas; Perry's wallet and his pleasure at
> sharing its contents with the children; what the kids were wearing, how
they
> argued and called each other names, and how they ignored every warning
their
> parents had given them about doing certain things; Clark talking to the
sports
> section (though Lois didn't have a similar pastime that I recall... too
busy
> being a mom?); phrases like "No one would call Superman to save them from
big
> city living.  They wore it like a badge of honor" and so many more little
> things that made the story come to life.

Coming from the Queen of Detail, this is quite a compliment.  As for
L&C's children, I enjoy that they're "no angels".  I like to put a
little pepper in their personalities.

> Everything struck me as being totally
> authentic - as though Sandy had spied on this family like Fosse observing
> Gorillas (but with better luck when it comes to dealing with humans)

Bob Fosse observed gorillas?<g>  Wow!  And, a director too!

> and she took extensive notes.

Actually, some of those children's experiences were my own.... Yes, I
ran around in a cape and red magic-markered sneakers.<g> Uhh ... not
really, but I know what it's like being a kid in a bar being fed slim
jims, peanuts, and nickels for the juke box.

> Everything about this story was fun to read. I'm glad the not too scary A
> plot,

Yes, I didn't want it to be scary because it was a child's story and
really about him.  And, frankly, children tend to see people differently
-- even "bad" guys -- not having built up all the defenses we have.  Or,
at least, that used to be the case.

> They story centers around young Jonny Kent's attempts to come to terms
with
> problems he can't identify. This struggle was told in a poignant yet
amusing,
> immensely interesting manner. I cheered for him every step of the way...
and
> want to read more stories about him and his family. Lois's and Clark's
> innermost thoughts, particularly Clark's near the end, were revealing and
> right on.

I'm glad you liked those end thoughts because that's exactly how I think
he'd feel.  After all, he's Jonny's father and wouldn't want him put in
any danger -- ever -- super or not.  It's different when it's *your
child* and not yourself (as, finally, Martha and Jonathan could reveal
to Clark).  And, he'd feel guilty about building up a mystique, a
persona, from which his children may have no real means to escape....
When you have no choice but to follow in your father's footsteps, you
may get a bit resentful.

> Drawbacks? Hmm... I would have added a comma, closed a quote and broken a
> paragraph here and there, but those are about the only gripes I have.

What!  I beg your pardon. I resemble this remark!

(Actually, I have a cleaner copy of the manuscript on my C drive but
have been too lazy to send it to Genevieve for uploading.  No doubt, I
found some of these mistakes later, but not all of them, so don't
hesitate to let me know of anything particularly egregious.)

> Rating: *****, 5 out 5, A+

Actually, that's 4.0 + one of those little gold stars they stick on.

> I strongly recommend this story as a sample of fine writing and finer
> storytelling.

>From your lips to a hundred folcs ears.  I thank you for taking the time
to both read it and praise me to the hilt for it.  I appreciate your
good opinion very much as I may have to live on it for a while.<g>

Affectionately,
Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy/
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 08:46:28 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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I hope somebody can help me.  I think I either read or read about a fanfic
that takes up where Chris Mulder's "Meet Me in Kansas City" left off.  It
has
( if I'm not dreaming) the scene where Clark's mother makes his Superman
costume, only Lois is there, giving her opinions.  Does anyone know the
title
and/or author?

Thanks,

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 13:59:19 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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Anne,

You've read the teaser for the fanzine! That's an extract from
Chris's MMIKC sequel, only available through the fanzine, which is
available from Eileen at a knockdown price (donation) of $25. Sorry,
I don't have the website address for the fanzine details, but I'm
sure someone else (Anne? Eileen? Kathy?) will supply them.

By the way, the extracts from Sheila's and Chris's stories look
fantastic. Who could possibly resist this purchase?

Wendy

> I hope somebody can help me.  I think I either read or read about a fanfic
> that takes up where Chris Mulder's "Meet Me in Kansas City" left off.  It
has
> ( if I'm not dreaming) the scene where Clark's mother makes his Superman
> costume, only Lois is there, giving her opinions.  Does anyone know the
title
> and/or author?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ann

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 11:24:32 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: NEW:  MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)
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>>I thought at first that Clark's hairless state was
>>peculiar to Kryptonians, but I've noticed that other television
>>characters suffer from the same malady -- Captain Kirk, for example.  I
>>don't know if he's ever tried black coffee.
>
>I think in Dean's case it's due to his Asian background. I don't know about
>Shatner since he's... Canadian ;) (Maybe he's part Native American? I knew
a
>sunny-blond Cherokee named Cherry one time)
>
OOps!  Debby, I always assumed that Clark was smooth for the same reason
that Captain Kirk was smooth--the producers made him shave for the show!
When I read your story, I thought your comment about the coffee was a
mischievous reference to that-- my mistake!   Guess I'd better check things
out before sticking my foot in mouth again. <sg>

Peggy,

gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 12:27:38 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & Cat Grant
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Zoomway said:
>Unlike Cat, discussed in another thread, we did see two opposing and
battling
>sides to Lois Lane from the very beginning of the series.

Yes, and this is exactly why I'd like to see Cat's character developed
further.  In particular I'd like to know why she's so predatory toward men.
Is she just a party girl who's out for a good time, or is she pursuing some
other, hidden, agenda?

In her confession to the priest, I got the impression that she didn't want
to miss out on anything in life--that she just wanted to have a good time.
But if that's the case, if she's just a party girl, why did she feel it was
necessary to mislead the whole office into believing that something had
happened between Clark and her?   Why did she have to maintain her
"reputation?"  And why did she continue to pursue Clark after he had clearly
said no?   Sexual harassment, like sexual assault, is not about sex--it's
about power.  So ... is she on a power trip??  If that's true, then why did
she lie to Clark about their "relationship" when he had amnesia?   That
didn't seem like a power trip to me, it  seemed kinda pathetic--desperate,
in fact.

Maybe Cat isn't as self-assured as she appears.  Maybe it's all bravado and
it's her insecurities that make her pursue men so desperately.  Maybe she
has such low self-esteem that she needs a constant stream of lovers to
reassure her that she's a desirable person.

Maybe she had a father who rejected her, and is really just a little girl
trying to get Daddy's attention by exhibiting inappropriate sexual behavior.
Or maybe, like Lois, she had a bad experience in the past--an experience
that makes her want to show men that she can love 'em and leave 'em too.
Does she, perhaps, really despise the men she pursues?

Or is she just a thrill-seeker, a lusty woman who doesn't have moral,
religious, ethical, social or hygienic objections to trying out every man
she meets?  (And if so, why?)

Any opinions?

Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 10:50:27 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Reynolds, Raymond H." <REYNORA@MAIL.NORTHGRUM.COM>
Subject:      Feedback:Killer on the Roof
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I tried to send this feedback directly to the author, but the e-mail address
is no longer valid. I'm posting it here in the hope that the author sees it.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Killer on the Roof
By PeacheZ082@aol.com <PeacheZ082@aol.com>

Dear PeacheZ,

Just wanted to write and tell you that I liked your story. It
has a kind of cute flavor to it. Even with the villain lurking
in the background, it had a light banter type feel to the
dialog. I didn't get the impression that Lois or Clark was
really worried about the stalker, even when they found out it
was Lex. It seemed as though they were more concerned about
being stuck in the cabin when they would really rather be
elsewhere, or at least Lois wanted to be elsewhere.

Lois took the revelation pretty well this time around. Granted
she stalked around the bedroom and asked a lot of questions,
but overall, I think she reacted much better than a lot of
other revelation scenes have played out.

I also liked that you finally had Lois tell Clark that she
loved him. Clark's answer of "I know" was priceless. His off
hand comment of "I love you too." was too much. It carried the
light bantering tone right through to the end.

Thanks for writing and if you have any more stories in the
works I'll be looking forward to them.

Sincerely,

Ray Reynolds
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 14:29:43 -0600
Reply-To:     erink@ida.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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Wendy wrote regarding Anne's question:

>You've read the teaser for the fanzine! That's an extract from
>Chris's MMIKC sequel, only available through the fanzine, which is
>available from Eileen at a knockdown price (donation) of $25. Sorry,
>I don't have the website address for the fanzine details, but I'm
>sure someone else (Anne? Eileen? Kathy?) will supply them.
>
>By the way, the extracts from Sheila's and Chris's stories look
>fantastic. Who could possibly resist this purchase?

I sure can't! <g>  Thanks for putting the teaser's up on your web site,
Anne!  (Since I haven't seen her respond to this, that URL for anyone who
missed it is:  http://members.aol.com/amciotola/fanzine.htm ) I'm very
excited to get my hands on this fanzine and read these stories from the
authors who I've really come to admire.  Thanks for contributing, guys!

And I have to speak up here and thank Eileen for all her hard work on this
project.  It's for a really great cause, and I hope everyone else out there
will think so to and get their copies of this fanzine!  It's sure to be a
great compilation.  I personally can't wait to get mine.  :)

Erin  :)
_________________
erink@ida.net
ELK on IRC
Visit my 1999 Official Kerth Awards Website!  http://www.ida.net/users/davek
                   *****
"The truth is, no one knows how long they've got.  Anyway, it's not the
years that count, it's the moments...right now, as they happen."
_________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 16:02:05 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      Help Posting Fanfic

Hi All,

I am trying to post my first fanfic and I have absolutely no idea
how to go about that.  Could someone please help me! You can aide
publicly on the listserv or privately to larab@pwpl.com.

Thanks (in advance)
Lara Blasingame
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:16:02 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
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Debby said:
>I think that Lois had trouble with men because none of them could live up
to
>her high standards.

--snip  interesting discussion of Lois's "heroes"--

>In finding Superman to be less
than her ideal, she was able to broaden her sights and see Clark

--snip--

>Someone else can tackle Scardino (who was brought into play to... show how
>dumb
>Clark was acting, I guess), or Deter (who was brought in to give Clark
someone
>to threaten to beat up and really mean it...?).
>

I think you already implied the answer to the Scardino question in your post
.  By the time Dan came along Lois had grown up enough not to expect
perfection in a man and was willing to accept the fact that the paragon she
had been longing for just doesn't exist.  As you said, she had "broadened
her sights" enough to be able to see Clark, and with Clark, other "ordinary"
men.

In Deter's case, I think it was a case of classic transference, as Deter
himself discussed with Superman.

Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 17:36:00 -0500
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From:         Dennis A Arendt <d.arendt@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Need Help
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Can anyne tell me where to find the Elseworld story "Speeding Bullets"?
I've checked the archives.
thanks,

Brenda
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:47:18 EDT
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Help
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 6/8/99 5:36:15 PM Central Daylight Time,
d.arendt@WORLDNET.ATT.NET writes:

<< Can anyne tell me where to find the Elseworld story "Speeding Bullets"?
I've checked the archives.
 thanks, >>

I wrote the Elseworld "Speeding Bullets" adaptation, but it's only available
in the fanzine. Maybe you're talking about Sheila Harper's S5 episode
"Faster
Than a Speeding Bullet" (which is excellent, btw ;) and is available at the
fanfic archive.

Zoomway@aol.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:23:52 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help Posting Fanfic
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Lara,

First - do you have a PC or a Mac?  I can help with the PC.

Irene
sirenegold@yahoo.com

--- Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am trying to post my first fanfic and I have
> absolutely no idea
> how to go about that.  Could someone please help me!
> You can aide
> publicly on the listserv or privately to
> larab@pwpl.com.
>
> Thanks (in advance)
> Lara Blasingame
>

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 20:26:54 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kathy Brown <kathyb@SPRINGNET1.COM>
Subject:      PROMO> S6, Ep 10, "Mirror, Mirror"
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

PROMO:  Season 6, Episode 10, "Mirror, Mirror"

Airing Sunday, June 13, 1999

____________

ANNOUNCER:   Lois and Clark's hopes of being returned to normal died with
Dr. Nick Trifyllis.  Now they have to accept what has happened . . .

____________

Lois:  "You're going to have to be silent a lot longer than that before you
can go for the Guiness record."

Clark:  "What?"

Lois:  "You can't avoid this forever, Clark."

Clark, looking away:  "There isn't anything to talk about."

Lois, challenging:  "Isn't there?"

Clark:  "Trifyllis is dead; his soul exchanger has vanished; and we're
stuck.  What else is there to say?"

____________

Lois slams the door closed and leans her forehead against the steering
wheel, her hands tightening on the plastic.

Clark, over the ominous cracking sound:  "Honey?"

Lois releases the steering wheel and lifts her head, her eyes glittering
with tears.

Lois, whispering:  "I can't do this.  I have to control myself every single
minute.  I can't let myself get angry or upset or I could really hurt
someone."

____________

ANNOUNCER:  . . . and find a way to go on with their lives

____________

Clark:  "Do you want me to wean her?"

Lois:  "Do you dislike it that much?"

Clark:  "No, it's just . . . I thought it might be easier on you if you
didn't have to see me doing what you can't.  I mean, it's your body."

Lois:  "That's just it, Clark.  It isn't.  Not any more.  And the sooner we
get used to that, the better."

____________

Perry:  "Sounds like you have a busy afternoon planned."

Lois:  "Afternoon?"

Perry:  "Afternoon.  As in, after *you* get the jet story finished, and
*you*--" <handing a folder to Clark> "--investigate the group that's
protestin' the school improvement project."

Lois:  "But, Perry . . ."

Perry, turning around slowly:  "You have a problem with my story
assignments?"

Lois opens her mouth, then shuts it with a snap.  Clark didn't argue about
assignments--darn him!

____________

ANNOUNCER:  Meanwhile, Lex continues to clean house . . .

____________

Lex (to Lindy Barrows):  "I appreciate willingness in my staff.  Now that
the Trifyllis brothers have been good enough to remove themselves from the
picture, we only have one loose end left to trim off. . . ."

____________

Lex (to Enrico O'Reilly):  "A loose end at SATAN leads back here.  Offer him
the usual severance package."

____________

ANNOUNCER:  . . . and Superman begins to lose his powers.

____________

Lois jerks around guiltily, holding the razor she normally uses on her legs.
Clark stares at the shaving foam on her face, and his mouth drops open.

Clark, stammering:  "What're you--?  How--?"  <grasping her forearm>  "Lois,
what's happened to your aura?"

____________

ANNOUNCER:  But time is running out for Lois and Clark, and they may not
live to find a way to reverse the exchange.

____________

As if in slow motion, Lois sees the bullet begin to spiral through the
barrel toward them, and she flings herself over Clark--

--and everything goes black.

____________

ANNOUNCER:  This Sunday, join S6 for the conclusion of the soul transference
trilogy...

"Mirror, Mirror" by Sheila Harper

Coming June 13 to a monitor near you!

<http://tempus.simplenet.com/season6/ >
OR
<http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/Season6/season6.html>

____________

Receptionist:  "Weird story, if you ask me."

Clark:  "Beats covering dog shows."

____________
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 21:26:50 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super, and other things.
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Debby wrote:
> Review of Little Man, Super

And my caffeine-deprived twin wrote:
>>Bought time.

Did she (the caffeine-deprived one) really write "bought time" rather
than "bout time?"  That's what she gets for trying to answer someone
early in the morning, B.C.(before coffee).

Laurie said:
>>Anyone who hasn't read this story really should.

Thank you, Laurie (the name available one).  I'll put this on the back
of my book jacket.... Now, let's see; which one should I choose off my
shelf?  Oh! "Disturbances in the Field" might do!  Here I go; I'm
putting it on there....

"Anyone who hasn't read this story really should." <g>

All joking aside, I agree with you, Laurie -- not only about my own
story.<g> Schwartz's book is a real good read, and I recommend it too.
(Love the explanation for what "disturbances in the field" are, what
role they play in the way we mentally process our world, and finally,
what an incredible and unpredictable impact they can have when their
more extreme variations challenge us.)  I looked on Amazon and the
book's out of print. :(.  However, I got a nice hardback copy from a
library sale last year.

Maggie said:
>Let me step up and second that motion Debby! this was a truly lovely
>wonderful story! Sandy creates her own little Universe for the Kents
>and it's just a great place to go, hang out and have some tea. I
>wholeheartedly hope there are more installments to these adventures
><subtle hint> >;o)

Well, I'm not planning any.  I'm kinda feeling worn out by the Kents.  I
don't have anything fresh to say about them -- unlike Debby, thank
god.<g>

Genevieve said:
>Anticipating the next question <g>

>Little Man, Super by Sandy McDermin is available on Sandy's
>webpage <http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy>.

>I don't think it's on the main fanfic archives yet.

Thanks Genevieve.  I'll send you a re-edited copy to upload sometime
this week -- I hope.  As for the fanfic archives, the reason "Little
Man, Super" isn't there (although it could be and I would love to
ordinarily) is that I want people to go to *my* web site so that they
get a chance to read the other stories (or at least be aware of them) --
especially since the plots are so integrated. Be that as it may, "Love
as a Blonde" *may* be taken off the site soon, so I hope those who want
it have their copies.

Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 21:26:55 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin H <ErinFoLC@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Question on Lois and Clark fan magazine
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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Hi!

  I was wondering...how many magazines for L&C Fans are there???
:)
I have one, <A HREF="mailto:lovelc@aol.com?subject=Subscribe to FoLC
Central">Molly
</A> has one, and Scott has one..are there any more?

Thanks :)
Erin
Editor of <A HREF="mailto:erinfolc@aol.com?subject=subscribe to FoLC
Planet">FoLC Planet
</A>
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 06:01:24 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 2 (Wednesday) Intro
In-Reply-To:  <e9e25c58.248dd5aa@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 10:10 PM 06/07/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Debby,
>
>It has definitely been worth the wait for something new by you.

                  :D

>My Journal
>is fascinating.... I'm dying to find out what's up with Lois ( or the lack
>thereof).
>Keep 'em coming.
>
>Ann

Thursday... Things start getting surprising, I hope :)

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
off to work, drat...
in Albuquerque, where it will be cooler (and drier)
than most of the country east of the Mississippi :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 8 Jun 1999 22:47:35 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Raymond, Melody" <Raymond@AAOS.ORG>
Subject:      Sponsoring Dean Cain in St. Louis
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain

Attention all Dean Cain Fans

I would like to bring you another update to the announcement made last week
about being able to participate in sponsoring Dean in the Joe Torry Giving
Back the Love Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game on July 10th in St.
Louis.

I want to thank all of those who have already donated, we appreciate it very
much and we are sure that Dean will also appreciate it.  Remember this is
helping kids who are less fortunate then we are.

I want to let you all know that we are very close, we have $825.00.    If we
raise the $1,000.00 by June 10th, we will be able to have the sponsorship
printed in the program book for the events.

If you are planning to send a donation, please email your name and address
and the amount you are sending to Sue (LoisLnKent@aol.com) as a pledge and
tell her when you are mailing it.  She will be able to add it to the total
for our goal and the money can be received after the 10th.

Send donations to:  Sue Kiaman, P.O. Box 10966, St. Louis, MO  63135.

If you live outside the US please send a check, money order or cash in US
dollars and email Sue about it.

Thanks again, to everyone who has and will participate.  We want to make
this trip to St. Louis memorable not only to us but particularly for Dean
and in the process help a very good cause.

Melody
melraymond@aol.com
This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psm. 118-24
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 00:01:43 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kathy Brown <kathyb@SPRINGNET1.COM>
Subject:      Request for Story Editor
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi everyone,

Amy Mina would like to have an editor or two look over her
fanfic-in-progress, and offer constructive feedback.  She's not on this
discussion list, so I offered to make the request on her behalf.  If you
can help her out (and I know what a great, helpful bunch of FoLCs we are!),
please write her privately at the email address below.

Thanks!

Kathy

>From: amy mina <amymina@hotmail.com>
>To: kathyb@springnet1.com
>Subject: story editor from list
>Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 21:15:30 PDT
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>
>
>Dear Kathy,
>
>I would be very grateful if you could post a request for a proof reader or
>two on the reading list.  Just let them know that is isn't quite finished,
>and I'm not positive when it will be, or if I'll just send it to them in
>parts.  Just have them email me at amymina@hotmail.com.  Thanks!
>
>Amy Mina

_________________________________
Kathy Brown
Editor-In-Chief
Lois & Clark Fanfic Archive
<http://lcfanfic.actwd.com/>
kathyb@springnet1.com
KathyB on IRC
_________________________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 13:53:40 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: PROMO> S6, Ep 10, "Mirror, Mirror"
In-Reply-To:  <l0313030db3837263b55b@[208.169.34.188]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

WHAT a promo!! It looks like the l-o-n-g wait for the conclusion to
this story is *really* going to be worth it - as if I ever doubted it
would be! (Okay, I know the wait wasn't so long really, but you've
kept me on the edge of my seat, Sheila!).

Counting the hours until Sunday evening... what time US east coast
time does the story go up on the website?

Wendy

>
> ANNOUNCER:  . . . and Superman begins to lose his powers.
>
> ____________
>
>
> Lois jerks around guiltily, holding the razor she normally uses on her
legs.
> Clark stares at the shaving foam on her face, and his mouth drops open.
>
> Clark, stammering:  "What're you--?  How--?"  <grasping her forearm>
"Lois,
> what's happened to your aura?"
>

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 14:02:27 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
In-Reply-To:  <NCBBJNGDMKLABKKGIMFDEENFCHAA.erink@ida.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

On Tue, 8 Jun 1999 14:29:43 -0600 Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET> wrote:

> Wendy wrote regarding Anne's question:
>
> >You've read the teaser for the fanzine! [snip] Who could possibly
resist this purchase?
>
> I sure can't! <g>  [snip]
> And I have to speak up here and thank Eileen for all her hard work on this
> project.  It's for a really great cause, and I hope everyone else out
there
> will think so to and get their copies of this fanzine!  It's sure to be a
> great compilation.  I personally can't wait to get mine.  :)

And I'd like to add, since she is clearly too modest to do so
herself, that one of those great writers who have contributed to the
fanzine is Erin herself! So get your orders in! There's a treat in
store.

Wendy
----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 09:20:23 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 6/8/99 6:12:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gremlino@PATHWAY.NET writes:

<< n Deter's case, I think it was a case of classic transference, as Deter
 himself discussed with Superman.
  >>

I agree about the transference but there was also the very strong influence
Deter himself was exerting to get her to love him while at the same time
minimizing her contact with Clark.  I think he didn't want her to see Clark
so that she wouldn't remember him or their relationship.

It's kind of interesting how Lois, who cannot be considered to be the most
publicly loving, kind, or affectionate person, inspires all this
single-minded devotion in so many different men, i.e. Lex, Scardino and Dr.
Deter.  Clark is in a different category because he actually sees the real
Lois whereas the other men just see the public persona.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 06:31:40 PDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sue Modolo <smodolo@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Fiction Couple
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I am currently writing a fiction, not LNC, that I hope to post on the net
and I need a good name for a married couple.  So if anyone has any
good suggestions, well please email me.  Thanks.

I know that you guys have good imaginations.

Sue

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 08:47:49 -0600
Reply-To:     erink@ida.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
In-Reply-To:  <SIMEON.9906091427.G@pc14.hrm.keele.ac.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Wendy wrote:
>And I'd like to add, since she is clearly too modest to do so
>herself, that one of those great writers who have contributed to the
>fanzine is Erin herself! So get your orders in! There's a treat in
>store.

Awwwww, you're too kind, Wendy.  I'm blushing.  :)  As for your "great
writer" comment...shyeah, right. <g>  I feel *very* outclassed by the group
that wrote for the fanzine, but yes, there is one from me in there.  ;)  For
anyone who's interested, there is a preview of it on my fanfic page of my
website. (URL below)  It's called HiM: The Video.  It'll give you a bit more
info on it.

TTYL!

Erin  :)
_________________
erink@ida.net
ELK on IRC
Visit my 1999 Official Kerth Awards Website!  http://www.ida.net/users/davek
                   *****
"The truth is, no one knows how long they've got.  Anyway, it's not the
years that count, it's the moments...right now, as they happen."
_________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 16:03:35 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
In-Reply-To:  <NCBBJNGDMKLABKKGIMFDEENKCHAA.erink@ida.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

On Wed, 9 Jun 1999 08:47:49 -0600 Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET> wrote:

>
> Awwwww, you're too kind, Wendy.  I'm blushing.  :)  As for your "great
> writer" comment...shyeah, right. <g>  I feel *very* outclassed
[snip]

Yeah, right! (as you say!) *Three* Kerth awards this year, including
the award for Best Story - that makes a great writer in my opinion!

Wendy

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 11:05:58 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Re: PROMO> S6, Ep 10, "Mirror, Mirror"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

> Counting the hours until Sunday evening... what time US east coast
> time does the story go up on the website?

Well, Wendy, I don't know when Alyssa will manage to update the
"official" site, but I aim to have the "mirror" site ready to go by 7pm
EDT (which is midnight your time, I'm afraid)  I'll post a note to this
list when I've got it up.

Remember, you've got two places to check for the latest S6 developments
:-)  I've got the updated schedule for our remaining episodes up, as
well...

http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/Season6/season6.html

> (Okay, I know the wait wasn't so long really, but you've
> kept me on the edge of my seat, Sheila!).

Hah, if you think that was bad, just check out the teaser for Sheila's
story for the fanzine!  I'm dying over here!
--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 13:58:04 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & Cat Grant
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 6/8/99 12:23:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gremlino@PATHWAY.NET writes:

<< Maybe Cat isn't as self-assured as she appears. >>

I think you are on to something here.  Lately I have been rewatching season
1
episodes and  am beginning to come to the conclusion that Cat and Lois are
two sides of the same coin.  They are both talented writers, at the top of
their respective areas, attractive women who don't seem able to attract and
keep the right kind of man.  Neither one seems to have any real friends,
male
or female in sight.  And instead of recognizing each other's talents, they
snipe at each other constantly in what appears to be an unconscious effort
to
make themselves feel better.

There is a lot of jealousy involved between the two of them as well.  I
forget which episode, but there is on where ( I think it is Witness)  Cat
says to Lois, "I'm as good a writer as you, but you're Perry's little
darling" (or something to that effect.)   Cat then goes on to tell Lois that
it  would be nice for Lois to admit that she was afraid; that she was
normal.
  At some point Cat also hints that she thinks it's unfair that Lois has
both
Superman and Clark.

I think that Cat was so insecure that she couldn't stand the thought of
everyone knowing or even thinking that she had been rejected by Clark.  That
may be why she spread the stories, although there was also probably some
desire to irritate Lois as well.  It was pretty obvious from the beginning
that although Lois didn't want Clark for herself, she didn't want anyone
else
to have him either.

As you say, it would have been interesting to see her character developed
more on the show, but I can see why the powers that be wrote her out of the
show.  As competition for Clark's attention, she wasn't even in the ball
park.  Mayson, on the other hand, was good competition for Lois.  She was
much more Clark's type and therefore a potential rival.

I guess I better quit.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 14:22:40 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
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>I agree about the transference but there was also the very strong influence
>Deter himself was exerting to get her to love him while at the same time
>minimizing her contact with Clark.  I think he didn't want her to see Clark
>so that she wouldn't remember him or their relationship.
>
Good point, Ann.  Also your point about Lois inspiring that kind of devotion
in Deter.

One thing that's always puzzled me about the Deter eps was whether or not
the doctor's attempt to isolate Lois from her old life was the treatment
plan he used on *all* his patients, or if it was just a way to keep Lois for
himself.  It seemed to be the *opposite* of how you would get an amnesia
patient to recover, so I thought at first that it was just a trick, but they
kept talking about Deter's brilliant "methods," so then I began to wonder if
his "treatment" was supposed to be legit (within the context of the show).

I never could make up my mind on this issue because, if the whole thing was
just a plot to keep Lois away from Clark, then, as you said, how did Lois
manage to inspire that kind of devotion in Deter--and so quickly?  I read a
fanfic--I forget which one--where Deter was related to Luthor, and *that*
plot made a lot more sense than FMN and OW.

Cheers,
Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 19:13:17 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: PROMO> S6, Ep 10, "Mirror, Mirror"
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Another great promo, Kathy/Sheila.  You write these so well, it's just like
watching it on TV...well, actually it's better, because you don't have
those annoying adverts (commercials) to put up with.  Just as well I'm on a
course on Monday, otherwise I'd probably spend the morning at work reading
the story instead of doing what they pay me for!

Thanks again,
Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 18:34:36 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 1 of 5)

Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Part: 1 of 5
Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
Rating: PG to PG-13
Feedback: All feedback, public and private is welcome

I have been a FOLC since the very beginning.  However, I did not have
access to an Internet server until about eighteen months ago.  Since that
time, I have truly enjoyed the fiction written by fans from all over the
world... from such authors as Wendy Richards, Demi, Zoomway, CC Malo, Julie
Mack, Pam Jernigan, Sheila Harper, Lab Rat, Jenni Debbage, Chris Mulder,
Irene Dutchak... the list could go on and on.

I would also like to thank all of the writers of TUFS and Season 5/6 for
their story contributions. I suffered from serious withdrawal when L&C was
cancelled by "that" network. The author's tireless efforts helped alleviate
some of my symptoms. In fact the very first story I ever found was Season
5's Episode 10. I was, at that point, hooked on fan fiction.

Now, without further ado, a little bit about my story. Deborah Joy Levine
and Dan Levine scripted a great program in the first place. The dialogue,
especially, between Lex and Superman was a brilliant piece of writing. I
just thought it might be fun to give the story a new direction... so I
rewrote it. And, since I have no one to answer too... I reworked large
chunks of the program.  You'll notice that I plagiarized... I meant
"borrowed" much of the dialogue from that program, as well as from a few
others. This could be described as a "what if... " story line.

My intention is not to infringe on anyone's copyright... Warner Bros., DC
comics, the original authors, TNT, etc... I just wrote this piece for fun
and to see if I could do it.

Feedback is greatly appreciated (positive or negative). You can e-mail me
privately at larab@pwpl.com if you want to... just be constructive in your
criticisms.

'    ' These symbols indicate thoughts
"    " These symbols are used for dialogue (obviously) and for emphasis

Revisiting the House of Luthor
By Lara Blasingame
Rated PG-13
Submitted June 1999

Her life had spiraled into an endless parade of disappointments lately.
Lois was absolutely miserable.  The Planet - her life's blood, her saving
grace, her friend when she didn't have anyone -had been destroyed, and it
looked as if the deed had been done by a co-worker.

Jack, the newspaper's newest employee and a former child delinquent, had
been charged with the crime.  The evidence linking him to the bomb was
found in his lunch box.  His Superman lunch box. The police had apparently
found their culprit.

But, had they? Lex seemed to think so. Yet, her gut was singing a different
aria.  Why would Jack jeopardize his chances of having a normal, crime-free
life? It didn't make sense. A lot of things lately didn't make a whole lot
of sense.

She crawled into bed and tucked herself in.  She just wanted to be alone.
No more talk about the master bedroom or whether or not to build a 12 or 15
car garage.

`Why would two sane people need 15 cars? If you drove a different car
everyday, it would take you over two weeks before you'd drive that
particular vehicle again. Ridiculous.'

"What's ridiculous is that I am even contemplating the logic behind having
that many automobiles.  Now, I'm talking to myself. That's a sign. But,
hey, maybe I'll learn to enjoy it."

She stared at the ceiling and her thoughts began to drift, once again.  The
stillness of the night chilled her to the bone. She just couldn't seem to
relax.

She thought about her new job at LNN.

Everyone treated her with indifference. The former newspaper reporter was
accepted professionally. After all, she still had a lot of worthwhile
contacts and a reputation for being a hard-bitten newswoman. But
personally, everyone treated her like the office mole that was bent on
revealing her colleague's deepest and darkest secrets to the man in
charge... Lex.

Her co-workers knew that she had no previous experience working in
television. Everyone looked at her with clouded eyes. They just assumed
that she had gotten the job because she was sleeping with the Boss.

Well, almost sleeping with the Boss. She had insisted that they wait until
their honeymoon.  She wanted it to be special. Special?

It's funny. Now, that she stopped to think about it - did she have any
romantic feelings for Lex?  She admired him. Lex employed half the city. He
gave generously to many worthwhile charities.

And he had asked her to marry him.

The third richest man in the world had asked for her hand in marriage. No
one had ever done that before. A girl couldn't help but feel flattered.

But, did she want to make love to him? Did she want him to...

`Hmmm. Of course I do. Don't I?  Oh, this can't be good.'

Now Superman on the other hand.

"Woof... what a body," she sighed out loud.

Her sigh turned into a reflective tone. `But, he doesn't want you Lois. He
rejected you. He even seemed bitter about the whole situation. So, out of
character. Just like... just like... Clark.

Clark was so upset with her. He had told her that he was in love with her.
But, she couldn't say that she felt the same way. Sure she loved him, but
like a brother, a best friend. Clark was someone she could tell all of her
secrets. Someone she could depend on no matter what. Someone she wanted to
be partners with for the rest of her life. That wasn't love. Was it?

`It doesn't matter anyway. He's mad at me, too. I sure do miss him...'

"Who are you trying to kid? Lex is right. I should just call Clark and say
hello."

Lois looked tentatively at the phone sitting in its cradle.  She made no
effort to pick it up.

`What's going on? Why are you so nervous?  He's your best friend. You tell
him everything.'

"Yeah, well, we haven't exactly been getting along lately. I can't believe
the way he's been acting.  All he ever does is tell me how evil Lex is.
Does he think I'm that naive?  I know he's no boy scout, but he isn't evil.
Is he?"

Her thoughts and comments began flowing faster than she could process them
in her mind. Maybe she should talk to Clark. He usually had a way of making
her think more clearly.

She gingerly picked up the phone and dialed his number. `Well, no one will
ever accuse me of not making an effort in this relationship... I mean
partnership.  I meant partnership. Why do I keep doing that?'

*** RING ***

"Hello?"

"Hi Clark. It's me."

"Hi. How are you?"

Not expecting his lack of enthusiasm. Lois tried her best to sound as
upbeat as possible. "Terrific. You?"

Trying to match Lois' enthusiasm, Clark bravely moved on. "Great."

`Well he's certainly in a chatty mood.' Lois thought to herself. "So, how's
the rest of the gang?"

"Perry is actually coming out to stay with me for a few days. We're a
little worried about Jimmy he.... uh... he moved out of his apartment."

"He's okay?  I mean... I mean you would think if he were in any kind of
trouble he would call me... or you. Wouldn't he?"

Clark was quick to reassure her... not wanting her to worry. "Yeah, I'm
sure he would." However, he quickly changed the subject. "How's your new
job?"

"Oh, you know... settling in. You?"

"I'm busy... exploring my options."

"I'm sure you find something." He sounded so unsure. Lois had hoped to
convince him to work with her... even if it was at LNN.  At least, they
would be partners. She missed him so much, but he had made it quite clear
that he was not going to work for any organization headed by Lex Luthor.

In her revelry, the conversation began to drag.

"Yeah... well, it's getting kinda late, Lois. I guess... I'm gonna go to
bed."

"Me too... Clark?" She found herself not wanting the conversation to end.

"Yes?"

"I miss you." She had to let him know that. This was killing her.

Clark was going to confess everything again if he didn't hang up soon. "I
miss you, too, Lois," he confessed as he hung up the phone. `Sure it was
hasty, but at least I didn't say anything I'd regret.' He took solace in
that... even though his heart was breaking.

Lois stared at her phone as the dial tone rang in her ear.

`That had to have been the lamest, dumbest... most heart-wrenching
conversation that we've ever had. He must really hate me.'

She hung up the phone and slumped further into her bed.  Lois looked at the
bedroom window and starred at what little of the sky she could see from her
cozy nest.

Her thoughts drifted back to her partner. He wasn't even going to come to
her wedding.

`Why is he doing this to me... to us. We're partners. We're best friends.
It's not supposed to be like this!'

Lois suddenly jumped out of bed and proceeded towards her closet.

*************************

Clark turned off the lamp and rolled over to cuddle with... his pillow.

"Well, it looks like its just gonna be the two of us tonight."

He laughed, even though this was the lowest moment in his life. His heart
was breaking. Unfortunately, Lois Lane would always be the possessor of the
other half, and she was all set to love somebody else... Lex.  The thought
made him cringe.

"How can she love him? How can love be that blind?"

He started to laugh once again.  The very idea of her loving his alter ego
and not recognizing him for who he really was... that was a whole other
issue in itself. Lois had told Superman that she would love him... even if
he had no super powers at all and was just an ordinary guy. "Hmmmph."

Clark realized that he wasn't going to get much sleep. He was too busy
worrying about Lois... fretting about Lois... loving Lois.

He made his way into the living room and turned on the radio. He slumped on
the couch and shut his eyes.

"You are listening to KVIL 103.7 on your stereo dial... Where we play lite
rock and love songs until dawn... So, sit back, relax and unwind..."

The music began to filter throughout the room. Clark sighed. Another lonely
night at home.

`We're partners... we're best friends. Can't she see we're meant to be
together? It's not supposed to be like this!'

*** KNOCK, KNOCK ***

"Huh." Clark turned his head sharply towards the front door.  It was Lois.

He grabbed a tee shirt and his glasses on the way.

"Hi, Clark. Do you mind if I come in?"

"Lois. What are you doing here? It's after midnight."

"I know... I know.  I just couldn't sleep and I was hoping that we might be
able to talk."

"Um...  sure. Come on in."

He made his way back to the sofa and Lois sauntered in after him.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No...Thanks!  I would rather just talk."

She wanted to talk. His pulse rate quickened. "Okay."

The two just stared at each other in silence. They used to talk about
everything. Now... well, now things seemed different. Neither one could
envision a life without the other one in it. The future seemed so bleak.

Lois got up and began frantically pacing around the living room. She looked
like she had a lot to say, but no words escaped from her lips.

"Lois?"

"Hmmm..."

"You wanted to talk?"

"Hmmm? Oh... yes. I don't know where to start. Wait a minute... yes I do. I
wanted to tell you that our phone conversation had to be, without a doubt,
one of the lamest I have ever participated in. Even my Mother puts up more
of a fight."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... a small forest creature shows more emotion than you did a little
while ago."

Clark had no intention of putting up with Lois' abusive comments. That's
not what he wanted to hear. "Look, Lois. If you just came over to insult
me... oh, never mind."

"What?"

"I just can't do this anymore. I just can't accept what you're doing with
your life."

"So, you're just giving up on me... on us. What about being partners and
best friends? How can you just throw that away?"

Clark's anger began to dissipate. "I can't."

"So, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I can't stand by and watch you marry Luthor. It's wrong.
Can't you see that?  How blind can you be?"

Lois found herself becoming more defensive with each passing moment. "I'm
not blind..."

"Yes, you are."

"Am I?"

"Yes." Clark simply said. "Do you love him? I mean really love him. Do you
want to share your highs and lows with him? Do you want to make love to
him? Is he the last person you want to talk to before you go to sleep at
night? And do you want him to be the first person you see in the morning?"

Lois couldn't believe what she was hearing. "How can you even ask that? I'm
marrying him. Aren't I?"

"Yeah... but do you really want to?"

Clark slowly stood and made his way across the room. All they could manage
to do was to stare at each other. The angry tension in the air slowly
subsided. All they were left with was an aching need to find answers to all
of their questions.

The only sound in the room was the radio playing...

"... soft hits from the 70's, 80's and 90's.  Right now, it's foggy and 38
degrees. Tomorrow... partly cloudy with a chance of rain; highs in the
lower 60's. But, for now, sit back and relax to the smooth sounds of
Sting's When We Dance...."

Without thinking, Clark gently pulled Lois into his embrace. They began to
sway to the music as it filtered into the room.

  If he loved you
  Like I love you
  I would walk away in shame
  I'd move town
  I'd change my name
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 18:39:55 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 2 of 5)
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Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Part: 2 of 5
Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
Rating: PG to PG-13
Feedback: All Feedback, public and private is welcome

                When he watches you
  When he comes to buy your soul
  On your hand are golden rings
  Like he owns a bird that sings

  When we dance
  Angels will run and hide their wings...

Lois took her hands off Clark's shoulders and gingerly wrapped them around
his neck.  Their bodies slowly began to meld together as he gently stroked
her silky hair. A sense of urgency filled the room, once again.  But, this
time, the urgency was fueled by an underlying passion.

  Still in love with you...

  I'll go find a place to live
  Give you all I've got to give

  When we dance
  Angels will run and hide their wings

  I will love you more than life
  If you'd only be my wife

Lois gently laid her head on Clark's chest. She could feel all of the
warmth he had to offer her.

Clark felt his heart beating faster than he thought was possible. Was this
their way of saying goodbye?

After she was married, everything would change. Things between them had
already started falling apart.

  If I could break down these walls
  And shout my name from Heaven's gate...

For the past year, the Kansas farmboy and local super hero had done his
best to break down Lois' self-imposed blockades.  He managed to gain her
trust, her friendship, but not her love. Clark's heart sank as the words of
the song rang all too true.

  He won't care for you this way
  He'll mistreat you if you stay...

Lois tensed in Clark's arms as she listened to the stanza.  Could it be
true? Would Lex hurt her... intentionally? She tried half-heartedly to
convince herself that it was just a song.

  Come and live with me
  We'll have children of our own

  I would love you more than life
  If you'd go and be my wife

Lois lifted her head and looked at Clark. She saw him looking down at her
with such passion that it scared her.  She had seen that look before.  One
of love, friendship, desire... But where? Certainly not from Lex. Superman?
Maybe...

Clark saw the questioning look in Lois' deep brown eyes. He gently placed
his hand on her cheek.  She wasn't even startled by his small gesture.
Lois took her hand from around his neck and placed it on top of his.  The
intensity of the moment overwhelmed them both.

Clark pulled her closer. He hesitantly leaned over and hovered above her
lips, as if asking her permission.  Lois felt his warm breath mingle with
her own as she closed the distance between them.

The kiss was tentative, at first. As if they were saying farewell. Yet
within moments, the kiss bore a sensation neither one was truly prepared
for.  He hungrily nibbled at her lips awaiting an invitation to continue
his exploration of her mouth.  Lois could feel her heart beating faster and
faster, unable to contain her desire for... her desire for... Clark.

She let him have entrance into her mouth, as their tongues began a slow
tangle.  Clark took his hand from her cheek and placed it on the small of
her back as the music faded into the background.
All that they could hear were the beating of their two hearts and the soft
moans of pleasure that escaped from their lips. The warmth of..

"Hey, all of you out there in radioland. Have I got a deal for you.  Just
come on down to Larry's Autorama for the best deals on cars and...."

The moment was shattered as their lips slowly pulled apart.
Lois backed out of his embrace and sat down on the couch.  Clark stood
where he was, watching the emotions that played out on her face.

As she sat down, Lois grabbed a nearby pillow and placed it her lap.  Then,
the tears began to fall.

"Lois, please don't cry."

"Clark, I'm engaged to be married, and I was just in a liplock with someone
who isn't my fianc=E9e."

Clark made his way to the couch, but was well aware that Lois was silently
asking for physical distance. He just wanted to be there for her. He'd do
anything for her.

"Lois..."

"No, Clark. That's not fair to either one of us.  I've just been so sad
lately, so confused..."

"Lois please let me..."

Undaunted by Clark's attempt to cut in, Lois Lane steamed ahead. "I came
over hoping that we might clear some things up.  I never intended on..."

"Me neither, but Lois, I can't help it. I lo..."

"Please, Clark. Don't say it again. I don't think I can hear that right
now.  I have to go."

"Don't go. I don't want you leaving like this.

"I have to."

And in a split second she was gone. Clark decided to let her go. She was
going to have to figure this out all by herself.

*************************

Clark awoke early the next morning to prepare for the arrival of Perry
White.  The former editor and chief was returning to his old stomping
ground in order to help Clark find a truant Jimmy Olsen.

Clark was very concerned about Jimmy, but all that he could think about
were the events that had taken place the night before.

Even though Lois had left abruptly, Clark couldn't help but wonder if
progress had been made during their "discussion."  If only he could prove
that Lex was indeed `a thief, a gangster, a psychopath, a murderer...'
Maybe Lois would realize what a mistake it would be to marry Luthor. And
maybe, just maybe, she might be able to see Clark for who he really was.

His thoughts were interrupted by someone rapping on his front door, as the
Chief enthusiastically entered his home.

Before they were even able to stow Mr. White's luggage, Jimmy, the former
gopher and amateur photographer, walked through Clark's entryway with a
recently "liberated" Jack following close behind. The gang greeted each
other with open arms.

*************************

Over pizza, Jack revealed that a couple of brothers, Pete and John Black,
had been assigned to Juvenile Hall. During an assigned work break, they had
bragged to some of their cohorts about planting evidence in some guy's
crib. The duo claimed that they were the ones responsible for the Daily
Planet's demise. The brothers had received their instructions and a large
cash payment from someone they called "The Boss."

Evidence? While at this point, merely hearsay... it was still a place to
start.

Perry assigned himself the task of digging into the Planet's finances and
insurance policies. He couldn't fathom the idea that the paper had been in
trouble. It had been too powerful for too long. It had a reputation for
honest journalism and gave its readers more exclusives than its
competition. Perry also intended on spearheading a campaign to find someone
to invest both his or her time and money into the resurrection of the Daily
Planet.

Clark planned to find all that he could about the infamous figurehead known
as "The Boss."

Jack and Jimmy were to uncover all they could about the Black brothers and
the former Daily Planet Board of Directors.

The four had a lot of work ahead of them, so they split up to investigate.

*************************

During the next few days, Perry, Jimmy, Clark and Jack had uncovered
plenty.  Via a conference call, they each relayed their findings.

"The Black brothers would do just about anything for money; including
framing someone.  I think they'll talk... if they're properly motivated,"
Jimmy explained.

"Yeah... Well, I found out that the Planet Board of Directors had
originally objected to the sell of the paper to Luthor. But, all of the
sudden... they had a change of heart. Apparently, each Board member was
paid a "large cash inducement" and voted unanimously to sell the Planet.
They were also driving brand new Ferraris..." Jack proclaimed with a smirk.

Perry chimed in "I checked into the Planet's insurance policies. There was
more than enough money to rebuild the paper. Luthor obviously had no
intention on rebuilding."

"The Boss." The evidence on him or her was merely circumstantial.  Just
about every criminal element paid protection money to a shady character
known as "The Boss." Most didn't even know who he or she was and those who
might were too afraid to tell.

Even if the road to "The Boss" didn't lead to Luthor, he was still a prime
candidate for insurance fraud.  But, would it be enough to bring him down.

*************************

As the days dragged on, Clark began to feel less and less confident about
his "discussion" with Lois. He hadn't heard from her since "that" night.

`Maybe it doesn't even matter what we find. Maybe Luthor is what she
wants.'=

Clark dejectedly sat on his couch, alone for the first time in days.  Sure,
he enjoyed having the guys stay with him. But, it had given him little time
to think about what had happened between him and Lois. He would give
anything to talk to her again.

*** RING ***

"Hello?"

"Mr. Kent I presume."

"Yes, who's this?"

"My name is Mrs. Cox. I am an assistant to Lex Luthor." Without skipping a
beat, she continued, "Let me get straight to the point.  I was wondering if
you could pass a message along to your friend Superman."

"I guess... what's the message?"

"Mr. Luthor would like to talk with him in regards to Ms. Lane."

"Lois... what's wrong?"

"Just please give him the message. Thank you and goodbye."

Clark was dumbfounded.  His first thoughts were slightly morbid, but he
quickly squashed the panic that he felt inside.

`Why would Luthor do anything to harm her... right now.  They're getting
married tomorrow.  No, he probably just wants to taunt me. After all, he is
the one who's marrying Lois. I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to harass
me about that.'

In a spilt second, he wrote the guys a note saying that he would be back
later, spun into the Suit, and was off in a flash to meet with Luthor.

*************************

Superman arrived at Lex's high-rise within minutes of Mrs. Cox's phone
call.  He was led to the billionaire's wine cellar and cautiously made his
way down the basement's winding staircase. Lex was sipping wine, as a
devilish grin passed over his lips.

"Come in... Come in... Come in! Don't be shy. You know they say
civilization was invented so that men could cooperate in the making of
wine."

"What do you want, Luthor?"

"A favor."

"A favor? From me? You must be joking?"

"No... But wait. Here me out. Lois Lane, my fianc=E9e, should be
deliriously=

happy about the prospect of our forth-coming wedding, but unfortunately
she's not.  She misses her friends at the Daily Planet, particularly Clark
Kent."

`She does miss me,' Clark thought to himself. "So?"

"So... well, you and Clark are friends. He was able to bring you here..."
Lex allowed his statement to trail off as if he was asking a question.

"I'm not following you, Luthor."

Lex couldn't believe that the local superhero was dimmer than he had
originally thought. "I would like you to use your influence to convince
Clark to attend our wedding.  Of course, you're invited too."

Superman couldn't get over the arrogance displayed by the man who stood
before him. "Huh?... You live in a fantasy world Luthor.  Neither Clark nor
I will ever do anything to support your marriage to Lois."

"I see... well than I have no further use for you."

Lex proceeded to express more wine from the barrel.  All of the sudden,
Clark found himself standing in the middle of a jail cell.

"Bars won't hold... me ... Luthor."

Clark suddenly felt an aching twinge throughout his body. Every muscle
tensed.  He found himself in a somewhat familiar fog.  Only one thing could
cause so much pain... Kryptonite.  He lifted his head and looked towards
Luthor.  The jail cell now glowed bright green.

"Oh... I think they will. I live in a fantasy world. Perhaps. But, my
fantasy is about to come true."

Luthor left his captive to die a most horrible death.

*************************

The next morning Lois awoke to a bright, sunny day.  But inside, she felt
as if a dark cloud hung directly over her.

For days, all Lois could think about was the "kiss." Even now, she could
still feel the intense passion that had embodied both of them. The look of
love that had shown in his almond shaped eyes. She could even hear his
words as she continued to lie in the bed.

`Do you love him? I mean really love him. Do you want to share your highs
and lows with him? Do you want to make love to him? Is he the last person
you want to talk to before you go to sleep at night? And, do you want him
to be the first person you see when you wake up in the morning?'

She couldn't get over how his words had affected her.  He knew her so well,
but...

Lois turned her head slightly and stared at the phone. Willing Clark to
call her.

She cautiously reached for the phone. You would have thought it was going
to bite her.  Lois picked it up and listened for the dial tone.

`Well... it's definitely working.'

The phone was placed back into its cradle. She wanted, so desperately, for
Clark to help answer those questions.

Unfortunately, a nagging little voice, deep down inside of her, kept
reminding Lois that Clark played a huge part in her bewilderment.

Lois, once again, reached for the phone. This time... she actually managed
to dial Clark`s phone number. The phone rang several times and Lois found
herself talking to...

Clark's answering machine.

"Hey... Clark.  It's me.  I just wanted to call and say that I... that I...
um... I'm going to miss not seeing you at my wedding.  I care for you so
much. I just... I just... Well, um, I better go. Take care. Okay?"

Lois hung up the phone and began to cry. It didn't matter how she felt. It
was too late.  She had already accepted Lex's proposal. She would have to
find a way to make it work.

`Clark was probably at home. He just didn't want to talk to me.'
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 18:44:13 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 3 of 5)

Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Part: 3 of 5
Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
Rating: PG to PG-13
Feedback: All feedback, public and private is welcome

She slowly got out of the bed and made her way towards the bathroom.  It
was time to get ready for her wedding.
*************************

Clark continued to lie on the floor of the jail cell. He could feel himself
getting weaker and weaker. The intense pain continued to course throughout
his body.

But, all his thoughts were focused on his love, Lois, and her impending
marriage to Luthor.

He had to find a way out.

"Please, don't marry him Lois. Please..." he screamed just before his body
spasmed once again.

A man stood at the top of the stairs and smiled in the direction of the
Kryptonite holding tank. Slowly, Luthor made his way down into the wine
cellar. All of his dreams were coming true on the very same day.  In a
short while, he would be married to one of the most tenacious and beautiful
women in the world... Ms. Lois Lane.  On top of this momentous occasion, he
had the great pleasure of being able to kill his archenemy... Superman.

"What a spectacular day! And, how are we feeling today."

Superman raised his head slightly and saw Luthor opening the cell door.

"Oh... still feeling a little green around the gills are we? I, on the
other hand, am feeling wonderful? `She's beautiful, therefore, to be wooed.
She is woman. Therefore, to be won.' That's Henry V." Luthor hovered over
Superman like a vulture waiting for its "dinner" to die.

Lex couldn't let this "Superman" perish without taunting him first. `After
all, the torture makes the killing part so much more enjoyable,' Luthor
reminded himself.

"Oh, I know it must be tough? Lying there, seeing me all decked up like
this? On my way to marry Lois Lane while you lay there helplessly and
suffer."

Luthor pranced around the cage. All of the sudden he broke out into song.
"And tonight. `Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night...' Lex suddenly
stopped singing and stared off into the distance... as if he were deep in
thought.

"I love Lois. I do. I really do. But, she's just a little too independent.
Don't you think? Well... I'll take care of that."

"Clark Kent knows where I am!"

"Well... yes. I'll have to kill him too. But, that reminds me."

Luthor held up two cummerbunds. "The red or white? The red for passion or
the white for purity. Well, I agree. Definitely the red..." The menacing
billionaire took the white cummerbund and wrapped it around Superman's
neck... cutting off the flow of oxygen and pinning his head to the cold,
concrete floor.

"Luthor..." was all that Superman could say before he reluctantly choked
for another breath of air.

Lex bent down and whispered into his ear, "Oh... how strange. How strange
to hear you say my name and know that it may be for the last time."

He quickly stood back up and indulged in one more reflective moment.

"Am I making a mistake? Will the pain of losing the challenge that you
represent be worse than the pain of constantly losing to you? Nah..." And
with that, Lex closed the cell door and locked it. He dangled the keys
before the super hero's eyes and placed them on a nearby barrel.

`So close... yet, so far away,' Clark thought to himself.

"I'll be back when it's over. Then, you and I can have a nice heart to
heart. Have a nice death! Tonight, tonight..." Luthor bounded up the
stairwell to greet his guests before the ceremony commenced.

And, then there was silence. All Clark could hear was his labored breathing
and all he could think about was "his" Lois.

*************************

Lois stood in front of the full-length mirror.  She saw herself in a
beautiful wedding gown, but all she could concentrate on was the frown that
had become a permanent fixture on her face.

Her lips began to quiver and, slowly, the tears began to fall.

"What's happening to me? This should be the happiest day of my life."

She quickly grabbed a tissue and blotted her cheeks. She tried to take some
deep, cleansing breaths. But, nothing seemed to help.

"Ten minutes, Mrs. Luthor," a voice from the hallway alerted Lois to the
impending nuptials.

The gravity of the situation at hand hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Mrs. Lex Luthor," she called out the name that would soon be a part of her
identity. Somehow, it didn't sound quite right.

"Lois Lane-Luthor."

"Lois Luthor-Lane," she grimaced at every oral suggestion.

"Lois Lane... Kent," her heart leapt into her throat. That name combination
just seemed... to work.

"Lois Lane," the tears began to fall once again. "Oh Mom, what am I gonna
do?"

Ellen Lane stepped into the full-length mirror's reflection and gently
placed her arm around her eldest daughter. "Honey, if you're not sure..."

"No... It's too late."

"No, it's not. You do what your heart tells you to do."

The women stared at each other's reflection as the time to wed drew to a
close.

*************************

Clark lay in his guilded cage still dressed as his alter ego.  He eyed the
keys that Lex had carelessly placed on top of the barrel.

They were so close. He willed himself to sit up slightly.  Superman took
Lex's discarded white cummerbund from around his neck and threw the fashion
accessory in the direction of the loan wine vat.

To his dismay, Clark could hear strains of music as it filtered its way
down into the dismal cellar. The Wedding March.

He had to get out and stop the wedding. `She can't go through with this...
she can't...' he thought as beads of sweat broke out on his face.

*************************

Lois Lane stood behind the huge, wooden doors. They slowly opened in front
of her.  She witnessed an expectant crowd of on-lookers as she made her way
into the room.

The Wedding March was being played as she traveled down the beautifully
decorated aisle.

Suddenly, one by one, images of Clark Kent clouded her mind.  His first day
at the Planet... how she reacted towards him after being sprayed with the
pheromone compound... when he resigned from the Planet during the Winter of
'93 heat wave... the tenderness of his goodbye kiss...

Clark's kisses. Even now they totally overwhelmed her.

She suddenly shook herself from her revelries. Lois looked up and saw Lex
Luthor smiling at her as she lethargically approached. His smile didn't
have any effect on her. It never had.

*************************

Superman repeatedly tried to utilize his super breath in order to recover
the jail cell keys.  The music was starting to deafen him and his urgency
to escape hit a fever pitch.

"Please, Lois, I love you. Please don't leave me... I ... can't `not' have
you in my life." Clark's words died on his lips as he made one final
attempt to retrieve the keys to his freedom... his future.

*************************

"Dearly, Beloved. We are gathered here today to join this man and woman in
holy matrimony," the ArchBishop proclaimed.

`Holy matrimony,' Lois' subconscious cried out.  `You can't do this... you
don't love him... you are totally in love with someone else. Oh, Clark!'

The ArchBishop made the final plea for those who might oppose to this
union.  Lois wanted to speak, but was still too wrapped up in her
subconscious' plea to stop the wedding.
*************************

Perry, Jack, Jimmy and members of the Metropolis Police Department pulled
up in front of Lex Towers.  They had evidence.  Enough evidence to put
Luthor away for several lifetimes.

Arson, fraud, perjury, theft, murder... this was just a short list of
charges against the world's third richest man.  For the MPD, this arrest
would be unprecedented. No single man or organization had ever gotten away
with so much criminal activity. This would definitely be a feather in the
city's cap.

Perry was elated that his former employees were able to bring down a
criminal mastermind. However, his thoughts were with Lois.

The Chief made his way up the front steps and turned to see everyone else
lagging behind.

"What the sam hill is taking you so long?  We've got a wedding to stop. Get
a move on!"  And with that final statement, Perry entered Luthor's high-
rise.

*************************

"And do you Lois take this man to be your wedded husband from this day
forward, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish from this day
forward till death do you part?"

"I... I... I can't."

"Lois..."

"Perry..."

"Stop the wedding. You can't marry this man!"

"What... is there an echo in here? I just said that."

Lex found himself in a dubious situation... a situation in which he had
very little control. "What's the meaning of this?"

Detective Henderson made his way through the crowd of gun yielding party
crashers... or more precisely, members of the Metropolis Police Department.
"This is a warrant for your arrest for arson and other crimes too numerous
to mention."

Lois glanced over at Luthor and saw his features take on a haunted look. A
look of pure evil. A look that he had been successful in hiding... until
now.

Lex uncharacteristically began showing a total lack of self-control.  He
mouthed off idle threats as Henderson approached with the handcuffs.

Luthor turned to Lois and kissed her hand.  He expressed his regrets at the
untimely interruption and then suddenly lunged himself at the police
officers. Lex narrowly escaped the wedding hall.

*************************

Superman tried one last time to latch onto the keys with Lex's cummerbund.
The tip of the garment wrapped itself around the key ring due to some
reserved super breath. Clark was able to gently tug the precariously
wrapped item towards the jail cell.

He picked up the keys and slowly got off the floor. His weak body continued
to spasm.

As he unlocked the cell door, Clark heard the door, at the top of the
stairs, being unlocked.

He exited the cage and found he was too tired to get away and too weak to
defend himself. He judiciously hid behind the wine barrels hoping that the
intruder would not find him.

Lex frantically made his way into the cellar, yielding an axe.

"Sorry, Superman. No time to chat. I'll just take my pound of flesh and be
on my way..."

Lex found himself talking to an empty cage. His eyes widened and began
screaming at the top of his lungs. The "Boss" quickly fled from the
premises.

Clark huddled in the corner and managed a sigh of relief.

*************************

Perry, Jimmy and Jack escorted a very confused Lois Lane out the front
doors of Luthor's high- rise. All she could do was cry.

"I've always been such a good judge of character."

"Don't blame yourself, Lois. He fooled all of us."

"Not me," Jimmy and Jack chimed together.

"Where's Clark?"

"Right here."

Lois turned around to find her partner standing in close proximity.  Their
eyes met and they ran towards each other.  Each clinging onto each other as
if they'd never let go.

Members of the MPD had surrounded Luthor Towers. One officer could be heard
barking on a loud speaker warning Lex to surrender.

"Look... he's gonna jump!"

Lois and Clark's embrace abruptly ended yet they continued to cling to one
another.

They simultaneously looked up to find Lex Luthor teetering on his penthouse
balcony ledge.

They watched in baited breath as he jumped off the ledge and plummeted
towards the concrete.

Clark tried to levitate, but nothing happened. He had no powers and watched
as Luthor fell to his death.

The crowd that had gathered gasped as Luthor hit the concrete. Lois buried
her head into Clark's chest and began to cry.

The last few weeks had taken an emotional toll on Lois.  She just needed to
be with Clark.

Clark looked down at the woman that he held.  She needed him. He looked up
at Perry; "I'm going to take her home."

"Okay, son. You two try to get some rest.  I know that the last several
weeks have been pretty taxing on both of you."

Clark watched a worried expression come over Perry's face.
"Thanks Chief. For everything."

*************************

Over the next several weeks, Clark and Lois hardly left each other's side.
They talked and laughed.  The conversations were kept light.  No one
mentioned the events that had led to Luthor's demise.

The wounds were still too fresh, but the healing process had begun.  They
would heal together.

Lois was reveling on how her relationship with Clark had changed. They
seemed to be closer than they had ever been. Yet, Clark seemed more
reserved, more tentative. As if he was now the one with self-imposed
borders. Sometimes she would glance in his direction, and he almost looked
sad... as if he had lost the love of his life.

She stopped daydreaming long enough to look at the clock.

"Oh my... Clark's gonna be here any minute." Lois applied lipstick and
blotted her lips with a Kleenex.  A slow smile spread across her face.  She
had been smiling a lot lately.

She scampered across the room to put on her shoes. Perry had asked both of
them to meet with him in front of what was left of the Daily Planet
building.

*************************

The former employees of the newspaper stood under what was left of Daily
Planet globe.

"I wish that they would just go ahead and tear this place down," Jimmy said
as they made their way towards the boarded up entrance.
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 18:48:10 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 4 of 5)

Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Part: 4 of 5
Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
Rating: PG to PG-13
Feedback: All feedback, public and private is welcome

"Yep. Too many memories. But, you know kid... there is a lesson to be
learned here," Perry White droned on.

"Why am I not surprised," Jack smiled.

"We should appreciate what we've got, when we've got it."

Lois looked over towards Clark. She had never appreciated her partner for
the man he was, but that was about to change.

Perry continued on, "But, what I just hate is that Luthor got his way on
this one thing. I wish that I'd been able to find someone to rebuild the
Planet."

"You have." Perry turned around to find Franklin Stern, a local
entrepreneur, standing in front of a covered object.  "I've changed my
mind.  And besides, one more nail in Luthor's coffin is fine be me."

Stern signaled to his men, and they pulled the tarp down to reveal a new
Daily Planet globe.

"Perry, I would like to talk to you about some of my plans.  I want to take
the Daily Planet into the next millennium."

A jubilant Perry sauntered over to Stern as he described his plans
regarding expansion and modernization.

Clark looked at the globe, but redirected his attention towards Lois. "I've
never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life."

Lois turned around to find Clark looking at her. "You never gave up... on
the Planet... on your friends... on me."

"I couldn't. You just named probably everything in this world that's
precious to me."

"I don't think that I have ever... or will ever meet anyone quite like you."

"Lois."

"Clark, let me go first. There's something I want to tell you."

"No, not this time. Lois, I'm so sorry about a lot of things. I wanted to
bring Luthor down, but I never wanted to hurt you. I shouldn't have said
anything about the way I felt toward you. It put you at an incredibly
awkward position..."

"No, Clark, I lo..."

"The truth of the matter is that it wasn't true. I'm not in love with you."

"You're not?"

"Lois, I would have said anything to stop you from marrying Luthor."

"Oh... Oh... Well, if that's how you feel."

"I want the same thing you want... friends... partners... forever."

"Forever."

"What did you want to say, Lois."

"Oh, nothing... what you said... somthing like that."

Their gazes locked as their individual hearts began to break.  Suddenly,
Clark snapped his head up as his super hearing kicked in. Someone was in
trouble.

"Lois... I've got to... I've got something I need to do. I've gotta go."

Clark took off across the street making his way towards the alleyway.  Lois
spun on her heels and watched as Clark ran across the street.

"Clark, don't go. That's not what I wanted to say. I love you."
Lois whispered under her breath.

She watched Clark suddenly stop. His back stiffened as he slowly turned
back around.  Their gazes locked, once again, as he made his way back over
to a very stunned Lois Lane.

"What did you say?"

"Huh... how could you have possibly heard..."

"Please Lois... what did you say?"

Overcome with shyness and scared to death to reveal what she had just
admitted, Lois cast her eyes down towards the concrete.

"Lois..."

"Oh Clark... I can't."

"Lois... please talk to me. Trust me."

"Clark, I... I... I love you. I don't want..."

Clark shut his eyes. His heart leapt with joy, but the cries for help were
deafening.  He had to get out of there.

Placing his hand on Lois' cheek, Clark leaned over and kissed her.  The
kiss was passionate but, unfortunately, short-lived.

"Lois, please believe me when I say I love you, too. You have no idea how
much... I've got so much to tell you... but I've got to go..."

"You've what?"

"I have to... I wish I didn't, but it's a matter of life and death."

For the first time in his life, Clark Kent considered, for a brief moment
in time, not to answer an urgent cry for help. Yet, in the end, he knew
that she would understand. `Oh the road to understanding... now that will
be a bumpy one,' Clark thought to himself.

"Hey, kids. Guess what?" Perry bellowed as he approached the preoccupied
couple. "Stern has plans to get the Planet up-and-running by the end of the
month.  Great shades of Elvis, we'll be back in business." Perry's
enthusiasm seeming very much out of place.

"That's great, Chief. Listen I have really got to go! Lois, I'll talk to
you later?" Clark searched her eyes but only found confusion. "I'll come by
later. Okay?"

"Fine."

Clark spun on his heels and ran toward the alleyway allowing his super
hearing to focus in on where the cries for help were originating.

Meanwhile, Perry chattered incessantly about Franklin Stern and his grand
plans for the Daily Planet. Lois understood that he was directing his
chatter in her direction, but she was unable to respond to his spirited
commentary. Her brain was processing information faster than she would have
thought possible.

Her eyes darted after Clark and watched as he entered the abandoned alley.
Then, without warning, she heard a sonic boom.

`Only a low flying jet and a local superhero could achieve such velocity.
And, there certainly aren't any airstrips located in downtown Metropolis.
Clark heard my whispered confession from across the street. His reason for
leaving abruptly meant the difference between life and death.' The puzzle
pieces of Clark Kent's life fell right into place. `Clark Kent is Superman.
Superman is Clark Kent.'

"Oh my... how could he... why would he... I can't believe he would do this
to me... to us..."

Lois' mumbled rage caught Perry off-guard as he focused in on her flushed
face. "Lois, honey... are you alright?"

"Huh?..."

"Are you alright?"

"Yea... I'll be fine. Once I get my hands around his grubby little neck..."

Perry tried to suppress a grin. Somebody was in serious trouble. `When Lois
Lane gets a bee in her bonnet... watch out. Poor sap won't even know what
hit him.'

"Uh, Lois... is it anybody I know?" Perry was riding on a hunch. A hunch
that said that the `sap' in question was probably a good friend of his and
the other half of the Planet's most heralded investigative reporting team.
`Poor boy.'

"Not for long!" Lois looked up to find a smile on her mentor's face.  She
understood that he was only trying to help, but she didn't think he knew
any stories involving Elvis and men from outer space. "Listen, Perry, I
appreciate what you're trying to do, but I've got to get out of here."

"Lois, wait..."

Lois trotted off in the direction of her Jeep half-heartedly turning around
to give Perry the `old brush off.' "I'll call you next week, and you can
tell me all about Mr. Stern's plans.  Okay?" Without waiting for a
response, she turned the corner and headed for the metered parking area.
*************************

Lois stalked around her apartment like a caged animal. She was mad at him,
mad at herself, and mad at the entire situation at hand.

"How could I have been so stupid? A pair of glasses. What a dope."

For a better part of the afternoon, Lois had been chastising herself, as
well as, the man in Spandex.  She had been unable to concentrate on
anything else.

Her attention had been diverted briefly by an encyclopedia salesman. After
an uninterrupted tirade from Lois, the salesman decided that he would no
longer try to solicit his products to the inhabitants of this apartment
building, more precisely the inhabitant of this particular apartment.

"Clark is Superman. Clark is Superman.  I can't believe..."

"Can't believe what?"

Hovering outside of Lois' living room window was the before mentioned
superhero.

"Oh Clark... so nice of you to drop by."

Clark cringed as he heard the vehemence in her voice. He was unsure if he
should ask to come in or fly off and set-up camp in Australia? Africa? The
Antarctic?

"Can I come in?"

"Oh... like I could stop you.  You're faster than a speeding bullet, more
powerful than a loco...

"Lois, please. I know you're upset. Can't we just talk about this?"

"Whatever... do what you want." Lois turned around and headed for the
couch.  More precisely, headed for the back of her couch. She had to put
some distance between herself and the man who was cautiously entering her
humble abode.

Superman was unsure of where to start, but he knew that Lois would probably
feel more comfortable talking to Clark. He spun quickly, changing into the
suit and tie that he had been wearing before.  Lois slowly turned around to
find herself face to face with Clark Kent.

"But, how did you..." Lois' anger subsiding a bit in awe of what she had
seen, or rather hadn't seen.

"It's a spin move I've perfected in order to save time when changing into
the Suit. I can show you sometime if you'd like?" Clark stuffed one hand
into his pocket and ran the other hand through his hair. He looked exactly
like a whipped puppy dog.

She shrugged her shoulders and got back to the matter at hand. Lois Lane
was not going to let him off the hook that easily.
"So..."

"So..." Clark took a deep breath and wanted to get the proverbial ball
rolling, but he had no idea where to begin.

"So... let me get a few things straight. Did you or did you not tell me you
loved me not two minutes after telling me that you didn't love me?" Without
waiting for a response, Lois began firing off more questions. "You're
Superman, right?  You're from another planet? Anything else I should know
about? Because you know now would probably be a good time to tell me."
Crossed arms and indignant, Lois was going to be a force to be reckoned
with.

If it hadn't been such a soul-wrenching situation, Clark would have been
grateful for her tirade. She was definitely getting her spunk back.  Lois
had lost so much during her engagement to Luthor. Her confidence had been
severely shaken.  Now, it seemed as if her confidence was shaken, once
again, but this time she was able to handle or at least mask the
insecurities that plagued her. Clark had to set the record straight.  Their
friendship and any future relationship depended on the outcome of this
day's events.

"Lois, why don't we sit down," Clark said as he motioned in the direction
of the couch.

Lois waited until Clark sat down and purposely put as much distance as she
could between them by sitting at the opposite end of the sofa.

Moments passed by as Clark mentally prepared himself for what surely lay
ahead. "Well, let's start with the Superman issue. How did you figure it
out?"

Lois looked at Clark as if he had lobsters crawling out of his ears. "Oh I
don't know... could it have been the fact that you heard me whisper
something from across the street? Or was it because you suddenly had to
leave in the middle of our intimate conversation? How you're always leaving
abruptly with an urgent facial expression plastered on your face."

Lois took a deep breath to calm her nerves, but to no avail. She was mad,
and she wanted him to feel her wrath. "Could it have been the sonic boom I
heard after you left?" She closed the distance between them, briefly, as
she gingerly removed the glasses from his face and placed them on the
coffee table. "Or could it have been a pair of glasses? You take your pick."

Clark was shell-shocked. Not so much by her revelation, but by the detailed
account of her findings. He knew how intuitive "Mad Dog" Lane's
investigative skills were when it came to catching the bad guys.
Unfortunately, he was the one on the hot seat during this interrogation.

"I had hoped to be the one to tell you about my extracurricular activities,
but you've seemed to have single handedly figured them out already." Clark
looked up at Lois and her expression softened for a millisecond. Maybe
there was hope for them yet.

Lois' expression hardened almost immediately, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I've wanted to tell you, but it's not as easy as it sounds."

"I'll bet..."

Clark glared at Lois. "Now hold on! When we first met you treated me like
horse droppings and idolized a guy who wore tights. You hardly gave me the
time of day. It was easy not to tell you the truth. But lately, as we've
gotten closer, I've wanted to tell you everything.  But you were marrying
Luthor. I couldn't have you know "that" about me."

Slightly deflated, Lois stared off into the distance. "I didn't know he was
evil, Clark."

"I know you didn't, but I couldn't let you know the truth. If, God forbid,
Lex had found out about my dual identity, and then realized that you knew
about it... I can't even imagine what he would have done to you." Clark
slowly inched his way across the couch to close the distance between them.

"Lois?"

"What?"

It was now or never. "I want you to know everything. You know that... don't
you?"

"I guess so. I've just got a lot to think about." She finally found enough
courage to look into her partner's eyes. "I suppose we've both made a lot
of mistakes. I guess the first thing I want to ask you is..."

"What?"

"... Why you lied about loving me?"

For a moment, Clark was astonished by her question. It wasn't about
Superman at all. It was about Clark. "Well... I just didn't... I mean, I
didn't want..." He couldn't believe how tongued-tied he had become. "I just
didn't want our friendship to end."

"Huh?"

"I just didn't want you to feel awkward around me. That's all."

"Oh..."

"I guess I was a little hurt, too. You had already turned me down, and then
proclaimed to Superman that you would love him even if he was an ordinary
man."

"Oh Clark..."

"No Lois... please don't say anything. I seem to be on a roll here." A
small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he continued on, "I knew if
I couldn't have you as a lover, I had to keep you as a friend. You don't
know how much I care about you.  I couldn't "not" have you in my life."

For the first time, Lois sat in stunned silence, her anger slowly
dissipating. He was laying it all on the line. She was going to have to do
the same.

"Oh Clark... I was going to do the same thing."
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 18:51:57 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 5 of 5)

Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Part: 5 of 5
Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
Rating: PG to PG-13
Feedback: All feedback, public and private is welcome

"Huh?"

Lois put her hands in her lap and began to crack her knuckles. Somehow this
managed to calm her nerves... a little. "During my engagement to Lex, I
found my thoughts returning to you.  I was so confused.  I was betrothed to
one man, and having fantasies about another.  And the closer the wedding
got... well the more unsure I got.  I was slowly losing my best friend and
it was killing me. Yet, I had promised myself to someone else."

"Oh... well I'm glad Perry got there in time to stop the wedding."

"He didn't stop the wedding, Clark. I did."

"You did? But, I thought Perry and Inspector Henderson..."

Lois finally allowed herself a small smile. "Oh, they crashed the wedding
alright. But, I had just told Lex that I couldn't marry him."

The name, Lex Luthor, still managed to send a chill through Clark. And for
a guy who didn't worry about temperature changes or getting sick, this was
an especially significant phenomenon.
"Why? I mean I'm glad that you did... I just..."

Wondering whether or not she was willing to share all her secrets, Lois
Lane did something she rarely did... bared her soul to another. "Because of
you."

"Me? But you said that you didn't..."

"I know what I said." Lois glared in Clark's direction. "Are you going to
hold that against me for the rest of my life?"

Bemused by Lois' comment and satisfied with the thought of spending the
rest of his life teasing her... loving her... caring for her...

"No, Lois.  I won't kid you about this for the rest of your life. Twenty...
thirty years tops."

"Hmph... As I was saying..." Lois continued on in a slightly exasperated
tone, "... I was walking down the aisle and all I could do was think about
you. Our first story together... how I reacted to Miranda's formula... the
time I thought you were leaving Metropolis for good... our goodbye kiss."
Lois Lane found herself blushing at that final thought. "I was going to
marry Lex, because I thought it was too late to back out, but I was not
going to let our friendship end. I couldn't let it end.  It was... is the
most important thing in the world to me. I planned on hounding you until
you agreed to be my friend again. I couldn't "not" have you in my life
either."

Clark reached down and gently picked up her hand. "I don't want to be your
friend anymore, Lois."  Looking up into her brown eyes, he saw only
confusion. "What I meant to say is... I don't seem to be very good at this,
do I?"

"What did you mean, Clark."

Her uncharacteristically soft speaking tone gave him enough courage to
continue, "I want more."

Another set of "three little words" that made Lois' stomach do a flip.
"Oh..." was all she could manage.

"Lois, I have always wanted more, but I thought that we had plenty of time
for our friendship to cultivate into a relationship. But when you agreed to
marry Luthor... Well, I was slowly losing you to another man.  I had waited
too long to cultivate anything. I knew I had to tell you how I felt whether
it was the right time or not. I had to try."

Lois felt her eyes began to tear, "Clark, I am so sorry that I turned you
down, initially, and then made a fool of myself over Superman. I was so
flustered. I've cared for you for so long... I just didn't realize how
much... up until now that is..." she said as a lone tear ran down her cheek.

Clark couldn't stand it any longer. He closed the distance between them and
gently wiped the tear from her moist cheek. "Please don't cry. Look on the
bright side. At least we were both able to figure out everything... just in
time." Clark began to grin, "Of course, the last month has been terribly
painful, full of self-doubt and confusion, but I figure that we can only go
uphill from here."

Lois began to chuckle and the tears vanished, "Given how well my past
relationships have gone... Yeah, I'd have to say things will only improve."

"Relationship... is that what we have?"

"Well, yes... I mean I thought..."

Clark saw a flash of insecurity pass over her delicate features.
"Lois, honey, don't. I just wasn't sure if you were ready for relationship
right now. I'm just glad that I no longer have to pretend that I'm not head-
over-heels in love with you. Take as much time as you need. I'll wait for
you." And, he would wait.

Lois suddenly stood up, placing her hands on her hips, "So, do you want to
be my boyfriend... or not." Her stone-cold features impetuously broke out
into a full-blown smile.

Clark grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down to sit on his lap. He
was so happy that he began to laugh out loud. "I would love to be your
boyfriend. So does this mean we're going steady?"

"Oh you!" Lois said a she playfully slapped at his chest.

"Lois," Clark began in a quieter tone, "You have made me the happiest man
on Earth.  I love you so much."

Their gazes locked as they slowly leaned closer together. Clark reached up
to place a hand on her cheek and slowly closed the gap between them as he
put his lips on hers. The kiss was all it should be... full of passion and
tenderness... a kiss that one lover gives to another.

After several moments, they broke apart gasping for air. Lois looked into
his rich brown eyes and saw her future. "I love you too, Clark Kent."

"What about Superman?"

"What about him... I mean... what about you. I hate talking about you in
the third person."

"Mom does too. I even get a little confused sometimes... and he's me!"
Clark began to run his fingers through Lois' silky brown hair, "What I
meant was... is it okay that I am Superman, too?"

"Oh that! Well... it certainly will take some time to get used to the whole
idea. For a year now, I've thought of you as two different people.  There
is so much that I don't know. But, I think it's something I can probably
get use to."
Lois lowered her eyes for a moment, "Besides... I think it's kinda sexy."

"Really?" In his attempt to lower his pulse rate, Clark began to rattle off
his life history. "Well... I was born on another planet. But you already
know that much..."

Lois quickly interrupted, "Clark... don't get me wrong. I want to hear all
about your alter ego, but I'm more interested in the mild mannered reporter
right now."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I'll `interview' Superman later." All she could do was
giggle. "I have much more important things on my mind right now."

Clark's smile slowly disappeared when he saw the passionate look that his
partner was giving him. "Who's Superman?"

"That's a good boy. Now come to Momma."

And he did.

*************************

The interview eventually took place... but that's a whole other story.

The End :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 21:04:45 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Wendy Richards wrote:
>
> On Wed, 9 Jun 1999 08:47:49 -0600 Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET> wrote:
>
> >
> > Awwwww, you're too kind, Wendy.  I'm blushing.  :)  As for your "great
> > writer" comment...shyeah, right. <g>  I feel *very* outclassed
> [snip]
>
> Yeah, right! (as you say!) *Three* Kerth awards this year, including
> the award for Best Story - that makes a great writer in my opinion!
>
> Wendy

Oh, I think there are a few good writers who haven't won a Kerth.

Some write nfic, a few have been inadvertently overlooked, and others
left folcdom before the Kerth's were a twinkle in anyone's eye; so
unfortunately, they're not around to interact and promote their work.
Sometimes because of this, I feel these authors' efforts lose out when
new readers are looking for good stories. For better or worse, the L&C
fanfic archive tends to draw a new reader's attention to the stories
which have won Kerths. I guess I can understand that since there are so
many stories now, and an overwhelmed reader has to begin somewhere. It's
the logical place to begin.  But, it still smarts when the rest of us
have to cajole people to look beyond the Kerths and pull our work from
the bottom of their pile.

The author of Kerthless but, hopefully, quality work,
Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 19:21:22 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW:  MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)
In-Reply-To:  <003601beb1c3$681fb4c0$7731e7d0@gremlino>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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At 11:24 AM 06/08/1999 -0400, Peggy wrote:
>>>I thought at first that Clark's hairless state was
>>>peculiar to Kryptonians, but I've noticed that other television
>>>characters suffer from the same malady -- Captain Kirk, for example.  I
>>>don't know if he's ever tried black coffee.
>>
>>I think in Dean's case it's due to his Asian background. I don't know
about
>>Shatner since he's... Canadian ;) (Maybe he's part Native American? I knew
a
>>sunny-blond Cherokee named Cherry one time)
>>
>OOps!  Debby, I always assumed that Clark was smooth for the same reason
>that Captain Kirk was smooth--the producers made him shave for the show!
>When I read your story, I thought your comment about the coffee was a
>mischievous reference to that-- my mistake!   Guess I'd better check things
>out before sticking my foot in mouth again. <sg>

I think Dean's hairlessness is due to his genes. If he shaved, I don't
think he
would have been embarrassed as he seemed to be in that interview :)

I don't know about Shatner's chest.  Nor, actually, do I wish to... ;)

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
Charter member,
Cat Grant Fan Club
(was Teri Hatchr a secret member...?)
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 19:53:38 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cat Grant... The woman behind the fashion statement
(was...
              s...
Mime-Version: 1.0
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At 03:48 PM 06/06/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>[snip]So, while there
>may have been deeper facets to Cat Grant, I am still left wondering how she
>had the time or energy to exploit and explore them.
>
>Zoomway@aol.com ("Doesn't "we" (oui) mean "yes" in French?"  "Not in
>Smallville." ;)

Even though I don't share it (no surprise there), I find your opinion
interesting. It comfirms, to me, that it's difficult to move beyond the easy
stereotypes TV gives us--indeed, that TV uses to train us in how to see the
world.

I'm glad that fanfic has given us all, writers and readers alike, the
chance to
explore characters and to breathe life into them. I enjoy doing that a great
deal.

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 19:38:24 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Cindy Haste <chaste@SYMVIONICS.COM>
Organization: SYMVIONICS, Inc.
Subject:      Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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Note to Self:  Stop reading fanfic in cubicle at work.  Fellow cell
mates are becoming obviously alarmed by the lunatic frequently giggling
to herself.

I read the Author's Notes, and with the hint that Little Man, Super had
a spoiler for another story at the site, decided to read that one first,
only to discover that the story I needed to read first was part three of
a trilogy.  Bummer :).  A few uninterrupted days later, taking time only
to satisfy my boss' ridiculous obsession for my actually producing work
related materials while he pays me and to eat an occasional meal, I
finished all four stories.

All four stories in the series (although I know Little Man, Super can
stand alone for younger or the more sheltered reader) were funny,
exciting and moving. My heart was racing so fast toward the end of Taken
that I was contemplating the need for a paper bag to breath into to stop
myself from hyperventilating.  The word "RUN" kept playing loudly
through my mind.  Little Man, Super is the latest reason my co-workers
pass my cubicle carefully.  I muffled the giggles as best I could, but
"gopher world" isn't sound proof.  Having had the urge to simultaneously
cuddle and chastise little boys of my own I empathized with Parents
facing dilemmas worse than any I'll ever face.  That earring my son
wants seems so normal now.

My thanks to both Sandy McDermin, a talented Author, and to all of you
on the list who "ordered" me to the site by your reviews.
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 22:35:50 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Stephani E. VanWert" <VvVCordy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Request for Story Editor
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Would someone also be willing to edit for me?
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 22:47:46 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Stephani E. VanWert" <VvVCordy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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what are all four stories called? I want to read them all!
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 21:53:55 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sheila Harper <sharper@CNCC.CC.CO.US>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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At 09:04 PM 6/9/99 -0400, Sandy McDermin wrote:
>Oh, I think there are a few good writers who haven't won a Kerth.

>The author of Kerthless but, hopefully, quality work,
>Sandy

Sandy, don't expect that situation to continue beyond next year's Kerth
awards.  Even if you don't win, I'll be utterly shocked and more than a
little disappointed if you don't get a Kerth nomination out of "Little Man,
Super."  (That, BTW, is all I ever got out of "A Shot in the Dark," even
though I got more praise for it than for all my other stories put together.)
I thought "Little Man, Super" is the best thing you've written.  Jonny's
p.o.v. was utterly, utterly real:  I never doubted for a minute that he was
a seven-year-old.  And his relationship with his sister and his parents was
perfect.  You've always had a good handle on writing a well-plotted,
suspenseful A-plot, so I was expecting that, but I thought your
characterization surpassed anything you'd done before.  Jonny's dilemma was
so poignant, but also realistic for Superman's son, and the resolution
followed naturally once his parents knew what was going on.  There were some
lines that still make me smile, particularly Francine's recognition of
Clark:  "this man was Jonny Superman's father -- a big girl size version of
the handsome and charming little boy sitting in her kitchen nook."

I liked it.  A lot.  And you don't have to hope your work is good quality.
It is.

Sheila

sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 20:04:36 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Cindy Haste <chaste@SYMVIONICS.COM>
Organization: SYMVIONICS, Inc.
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

"Stephani E. VanWert" wrote:

> what are all four stories called? I want to read them all!

Keeping in mind that three are nfic, and you need to be over 18 to read
them they can be found here.  http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy/

If you're under 18, wait and consider reading the stories a birthday
present to yourself.
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 00:40:13 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kathy Brown <kathyb@SPRINGNET1.COM>
Subject:      Fanfic Archive on "Summer Vacation"
Mime-Version: 1.0
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** Fanfic Archive on "Summer Vacation" **

Just to let everyone know, the L&C Fanfic Archive will be on "summer
vacation" for the next month.  A few stories will continue to be posted
over the next few weeks, since I have asked Lauren to space out the handful
of stories we had in queue so you are not completely fanfic deprived <g>.
But I will not be assigning new stories for editing until early to mid-July
when I return from my vacation. (Funny how that works, the archive
vacations at the same time I do. ;))

If you have any Archive related questions/problems in the meantime, feel
free to write Demi <Demi22@aol.com>.

To go along with this, I will be off-line for much of the next month.  If
you have stories to submit to the Archive, you can send them to me, but
they will just be sitting on my ISP's server until I get back in town to
check my mail.  Thus, you may want to just hold onto the story to ensure
nothing gets lost.  If you haven't heard anything back on your submission
by the 3rd week of July, better write me to follow up at that time, to be
sure I got the story.

** S6 and other stuff **

As Pam mentioned in her last message, the schedule for the remaining three
S6 episodes is up on her mirror S6 site. Pam will be posting this Sunday's
episode to the fanfic list (as well as her site), then the next episode
will be ready in mid July. (Yeah, yeah, I know; we are making you wait a
month between eps ... but considering we've added 2 episodes to our
schedule over what was originally planned, we figured you'd be willing to
suffer. <vbg>)

I will be going NOMAIL on this list for the next few weeks; thank goodness
for the website which archives all these posts; otherwise I'd never get
caught up. :)  If you have anything that you need me to see from this list,
please send it to me privately, preferably after the first week of July.
And I'll still be around until Friday morning, so if it's an emergency,
catch me in the next 24 hours. :)

Talk to everyone soon, and have a great month!

Kathy (who is taking a driving vacation around the western US ... staying
with Erin for a few days ... and hoping to hook up with Sheila as well!)

_________________________________
Kathy Brown
Editor-In-Chief
Lois & Clark Fanfic Archive
<http://lcfanfic.actwd.com/>
kathyb@springnet1.com
KathyB on IRC
_________________________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 02:09:30 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Maggie <maggie13@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Sandy's Fiction......
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
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yes, I am up at 2 am
don't ask why <g>

Ahem...the Official Kerth Groupie (and ever so proud of it!)
speaks........(babbles is more like it....)

******warning......DroolALERT......********

Sandy, you, er, *forgot* to mention that
you are in the Fan Fiction Goddess Hall of Fame,
and I for one, assure you that is an Award of the
Highest Honor (it's right up there with the wizard
granting you heart, but below getting your third wish
>from a genie <--maggie-logic!)

I know this award reflects the Pinnacle of Fan Fiction
achievement, because well, I created it!  ;o) And *I* being
a fan fiction addict and all, happen to be an Expert!

just my 12 pennies........

(with the way I babble, 2 cents would never be enough for me.)

Maggie
who looked forward to Little Man, Super
before it was posted like some people
looked forward to Star Wars <g>

maggie13@bellsouth.net  (aka supermags on IRC)
My rationale is that there are people starving all over the world,
so I don't bother to waste food by attempting to prepare it.
 And the world thanks me for that!
--My friend Margaret on Cooking :o)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:40:47 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Sheila wrote:

>Sandy, don't expect that situation to continue beyond next year's Kerth
>awards.  Even if you don't win, I'll be utterly shocked and more than a
>little disappointed if you don't get a Kerth nomination out of "Little Man,
>Super."

It's certainly already sitting in my Kerth 2000 nominations file, so that I
don't forget it when the time comes. ;)

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 10:56:59 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
In-Reply-To:  <375F0F2D.43E52FD0@erols.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Sandy replied to my posting:

> Oh, I think there are a few good writers who haven't won a Kerth.

Absolutely; I would never doubt that for an instant!
>
> Some write nfic, a few have been inadvertently overlooked, and others
> left folcdom before the Kerth's were a twinkle in anyone's eye; so
> unfortunately, they're not around to interact and promote their work.
> Sometimes because of this, I feel these authors' efforts lose out when
> new readers are looking for good stories. For better or worse, the L&C
> fanfic archive tends to draw a new reader's attention to the stories
> which have won Kerths. I guess I can understand that since there are so
> many stories now, and an overwhelmed reader has to begin somewhere.
[snip]

Well, one other place to start is Pam Jernigan's very helpful Fanfic
Recommendations Site - I've made a number of contributions to that
site based on personal favourites, and I'd encourage other readers
to do the same.

And Sandy, you know I admire your work ;)

Wendy

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 06:26:24 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         No Name Available <Larus2407@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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In a message dated 06/10/1999 4:42:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
labrat@UKF.NET writes:

<< It's certainly already sitting in my Kerth 2000 nominations file, so that
I
 don't forget it when the time comes. ;) >>

Ooh, and I was wondering how'd I'd remember the most wonderful stories I've
been reading. What a novel <g> idea. Naturally, Little Man, Super was on the
top of my (well, non written down) list!

--Laurie (the Ord one)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:26:19 -0600
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 3, Amendment, Introduction
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TITLE: My Journal
          Day 3, Thursday, May 5, Amendment, part 0 of 4
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums
          No Editing please (though you can fix typos)
          SUMMARY  Read Days 1,2 and 3 before Day 3 Amendment.  All
portions of
this story are or will be available on my site,
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/dstark/Stories/MyJournal
          Clark Kent's adventures in Metropolis continue.
          There are no attachements for this episode.
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Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:26:00 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 1 of 4
Mime-Version: 1.0
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TITLE: My Journal
          Day 3, Thursday, May 5, Amendment, Part 1 of 4
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums
          No Editing please (though you can fix typos)
          SUMMARY  Read Days 1,2 and 3 before Day 3 Amendment.  All
portions of
this story are or will be available on my site,
ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/dstark/Stories/MyJournal
          Clark Kent's adventures in Metropolis continue.
          There are no attachements for this episode.

All characters below belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers unless they
are my
own creations. Story by Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com. Submitted on June 10,
1999

                                       My Journal

Thursday, May 5, late - Amendment

          This is an amendment to my last journal entry. It's an amendment
because it's almost midnight and today isn't over yet. I'll just put down
the
basics, go to bed, flesh it out in the morning, and send it before I head
for
work. I'm certain now it will be intercepted, but I'm equally certain my
encryption and compression codes will not be broken. I also have this funny
feeling that if I'm a little late getting into the newsroom, I'll be
forgiven.
          How's this for a summary in 25 words or less? I didn't go to the
ball
game; instead, I was kidnapped.
          Yes, your farmboy-scholar-warrior-journalist has at last been
abducted! And it wasn't an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, demand-ransom,
Stockholm-syndrome-inducing kidnapping - no!
          I think I'm still a little dizzy from the experience -
metaphorically
speaking only because, of course, I wasn't hurt.
          Which they don't know and I'm *not* about to tell them.
          This evening I discovered it's easy to fake a fear of being
injured
and then to follow up by "suffering" from strains, pains, etc. Watching TV
pays
off: I'm a better actor than I thought!
          Enough babbling. Besides, this is called *journalizing,* and I'm
*allowed* to babble here.
          After washing dishes and hiding away my computer, I was out on the
sidewalk at seven, waiting for Jimmy and his big friend. I was wearing my
relaxing-in clothing. Before you say "So what?" this does come into play
peripherally later on. For relaxing I have two pairs of comfortably worn
jeans,
a T-shirt (with the Smallville Post logo and "www.Smallville-Post.com - the
Tricounty's window to the world" over the left upper pocket area), and a
roomy
plaid shirt. I wore that shirt rather than my T-shirt because I expected it
would be cool and I should dress for the weather. I was right about the
temperature since it did rain again, a breezy sprinkle about 10:30 as I was
returning - or rather, being returned home.
          So I was comfortable and anxious to get to the game and have some
fun
cheering for both teams (I was that desperate). Finally I saw an unassuming,
dark-green Chevy van turning the corner up the block to my left, from the
south. It wasn't quite the color Jimmy had mentioned, but I hoped it was the
right vehicle anyhow since it was ten minutes after seven already.
          Sure enough, it pulled to a stop out in middle of the street,
almost
in front of me. It couldn't park since cars were already lined up on both
sides
of the street, but the traffic was light, its stopping out there didn't
bother
anyone.
          I stepped into the street between two cars, tentative, prepared to
turn back and wait some more.
          As I walked out, a very large man opened the driver's side door.
Most
people have to step down out of vans; he rose. This could only be Jimmy's
friend. I wondered why he didn't simply unlock the passenger-side door and
signal that I could get in, but perhaps he thought it better to meet me out
on
the street first. I remembered his reported penchant for hugging, too; he
probably didn't want to try that inside his van.
          Jimmy was nowhere in sight, but as the van's windows were dark,
the
sky dusky and the street in deep shadows, I figured he was sitting in back
and
I'd see him soon enough. I was almost right.
          Jimmy's dark-complexioned friend was easily five inches taller
than
me and broader and a lot heavier, just as Jimmy had described. He wore
sunglasses, despite it being so late in the day, and nondescript clothing.
Not
exactly going-to-a-baseball-game clothing, but what do I know? Otherwise, he
did indeed look like he could play football. He looked like he could be a
whole
team on his own. Jimmy said he works in several capacities with the
Metropolis
Symphony Orchestra. That might make an interesting story to tell sometime,
or
so I thought when I first heard about it. Now I have no idea if it's true.
          As we approached each other, I smiled and held out my hand. "Hi.
I'm
Clark--"
          And that's as gentlemanly as I was allowed to get.
          He took my hand in his big mitt and yanked me forward - *not* to
give
me a bear hug but to pull me around and slam me into the side of the van.
If he
did this to disorient and stun me, he succeeded in the latter, but I was
not so
surprised I forgot I better *act* stunned.
          Why I didn't fight back, I don't know. Maybe because I tend to
sidestep potential fight situations. It wouldn't have been a fair fight in
any
case, just one that was over fast. On second thought, that's not a bad
thing.
          I did yelp, "Hey!" and I gasped.
          He twisted my right arm around and grabbed my left, pulling it
behind
me, too. I worked up an alarmed gasp and struggled uselessly. As I put on
this
show, another, much smaller man, opened the van's sliding side door and
jumped
out. This swarthy fellow was wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes
and he also wore sunglasses. Together, Jimmy's friend(?) and the baseball
cap
man, in a swift performance, handcuffed my wrists with plastic handcuffs I'd
only seen before on TV, put a gag in my mouth and tied it there securely,
and
pulled me away from the car a few feet. Baseball Cap Man took my glasses
off,
folded them and put them in my shirt pocket, snapping the pocket shut, while
Jimmy's friend put some kind of padding over my eyes and taped it into
place.
          All these moves, from grab to blindfold, took less than twenty
seconds. After that, my chances to stop the assault in a normal fashion were
pretty much nil.
          I should mention here that I have no trouble seeing through my
eyelids, though it's something I have to desire to do. That's a good thing
or I
think I'd have a lot of trouble sleeping. Of course the blindfold made no
difference at all.
          So, securely tied up, I was aimed toward the van's open door and
pushed into the dark interior, though not until Baseball Cap Man made sure I
wouldn't trip over the threshold.
          This sign of care was another thing that made me decide it was a
good
idea to continue playing along. I'm sure that at any point I could have made
the handcuffs look as if I'd found some sharp point (in reality, my
thumbnail)
to slice through the plastic. The rest of the escape would be easy because
I'd
take them by surprise.
          I do wonder why no one on the street raised an alarm. There were
pedestrians and drivers all along the avenue and surely my abduction had
been
witnessed by at least one person. Does this kind of violence happen so
often in
this city that witnesses are accustomed to it? Do they shrug and look away?
Are
they apathetic or, worse, afraid? Have they lost hope? Do they need
inspiration? I don't know, and I don't know what to do about it.
          As soon as I was inside and on the carpeted floor, Baseball Cap
Man
got in and pulled the sliding door shut with a slam. I presume that Jimmy's
friend returned to the driver's seat, for moments later we were on the move
at
a leisurely pace.
          I remembered I should still be "struggling." This renewed activity
prompted Baseball Cap Man to pat my shoulder and warn, "Now, quiet down,
young
man."
          This was my cue to add some anguished, panicked sounds.
          In response, he thrust a finger into my shoulder and said sternly,
"This is a gun. You *will* be quiet or you'll hurt yourself."
          I cringed away from the "gun" and stopped thrashing about. This
was
good because I had no desire to actually kick anyone or do any other damage,
and the van's movements made it somewhat difficult to coordinate *not*
hurting
anyone. Also, despite everything - and there had been a lot of "everything"
already - I didn't feel any anguish. I'm not sure why. I *should* have been
upset. Maybe after seeing what happened to those dozens of people on the
freeway this morning and doing so little for them, I just couldn't feel very
worried about myself in comparison.
          Also, I was still curious about what the heck was happening and
why
it was happening to *me*. I've never thought myself so important as to merit
this kind of attention!
          Jimmy was sitting at the far end of the van, watching me. He
looked
resigned, grim. I'm glad he didn't look merry or I think a lot of my
fascination with my plight might have worn off then and there. He didn't say
a
word - to me. He and Baseball Cap Man spoke in whispers they probably
expected
the noise of the van to cover. However, neither of them said anything that
gave
me a clue about what would happen next.
          Jimmy was worried about my mental state. Baseball Cap Man in
response
relaxed his "gun," squeezed my shoulder, and kept his hand there, a comfort.
Bad guys aren't supposed to do that kind of thing, so what was I supposed to
think about all this?
          We drove around the downtown area of the city for about 25
minutes,
taking rights and lefts and crossing our own path several times. Because
I've
seen so little of Metropolis, I didn't recognize most of what I glimpsed
through the thinner spots of the van's lead-based paint. I do remember it
all,
though, if I need to, I think I can find the building we pulled into.

(continued)
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Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:26:07 -0600
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 2 of 4
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TITLE: My Journal
          Day 3, Thursday, May 5, Amendment, Part 2 of 4
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13

          It was some kind of parking garage. We slowed down and began
winding
our way downward. In time, we stopped. Baseball Cap Man opened the van's
sliding door and Big Friend came around to help me out so I wouldn't trip.
They
didn't drag me or throw me out like I've seen on TV adventure shows. I've
always thought that was needlessly cruel.
          I made a show of being unsteady on my feet and wincing and all
that.
With a man on either side of me (and Jimmy trailing behind), I was walked
through an entrance with a metal door and push bar; down a long, dusty,
concrete corridor; and through some undecorated, poorly lit rooms and a few
more generic doors and corridors. They don't show this boring detail in TV
shows, though I've observed that most kidnapped people easily find their way
out of buildings; rooms they are kept in are inevitably close to exit doors
and
parking lots. Not in my case.
          Finally we came to yet another generic room reminiscent of a
concrete
bunker, and there we stopped. Big Friend left quietly at that point. We had
lost Jimmy back early in the last corridor. Baseball Cap Man maneuvered me
into
a wooden chair, ordered me to sit and informed me that he would be watching
me
closely. Then he walked over to a table and chair, both set off to my right
and
somewhat behind me, and sat down. He picked up this evening's edition of the
Planet, opened it and began to read. He was turned away from me, apparently
not
the least bit worried that I'd give him any trouble.
          I suppose he was right not to worry. While all this walking to
nowhere had become boring, at last I had the chance to take a good look
around... at nothing. The walls were thick and beyond them were similar
rooms,
corridors, and fill dirt. I suspect I was still in the sprawling basement of
the parking structure which was definitely part of a much larger building,
perhaps a complex of buildings. Maybe it was a mall. Maybe these rooms were
supposed to be storage areas and no one was using them. I tried looking up,
through the ceiling, but what I saw was confusing and difficult to decipher.
Water and electrical conduits, floors, walls and sidewalks with reinforced
concrete, and a lot more dirt. Normal things, I'm sure, but too normal to
help
me recognize where I was. On TV there are always clues. In real life, there
is
the overwhelmingly ordinary.
          About twenty minutes later, a pretty young woman entered the room
and
said to my watcher, "Can you help me stand him up?"
          I could hear him put down his paper. "I don't think you're
supposed
to be here yet."
          "I know, I know, but it's for something else. Come on, help me?"
          "All right...."
          He helped me to my feet. I realized I had been acting too passive
and
cooperative up to this point, which wasn't realistic, so I decided to show
them
I wasn't intimidated. I started by shrugging off his hold and backing away
from
him and the short-statured woman. To add to the tension, I made sure to
knock
over the chair and swear at them a bit through the gag (I'm sure it sounded
like swearing, anyhow) before letting myself be rounded back up again.
          My momentary rebellion didn't change anything, not even their
expressions. It occurred to me that they'd done this kind of thing before.
The
man stood behind me, hands gripping my shoulders. She stood before me, took
my
glasses out of my shirt pocket, handed them to the man behind me, and began
unbuttoning my shirt.
          Wow.
          Wait a minute, this kind of thing wasn't supposed to happen, was
it?
          I tried to shrink away, which wasn't an act. The last woman to
undress me was *Mom*!
          (I was ten, and I had come to realize recently that she was more
than
one of my very best friends - she was a *girl*! Besides, back on that summer
day, I didn't think I needed any help undressing because there was nothing
wrong. I was covered with mud, yes, she as right: it happens when helping
friends dig a swimming hole. My clothing was not ruined and I didn't need to
remove it since I was going right back outside after dinner. Besides, my
clothes were just "seasoned" or "marinated," words Mom had used herself the
evening before, in a different context, but still....)
          My arguments hadn't swayed Mom, the swimming hole was never
finished,
and I had no (normal) way to tell this woman stripping me now to stop it!
          Not that she wasn't worth taking one's clothes off for, I suppose.
She was pretty. She had hair cut in a page-boy style, nice eyes, a pert nose
and full lips.
          But that's not the point.
          She had a businesslike look on her face as she finished the
unbuttoning quickly and opened my shirt. The man let go of me long enough
for
her to slip it off as far as the handcuffs would allow. Then she unsnapped
my
jeans.
          I really could have been out of there in a second.
          But before I had to figure out how to do that and not give
anything
away - *any*thing - the man behind me spoke up. "Stop right there."
          "But I need to--"
          "No, you don't."
          She looked around me at him. "Yes, I do."
          The man, into whose hands I realized I was pressing, turned very
fatherly and protective: "No. You. Don't."
          The young woman frowned at him, determined to.... Did she really
want
to do that or was it just another in a long succession of teases? I reminded
myself I should be making some noises and shaking my head at her to
indicate my
real distress and confusion about all this.
          She frowned up at me next, sighed in exasperation, rolled her
eyes...
and backed down. "All right, but if they don't fit, don't blame *me*, *I*
tried."
          "You won't be blamed, they'll fit."
          What will fit?
          The young woman dug into a pocket and pulled out a yellow cotton
tape
measure.
          At this point I heard people in the distance, beyond the closed
door
and down the hall.
          One of the people was Jimmy. "He was *great* this morning! He
couldn't have passed a better test if we'd planned it ourselves."
          A woman's voice - the voice of the woman who talked to Jimmy on
the
phone on Tuesday! "Phase One him" woman! - said, "His coverage was
insipid--"
          "No, it wasn't."
          "--like the theatre article."
          "That's different! What did you expect? Even Steve's having a hard
time getting the information you want on that."
          "Anyone could see Perry's rewrites--"
          "So? He never rewrote you?"
          "--and that fake interview with Henderson--"
          "It wasn't fake. Henderson likes him. Everyone likes him. I got a
picture of them talking together."
          "Autographed? I bet not."
          "Of course not. But he gave me some plastic handcuffs to use so
there
wouldn't be any rope burns. *He* thinks Clark will work out, too."
          I heard them stop.
          The woman said quietly, "Henderson never used to give interviews
and
handcuffs to anyone but me...."
          "Well, you're weren't there, were you?"
          The woman had no retort for that.
          Other than that they were obviously talking about me, *why* were
they
talking about me? What will I work out for? Why wasn't she wherever "there"
was?
          The woman in front of me measured the lengths of my arms and wrote
the results on a slip of paper.
          "*Well*," the woman down the hall continued, more tersely, more
urgently than before, both in her renewed walk (it sounded like she was
wearing
running shoes) and her speech pattern: "*I'm* the one who decides if he'll
work
out. *I'm* the one who's responsible! He'd *better* be worth all this! I'm
really busy!"
          "He's got everything you've been looking for! Heart and soul - he
proved that in the theater. Courage - stopping that mad professor who didn't
have a bomb after all and then interviewing him. And this morning! This
morning
was awful! It was the worst accident I've ever seen, but he was a hero! He
didn't even flinch--"
          She stopped again. "A hero who doesn't flinch? It sounds like he
has
no conscience - maybe he *likes* violence--"
          "No! I saw him helping plenty of people, really *helping* them.
And
except for when he did that, he didn't look happy at all. He just didn't let
the headless corpses and the body parts and the babies screaming bother him
enough to keep him from working. Neither did I."
          "That wouldn't bother any *good* reporter."
          "Well, that's what I'm saying."
          The woman in front of me slipped her measuring tape around my
waist.
It tickled. I am ticklish sometimes and I didn't like her finding that out.
She
chuckled, hesitated as she adjusted the tape, touching me unnecessarily....
Then she noted what she got - numbers and absolutely *nothing* else - and
jotted these down, too. "You really are *some*thing...." she added with a
pleased-sounding sigh.
          Wow.
          No - I told myself then - *not* wow. Hers *wasn't* a compliment,
not
with me in that position. I swear I could have left any time I wanted to,
but
as long as the fellow behind me was watching out for my interests (in a
warped
sort of way considering the part he'd played in kidnapping me) and he
wouldn't
allow the woman to do whatever she wanted, what kind of reporter would I be
if
I left in the middle of the biggest story of my life?
          A really dumb reporter, that's what!
          Besides, I told myself, I could ignore what was essentially
harmless
ogling.
          But I also found myself wishing I were having even ten percent as
much fun as she was having. If I had thought a little harder and foreseen
this
situation, I might have come up with a way to control it. But I didn't. I
don't
like being a victim in any form whatsoever, particularly when I've been
careless and gotten myself into the situation.

(continued)
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Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:25:05 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 3 of 4
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TITLE: My Journal
          Day 3, Thursday, May 5, Amendment, Part 3 of 4
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13

          Jimmy and the other woman began walking again, very close. Their
conversation was far more interesting to concentrate on.
          She said, "All right, so he didn't faint. I'm not impressed. This
is
all just too important for me to waste any more time--"
          "Well, it's been all *your* idea."
          "--on any more men who just aren't up to the task. I'm not asking
for
much. I never do."
          "Right. Then *I* could do what you want."
          "You're not tall enough and you don't look the part. Look, it's
almost nine already and he should be--"
          They opened the door (it was to my left) and enter the room. I
turned
my head as though I forgot I couldn't see them.
          She stopped in her tracks. She could sure see me.
          "--naked - I mean...." She blinked. "*ready.*"
          The little blond woman in front of me zipped her tape measure from
around my chest, where she had been lingering beyond any reasonable length
of
time, unless she was trying to get measurements during both my inhales and
exhales.
          The new woman - small statured, too, and dressed in black from
head
to toe; a knit cap pulled down over her forehead; brown, chopped-off-looking
hair sticking out from under the cap in back; the skin of her face smudged
with
camouflage paint - roared: "What *are* you doing?!"
          The measuring woman quickly ran her tape from my waist to my heel,
then took my left thigh circumference. She had to be some kind of expert to
be
so efficient when she wanted (or was forced) to be. "Nothing," she said.
          The woman in black (I was beginning to suspect who she was)
marched
up, grabbed the measuring woman by her right arm, and dragged her out into
the
hall, reaching back in to pull the door closed with a slam.
          Baseball Cap Man said, "Well." He positioned the chair behind me,
bumped the backs of my legs lightly with it and said, "Sit." I sat down.
Note,
dear great-grandchildren, that he didn't make any move to redress me.
          Jimmy, over in the corner, didn't move, either, and didn't say a
word. He looked like he *wanted* to talk, but his eyes alone communicated
his
alarm: he was staring at the door as though he feared it would open again
and a
small, strong hand would snake out, grab him and drag him away next. After a
few moments, during which time his fears didn't materialize, he whistled a
silent "whew," looked at Baseball Cap Man and shrugged helplessly... but
with
just a touch of a smile about his lips. I got the impression this kind of
outburst was not exactly new to him.
          As for the women, I wouldn't be surprised if I found out tomorrow
that everyone from Hobbs Bay to Green Hills heard the one in black yelling,
"He
is *not* ready for a suit yet! *I* have *not* decided he's ready for
*any*thing!"
          Measuring Woman's voice was quieter. "So? I'm not measuring him
for
*that* suit. *You're* the one who wants him at that ball, remember? Tuxes
are
going fast and I couldn't believe his measurements--"
          "Yeah, right. Like you couldn't believe Claude's or Fred's,
either."
          "Or Robert's or Bill's--"
          "There's been no Robert."
          "Well, they all look alike after awhile. Except him, he's--"
          "I'll decide, that, too!"
          "*You'll* scare him off! Hey, I just saw the chance to get some
work
done *and* have a little fun--"
          "Don't play games, Maxine, especially with me. I don't have time
for
it. This is a deadly serious business."
          Maxine (Max?) snorted. "Someday everybody's going to get deadly
tired
of you being deadly serious all the time, Lois."
          By gosh, I thought, I'm right! It's her!
          She's not as tall as I thought she'd be.
          Lois Lane, queen of the underground (or not), held her head high
and
said, "They can be replaced."
          "No, they can't, *we* can't." Measuring Woman tried this calmly:
"All
we want is results and until we get results, don't blame us if we--"
          "'We' is *you,* pawing everyone--"
          "I was getting his *measurements*--"
          "--and the we who are *working* are getting results every day!"
          "Oh, yeah?"
          "Yeah! Yes! And we - including *you* - *have* to move carefully. I
know we've had some failures, some setbacks, and I take full responsibility
for
every one of them. But that means I can't let you do something stupid
like...
like...." She waved in my direction.
          "Well, I didn't hurt him."
          "That is *not* the point--"
          "Besides, *I'm* responsible for getting him into at least *one*
suit--"
          "Well, I hope you got what you came for because you're not going
back
in there."
          With this, Lois Lane somehow looked bigger and meaner.
          Maxine, who was about the same size and sounded just as feisty,
backed down, relying instead on swagger. "I don't need to. I got his
measurements. I can get his phone number later - if you don't *kill* him
first."
          Uh....
          Maxine tossed her head in defiance and marched away, quickly.
          Lois Lane could do nothing about it but growl. She stood there
then,
all alone, seething, clutching and unclutching her hands.
          I almost felt like a voyeur watching her.
          But she soon regained her composure, or enough of whatever her
normal
level is, I suppose, and she turned back toward the door to the room in
which I
was being held. She took a deep breath, let it out, loosened her shoulders,
and
opened the door.
          She entered with a brisk, no-nonsense stride and stopped in front
of
me. Towering somehow, despite her size, she gave me a long, hard look. I
wonder
if she would have done that had she known I could see her.
          "Clark J. Kent," she pronounced dramatically. It almost made me
wish
I had a more poetic name. "Born in Smallville - or should I say... adopted
there."
          What could I do? I nodded. The information is in the public
record,
but not very many people know it. Mom and Dad didn't talk about it much when
I
was young, or so I'm told. It didn't matter to me until I was in my teens,
about the time I hit puberty and hit it differently than we expected. We
worked
that out; no need to go into it here. As far as I know, friends and
neighbors
never asked about Mom's "playgirl sister who lived in another state." The
public certainly doesn't know the truth.
          Unless.... My stomach tightened with the realization that there
was
the eensy-weensy, microcosmic, although highly unlikely possibility this
Lois
Lane knew something she shouldn't....
          She began to pace as she told me about myself. "Only son of
farmers
Jonathan and Martha Kent."
          More public record. I began to relax because a lot of what she
went
on to say she could have easily gotten from Jimmy and from calling
references
on my resume, which now also seems to be a public record, too.
          "You were raised and schooled there. In high school you excelled
in
all your courses and participated, reportedly with 'gusto,' on the football,
baseball, track and gymnastic teams. You were offered several sports
scholarships but turned them down to go to Kansas State University, where
you
graduated with a BA in Journalism."
          Had I not been preoccupied with my fears, I might have guessed she
would pronounce my alma mater's name in a derisive manner. Many
Metropolitans
don't seem to think highly of anything or any place that's not Metropolis.
          Instead, she sounded almost bored. She only perked up a bit with
the
high school sports mention. I don't know why. After that she rushed to the
end.
          She stopped and counted current information off on her fingers.
"You're in good health; you're 26; you've traveled a lot. You worked for a
weekly newspaper and now," she opened her hands, giving me some credit,
"you're
struggling to make a place for yourself at the Daily Planet while..." she
turned her hands down, "living in a hovel."
          She had very expressive hands. I could only nod and try to say,
predictably, "Who are *you*?"
          "Me?" She leaned forward. The stench of sewer gas permeating her
clothing was impossible to ignore. (Where does *she* live?) She also sounded
like she had a cold, and, this close, she looked tired under her camouflage
paint. "I'm your new best friend. Indeed, I've been your best friend for a
few
days now. Yes, my spies have been watching you. I have spies *every*where."
          She paused to let this soak in.
          It didn't have a chance to soak far or restart my fears, because
as
she stood tall again and continued her "explanation," she practically told
me
her "spies" hadn't seen anything important.
          "You live a tragically boring life - working, eating, sleeping,
surfing the net," her voice softened, "watching soap operas, waiting for
calls
that don't come, weeping in your Rice Krispies...." She seemed to recall
where
she was. "But I'm going to change all that."
          She put her hand on my left shoulder as though the connection
would
help me absorb her information, and with each of the next several words, she
pressed: "As Your *Best Friend*... I'm going to teach you the best ways to
survive in this city, the best ways to get the best stories and advance in
your
career, and the best ways to make this city a better place to live." She
let me
go and pointed at me now. "You will learn that it is in your best interests
to
listen to me and do *precisely* what I tell you to do."
          The blindfold probably did not hide my frown.
          "Unless you *want* to write for the Ladies Home Journal for the
rest
of your life."
          I shook my head without further prompting. I guess she's never
been
tempted to sell her work to any publication of lesser status than the
Planet.
I'll have to find out. I noted that Jimmy nodded, probably agreeing: the LHJ
shouldn't be in my future.

(continue)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:25:43 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 4 of 4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

TITLE: My Journal
          Day 3, Thursday, May 5, Amendment, Part 4 of 4
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13

          "Excellent. I think we're beginning to understand each other." She
patted my cheek, or rather that part of the gag covering my cheek, and
looked
over my head at Baseball Cap Man. "Stand him up. Let me get a good look at
him."
          Uh-oh, I thought, not again....
          I was helped up to my feet, and she got a real look... from a
distance. I was glad about that. I'm not sure exactly why though. I'm sure
I've
got a healthy libido, but her *not* acting like Maxine was a relief.
          In time, she told me, "I like you, Kent." Her voice softer, but
I'm
almost sure it was a pretense to lull me. "You have a lot of...." She let
her
eyes wander. A moment before she had assessed me; now she just seemed to
look,
I guess. I suppose it's something to do with not being surprised like she
had
been earlier. She was in control again and able to proceed the way she had
planned.
          Maxine was wrong. This Lois Lane person does play games, her own
games.
          Considering how long she took to decide what to say, it seemed
appropriate and expected for me to squirm a bit. I didn't have to fake that.
          She concluded: "...attributes I think I can use."
          I didn't say anything.
          "I'll be in touch...." She paused and widened her eyes ever so
slightly at herself. "--with you. I'll communicate with you - you'll hear
from
me again, soon - by means *you'll never expect*." She talked herself back
into
control. I don't think she actually lost it but I think she thought she had.
"You'll learn to expect the unexpected from my vast organization. Keep your
nose clean, follow every direction I give you without question, don't tell
anyone about *any* of this - I'll know *instantly* if you do - and we'll get
along very well, and, in the process, we'll save the world. Understand?"
          The "we'll save the world" bit sounded and still sounds okay. But
then the first thing I thought was, I need more details about everything
else
she said. I couldn't understand anything without those details, without
being
taken into her confidence.
          Therefore, I could only shake my head.
          She muttered. "I'm not surprised...." In a normal voice, she said,
"Well, you will." She then addressed the man behind me: "Take him back."
          She watched him redress me quickly. She didn't help. Maxine would
have, so I'm glad that Lois Lane and her fatherly assistant were there
instead.
Then the man guided me out of the room, past the clammed-up Jimmy, where we
met
Jimmy's Big Friend. He must have gone out to eat because had about him the
unmistakable scent of cheese and pepperoni. It reminded me that I wasn't
going
to get any popcorn and hotdogs tonight. Darn.
          As we moved, I strained to listen for any conversation between
Lois
Lane and Jimmy, but all I heard was her saying, "Damn, I've got my work cut
out
for me...."
          Sprinting, Jimmy soon caught up. He accompanied us as I was taken
home in much the same manner and along the same route as we had embarked.
Outside the flophouse, I was set on my feet between two cars (the same two
as
earlier) and my glasses were returned to my shirt pocket. The plastic
handcuffs
were cut off me and kept, so I don't have them as proof.
          Baseball Cap Man advised, "Zip yourself up," and then he jumped in
the van. They roared away while I was ripping off the blindfold and gag and
then checking my zipper - I was sure she hadn't touched it, but.... I was
right, it was a false alarm, but my ripping and checking gave them plenty of
time to escape.
          If anyone noticed any of this, they didn't approach me to talk
about
it. What could I have said? What *can* I say?
          I have to tell Mom and Dad about this. I don't want to, but I
really
can't *not* tell them. Dad's right. It *is* safer on the farm.
          But... it's more interesting in the city.
          I thought my apartment had escaped untouched last night, until
early
this morning, when I discovered the suit and shirt I wore to work yesterday
were gone. At about 4 a.m., not long after I finally got to sleep, the
sound of
what at first I assumed were mice skittering down the hall woke me. This was
disappointing. While I don't seem physically to need much sleep, I think
it's
critical for my weary mental well-being.
          Irritated, I glanced through the wall and saw the noise was being
made not by innocent mice foraging for crumbs, but by that not-so-innocent
rat,
Maxine, foraging for....
          It's hard to believe but it's true: I actually found myself
clutching
at the thin sheet on my bed. I realized what I was doing and stopped
immediately because it was a totally stupid overreaction. She won't come in
here, I informed myself, since she knows I'm not defenseless this time and
Lois
Lane would probably kill her if I identified her.
          Well, Maxine didn't try to come in at all. She was returning my
suit
and shirt, hanging them on the door knob. I retrieved them as soon as she
was
gone. They were cleaned and pressed and wrapped in plastic.
          I'm of two minds about this. They broke into my apartment -
*again* -
and took something belonging to me. They have *no* right to do that.
          On the other hand, not only am I worthy of being kidnapped for
use in
arch criminal Lois Lane's schemes, I'm worth being bribed, too.
          I suppose being the object of two women's attentions also has
benefits I haven't figured out yet.
          This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in my
whole
life.
          I have to get to work. I wonder what Jimmy and Mr. White and
everyone
else will say, if anything?
          But most of all, I wonder what I've gotten myself into.

[to be continued]

[Your real author thanks my proofers and creative consultants Pat H., Jeanne
P., Sandy McD., and Steve H.]
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 11:46:30 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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I wrote:

><< It's certainly already sitting in my Kerth 2000 nominations file, so
that I
> don't forget it when the time comes. ;) >>

And Laurie responded:
>
>Ooh, and I was wondering how'd I'd remember the most wonderful stories I've
>been reading. What a novel <g> idea. Naturally, Little Man, Super was on
the
>top of my (well, non written down) list!
>
I learned the hard way, Laurie, <g> after having no time to read even the
nominations this year and having to rely on my memory most times. I felt
very guilty because that tended to mean that I voted for the stories I'd
read most recently and am certain I missed a few that should have been first
on my list.

Never again, I cried! <bg> Now, every time I read a story I adore, it goes
in my file. It's getting kinda full in there, I have to say. ;)

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 12:20:26 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: My Journal
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S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Not really a spoiler, just an observation, but I'll be ultra-careful anyway,
just in case.

Okay, so I'm finally finding a spare moment to catch up on My Journal -
having been driven to the brink of insanity either avoiding the previous
list comments or sucumbing to temptation (I've had enough hints about this
one to have been slavering for long enough waiting on its arrival) and
wishing I hadn't as they only made me more insane <g>. And I'm reading it
and I'm thinking that there's something...wrong with it. Something...odd.
Something just a little off kilter. And I'm dashed if I can figure out what
the heck it is.

Then, halfway through part two - it hits me. It's like a really, really
*great* story. But not by Debby. A great writer certainly. But...not Debby.
It doesn't have Debby's touch about it. Her style. The little nauances of
narrative that I've come to expect from Dawning. And I think, "That's
strange..."

And then, of course, someone whaps me upside the head with a two by four and
hisses, "Well, duh! Course it's not *Debby* coming through on the page, you
moron. It's Clark, isn't it!!"

And then I sat back and stared at the screen in complete and total awe for
several moments while I marveled at this exceptional and amazing talent. <g>

Kudos, Debby! You sucked me right into Clark's Journal. Now I feel like a
voyeur. ;)

LabRat :) (Who must have been on a roll to have gotten past Clark's
encryption code. And without even figuring out how I did it either. Darn,
I'm good. Maybe I should join Lois in the Underground. :D)

Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 21:57:47 +1000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         jem <jem@WEBONE.COM.AU>
Subject:      Re: NEW:  MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Actually, my father (who is half Italian half English) also does not have
any chest hair - oh wait, I remember now, he had three :)

Some men are hairy and some are not - I don't think it has to do with
ancestry just genetics.

At least, that's my theory :)

jem

-----Original Message-----
From: Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
<LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Thursday, June 10, 1999 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: NEW: MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)

>At 11:24 AM 06/08/1999 -0400, Peggy wrote:
>>>>I thought at first that Clark's hairless state was
>>>>peculiar to Kryptonians, but I've noticed that other television
>>>>characters suffer from the same malady -- Captain Kirk, for example.  I
>>>>don't know if he's ever tried black coffee.
>>>
>>>I think in Dean's case it's due to his Asian background. I don't know
about
>>>Shatner since he's... Canadian ;) (Maybe he's part Native American? I
knew a
>>>sunny-blond Cherokee named Cherry one time)
>>>
>>OOps!  Debby, I always assumed that Clark was smooth for the same reason
>>that Captain Kirk was smooth--the producers made him shave for the show!
>>When I read your story, I thought your comment about the coffee was a
>>mischievous reference to that-- my mistake!   Guess I'd better check
things
>>out before sticking my foot in mouth again. <sg>
>
>I think Dean's hairlessness is due to his genes. If he shaved, I don't
>think he
>would have been embarrassed as he seemed to be in that interview :)
>
>I don't know about Shatner's chest.  Nor, actually, do I wish to... ;)
>
>Debby
>Debby@swcp.com
>Charter member,
>Cat Grant Fan Club
>(was Teri Hatchr a secret member...?)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 08:01:33 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
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In a message dated 6/9/99 2:21:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
gremlino@PATHWAY.NET writes:

<<  how did Lois manage to inspire that kind of devotion in Deter--and so
quickly?

>> Very good question, but if you look at the other men in her life, it was
typical.  Clark fell for her the first time he saw her at his interview.
Lex
fell for her on their first date, if not at the White Orchid Ball.  Scardino
fell for her the first time he saw her.  So maybe Deter was just being a
normal guy ( not that any of these guys are really normal) and fell for her
like the rest.  Even the guy who picked her up as Wanda Detroit fell for
her.

<< I read a fanfic--I forget which one--where Deter was related to Luthor,
and *that*
 plot made a lot more sense than FMN and OW. >>

>> And so it was all part of the plot to separate Lois and Clark?  It  does
make sense.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 08:14:48 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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In a message dated 6/9/99 9:06:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
smcdermin@EROLS.COM writes:

<< The author of Kerthless but, hopefully, quality work, >>

No way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just read "Little Man, Super" and boy was it
ever.
 I can't believe you haven't won a Kerth.  Your characterizations were dead
on.  You must have little boys around the house.   Jonny reminded me so much
of my sons when they were that age and had the bit between their teeth,
magnified of course by a healthy dose of Lois genes.

I now have to go back and read Love as a Blonde.

At any rate, great story.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:42:37 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kate Crane <KCrane1865@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Kerthless Writers
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In a message dated 6/9/99 6:06:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
smcdermin@EROLS.COM writes:

<< But, it still smarts when the rest of us
 have to cajole people to look beyond the Kerths and pull our work from
 the bottom of their pile.

 The author of Kerthless but, hopefully, quality work, >>

I know it must be hard to write for the thankless, such as myself, who find
such happiness in the wonderful world of LnC fanfic.  So, I offer my undying
gratitude to all of you wonderful writers out there, Kerthless or not.  I am
constantly amazed by the quality of writing, free for the asking, produced
by
you.  And, unlike my love of the tv series, where I am a low-maintenance
fan,
I am not a low-maintenance fanfic reader.  I can quickly tell if a fic is
worth the read.  I keep holding my breath (well, not really), fearful that
the excellent writers may eventually tire of this occupation.  And then,
what
will we do?

Sandy, I particularly haved enjoyed your fics!  I am not a big reader of
nfics that lack an A plot, so I want to rave about your delightful trilogy,
as well as Little Man, Super.  I love the world you have created for our
little family.  Thank you.

Kate, (the Maryland one)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 11:30:32 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: FANZINE ALERT PREVIEW
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Well, Anne, I've ordered my copy, and I'm really looking forward to reading
it!  Thanks for the hint on where to find it!

>http://members.aol.com/amciotola/fanzine.htm

Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 11:50:15 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & Cat Grant
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--snip Ann's insightful comments on similarities between Lois and Cat--

>I think that Cat was so insecure that she couldn't stand the thought of
>everyone knowing or even thinking that she had been rejected by Clark.
That
>may be why she spread the stories, although there was also probably some
>desire to irritate Lois as well.  >

Yes, that sounds like a good explanation for Cat's behavior.  My first
impression of Cat was that she's one of those people who breezes through
life without taking it very seriously, but she may have been more complex
than she appeared.  I'm intrigued by those books Clark spotted on her
bookshelf.  Did she put them there just to impress people?  Or did she
really "read," like she told Clark, and if so, *what* did she read?  I'm
looking forward to reading how fanfic authors interpret her character.

Cheers,
Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 18:18:54 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%1999060918343699@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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Lara... FINALLY after the end of a very long day attending exam
boards, giving students their exam results and writing urgent
documents, I got a chance to read your story. A great end to a tiring
day!

First, can I thank you for the compliment in your introduction; I'm
very glad that you enjoy my work and if it's inspired you to write
your own stories, then I'm honoured.

Second, I liked this story very much! I thought it was extremely well
written, and in particular I loved the way you filled in the gaps in
the episode.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

The story was very well written, nicely paced, containing plenty of
reflection and inner narrative as well as the core dialogue and
actions from House of Luthor.

I've always thought that there was too much left to the imagination
in BatP/HoL; that's fine, since we can all put our own
interpretations on what happened and why it happened - and a number
of us have done so in writing! I particularly liked the way in which
this story reflected on both Lois and Clark's emotions during the
weeks in which this episode takes place; the scene where Lois decides
to phone Clark is really nicely done.

The revelation near the end is also excellent; it was an unexpected
twist, since I'd assumed up to then that the story would simply leave
the relationship as 'friends and partners', within continuity, or
perhaps at most deal with some of the outstanding 'angst'. But here
we have an intelligent Lois (rather than the Lois who is fooled by
'Cheese of the Month'), and a Clark who stands up for himself when he
is faced with Lois's knowledge of the truth.

I've no idea whether this was your first fanfic, Lara, but I would
urge you to write more! And do send this to the Archive, please.

Wendy
----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 19:44:25 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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Sandy McDermin wrote:

> Oh, I think there are a few good writers who haven't won a Kerth.

Of course there are, and I don't think anyone would claim otherwise.
Kerths are just like any other award or competition - they highlight a few
lucky people amongst the many who produce high-quality work.  Only one
person can win an award, so that by definition, an award scheme cannot
possibly acknowledge everyone who is good (whatever 'good' means ;) ).

> so
> unfortunately, they're not around to interact and promote their work
> Sometimes because of this, I feel these authors' efforts lose out when
> new readers are looking for good stories.

Sandy, I can't agree with this sentiment.  I wrote...I think...3 stories
and posted them to the archive before I ever joined this list or went on to
IRC.  So I wasn't around to interact (I think I was in contact by email
with just one Folc), and I couldn't do anything to promote my work (not
that 'promoting' is something which comes naturally to me anyway).  Yet I
received a Kerth nomination, and a good few feedback emails about my
stories.  I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet here, nor devalue your work
in any way what-so-ever - I'm just trying to say that I think readers, new
or old, will find the stories they like whether or not they are highlighted
in the Kerth section.  Obviously, from the replies you've received to your
message, your work is enjoyed and respected by many people.

When I first found the archive - and what a moment of pure joy that was - I
dipped into the section where stories are categorised, but very soon
graduated to a systematic trawl through the A to Z author listings.  My
decision to read a story was based on the brief description in the index,
and then the author's note if there was one.  If I found a story I liked,
then I would go back and try other stories by the same author.  If the
Kerths had been up and running back then, I suppose I probably would have
used that as my starting point, just as I did with the category listings,
but I wouldn't have limited myself to that section for very long - I was
too hungry :).

> But, it still smarts when the rest of us
> have to cajole people to look beyond the Kerths and pull our work from
> the bottom of their pile.

I'm sorry - and surprised - that you've found that you have to cajole
people to read non-Kerth work.  Who are these people who only read
award-winning work?

I'm pleased to see Cindy has posted the URL for your stories, and if my ISP
actually lets me log on, I'll march straight over there and begin
downloading.

Best wishes,
Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:46:34 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         John Debbage <106532.433@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      The Universal Union  Part 2 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Title:               The Universal Union
Part:                2 of 4
Author:            Jenni Debbage     106532.433@compuserve.com
Rating:            PG
Feedback:    All feedback, public and private is welcome, though typos an=
d
grammar I would prefer to                          be private.
Summary:     Conituation of Lois' meeting with Kal-El and the reason for
his visit to Earth.

   Chapter two

                                                         The   Proposal

     Lois blinked once and then her eyes opened wide.  She started to spe=
ak
but no sound left her mouth.  Blinking twice she tried again.   "Excuse
me!?"

     Taking hold of her trembling hands, Kal was at least relieved that s=
he
didn't draw them from his grasp.   "I'm sure hearing that must be quite a=

shock and I will explain, if you let me........."      He remained as qui=
et
and calm as his speedily beating heart would allow as he awaited her
permission to continue.  She acquiesced with a small nod of her head.  Ka=
l
needed no other encouragement.   "As I told you, my Uncle had no direct
heir, so when I was born he named me as his successor.  I have an older
sister, but under our law only males can succeed to the position of First=

Lord.  Since I was a child I have known that one day I would rule Krypton=

and I have been raised to fill my responsibilities.  One of these is to
marry and provide an heir for my world.  And so I have been searching for=

someone I could share my life with......... a soulmate as it were."

     Lois was entranced by the tale.  It was like the fairytales that she=

had read as a little girl.     "And you have been travelling around the
galaxy looking for this girl?"

     "No!  I came straight here to Earth.  My choice was already made som=
e
years ago."

     "When?"  Lois could not forbear to ask.

     "I think it was the day you fell and cut your knee when you were
roller-skating, I believe that is the term used by Earthlings.  Anyway yo=
u
started to cry and your mother heard you and came outside.  The poor woma=
n
must have been ill, because she wasn't too steady on her feet and I have =
to
say that she wasn't very sympathetic, because she told you that you only
had yourself to blame because you weren't wearing your protective pads.  =
I
remember, you stopped crying and stuck your little chin in the air and
carried on practising until you had mastered the sport.  I thought that y=
ou
were very brave and determined and you must have been about twelve years
old."

     "You saw that?!"  Lois asked wonderingly.  Kal simply nodded.  "Well=

don't feel too sorry for my mother because she wasn't ill she was just
drunk.  It happened a lot back then when she and my dad were splitting up=
."

     "She must have been very unhappy."  Kal still defended the woman.

     "I suppose so," Lois muttered grudgingly.  "But she made us all
miserable too."

     "I'm sorry, Lois.  I realise you didn't have a very happy time growi=
ng
up.  But now your destiny lies in your hands."

     "Yes and you don't know how much I struggled to gain my independence=
."

     "But I do!  I told you that I know a great deal about you.........."=

     This statement caught Lois' attention and slowly she understood what=

Kal-El was trying to tell her.   "Have you been spying on me?  And how ca=
n
you do that?  And why would you do that?"     Lois' voice began to rise a=
n
octave or two. =

      Taking a deep breath Kal began his explanation.  He understood that=

he had to get this right or his dream of sharing his life with Lois would=

be shattered.   "Yes, I have been watching you occasionally, though I hav=
e
tried not to be invasive.  I can do that because our scientists and
protection services have probe satellites scattered throughout the galaxy=
. =

As to the reason why............ I have  loved you, Lois, from the moment=
 I
saw you.  I was only thirteen, yet my feelings have never changed and I
would be honoured if you would be my wife." =

     Lois was aghast.  "How can you love me?  You don't even know
me......."

     "Lois, I told you that..........."

     "No!!  You've been spying on me.  That's not the same as knowing
someone."

     The agitated young woman jumped up from her seat and began pacing,
wringing her hands together as she strode back and forward.  From his cha=
ir
Kal-El watched in trepidation.  Quietly he added a few words.  "Well, it
feels like I know you.  And admit it Lois, you feel that too........."

     But Lois was not prepared to be placated......... not yet.   "NO!! =

You don't know how I feel."  She swung round to face him.  "And what
happens now?  Do you kidnap me?  Do you carry me off back to Krypton?"

     "NO!!"  This time it was Kal who cried in shock, standing to look at=

her directly.  "You are free to go anytime you wish."

     "Oh yeah," Lois took another few turns about the space ship studying=

the walls closely.  "And how do I get out of here?  You may not notice bu=
t
there is no door."

     "Why would you need a door?  If you want to leave, just walk through=

the wall."

     "Through the wall?!"  Lois sounded disbelieving and then she
remembered her entry.  "Of course, through the wall."  Strangely though,
Lois did not avail herself of this piece of knowledge.  Instead she bore
down on the object of her wrath.  "And what would your fine, highly
advanced Kryptonians think of your Neanderthal Earthling wife?"

     "They would be very happy to greet you."

     This simple snippet of information had the effect of silencing Lois
and for a few minutes silence reigned in the small craft, the only sound
that of two fast beating hearts.  Lois stared at the young man before her=

and then took two further paces about the room, ending back where she
started in front of Kal-El.

     "But why would you come all this way for me?  Aren't there any
suitable girls back on Krypton?"

     "I'm not allowed to marry a Kryptonian, even if I wished to, which I=

don't.  I want to marry you."

     "Why can't you marry a Kryptonian?"  Lois sensed a story in this and=

she was desperate for anything that would give her time to think.

     "That's quite a long story, Lois.  Are you sure you want to hear it?=
" =

Kal-El was attempting to keep the hope that was beginning to grow in his
heart from spilling into his voice.  The fact that Lois had not already r=
un
away was surely a good sign.

     Meanwhile Lois had reseated herself and she patted the chair next to=

her to indicate that Kal-El should sit down.   "Please tell me.  I should=

like to understand."

     Kal-El did as he was bid and made himself comfortable on the chair b=
y
Lois' side.     "Over two hundred years ago, life on my planet was not so=

peaceful as it is now.  There was a ruler and there was a council but the=
re
were also great divisions between the noble houses.  The House of El was
still the foremost royal line but because of marriages between the noble
families there were many who claimed that they also had a right to the
throne and when the First Lord died leaving no direct heir the scene was
set for a horrific contest.  A number of claimants put themselves forward=
,
but finally there were only two who were prepared to dispute the throne;
the rightful head of the House of El and the supposed heir, Lord Rad-Nor,=

who did have royal blood within his veins due to his grandfather's marria=
ge
to a daughter of the House of El.  The aristocracy divided between the tw=
o
factions and a civil war began that was to last thirty bitter years,
killing off many innocent Kryptonians and almost destroying the planet. =

Finally a new son of the House of El arose and he turned the tide in favo=
ur
of the ancient line.  The people, tired of war and destruction, saw him a=
s
their saviour and they rallied behind him and in one last cataclysmic
battle the House of Nor was finally defeated.  Young Lord Kal-El was duly=

invested with the title and position of First Lord," here Kal blushed at
the mention of his namesake, "and, united at last, the nobles and the
people of Krypton began to rebuild their lives and their homes.  But when=

peace and prosperity were restored, the High Council passed a decree whic=
h
stated that the First Lord must never again marry into the noble houses o=
f
Krypton, for this gave too much power to these nobles.  From that day
forward the First Lady has been chosen from other worlds."

     Lois remained quiet as she pondered these words.  At last she found
her voice.   "And this is why you chose me?"

     "Only in so far as I knew that I would marry an off-worlder.  My
preference was always for someone from Earth.  Ever since I was a small b=
oy
my interest has been caught up in the happenings of your world.   Did you=

know that Earth is considered as Krypton's sister planet?  It's why I spe=
ak
your language so well.  Our people have a gift for languages but English,=

being the prevalent tongue of your world, is taught to all our children."=
 =

Kal-El stopped speaking and searched Lois' face for some sign of how she
was reacting to his words, but all he could discern was a slight interest=

for his story.  He cleared his throat and began again, holding her gaze
with his own.  "But all that faded from my mind.  From the first moment I=

saw you I knew my search was over.  I wanted no other.  Lois, I can't
explain it........ but whenever I set eyes on you........ I knew that we
were meant to be together."  Their eyes remained locked on each other as
each acknowledged the truth behind his words.  "But I know how much you a=
re
shocked by all this and I appreciate that for you it has all happened so
fast and that you have no frame of reference.  I only ask that you think =
on
what I have told you before you make any decision.  However, I must warn
you, if you agree to come with me then our lives will not be ordinary or
easy, but they will most certainly not be dull.  I can promise you though=

that I will love and cherish you till the day I die."

     "Kal, you cannot think that I would seriously consider your proposal=
?"

     A small smile curled his lips at the edges and his eyes began to
crinkle.   "Yes, Lois.  I do."  And as his bright smile grew wider, Lois
found herself returning the grin.  "Admit it, Lois.  You are seriously
considering my proposal."

     Lois was about to contradict that statement when truth won out.   "O=
h
my god!  I think I must be going crazy.  You're an alien!  And you're
asking me to go into outer space!  That could be dangerous for me......"

     "Lois," he interrupted, "I would never put you in danger.  Believe m=
e,
you will be quite safe."

     "But how can you know that.  No earth person has ever travelled
through deep space before.......... have they?  Have any of your people
ever been here before?"

     "No Lois.  You will be the first Earthling on Krypton.  But you will=

be quite safe.  Kryptonians have been travelling in space for aeons and
never come to any harm and we are human beings too.  Kryptonians and
Earthlings are 99.75% the same and we are physiologically compatible, all=

our scientists agree on that.  Krypton's atmosphere is slightly denser an=
d
you may need to take medication until you become acclimatised.  You will
certainly need to use sunblock when you are out of doors in the beginning=
,
but since it will be winter when we return, the risk of sunburn will be
minimal.  Believe me, Lois, Krypton cannot cause you serious hurt.  No-on=
e
back home would have agreed to my coming here if that were so."

     "Hm-mmm."  Lois considered this for a few seconds, intrigued by the
information.  "What's different about the .25%?"

     Her question seemed to have disconcerted Kal and he would not meet h=
er
eyes.   "Perhaps we could talk about that later.  You haven't given me an=

answer yet."

     His prevarication alerted Lois.  There was something here she was
determined to discover.  You didn't try to distract Lois Lane when she wa=
s
in pursuit of information and if they were going to have a life together
then he had best start learning a few things about her now.  Oh my, she
*was* seriously considering his proposal.   "And I won't.  At least not
until you tell me what it is you're trying to hide."

     Reading the resolve in her face, but with his heart daring to hope, =
he
decided to come clean.   "It's only a very small difference.  It really
doesn't affect you and me, but........."

     "Go on Kal."  Her voice was soft but insistent.

     "It's a blood thing.  The difference I mean.  Earthlings and
Kryptonians have different blood groups.  You have a similar thing on ear=
th
sometimes.  I think your physicians refer to it as the Rhesus syndrome an=
d
our differing blood types will cause much the same reaction.  Kryptonian
doctors are already working on the problem.  They have tapped into earth
medical files for advice........."

     "They can do that?"  Lois was amazed.

     "Yes.  They use their combined telepathy boosted by our artificial
intelligence machines.
Anyway, they are quite confident that they can solve this problem.  All
they need is a little blood from you and from me and they can formulate a=

serum that will correct the problem."

     "Who will need this serum, Kal?"
 =

     For a few moments it seemed that the young man would not answer, the=
n
steeling himself he went on.   "Our children."

     "Children!  Our children!"

     "Yes, Lois.  There must be children.  It is the duty of the ruling
couple to provide an heir for Krypton."

     "But your uncle couldn't."

      "No.  But then he had a brother who could provide an heir.  I only
have two sisters and the succession cannot pass through the distaff side =
of
the family."

     Lois digested this piece of information before replying.   "What if =
I
can't give you a child?"  Her voice was very low and due only to the powe=
rs
that he had developed here on earth could he make out her words.  "Would
you put me away like the council asked of your uncle?"

     "Never, Lois."  Kal was quick to reassure her.  "Besides it won't be=
 a
problem.  Since my aunt and uncle's dilemma the scientists have made
infertility a priority and many childless couples have recently been help=
ed
to have a family.  And I'm perfectly healthy and according to your medica=
l
files you don't seem to have a problem."

     "Your doctors have already checked me out?"   It was a question she
already knew the answer to.  "But I've never tried to have a baby.  In fa=
ct
I've never........"  Here she felt her cheeks blush with embarrassment.  =

"I've never before........"

     "I know Lois.  You've never........ neither have I.  We're both
......... virgins."

     "We are?!"  Somehow Lois had thought that a prince, he must be a
prince, even if that wasn't the actual term that was used, would have
access to anything he wanted; mistresses, concubines, whatever they were
called on his planet.  "Haven't you ever........ slept with........made
love with anyone?  I would have thought that a young man in your position=

would have had lots of offers........  Listen to me!  This is really none=

of my concern.  You don't have to answer."

     "But this is your concern.  And you're right, without sounding too
vain I have had many opportunities.  Yet they just didn't seem right. =

Growing up, Lois, for me you have always been *the one*.  I saved myself
for you.  I wanted us to learn together.  Was that wrong?"

     "No!"  This time it was Lois' turn to reassure and in her haste she
forgot her earlier prevarication.  "No, I'm glad that we will learn
together."

      The glow that burned in Kal's eyes left Lois in no doubt that he wa=
s
looking forward to this particular schooling, yet slowly the soft brown
eyes darkened with a troubled shadow.  For a long moment he held her gaze=

with his own, then his eyelids fluttered down and his voice when he spoke=

had lost its enthusiasm.  "Lois, I'm sorry.  I never meant to bombard you=

with all this in one night.  I had planned to ask you out on a date.  I
believe that this is what normally occurs here on Earth when a couple is
courting."  Here he was interrupted by a startled giggle from his hoped f=
or
intended.  "Excuse me, did I say something wrong?"

     "Oh no!  But courting' is an old expression.  I haven't heard that o=
ne
in years.  It's sorta sweet though and you are courting me."     =

     "All in one night it would seem.  So many things have happened to yo=
u
this night and it's unfair of me to expect you to accept my proposal
without some time to think it through......"

     "No, Kal.  That's not necessary.........."

     Gentle fingers closed Lois lips as Kal insisted.  "Yes it is,
sweetheart.  If I were to carry you off now without a chance for you to
reconsider, away from my influence, someday you might come to regret your=

quick decision and that would break both our hearts.  I never want to hur=
t
you and that is why I'm taking you back home."  At Lois attempt to object=

he hurriedly went on.  "Please, Lois, trust me on this.  Your life will b=
e
changed forever.  Take some time alone to think about what you really wan=
t.
 I promise I  will not disappear.  When you have an answer that you can b=
e
sure of, I will be waiting.

                                                                         =
  =

       *****
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:46:12 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         John Debbage <106532.433@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      The Universal Union  Part 1 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Title:              The Universal Union
Part:               1 of 4
Author:          Jenni Debbage     106532.433@compuserve.com
Rating:          PG
Feedback:  All feedback, public and private is welcome, though typos and
grammar I would prefer to                         be private.
Summary:
     This story is quite a bit different from my usual family saga.  It i=
s
a story of Lois and Kal-El and though this tale begins on Earth if it
continues, and this will depend on how well it is received , it will be a=

story of what might happen if our couple's lives were lived on Krypton.  =
In
my galaxy Krypton was not destroyed but lives on and prospers.

Please read and hopefully enjoy and I look forward to your comments both
public and private.

                                                  =

                                                  A Universal Union

                                                       Chapter One

                                                       The Meeting

     Lois Lane was feeling atypically frightened.  With hindsight, she
wondered why she had ever allowed herself to be entrapped in this highly
vulnerable position.  Lois was a wholly independent, liberated young woma=
n
of the eighties who had been taking care of her own decisions since her
parents had participated in a particularly messy divorce when she was 14
years old.  At the time she had felt totally abandoned as her mother had
found solace in a mixture of alcohol and nerve pills and her father had
immersed himself firstly in his profession as a doctor and secondly in hi=
s
predilection for pretty young assistants, which Lois reflected was the
cause of her parents' troubles at the outset.  Had this rejection from he=
r
father, the most important male figure in her young life, had some bearin=
g
on the situation in which she was now floundering?

     Everything in her nineteen year old life had seemed to be progressin=
g
famously.  Lois loved writing and had wanted to be an investigative
reporter from the time she had first written an  article exposing an exam=

cheating ring among her fellow students at her junior high school.  That
piece had brought her derision from some of her more guilty classmates bu=
t
also high praise from her English teacher who had gone on to encourage he=
r
in her ambitions.  The dedicated young girl had worked hard at her grades=

and coupled with her obvious talents her efforts were rewarded when she w=
on
a prestigious scholarship to Metropolis University's School of
Journalism(one of the best in the entire country).  And  only a few weeks=

previously, she had been the recipient of the Lex Luthor Award for
Excellence', an accolade which was awarded personally each year to the
pupil most likely to succeed in their chosen field.  Since the honours'
banquet, when Lois had been introduced to her patron, Lex Luthor had show=
n
an unusual interest in the beautiful student and Lois in turn had been
intrigued by the highly successful man.

     Lex Luthor was perhaps the most powerful man in Metropolis, he was
most definitely the richest, and furthermore his empire was swiftly
aspiring to be the largest in the U S.  Whatever the reasons Lois found
herself vaguely attracted to the handsome and charming older man. =

Certainly she was flattered by his complimentary attention and he had
always proved himself to be a gentleman.  That was until this evening. =

Possibly, by accepting his invitation to an intimate dinner Lois had sent=

him the wrong signals, or maybe it was just the large amount of wine whic=
h
he had consumed over dinner that was causing him to act like a complete
moron.
  =

     At first Lois had felt able to control the situation and had explain=
ed
hurriedly that, though flattered by his attention, she did not view Lex a=
s
a sexual partner.  In fact, she was much too engrossed in her studywork t=
o
have time for any form of romantic relationship.  This information had
caused him some amusement and clearly had the opposite effect than the on=
e
she had wished by giving him the added incentive of the predatory male
hunter.

     That she was unequivocally his prey became apparent when, on
attempting to take her leave, she had found the doors of his luxurious
stretch-limo firmly locked against her.  Now his deceptively strong hands=

were pressing her back into the soft leather of the seat as his mouth
trailed wet kisses down her neck towards the edge of her low-cut black
dress, apparel which she had chosen especially to appear older and more
sophisticated, a choice that she was now regretting.

      Lois struggled desperately against her seducer but to no avail.  Sh=
e
considered calling for help to the chauffeur, who sat immobile in the
driver's seat, but she knew instinctively by the concentrated way the man=

was ignoring what was happening in the back of the limo that he had been =
in
this position before and that he would turn a blind eye to his employer's=

rape of his female companion.  Because rape it was most likely to be as
Lois heard  the shoe-lace straps of her evening dress rip as the garment
was torn away from her body, leaving only her lacy silk bodysuit, which w=
as
destined to follow her dress in the crazed man's pursuit of his desires.

     Suddenly Lois felt a cool breeze drift over her exposed skin, though=

in her dazed state it took her some seconds to assimilate the fact that t=
he
car door had been wrenched open.   An anxious face appeared momentarily i=
n
the opening, before her attacker was pulled bodily off her and dragged ou=
t
onto the roadway.  Lex, taking a minute or two to regain his bearings as =
he
switched from attack to defence, was no match for the athletic young man
who confronted him.  Nevertheless, he attempted to put up a fight, an
exceedingly short one and was soon lying unconscious on the grass by the
roadside.  His driver, who also it seemed doubled as his minder, came
around the car to face the unknown rescuer and ended seconds later in a
heap beside his boss.

     The young man, instantly dismissing his fallen opponents from his
mind,  stretched a gentle hand inside of the vehicle and enquired
solicitously into Lois' state of health.  Gratefully, she took the
proffered hand and holding her torn frock closely to her body she accepte=
d
the stranger's aid to exit the limo.  She surveyed the two bodies lying o=
n
the ground with a dawning look of horror.

     "Don't worry," her knight informed her.  "They are not permanently
damaged, just knocked out, though both will have very bad headaches when
they awake."

     Lois didn't much care what state her tormentors were in, but she was=

relieved that they weren't dead.  Killing Lex Luthor might cause the youn=
g
man a great deal of trouble with the authorities.  Lois turned her
attention back to the stranger as he spoke to her again.

     "Are you all right?  He hasn't hurt you?"

     Striving to calm the young man's concerns Lois assured him of her
well-being.     "I'm fine.  A little shaken and a whole lot humiliated, b=
ut
other than that I'm fine."

     Dark searching eyes were turned on Lois.  "You have absolutely no
reason to feel ashamed.  It is that monster who is solely responsible for=

your predicament and believe me if I were on K........."  He hesitated fo=
r
a moment then continued.  "If I were at home, I would make him pay for yo=
ur
suffering."

     Though surprised by his intensity, Lois did not doubt the truth of h=
is
words.  Who was this young man?   The two turned away from the scene and
the girl tried to study her rescuer's face as, with her knight errant clo=
se
by her side, she began walking in the direction of her dorm.  On closer
inspection she realised that he was not such a stranger as she had
supposed.  In fact, she had noticed him about the campus quite frequently=

in the last few days, accompanied always by two other young men who
appeared, by the way they shadowed him, to act as his bodyguards.  These
same men she noticed now on the edge of her peripheral vision, tracking
their charge as they continued on their way across the park.

    To be honest, Lois had taken an unnatural interest in the stranger
since she had come to the conclusion, as she surreptitiously surveyed him=
,
that he in turn was watching her.  It was weird, but she did not find thi=
s
circumstance disconcerting or even annoying.  She came to look for his
observance and felt slightly bereft when he was not about.  On the few
occasions when she had caught his glance, he did not look away but instea=
d
offered her a friendly smile which she found impossible not to return.  =

     And he was very good-looking, with his gleaming dark hair and his wa=
rm
chocolate- brown eyes and a smile that rivalled the early summer sunshine=
. =

Lois frequently had found her eyes roaming over every inch of his well
sculpted body.  He was constantly attired in unrelieved black, but the
colour only added definition to an already beautifully defined body.

     Squinting a glance at him from behind the curtain of her silky fall =
of
chestnut hair she offered an embarrassed thank you.   "I haven't thanked
you for your assistance.  I don't like to think of what might have happen=
ed
had you not been there."  =

     The thought of her probable plight made her shiver and on seeing thi=
s
the young man placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but he did not le=
t
it linger for fear that she would feel further threatened after her ordea=
l.
 However his words were comforting.   "I would never let anything bad
happen to you, Lois."

     For a moment she basked in complete contentment, enjoying the unusua=
l
experience of feeling cherished.  Then it dawned on her that this strange=
r
knew her name, even although she was certain they had never been
introduced.   "Who are you?  And how do you know my name?"

     "I know a great deal about you.  And I want you to know all about me=
,
but my explanation may be long and incredible."  A frown wrinkled his
forehead as he pondered a private dilemma, then clearly deciding to risk
everything, he reached out a hand to stop her continued forward momentum.=
 =

"Will you come with me and allow me to tell you my story?  I promise you
that you will be completely safe."

     His hand dropped from her arm but still remained stretched out to he=
r.
 Lois couldn't believe the fact that her hand seemingly of its own
violation slipped inside his.  Moments later, to her complete amazement h=
er
feet were lifted from the ground and she was flying, held gently in the
stranger's embrace, above the tops of the trees of the campus towards the=

river.  It was a very short flight and when they alighted by the doors of=

an old abandoned warehouse down at the Metropolis docks, Lois was so
bemused that she felt  she must certainly be dreaming.  However, the
grating noise of the rusty doors as they slid aside sounded very real, bu=
t
the sight that met her eyes as she was ushered inside was of nothing that=

had any origin on Earth.

     A large glowing orb filled her vision and as she was propelled towar=
ds
the ethereal object it appeared to enclose her and she found herself
standing inside a solid interior made of silver metal which contained
chairs and tables fashioned of the same material.

     "Oh my lord," Lois whispered gaspingly.  "I'm inside a space ship an=
d
I've just been rescued by E T."

     "If you are asking if I am an extra-terrestrial, then the answer is
yes.  I am not of Earth."

     "Who are you?"  Lois asked breathlessly.

     "I am Lord Kal-El of the house of El and when I return home I will
ascend the throne of Krypton."

     "K......... Krypton?!  Is that a country?"  It never once crossed
Lois' mind to disbelieve his words.

     The young man smiled at her shy questioning.  "No.  Krypton is a
planet.  It is far from your world, on the other side of this galaxy."

     "And you can travel all the way here?"

     "Yes.  My people are a very advanced race.  There is much we can do
that here on Earth is only thought of in science-fiction.  For instance w=
e
have discovered how to travel many times faster than the speed of light. =

Our artificial-intelligence systems are far more advanced than those on
your world.  In medicine we have eradicated some terrible diseases and
learned to control others.   We have not conquered old age and death and =
we
would not wish to.  Down that path lies stagnation.  Wisdom comes with ag=
e
and the old must always give way to the young.  However, we have extended=

our life span a little and our old people live healthy lives.  My race is=

also telepathic, but again we are encouraged to use our voices.  None of
our physical attributes should be ignored and in some the voice is an
extraordinary gift.  My planet is very beautiful and the seasons are kind=

to us.  Yet for all that Kryptonians are not as selfless or content as th=
ey
should be.  We too have our Lex Luthors."

     Lois nodded, listening intently to all he had to say and trying
desperately to understand.  Somehow she knew that it was very important
that she learn all she could about this far off world and the young man w=
ho
was destined to be its leader.
 =

     "And you will be Krypton's king?"

     "King is not a word in our vocabulary,  I will be named as First Lor=
d
of Krypton, but the role is the same."

     "Is your father the....... First Lord............?"  Lois' questioni=
ng
tailed away as she realised that if the answer to this particular questio=
n
was yes then it probably meant that her new friend's father had passed
away.

     "No, my uncle holds that position for the moment, but he and his wif=
e
never had any children.  My poor aunt suffered a number of miscarriages
which must have been very sad for her and it couldn't have helped when th=
e
Council suggested that my uncle dissolve the marriage.  But Uncle Zor wou=
ld
have none of it; he loved his wife and having travelled all the way to
Zircon to win her, he wasn't about to give her up for anything.  Accordin=
g
to Uncle that was a very dangerous journey, a great deal more fraught tha=
n
the one that brought me here to Earth, although this was a much longer
trip, Earth is not being attacked by the marauders from Taurus........."

     Lois eyes widened, scepticism at this strange story at last beginnin=
g
to creep into her mind.  For the moment, in confusion and anger, she had
forgotten the mode of transport used to arrive at this destination. =

"Taurus!!  That's one of the star signs in the Zodiac and I don't really
believe in Astrology either.  Just who are you and what game are you
playing?"

     Kal didn't appear angered by her sarcasm.  Actually he was prepared
for it.  Lois' reaction to his revelation had been much better than he ha=
d
hoped for.  It wasn't surprising that she should have some doubts.  After=

all, it wasn't every day that a girl was almost raped by her escort and
rescued by an alien from outer-space and was about to receive(though this=

she didn't realise yet) her first proposal of marriage.
      =

     Glaring in concentration at two metal chairs that sat close beside
each other, Kal blinked his eyes and Lois almost jumped out of her skin a=
s
soft colourful cushions appeared on the furniture, making them seem a who=
le
lot more inviting.  Oh, my lord!  Who was this man?!
Lois allowed herself to be led to the now comfortable chairs and, as her
legs were threatening to shake, she sank gratefully into the pillows.  Ka=
l
settled himself next to her and when he spoke his voice was level and
comforting.

     "Indeed, you are correct.  The earth's astronomical signs were named=

for star constellations by a people who lived long ago and were more
mythological and superstitious than the earthlings of today.  Who knows,
perhaps they were visited by  early space travellers and that's where the=

names originate."

     Kal's explanation struck a chord with Lois as she remembered that
there were those on earth who believed that their world had been visited =
by
extra-terrestrials in the dim and distant past.  There were hundreds of
novels written on just this subject, claiming proof for such strange
claims.

     "After all there were many star systems so much older than ours, whi=
ch
have unfortunately perished with age. " Her new friend continued with his=

reasoning.  "As a matter of fact some of our chroniclers deem that Krypto=
n
was peopled by these travellers many eons ago when they were forced to
abandon their homes due to some such natural cataclysm.  And that theory
would explain why our planet has advanced so quickly, relatively speaking=
."

     Lois couldn't argue with something she knew absolutely nothing about=

and so she  chose to abandon this line of enquiry as another more pressin=
g
question came to mind.

     "Do all Kryptonians fly?"  She didn't recall Kal mentioning this
attribute when he was relating the story of his planet.  She noticed that=

it brought a wistful smile to his face.

     "I'm afraid not, Lois.  Even I can't fly back at home," he sounded
disappointed about this lack.  "It seems that Earth's yellow sun and weak=
er
gravity gives us powers that we do not possess on Krypton and flying sadl=
y
is one of these abilities.  I've really enjoyed being able to fly."

     A sense of sorrow too overcame Lois as she asked her next question. =
 =

"Are you going home soon?"  A lump formed in Lois' throat and she closed
her eyes to hide her tears as she anticipated the answer.

     "Quite soon now, I believe.  You see my quest here is almost
complete."  Kal's voice was soft and held a slight quiver.  This was the
moment of truth and his happiness for the rest of his life depended on th=
e
next few moments.

     "Why did you come here?"  Lois' small voice enquired.

     Staring into the deep brown eyes that regarded him so soulfully,
Kal-El's breathing almost stopped and when he spoke his voice shook with
emotion.   "To find you."

                                                               *****
                                                           =

                                                       =
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:47:02 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         John Debbage <106532.433@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Title:               The Universal Union
Part:                4 of 4
Author:            Jenni Debbage     106532.433@compuserve.com
Rating:            PG
Feedback:    All feedback, public and private is welcome, though typos an=
d
grammar I would prefer to                            be private.
Summary:     Part 4 is the conclusion of this first episode of this story=
. =

As this is a completely different                          story line I
wasn't quite sure whether to proceed.  If you would like to hear more    =
  =

                   adventures of Lois and Kal-El please let me know.  =

                                                      Chapter Three

                                                           The Odyssey   =
  =

                                                 =

     At the outset of their voyage, Lois had been delighted to discover
that the flimsy seeming orb craft had only been a shuttle and that once
they had left Earth's atmosphere they had transferred to a much larger an=
d
solid looking space cruiser.
 Lois had been mesmerized and saddened to watch the small blue planet,
which had been her home, recede in the ship's vast windows and she had be=
en
grateful for the comfort of Kal's strong arms.  He had said little but
simply held her close as she sobbed her heart out in an unexpected attack=

of homesickness.  Later, when the spacecraft's powerful engines had power=
ed
up and there had been little to see but shards of technicolour lights
arrowing passed the view ports as they flew at hyperlight speed across th=
e
galaxy, she had allowed him to lead her away.  Yet, easing her heavy hear=
t,
she carried his whispered promise.

     "Someday, Lois, I will take you back."

                                                                *****

     The journey had lasted longer than Lois had supposed and yet when sh=
e
considered the many thousands of miles she had been told they would trave=
l
before reaching their destination, the odyssey took no time at all.  But
given the fact that the Earth woman was a fraction nervous of her landfal=
l
on her future home, Lois could have wished their trip to last a good deal=

longer.

     The couple had taken the interim time to explore their blossoming
relationship by teaching each other of their respective worlds.  That Loi=
s
should wish to accumulate all the knowledge of Krypton that she possibly
could was understandable, but she was surprised that Kal should also be =

keen to listen to her tales of Earth, after all they had left that world
behind and Kal  had already acquired a great deal of data on her old home=
. =

The fact that Earth was her home and so was instrumental in moulding her
into the woman she was today was reason enough for Kal to avidly listen t=
o
all she had to tell him of her formative years.  =

     On a wider level, he was also interested to learn at first hand the
role of a maturing female in Earth's more autonomous society.  Although K=
al
understood that his people's more formal and reserved personalities could=

never totally adapt to the chaotic democracies of Earth, he hoped, in tim=
e,
to introduce a number of customs from Lois' home.  Kryptonian society was=

based on a meld of tradition, logic and a strict adherence to the laws se=
t
by the ruler and his council, all tempered by a innate belief in honour a=
nd
fair play.    =

     Kal-El might be the most important person on Krypton but with that
privilege came an overwhelming sense of responsibility for those under hi=
s
rule and he would never for one moment consider shirking that
responsibility nor would he expect his council or the lesser nobles to
renege on their duty to care for those who came under their jurisdiction.=
 =

That there were certain lords who lacked his commitment to care for his
subjects both angered and saddened the heir apparent, but thankfully they=

were in the minority.   In the future the young leader hoped to hold thes=
e
ignominious aristocrats  accountable for their mistakes and, in the worst=

cases, their crimes.  But he would have to go carefully.  Many of these
renegade lords were from powerful and established houses and would look
unkindly on any interference in their territories, from a young and novic=
e
First Lord.  Kal would always remember his father's watchword; caution, o=
n
a long journey take small steps.

     It was strange that foremost amongst, what Kal considered, his
opposition was the House of Nor, ancient enemy of the Els and that they
should be led by an unscrupulous and ambitious peacock who went by the na=
me
of Rad-Nor.  Once again Kal-El and Rad-Nor were in confrontation, almost =
as
if history were repeating itself and  Kal could only pray that the
disastrous outcome of the past would not take place in the future.  All o=
f
these hopes and fears the worried young man confided to his lover and
helpmeet as they journeyed towards their destiny.

     And yet their voyage did not completely consist of learning and
serious discussion.  There was much joy in experiencing  their burgeoning=
 =

feelings for each other both emotionally and physically.  As each became
familiar with the touch of hands and lips, they discovered a shared passi=
on
that had in the past only existed for them in dreams.  These all consumin=
g
desires excited and inspired them, yet the intensity of their feelings
scared them a little too and so both Lois and Kal were content to wait
until they were pronounced husband and wife before crossing completely th=
e
intimacy threshold.

     Meanwhile, Lois took advantage of the time to meet and interact with=

the ship's company, the only members of her new world available to her fo=
r
the moment.  In this undertaking her evolving skills as a journalist were=

put to good use.  She found that she had a talent for encouraging people =
to
talk to her and for finding out specific facts of their position amongst
the ship's crew and more importantly about their families back on Krypton=
. =

Apart from the senior officers on board most of the crew were young and, =
as
to be expected on a ship which travelled into the outer reaches of space,=

adventurous.  Lois found them to be, on the whole, highly competent and
more earnest in nature than the youth of Earth and yet as she came to kno=
w
them better she discovered in some a gentle and  droll sense of humour.  =
In
fact, the closer in acquaintance she became to her new people she uncover=
ed
many of the same traits that belonged to earth humans and, as on her home=

planet, she found those she liked above others.

     One particular young man found favour with Lois.  He had been one of=

Kal's bodyguards when she had first noticed the strange trio in the
university campus.  She had discovered that his name was Ching, that he w=
as
a lieutenant in the Kryptonian Security Forces and assigned to guard his
young lord with his life.   This task he was happy and honoured to do as,=

only a few years older than Kal and a son of an imperial service family,
the two had grown up together and their bond was deep.  The other of Kal'=
s
shadows was named Poli and though his term of duty had only begun at the
outset of this voyage, he was as committed to the care of Kal as his
partner but went about his duties in a more light hearted manner than the=

serious minded Ching.

     Now, because of the obvious joy that Kal found with Lois, the well
trained protectors ungrudgingly extended their care to this beautiful you=
ng
earth woman and if at first their motives had been purely to please their=

lord, they soon found themselves captivated by this unique girl.  Somewha=
t
shocked in the beginning by Lois' forthright and independent manner,
qualities not normally appreciated in a woman on Krypton, they were soon
won over by her integrity and courage.  And if Kal's fears for their home=

planet were ever to regretfully materialize then the first lady might
require all of these attributes.

     And so the getting to know you process continued for both Lois and t=
he
Kryptonians as the ship sped through the endless tracts of space.  At suc=
h
a phenomenal speed the earth woman was at first surprised that they did n=
ot
crash into the myriad planets and stars that swept by them on their
journey.  However, it was explained to her that their course was set at t=
he
outset of the voyage avoiding all charted objects and that collisions wit=
h
chance meteorites and space debris were prevented by the projected force
field that protected the craft.

    Lois, soaking up this new information, was reminded again of her TV
viewing of such sci-fi programmes as Star Trek and the blockbuster movies=

in the Star Wars series.  But this was not science fiction, this was
reality and the amazed girl frequently was tempted to pinch herself to
check that she wasn't dreaming.

                                                                 *****

    Yet all journeys end and landfall was fast approaching as Lois paced
back and forth across her room.  The quarters assigned to her had been
small, space being at a premium on such a craft, yet very comfortable. =

Besides, they were further enhanced by being situated next door to Kal-El=
's
domicile with thankfully an adjoining door.  Kal's cabin was slightly
bigger than her own, but it was more lavishly furnished and unlike many o=
f
the other quarters it had its own bathroom which he generously shared wit=
h
his future bride.

     During the time spent aboard, Lois had worn a similar uniform to the=

crew, though instead of the logo of the craft in which she travelled, the=

shield of the house of El had proudly adorned her suits.  But for her
introduction into the society with which she was to spend the rest of her=

life, she was gowned as the first lady.  Her dress of electric blue clung=

to her body until it dropped below her waist, then spread out in yards of=

swishing silk to reach the floor.  A simple necklace of pale blue gem
stones circled her neck and she wore tiny matching earrings, while a
scatter of the same gems nestled in her hair.  She was dressed to suit he=
r
role and she felt very grand if a little self- conscious.  Strangely
though, she had been given no shoes and she sincerely hoped the weather o=
f
Krypton would be mild as the dress would afford her little protection. =

Just as she mused over this fact, the adjoining doors slipped open and Ka=
l
wandered through, his arms full of a swathe of dark blue material.

     "Here, Lois, slip these on.  You'll freeze to death if you go out li=
ke
that."  As he spoke he unfurled a cloak of heavy velvet and crossed to
drape it over her slight shoulders.  When the cloak was in place, it was
revealed that he also held blue soft leather boots and gloves which would=

cover much of her bare arms.  Once she pulled on boots and gloves she
discovered that both these accessories and the cloak were lined with
something that felt very warm and.....furry.

     Lois was horrified.  "Kal, I can't wear these.  They're fur."  She
explained when he looked puzzled at her unexpected outburst.

     "Fake fur, Lois."  He explained patiently.  "Earth is not the only
planet that believes in conservation.  Or to be more exact, cloned fur. =

It's an exact copy of the real thing but that material has never touched =
an
animal.  It was grown in a test tube."

     "Grown?........... In a test tube?"  Lois was intrigued.

     "Yes.  Many things on Krypton are produced that way and though I wou=
ld
love to indulge in a scientific discourse, unfortunately we don't have th=
e
time."  Kal extended a hand to Lois.  "The ship is on its final descent a=
nd
we should land momentarily.  Our family and friends are waiting to greet
us.  Are you ready for this, Lois?"  He asked concern showing clearly in
his soft brown eyes.

     The answer to that was that Lois was terrified, but she wasn't
prepared to indulge her fears.  Always an achiever and an independent
spirit, she bore a despised pity for those who dwelt on their fears and
thus magnified them.  Lois believed in facing her devils, so she stuck he=
r
little chin in the air and placing a hand on Kal's proffered arm the coup=
le
prepared to face the welcoming committee.

                                                                 *****

To be continued
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:46:48 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         John Debbage <106532.433@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      The Universal Union  Part 3 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Title:               The Universal Union
Part:                3 of 4
Author:            Jenni Debbage     106532.433@compuserve.com
Rating:            PG
Feedback:    All feedback, public and private is welcome, though typos an=
d
grammar I would prefer to                          be private.
Summary:     Left alone with her thoughts Lois has to decide what answer =
to
give to Kal-El.

    =

                                                                     ****=
*

      Lois had been flown back to the campus and, after alighting in the
stand of trees behind her dormitory block, Kal had walked with her to the=

entrance like any other young man escorting his date safely home.  The tw=
o
body guards remained in the shadows, ever watchful of their precious
charge.  Who knew, perhaps Lex Luthor and his man were still on the campu=
s
waiting to serve retribution on their earlier attacker, but the area was
quiet and empty.  Luthor and his minder had obviously slunk off into the
dark.

     By the door way the two young people said goodnight, Kal silently
asking for and being given permission to kiss his love.  Very gently Kal
caressed Lois' lips with his own, almost afraid to use this physical
contact to affect her judgment in his favour.  However, when Lois  leaned=

into his embrace, the young man was unable to resist deepening the kiss a=
nd
for the first time in her nineteen years Lois felt her knees grow weak. =

Thankfully, Kal's arms remained around her, holding her upright until she=

had regained her equilibrium.  With a last lingering touch of his fingers=

tenderly brushing her cheek, he released her.  Then Kal was =

 gone, striding towards his friends and the cover of the darkness to laun=
ch
himself into the night sky, leaving Lois alone to her deliberations. =

     Once in the safety of her room, it was perfectly clear to Lois by th=
e
tumultuous thoughts that chased themselves round and round in her brain,
that she would get little sleep this night.  Had she really almost said y=
es
to Kal-El's proposal?  He was a stranger........ from a strange world.  H=
ow
could she  agree to go with him?

     And yet when she was with him, when she had looked into his beautifu=
l
eyes she had felt so sure of her answer.  But now, back in the familiar
reality of her room, listening to the sounds of her room-mate breathing
softly as she slept, she wondered if insanity ran in her family.  Perhaps=
,
she had dreamt the whole thing?  But no, that wasn't possible.  Hadn't
Karen, her room-mate, pounced on her immediately she had set foot in the
door, demanding to know how her date with Lex had gone, eagerly insisting=

on details, details that she had not felt comfortable about relating and =
so
she had airily dismissed the queries, much to her friend's disappointment=
. =

But then it followed that if her date with Luthor was a reality then so w=
as
her rescue.

     She did not wish to dwell on the Luthor problem, mainly because her
heart and head were filled with pictures of the monumental events that ha=
d
followed.  However, she could no longer ignore the fact that she had
repulsed one of the most influential men in Metropolis, possibly the *mos=
t =

powerful* man in the city and that he had been totally vanquished in the
process.  Somehow she knew that Lex Luthor would not take humiliation wel=
l.
 Would he try to take revenge on those who had laid him low?  Of course,
Luthor could never prevail against Kal, besides, her rescuer would no
longer be here on Earth.  Did that mean that she would become the vengefu=
l
man's target?  Or would he attempt to pursue his seduction?  Neither
scenario found favour with Lois and that was assuming that she turned dow=
n
Kal- El's proposal and decided to remain on Earth; to remain on Earth and=

continue with the life she had mapped out for herself.   =

     But that would mean she would never again see her love; never lose
herself in those lovely eyes; never bask in the brilliance of his smile;
never feel his strong arms hold her close against his heart or drown in t=
he
sensations that his kiss had evoked in her.  These terrible thoughts
plunged her into deep despair.  Boy!  She really was in love with this
phenomenal stranger.  Stranger!  Her heart cried out against that title. =

=46rom the first moment, when she had placed her hand in his as he had dr=
awn
her from the limo, perhaps even from the moment she had first become awar=
e
of his presence on campus, she had felt she had known him.  She was
certainly more comfortable in his company than in any other she had ever
known.  Walking into his arms she had experienced the overwhelming
impression of coming home.  Yet in accepting his proposal she would be
turning her back on her home, her world.  Could she do that?  Was it fair=

of Kal-El to expect her so to do?

     Be fair, Lois, she chided herself.  Wasn't that the very reason that=

Kal-El had brought her back to her dorm?  She had been on the verge of
giving him her consent but her young lover had sensed her unease and had
insisted that she spend sometime alone.  In his unselfish wish that she b=
e
content with her choice, he had given her time to think through her
momentous decision and all it meant to her future.

     Think, Lois, think.  You're a potential journalist, use the skills
that you've acquired to help you make a considered choice.  Your family,
can you leave them behind.... forever?  Her father was probably not an
issue; she had never been close to him, had in fact disapproved of him fo=
r
many of her growing years.  And he had certainly disapproved of her;
firstly she was not the son he had so much desired and secondly she had n=
ot
followed him in his career, the one path which might have lead to a close=
r
understanding between them.  Now they hardly ever met and when they did
they were decidedly ill at ease in each other's company.  Sadly, she woul=
d
not miss her father overmuch. =

     Then there was her mother; through the years she had shed many tears=

over the lack of her mother's attention.  It wasn't that Ellen Lane didn'=
t
love her daughter.  Lois was sure that somewhere in the unhappy woman's
heart there was love for her children but she was so wrapped up in her ow=
n
problems and addictions that her daughters had somehow faded into the
background.  Yes, it would be hard to leave her mother, but she had to
admit, she had long ago learned to live without her mother's care.

     Which brought her to Lucy and here tears slowly filled her eyes.  Lo=
ng
ago they had aided and comforted each other as they struggled to come to
terms with their parents' battling.  Over the years, while  Lois had buil=
t
a wall around her inner self to enable her to cope with her dysfunctional=

family, Lucy had hidden herself away from the feuding.  In the end,
whenever she felt old enough to face life on her own, she had run as far
and as fast as she could from the source of her unhappiness, abandoning
even her one friend, her sister.   Occasionally, Lois would receive a pho=
ne
call or perhaps a letter from her wayward sibling, but there was now litt=
le
contact between the two.   This circumstance saddened Lois, but was an
extremely slim chance of reconciliation with Lucy enough reason for turni=
ng
her back on happiness?

     Because Lois could no longer ignore her feelings; true happiness for=

her lay with Kal-El.  Not complete happiness.  No!   There would be too
much of herself left behind on Earth; her family and her friends, though
there was no one who was really close; her ambition to be an independent
journalist and this was probably the hardest dream to abandon.  Only a
clear picture kept repeating in her mind, of an older Lois, editor of a t=
op
world newspaper (perhaps The Daily Planet)at the height of her career,
going home at night to a lonely apartment, feeding her fish and watching
silly romantic soaps and missing every day the love of her life...... her=

soul mate.  =

     And what would her life be like on Krypton?  Her mind seemed to beco=
me
a blank page when she considered that.  To be honest, she really had no
idea.  Kal had tried to paint a picture for her but though her heart had
absorbed every word her brain had trouble assimilating the facts.  From
what he had told her, she would find it difficult to adjust to the
traditions of Krypton.  Well, maybe the Kryptonians would find it difficu=
lt
to adjust to her. And maybe a blank page was not a bad thing.  She and
Kal-El could write the story of their shared lives.... together.

     That was the important point; they would be together.  Whichever way=

that Lois looked at the choice she had to make, if she were totally frank=

with herself, there really was no choice at all.  Her heart had spoken an=
d
her heart from now until the day she died belonged to Kal- El.

     Still she couldn't sleep.  She was filled with excitement and
expectancy and fear too.  Lois Lane admitting that she was afraid had to
mean something.  Kal-El had turned her life upside down and this Earth
woman had every intention of returning the favour on Krypton.  Grinning i=
n
anticipation, Lois Lane went off to pack.

                                                                     ****=
* =

      It was much later than Lois had anticipated when she was finally
ready to return to the warehouse in the docks.  Sleep had finally claimed=

her with the rising sun and she had remained comatose, as only the mental=
ly
exhausted can, for many long hours.  The room was quiet and dim when she
finally struggled back to consciousness in the midafternoon.  Karen had
obviously decided to leave Lois to rest and gone off to her classes.  Tha=
nk
goodness she had the presence of mind to kick her bulging back pack under=

her bed.  If her friend had spotted that, she might have found herself
rudely awakened and facing an unanswerable interrogation.

     In the beginning Lois had been tempted to pack up all her belongings=
,
but the realization that most of her clothes would not be suitable for we=
ar
on Krypton had given her pause.  Finally she had determined to take with
her only a few essentials and her most treasured possessions; the few
pieces of jewellery given to her by her father at various birthdays and
Christmases; her grandmother's needlework pillow; the teddy bear that Joe=
,
her high school boyfriend, had won her at the summer fair; the dress her
mother had bought her for her graduation day and Lucy's too few letters. =

All in all a meagre treasure trove for nineteen years of living, Lois
reflected.  That done she had laid down on her bed to rest and, more
exhausted by the night's happenings than she was willing to admit, she ha=
d
fallen into a dreamless sleep.

     Yet she had awakened in a positive frame of mind.  She would go to K=
al
tonight and tell him that she accepted his proposal.  That being so, this=

might be her last day on Earth and she had some goodbyes to make.  Her
first plan had been to leave letters for her family and room mate, but wh=
at
could she say......... sorry, but I'm leaving........don't worry about
me........ I'm only running away to outer space with a glorious
extra-terrestrial.  They would think she was crazy and have her committed=
. =

Of course, they would have to find her first.  A weak laugh escaped Lois =
as
tears clouded her eyes.  Leaving would be difficult but staying behind wa=
s
impossible.  =

     Sometime during her soul searching Lois had finally admitted that sh=
e
loved her family, even though none of them were any good at family
relationships.  Nevertheless, she was not oblivious to the fact that her
disappearance would upset them, she just didn't now how to ameliorate the=
ir
pain.  In the end she had settled for a phone call to each of her parents=

and sister and, thankfully, the gods had been kind, because she had manag=
ed
to contact each one.  In Lucy's case she had dug through her letters and
dialled the most current number and though the girl had moved on she had
been given a forwarding address and phone number which had proved to be
correct.

     Strangely these last conversations had been warmer, more friendly th=
an
was normal.  Perhaps she, knowing that this was the last time she would
speak with them, was kinder, less judgmental than previously.  Whatever t=
he
cause, Lois was grateful for the closer connection.

     When there was no more to be done, Lois took a last walk around the
campus that had been her home for the last year, lingering in her most
favourite places.  She had spotted  Karen and a number of her friends as
they had spilled from the college buildings at the end of the day's
classes, yet she had chosen not to join them.  Saying goodbye in person
would be too painful.  Karen would find the solitary letter she had left
behind, telling her friend farewell and assuring her that wherever Lois
went she would be well and happy.

     With a wistful smile and a determined squaring of her shoulders, Loi=
s
hoisted her heavy back pack into a more comfortable position and headed f=
or
the taxi rank.  Once inside the cab, she gave the address of the unused
warehouse.  If the taxi driver thought her destination a strange one for =
a
bright young college girl, he forbore to mention it and during the ride h=
e
kept up an inconsequential conversation with the pretty student with tear=
s
in her eyes.

     And now the orb and her future lay before her as she stood amongst t=
he
debris of the long abandoned building.  She had an uncomfortable desire t=
o
turn and flee, but the thought of the smile that would light Kal's eyes
when she told him of her decision lifted her failing spirits.  During the=

night, Lois had acknowledged the fact that her decision would cause her
grief no matter which option she chose.  This was no time to renege on he=
r
resolution. Seizing her courage in a firm grip Lois entered the craft.

                                                                     ****=
*

     Kal-El was sitting alone by what clearly on Earth would be termed a
desk, reading from screeds of computer-printout.  At first, he was unawar=
e
of her entrance, so she took a chance to surreptitiously study her future=

husband.  He was even more handsome than she remembered, but his beauty w=
as
not only physical.  In the short time she had known him she had come to
realize that Kal-El possessed that most precious of gifts, a beautiful
soul.

     Unable to contain her Cheshire Cat grin at her review of his physica=
l
attractions, Lois announced her presence by voicing a sudden concern.  "Y=
ou
know you really should do something about security.  Anybody could just
walk through those walls."
 =

     At the sound of her voice Kal jumped in surprise but an answering
smile brightened his face and set his eyes twinkling.  "Hi, Lois."  He
stood as he greeted her, attempting to hide his eagerness and keep the
conversation light.  In no way did he mean to press her for an answer. =

"That's not possible.  Since your visit last night the craft is programme=
d
to recognise your aura and allow you entrance.  Besides, the ship is also=

cloaked.  No one but the crew and yourself can actually see it."

     Lois gaped in awe at the technology that could manufacture a selecti=
ve
cloaking facility, but decided that a conversation about Kryptonian
scientific accomplishments was not what she had in mind.  Crossing the
room, she enquired on a more personal level.
     =

     "Whatcha doing, Kal?"

    Sensing Lois' skittishness, Kal was content to let her set the pace. =

"Homework," he indicated the papers he held with an airy wave of his hand=
. =

"Reading up on your country's constitution."

     "Light reading, huh?"  She now stood by his side and not willing to
yet meet his eyes, Lois concentrated on the reading matter before her.  A=

gasp of laughter escaped her lips, quickly stifled at his startled glance=
. =

"Your mind not on the job, flyboy?  Or is this another Kryptonian skill,
reading things upside down?"

     Kal looked down at the papers and slowly he joined in her laughter,
both finding escape from their stressful twenty-four hours in nonsensical=

camaraderie.   When eventually their giggles stilled they found themselve=
s
standing so close together their bodies were almost touching.  The moment=

of truth had arrived.  As Kal's glance alighted on the overstuffed bag th=
at
Lois had dropped by the wall on entry, he dared to hope.

    "Then, your answer is yes?"  The trepidation in Kal-El's voice was
evident and the longing in his gaze held her spellbound for a moment in
time.  Then stretching out his hands to her he whispered, "Will you marry=

me?"

     Lois found that her hands, with a will of their own, sought out his
and were soon taken in a gentle yet strong clasp and pulled against his
chest.  Through the black silk of his tunic she could feel his heart
beating erratically.  Her own heartbeat echoed his as instinctively she
moved into his embrace and returning his earnest gaze she heard her
determined reply. =

     "Yes!"  The moment she voiced her thoughts she knew that she meant
them with all her heart.  Soulmates instinctively recognised each other. =

Seeing the awe that held him mesmerised she thought that he might not hav=
e
understood, so she reiterated her answer.  "Yes, I will marry you and I
will go with you, anywhere you shall go I shall go."  And Lois echoed tha=
t
long ago text from the Bible.                                            =
  =

                    =

 =

      She was caught up in his arms and pulled hard against his muscled
chest.  His lips sought hers and after first tentatively brushing her lip=
s,
his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that threatened to steal away her very
breath.  Long moments later the two broke the kiss recalling that they
needed to breathe but they still clung to each other for support.  Lois w=
as
aware that if she left the shelter of the strong arms that surrounded her=

she might collapse onto the floor.  Thankfully Kal showed no intention of=

letting her loose.  Instead he picked her up and carried her back to the
chairs, which seemed to have conveniently metamorphosed into a two-seater=

couch, much more comfortable for holding each other like this.  For a lon=
g
moment Lois and Kal held each other close, contented just to enjoy this
time when they had chosen to be together for the rest of their lives.

     It was a momentous occasion, especially for Lois.  She had made a
decision that would alter her life beyond anything she had ever planned,
anything she had ever considered possible.  Until last night her ambition=

had been to make her way in the journalistic field; to be the best report=
er
that she could and to hopefully win a Pulitzer prize one day.  And now sh=
e
was throwing it all away for an unknown life on another world.  The life =
of
First Lady and all that might entail.  And all because she had fallen und=
er
the spell of a pair of melting brown eyes and the face and body of the
Adonis that went with them.  Before meeting Kal, she had poured scorn on
her friends who had desired nothing more in life than to find a husband a=
nd
start a family and yet here she was happily shedding all her ambitions fo=
r
much the same concept.  Even after her night of intense deliberation she
was still not sure how  this could have happened to Lois Lane, the most
liberated of women.

     Lois' ambivalent feelings were etched clearly on her face as Kal
watched the play of emotions chase their way across her lovely features. =

She had said yes, but obviously she had some lingering doubts.  This didn=
't
shock him, as he was asking her to give up everything that she was famili=
ar
with for a life on a far off world, linked to that of a stranger.  Kal
understood that although Lois' heart had recognised him as her life mate,=

her mind was still having reservations. =

      He chose to try to soothe her troubled unspoken meanderings.  He
always would place Lois' well being above his own, even if it meant that =
he
might lose her.  Cupping her face tenderly with his hand he raised her fa=
ce
to his and began quietly,   "Lois, I know that I expect a great deal of y=
ou
and I thank you for placing your trust in me, but I feel that it's only
fair if I explain to you what our life together will be like."  When she
had given him her full attention he proceeded a little more forcefully. =

"As I have said, you and I will be expected to have children and especial=
ly
a son, as only a boy can inherit the leadership.  Which means that if at
first we produce girls then we have to keep trying for a male. =

Fortunately, our researchers are working on ways to aid in the reproducti=
on
of a certain gender, so hopefully you will not have to go on endlessly
producing babies.  As to the rest; you will be expected to be my consort
and help me in the rule of my people, to comfort me and to strengthen me =
to
do my duty."  These last words were stilted as though they had been
repeated to him many times in his past.   "And I hope that you will find
none of these requirements a burden, but I do understand that you want mo=
re
>from your life than to simply be a wife and mother.  The next part of my
explanation is what *I* want from our marriage and is something that we m=
ay
have to keep to ourselves until my rule is established.  I have tried to
describe a little of the lifestyle on my world and I know that you are
intuitive enough to have realized that life for women on Krypton is not a=
s
liberated as on Earth.  Women on my planet are valued, but only as wives,=

mothers or sisters and any man treating a lady with disrespect will be
severely disciplined.  However, watching you here on Earth, I have long
since concluded that, relegating females into their customary roles as we=

do on Krypton, we are sadly losing out on so much talent and potential an=
d
with your help I intend to change all of that.  It won't be easy, Lois. =

There will be those who will be suspicious of change and will seek to
resist it.  That is why we will have to wait until the people have accept=
ed
our rule and have learned to trust us before we can begin to introduce
reform.  But on this I am determined.  Will you help me, Lois?"

     The fact that Kal-El had begun to talk of us' and we' was music to
Lois' ears.  She had begun to think that her life as his wife would be ju=
st
the sort of marriage that she abhorred.  Now he had thrown her a challeng=
e;
a chance to bring some of the best of Earth's culture to a planet so far
away.  Lois Lane could never resist a challenge, with her eyes sparkling
she raised her hand to his cheek and gently stroked her fingers across hi=
s
lips and when a kiss was pressed to their tips she leaned up and whispere=
d
almost against his mouth.

     "With all my heart."  Then sealed her affirmation with a kiss. =

   =

                                                              *****
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 19:57:42 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Sandy,

Just went over to your site and discovered that you're the author of one my
all-time favourite fics - Something's Missing <whacks self for not giving
feedback before>.  I've always loved how this story creates such an
all-embracing world for itself, and how the 'n' parts are a completely
integral part of the story.

Keep up the writing,
Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 13:23:01 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor (Part 1 of 5)
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Hi Lara,

This is going to take me a little time to edit all 5 parts but here
goes with part 1.  My comments will be in (brackets) so they stand out
>from the story.

Take care,
Irene
sirenegold@yahoo.com

P.S.  Please let me know if you approve of my comments and suggestions.

--- Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM> wrote:
> Title: Revisiting the House of Luthor
> Part: 1 of 5
> Author: Lara Blasingame larab@pwpl.com
> Rating: PG to PG-13
> Feedback: All feedback, public and private is
> welcome
>
> I have been a FOLC since the very beginning.
> However, I did not have
> access to an Internet server until about eighteen
> months ago.  Since that
> time, I have truly enjoyed the fiction written by
> fans from all over the
> world... from such authors as Wendy Richards, Demi,
> Zoomway, CC Malo, Julie
> Mack, Pam Jernigan, Sheila Harper, Lab Rat, Jenni
> Debbage, Chris Mulder,
> Irene Dutchak... the list could go on and on. (Thanks for the
mention, I'm blushing here in front of my computer!)
>
> I would also like to thank all of the writers of
> TUFS and Season 5/6 for
> their story contributions. I suffered from serious
> withdrawal when L&C was
> cancelled by "that" network. The author's tireless
> efforts helped alleviate
> some of my symptoms. In fact the very first story I
> ever found was Season
> 5's Episode 10. I was, at that point, hooked on fan
> fiction.
>
> Now, without further ado, a little bit about my
> story. Deborah Joy Levine
> and Dan Levine scripted a great program in the first
> place. The dialogue,
> especially, between Lex and Superman was a brilliant
> piece of writing. I
> just thought it might be fun to give the story a new
> direction... so I
> rewrote it. And, since I have no one to answer
> too... I reworked large
> chunks of the program.  You'll notice that I
> plagiarized... I meant
> "borrowed" much of the dialogue from that program,
> as well as from a few
> others. This could be described as a "what if... "
> story line.
>
> My intention is not to infringe on anyone's
> copyright... Warner Bros., DC
> comics, the original authors, TNT, etc... I just
> wrote this piece for fun
> and to see if I could do it.
>
> Feedback is greatly appreciated (positive or
> negative). You can e-mail me
> privately at larab@pwpl.com if you want to... just
> be constructive in your
> criticisms.
>
>
> '    ' These symbols indicate thoughts
> "    " These symbols are used for dialogue
> (obviously) and for emphasis
>
>
> Revisiting the House of Luthor
> By Lara Blasingame
> Rated PG-13
> Submitted June 1999
>
>
> Her life had spiraled into an endless parade of
> disappointments lately.
> Lois was absolutely miserable.  The Planet - her
> life's blood, her saving
> grace, her friend when she didn't have anyone -had
> been destroyed, and it
> looked as if the deed had been done by a co-worker.
>
> Jack, the newspaper's newest employee and a former
> child delinquent, had
> been charged with the crime.  The evidence linking
> him to the bomb was
> found in his lunch box.  His Superman lunch box. The
> police had apparently
> found their culprit.
>
> But,(comma not necessary here) had they? Lex seemed to think so. Yet,
her gut
> was singing a different
> aria. (I found the previous two sentences a little awkward.  I would
suggest " Lex seemed to think so, yet her gut was ...") Why would Jack
jeopardize his chances of
> having a normal, crime-free
> life? It didn't make sense. A lot of things lately
> didn't make a whole lot
> of sense.
>
> She crawled into bed and tucked herself in.  She
> just wanted to be alone.
> No more talk about the master bedroom or whether or
> not to build a 12 or 15
> car garage.
>
> `Why would two sane people need 15 cars? If you
> drove a different car
> everyday, it would take you over two weeks before
> you'd drive that
> particular vehicle again. Ridiculous.'
>
> "What's ridiculous is that I am even contemplating
> the logic behind having
> that many automobiles.  Now, I'm talking to myself.
> That's a sign. But,
> hey, maybe I'll learn to enjoy it."
>
> She stared at the ceiling and her thoughts began to
> drift,(delete this comma) once again.  The
> stillness of the night chilled her to the bone. She
> just couldn't seem to
> relax.
>
> She thought about her new job at LNN.
>
> Everyone treated her with indifference. The former
> newspaper reporter was
> accepted professionally. After all, she still had a
> lot of worthwhile
> contacts and a reputation for being a hard-bitten
> newswoman. But
> personally, everyone treated her like the office
> mole that was bent on
> revealing her (colleagues')colleague's deepest and darkest
> secrets to the man in
> charge... Lex.
>
> Her co-workers knew that she had no previous
> experience working in
> television. Everyone looked at her with clouded
> eyes. They just assumed
> that she had gotten the job because she was sleeping
> with the Boss.
>
> Well, almost sleeping with the Boss. She had
> insisted that they wait until
> their honeymoon.  She wanted it to be special.
> Special?
>
> It's funny. Now,(delete this comma) that she stopped to think about
it
> - did she have any
> romantic feelings for Lex?  She admired him. Lex
> employed half the city. He
> gave generously to many worthwhile charities.
>
> And he had asked her to marry him.
>
> The third richest man in the world had asked for her
> hand in marriage. No
> one had ever done that before. A girl couldn't help
> but feel flattered.
>
> But, did she want to make love to him? Did she want
> him to...
>
> `Hmmm. Of course I do. Don't I?  Oh, this can't be
> good.'
>
> Now Superman on the other hand.
>
> "Woof... what a body," she sighed out loud.(The word "sighed" doesn't
seem to work here. I would suggest "mused")
>
> Her sigh turned into a reflective tone. `But,(delete this comma) he
> doesn't want you Lois. He
> rejected you. He even seemed bitter about the whole
> situation. So,(delete comma) out of
> character. Just like... just like... Clark.
>
> Clark was so upset with her. He had told her that he
> was in love with her.
> But,(delete comma) she couldn't say that she felt the same way.
> Sure she loved him, but
> like a brother, a best friend. Clark was someone she
> could tell all of her
> secrets. Someone she could depend on no matter what.
> Someone she wanted to
> be partners with for the rest of her life. That
> wasn't love. Was it?
>
> `It doesn't matter anyway. He's mad at me,(delete comma) too. I
> sure do miss him...'
>
> "Who are you trying to kid? Lex is right. I should
> just call Clark and say
> hello."
>
> Lois looked tentatively at the phone sitting in its
> cradle.  She made no
> effort to pick it up.
>
> `What's going on? Why are you so nervous?  He's your
> best friend. You tell
> him everything.'
>
> "Yeah, well, we haven't exactly been getting along
> lately.
=== message truncated ===

_________________________________________________________
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Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 13:35:32 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Oops, Hit the wrong button.
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Sorry everyone, for posting my editing notes to the list instead of to
Lara herself.  Please ignore and also, please forgive me.

Irene
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:44:13 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union
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Jenni,

I happened to check my e-mail after you'd sent parts 1 and 2 but not 3 and
4. I almost had a fit when I came to the end -- were you going to make us
wait before she even left the planet?! A surge of desperation sent me
slamming on the check key -- ah, there we go. The rest of it -- not that it
was that much more.

Spoilsport.

Of *course* we want to read more -- don't be silly.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

 It's fun to watch you weave the names we know into your story, and I find
myself wondering where Zara will enter the picture, if she will at all. I
also wonder if you realize that you are setting up Tempus' alternate
universe -- literally "no Lois and Clark." Who will stop the Messenger from
blowing up, Lex from taking over the city, all the other villains and
masterminds who were thwarted by a brilliant journalist and a certain
superhero? Of course, Kal's promise to bring Lois back sets up a nice
sequel for just a scenario afterwards... :)

Two comments, if I may, both on Krypton science:

It's hard to believe that a world as scientifically advanced as you have
painted Krypton has not found a way to prevent miscarriages. Today, in our
world, a child can be brought to term from twenty weeks; a fetus that has
certain defects can be operated upon in utero. Your references to genetic
manipulation to ensure a male instead of female child, even if it was
developed after the fact, do point to expertise in this subject, as do the
"cloning" of Lois' fur (more on this below).

May I offer a different suggestion? Perhaps, for whatever reason, Kal's
aunt and uncle couldn't *conceive.* This if far different from being able
to carry a pregnancy to term. And while we today have IVF, GIFT, etc., the
stratified society that you suggest would certainly prohibit any donated
sperm or eggs into the mix, and their own personal material might not be up
to the task. :)

My other comment is on Lois' "horror" at being offered something with fur.
I was a bit taken aback and thought this a bit extreme. Is this really the
general attitude? And in a world with no endangered species, would people
really be so anti-fur, leather, etc.? If you carry that too far,
Kryptonians will "logically" :) be vegetarians too. I was brought up to
believe that G-d gave us this world to use, although not to abuse, so I see
nothing wrong with leather shoes and the like; maybe that's why this seemed
so strange to me. This is just a personal opinion, and feel free to ignore
it. :)

One other thing -- does a story that begins with an attempted rape really
qualify as PG?

*Please* keep it up, Jenni. I look forward more to your portrayal of
Krypton and Lois' effect on the world than on her relationship with Kal,
which will prolly be rather straightforward. :) I hope you post more soon!

Hazel
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:52:16 CDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Jessi Mounts <jessi914@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
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I haven't read the other three? stories related to Little Man, Super because
they're nfic and I'm under 18 (pout).  So I haven't read Little Man, Super
either.  Can someone tell me whether or not the story would make since
without having read the other three?

Jessi
jessi914@hotmail.com

_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:13:37 PDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         genevieve mactavish <angelsvamptress@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union Part 4 of 4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

"To be continued"  Continue it soon.. it was a great stroy, and I can't wait
for more!!!!
Jeni

_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 17:06:49 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
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In a message dated 6/10/99 4:52:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jessi914@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

<<
 I haven't read the other three? stories related to Little Man, Super
because
 they're nfic and I'm under 18 (pout).  So I haven't read Little Man, Super
 either.  Can someone tell me whether or not the story would make since
 without having read the other three?
  >>

Yes, it makes sense without the other three, because it's the only one I
have
read and it made perfect sense..  It's also a terrific story, so go read it
!

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 14:26:19 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Robert Brekke <Robert_Brekke@ISMBC.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Just finished reading, I and I have to say, loved it. You don't know how
many
times I watched that episode and wanted to blow up the tv. Especially at the
end
when  Clark says "I don't love you", what's with that!! Anyways thank you
for
ending it the way I wished it had ended. Keep up the great work...

Rob
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 11:53:40 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
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> Well, one other place to start is Pam Jernigan's very helpful Fanfic
> Recommendations Site - I've made a number of contributions to that
> site based on personal favourites, and I'd encourage other readers
> to do the same.

Thank you, Wendy :-) That's what it's there for ... and I'll join you in
encouraging others to send me their recommendations; I can't read all
the stories myself, so I'll take whatever help I can get.  (For
instance, I'm a bit late, but I'll be recommending "Little Man, Super"
next time I do an update :)

About the Kerths ... much as I love them, they aren't *strictly* about
quality, there is also an element of a popularity contest; writers who
are well-known and well-liked are somewhat more likely to get votes.
For a brand-new fan, however, they are a good place to start reading --
facing 1000 stories in the Archive (and finding the stories which aren't
there) is quite a daunting challenge.
--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:51:23 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         TA Merrill <paounfiloun@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Yes Jessi, Little Man, Super can stand alone. I've
read all of the set and , while great stories of their
own, they are only relevant to this story to introduce
you to the Kent children.

TerriAnn

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 19:20:41 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         No Name Available <Larus2407@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Little Man, Super
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 06/10/1999 4:52:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jessi914@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

<< I haven't read the other three? stories related to Little Man, Super
because
 they're nfic and I'm under 18 (pout).  So I haven't read Little Man, Super
 either.  Can someone tell me whether or not the story would make since
 without having read the other three? >>

Oh, Jessi, don't deprive yourself of this wonderful story just because you
haven't read the earlier ones. You'll still enjoy it very much--all you'll
miss is a couple references to earlier events.

--Laurie
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 19:24:57 EST
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         ninety-six and i planted poppies <kubitc@KENYON.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction

Sandy wrote:
<<<so unfortunately, they're not around to interact and promote their work
Sometimes because of this, I feel these authors' efforts lose out when new
readers are looking for good stories.>>>

Yvonne wrote:
< Sandy, I can't agree with this sentiment.  I wrote...I think...3 stories
and posted them to the archive before I ever joined this list or went on to
IRC.  So I wasn't around to interact (I think I was in contact by email
with just one Folc), and I couldn't do anything to promote my work (not
that 'promoting' is something which comes naturally to me anyway).  Yet I
received a Kerth nomination, and a good few feedback emails about my
stories. >

I have to agree with Sandy. I'm not big on reading stories that authors
promote
too heavily themselves, but hearing good things from others is what usually
convinces me to read something. Often the people promoting others' stories
are
people who know the author, at least on-line. And if the author isn't around
lists or IRC to make those friends, an excellent story can slip by
unnoticed.

When I first discovered on-line folcdom, the archive was much smaller than
it
is now, but it looked big to me ;) Over a hundred stories were written about
this quirky little show? Wow, I was impressed! So I started with the Themes
section of the archive, found authors and themes I enjoyed, and worked my
way
out from there. Now, however, with over 1000 stories archived, it's likely
that
readers will never make their way out of the Kerth stories and their
authors.

I joined the loiscla list and began reading fanfic at about the same time,
and
I know I initially gravitated towards stories by names I recognized from the
list; Zoomway, Debby Stark, etc. If I liked the points made in someone's
post,
I'd give a story of theirs a read. If I read a post that annoyed or bothered
me, I was likely to stay away from their stories. (So I guess being part of
the
list could work against someone, too <g>)

< I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet here, nor devalue your work
in any way what-so-ever - I'm just trying to say that I think readers, new
or old, will find the stories they like whether or not they are highlighted
in the Kerth section. >

I think this this would be true, if people had unlimited time to read
fanfic. I
know I don't. I know I can't always keep up with newly released fanfic; I
don't
know how people new to folcdom can possibly bring themselves up to date with
everything that's been written. So they have to pick and choose. How would
you
find a story you like without reading it, and if you start out solely with
Kerth-winning stories and authors, you may never get to non-Kerth stuff.

< Who are these people who only read award-winning work? >

I don't think anyone consciously only reads award-winning work. But it may
be
something that just happens. For instance, when Kerth nominations opened, I
tried to read everything. But I couldn't. However, when the list of
nominated
stories came out, I figured I could at least read those, so that I voted
fairly.

Pam wrote:
<< About the Kerths ... much as I love them, they aren't *strictly* about
quality, there is also an element of a popularity contest; writers who are
well-known and well-liked are somewhat more likely to get votes. >>

I have to (unfortunately) agree with this, too. If you look down a list of
the
names of Kerth-winning authors, you'll recognize nearly all of them (with
perhaps a few exceptions from the 98 Kerths where authors had already left
folcdom). In some ways, this is understandable; if you make a friend through
the list, you'll want to read her fic. There are so many stories now, it's
easy
to skim over unfamiliar names when you scan a list of archived stories.

<The author of Kerthless but, hopefully, quality work, Sandy>

Not Kerthless for long, I'm sure. (And I seem to remember that you were
nominated for Charity Begins at Home, weren't you? Nominated for your only
eligible story- that's pretty good.)

-Christy
 kubitc@kenyon.edu
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 18:02:27 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Mad Dog Lane & 'The Search for Truth and Justice'
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>gremlino@PATHWAY.NET writes:
>
><<  how did Lois manage to inspire that kind of devotion in Deter--and so
>quickly?
>
Ann writes:
>>> Very good question, but if you look at the other men in her life, it was
>typical.
--snip (discussion of how virtually every man Lois meets falls in love with
her)--

How true!  I guess that Lois has (how did Cat put it?) "something the rest
of us don't" ?  (LOL!  Well, *I* sure don't!  ;)

Cheers,
Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 21:32:18 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Peggy Mueller <gremlino@PATHWAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: NEW:  MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)
MIME-Version: 1.0
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From: jem <jem@WEBONE.COM.AU>

>Actually, my father (who is half Italian half English) also does not have
>any chest hair - oh wait, I remember now, he had three :)

LOL!

>
>Some men are hairy and some are not - I don't think it has to do with
>ancestry just genetics.
>
>At least, that's my theory :)
>
And I thought that all men have hair on their chests unless they shave them!
Boy do I feel sheepish.   :-)

Peggy  :-)
gremlino@pathway.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 20:28:15 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor -Reply
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain

Hey Wendy,

Thanks so much for the kind words about my story ...... Yes, this was my
first fanfic.  I
have a short vignette that I may post... soon :)

I wanted to take a minute to say how much I enjoy your writing.  I have
always been
hesitant about commenting on other peoples work... not because I didn't want
too...

Just wanted to take a second to let you know that I am reading "It's A Super
Life" for the
third time and have read the prequel at least three times. WOW... is all I
can say. Your story
(the name escapes me right now) about TOGOM is a favorite of mine as well.

You give such detailed descriptions of the characters.  I love the way you
flashback in
some of your fics... always very seamless.  After writing 1 1/2 stories, I
admire the
quantity and quality of stories that you have produced. Kudos.

Lara
larab@pwpl.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 20:31:02 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor -Reply
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain

Hey Rob,

I hated the ending.  The show had a lot of romantic tension... we see L&C's
relationship
developing into something much more... and then... and then... Clark flies
off :)

Thanks for the kind words,
Lara
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 18:59:31 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal
In-Reply-To:  <000301beb333$51e1a940$608701d4@default>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 12:20 PM 06/10/1999 +0100, Labrat, excellent author on her own, wrote:
>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>
>Not really a spoiler, just an observation, but I'll be ultra-careful
anyway,
>just in case.
>
>Okay, so I'm finally finding a spare moment to catch up

I know how *that* feels...

>on My Journal -
>having been driven to the brink of insanity either avoiding the previous
>list comments or sucumbing to temptation [snip] I'm reading it
>and I'm thinking that there's something...wrong with it. Something...odd.
>Something just a little off kilter. And I'm dashed if I can figure out what
>the heck it is.

>Then, halfway through part two - it hits me. [snip]
>"Well, duh! Course it's not *Debby* coming through on the page, you
>moron. It's Clark, isn't it!!"

I hope so. :D

Howeveer, it's also a limited POV. I can't tell you everything that happens
as
I can using the 3rd person POV, even using CK's x-ray vision :) He's telling
you what he knows and how he understands life to be, and guessing about the
rest, as we all do. I really enjoy writing 1st person POV. It allows one to
delve deep into a character, but it does have certain limitations, too, even
when the POV character can lift mountains.

>And then I sat back and stared at the screen in complete and total awe for
>several moments while I marveled at this exceptional and amazing talent.
<g>

Calm down, calm down... okay, thanks :`D

>Kudos, Debby! You sucked me right into Clark's Journal. Now I feel like a
>voyeur. ;)
>
>LabRat :) (Who must have been on a roll to have gotten past Clark's
>encryption code. And without even figuring out how I did it either. Darn,
>I'm good. Maybe I should join Lois in the Underground. :D)

Well, once the journal entry is home in Smallville, it can be kept unzipped
and
unencrypted :)  Now, how you got to be a decendent of CK... that's what he'd
like to know ;)

>Doc. Klein's LabRat
>labrat@ukf.net

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
who just put up a new, typo-free(?) version
thanks to Pat H :)
However, they weren't horrid typos,
so you all can fix 'em if you like :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 22:23:48 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Yvonne Connell wrote:
>
> Sandy McDermin wrote:
> > Oh, I think there are a few good writers who haven't won a Kerth.
>
> Of course there are, and I don't think anyone would claim otherwise.
> Kerths are just like any other award or competition - they highlight a few
> lucky people amongst the many who produce high-quality work.  Only one
> person can win an award, so that by definition, an award scheme cannot
> possibly acknowledge everyone who is good (whatever 'good' means ;) ).

Well that's a very good point.  What does it all mean?  Is it truly
about "the best fanfic written by the luckiest person?"  If so, we'll
have to change some designations:  The best comedy written by the
luckiest person who happened to write a comedy!<g>  I truly apologize
for being facetious, but the point is the Kerths must mean something
beyond luck, or why go to all the trouble of nominating and voting?
We could just hold a lottery.

When you have over 1,000 stories on an archive -- when you have
countless stories across the internet on varies webpages -- and, at the
same time, you have a competition which chooses the best of that lot for
the year, then ipso facto, we're drawing attention to those stories and
those authors.  And, as you imply, it's very subjective.  It's not like
a spelling bee or a math contest where someone says 1 + 1 = 2 and
someone else says 1 + 1 = 3. (We know that that latter person's not the
best and will probably end up working for the Congressional Budget
Office.;)

Frankly, I'm very ambivalent about the Kerths. I want to win an award.
Who doesn't want to win an award? But, I know that the results of
competitions focusing on creative work are somewhat a matter of taste,
involve factors beyond the work itself, and are a little bit
self-perpetuating. It inevitably leaves out good work which may not get
attention at first -- but rather -- attention at last. And that's too
bad.

> I'm sorry - and surprised - that you've found that you have to cajole
> people to read non-Kerth work.  Who are these people who only read
> award-winning work?

I answered this above, but it bears repeating.  I didn't say no other
authors get read but that stories awarded Kerths are obviously
highlighted and receive attention not only because of their worth but
because of that very recognition.

Planted Poppies said:

> If I read a post that annoyed or bothered me, I was likely to stay
> away from their stories. (So I guess being part of the list could
> work against someone, too <g>)

No-o! That can't be.

>(And I seem to remember that you were nominated for Charity Begins
> at Home, weren't you? Nominated for your only eligible story- that's
> pretty good.)

Well, "Love as a Blonde" was nominated the first year," she mumbles ...
"by one person." (I asked Leanne how many nominations it got.<g>)  I
pulled it, however, because it was in a category (comedy) with 4 short
(good) stories, which all together, were less than half the size of
LaaB. (Apples and Oranges.) Plus, mine was nfic, which not everyone
could read, while all the others were regular fiction.  I thought it was
doomed, and I didn't feel like I was disappointing a lot of nominators
cause there was only one. (By the way, thank you whoever you are.  I
offer you my most heartfelt and very belated apologies.)

So, I guess you can call me a masochist.

Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy/
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:35:49 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE - INTRO
Mime-Version: 1.0
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TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: Introduction
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

Well, FoLCs, after many months of editing, writing, editing,
rewriting, editing, and editing, I've finally come to the point that
I feel comfortable enough to let this story back into circulation.

Just so there's no misunderstandings, this story deals with dark
issues, and has a *very* big WHAM in it . . . in case you haven't
heard. ;)

This version is quite a bit different from the original which I
posted to this list, and I urge anyone who was unsatisfied with the
earlier NIGHTMARE, to read this version.  I can't make any
guarantees, but I think you'll find some differences. ;)

I also want to apologize to all those people I reassured would have
copies of this story within the next week . . . three months ago. ;)
I just kept thinking of more things I wanted to do with it . . . not
mention the intervention of RL. . . .

Anyhow, I hope it was worth the wait! :)

Sincerely,
Karen :)

"All things considered, I think I'll stick to reading."
        -I'm not sure, but I couldn't have been the first. ;)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:35:57 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 1 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 1 of  8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

Foreword:
        First of all, I'd like to extend a warm thank you to my story
editor, Irene Dutchak, for selflessly donating her time to root
through this fic for rough spots.  It meant more to me than words can
say.
        I'd also like to extend a special thank you to Mandy
Crustner, without whose support and encouragement I doubt I would
have ever managed to finish this fic.  She graciously took the time
to read this monster not just once, but *two* times, pointing out to
me more typos than I thought a single person was capable of.
        Another extra special editorial thanks goes out to Rachel
TenHaaf who also allowed herself to be victim to this story and
volunteered to edit it even though she'd already read it.  Thanks so
much, Rachel!
        Despite all the wonderful editors I had, including the many
members of the Loiscla Fanfic Discussion List, I must add that the
blame for any remaining typos, unresolved issues, or confusing
passages, belongs solely to me.

        In continuity, this story takes place after my other fanfic
'Tomorrow's Past', which I wrote in response to being very
disappointed with the series finale of my favorite television show.
However, it isn't necessary to read 'Tomorrow's Past' to understand
this story. All you need to know is that Lois and Clark are still
under the impression that they are "biologically incompatible for
reproduction".
        Being familiar with the episode 'Virtually Destroyed' might
(it's debatable <g>) make this story easier to follow.
        Finally, if you find anything in this story to be racist or
prejudicial, or just outright offensive, I assure you that I did not
do it on purpose!  As a friend pointed out to me recently, life is
way too short to go out of my way to offend perfect strangers.  If
you do have a bone of contention concerning this story, or anything
contained within it, don't hesitate to let me know.  Any such error
was likely due to my naivete and I'm always glad to be enlightened.

WARNING!!!!!  WARNING!!!!!!  WARNING!!!!!!
        Before you begin this story, you should be warned that it
deals with very serious subject matter.  It contains a huge WHAM;
however, you can rest assured that I did everything within my power
to set things right.

        This story is for my mother, the strongest person I know.

        Now that you've made it through the longest foreword known to
humankind, congratulations!  You get to read this beast! ;)

        * denotes emphasis
        ** denotes sounds

NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
By Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>

        **Swoosh!** A well-aimed gust of wind caused the basketball
to veer left and align itself with the hoop at Centennial Park.
        "Yes! Another three-pointer!" Ted Rickman, the Daily Planet's
newest college intern and Clark Kent's recently adopted protege,
exclaimed. "That's three in row, Clark. That makes it 15 to 6."
        Clark picked up the basketball and tossed it back to Ted.
        "Are you sure you can take any more?" Ted continued. "Maybe
you'd better forfeit before the score gets too embarrassing. I
wouldn't want you to go home and not be able to look your wife in the
eye, now would I, Kent?" Ted's eyes twinkled with mischief as he
casually tucked the basketball under his arm.
        "Are you kidding? Of course you would! But I'll have to
forfeit anyway."  Clark eyed the sky, noting that twilight wouldn't
be upon them for at least another hour. "It's getting too dark to
play."
        "Yeah, sure, Kent. Whatever you say . . ." Ted was skeptical
of Clark's excuse. Though he'd detected humor in Clark's voice, he'd
been playing the best basketball of his life; surely Clark was too
embarrassed to keep playing.
        "Seriously," Clark added, "Lois and I have a double date with
the Whites tonight, and I don't want to be late for dinner with the
boss." Clark glanced at his watch. "I'd better get going."
        "A double date with the Whites? Why? Are you and Lois looking
for a raise?" Ted needled.
        "No," Clark laughed.  "But I wouldn't be surprised if that
was on Lois's agenda too. They're attempting a reconciliation and
Lois has this notion that we should be their mediators, so to speak,
to make sure that things run smoothly. At least, that's what she says
. . ."
        "Oh, I see. And what do you think her real motives are?"
        "Well . . . you know Lois . . ." Clark grinned.
        "Ah, yes, I do. You think she's just being nosy?"
        "Well . . ." Clark adjusted his glasses reflexively.
"Between you, me and the fence post, yep."
        Ted laughed.  "She must be really something to be dragging
you away from the TV tonight.  I can't believe you're going to miss
the Metros versus Bills football game. You love the Bills -- almost
as much as I do!"
        "She's something, alright." Clark chuckled.
        "What's so funny?"
        "I was just thinking . . ." Clark hesitated, uncomfortable
with revealing the direction his thoughts had gone.
        "What?"
        "Well . . ."
        "Come on, Clark, you've got to tell me now. I can tell by the
glint in your eye that it's something good."
        "I probably shouldn't say this, but . . . let's just say
that, in other areas, she'll more than compensate me for missing the
football game."
        Ted laughed. "I'm sure she will, Clark. I'm sure she will."

*       *       *

        That evening, a lean figure loomed in the second-story window
of his one-room apartment. The meager glow of street lights seeped
through the slit between the curtains, forming a thin slice of light
on the wall across from the window. Every now and then the light
would brighten and slide up the wall while a set of headlights passed
by on the street below.
        A pair of binoculars rested at the figure's side in his right
hand, while his left hand reached to clear the drapes from his line
of sight. The expanding opening between the curtains allowed a stream
of streetlight to sweep across the man's front, illuminating the red
and blue logo dominating the front of his t-shirt, and glinting off
the locks of blond hair that framed his forehead. He raised the
binoculars to his eyes and focused them on an upstairs bedroom of the
brownstone at 348 Hyperion Avenue. The straight line of his lips
transformed into a satisfied smile as he realized that his timing was
perfect. It was one of the rare occasions that the couple across the
street had left the drapes drawn, providing a clear view through the
patio door leading to the upstairs master bedroom. He watched an
attractive young brunette hustle around the room in a revealing black
slip. She dug into her closet, yanked out a short burgundy kimono,
scurried over to a full-length mirror and held it up in front of her.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust and flung the satin dress onto the
heap of clothing strewn beside the mirror as she scampered back to
the closet to find another outfit.

*       *       *

        "Lois, aren't you ready yet?"
        Clark Kent, one half of the hottest reporting team in
Metropolis, stood at the base of the staircase, hands cupped around
his mouth, shouting to his wife in the upstairs bedroom. "If you
don't hurry up, we'll be late. The reservations are for seven-thirty.
We have five minutes. What's taking you so long anyway?"
        "Hold your horses, Clark, I'm coming!" Lois Lane, ace
reporter and the other half of the hottest team in town, hollered
back. She lifted a shiny, burgundy kimono in front of her slender
figure and considered her reflection in the full-length mirror on the
back of their closet door. She looked pensive for a moment before she
scowled at her image and threw the dress aside.
        "Lois, if I hold my horses any longer they're going to . . .
let's just say my horses are getting *very* impatient!"
        "Well, tell your horses that if they keep up their patience,
I'll make sure it's worth their wait!"
        "That would be fine with me except it's not just my horses
that are getting impatient. If we keep Perry and Alice waiting any
longer they're going to think we stood them up." Clark approached the
mirror by the vestibule and adjusted his crimson tie. "When people
are attempting a reconciliation," he shouted toward the ceiling, "the
last thing they need is for us to cause them stress by being late for
dinner."
        "I know! I'm coming!"
        Clark ran his hands down the front of his charcoal suit,
smoothing wrinkles. For what seemed like the millionth time, he
pushed back the sleeve covering his watch and grimaced when he saw
the time. Curious as to what was keeping his wife, he drew his
glasses down to the tip of his nose and his x-ray vision began to
penetrate the ceiling into the bedroom.
        "What do you think you're doing, Mr. Kent?!"
        The sound of Lois's voice from the bottom of the stairwell
startled Clark, causing his glasses to slip further down his nose
before he could clumsily shove them back into place. "Uh . . . I was
just . . . uh . . . " He felt as if he'd been caught with his hand in
the proverbial cookie jar, except he hadn't been reaching for
cookies.  He realized, however, that Lois had no reason to believe
that his motives were purely innocent.
        Clark relaxed and gave up on his explanation when he noticed
the corner of his wife's mouth twitch, betraying her mock seriousness.
        "Don't worry, Kent, I'll let you get away with it this time.
But if I ever catch you doing that again, I'll just have to give you
some strict lessons on respecting other people's privacy."
        "If they're anything like the lessons I gave you on self confidence,
I'll be looking forward to it."
        Lois chuckled as she retrieved her jacket from its hook by
the door. "Oh, they'll be a lot more rigorous and intensive than
that!" She grinned when she turned and saw his eyes wide in
appreciation of her knee length, black, satin dress.
        "You look . . . wow!" Clark managed.
        She adjusted one of the spaghetti straps with her right hand
as she held her jacket to him with the other. "I take it you think it
was worth the wait then?"
        Clark's gaze didn't waver as he nodded his agreement. Upon
recovering his wits, he accepted her jacket and slipped it over her
shoulders.
        "It was awfully nice of Perry and Alice to invite us to
dinner," he said, changing the topic in order to keep his mind off
what he'd rather be doing with his wife at the moment. "I just hope
we get back in time to catch the Metros' game tonight. They're
playing the Bills, you know."
        "Are you kidding?! Of course I know. You've only spent the
last week talking about this 'big game'."
        "Yeah, well, it *is* a big game. The winner makes the
playoffs and I'm really pulling for the Bills. Not that I have
anything against the Metros, it's just that I've always sort of like
the Bills for some reason and . . ."
        Lois grabbed his arm and began hauling him outside. "Honey,
you're babbling. That's my job.  Besides, you can rant about football
all you want with . . . what's-his-name?"
        "Ted."
        "Right. You can rant all you want to Ted at the office
tomorrow, but, right now, we're late for dinner with our boss so I
think we should be going."
        Clark stopped just short of the door, also halting Lois who
had a firm grip on his forearm. "Hey, I've been ready for over half
an hour . . . and you got home before I did. Who's the one who spent
over an hour doing who-knows-what when she looked beautiful to begin
with, huh?" Clark teased.
        "Well, if I could get ready at superspeed I'd have been ready
a long time ago too." Smiling, Lois turned to Clark and began poking
his chest to emphasize her point. "But I'm just a measly little human
being. I have to do things at regular speed."
        "That's no excuse." A sly grin crept onto Clark's face as he
opened the front door for his wife. "I offered to help you get
dressed but no-o, you wouldn't let me, would you?"
        "If I recall correctly, your offer was to help me get
undressed. And it's not that I didn't appreciate your offer, but you
know very well that if I'd let you, we'd have never made it out the
door tonight."

*       *       *

        Wheeling a large metal cart, a nurse rumbled down one of the
halls of the Metropolis Asylum for the Criminally Insane. She reached
the end of the hall and turned to face a thick, cast iron door. With
her eyes trained on the keypad next to the door, she began to punch
in a series of numbers. After a succession of clicks and a giant
clang, she heaved the heavy door open. Inside the padded room a small
man was huddled in the corner. His hands were at his head, each
clasping a clump of unruly brown hair. His chin rested on his knees
as he stared blankly at his feet. He remained completely still when
the nurse wheeled the shiny silver pushcart in, and didn't flinch
when she began to croon, "Hello there, Jaxon. How are you today?
You're looking well. You'll never guess what we've got for you today."
        Jaxon's blank expression didn't waver as the nurse continued
to address him.
        "The doctor thought it might be helpful to get you playing
with computers again, so he got you this." The nurse gestured to the
contents of the metal cart that now sat in the center of the room.
        "Pretty neat, huh, Jaxon? How would you like to try out your
new computer?"
        Jaxon remained motionless in the corner while the nurse
removed the safety cover on an outlet and inserted a plug that ran
>from the cart. She pushed a red switch on the power bar and the
monitor sprang to life.
        "There we go, that should do it. It'll just take a second to
load and that should give us time to get you in a chair and ready to
go."
        The nurse retrieved a wooden chair from one side of the room,
and Jaxon from the other. Once Jaxon was settled in the chair in
front of the computer, she began to guide his unresponsive hands
across the keyboard.
        "There's lots of fun games you can play on the computer . . .
there we go. Tetris. Why don't we give that a try?"
        Sparks began to fly from the processor as Jaxon's fingers
passed over the keys. A violent electrical shock sent the nurse
sprawling to the floor, unconscious. Jaxon's fingers remained fixed
on the keyboard and his attention on the monitor as electricity
assaulted the computer. Jaxon's mouth formed a sneer until the
current of electricity finally ceased. He began to chuckle as he rose
>from the chair and knelt over the fallen nurse to feel for a pulse.
Soon roaring laughter echoed though the room and he turned back to
the computer.

*       *       *

        ". . . and then the King said, 'You Hound Dog, you! If that's
what you wanted, you should have just said so!'"
        Clark and Alice chuckled at the conclusion of Perry's latest
Elvis tale, while Lois, after coercing her lips into small smile,
fixed her husband with her best 'I-need-to-get-out-of-here' stare.
Although Lois enjoyed her boss's company, she thought she'd more than
met her quota of Elvis yarns for the day.
        Unfortunately for Lois, Perry interrupted before Clark could
register her silent plea. "So are you two up for some dessert? I sure
am!"
        "Uh . . . I don't know, Perry. I'm pretty beat," Lois
responded, trying to sound sincere. "It's been a lovely evening but I
really think Clark and I should get going."
        Then, to Lois's great relief, she noticed Clark's face take
on a familiar far-off look. Recognizing the chance to not have to sit
through another dose of Elvis stories, she pounced on it.
        "Don't you think so, Clark? You look beat yourself. We should
get going."
        "Uh . . . yeah." Clark forced a yawn. "I'm wiped. We'd better
be going." Clark pulled his wallet out of his pocket and slapped a
few bills on the table. "That should cover dinner."
        Clark and Lois pushed their chairs out and stood up before
Perry and Alice could protest.
        "We're sorry to leave so abruptly, but Lois and I really have
to be getting to bed. We'll see you at the office tomorrow, Perry."
Clark turned to Alice, "And thank you for such a lovely evening,
Alice."
        Lois was barely able to say, "Bye, guys," before Clark
grabbed the crook of her arm and bolted for the door.
        After regarding the young couples' rapidly retreating forms,
Alice turned to Perry to inquire about his star reporters' hasty
exit.  "What was that all about? Do they do that often?"
        "Alice, Honey, Lois and Clark are still newlyweds. Don't you
remember what that was like?"
        Alice grinned sheepishly at her ex-husband as realization
dawned. "I sure do. Say, Hound Dog, why don't we follow the younger
ones' example and turn in early ourselves?"
        Perry grinned back as he stared into Alice's sparkling eyes.
His gaze remained solid as he shouted, "Waiter! Check please!"

*       *       *

        Outside the restaurant, Lois and Clark sprinted down the
street, veered into a secluded alley and stopped.
        "Wha . . . what is it? What . . . did you hear?" Lois gasped
for breath.
        It's an alarm at the Metropolis Asylum. I should check it
out. I'll meet you at home, okay, Hon'?"
        Lois nodded and spoke between breaths. "Okay."
        Clark gave Lois a peck on the forehead, spun into the suit,
and leapt into the air.

*       *       *

        Lois eased her Jeep to a stop at the curb in front of her
brownstone and opened the door to get out. As she approached the
door, the sudden sensation of her nerves prickling into rapt
attention stopped her momentarily.  Her subconscious was invaded by
the familiar feeling of uneasiness that told her something was up.
She looked around the street, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
        "Hmph." She shrugged if off and went inside.

*       *       *

        From the second floor of 343 Hyperion Avenue, a blond man
watched a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee come to a halt in front of one
of the brownstones across the street. Once again, his eyes tracked
the movements of an attractive brunette. From his darkened apartment,
he watched her as she approached her front door and sighed when the
young woman suddenly stopped, crinkled her brow, and gazed around the
street.
        He smiled at the satisfaction of knowing that Lois couldn't
possibly guess what was about to happen to her.

*       *       *

Continued in Part 2
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:06 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 2 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 2 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        After changing out of her evening wear and into a comfortable
pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, Lois flopped down on the living
room couch and clicked on the T.V. She spent a few moments surfing
the channels before she settled on the Buffalo versus Metropolis
football game. She didn't really want to watch it, but somehow, it
made her feel closer to Clark. At times like this she looked for
anything that would make being alone a little easier to bear.
        Halfway through the second quarter, as she was about to doze
off, a news update startled her back to full consciousness.
        "This just in." The voice of the anchorman droned from the
television. "A nurse is in critical condition after a convict by the
name of Jaxon Xavier escaped from the Metropolis Asylum for the
Criminally Insane tonight."
        Lois gasped. "How? . . ." Reflexively, she began running
scenarios through her mind as to how Jaxon, in his comatose state,
could have regained consciousness and escaped.
        "As of this moment," the voice continued in the background,
"Metropolis Police are not sure as to how Xavier escaped from the
asylum, but reports suggest that the building's security systems were
breached through a computer terminal. Superman . . ."
        Lois perked up at the mention of her husband.
        ". . . arrived moments after the Asylum security discovered
Xavier's empty cell, but was unable to immediately locate the
villain. At this hour, Xavier remains at large and police are warning
people to be on the lookout. He is not to be approached and should be
considered extremely dangerous. If you should spot him, please notify
the proper authorities immediately. Stay tuned to LNN for further
updates on this matter."
        The football game reclaimed the screen as LNN's news logo
faded from view. Knowing that her Superman was on the case, Jaxon's
escape didn't cause her much worry, so she refocused her attention on
the football game.
        "Since when did you start watching football?" Clark's teasing
voice was accompanied by a gust of cool evening breeze and the rattle
of the window being shut.
        "Well, I figured one of us had to watch it and since you
weren't here . . . . Did you find Jaxon?"
        Superman approached the couch and, after a brief red and blue
whirlwind in the living room, Clark sat down beside Lois.
        "Actually, no." Clark rested his elbows on his knees and
wrung his hands in his lap. He stared at the floor as he muttered, "I
scoured the city but I couldn't find him anywhere."
        Noticing Clark's distress, Lois laid a comforting hand
between his shoulder blades.
        "Honey, it's okay. You'll find him. Actually, *we'll* find
him. It'll make a great story to figure out how he recovered his mind
>from the virtual world."
        "Yeah . . . sure. With all the people in Metropolis it's
worse than . . . trying to find a needle in a haystack," Clark
mumbled as he continued to gaze at his hands.
        "Clark, what's wrong? You're usually a little more optimistic
than this."
        Clark turned to face Lois, opened his mouth to speak,
hesitated, and decided to say, "No . . . it's nothing."
        "Clark." Lois sat facing her husband and grasped his hands in
hers, forcing him to give her his full attention. "I know you better
than that. Something's wrong and you're going to tell me what it is.
Now, talk."
        "Well . . . " Clark paused. "I guess I'm just worried about
Jaxon's escape. He . . . he could come after you again." Clark
lowered his stare to his and Lois's intertwined hands.
        "That's not it." Lois withdrew her right hand and used it to
nudge Clark's chin upward, urging him to make eye contact with her
again.
        Clark met her gaze, sucked in his breath and slowly released
it again. "Sometimes I think . . ." Clark wasn't sure that this was a
feeling he should share with Lois. He *was* sure that she wouldn't
like what she was about to hear.
        "What is it?" Lois persisted.
        Once again diverting his eyes from Lois's, Clark decided to
take the plunge. "Sometimes I think you would have been better off
marrying Lex." Clark looked up to gauge Lois's reaction.
        Lois's jaw dropped as anger began to stir within her. "Clark,
that is the most incredibly stupid thing I have ever heard you say!
And considering some of the stupid things you've said--"
        "What do you mean, 'stupid things' I've said?" Clark pulled
away as Lois's words cut into him.
        "Does 'Cheese of the Month Club' ring any bells?"
        "Oh." Clark felt hard-pressed to argue with that.
        "Clark, after all we've been through, how can you say I'd be
better off with Lex, of all people?" Lois was thoroughly appalled.
        "Well, think about it, Lois. In the past two years, we've
uncovered two of Lex Luthor's illegitimate sons, and who knows how
many more there are?" Clark looked away because he knew he couldn't
face Lois when he uttered his next words. "At least we know you would
have been able to have children with him."
        Clark was surprised when his statement was met with silence.
However, he knew he'd crossed the line when he looked up to see
Lois's horrified expression.
        "Look, Lois, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just . . ."
        "You were what? Feeling sorry for yourself?" The rage began
to bubble inside Lois, threatening to spill over.
        "Hey! You have no right to be upset! *You* were the one who
asked what I was feeling. You practically forced it out of me!"
        "I have no right to be upset?!" Lois blurted in disbelief.
"My husband tells me that we shouldn't have gotten married and *I*
have no right to be upset?!" By now, Lois had risen from the couch
and was stampeding the room, waving her arms about in fury.
        "No, Lois. That's not what I meant."
        Lois stopped and faced Clark, who was still sitting on the
couch. "Well, what *did* you mean?"
        "I . . . I don't know," Clark mumbled.
        "Well, let me know when you figure it out!" With that, Lois
stormed up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door with enough force
to rival that of Superman.
        After the bang of the door, Clark was left in an unsettling
silence. His gaze remained fixed on the staircase where he'd last
seen his wife's retreating form. After a moment, he dropped his face
into his hands and groaned in frustration.
        Upstairs, Lois had sprawled out on her bed. Her face was
buried in a pillow, smothering her sobs.

*       *       *

        Through his binoculars, the blond man watched in smug
satisfaction as Lois stormed into her room, slammed the door and
flopped down on the bed. He was sure that she and Clark had been
fighting. As usual, he hadn't been able to see into the living room.
That view was blocked by hedges. However, the hedges didn't block the
glow of light emanating from the living room window. There were
shadows moving about the room and he was positive that there had been
two people in that room, arguing.
        By the manner in which Lois had entered the bedroom he knew
that something had angered her. He assumed it had been Clark. He
hadn't seen Clark come home, but that didn't surprise him. Somehow,
he rarely saw Clark come home. He figured that the Kents must have a
hidden entrance somewhere.
        Anyhow, that didn't matter now. Lois and Clark had just had
some sort of argument, and, obviously, Lois had been deeply hurt by
it. He smiled again. This would be the perfect opportunity. He had to
take it.

*       *       *

        Somewhere, deep in the shadows of Metropolis, Jaxon Xavier
crouched behind a dumpster in a dark alley, struggling to find his
breath. He still bore the same vacant grin he'd had when he escaped
the asylum. It was cemented to his face.
        After hacking into the Asylum's security system through the
computer terminal the unsuspecting nurse had provided, Jaxon had
known it would only be a matter of time before his absence would be
detected. He also knew that it wouldn't be much longer before the big
Boy Scout in blue would be scouring the city for him, not to mention
a couple of nosy reporters. He'd have to do something about those
three . . . .

*       *       *

        Lost somewhere between sleep and consciousness, Lois rolled
over in bed to face her husband's empty side. She made a little groan
and snuggled the side of her face further in her pillow. Suddenly,
the whine of the alarm clock shattered Lois's restless semi-slumber.
        "Shut it off, Clark," she moaned into her pillow.
        When the awful shriek continued, she forced her eyes open.
She promptly pressed them shut again when she saw that Clark wasn't
there, that he never had been. The memories from last night's
confrontation came flooding back to her and stripped her of any
inclination to get out of bed. However, she forced her body up and
off the mattress and eventually made her way to the bathroom and into
the shower.
        After pulling on a white short-sleeve blouse and a brown
business skirt with matching blazer, she began to trudge down the
stairs but stopped dead at the sight of her husband floating over the
couch. He was asleep, but it didn't seem to be doing him any good.
Occasionally, he would stop tossing and turning to mumble something
incoherent. Then he would start flopping around again, almost like a
fish caught in a net, only the net was suspended four feet over the
living room sofa.

*       *       *

        Dressed as Superman, Clark stood alone in the dark forest.
The mist was thick and it engulfed him, threatening to swallow him
whole. A breeze tugged gently at his cape. He could hear the distant
howl of wolves.
        He was looking for something, but he couldn't remember what it was.
        No, he was beginning to remember now. It wasn't something; it
was someone. But who? He was sure it was a woman. He'd been searching
his whole life for her, yet somehow he knew that the search was
futile because even when he found her, he could never have her.
        **Crunch.** **Crunch.** **Crunch.**
        Clark spun around to find the cause of the noise. The dried
leaves and twigs that peppered the forest floor had crunched under
someone's footsteps. His eyes widened.
        *She* was there.
        Her slim figure emerged from the fog and she walked steadily
toward him. A slight gust of wind tussled her short, chestnut hair.
She gazed at him with all the love and longing of her being. But he
could see something else in her eyes. It was regret, and maybe even a
bit of hurt.
        "Lois! There you are," he spoke. "I've been looking for you."
        "I know, Clark . . . I know." Her voice was low and dreary.
        She continued to move closer and stopped only inches away.
She reached for his hands and clutched them. Her hands felt almost as
icy as her expression had suddenly turned.
        "Clark, there's something I have to tell you." Her lips
formed the words carefully while her eyes seemed to plead with his
for understanding.
        "What is it, Lois?" Clark asked tentatively. He was becoming
wary of Lois's behavior.
        She spoke quietly, yet confidently, as if she'd memorized
what she was about to say, but didn't really want to say it. "We've
made a terrible mistake."
        "I know, Lois. Last night I said some things I shouldn't have
and I'm sorry --"
        "No, Clark. You were right."
        "-- that I said them but I wasn't in the best mood and . . .
what did you say?" Clark thought she'd said that he was right, but
this was Lois who was talking. She never said that. Especially
referring to the subject that he thought she was referring to.
        "I said you were right, Clark." Her eyes held his solidly as she
spoke.
        "I . . . I don't think I understand." Clark was terrified of
what he was about to hear. But he knew he wouldn't be able to
disagree with her.
        "I'd be better off with someone else." Her voice was shaking,
but she continued nonetheless. "We have no right to be together. We
should . . . we should get a divorce."
        There was silence. Even the wolves had ceased their howling
as Lois and Clark searched each other's eyes. It was Clark who broke
the moment by releasing her hands and looking down.
        Clark was in despair. He knew that she hadn't wanted to say
it, and furthermore, she didn't want to go through with her
suggestion. But he also knew he had no right to stop her. The longer
they stayed together, the more she was torn apart by the fact that,
because of him, she would never be able to bear children. He could
never do that to her, and it broke his heart to think that he almost
had.
        "I know, Lois. I'm . . . I'm an . . . alien. I was wrong to
think that I had a place here, that we could have a life together. I
should never have dragged you into this. I'm so sorry if I've hurt
you . . . can you ever forgive me?"
        "I'm afraid she can't, Kent," an arrogant voice called out
>from the haze. "The hurt you've caused her is unforgivable."
        Clark thought the voice was familiar. He squinted to see who
it was, but he couldn't make out the approaching figure.
        "You've hurt her more than any other man. More than Claude,
more than even me."
        The voice was unmistakable, and the figure descended from the fog.
        "Luthor! What are you doing here?" Clark stepped defensively
in front of Lois, blocking her from Lex Luthor's path.
        "It's okay, Clark." Lois moved to Clark's side and touched
his arm. "I asked him to come."
        "You?!" Clark was dumbfounded.
        "Yes, me." Lois left Clark's side, went to Luthor's, and took
his hand in hers.
        "But why?" Clark was horrified at how warmly Lois seemed to
be regarding his enemy.
        "You said it yourself, Clark. You said I'd be better off with
Lex." Lex and Lois turned from Clark and began walking back into the
mist.
        "Yeah, but I didn't mean it. I was just trying to prove a
point!" Clark pleaded with her. "Come back, Lois! Please! You're
making a mistake!"
        Clark's cries fell on deaf ears as the retreating pair was
engulfed by the mist.

*       *       *

        "NO!! Please, Lois, don't go!! NOOOOO!!!" he screamed.
        Clark was facing Lois, who was still watching from the middle
of the stairwell, when his eyes shot open. Their eyes locked
momentarily, and in that instant, Lois's heart ached with pity as she
could see all the hurt and pain that was burning inside of him. More
than anything she wanted to rush to him, to take him in her arms and
tell him that everything was all right, but her pride wouldn't let
her. Instead, Clark watched as she fixed her face with a stern look,
marched down the remaining stairs and retreated into the kitchen
without saying a word.
         Slowly, Clark floated himself back down to the sofa. He sat
up, and took a deep breath. His emotions were a mixture of relief and
pain. He was glad that it had only been a dream and hadn't actually
happened. Yet, from that dream, he'd realized something. He was going
to have to talk to Lois today. Nothing in the world scared him more
than what he had to say to her. He knew that he had promised never to
do it again, but he had no choice. He could almost hear his heart
begin to break.

*       *       *

Continued in Part 3
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:18 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 3 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 3 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        "Hey, C.K.!" Jimmy Olsen's cheery voice met Clark as he made
his way down the ramp of the Daily Planet newsroom, forty-five
minutes late for work.
         Clark was preoccupied as he negotiated a path to his desk
with Jimmy close on his heels.
        "Hi, Jimmy." The words barely escaped Clark's lips.
        Immediately after the morning's silent, yet eventful
encounter with Lois, Clark's superhearing had tuned into a neighbor's
radio broadcasting the report of a serious traffic accident. What had
started as a simple fender-bender on the downtown expressway had
quickly escalated into a twelve car pile-up.  The accident left many
people trapped and injured inside their cars. Luckily, it had been
morning rush hour and the cars were barely at a crawling pace when
the accident had occurred, but even that pace was enough to cause
substantial damage. Clark had arrived about 10 minutes after the
accident -- too slow according to his standards -- and managed to
free seven people from their vehicles. Rescue workers had already
retrieved six people and had been working on the rest by the time
Superman was on the scene. Some had suffered severe, yet
non-life-threatening, injuries, while others had only superficial
wounds. It was the one fatality that tore at Clark's heart.
        Long ago he had come to terms with the fact that there would
be times when he would be a nanosecond too late, or that he couldn't
be in several places at once, but this time it had gotten to him.
        There had been a four month old baby in one of the cars. The child's
parents had survived. They each had experienced some lacerations and a
couple of broken bones, but they had survived. The driver of a Ford pick-up
truck had rode up on a guard rail, trying to avoid the imminent collision,
and landed upside down on the back half of a sedan. Strapped in a car seat
in the back, the poor infant had not stood a chance.
        "Whoa! Earth to Clark." Jimmy noticed Clark's 'absence' and
became concerned for his friend. "What's up, C.K.? You have a rough
night? You don't look so good."
        "Ah . . . yeah, I guess you could say that."
        "Lois said you went to cover that big accident downtown. It
must have been pretty gruesome, huh?"
        Clark had stopped listening to Jimmy at the mention of his
wife's name. He hadn't dared to look in the direction of her desk
when he came in. He didn't think he could handle seeing her yet. It
was scary enough just *thinking* about what things were going to be
like with her today.
        "Uh . . . C.K.?"
        "Oh . . . uh . . . yeah, Jimmy. It was pretty gruesome.
Actually, speaking of the accident, I really have to do the write up
for it . . ."
        "Hey! Have you seen the Chief today? He's in the best mood!"
        "OLSEN!! GET IN HERE NOW!"
        "And it looks like I'd better get a move on before his mood
changes! See ya around, C.K."
        Jimmy winked before he took off toward the Chief's office,
and Clark sent out a silent thanks to Perry White for providing him
with a means of escape. He really didn't feel like dealing with
Jimmy's exuberance today.  He had enough to deal with already.
        So he turned his mind back to his impending confrontation
with Lois.  He figured the sooner he got 'it' over with, the less it
would hurt both of them.
        He couldn't do it now, though. The middle of a busy newsroom
was not the best place to discuss an Earth-shattering event in their
personal lives, even if the entire newsroom was bound to hear about
it soon enough. He'd have to find a time when he and Lois could steal
a few moments alone. However unlikely that may prove to be, it would
have to wait until then. So, for the time being, Clark switched on
his computer and began typing up the report of the morning's accident.
        "Hey, Clark! That was some game last night, huh?"
        Clark swiveled in his chair to find the owner of the animated voice.
        It was Ted Rickman, the handsome young intern from Metropolis
University who, as he had the night before, regularly joined Clark in
a friendly game of one-on-one. In the month Ted had been at the
Planet, he and Clark had become good friends. Because Clark was "such
a good people person", as the Chief had put it, he had been assigned
to show the young man around during his first week. In the beginning,
Ted had seemed a little awed, and maybe a bit intimidated to have the
famous reporter, Clark Kent, as his tutor. But once he had been
subject to Clark's friendly personality, Ted's shyness had soon
faded. In fact, he and Clark had soon discovered they had a lot in
common. Football in particular. They were both the only Bills fans in
Metropolis . . . or so they joked.
        "Actually, I missed it."
        "Oh, Clark! You missed the greatest game of the century! The
Bills were down by five with three seconds left and . . . "
        Clark tuned out Ted's voice when he remembered who *had* been
watching it. 'That was odd', Clark reflected on catching his wife
watching the game, 'Lois hates football.' For some reason, totally
beyond him, she had been watching it anyway. Maybe his enthusiasm for
the sport had been rubbing off on her somehow. He quickly dismissed
that idea. Lois was her own person and if she didn't like something,
that was it. She didn't like it. It didn't matter who you were, there
was no influencing that woman on her tastes. Clark knew that better
than anyone. And that was one of the many things that he loved about
her, her individuality. It was also one of the things he'd miss about
her . . .
        ". . . and then Jones intercepted the pass and ran 57 yards
for a touchdown! It was awesome, Clark! I can't believe you missed
it!"
        "I wish I hadn't," Clark ruefully admitted.
        "What were you doing anyway? You've been looking forward to
the game all week. There would've had to be some kind of
international crisis to tear you from the tube last night!"
        "Something like that." Clark's eyes seemed to be focusing on
nothing in particular.
        Being somewhat more attentive to Clark's body language than
Jimmy had been, Ted decided that Clark probably wanted to be left
alone. "Well, I guess I'd better be getting back to work. I can hear
about a dozen people calling 'Copyboy' right now. I'll see you later,
Clark."
        "Sure, Ted." Clark returned to Earth long enough to smile at
his friend before he went on his way.
        And then it happened. He hadn't meant to, but as he was
turning back toward his computer, Clark's eyes had accidentally
spotted *her* desk. Sure enough, she was there, working away at what
was bound to be her next Kerth Award winning story, if not Pulitzer.
        She would type for a few minutes, scrunch her eyebrows, and
begin leafing through one of the files she had strewn on her desk
before going back to the keyboard for a few more minutes. Clark
couldn't help but watch as she went through that routine a few times.
It was like watching an artist create a masterpiece. Half of the time
you had no idea what was going on, and you were sure that she didn't
either, but the other half was simply amazing as she put all the
pieces together, weaving them into an ingenious piece of writing.
        It wasn't long, however, before Lois's 'radar' kicked in and
she diverted her attention from her work to see who was watching her.
'It's amazing how she does that,' Clark thought. And to his utter
dismay, Clark inadvertently smiled when her eyes met his. He hadn't
meant to do it; it was just a reflex. What really caught him
off-guard, though, was when she smiled back. He certainly wasn't
expecting that! Lois didn't forget arguments like last night's in
less than twenty-four hours. It was unheard of! Besides, he couldn't
have her forgiving him that fast. It would make 'it' way too
difficult for him, not that it wasn't already. So, before he could
get himself into any more trouble, he turned back to his monitor to
continue to work on the accident story.
        It took a couple of seconds before Clark could collect
himself enough to resume writing, but his fingers eventually found
their way back to the keyboard, and he returned to his morning task.
Which will soon be an afternoon task if I don't get a move on, Clark
noticed as he glanced at the clock in the upper right corner of his
monitor.
        His resolve to finish his story quickly vanished when he felt
a pair of hands come to rest on his shoulders. He didn't have to look
to see whose hands they were; only one person's touch could send
shockwaves pulsing through his body like that.
        She leaned over and spoke softly into his ear, "Hey there.
Pretty rough morning, huh?"
        "Uh . . . yeah." Clark almost choked on the words, his throat
was so dry. His mind was racing in circles. He wanted to turn and
take her in his arms and hold her for the rest of his life. He wanted
to tell her about the accident this morning, and how it had hurt so
much to not have been able to save that helpless little baby. But he
knew that he couldn't. He knew that was another thing he was going to
have to get used to living without.
        "Clark," Lois maneuvered herself around his chair, pushed the
keyboard out of the way, and sat down on his desk so she could face
him, "about last night . . ."
        "Lois, I--"
        "No, Clark. Let me go first. I really need to say this to you."
        Knowing that there was nothing anyone, not even Superman --
especially not Superman -- could do when Lois wanted to be heard,
Clark just nodded, and she continued in a quiet voice.
        "All morning I've been thinking about last night, Clark, and
. . . and I'm sorry. I was really insensitive and . . . well, I
shouldn't have been. I know how much you want a family, and how hard
it must be for you considering our . . . situation. And knowing you,
the hardest part is probably that you think that you're somehow
robbing me of something by being with me . . . something that I
didn't even think I wanted until I met you. I just want you to know
that, no matter what you may think, just being with you has given me
more than I ever imagined I could have. Clark, I never thought I
could love anyone as much as I love you . . . never thought anyone
could love me as much as you do. And I won't let anything, or anyone,
ever take that away from me. Do you hear me, Clark Kent?" Lois's
serious tone began to wane as a smile crept onto her face. "You are
stuck with me for the rest of your life whether you like it or not!"
        And that was that. Once again, Lois had stopped him before he
could do the most idiotic thing he could ever have imagined doing.
Only once, just after Lois's supposed abduction by aliens
orchestrated by Bob Fences, did Clark catch her off guard by breaking
up with her for "her own good". That hadn't lasted, however. From
then on, Lois's 'radar' seemed to also be able to detect whenever he
was getting noble on her, and she would squelch his worries about how
being with him was unfair to her even before he knew he was having
them. Knowing this, all Clark could do was chuckle.
        "What's so funny, Mister? You shouldn't be laughing. *The*
Lois Lane -- better known as Mad Dog -- just apologized to you, Clark
Kent. This is a momentous event. You shouldn't be laughing. You
should be on your knees, kissing my feet, and thanking me for my
selfless act of kindness."
        Clark's grin widened. Without a word, he got down on his
knees, gently took her left foot that dangled about four inches above
the floor, and removed her plain black pump. With the whole newsroom
watching, having noticed Clark's strange actions, he leaned forward
and gently touched his lips to the top of Lois's nylon-clad foot.
Before Lois could catch her breath, he looked up into her wide eyes
and declared with absolute sincerity, "Thank you, Lois."
        Not really knowing what was going on, as usual, but being
absolutely enthralled by Clark's performance, the entire newsroom
erupted into a thunderous ovation.
        Still entranced by Clark's strange yet wholehearted
expression of gratitude, Lois didn't even noticed the commotion that
had suddenly spread through the newsroom, and was almost oblivious
even to Perry White when he emerged from his office in a huff.
        "What in Sam Hill is going on out here?! Why aren't you all
working on your assignments? This is a newspaper, people, not a
Broadway performance! Now get to work!"
        At the sound of the Chief's voice Clark quickly rose to his
feet and Lois hopped off his desk, both feigning innocence, yet
barely noticing their boss's presence in light of each other's. As
soon as the occupants of the newsroom seemed to be returning to their
respective tasks, and the Chief had safely retreated to his office,
Lois grabbed the lapels of Clark's jacket and kissed him hard on the
lips. Before Clark had a chance to register this turn of events, and
make his contribution, his wife broke off the kiss and winked at him.
        "Mr. Kent, for that little display just now, you're going to
get a *very* special treat as soon as we get home!" With that, Lois
strode back to her desk and sat down to work, only briefly glancing
back at her grinning husband to give him a seductive smile and a wink.
        Clark returned his focus to the write-up of this morning's
accident with grin on his face.

        Throughout the whole exhibition, there was one person in the
back of the newsroom who wasn't cheering. One person who found the
whole display utterly revolting. These recent events weren't going to
help his plan. It wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it was.
But before he could start devising the necessary alterations to his
schemes, someone shouted "Copyboy!" from deep within the newly
resumed bustle of the newsroom.

*       *       *

        Clark hit the 'return' key on his keyboard sending his latest
piece to his boss's office.
        After Perry had reappeared from his office to instruct Lois
and Clark that their next assignment was to cover Jaxon Xavier's
escape, Clark had finally been able to finish and polish up the
accident story.
        Now he could focus his attention on locating his partner who,
as expected, was still seated at her desk, examining the contents of
one of the file folders piled on top of it. Clark pushed himself to
his feet, approached his wife, and leaned on the front portion of the
chest-height partition that surrounded the front and left sides of
her desk. "What are you working on?"
        "Huh?" Deep in thought, Lois was startled by her husband's
voice. "Oh, I'm just doing a background check on the nurse that was
in the room when Jaxon escaped. I thought there might be a connection
there, but there doesn't seem to be, at least not that I can see."
        "Maybe we should be checking the computer for connections . .
. it might have been sent by an accomplice, or programmed to short
out when the nurse pressed a certain key."
        "Here you go, partner." Lois pulled a file from the pile on
her desk and handed it to Clark. "This is a list of all the companies
and stores that provide the Asylum with their computers and all the
other electronic equipment they have there."
        Clark held up the folder and smiled. "Always one step ahead of me."
        "I know," Lois smiled back. "Someone has to be."
        Clark's smile faded slightly as he allowed himself to get
lost in Lois's gaze for moment. Finally, he forced himself to notice
the other files stacked on his wife's desk. "What are all these?"
        "Information about, guards, prisoners, nurses, doctors, and
anyone else at the asylum who might have connections to Jaxon, or to
computers in general."
        "I see you've had a busy morning."
        "Actually, Ted got these for me. He's been very helpful around
here."
        Clark grinned. "He must have had a good teacher."
        "Which means his teacher's teacher must have been even
better." Lois winked. "And being the great teacher that I am, I
instruct you to get to work." She handed him a small stack of files
>from those on her desk. "See what you can find in these."
        "Yes, Ma'am."

*       *       *

Continued in Part 4
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:27 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 4 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 4 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        "Ah ha!"
        "What?" Lois looked up from her file to see what Clark was
exclaiming over.
        After dividing up the files, they had relocated to the
conference room where there was more desk space to spread out their
information. After an hour of perusing the files, and ruminating on
the various ideas they had bounced off each other, Clark pointed to a
sheet of paper from the file he was looking at. "You know that little
computer store downtown, the one that supplied some of the computers
at the asylum, including the one that Jaxon used to breach the
security system?"
        "Helen's Computer Depot? It supplies computers to a lot of
schools, corporate businesses, and some other large institutions."
        "That's the one. Anyway, the owner, Helen Carter, went to Metropolis
University."
        "Yeah . . . so did I."
        "She went at the same time she'd been dating Lex Luthor."
        "So . . ."
        "So . . . she dropped out before she was finished. Do you know why?"
        "Clark, I'm not the one with x-ray vision . . ." Lois eyed
the file under Clark's hands.
        "Sorry. She dropped out after her freshman year when she
found out she was pregnant. I guess she didn't have the means to
support herself through college and raise a child at the same time."
        "And this is important how exactly?"
        "Her child is the same age as Jaxon . . . *exactly* the same age."
        "It could be a coincidence."
        "It could, but this article," Clark gestured to a piece of
newsprint in the file in front of him, "is from an edition of the
campus newspaper printed while she was there." Clark held up the
article for Lois to read the headline and raised his eyebrows.
        "'The Hottest Couple on Campus'. Obviously this was before I
got there to teach them what *real* news is."
        Clark turned the article around to read an excerpt, "'. . .
and the handsome, young, millionaire, Lex Luthor, has found interest
in a striking freshman from right here at Met. U. by the name of'--"
        "Helen Carter," Lois finished for him.
        "Uh huh. You know what they say about too many coincidences . . ."
        "It means it's not a coincidence."
        "Exactly. It says here," Clark gestured to another sheet of
paper in front of him, "that her son, Jack Carter, died of SIDS when
he was three months old. The official birth certificate listed the
father as John Smith."
        "Ha!" Lois snorted in disbelief. "She might as well have
listed him as John F. Kennedy! It'd be more believable!"
        "Apparently, she was so broken up about her son's death that
she moved to Switzerland to live a life of luxurious seclusion. This
was around the same time that she ran into a rather substantial
inheritance. None of her friends or family heard from her again until
she came back to Metropolis five years ago and set up her computer
business. That was also around the same time that Jaxon Xavier turned
up at Lex Labs, working on a new computer program for Luthor. He was
fired shortly after for 'reasons unspecified' and opened up his
Virtual Reality Center, which, by the way, purchased it's computer
equipment from Helen's Computer Depot."
        "This whole story reeks of Lex to me."
        "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
        "That Lex had a little too good of a time at one of those
wild college parties and got his girlfriend pregnant. Then, being the
irresponsible creep that he was, he paid her off to say that the
child was someone else's. After all, he couldn't bear having his
image tainted. Of course, paying her off was probably his last resort
after trying to force her to abort the child. Then, I imagine that,
if she knew Lex at all, Ms. Carter decided it would be safer to raise
her child as far away from him as she could. So she faked her child's
death and moved to Switzerland. And when she came back to Metropolis,
she set up her little computer business, and shortly after that, a
little business for her son. Is that what you're thinking?"
        Clark nodded.
        "Then I guess I am thinking what you're thinking," Lois assented.
        "Unfortunately, all these coincidences mean nothing unless we
find concrete proof."
        "And if there is any, we'll find it."
        "I don't know about you, Lois, but I just got the sudden urge
to go computer shopping. Maybe we should pay a visit to Helen's
Computer Depot?"
        Lois rose from her seat at the table. "Sounds like a plan to me."

*       *       *

        "May I help you, Ma'am?" a young man asked Lois as she
browsed the 'Entertainment Software' aisle of Helen's Computer Depot.
        "Actually, yes. My husband's birthday is coming up and, well
. . . he's just a little kid at heart and he loves to play video
games. There was one in particular that he wanted, but I can't
remember the name of it now . . ." Lois let her voice trail off as
she placed a finger to her chin and tried with all her might to look
like she was struggling to remember something. "Doom-something was
the name of it, I think."
        Meanwhile, Clark was roaming the 'Educational Software'
section. Finally coming to a stop at the end of the aisle, he picked
up a box containing the latest CD-ROM version of 'Jeopardy!' and held
up. Looking very much like he was inspecting the description written
on the back of the package, Clark lowered his glasses slightly,
looked through the box, and focused his vision behind a door marked
'Employees Only'.
        Meanwhile, Lois continued to distract the employee.
        "What kind of computer do you have, Ma'am?"
        "It's an IBM, I think. I don't know. It's got this little
rainbow-like symbol on it that looks kind of like an apple with a
bite out of it."
        "Then it's probably an Apple."
        "No, it starts with an 'M' . . . .MacDonald . . . MacIntyre . . . "
        "Macintosh?"
        "That's it!"
        "Well, then we'll have to look over here."
        While the patient employee led her down the aisle to where
the Macintosh games were located, Lois snuck a glance at her husband
two rows over and whispered, "Find anything yet?"
        Clark pushed his glasses back into place, turned to his wife,
shook his head and shrugged. Placing the box back in its spot on the
shelf, Clark turned and began moving towards the exit.
        "Damn!"
        "What was that?" The employee turned back to Lois.
        "Um . . . uh . . . ham! I just remembered that I was supposed
to get ham at the supermarket but I forget. I'd better get there
before it closes!" Lois spun on her heels and bolted for the door.
        "But the supermarket . . ."
        Lois's figure disappeared out the door.
        ". . . doesn't close for another two hours." The employee
shook his head and went to wait on another customer.

*       *       *

        Lois exited the store only seconds after her husband and
found him waiting for her just outside.
        "'A little kid at heart?' And I 'love video games?'"
        "Well, you're definitely still a kid at heart, Boy Scout. And
I'm sure I've seen you playing games on your computer when you were
supposed to be working on your copy. I just embellished the truth a
little."
        Clark gave her a disbelieving look.
        "Okay then, next time you can provide the cover while I x-ray
the office."
        Clark chuckled, put his arm around his wife and gave her
shoulder a gentle squeeze.
        Lois finally gave up on her serious face and allowed herself
a snicker. "So you didn't find anything at all?"
        "Nope. I x-rayed every square inch of her office, but there
was nothing that could incriminate Helen Carter in Jaxon's escape,
and even less that could connect her to Lex Luthor." Clark touched
the small of his wife's back guiding her towards the Jeep. "You know,
Lois, it always amazes me how well you do that airhead bit . . . "
        "Watch it, Buster!" Lois warned.
        "Hey, it was a compliment. It must be really hard for a
genius, such as yourself, to pretend to be such a ditz."
         "Well, if I really was a genius, I'd know where to find some
concrete evidence to connect Ms. Carter to either Lex or Jaxon. There
had to be something in that office that we could use."
        "I did get her home address. Did you know she sublets an
apartment across the street from us?"
        Lois stopped in front of her Jeep and turned to Clark with a
mischievous glint in her eye. "Was she in her office when you x-rayed
it?"
        "Yeah . . . " Clark was speculative of the look on his partner's
face.
        "Did she look busy . . . like she was going to be there for a
while?"
        "Yes . . . wait a minute, Lois." Clark eyed her suspiciously
while she turned away from him, walked around the Jeep, and got into
the driver's seat. Warily, Clark opened the passenger side door and
got in with her. "Lois, just what, exactly, do you have in mind here?"
        She just turned and smiled at him after she stuck the key in
the ignition and turned it on. But Clark didn't need an answer.
        "Lois, we are not going to break into this woman's house just
for a story, even if we do think she's Jaxon's mother."
        "It's not like we've never done it before." Lois pulled away
>from the curb and merged with the late afternoon rush hour traffic.
        "Lois."
        "And we wouldn't get caught, not with Superman on the lookout."
        "Lo-is."
        "I know, I know. It's a bad idea. But you can't blame a girl
for trying. Besides, I have other ideas about what we can do with our
time this evening."
        Clark quirked an eyebrow at the hint of suggestion in her
voice and smiled as he relaxed into his seat. "Just don't forget to
pick up the ham on the way home."

*       *       *

        The skyscrapers cast long shadows over Metropolis, warning
the city of the evening's approaching darkness. The same shadows also
provided cover for a young man in a long, black trench coat as he
scurried down the street, periodically checking over his shoulder.
        He sported a Metros' baseball cap with the peak pulled low to
shield his face from the passing public. When he spotted the female
half of a particular reporting team, he froze in his tracks and
hurriedly took refuge behind a newsstand. She was exiting Helen's
Computer Depot -- his destination -- to meet her male companion
waiting by the door. He watched them walk down the street and load
into a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee. He breathed a sigh of relief when
the vehicle pulled away from the curb and disappeared into a line of
traffic.
        Pushing through the front door to Helen's Computer Depot, the
man's eyes lit up at the sight of the single story electronics store
laden with the latest in computer technology. There were shelves upon
shelves of various computer paraphernalia. Everything from the
machines themselves, to cartoon-themed mouse pads, multicolored
printer paper, and geometrically-designed storage containers for
floppy disks and CD's. In the far right corner, a twenty-seven inch
television was mounted to the ceiling displaying the twenty-four hour
news coverage of LNN. Below the TV, and immediately to the left, was
an door marked "Employees Only". The man browsed the room, attempting
to look inconspicuous while he waited for the employee on duty to
either exit the room, or become occupied by another customer.
        He became anxious as the seconds ticked by, stretching into
minutes before another customer finally came in.  When the man was
sure that the employees was immersed in showing the customer the
latest edition of the Pentium processor, he headed straight for the
door marked "Employees Only".
        "Excuse me, Sir." A thin, young man in a business suit
emerged from the stock room and blocked his entrance to the door.
"You can't go in there."
        "Uh . . ." the man was tempted to chew him out for his
obvious ignorance, but thought better of creating a scene. "I'm
sorry, Sir. I'm looking for Helen Carter. I thought she'd be in
there."
        "Oh. Is she expecting you?"
        "Well . . . no. But I'm sure she'd like to see me. Could you
get her for me, please?"
        The employee began eying the man speculatively. "Do I know you?"
        "No, I don't think so. I . . ." his words trailed off as he
followed the other man's attention which had been diverted to the
television overhead.
        Jaxon Xavier's face appeared in a box in the corner of the
screen as the anchorman spoke stoically, ". . . as of this hour, the
escaped inmate remains at large. The Metropolis Police Department has
asked this station to advise viewers to be on the lookout for this
man. If you have any information concerning his whereabouts, please
notify the authorities immediately. Do not approach him if . . ."
        The employee looked at the man and then back at the face in
the upper right corner of the monitor. Before he had a chance to
consider his options, the man turned and bolted out the front door,
and back into the alley from which he had come.

*       *       *

        The evening's twilight was barely noticeable above the glow
of the world's largest city as Lois and Clark made their way, hand in
hand, up the front steps to the entrance of their brownstone.
        "Well, this has been one of the most emotionally demanding
twenty four hours I've ever had." Clark smiled ruefully at his wife
as the pair entered their house and began shedding their coats.
        "Well, don't plan on having any more emotionally demanding
days for a long time, okay?"
        "Don't worry, I won't!"
        "However . . . " Lois let her voice trail off and grinned
wickedly at her husband. Facing him, she placed a hand on each of his
shoulders and began to gently knead his deltoid muscles.
        Clark leaned closer, his warm breath caressing her lips, and
whispered, "However?"
        Lois answered him with her lips on his, but broke off the
kiss before it could escalate and continued in a low voice, "However,
I don't think you should rule out physically demanding."
        Clark pushed off his wife's brown jacket and, once again, his
mouth met hers, this time hungrily.
        Clark enveloped Lois in his arms as she moved her own arms to
encircle his neck, each trying to pull the other closer. As their
tongues thrust in and out and swept around each other's mouths, Lois
ran a hand through her husband's thick black hair while the other
remained wrapped around his neck.
        Clark's hands roamed over Lois's back, longing to feel the
silkiness of her skin, rather than that of her blouse. His hands soon
slid their way down her back, under the waist of her skirt, until he
could feel the small bump of her tail bone. Lois shivered as Clark's
touch grazed the sensitive area sending a wave of pleasure coursing
through her body. He then drew his palms across her waist, up her
sides, and toward the front of her torso where the buttons of her
blouse were located. As Clark fumbled with the top buttons, Lois slid
her hands under Clark's blazer and attempted to push it from his
shoulders. Clark dragged his eager hands from their task to allow the
jacket to fall to the floor. Immediately, Lois began tugging at
Clark's tie and soon it joined his blazer in a heap by their feet.
Clark moved his lips down to her chin and began to blaze a trail of
open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, eventually making his way to her
neck. Lois tilted her head to give him better access and moaned with
barely suppressed desire.
        "Mmm . . . Clark. I'd pick this over breaking and entering any day."
        Clark grunted his agreement as his lips moved back up their
original path until they returned to hers, mercilessly. Again, Clark
reached for the buttons near the collar of Lois's blouse and had
opened the first three before he suddenly stopped and reluctantly
drew his lips from hers.
        "What is it?" Lois asked, slightly dazed and disheveled.
        Apparently not hearing his wife's question, Clark continued
to superhear the police bulletin that had caught his attention.
        Knowing Clark would answer her when he was finished
listening, Lois didn't prod.
        A moment later, Clark's focus returned to the woman in front
of him and he regretfully began to explain. "It's Jaxon. He was
spotted in Helen's Computer Depot downtown a few minutes ago. I'd
better--"
        Lois cut him off by landing a short, but thorough, kiss on
his lips. "Go, Clark. But be careful."
        "Don't worry, Honey."
        Before Lois could tell him to hurry back, a gust of wind
swept through the living room, rustling various light-weight objects,
including Lois's hair and partially-opened blouse.
        Feeling utterly disappointed at her husband's need for
departure, yet excited at the prospect of having one less crazed
lunatic to worry about, Lois straightened her clothing, smoothed her
hair, and headed back toward the door to return to Helen's Computer
Depot. She couldn't wait to fit this into her and Clark's story.
However, she barely had her hand on the doorknob when the phone
interrupted her exit. She contemplated letting the answering machine
take the call before she finally decided to get it. She mumbled a few
obscenities about being subject to Clark's unerring conscience and
its effect on her as she grabbed the receiver.
        "Hello!"
        "Hi Lois! It's Ted. Is Clark there?" the voice spoke from the
other end of the line.
        "No, Ted, I'm sorry. He just stepped out. Would you like me
to leave him a message?"
        "No, that's okay, Lois. I'll try again later. Thanks! I'll
see you tomorrow."
        "Bye, Ted."
        For some reason, a sliver of apprehension had begun to embed
itself in Lois as she replaced the phone in its cradle. She
immediately shook the feeling off and started heading back toward the
door again. This time she had almost made her way though the
vestibule before she paused, looked down, and took in her apparel.
Realizing her capacity for frequently finding herself in the jaws of
death, she decided that her short sleeved blouse, tight knee-length
skirt and black pumps were not suitable attire for fighting bad guys
and went upstairs to find something a little more appropriate for the
occasion.
        As Lois descended the stairs after changing into a pair of
slacks, a mini T-shirt and sneakers, the doorbell rang.
        "Ugh! I'll never get out of here!" she grumbled to herself.
        When she peered through the peep-hole and found Ted Rickman
on the other side, the uneasy feeling came flooding back to her. Not
having any logical reason to substantiate feeling this unsettled,
Lois ignored her instinct and opened the door.
        "Hi Lo--"
        "Hi Ted! I was just on my way out. What can I do for you? Can
it wait until tomorrow?" Lois was doing her best to be polite
considering she was anxious to get Ted on his way and out of her hair.
        "Actually, I was just wondering if I could borrow some sugar."
        "Sugar?" Lois was surprised at this and took a beat to digest
it. She thought people only borrowed sugar from their neighbors in
those family sitcoms on television.
        "Yeah. I had just started whipping up some batter to bake a
cake when I realized that I didn't have enough sugar and you know how
frustrating that can be."
        "Yeah, sure." Lois smiled to herself knowing full well that
she couldn't remember the last time she had actually attempted to
bake a cake, if ever. But, being in a hurry to get downtown, she
didn't feel the urge to share this information with Ted. "Let me go
see if I can find some. I didn't realize that you bake," Lois stated
as she led the way to the kitchen.
        "Oh, yes! Please don't tell anyone though. If the guys at the
office found out I'd never hear the end of it."
        "Okay," Lois chuckled. "My lips are sealed."
        Lois entered the kitchen with Ted close on her heels and
moved over to the cupboard where the sugar was kept. With her back to
her guest, she opened the cupboard and reached up toward the sack of
sugar sitting on the second shelf. As her hands reached their
destination she felt something cold and sharp press against the front
of her neck. She froze as she immediately recognized the familiar
sensation. It wasn't the first time she'd been held at knife-point.

*       *       *

Continued in Part 5
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:37 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 5 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 5 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        With a whoosh, Superman landed in front of Helen's Computer
Depot in downtown Metropolis. He entered the store and immediately
strode over to a nearby police officer who was questioning one of the
employees.
        "Which way did he go?" Clark interrupted in his patented
Superman voice.
        "The employee who recognized him said he ran out the door and
turned right. And a few other witnesses said they saw someone running
in the general direction of Hob's Bay."
        "Thanks, officer." Superman launched into the air toward Hob's Bay.
        He soared over the all too familiar section of the city,
x-raying every decrepit building and alley. He even looked
underground in the abandoned subway tunnels that hadn't caved in
during the various encounters he'd had there with other members of
the Luthor family. Surprisingly, it took barely five minutes of
searching before he spotted a familiar figure negotiating a corner at
an all-out sprint in one of the alleyways below. He hesitated as he
was about to swoop down to intercept Jaxon. An odd sensation began to
nag at his consciousness. Deep in the pit of his stomach he could
feel that something wasn't right. It had almost been too easy to find
Jaxon. He quickly scanned the immediate area but didn't detect any
danger so he shrugged it off and dove into the alley below.

*       *       *

        "If you so much as breathe the name Superman . . . well,
you're a brilliant woman, I'm sure you get the picture."
        Lois shuddered at the mixture of sarcasm and iciness in Ted's
voice. Unfortunately, the subtle movement caused Ted to increase the
pressure he used to press the edge of his weapon to Lois's neck. One
of Ted's arms gripped Lois's waist, while the other held the knife to
her throat. Lois could feel that the blade was very close to breaking
her skin and squeezed her eyes shut, willing her husband to hear her
silent cry for help.
        "Oh, Lois, don't be frightened. I'm not going to hurt you.
That's not part of the plan."
        "Plan?" Lois choked out.
        "Tsk tsk.  I can't tell you, Lois.  Then it wouldn't be any fun."
         Lois's voice threatened to crack, but she kept it steady as
she spoke her next words. "Well . . . if you're not going to hurt me,
then why have you got a knife to my throat? Don't you think you're
contradicting yourself here?"
        "Oh, Lois. Don't you understand? This is the only way. I'm
not blind, I've seen you and your husband together, and I just didn't
think you'd submit willingly."
        Though Lois was ravaged with terror, and she was pretty sure
she knew what the answer would be, she forced her lips to form the
question. "Su- . . . submit to what?"

*       *       *

        Jaxon's lungs burned as he approach the corner of the alley
between Seventh and Lincoln, but he knew he had to get away quickly.
The Big Blue Boy Scout was bound to be after him by now. He stole a
backward glance as he rounded the corner but was knocked out cold
when he collided, head-on, with the Man of Steel.
        Clark bent down and scooped up Jaxon's unconscious body, a
little smug at how easy it had been to catch him, and took off toward
the closest police precinct.

*       *       *

        "Now listen, Lois." Ted's grip on Lois didn't flinch as he
spoke. "You can make this easy on yourself and do as I tell you, or
you can put up a fight and make it very painful. It's your choice."
Ted slowly released his hold on her waist, but kept the knife firm on
her neck. "Turn around, slowly."
        Lois began to turn giving the appearance of compliance, but
suddenly grabbed Ted's knife-wielding hand. Unfortunately, she had
underestimated Ted's quickness and, before she could twist his arm
into hyperextension and knee him in the groin, he had backhanded her
across the face with enough force to knock her to the kitchen floor.
        Lois supported herself with one elbow and, partially out of
shock from Ted's agile, yet powerful, movement, and partially because
of the pain that now radiated down the left side of her face, she
touched her cheek. She was surprised that she didn't find any traces
of blood when she pulled her hand back, but could tell from the
resonating numbness that she would definitely have a shiner. This guy
was obviously stronger than he looked. Either that, or well-trained
in hand to hand combat.
        "Get up, Lois!"
        Lois's head shot up toward her captor when his icy voice
interrupted her thought. She tentatively slid herself along the floor
to the nearby counter and, using it more for emotional than physical
support, lifted herself into a standing position. Lois's lips were
pursed tightly but her mind screamed, "Clark, I need you!"
        Keeping the blade directed at her, Ted took two steps toward her.
        "Now, take your shirt off," Ted ordered.
        "I don't think so! I'm a --" Lois cut her protests off
abruptly when Ted took a relentless grip of Lois's right wrist with
his empty hand and lifted his weapon in a threatening manner.
        "I don't think you're in any position to argue here, Lois.
Now do as I say!" Ted dropped her hand and took half of a step back
to watch.
        Lois tried to swallow but her esophagus refused to comply.
She could see the menace lurking in Ted's eyes and knew that her
customary verbal barb wasn't going to help her out of this situation
any better than her physical prowess had. Not in one piece, at least.
But she wasn't sure she could live with herself if she didn't try.
        She closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy on Clark. She
knew he would rescue her. He had to. It was the only way she could
think of surviving her current predicament. In a whisper so quiet
that Ted couldn't even detect from mere inches away, Lois declared,
"I love you, Clark," and aimed a swift kick at Ted's knife-wielding
hand.

*       *       *

        Superman was still battling the sinking feeling in his gut
when he landed at the main entrance to M.P.D.'s west precinct and
deposited the now-conscious Jaxon Xavier into the custody of a police
officer. Anxious to get home to Lois, and see to her safety, Clark
turned to leave.
        "Superman! Wait!"
        Clark briefly considered pretending not to hear the
detective's call, but his conscience got the better of him and he
turned back.
        "Superman, I'm Detective Williamson. May I ask you a few
questions about your encounter with Jaxon Xavier before you go."
        "Uh . . ." Clark couldn't come up with a substantial reason
to refuse the detective. "Sure, officer."

*       *       *

        Ted deftly caught Lois's ankle and jerked it up, causing her
to tumble backwards, hitting her head solidly on the counter on the
way down.
        "When will you ever learn, Lois? You aren't going to outwit
me. You might as well just lie back and enjoy yourself. It'll be much
less painful for you that way."
        Lois struggled to sit up and rubbed the back of her head
wearily as her vision began to swim. "I'll . . . never . . . never
let you . . ." Lois lost her battle with the enveloping darkness
before she could finish her declaration.
        "Yes, you will, Lois.  Yes, you will." Ted quickly went to
work on shredding Lois's clothes.  He slashed the buttons from her
blouse, and eagerly spread it open.  Using his blade to outline the
lattice trim of Lois's brassiere as he admired her stark beauty.
"Nice . . . very nice."

*       *       *

        Relieved that Detective Williamson hadn't kept him more than
ten minutes at the police station, Clark soared over Metropolis,
eager to reach his Hyperion Avenue home. He was about to alight in an
alley two blocks from his house when the fire of gunshots distracted
him. He groaned in frustration before reluctantly taking off in the
direction of the sound. He was anxious to see to his wife's
well-being, but couldn't bring himself to ignore the urgent call of
the gunfire.

*       *       *

        Lois wasn't sure where she was. She was engulfed by a fog so
thick it nearly cut off her air supply. She couldn't breathe, and the
more she tried the harder it became. She was searching, hoping,
praying for a refuge from the mire she was in. As she searched
desperately for the light of day, she thought she heard someone
groan, and struggled to locate the source of the noise.
        "Oh, Lois . . ."
        There it was again. It was a man, and it almost sounded to
her as if he was in pain. Maybe it was Clark. She had to help him;
she had to get out of this fog and see if Clark was all right.
        "Lois," she heard the voice moan again, louder this time as
the fog began to lift.
        Reality came flooding back mercilessly as she felt the cold
linoleum against her back. She heard someone panting against her neck
and instantly knew that it wasn't Clark above her. She felt hot flesh
pressing against her in places that, since she'd been married, only
Clark had touched.
        Her eyes shot open and met the clouded, dark eyes of Ted
Rickman. In that second, the events of the evening came flooding back
to her. She was about to make a move to escape, but the numbing pain
that shot from wrists up to her shoulders kept her from moving.  Her
arms had been tied behind her back and were trapped beneath their
combined weight.
        She noticed that Ted, though looking directly at her, was too
engrossed to realize that she had awakened. She covertly glanced
around, noting they were still in the kitchen. She saw Ted's
abandoned weapon on the counter began calculating how long it would
take for him to reach it once he finally realized she was awake.
        Considering that her hands were tied behind her back, and
that Ted Rickman had the advantage of being on top, she didn't think
she'd be successful in putting up a physical resistance.
        What if she called for Clark? Maybe, just maybe, he'd be in
the vicinity, and would come to her rescue before her captor could
find his weapon.  Before she could deliberate further on the matter,
Ted realized she had regained consciousness.
        "Ah, Lois. I'm glad you seem to have decided to join the land
of the living.  However, I can assure you that it won't be for long."
        Lois saw the coldness in Ted's gaze and knew, without a
doubt, that he had every intention of making sure that she didn't
survive to make him pay for what he'd done to her.
        Ted noticed her eye the knife on the counter. "Tsk, tsk,
Lois. Don't you be getting any ideas, now. You know it's no use.
You'd only make things more painful for yourself."
        Lois knew that she had to make her move now, before Ted had
the blade back in his possession. She closed her eyes and began to
focus all of her inner strength on the only person she could think to
get her out of this, the only person she'd ever let herself depend on
for help.
        Willing him to hear her plea, "Help, Superman!" she screamed
desperately.

*       *       *

        After breaking up a gang shootout in Suicide Slum, Clark
landed in an alley near his Hyperion home. Being careful not to be
seen, he spun into his street clothes. As he emerged from the alley,
approached the front steps and dug into the pocket of his blazer for
his house keys, his earlier uneasiness came rushing back in full
force.
        Then he heard the scream.
        Without a second thought, Clark sped through the vestibule,
grabbed the handle and ripped the front door from its hinges. He was
at the source of the scream in less than a second, but found himself
frozen again by what he saw.
        Ted Rickman's head snapped up when Clark burst into the
kitchen. The young intern was straddled over Lois's near-naked body.
He hurriedly zipped up the fly to his jeans, rose to his feet, and
grabbed the knife from the counter as Clark approached him.
        Tears of relief began to streak down Lois's cheeks when she
saw that Clark had arrived.
        But, when Clark's glance met her eyes, he saw a fear like
none he had ever seen before. In that instant, all the blood in
Clark's body rushed to his head and, before he knew what he was
doing, he had evaded Ted Rickman's attack, single-handedly hoisted
him by the neck, and slammed him against the wall.
        Seconds ticked by and Clark didn't notice the clink of the
knife hitting the floor upon dropping out of Ted's listless hand. He
was oblivious to the light shade of blue that was coloring his
captive's face. He barely even heard his wife's pleas.
        "Clark! Stop! You're killing him!"
        Lois could scarcely recognize the face of her own husband as
he choked the life out of her assailer. Although she had to admit
that she wouldn't mind seeing Ted Rickman dead, she knew she didn't
want her husband to be his murderer. She was sure that Clark would
never forgive himself for violating the very thing that he stood for,
life.
        "Clark, please!" Lois pleaded earnestly. "I hate the guy as
much as you do . . . more, actually . . . but you don't want to do
this!"
        As Lois's words registered in his mind, Clark's firm grip of
Ted's throat gradually relented enough to allow Ted to gasp for
breath. He glanced at the knife on the floor, and let go of Ted
completely when he bent to retrieve it.
        Ted slumped to the floor, still struggling to regain his breath.
        Clark knelt beside Lois, who had managed to recover a sitting
position, and quickly cut through the ropes binding her arms behind
her back. He didn't say a word.
        Lois was relieved to have her arms free, and began flexing
them in an attempt to get the circulation going. Before she could rid
the numbing sensations from her arms, Clark had gathered her clothes
and was knelt beside her, helping her to dress the best he could with
what remained of her clothing.
        She could tell by Clark's rigid movements that he was just
barely containing the ire simmering inside him. He had a very slim
hold on his self control and Lois was loathe to test it.
        Clark replaced the weapon on the counter and turned back to
Ted, hauling him up by the arm, heedless to Ted's moan of pain when
he nearly wrenched Ted's arm from its socket.
        When Clark finally spoke, his glare remained fixed on Ted and
his voice held the rage that was etched on his face.
        "Call the police, Lois."
        As Lois scrambled to her feet, afraid that her husband might
not hold his restraint much longer, she was momentarily stalled by
wave of dizziness that accompanied a searing pain in the back of her
skull.  When the disorientation passed, she hurried to grab the
cordless phone from the counter and dial 911.

*       *       *

        A heavy sigh escaped Clark's lips as he sat, restless, in
Metro General's waiting room.
        While the police had been questioning Clark, Lois had been
supplied with ice packs for the back of her head and left cheek and,
not undeterred by the investigating officer's urging to take her
time, had also answered her share of questions. Soon Lois had been
ushered to a waiting ambulance where Clark sat silently beside her,
holding her hand during the ride to the hospital.
        Clark had been reluctant to leave her side once they reached
the hospital, but Lois had reassured him that she'd be fine on her
own while the doctor examined her.
        Now, Clark slumped back into the seat as he reflected on the
millions of questions that the police had just bombarded him with,
particularly the one about explaining how one of the double doors
inside the vestibule had been ripped off its hinges. "It's amazing
what adrenalin can do to a person," he had told them.
        His responses to their questions, however, were the least of
his worries. How was he ever going to live with himself? Lois had
been raped, and he had been unable to rescue her. He wasn't sure that
he could ever face her again. But, despite the overwhelming magnitude
of his failure, he knew he couldn't bear to be anywhere but by her
side.
        "Mr. Kent?"
        Lost in self-condemnation, Clark was heedless to the nurse's
voice calling to him.
        How could he have let it happen? He'd known something had
been terribly wrong, but he'd ignored his instincts in pursuit of
Jaxon Xavier.  Sure, he'd had a personal vendetta to settle with
Jaxon, but the last thing he had ever wanted to do was to settle it
at Lois's expense.  How could she ever forgive him?
        "Mr. Kent?!"
        The nurse's voice finally startled Clark from his thoughts. "Yes?"
        "The doctor is finished examining your wife.  Would you like
to see her now?"
        "Oh," Clark realized that the nurse must have been standing
before him for a few minutes now. "Yes.  I'm sorry.  I was a little
preoccupied."
        "That's okay, Mr. Kent. Considering the circumstances, that's
perfectly understandable."
        Clark managed a small smile for the sincere nurse before
lifted himself from the chair and followed the nurse down the hall.
        "She's right in there, Mr. Kent." The nurse pointed to a door
to Clark's right. "Go on in," she said politely before slipping way,
sensing the couple's need for privacy.
        He approached Lois's door cautiously, almost afraid of what
he'd find on the other side. The door was ajar, and he knocked
lightly. When there was no answer, he poked his head in. His heart
skipped a beat at the sight of his wife sound asleep. He carefully
pushed the door open and approached her bed.  His heart nearly
stopped at what he saw there.
        Lois's beautiful face was marred by an ugly bruise on her
left cheek. She looked dreadfully pale, and her expression was
contorted in anguish. Clark's heart sank when he thought to himself,
once again, that he could have -- *should* have -- prevented all the
pain Lois had suffered in the past few hours. How could he have been
so ignorant?
        He nearly lost his resolve to face her as he took in her
weary pallor. However, as he was about to turn to leave, Lois stirred
and her eyes fluttered open.
        "Clark?" Lois asked groggily.
        "Yes, Honey? I'm here."
        Lois blinked as her cloudy mind began to clear. "Hi."
        "Hi." Clark wasn't sure what else to say.
        "Sit down." Lois patted the bed beside her as she dragged
herself into a sitting position.
        Clark perched himself on the bed beside her, keeping a
careful distance for fear of crowding her. "So, what'd the doctor
say?"
        "She said, other than a few bumps and bruises, I'm basically
okay. I've got a mild concussion so she wants to keep an eye on it
overnight, just in case."
        "Oh . . ." Clark's mind tried furiously to think of the right
thing to say. He desperately wanted to take her in his arms and hold
onto her for dear life, but after what had happened that night, he
didn't think Lois would want him to touch her. Besides, he'd just
failed her in the worst possible way. Even if she did let him hold
her, he didn't deserve the luxury of her embrace. "Is there anything
I can do for you?"
        "Hmm . . . did you file the story on Jaxon yet?"
        "Huh?" Clark hadn't been expecting that. "No, not yet."
        "I'd really appreciate it if you would. I don't want to have
any catching up to do when I go back to work."
        Clark searched her face and voice carefully, but found no
trace of teasing there. He didn't know what he'd expected, but that
was the last thing he thought she would request.
        "Honey, are you sure that's -"
        "Yes, Clark, I'm sure. You caught him. I don't want another
newspaper scooping us when we've got the inside track on his capture."
        "I . . . okay," Clark didn't think now would be a good time
to argue with his wife.
        "Okay, I'll see you later."
        "Wha - . . . you mean, you want me to write it up now?"
        "Yeah, now, Clark. If you wait any longer, either we'll get
scooped, or Perry will assign it to another reporter. Personally, I
don't think another reporter could do it justice."
        "But, Lois, I . . ." Clark took in the drawn expression on
Lois's face and opted, once again, not to argue. "Alright. I'll be
back as soon as I'm done."
        "Actually, don't bother, Clark. It's late and I'll probably
be asleep. You might as well go home and get a good rest yourself."
        "But, Honey --"
        "I'll be fine, Clark. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? When you
come to pick me up?"
        Clark looked sadly into his wife's eyes and saw something
there he'd thought never to see her direct at him again. Distrust.
        "Clark?" Lois prodded when he didn't immediately answer.
        "Okay," Clark choked. "I'll see you tomorrow." Clark had to
muster all of his strength to hold back the urge to lean over and
kiss her before he got up and left the room.

*       *       *

Continued in Part 6
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:46 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 6 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 6 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        The tears began to flow even before her husband had fully
disappeared out the door. Lois had expected that it might happen, but
nothing prepared her for the brunt of it.
        There was no question that Clark would be disgusted by what
Ted Rickman had done to her, but to see that wary look on his face .
. . . There was no doubt that she repulsed him. She'd seen the horror
the second she'd looked into his eyes, and, faster than she'd ever
thought possible, she began resurrecting the emotional walls her
husband had so patiently torn down.
        It was Clark's facial expression, however, that told the
depth of his distaste. Throughout his entire visit, Clark had not
touched her -- not even once! Usually he was very tactile with her,
touching her shoulder or the small of her back, and taking her hand
in his every chance he could get. In the brief time he'd been in her
hospital room, he hadn't so much as laid a finger on her.
        It wasn't fair! Why did this have to happen to her and Clark
when their life together was just beginning? How would they ever get
through this? How could Clark even look at her again?  How could she
face him? How could she face herself?
        Drawing her knees to her chest, Lois lost herself in a vortex
of self loathing as sobs wracked her body.

*       *       *

        When Lois's eyes cracked open the next morning, the bright
sunshine stabbed into her skull, reminding her exactly where she was
and why she was there. When she turned from the blinding light of the
window, she spotted a vase of red roses on the stand beside her bed.
Curious, she carefully raised herself into a sitting position,
fighting off the wave of dizziness and nausea that assaulted her, and
reached for the card that sat next to the flowers.
        Tears of relief stung her eyes when she read the note. "I
love you," it said simply in the easily recognizable scrawl that was
her husband's.
        Of course he still loved her. He wasn't capable of any other
emotion -- not where she was concerned, at least.
        "What in the world got into me?" Lois reflected on her state
of mind the night before. After all they'd been through, Lois knew
that Clark would never turn her away after something like this. That
wasn't his style.
        "Then why was he so distant last night?" she wondered to herself.
        And then it hit her! He was feeling guilty about what Ted
Rickman had done to her. He'd most likely convinced himself that it
was somehow his fault for not being able to save her from being
raped. That attitude was more characteristic of the Clark she knew.
        Satisfied that she had her husband figured out, Lois returned
to berating herself for almost falling into a trap of self-pity. How
could she have let herself do that? If she allowed herself to fall
victim to the dark emotions last night's tragedy had evoked, then she
would be letting Ted Rickman get the best of her. As far as she was
concerned, there wouldn't be much point in surviving the incident if
she couldn't put it behind her.
        So, she shoved her emotions to the side and focused her
attention on finding a way to convince her husband that Ted Rickman's
actions weren't his fault.  But, before she could get very far, there
was a soft knock at her door.
        "Come in," she answered.
        Dr. Diann Wilson, Lois's physician, pushed the door open and
approached the bed where Lois was sitting. "How are you feeling
today?"
        "Well, my head hurts a bit, but I'm okay other than that."
        "I can't say that I'm surprised. You have a nasty goose egg there."
        Lois stifled a small chuckle, "Yeah, I do."
        "Do you mind if I take a look?"
        "No, go ahead."
        Lois leaned forward to let the doctor inspect the back of her skull.
        Applying gentle pressure, Dr. Wilson carefully palpated the
bump on her patient's head. "Well, it appears that the swelling has
gone down some. I think it's safe to let you go home."
        "That's good, because I told my husband he was going to have
to pick me up today."
        The doctor noticed the roses sitting on the night table. "Are
those from him?" Dr. Wilson gestured to the flowers.
        "Yeah," Lois smiled.
        The doctor smiled in return, and after a brief pause said,
"You're a very lucky woman, you know."
        Lois's gaze turned wistful, "I know."

*       *       *

        Clark arrived at the hospital an hour later, encouraged to
see Lois up and around.
        She met him in the hall as he was on his way to her room.
"Hi, Clark!"  she said brightly, flashing him a smile.
        Clark smiled back reflexively and, before he could dwell on
his wife's transformed demeanor, she pulled him down for a sound kiss
on the lips.
        "How are you?" Lois asked.
        "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Clark was more than a
little confused at Lois's chipper mood.
        Lois laughed as she hooked her arm through his and began
leading him back to her room. "I'm feeling much better, thanks. I
can't wait to get home and get back into the swing of things."
        Clark couldn't help but chuckle, his wife's bubbly
countenance rubbing off on him. "You've been away from work for half
a day, Lois. I hardly think that would qualify you as being 'out of
the swing of things'."
        They arrived at Lois's room where she took the bag of
clothing Clark had brought along and began to get dressed.
        "That's half a day that I could have spent tracking down more
evidence against Helen Carter. I've still got a funny feeling about
her, you know. Oh, and I read your piece on Jaxon's capture in the
paper this morning. It was good. Not perfect, but you still blew the
competition out of the water with you quotes from Superman. Anyhow,
that's not what I was talking about."
        Clark, by now lost on Lois's tangent, couldn't remember what
she was talking about to begin with. "Huh?"
        "When I said I wanted to get back on track, I wasn't talking
about work. I was talking about us." Lois, now fully clothed, was
searching for something in the bag Clark had brought her, "Did you
bring a brush?"
        At Lois's words, Clark's face turned serious again. "Lois,"
Clark started, but a knock at the door halted him from speaking any
further.
        Dr. Wilson entered Lois's room. "Oh, hi, Mr. Kent.  I see you
made it on time. It's a good thing too, because your wife was about
ready to leave without you."
        "Good morning, Dr. Wilson," Clark smiled reluctantly,
disappointed at the interruption.
        "Anyhow, I just wanted to remind Lois that she's to come
straight back here should she experience and further nausea or
dizziness, and that I expect to see her next week for a check-up. You
won't let her forget that, now will you, Mr. Kent?"
        Clark smiled again, this time genuinely as he couldn't help
but be infused with the doctor's cheerfulness, "No, of course not."
        "Alright, guys. That's enough," Lois mocked. "I'm ready to
go, so let's get outta here, Clark. No offense, Dr. Wilson."
        "None taken," she guffawed, before turning serious again.
"Don't forget to --"
        "I know, I'll come back if I don't feel well."
        "Good.  And next week --"
        "I'll come in for a check-up. I won't forget."
        "I'm not worried about you forgetting, Lois." Dr. Wilson gave
Lois a reprimanding stare.
        "I'll be here."
        Dr. Wilson turned her look to Clark.
        "She'll be here, doctor. I won't let her . . . 'forget'."
        After exchanging thanks and goodbyes with her doctor, Lois
grabbed her husband's hand and led him out to the Jeep.
        The ride was silent as Clark drove them back to their
Hyperion home. Lois wanted to wait until they were home and
relatively settled before she set out to broach the subject of last
night's events. So she sat placidly, having nudged Clark's right hand
>from the steering wheel and taken it in hers.
        Clark, on the other hand, wasn't sure what to think. His wife
had undergone such a drastic change in mood from last night, and he
wasn't completely sure that the way she was acting right now wasn't a
just a front. Afraid to risk an emotional outbreak, at least until
they got home, Clark said nothing either.
        They arrived at the brownstone shortly thereafter, and
remained silent as they entered their home.
        Clark finally turned to Lois as they hung up their jackets.
"Hi. Welcome home," he said softly, not sure what else to say, and
managing a slight smile for her benefit.
        "Hi," she matched his smile with one of greater magnitude.
        "You feeling okay?" Clark had no idea what else to ask, he
just knew he had to be strong for his wife. Right now wasn't the time
to let his worries bubble up the forefront.
        "Yeah, I'm fine," Lois maintained her smile.
        The urge to enfold her in his arms overwhelmed Clark, and he
reached for her.
        The unexpected feel of her husband's strong arms enveloping
her caused a tightness to begin welling in her throat. She wasn't
going to let it get to her, though. No, she was going to move past
her hurt so she could assuage Clark of his.
        But, when she felt a single wet tear drop onto her neck, all
her resolve to be strong vanished and she soon found herself crying
openly in her husband's arms. "Oh, Clark . . ."
        A mixture of relief and guilt swept over Clark as he breathed
in the sweet floral scent of Lois's hair, and he was helpless to
prevent the lone tear that slipped down his cheek. He was relieved
that she was alive, safe, and in his arms again, yet guilt stricken
that he had been too late to save her from such a violation. He
continued to deplore himself for ignoring his instincts when he
should know by now that they were usually dead on where Lois was
concerned. He would never be able to bear the thought that he could
have prevented the tears that she now shed onto his shoulder.
        "I'm sorry, Lois. I'm so sorry . . . "

*       *       *

        Neither of them were sure how long they had been standing
just inside the threshold of their home, holding each other.
Eventually, keeping one arm around Clark's neck and the other around
his waist, Lois pulled away enough to look at Clark's face. She
removed the arm that was around his waist and used the pad of her
thumb to wipe a trace of moisture from his cheek. When she'd smoothed
it away, she moved her hand to mirror her other one already around
his neck, while Clark shifted his arms to completely encircle her
waist.
        "Honey --" Clark's voice broke, forcing him to take a beat to
collect himself and try again. "Honey . . . I am *so* sorry. I --"
        Before Clark could launch into a long, yet sincere apology
for not saving her, Lois placed her hand over his mouth and cut off
his speech. "Clark, it's okay. It's not your fault. You were needed
elsewhere. I understand that you can't be everywhere at once.
Besides, I should know better than to let virtual strangers into the
house."
        "No, Lois. It's *not* okay. I should have come sooner. I knew
something was wrong -- I could feel it -- but I ignored it . . ."
Clark's voice rose and octave as it strained with emotion and
threatened to crack again. "I . . . I just wish . . . I should have .
. ." The lump in Clark's throat boiled over and he dissolved into
tears.
        Lois pulled herself closer to her husband and nestled her
face into his neck. Her body shook along with the sobs that wracked
his body. She was taken aback by the ferocity of Clark's reaction to
last night's events. She didn't think she'd ever seen him cry before,
and briefly wondered if he'd ever done so before in his life. She'd
known he would be upset with himself for not being faster, but this
was much more than she'd expected. What had happened last night had
opened a wound in her husband, and she was going to do whatever it
took to make it stop bleeding, even if it meant cauterizing it. But
she hoped it wouldn't come to that.
        "Shh," she crooned softly. "I'm here, Honey. It's okay . . . I'm
okay."
        Suddenly Clark's sobs lessened and he raised his head to look
at her. Lois met his gaze and Clark's moist eyes searched hers for a
moment before he croaked, "Are you?"
        "Yes, Clark, I am. Now that I'm home, and you're here with me."
        Clark continued to gaze into his wife's eyes as he let out a
shaky sigh.
        However, Clark's tearful outburst had Lois more than a little
worried. Though she knew Clark to be an sensitive person, he was not
one to cry. She wanted to broach the subject with him, but was loathe
to aggravate him any further. She sensed that Clark's emotional
well-being was intricately balanced at the moment, and she was afraid
verbalizing the issue may very well be the thing to send him hurtling
over the edge.
        Before Lois could decide whether or not to question Clark's
mental state, Clark brought a hand up to cup her right cheek. Her
left one was still slightly swollen from the blow she'd suffered from
Ted Rickman.
        Gazing into his eyes, Lois leaned into Clark's touch. It was
the same caress that had given away his alter ego to Lois so long
ago. A caress that would always be so special to them. It was a
symbol of his trust and need for her, but most of all, it signified
the undying love that had steam rolled into their lives picking up
strength after they had broken through the barrier of his secret
identity, and continued to grow stronger with each passing moment. It
was a love that they each cherished and held onto so tightly that
sometimes it hurt.
        Sensing his need for physical reassurance, Lois pulled
Clark's face towards hers and began to kiss each of his tears away.
When she was satisfied that she had removed them all, she placed a
feather-light kiss on his lips and laid her head on his left shoulder.
        Clark gently pressed his cheek to her forehead and sighed
deeply. "What do we do now?"
        Lois lifted her head to face Clark. "Now? Now, we get on with
our lives. And first on the list is making sure that Ted Rickman
spends the remainder of his pathetic life behind bars."
        Clark, unintentionally letting go of his guilt for a moment,
gave an ironic chuckle, shook his head and gazed at his wife in awe.
"I can't believe you."
        "What?" Lois looked quizzically at her husband. "What do you mean?"
        "I mean, you are the one who was . . . uh . . . violated. You
are the one who deserves to be comforted yet, here you are,
comforting me. I may be able to bench press buses, punch holes in
asteroids, and lift space stations into orbit with my bare hands, but
you, Lois, are the strongest person in the world. And, Lois . . ."
Clark's voice threatened to give out with emotion again.
        "Yes?" Lois urged.
        Clark lowered his head to gather his resolve, and then lifted
it again to look intensely into her eyes. "I love you *so* much . . .
so much it hurts."
        "Oh, Clark." Lois reached a hand to cradle his cheek, a
mirror of his special touch for her. "I love you, too."
        Lois guided his head toward hers and, almost hesitantly,
touched his lips with her own. Upon contact, all their apprehension
vanished as the couple soon found themselves devouring each other's
mouths.
        Lois pulled back, breathless, but kept her face less than
inch from Clark's. "I need you, Clark. I need you to make love to me.
Now."
        "Are you sure that's --"
        Before Clark could finish his protest, Lois pulled his mouth
back down to hers, mumbling against his lips, "I've never been so
sure of anything in my life."

*       *       *

        Clark lay in bed, wide awake at 6:00 a. m. Lois, partially
soothed by their lovemaking, had finally let her exhaustion lull her
into a restless sleep. Clark, however, had hardly blinked since then.
        Usually one of his favorite pastimes was watching his wife
sleep. He adored the way her face and body relaxed when fatigue
claimed her. With her expression unguarded and the tension of the day
finally drained from her limbs, his Little Tornado seemed so
vulnerable in her sleep, yet never more beautiful. He felt it was a
testimony to the complete trust she had in him.
        Last night had been different.
        Though she'd fallen asleep quickly, it had soon been clear to
Clark that she was not relaxed. She'd rolled often, never staying in
the same place for more than a few minutes. Her face had been
constantly contorted in an expression of anguish and the ugly purple
bruise marring her left cheek hadn't faded in the least. And once,
after she'd rolled onto her side with her back to Clark, he'd slid a
hand around her waist, spooning himself against her. However, instead
of her usual sigh of contentment at this action, he'd felt her body
tense with fear. He'd tried to murmur reassurances in her ear, but
his warm breath on her face had actually caused her to flinch. In the
time since they'd been married, she'd never reacted to his touch like
this, even in her sleep . . . especially in her sleep. And, because
of this, he knew that, despite his wife's composed demeanor and
outward display of inner strength, she'd been deeply wounded. Ted
Rickman had broken her trust -- the trust that Clark had worked so
long and so hard to establish in her. Though Clark figured that, in
her head, Lois knew she could trust him, he wasn't sure that her
heart still knew it.
        Now, Lois was once again curled up on her side with her back
to Clark while he lay facing her, wishing with all of his might that
he could think of some way to soothe her pain.

*       *       *

Continued on Part 7
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:36:55 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 7 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 7 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        The shrill sound of the alarm clock seared the morning
silence, alerting Clark that it was 6:30 a. m. and time to get up and
go to work. He numbly rubbed his eyes and groaned as he realized that
he had, in fact, finally dozed off . . . five minutes ago.
        Lois stirred and Clark reached over her to shut off the alarm
clock before she started to reprimand him for not doing it sooner.
Even as Clark was retreating from her side of the bed, Lois was
snuggling deeper into her pillow and pulling the covers closer.
        "Lo --"
        Lois started at her husband's whisper, causing him to break
off his words and pull back the hand that had been going to nudge her
shoulder.
        Lois rolled onto her back and cracked her eyes open enough to
see her husband propped on his left elbow, watching her warily. She
came more fully awake when she realized that she'd never seen her
husband look at her in quite that manner before.
        "What, Clark?"
        "Uh . . . I just wondered if you wanted me to call Perry and
tell him that we won't be making it into work this morning"
        "Oh. Uh . . . no." Lois pushed back the covers, got out of
bed, and began padding across the room. "No, I'm all right. Besides,
we can't stay home today. We have a follow up to do on Jaxon Xavier's
capture." Lois reached the closet and began pulling out a business
suit to wear to work. "Then we have to go down to that computer store
again and see if we can talk to . . . what's her name . . . Jaxon's
mother?"
        "Helen Carter."
        "Right. We have to talk to her. Maybe we can spook her into
revealing something."
        Lois's voice and actions were laden with weariness, and Clark
could see it clearly. However, he figured that work would probably be
the best thing she could do right now. It might take her mind off the
traumatic event from two nights before. Even if she tried to sleep
some more, she wasn't likely to get any rest.
        "Alright. I'll go make breakfast while you shower."

*       *       *

        When Lois and Clark entered the newsroom that morning, the
tension was palpable. Everywhere they looked, they met the
questioning gazes of their co-workers. Though everyone was itching to
know, not one of Lois and Clark's fellow employees had the nerve to
ask what had happened the night before last. All they knew was that
the Planet's latest intern had been arrested for rape and that,
somehow, Lois and Clark had been involved. Whether they had simply
been the first onto the scene as reporters, or if they had happened
to stumble across the crime in progress was still a mystery.
Although, the shiner on Lois's face was a good indication of which
was more likely.
        Perry White was the sole person privy to the story behind
Lois's bruised cheek. It irked him that Lois had insisted on working
today, but he knew better than to argue with her when she had her
mind set. He just hoped that the tragedy hadn't affected his star
reporting team more than they let on.
        Lois and Clark, however, had not had any trouble settling
down to work. They had retreated to the conference room to pore over
the police reports of Jaxon's siting and subsequent capture two
nights ago. They still hadn't found solid evidence connecting Helen
Carter to Jaxon or Lex.
        "This report says," Lois gestured to the file in her hand,
"that, according to one of the computer store's employee on duty at
the time, Jaxon came in looking for Ms. Carter."
        "And why would he being going to see her, unless our theory is
right?"
        "I know . . ." Lois grabbed the pencil that was perched
behind her ear and used it to tap the papers in front of her. "Hmm .
. . maybe we should just try the direct approach."
        "What do you mean?"
        "I mean maybe we should just go down there and talk to her.
Maybe we can spook her into revealing something. We've done it
before."
        "Okay . . ." Clark hesitated.
        "Uh oh. I know that tone."
        "What tone?"
        "It's your 'Lois is grasping at straws and I'll humor her
just to avoid upsetting her' tone. If you don't agree with me, Clark,
why don't you just tell me?"
        "No, Lois. It's a good idea. We should do it."
        "Then, what is it?"
        "What's what?"
        "That tone."
        "What tone?"
        "Clark," Lois admonished.
        "I don't know what you're talking about, Lois. I didn't use
any tone." Clark was genuinely baffled by Lois's questioning.
        "There you go again."
        "What?"
        "Oh, I get it now."
        "Get what? Lois, you're not making any sense."
        "You think that because of what happened to me I'm not up to
investigating. Well, let me tell you something, mister. I'm not a
China doll. This sort of thing happens to people all the time and
they get on with their lives. So will we."
        "I believe you, Lois. Have I done anything to make you think
otherwise?"
        "Well, no. But you implied it."
        "Lois, even if I thought you weren't up to working today,
would there be any point in me telling you? You'd work anyway,
wouldn't you?"
        "Of course I would."
        "See. There's no point in discussing it then. Let's just go
back to the Computer Depot and see if we can talk to Helen."
        "Fine," Lois sniffed while rising from the chair and picking
up her files.
        "Fine." Clark let out an exasperated groan before he pushed
out his chair and joined her in retreating from the conference room.

*       *       *

        On the ride to Helen's Computer Depot, Clark mentally
replayed his latest conversation with Lois. He came to the conclusion
that, if he wasn't invulnerable, he might very well like to clobber
himself over the head with a baseball bat.
        What had he been thinking? Obviously Lois was far from
recovered from recent events, and, rather than going on the
defensive, he should have been more understanding to her behavior. He
supposed that, after Lois's exuberant display yesterday, he'd been
caught off guard by the hundred and eighty degree turn her mood had
taken today.
        But that was no excuse. Lois had just suffered one of the
most horrible ordeals imaginable -- all because of his own stupidity,
he reminded himself -- and he should have known one night wasn't
enough for her to recover.
        Though he knew the car ride to an interview was no place to
broach a topic as dire as Lois's well-being, he thought it could at
least use some addressing.
        "Lois?"
        When there was no response from the driver's side, Clark took
a breath and plunged on anyway.
        "Lois, I'm sorry about the way I acted later. I'm just . . .
well, there's no excuse, really. I should have been more
understanding."
        Lois rolled her eyes, but Clark didn't notice.
        "You've been through . . . a horrible thing. And I haven't
been much good in the way of support. And, well, the least I can do
is be understanding if you're not . . . uh . . . in the best of
moods."
        Lois took her eyes from the road long enough to give Clark a
murderous glare.
        Clark shivered involuntarily at the look from his wife. He
wasn't sure what he'd said earn her wrath, but he decided that, for
now, it'd be best if he didn't say anything else. From his
experience, silence from Lois Lane should be feared more than any of
her most outrageous outbursts.

*       *       *

        Helen Carter bent over her desk, pretending to study the
inventory list her store's clerk had just brought to her. She was
contemplating the events of the night before last, reveling in the
aftermath of a well executed plan. Yes, Ted Rickman had been a good
choice of employee. Ted had fulfilled his duties with the utmost of
thoroughness. He had been hired to show Lois what it felt like to be
used to satisfy a man's yearning for power and then to be tossed
aside like a rag doll. Helen knew better than anyone what that felt
like.
        Lex had had more than his share of power hunger, and he'd not
hesitated in showing just how much that was. Even back then Lex's
pockets were deep, so when she'd threatened to go to the police,
she'd found herself the recipient of a very lucrative bribe offer.
Who cared if Lex had walked away clean from his encounter with her?
She'd become a rich woman, especially after she'd told Lex she was
pregnant.
        She wasn't stupid, however. As soon as she'd amassed enough
funds, she'd faked her child's death, moved to Europe and made
herself virtually untraceable to anyone. If she was going to get even
with Lex, she would have to find a private place to put her plans
into motion.
        She'd enrolled Jaxon in the best schools she could find,
training him from Day One to fulfill her life's ultimate goal of
exacting her revenge on Lex Luthor. What better way to do that than
with his very own illegitimate son? A son he didn't even know existed.
        Even though Lex had been behind bars at the time, she had
figured her plan to have Jaxon gain control of the world, and then
expose the identity of his father would be enough to see Lex die of
embarrassment. What better way to humiliate the greatest criminal
mind of this century than by having his illegitimate son beat him at
his own game.
        But Jaxon, being the incompetent idiot that he was, couldn't
even do that right. She'd set everything up for him, given him the
computer equipment he'd needed and the access to Lois Lane, but he'd
still been unable to pull off his part of the scheme. However, he was
her son. She almost felt ashamed for having him take the fall for her
crimes, and breaking him out of that asylum to be her decoy in this
one.
        Unfortunately, after Jaxon's initial failure, Helen's chance
to avenge herself was ruined when Lois Lane had, once again, entered
the picture. Lois Lane, with help from Superman and Clark Kent, had
proceeded to cause Lex's second and final death, preventing Helen
>from getting the chance to do it. So if someone was going to pay for
what Lex did to her, it would have to be Lois. And, so far, her plan
had gone off without a hitch.
        Her useless son was back behind bars and the only threat to
her discovery was Ted Rickman. He'd been paid well to remain silent.
Even so, when faced with the horrors of prison life, some people
tended to talk. She'd soon have to make sure that Ted Rickman was
silenced for good.
        Just as Helen had begun to work out a plan for eliminating
Ted Rickman, there was a knock at her office door.
        Her employee stuck his head in. "Ms. Carter? There are some
reporters here to see you. Lois Lane and Clark Kent. They'd like to
do a story on the expanding computer market and want to interview
you. Is it all right if I send them in?"
        Helen smiled to herself. She loved getting away with her
crimes, especially when it was right under the victim's nose. "Sure,
Derek, send them in."
        Lois came in first, followed by the man who Helen could only
assume was Clark Kent.
        "Good afternoon, Ms. Carter." Clark extended his hand to Helen.
        "Good afternoon, Mr. Kent, Ms. Lane." Helen smiled demurely
as she took his hand. She couldn't help but notice how delectable
this man was in person. "And please, call me Helen." She was also
somewhat amused to notice that Ms. Lane didn't bother to offer her a
greeting. "Have a seat," Helen gestured to the swivel chairs that
were placed on the other side of her desk.
        "Ms. Carter," Lois began as she sat down, "we'd like to ask
you some questions about the business you run here. Do you mind?"
        "Of course not, Ms. Lane. I'd be delighted to answer your
questions."
        "Good, then we'll get started. How long have you been in the
computer business?" Lois pulled out a note pad and pencil as she
spoke.
        "Let's see now . . . I've tinkered in the business for a long
time now, but I didn't get serious about it until I opened this
store. That was about five years ago."
        "Do you know Jaxon Xavier personally? We noticed that you
supplied his Virtual Center with equipment."
        "Well, I did business with him, so I've obviously met him. I
heard about what he did to you Ms. Lane, and I'm very sorry. If I'd
known that he was going to use that equipment to harm you . . . well,
I wouldn't have sold it to him," Helen lied through her teeth.
        "That's alright, Ms. Carter--"
        "Helen. Please call me Helen, Mr. Kent."
        "Ah . . . Helen, that's alright. We know you wouldn't want to harm
us."
        Helen smiled at Clark.
        "Helen --"
        "That's 'Ms. Carter', Ms. Lane."
        Lois raised her eyebrows at Clark before continuing with her
question. "Ms. Carter, we couldn't help but notice that you also
supply the Insane Asylum with its computer equipment."
        "Yes. I supply a lot of places with equipment."
        "Don't you think that it's a bit coincidental that you
supplied computers to both Jaxon Xavier's Virtual Center and the
Asylum where he was imprisoned?"
        "I don't think I like what you're implying, Ms. Lane. Just
what are you implying?"
        "I think you know."
        "Look, Ms. Lane, if you're here to interrogate, you've come
to the wrong place. I run a legitimate business so you're not going
to find anything corrupt here. If you're looking for that kind of
story, you'll have to go somewhere else. Now, if you'll excuse me, I
have work to do." Helen got up to usher her interviewers to the door.
        "We know who --"
        "Thank you for your time, Helen." Clark received a killer
glower for interrupting his wife. "We'll be going now."
        Helen watched, fuming, as the couple made their way out of
her office. She didn't think that it was possible that Lane and Kent
could have figured her out. She'd been very meticulous in eliminating
any connections her criminal actions may have brought to her. She was
going to have to alter her plans once again. Rather than reveling in
the thought of the pain she'd inflicted on Lois Lane, she was going
to have eliminate her and that scrumptious husband of hers. No amount
of revenge was worth it if she was caught.

*       *       *

        "Why'd you do that, Clark?!" Lois demanded as soon as they
had returned to the street in front of the computer store.
        "Do what?"
        "Why'd you cut me off like that? We had her right where we
wanted her. She was getting nervous. Couldn't you see that?"
        "No, Lois, she was getting angry. I would too if someone was
accusing me of doing something I didn't do."
        "She was guilty, Clark! It was written all over her face!"
        "Even if she was, she wasn't going to tell us anything, Lois.
Even you must have been able to see that."
        "What do you mean 'even' me?"
        "Lois, please, don't start."
        "No, Clark, I'm starting. It sounded to me like you were
implying something about my interviewing abilities."
        "Lois, I didn't mean to insult you. I just meant that
sometimes, when you get it in your head that you're right about
something, you tend not to listen to reason."
        "Oh, so you're saying I'm unreasonable."
        "No, Lois, I'm not," Clark replied, exasperated. "Look, you
seem a little tired right now. Why don't we call it a day and head
home early. Perry will understand."
        "I wish you would stop this, Clark."
        "Stop what?"
        "You keep making assumptions about how I'm feeling. You're
not letting me think for myself. You're treating me like I'm some
helpless infant."
        Passers-by began to take notice as Lois's voice raised in volume.
        "I'm not helpless, Clark. And I'm certainly not an infant.
Just because I was raped does not mean that I've suddenly turned into
a china doll. I won't fall to pieces if someone says the wrong thing
to me. And I certainly won't shatter just by doing my job!"
        Clark was speechless at his wife's outburst, and a little
embarrassed at the number of people who had witnessed it.
        Lois gawked back at her audience. "What are you looking at?"
she demanded of them before she stalked off down the street and got
into her Jeep.
        Clark smiled sheepishly at the crowd. "She's . . . uh,
rehearsing for a play." Clark hustled after her before he had to
suffer any further curious stares.

*       *       *

Concluded in Part 8
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:37:04 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

TITLE: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE
PART: 8 of 8
AUTHOR: Karen Ward <ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca>
RATING: PG-13 . . . along with a serious WHAM warning
FEEDBACK: Any and all, public or private.
SUMMARY: Tragedy strikes Lois and Clark when an old nemesis comes
back to haunt them . . . again.

_______________________________________________________

*       *       *

        When the hottest team in town stormed into the newsroom after
their disastrous interview, it was obvious to Perry White that all
was not right. Lines of fatigue were etched on Lois's face as she
continually gave Clark the cold shoulder. Clark, meanwhile, was
following her around like a puppy with his tail between his legs,
apparently trying to earn back her approval. Perry decided that some
intervention was called for. Besides that, he had some important news
he'd just learned from the Metropolis P. D.
        He opened his office door and bellowed, "Lane! Kent! My
office! Pronto!"
        He watched, satisfied, as Lois and Clark made a bee-line for
his office, making a rare show of taking his orders seriously.
        "What is it, Chief?" Lois asked as she entered his office,
closely followed by Clark.
        "I received a fax from Inspector Henderson this morning. Ted
Rickman was involved in a brawl in his holding cell this afternoon.
He was killed."
        "Alright, Chief, we're on it." Lois turned to go.
        Clark opened his mouth to protest, but Perry beat him to it.
        "No, you're not, Lois. These things happen all the time. Even
if I wanted to assign my top reporting team to this story, you're way
too close to do it."
        "But, Chief --" Lois began.
        "No, Honey, that's not why I called you two in here. I
thought it was only fair for you to hear that information about Ted,
but I called you in here to tell you two to go home."
        "What?!" Lois was incredulous.
        "You heard me. I'm sending you and Clark home and you're not
to come back until you've worked out whatever it is that you need to
work out."
        "But, Chief--"
        "No buts, Lois. Now get on out of here."
        Lois gaped icily at her boss before turning and storming back
into the newsroom.
        Clark watched her retreat to her desk and begin to hastily
pack up her things before turning back to Perry. "Thanks, Chief. I've
been trying to get her to go home all day."
        "You're welcome, son. You just make sure she talks to you,
okay? She's putting up a valiant effort to look fine, but she's not."
        "I know, Chief."
        "Okay. Now get on out of here and don't come back until
you're good and ready."
        Clark nodded before turning to catch up with his wife.

*       *       *

        The air was thick with tension on the drive back to 348
Hyperion Avenue. Neither Lois nor Clark had bothered to speak since
retreating from Perry's office and calling it a day. Lois refused to
talk to Clark at all, while Clark simply didn't know what to say to
her.
        It seemed to Clark that, no matter what he said or how he
said it, she would find it offensive one way or another. He wasn't
sure exactly how things had gotten to be the way they were either.
Yesterday Lois had made a rare show of being cheerful, but today, her
mood was about as stable as an active volcano. One minute they had
been interviewing a suspect and the next they had found themselves in
the middle of a full-blown argument. As far as he was concerned, Lois
had been her usual tenacious self during the interview while Clark
had provided his typical cautious attitude. Lois, apparently, saw
things differently.
        Clark decided that he was going to try broaching the subject
with her again as they entered their home.
        "Lois, we need to talk." Clark hung up his overcoat and
reached for Lois's.
        Lois sighed resignedly. "You're right, Clark. I --"
        "Well, I certainly hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
        Lois's coat hit the floor as the couple turned and stared in
shock at their intruder standing across the room.
        "I told you she was guilty," Lois mumbled to Clark as he
stepped defensively in front of her, keeping a careful eye on the
shiny black handgun that was pointed in their direction.
        "Look, Ms. Carter, I don't think --"
        "Save it, Mr. Kent. It's a waste of breath."
        "What do you want with us, Helen?" Lois asked.
        "I think you know, Lois. Weren't those the same words you
said to me earlier? Ironic, isn't it?"
        "You're Jaxon Xavier's mother, aren't you?"
        "You're right, Lois. I thought you might have figured that
out. There's no other reason for a couple of reporters like you to be
snooping around my store." Helen sidestepped the sofa as she kept the
gun trained on Lois and Clark and approached them. "I can't help but
wonder just how much you two know about me?"
        "It was your equipment that allowed Jaxon to escape from the
asylum, wasn't it? You were responsible for his escape, weren't you?"
        "Oh, Lois," Helen cackled. "Do you think that's all I was
responsible for?"
        "Well . . ." Lois snuck a glance at her partner who was
furiously trying to find a way to get them out of the situation
without revealing himself. "We weren't sure. Just how much are you
responsible for?"
        "That's a bit bold, don't you think -- asking the villain to
admit her guilt? Well, since you're both about to die anyway, I might
as well have the satisfaction of telling you. If you think I broke
Jaxon out of jail for the sake of motherly love, you're even more
stupid than I thought. He's been a pawn in my schemes all along. Even
the Virtual Reality Center was my doing. That boy hasn't had an
original thought in his pathetic life. If I didn't think I'd need
him, I would have left him in the asylum where quacks like him
belong. But he proved to be a very useful distraction. The boy
actually did something right for once by getting caught. Of course,
he didn't know that was why I broke him out."
        "What do you mean he was a distraction?" Lois asked, wary.
        "You remember Ted Rickman, don't you, Lois? Yes, of course
you do. The man was quite cooperative when I offered him a very
lucrative reward for his services. As a matter of fact, I made sure
he was paid handsomely just this afternoon. You know, men as
unscrupulous as him don't come around very often. I'm almost sorry I
killed him."
        Clark's attention snapped back to Helen when he realized the
implication of her words. "Did you hire him to rape Lois?" Clark
demanded, his dark eyes clouding with ire.
        "Mr. Kent, why this sudden change in demeanor? I could have
sworn you were the gentle type, even to your foes. Anyhow, to answer
your question, yes, I hired him. He'd make a great actor, don't you
think?"
        "Clark, relax," Lois whispered warningly as she felt his body
grow even more taut. "We'll get out of this and then Helen will pay
properly for her crimes."
        Clark didn't say anything. He kept his angry gaze fixed on
Helen. His only movement was the involuntary twitching of his jaw
muscles.
        Helen resumed approaching Lois and Clark, "Well, I know it's
a bit cliched to ask, but I'm curious if either of you have any last
words."
        "Actually, there is one thing you should know," Clark's
demeanor lightened subtly as Helen stepped within a leg's length of
Lois.
        "What's that, Mr. Kent?"
        Lois's right foot connected with Helen's gun-wielding hand,
knocking the weapon into the air where Clark's hands had been waiting
to snatch it out of harm's way. Before Helen's brain had a chance to
process what was happening, Lois's fist landed cleanly on Helen's
left temple, knocking her out instantly.
        Clark stood over Helen's limp body and answered, "Never get
within kicking distance of an angry Lois Lane."
        Lois chuckled as she picked up the phone and began dialing
the police. "You are so corny, Clark Kent."
        Clark smiled at Lois in return. "And you wouldn't have me any
other way."

*       *       *

        For the second time in two days, Clark Kent stood at the
front door and watched a squad car carry a criminal away from his
home.
        Things were as they should be. Ted Rickman was dead, and
Jaxon Xavier was, once again, rightfully behind bars. And now, thanks
to the information Lois and Clark had learned from Helen Carter's
impromptu confession, the police were sure that they'd be able to
find enough incriminating evidence to convict Helen Carter for one
lifetime, if not more. Yes, Clark was pretty sure everything was
right with the universe for the time being. Almost everything, anyway.
        Lois approached him from behind as he closed and locked the
front door. "Do you think we're finally going to have a chance to be
alone now?"
        Clark turned to his wife. "I hope so. I really think we should
talk."
        "You're right. You go soundproof the house while I disconnect
all the phones," Lois joked.
        Clark smiled, but then his demeanor turned somber again. "I
don't really know how to say this, Lois, but . . . I know you say
you're fine, but I don't think you are." Clark held is breath as he
waited for his wife to explode into another explanation as to why she
really was fine, and why Clark shouldn't make assumptions about her
feelings.
        "I know I was a little on-edge before. I shouldn't have blown
up at you in the street like that. But I'm fine now, Clark. Really, I
am."
        "It wasn't just that, though, Lois. Last night . . ." Clark
hesitated. "Last night, after we made love, you were . . .
different." Clark wasn't sure exactly how to word what he was about
to say.
        "What do you mean?"
        "I mean, after you went to sleep, you seemed like you didn't
want me to be there. Whenever I tried to put my arm around you, you'd
flinch and pull away. And the expression on your face . . . . It
nearly killed me when you kept pulling away from me like that, but to
see you looking so pained . . . I just don't think I could handle
another night like that."
        Lois was horrified by Clark's words and their implications.
Insecurity began to take root in Lois's subconscious as her thoughts
ran wild. If he couldn't handle another night with her, how could he
possibly spend the rest of his life by her side? "You couldn't handle
another night like that? Are you . . ." Lois's voice quivered, and
she took a beat to recover it. "Are you going to leave?" A lone tear
slipped down her cheek.
        "What?! No, Honey, of course not!" Clark reached for her and
she welcomed the shelter of his arms. "You know I'd never do that,"
Clark whispered into her hair.
        "I'm so sorry, Clark. I didn't mean to pull away from you
last night. I didn't know --"
        "It's not you're fault, Honey. You don't have to apologize.
You should never have had to go through what you did. I should have
gotten there in time. I should have saved you. I don't blame you if
you don't trust me anymore. How can you?"
        "Clark," Lois raised her head from his shoulder to meet his
eyes, "of course I trust you. After all that we've been through, how
could you doubt that?"
        "You didn't see the way you looked last night, Lois. I don't
blame you for it, though. I'm supposed to be Superman, protector of
the innocent. If you can't count on me to protect you, how can you
count on me for anything else?"
        "Clark," Lois was distraught at the self-loathing tone in her
husband's voice, "we both know that you can't be in two places at
once. I once told you that whatever you can do is enough because the
fact that you even try gives people hope. You may not have been there
to stop Ted Rickman, but you got me through it. Throughout the whole
ordeal, it was the thought of you that kept me going. The thought
that you would be there to comfort me when it was over, that you
would still love me no matter what happened, saw me through what was
probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me. Before I met
you, I don't know if I could have handled going through something
like that. But, now, you give me the will to live even when I'm not
sure that I want to anymore. Sure, I may have physically been able to
survive something like that before you, but my heart would have died
a long time ago."
        "Lois . . ." Clark, overwhelmed with emotion, was unable to
articulate a response.
        Lois squeezed her arms tighter around her husband and buried
her head in his shoulder.
        "I love you, Lois."
        "I know. I love you, too."
        They embraced for a moment, before Lois pulled back,
remembering her concern over the intensity of Clark's emotional
outburst the night before. She chose her words carefully, not sure
how her husband would react. "Clark, the other day, after we got home
>from the hospital . . . well, you weren't yourself."
        "What do you mean, Honey?"
        "I mean, you cried, Clark.  Not that there's anything wrong
with crying, but I've never seen you do that before.  I knew you were
upset, but I've seen you upset before, and you never reacted like
that."
        Clark paused, not sure how to phrase his next words.  "I
guess I . . . I just couldn't shake the thought of you . . ." Clark
trailed off, unable to finish.
        "Of what, Clark?"
        "Of you . . . dead," Clark choked on the last word before
breaking to compose himself.  "If I had been a couple of minutes
later, or if I hadn't come at all . . . what if I had been fighting a
typhoon in Japan, or diverting a mud slide in . . . in Egypt?"
        "Egypt?"
        "Just go with me, Honey.  What if I hadn't been able to get
to you this time, or any other time, for that matter? I can't stand
the thought that I can't protect you all the time. I know we've been
through a lot and we've gone over this before, but it doesn't get any
easier . . . you didn't even have to go looking for trouble this
time, it came to you!"
        "I know it's hard for you, especially since you're . . ."
Lois outlined an S on her husband's chest, ". . . Superman, but it's
a risk everyone takes by caring about someone. There's always a
chance that something might happen to a loved one, but that's just a
part of living. Opening your heart to someone means leaving yourself
vulnerable to hurt, but it's a risk worth taking. You taught me that."
        "You're right, and I know that. It's just that . . . why is
it that every homicidal lunatic with a vendetta picks you as a
target? It's like some sort of big cosmic joke, but it's not funny to
me. And it's not fair." Clark pouted.
        "It certainly seems that way, doesn't it?"
        "Honey, it *is* that way."
        Lois chuckled at her husband's uncharacteristic cynicism.
"Well, maybe it's just one more reason why we're made for each other.
I'm a target for criminals, so I need you to save my life whenever
they 'dangle me over the jaws of death'."
        Clark couldn't stifle the laugh his wife's morbid humor
provoked. "You know, I never looked at it that way before."
        Lois continued to chuckle as she took her husband in a another hug.
        The couple's demeanor mellowed as they took a moment to
relish the embrace.
        "Lois?" Clark finally broke the hug, another concern on his mind.
        "Yes?"
        "As long was we're being open, can I say something?"
        Lois smiled at her husband, the eternal gentlemen. "Of
course. That's what being open's all about."
        Clark smiled briefly before continuing. "Lois, when you say
you're fine . . . well, it's kind of hard to believe.  I know that
what you went through must have been awful, and I can't even begin to
imagine what it's been like for you, but if you ever want to talk
about it, I'll be here for you.  I don't want you to feel that you
have to put up a front for me.  If something's bothering you, I don't
want you to hold it in because you're afraid of upsetting me . . . or
for any other reason, for that matter."
        "You're right, Clark. I shouldn't keep my feelings hidden.  I
admit that, at first, I probably tried to push them aside a little
too hastily, and I won't kid you, what happened the other night did
hurt me --"
        "*Us*, Lois.  Whatever hurts you, hurts me too.  We're a
team, remember?"
        Lois smiled, "Yes, I remember." Lois traced a seductive line
down her husband's jaw. "How could I forget? Anyhow, as I was saying,
what Ted Rickman did to me, to *us* . . . well, it hurt.  I've never
felt so powerless, or so worthless in my entire life."
        Clark cringed at Lois's admission.
        "But, when it was over, and you were there comforting me,
loving me, I knew that I was going to be okay.  You held my hand all
the way to the hospital, and then the roses the nest morning . . . .
I knew that I was cherished, no matter how used I felt. I think it
comes down to one basic decision. Do we let this tragedy ruin our
lives, or do we put the event behind us and live happily ever after?
If we let it ruin our lives, then Helen Carter wins. She gets to have
her revenge after all, even though she didn't get away with it.
Personally, I vote for getting on with our lives. You know how I hate
losing."
        Clark smiled at Lois's attempt to lighten the moment before
his expression turned serious again. "I agree with you, Lois. I want
to put it behind us too, but I think that's going to involve a lot of
communication. I want . . . *need* to understand what you're going
through so I can be there for you. I want to be the best husband I
can be, but I need your help to know how to be that husband."
        Lois lovingly pushed back the stray lock of hair that had a
habit of finding its way onto Clark's forehead. "You already are the
best husband I could ever dream of having. But, to ease your mind,
I'll promise to share my feelings with you from now on if you promise
to stop berating yourself for not rescuing me sooner."
        "I . . . " Clark hesitated.  "That's not going to be easy for me."
        "I know.  It's not going to be easy for me either, but I'm
willing to try if you are."
        Clark looked meaningfully into his wife's eyes and smiled as
he came to his decision. "You've got yourself a deal."
        "Great! Let's get started then. I'm gonna tell you what I'm
feeling."
        "You are?" Clark was surprised at Lois's eagerness to start
sharing her thoughts with him.
        "Yep. Right now, I'm feeling that I'd like to show the most
wonderful man in the world . . . " Lois moved her hands to her
husband's rear before rocking her hips suggestively against his. ". .
. just how much I love him."

*       *       *

        When Clark woke the next morning, more soothing to him than
anything Lois had said or done the night before was the fact that
Lois was still cozily snuggled in his embrace. The anguish on her
face from the two nights ago had been replaced by contentment. He
thought she'd never looked more radiant.

THE END

AFTERWORD:
        For those of you who've managed to get this far without
giving up on this monstrosity, if you've read an earlier version of
this story, you may remember it having a different ending.  Don't
worry, you're not going crazy.  That ending is still around
somewhere.  In fact, it may even show up in a sequel one of these
days. ;)
        On an aside, the events depicted in this story do not
necessary reflect my personal views of the issue dealt with within
it.  Every woman (or man) copes differently with such a tragedy; some
are lucky enough to have the support of wonderful human beings such
as Clark Kent along the way - real life Superpeople.  However,
there's no predicting how any one person may react to the tragedy,
and, therefore, no telling which, if any, coping strategies work
best. I merely applied my knowledge of Lois Lane's character (which I
consider to be fairly extensive <g>), and perhaps combined it with a
bit of personal experience, to come up with what I thought was the
reaction most appropriate to Lois.  I don't by any means believe that
my choice was the only one, or even the right one, I merely wrote
down what came out.  If you don't agree with my depiction, then I
certainly don't blame you, and I'm always eager to hear others views
on the subject.

        As always, comments and criticisms (preferably constructive -
I can handle flames too, but I tend not to respond well to them <g>)
are welcomed and appreciated! :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:34:50 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Juli E. Hale" <JuliHale@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
(maybe)

Hi Jenni,

I absolutely think you should continue writing this series!! It's a
wonderful
premise to have Lois on Krypton instead of Clark on Earth--there are all
kinds of possiblilities (which I feel sure you know that since you're the
one
who thought of it :).  For instance, since Kal-El promised to take Lois back
someday, it would be interesting to see Kal-El meet the Kents, etc.

Anyway, your story moved very quickly, and I really enjoyed it. At first, I
was surprised that our Lois would so quickly decide to leave with Kal-El,
but
then I thought that was probably in character for her since she was only 19
and hadn't as yet come up with "her rules" or been burned by men like
Claude.
I would like to know what she told her family in those last phone calls. Do
they know that she's on another planet or do they think that she has just
disappeared?

Loved it,
Juli Hale
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 10 Jun 1999 23:45:04 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 4 of 4 (SPOILER)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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Debby wrote:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
SPOILING
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
>           Well, Maxine didn't try to come in at all. She was returning my
suit
> and shirt, hanging them on the door knob. I retrieved them as soon as she
was
> gone. They were cleaned and pressed and wrapped in plastic.
>           I'm of two minds about this. They broke into my apartment -
> *again* - and took something belonging to me. They have *no* right to do
that.
>           On the other hand, not only am I worthy of being kidnapped for
> use in arch criminal Lois Lane's schemes, I'm worth being bribed, too.

Arch criminal Lois Lane<g>, scheming to kidnap innocent men off the
street so she can have her evil, villainous, and wicked way with ...

THEIR DRY CLEANING!

>           This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in my
whole
> life.

And, that's sayin' something! (I could see Clark innocently thinking
this and not even considering the irony.)

> [Your real author thanks my proofers and creative consultants Pat H.,
Jeanne
> P., Sandy McD., and Steve H.]

I think the list can now see why I "allowed you to convince me"<g> to do
a little proofing.  Ha, I guess I have my own evil, villainous and
wicked ways too.

Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 00:22:24 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Juli E. Hale" <JuliHale@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Two feedback messages in one night. Phew!--I think that's a record for me?
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S

The revised story was well worth all the extra editing!! The end result was
exceptionally well-written--I thought it was very complete. This time I felt
like there were no loose ends.

Most importantly, I think that Lois' reaction to the rape, and Clark's
consequent reactions were much more believeable. You handled a very touchy
subject in a mature, thought-provoking way. This time we see many of the
insecurities and repercussions that such an event would cause. (Not to
mention a well-developed A-Plot) Very well done!

Juli  (who has now met her feedback quota--by approxamately 200%) :-)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 08:39:52 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: My Journal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Debby wrote:

>At 12:20 PM 06/10/1999 +0100, Labrat, excellent author on her own, wrote:

Gee, thanks, Debby. <blush>

>>S
>>P
>>O
>>I
>>L
>>E
>>R
>>
>>S
>>P
>>A
>>C
>>E
>>
>Howeveer, it's also a limited POV. I can't tell you everything that happens
as
>I can using the 3rd person POV, even using CK's x-ray vision :) He's
telling
>you what he knows and how he understands life to be, and guessing about the
>rest, as we all do. I really enjoy writing 1st person POV. It allows one to
>delve deep into a character, but it does have certain limitations, too,
even
>when the POV character can lift mountains.

Yes. One of my pet peeves has always been reading a story written in 1st
person POV or that deals with a flashback situation, where the writer
includes something that the person just couldn't possibly have seen, or
heard or known about. Drives me nuts. They are fun to write though - a real
challenge to get right.

>LabRat :) (Who must have been on a roll to have gotten past Clark's
>>encryption code. And without even figuring out how I did it either. Darn,
>>I'm good. Maybe I should join Lois in the Underground. :D)
>
>Well, once the journal entry is home in Smallville, it can be kept unzipped
>and
>unencrypted :)  Now, how you got to be a decendent of CK... that's what
he'd
>like to know ;)

Dunno, about that one. My memories of early life are hazy. Lots of
squeaking, fights at the food bowl, that kind of thing. But I have
definitely decided to join the Underground. Living in the sewers being my
natural environment I reckon it could work. ;) (And no cracks there about
writing nfic, guys. That wasn't what I meant.)
>

LabRat
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 11:28:59 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      NEW Fanfic: Revisiting the House of Luthor -Reply
In-Reply-To:  <s7602100.093@pwpl.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

On Thu, 10 Jun 1999 20:28:15 -0500 Lara Blasingame <larab@PWPL.COM>
wrote:

> Thanks so much for the kind words about my story ...... Yes, this was my
first fanfic.  I
> have a short vignette that I may post... soon :)
>

Lara, I will reply privately to your very complimentary comments; I
just want to encourage you _publicly_ to post your vignette soon.
You'll have a keen readership waiting for it ;)

Wendy
----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 11:44:05 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
In-Reply-To:  <35e42c7e.2491ddda@aol.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

As someone who was privileged to read the draft of The Universal
Union before Jenni posted it here, I'd like to say that I also think
it's a stunningly original story, and that it promises to be another
enthralling series, as good if not better than Jenni's existing
series about the Kent family.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

I was intrigued by Hazel's observation that, with Kal-El taking Lois
to his world, we now have Tempus's preferred universe in which no
Utopia can occur. I have no idea whether Jenni intended this universe
to be one in which Utopia was ever going to come about <g> - but it's
certainly a thought, and I'd like to see Jenni deal with this in a
later segment of the story.

For the moment, I (like Hazel and Juli) am waiting for more!

Wendy

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 07:37:22 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "C.C. Malo" <Ccmalo@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 4 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Gosh!  What happens next???

SPOILER
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

If I'm ever reincarnated, I want to come back as Maxine with her tape
measure.

Carol
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 09:03:13 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Carolyn Schnall <cschnall@MAIL.MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: NEW:  MY JOURNAL - Day 1 (SPOILERS)
In-Reply-To:  <199906100153.TAA03025@kitsune.swcp.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

OK FoLCs:  An OT answer:)

I am admittedly behind in my posts reading but I think I can answer this
one regarding Captain Kirk.

In the sixties on TV most of the men who took their shirts off were not
hairy (Robert Conrad in the original The Wild Wild West as an example).

So, when Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek creator, wanted William Shatner to
take off his shirt, he decided Kirk would not be hairy and Shatner had to
shave.  This was covered a few months ago when the Sci-Fi channel reran
Classic Trek with Shatner and then Nimoy giving intros.  Interviews with
other actors were included and one of the gals mentioned that Shatner hated
having to shave his chest because it itched when it grew back.  The actress
who mentioned it might have been Majel Barrett Roddenberry or Sherry
Jackson or Grace Lee Whitney.

I wondered about this for years without knowing the truth until recently
because when Shatner was in T.J. Hooker, he was definitely hairy and I
wondered naively if men's hair growth changed as they matured.  As far as I
know, Shatner is not Native American, but he is Canadian and I believe his
background is Eastern European Jewish.    It is also funny because when I
saw Life Goes On last Saturday, it seemed to me that Dean's arms and legs
were less hairy than in L&C.  Well, now you all know where my mind was!

Last evening, I went to see Lion King on Broadway, and yes, I know it is
Disney, but it is a hot ticket.  Interestingly enough, the actor playing
Simba as an adult, Jason Raize. looks a great deal like Dean, which is an
interesting choice for a Disney production.  Jason Raize is really terrific
in the role and has a smile you can see in the back row of the theater.  He
appeared in a production number early in the show and I spotted him in the
rear of the stage because of his resemblance to Dean, and his hairless
chest!

OK, enough OT:)

Thanks,
Carolyn
cschnall@mail.med.cornell.edu

>        ######################################################
>        WARNING! THIS MAIL SENT BY AN UNVERIFIED USER!
>        READER BEWARE!!!
>        ######################################################
>
>At 11:24 AM 06/08/1999 -0400, Peggy wrote:
>>>>I thought at first that Clark's hairless state was
>>>>peculiar to Kryptonians, but I've noticed that other television
>>>>characters suffer from the same malady -- Captain Kirk, for example.  I
>>>>don't know if he's ever tried black coffee.
>>>
>>>I think in Dean's case it's due to his Asian background. I don't know
about
>>>Shatner since he's... Canadian ;) (Maybe he's part Native American? I
knew a
>>>sunny-blond Cherokee named Cherry one time)
>>>
>>OOps!  Debby, I always assumed that Clark was smooth for the same reason
>>that Captain Kirk was smooth--the producers made him shave for the show!
>>When I read your story, I thought your comment about the coffee was a
>>mischievous reference to that-- my mistake!   Guess I'd better check
things
>>out before sticking my foot in mouth again. <sg>
>
>I think Dean's hairlessness is due to his genes. If he shaved, I don't
>think he
>would have been embarrassed as he seemed to be in that interview :)
>
>I don't know about Shatner's chest.  Nor, actually, do I wish to... ;)
>
>Debby
>Debby@swcp.com
>Charter member,
>Cat Grant Fan Club
>(was Teri Hatchr a secret member...?)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 17:14:36 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Wendy Richards <ida18@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
In-Reply-To:  <v04205108b3863f138e2a@[216.183.141.113]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Karen,

Great work! And I know how long this has taken you, and how
much agonising, so you deserve all the plaudits you will undoubtedly
get.

This story is extremely well written; the characters are portrayed
just as I imagine them, and I can really 'hear' the dialogue - which
is extremely funny in places, by the way. The atmosphere, whether at
the Planet, in the Jeep, at home or somewhere else, is always well
described, and Karen does an excellent job of conveying the
characters' thoughts and emotions.

I really loved 'Tomorrow's Past' when Karen circulated it, and this
revised story confirms to me that Karen is a very talented writer.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

This version does handle the rape episode and its aftermath better. I
was very pleased (and relieved for him!) that Clark gets there in
time, not to prevent the rape, but to deal with Rickman and take Lois
to hospital. This time, also, there was no doubt about what had
happened (unlike in the previous version when events only became
obvious to the reader subsequently). Again, the scene itself was
handled sensitively but not lightly.

The handling of Lois's own emotions afterwards, and Clark's tortured
guilt, were again careful but honest. You would expect characters to
be feeling pretty raw, tortured, questioning of their relationships
and so on; but I felt that Lois's ultimate response made sense.

I did notice the absense of the final 'twist' to the tale; it was a
cute ending to the original story, but I think that Karen is right to
think that it makes more sense for this, if it happens, to be
included in a sequel at some point in the future.

Incidentally, something which didn't occur to me first time around:
in this story Lex Luthor was a millionaire while in college! Did you
intend this to be inherited wealth, or was he simply a very
precocious, and hard-working, child? This intrigues me a little,
since in the show very little was ever said about how Lex made his
millions. There was a hint, in HoL, that he didn't start from a
position of riches...

Nice work, Karen! And if you have the energy, after finishing this,
I'm looking forward to your next story.

Wendy

----------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 09:44:53 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E
*
*
*
*
Hey Karen,

I am so proud of you.  I can't believe the perseverance you have shown
in bringing this story to its finished form.  Having seen only a small
part of your struggle with it, I wouldn't have blamed you for scrapping
it completely.  But instead, you stuck with it and turned it into a
highly polished piece of fanfic.  And, addressing all those other
readers on the list, Karen pored over all the emails received in
response to her first version of this story.  She really, really paid
attention to everyone's concerns which is to be applauded.

You have done a great job of maintaining the parts of your previous
attempt that worked, while strengthening those parts that were a little
awkward in the previous incarnation.

I miss the twist ending from your previous version and definately hope
that you write a sequel, starting it about one to two weeks after this
story ends. (But I'll understand if you want to take a break from this
one for a while. vbg)

Dialogue was really well handled.  I could hear the characters speaking
these lines. (And no, I don't normally hear voices!)And I felt you did
a much better job of building suspense this time around.

Once again, well done, Karen.  I can't wait to read your next effort.
And to those on the list who haven't read it yet, I highly recommend
you look for Tomorrow's Past in the archive.  I still say, Karen, that
you have developed the most unique way of dealing with Tempus in that
story that I have ever read!

Take care, Karen.  Hope you have a nice time visiting Metropolis,
Illinois. Take lots of pictures!

All the best,
Irene
sirenegold@yahoo.com

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 23:38:51 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sarah Sandberg <sarahsandberg@EBOX.TNINET.SE>
Subject:      SV:      The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Jenni,
Coming out of hiding here for a short while....  Just wanted to tell you =
I loved The Universal Union, and YES we want more....  One thing though.
S
P
O
I
L
E
R=20

S
P
A
C
E

You wrote..

"that life for women on Krypton is not as
liberated as on Earth.  Women on my planet are valued, but only as =
wives,
mothers or sisters and any man treating a lady with disrespect will be
severely disciplined."

This a little generalizing I think.  There are lots of places on Earth =
where women are treated just like that.  I somehow get the feeling that =
when you have Kal-El talking about Earth, he's really talking about =
America.  That bothers me a bit.

That's the only comment I have.  Everything else is great.

Sarah
(who is now crawling back under the rock she came from)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 22:57:52 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
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Sandy McDermin wrote:

> Well that's a very good point.  What does it all mean?  Is it truly
> about "the best fanfic written by the luckiest person?"  If so, we'll
> have to change some designations:  The best comedy written by the
> luckiest person who happened to write a comedy!<g>  I truly apologize
> for being facetious, but the point is the Kerths must mean something
> beyond luck, or why go to all the trouble of nominating and voting?
> We could just hold a lottery.
>
Sandy, you're right.  I just expressed myself badly - 'lucky' was a poor
choice of word.

> Frankly, I'm very ambivalent about the Kerths. I want to win an award.
> Who doesn't want to win an award? But, I know that the results of
> competitions focusing on creative work are somewhat a matter of taste,
> involve factors beyond the work itself, and are a little bit
> self-perpetuating. It inevitably leaves out good work which may not get
> attention at first -- but rather -- attention at last. And that's too
> bad.

I think, essentially, we agree, Sandy.  Competitions in a creative field
are, as you say, subjective, although one hopes that the nomination/voting
process deals with this to some extent.

> Well, "Love as a Blonde" was nominated the first year," she mumbles ...
> "by one person." (I asked Leanne how many nominations it got.<g>)  I
> pulled it, however, because it was in a category (comedy) with 4 short
> (good) stories, which all together, were less than half the size of
> LaaB. (Apples and Oranges.)

I have to say, I was mystified when I heard that some people had withdrawn
their stories from the awards.  Now I understand why, so thanks for the
explanation.  On the other hand, would it have mattered if you had left the
story in the competition?  If it lost as you expected it to, then as far as
I can tell, there's no stigma attached to that, and if, against the odds,
it had won, that would have been a good thing, wouldn't it?

Regards,
Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 18:50:48 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      Re: REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
In-Reply-To:  <SIMEON.9906111736.W@pc14.hrm.keele.ac.uk>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Hi, FoLCs! :)

/me comes out of hiding again to respond to these kind comments

>Great work! And I know how long this has taken you, and how
>much agonising, so you deserve all the plaudits you will undoubtedly
>get.

Thanks so much! :)  And it seems to me that "agonising" was a very
appropriate word choice! ;)

>This story is extremely well written; the characters are portrayed
>just as I imagine them, and I can really 'hear' the dialogue - which
>is extremely funny in places, by the way. The atmosphere, whether at
>the Planet, in the Jeep, at home or somewhere else, is always well
>described, and Karen does an excellent job of conveying the
>characters' thoughts and emotions.

<blush>  Thanks *so* much, Wendy! :)  Dialogue has always been one of
my favourite aspects of writing. :)

>I really loved 'Tomorrow's Past' when Karen circulated it, and this
>revised story confirms to me that Karen is a very talented writer.

Oh wow!  A plug for my other story, too!  You *are* too kind! :)

>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>
>This version does handle the rape episode and its aftermath better. I
>was very pleased (and relieved for him!) that Clark gets there in
>time, not to prevent the rape, but to deal with Rickman and take Lois
>to hospital. This time, also, there was no doubt about what had
>happened (unlike in the previous version when events only became
>obvious to the reader subsequently). Again, the scene itself was
>handled sensitively but not lightly.

"The scene" is definitely the most difficult thing I've ever written,
and I wouldn't be surprised if it remained so for the rest of my
life!  Not only was it painful to write the first time around, it
didn't get any easier any of the subsequent times.  Not to mention,
it was, without a doubt, the most rewritten scene of the entire story.

<snip some more generous comments that left me blushing>

>I did notice the absense of the final 'twist' to the tale; it was a
>cute ending to the original story, but I think that Karen is right to
>think that it makes more sense for this, if it happens, to be
>included in a sequel at some point in the future.

I would have liked to have kept that ending, but I kept thinking of
more aspects of it that I wanted to explore, so I decided that either
I'd spend another two years writing Nightmare, or I'd split it into
two stories.  I think I'm happy with my decision. ;)

>Incidentally, something which didn't occur to me first time around:
>in this story Lex Luthor was a millionaire while in college! Did you
>intend this to be inherited wealth, or was he simply a very
>precocious, and hard-working, child? This intrigues me a little,
>since in the show very little was ever said about how Lex made his
>millions. There was a hint, in HoL, that he didn't start from a
>position of riches...

Oops!  I hadn't meant to imply that Lex was in college (as I had
orignally indicated) at the time he was dating Helen.  I thought I
had changed that aspect; I'll have to go back and check.  Thanks for
pointing that out. :)

>Nice work, Karen! And if you have the energy, after finishing this,
>I'm looking forward to your next story.

Hehe . . . I seem to have lots of energy after finishing this -- it's
been quite a relief, actually. :)  I just hope RL permits to get some
more writing done soon. :)

Thanks again for your comments, Wendy!  They were *greatly* appreciated! :)

Sincerely,
Karen :)
who'd also like to plug Wendy's upcoming sequel to "Big Boys Do Fly"
-- you're in for a treat, FoLCs! :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 18:50:55 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      Re: REVISED: NIGHTMARE ON HYPERION AVENUE, Part 8 of 8
In-Reply-To:  <19990611164453.12420.rocketmail@web903.mail.yahoo.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>*
>*
>*
>*
>Hey Karen,

Hi, Irene! :)

>I am so proud of you.  I can't believe the perseverance you have shown
>in bringing this story to its finished form.  Having seen only a small
>part of your struggle with it, I wouldn't have blamed you for scrapping
>it completely.  But instead, you stuck with it and turned it into a
>highly polished piece of fanfic.

Certainly your generous support has had a great deal to do with my
perseverance with this story! :)  You didn't actually read it
*again*, did you? ;)

>And, addressing all those other
>readers on the list, Karen pored over all the emails received in
>response to her first version of this story.  She really, really paid
>attention to everyone's concerns which is to be applauded.

<blush> Thanks! :)  However, I'm afraid I can't take too much credit
here.  If everyone's concerns hadn't been expressed so
constructively, and so intelligently, I doubt I ever would have been
able to do it.

<snip more overwhelmingly nice comments>

>I miss the twist ending from your previous version and definately hope
>that you write a sequel, starting it about one to two weeks after this
>story ends. (But I'll understand if you want to take a break from this
>one for a while. vbg)

Hehe . . . well, there is a sequel in the works.  However, I most
definitely need a break from dark issues for a while! ;)

<snip yet more gracious comments>

>Once again, well done, Karen.  I can't wait to read your next effort.
>And to those on the list who haven't read it yet, I highly recommend
>you look for Tomorrow's Past in the archive.  I still say, Karen, that
>you have developed the most unique way of dealing with Tempus in that
>story that I have ever read!

Oh, wow! :)  What a day!  Yet another plug for Tomorrow's Past. :)
With such positive comments from two such wonderful writers, you guys
are gonna make me think I can actually write. ;)

>Take care, Karen.  Hope you have a nice time visiting Metropolis,
>Illinois. Take lots of pictures!

Thanks, and I will -- not mention St. Louis! :)

And thanks again for all your supportive comments, Irene! :)  I'm on
cloud nine right about now. :)  I imagine I've got enough here to
stay there for a while too. ;)

Take care,
Karen :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 05:04:07 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 4 of 4 (SPOILER)
In-Reply-To:  <37608640.EF0B74BF@erols.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 11:45 PM 06/10/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Debby wrote:
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>SPOILING
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>Arch criminal Lois Lane<g>, scheming to kidnap innocent men off the
>street so she can have her evil, villainous, and wicked way with ...
>
>THEIR DRY CLEANING!

Dashed and darn (this is a family list...), my secret's out...!

>>           This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in my
whole
>> life.
>
>And, that's sayin' something! (I could see Clark innocently thinking
>this and not even considering the irony.)

I've always liked Deborah Joy Levine's comment that her CK was a world
traveler
but not jaded. I figure that was because he had so much fun (98% of the
time),
did so many interesting things and met so many interesting people. Also,
he's
had zero experience with phantom dry cleaners.

>> [Your real author thanks my proofers and creative consultants Pat H.,
Jeanne
>> P., Sandy McD., and Steve H.]
>
>
>I think the list can now see why I "allowed you to convince me"<g> to do
>a little proofing.  Ha, I guess I have my own evil, villainous and
>wicked ways too.

Yes, writers, there's the secret: when readers point out typos (and do it in
a
thoughtful manner, like Sandy did and other before her have for me), thank
them
very much and tack on the tantilizing "Wanna see the next part? Just let me
know..."

>Sandy

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
next part: Sunday - repercusions from
"Thursday Night"
So much to write, so much to read..
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 05:30:38 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal
In-Reply-To:  <003b01beb3e0$121ba380$8c9f01d4@default>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 08:39 AM 06/11/1999 +0100, you wrote:
>Debby wrote:
>
>
>>At 12:20 PM 06/10/1999 +0100, Labrat, excellent author on her own, wrote:
>
>
>Gee, thanks, Debby. <blush>

Well, it's true! Right, Labrat fans?

>
>>>S
>>>P
>>>O
>>>I
>>>L
>>>E
>>>R
>>>
>>>S
>>>P
>>>A
>>>C
>>>E
>>>
>>Howeveer, it's also a limited POV. I can't tell you everything that
happens
as
>>I can using the 3rd person POV, even using CK's x-ray vision :) He's
telling
>>you what he knows and how he understands life to be, and guessing about
the
>>rest, as we all do. I really enjoy writing 1st person POV. It allows one
to
>>delve deep into a character, but it does have certain limitations, too,
even
>>when the POV character can lift mountains.
>
>Yes. One of my pet peeves has always been reading a story written in 1st
>person POV or that deals with a flashback situation, where the writer
>includes something that the person just couldn't possibly have seen, or
>heard or known about. Drives me nuts. They are fun to write though - a real
>challenge to get right.

Agreed. But sometimes writers have problems with 3rd person POV. I get
distracted when an author changes POVs twice, sometimes three times in the
same
paragraph. Some authors can get away with it smoothly.  Others... (making up
a
sample here)

                  "I love you," Lois said. She thought Clark had beautiful
         eyes. Clark did, too. He enjoyed Lois's outlook on life. Lois
always
         had a comment about everything; good, bad, indifferent, she had
         interesting opinions and she knew it was despite her parents'
         fighting. He cooed as he kissed her, "Your the tops, toots."

Always bugs me.

>>LabRat :) (Who must have been on a roll to have gotten past Clark's
>>>encryption code. And without even figuring out how I did it either. Darn,
>>>I'm good. Maybe I should join Lois in the Underground. :D)
>>
>>Well, once the journal entry is home in Smallville, it can be kept
unzipped
and
>>unencrypted :)  Now, how you got to be a decendent of CK... that's what
he'd
>>like to know ;)

>Dunno, about that one. My memories of early life are hazy. Lots of
>squeaking, fights at the food bowl, that kind of thing.

         Clark's future wife:  "Clark, dear, I have something to tell you -
I'm
pregnant and I'm going to have your rodent..."
         Clark: "Heh... well, we'll love it just the same, huh?"

>But I have
>definitely decided to join the Underground. Living in the sewers being my
>natural environment I reckon it could work. ;) (And no cracks there about
>writing nfic, guys. That wasn't what I meant.)

I'm glad you cleaned up for your lab work :)

>LabRat
>Doc. Klein's LabRat
>labrat@ukf.net

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
hoping Dr. Klein doesn't test foods
or cosmetics on his rats...
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 19:20:31 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 4 of 4
In-Reply-To:  <ca0221bf.24924ef2@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 07:37 AM 06/11/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Gosh!  What happens next???
>
>SPOILER
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>*
>
>If I'm ever reincarnated, I want to come back as Maxine with her tape
measure.
>
>Carol

You have my permission :)

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 22:36:48 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Yvonne Connell wrote:
>
> Sandy McDermin wrote:
> > Well, "Love as a Blonde" was nominated the first year," she mumbles ...
> > "by one person." (I asked Leanne how many nominations it got.<g>)  I
> > pulled it, however, because it was in a category (comedy) with 4 short
> > (good) stories, which all together, were less than half the size of
> > LaaB. (Apples and Oranges.)
>
> I have to say, I was mystified when I heard that some people had withdrawn
> their stories from the awards.  Now I understand why, so thanks for the
> explanation.  On the other hand, would it have mattered if you had left
the
> story in the competition?  If it lost as you expected it to, then as far
as
> I can tell, there's no stigma attached to that, and if, against the odds,
> it had won, that would have been a good thing, wouldn't it?
>
> Regards,
> Yvonne

You left off the most important part of my explanation.  Love as a
Blonde is nfic which I had no intention of neutering -- especially since
it's a sex farce.  That means, of all of the people who could vote in
the category to which it had been nominated, a certain percentage
couldn't (or *wouldn't*) read it.  I was, in effect, being asked to
allow it to "compete" under a basic inequity.  Why would I agree to
that? I wasn't interested in taking up space.  Love as a Blonde is also
a good story.  It deserved to have a fair shot at it -- just as the
n-fic in their own category had -- or it shouldn't have been there at
all.

Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
http://www.erols.com/nightsky/Sandy/
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 1999 23:21:27 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Eileen F. Ray" <Eraygun@AOL.COM>
Subject:      L&C Fanfic Writing Session Saturday, June12, 1999
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi everyone,

Skip week is over and we hope you can join us Saturday, June 12, 1999, for
our fanfic writing session. This week's premise:

Having reached the end of his rope professionally and personally, Morgan
Edge
decides he has only one chance to prevent Mindy Church from turning into
fishfood ;), namely uncover Superman's secret identity! Meanwhile Lois and
Clark receive some surprising news from Dr. Klein about Lois's pregnancy.

In addition we would still like to hear from you if you have any story
premises of your own that you would like us to explore together.  You can
either email them to
me at:

        eraygun@aol.com

Or better still, just bring your ideas with you when you join us this
Saturday or for our weekly "story bouncing" sessions on Wednesdays
on#L&CFicOrg, starting around 9:00 PM EDT.

We generally meet Saturdays starting at 3:30 PM EDT and try to start writing
fairly soon thereafter.  You can come and join the fun at any time, however.
We are usually there for several hours since writing a story takes time.

Since #L&CFanfic is on occasion "invite only" please message if you want to
join us.  If an official "inviter" is designated, we will let you know.
Some
of us should be hanging out on #Loiscla.

A note on procedure here ;) : When people need to be caught up on the story
in progress after being bounced off IRC or just joining the session late,
please
try and avoid pasting the story directly into the channel window.  Please do
that in a private message or dcc-chat window instead.

Hope to see you all there!

Cheers,
Eileen

P.S. Because of family obligations I'll be a little late on Saturday, but I
know things will get off to a great start ;) and I will join in later ;).
EFR
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 10:26:13 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: My Journal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

>Debby
>Debby@swcp.com
>hoping Dr. Klein doesn't test foods
>or cosmetics on his rats...

Not by policy, no. But I think I've previously mentioned Eric. He's the
hamster in that cage under the window there. We don't talk about him much
anymore. And then only in whispers. Bernie told him not to do it, but I
guess GlamPharm just made him an offer he couldn't refuse on testing that
shampoo. All the kibble he could eat, probably. He's had this glazed look in
his eyes ever since and keeps up awake through the night singing sea
shanties. Although, personally, I think that's got less to do with the
shampoo than that those monkeys have been slipping him pina coladas again.
>
LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:12:56 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Well, as you know, I enjoyed the original. Still not got much time to spend
on new fanfic right now, but knowing how much heart and soul Karen has put
into this one, I just had to set aside some time this afternoon to catch up.
>From the list posts, I figured I had a treat in store. And I wasn't
disappointed. Now, I realise the original was just the teaser for a much
more involved and emotional experience.

The dialogue is snappy, the story zips along at a fast pace and the various
strands of plot are skillfully and smoothly interwoven. The descriptive
passages are clear and detailed and the issues of the plot handled
sensitively. The scene with Lois' attack was very well portrayed.

In fact I've only one quibble. There *might* be a sequel? Surely, you jest?
That was a typo right? You meant when the sequel is posted, didn't you? I
rather liked that twist ending. I never thought it made light of the
situation, but rather it seemed to round things off somewhat neatly. I
didn't especially miss it here, but I do like the idea that there is more on
this to come and I look forward to seeing its resurrection at some point in
the future.

All in all, thanks for a satisfying afternoon, Karen. I was doubtful that
NOHA could be improved on, but you proved me wrong. Yup, that Kerth 2000
file is getting mighty full these days...

Oh, and I'd add my recommendations for those who haven't to read Tomorrow's
Past. Quite possibly one of the most original post FH takes that I've read
and a darn good story too.

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 16:06:21 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alt world fiction
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Sandy McDermin wrote:

> You left off the most important part of my explanation.  Love as a
> Blonde is nfic which I had no intention of neutering -- especially since
> it's a sex farce.  That means, of all of the people who could vote in
> the category to which it had been nominated, a certain percentage
> couldn't (or *wouldn't*) read it.  I was, in effect, being asked to
> allow it to "compete" under a basic inequity.  Why would I agree to
> that? I wasn't interested in taking up space.  Love as a Blonde is also
> a good story.  It deserved to have a fair shot at it -- just as the
> n-fic in their own category had -- or it shouldn't have been there at
> all.
>
Ah...I see.  Perhaps if the nfic awards get off the ground, then stories
like LaaB will be able to compete more fairly - assuming you wanted to take
part, of course.

Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 12:48:21 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sarah Wood <SarahWood@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      Lex's age
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I haven't yet had time to read Nightmare On Hyperion Avenue -- or many of=

the other fanfics sent out recently -- but I've been reading the spoilers=

and discussions nonetheless, and it's clear I have a treat in store.

Regarding the discussion about Lex being a millionaire in college: In the=

Pilot episode Lois interviewed Lex. We learn that his parents both died
when he was fourteen, and that he took over his first "big company" when =
he
was twenty-one. There were rumors that the buyout was coerced, that the
Board of Directors were given substantial-- ("gifts" might have been her
next word, but he cut her off.)

Lex could have been in his senior year of college when he was twenty-one.=

Sarah Wood
sarahwood@compuserve.com
Fanfic & episode transcripts at
http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/2501/
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 13:15:36 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Norman Mayes <Budmayes@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Lex's age
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Here are questions which have been bugging me. How old was Lex in the
series?
and old was he when he had children? He seemed rather young to have the
number of full grown children that he did. Also how many wives did he have?

budmayes@aol.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 13:50:46 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kate Kent <KateKent@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Lex's age
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hey FoLCs, long time no post.  But I just felt the need to put my two cents
in.

As for Lex's children and Marriages.  In "Madame Ex" we learn that Lex, as
far as anyone else knows, was married once to Ariana Carlin.  They have no
children, at least that's what we are told.  As for Lex Jr. as appearing in
the Lex Files, I always assumed that Ariana would be the most logical guess.
For a deformed child like that to grow up in seclusion without parents
giving
too shakes, both parents would have to be quite evil.  I think Ariana fits
in
that category.  Plus, we know that Ariana and Lex were married on a cruise
ship.  Which means they traveled together.  So the idea of Little Lex Jr.
being born and kept in AU doesn't seem to far fetched.  However, the next
question posed would be where did good old Xavier from "Virtually Destroyed"
come from?  He seemed very similar in age to Lex Jr. didn't he.  So I turn
to
my psychology background...hey, I've been to therapy enough to call it a
background <g> I would have to say Lex has a lot of issues.  He's also not
the faithful type.  I almost think his marriage to Ariana was half lust and
half sick partnership because she was a lot like him.  So it makes sense for
him to have a side bar relationship, possibly with one of his employees.
The
product of this little fling is dear old Xavier.  This was prolly just
before
or during his engagement to Ariana (after all, Xavier and Lex Jr. do look
the
similar age but they are a season apart) and couldn't marry her.  So he
sends
them away.  I would tend to think this occurred just before his engagement
to
Ariana because then it would make sense for him to tell people that his
child
and his mother had been killed, leaving him free to catch another fish as it
were.  And there we have it TA DA.  Just my two cents.

I really should forward this to all those people who used to ask me how I
could watch L&C since it's plot lines were a bit shady.  Easy, if it's
shady,
you can shade in what ever colours you like to it.  *grin*

-Kate
aka KatieBugz on IRC, formerly Lois_Lane
- - - -
"I seem like I got it all figured out, but believe me, I screw up plenty" -
Fran Drescher
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 19:42:40 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: fanfic recommendations
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

For those of you who enjoy nfic - and are of the required age to appreciate
it - may I recommend a story which just hit my mailbox this morning from
Debby's mailing list. "What If I Never Left Krypton' is by an entirely new
writer, D. Field and, incredibly, this is her first posted fic.

The subject of what may have happened to Lois and Clark's relationship if
Clark had been raised on Krypton has been covered before, but I have to say
that this is the best take on the subject I've read so far.  The prose is
crisp and at times quite poetic, the dialogue sharp, witty, and easy to
read, the characters real and the story exciting and I found myself
constantly having to guard against the temptation to skim ahead to find out
what happened next. Waffy moments abound.

I was delighted to discover when I finished that the writer plans this one
as part one of a trilogy. At times, especially as she has seeded in the odd
line of dialogue from the show throughout but with a different spin on them
to suit the particular situation, I was reminded of Chris Mulder's Meet Me
In Kansas City. For me, this story held the same air of magic.

What more could you want? Oh, yeah....the nfic bits are pretty hot too.
<vbg>

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 16:51:49 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         No Name Available <MPSL27@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Lex's age
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Kate wrote:

<<As for Lex's children and Marriages.  In "Madame Ex" we learn that Lex, as
far as anyone else knows, was married once to Ariana Carlin.  They have no
children, at least that's what we are told.  As for Lex Jr. as appearing in
the Lex Files, I always assumed that Ariana would be the most logical guess.
>>

Remember in Madame Ex, the ship's captain told L&C that Lex and Ari got
married in 1984....so....OK I forgot my point....LOL, whatever!
Mols
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 18:18:50 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards (was Alt world fiction)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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> Perhaps if the nfic awards get off the ground, then stories
> like LaaB will be able to compete more fairly

That's a good point ... anyone out there willing to get things rolling
on a Kerth-type award for nfic stories?  :)  What do we want to call
them?  What stories would be eligible -- all of them, or just the ones
published in 1998?  What should the categories be?  I think this would
be a fun summer project -- who's up for it?  I'm willing to help but I
can't take charge -- for one thing, I haven't read nearly enough nfic
:-)
--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 20:33:13 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Maggie <maggie13@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      OT: Printing Page Numbers?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi!

I need some technical assistance, pretty please?
Word is *refusing* to print page numbers on my
fanfic and I'm about simmer my computer
in Red Kryptonite for dinner.

Any tips on what I may have unknowingly pressed
to incur my puter's wrath and how to
to get my numbers back would be greatly
appreciated.......

signed,
Numberless in Metropolis
aka
Maggie
:o)

maggie13@bellsouth.net  (aka supermags on IRC)
My rationale is that there are people starving all over the world,
so I don't bother to waste food by attempting to prepare it.
 And the world thanks me for that!
--My friend Margaret on Cooking :o)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:12:36 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: OT: Printing Page Numbers?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Maggie wrote:

>I need some technical assistance, pretty please?
>Word is *refusing* to print page numbers on my
>fanfic and I'm about simmer my computer
>in Red Kryptonite for dinner.
>
>Any tips on what I may have unknowingly pressed
>to incur my puter's wrath and how to
>to get my numbers back would be greatly
>appreciated.......
>
Oh, Maggie. I'm sorry I have no advice to offer - I was just surprised to
see that someone else has the same problem. <g> I gave up trying to persuade
Word to number pages years back. It tells you it has, right? And they are on
the screen, but not when you print? Sigh. I got around it by going online
and bypassing the need to print fanfic because I posted it instead. Or sent
it by email. Suddenly nos. were superfluous. <G> Hope someone can ease your
frustration.

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:10:10 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards (was Alt world fiction)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Pam wrote:

>That's a good point ... anyone out there willing to get things rolling
>on a Kerth-type award for nfic stories?  :)  What do we want to call
>them?  What stories would be eligible -- all of them, or just the ones
>published in 1998?  What should the categories be?  I think this would
>be a fun summer project -- who's up for it?  I'm willing to help but I
>can't take charge -- for one thing, I haven't read nearly enough nfic
>:-)

I thought the Nfic Kerths were already a project in planning, Pam. Weren't
the Usual Suspects ;) supposed to be organising them for....July? Or
something like that. Erin?

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:08:05 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: fanfic recommendations
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

>For those of you who enjoy nfic - and are of the required age to appreciate
>it - may I recommend a story which just hit my mailbox this morning from
>Debby's mailing list. "What If I Never Left Krypton' is by an entirely new
>writer, D. Field and, incredibly, this is her first posted fic.
>
Quite a few FoLCs have mailed me to ask where to get this one. For anyone
unaware, to sign up to Debby's mailing list simply mail her at
debby@swcp.com with your request to join. Include an age statement and a
declaration that you will not distribute stories received to a third party
without the writer's prior permission. You can then get WIINLK - and other
previous nfic stored in the archives - from Joyce Fitch.

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 22:04:11 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
In-Reply-To:  <000f01beb4d5$6ff7d820$858801d4@default>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E

<snip incredibly kind, almost embarrassing, compliments which I'm
perpetually grateful for> :)

>In fact I've only one quibble. There *might* be a sequel? Surely, you jest?
>That was a typo right? You meant when the sequel is posted, didn't you?

Um . . . yeah.  That's what I meant. ;)  Seriously, I have every
intention of writing the sequel, but, with me, sometimes intentions
don't come to fruition -- at least not for a very long time. ;)  I'll
see what I can do. ;)

>I rather liked that twist ending. I never thought it made light of the
>situation, but rather it seemed to round things off somewhat neatly. I
>didn't especially miss it here, but I do like the idea that there is more
on
>this to come and I look forward to seeing its resurrection at some point in
>the future.

Thanks! :)  That's the plan. ;)

>All in all, thanks for a satisfying afternoon, Karen. I was doubtful that
>NOHA could be improved on, but you proved me wrong. Yup, that Kerth 2000
>file is getting mighty full these days...

<blush -- I seem to be doing that a lot these days> ;)  Thanks, LabRat! :)

>Oh, and I'd add my recommendations for those who haven't to read Tomorrow's
>Past. Quite possibly one of the most original post FH takes that I've read
>and a darn good story too.

Oh, wow! :)  I don't think I'll ever figure out what I did to deserve
such praise.  I'm not knockin' it, though. ;)

Thanks *so* much for taking the time to comment on the new Nightmare,
LabRat! :)  I seem to be stuck with a perma-grin now.  People keep
asking me what's so funny. ;)

Thanks again! :)

Karen :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 22:54:42 -0500
Reply-To:     Barbara Knutson <wbarbara@execpc.com>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Barbara Knutson <wbarbara@EXECPC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards (was Alt world fiction)
In-Reply-To:  <3762DCCA.E640C746@bellsouth.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

On 12 Jun 99, at 18:18, Pam Jernigan wrote:

> in 1998?  What should the categories be?  I think this would be a fun
> summer project -- who's up for it?  I'm willing to help but I can't take
> charge -- for one thing, I haven't read nearly enough nfic :-) --

I'm glad you put that smiley there, Pam, 'cause I missed it on the
first read, and was going "how can anybody *ever* have enough
nfic?"

:} :} :} :} :}

Barbara
looking forward to actually having time to *read* some one of these
eons......*sigh*...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
wbarbara@execpc.com               WAFFYBarb on IRC
One-half of TheWAFFys - now in our 2nd year of married bliss!
Barbara:  http://members.tripod.com/WAFFyBarb
Jon:  http://members.tripod.com/waffyjon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:49:59 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Maryann James <Prplegyrl@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards (was Alt world fiction)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

i have a question... do you have to be 17 or 18 to get on the nfic list?
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:50:48 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 1 of 4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Ah, Debby, you make me leap for my e-mail program on Sunday and Thursday
mornings -- please keep it up! I love how the mystery keeps twisting around
itself, and those references to measuring for a suit -- without mentioning
*which* suit (it can't be *the* Suit!!) -- are even more intriguing that
your persona-non-grata who still has a reserved desk and contacts among the
staff... :)

I found it a bit surprising that Clark considered being "afraid" *worse*
than being "apathetic." He's such an understanding guy that I'm sure he
could understand the former, while the latter would prolly be beyond his
comprehension.

I also note that any Lois of your creation has a Maxine in her life,
whether it's a maniac wielding a tape measure and dry-cleaning suits or a
pregnant guppy. :)

One thing that bothered me, though:  Maxine. You told the story through
Clark's eyes, a guy who could actually see and hear what was happening and
had the power to extricate himself at any moment if he felt the need to do
so. But when I read it -- and reread it to make sure I wasn't overreacting
(not that rereading it was any kind of torture <g>), I couldn't help
picturing the following:

Take an ordinary guy. Someone who is friendly and outgoing, a good
journalist, etc. etc. -- in short, everything that Clark is, only *without*
the superpowers. Reassuring hand on the shoulder notwithstanding, a
non-superpowered guy would be in a panic at being kidnapped -- he's been
blindfolded, gagged, hands handcuffed behind his back, he's been told that
there's a gun pointing at him, and as far as he knows, Jimmy is nowhere in
sight, so there's no friend to look out for his interests. He's led deep
into a building he can't see, he doesn't know where he is... and after
sitting in a chair for several minutes, with nothing to do except let the
panic settle in a bit more, he hears someone come into the room and say,
"Can you help me stand him up?" And after a bit more dialogue between his
kidnappers, the newcomer starts undressing him.

I can't help it, Debby. A non-super kidnappee in these circumstances --
still blind, still gagged, still handcuffed -- would only be able to
conclude that it was a prelude to something akin to rape. Maxine taking
*pleasure* at her tactile contact comes across as pure sadism. Even after
the other kidnapper stopped her from removing his jeans, would an ordinary
person know what that thing was that kept moving across his chest? I'd hate
to imagine the terrors that a fertile imagination would create out of
circumstances like that.

>From Lois' reaction, Maxine wasn't sposed to be there, so I'll assume that
this wasn't part of Phase One or Two or whatever -- that Lois wasn't trying
the sink-or-swim method with this potential whatever-it-is she's looking
for: "Well, if he's not a gibbering wreck by the time we take him back
home, he just might be the right guy for the job." At least, I hope she
wasn't.

Lois rightfully tore into Maxine for doing it, but I can't believe that
Lois would employ someone capable of so heartlessly terrorizing someone who
was helpless to stop her.

Am I overreacting here?

Hazel
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:50:50 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Wendy wrote:

>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>
>I was intrigued by Hazel's observation that, with Kal-El taking Lois
>to his world, we now have Tempus's preferred universe in which no
>Utopia can occur. I have no idea whether Jenni intended this universe
>to be one in which Utopia was ever going to come about <g> - but it's
>certainly a thought, and I'd like to see Jenni deal with this in a
>later segment of the story.

Actually, Wendy, I personally couldn't care less about Utopia; I always
thought that was one of the more ridiculous aspects of LnC. :) No, my point
was about the Metropolis of the *present*. Tempus, in his alt-universe,
robbed the world of a crusading Lois and an actively-using-his-powers
Clark. Kal, by swooping Lois off *beyond* the sunset, has essentially done
the same thing. So what happens in their absence?

Just from what I've picked up reading ep synopses and some of the scripts
(and a *lot* of fanfic!), Lois and/or Clark are personally responsible for
(in no real order): the saving of the colonists' transport to Prometheus;
preventing Lex from turning an entire section of the city into Toast; Lex
being unable to start up his nuclear plant (and quite possibly blowing
Metropolis off the map); stopping Lex (or his kin) from brainwashing the
leaders of the world into doing his bidding; Bob Ga- I mean, Fences being
stopped from blowing islands off the map; Miranda unable to permanently
perfume all Metropolis into insanity; stopping a computer nutcase from
shutting down America in a worse crisis than the direst predictions for
Y2K; and prolly many  more that escape me at the moment.

Not to mention the entire world getting wiped when a 17-mile wide asteroid
hits the planet. Hmmm. Don't think there's much reason to worry about
Utopia after *that*. :)

Hazel
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:26:10 -0600
Reply-To:     erink@ida.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
In-Reply-To:  <006501beb53c$dbb3a000$629501d4@default>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

LabRat wrote:

>I thought the Nfic Kerths were already a project in planning, Pam. Weren't
>the Usual Suspects ;) supposed to be organising them for....July? Or
>something like that. Erin?

Don't look at me.  <g>  I've only read a half dozen nfics, so I'm hardly an
expert on the genre.  :)  When we were hashing out the 1999 Kerth
categories, we decided that one single nfic category would be insufficient
to cover the many, many great nfics written, with authors who very much
deserved to have their due rewards for their efforts.  So we decided we
should leave out the nfic category and give the nfic writers an awards show
of their own.  That was what we came up with.  We also decided to put some
space between the regular Kerths and the nfic ones since there was likely to
be a burnout amongst the fans and coordinators, so we thought maybe late
summer would be an ideal time; however, no decision had been made.

There had also been some talk as to the names of the awards, maybe naming
them something different than Kerths.  Merriweather, perhaps?  It seemed
that Zoom had a rather colorful suggestion for it on IRC late one night as
well, but this is a family list. <g>

Anyway, just wanted to tell you what I knew.  :)

Erin
_________________
erink@ida.net
ELK on IRC
Visit my 1999 Official Kerth Awards Website!  http://www.ida.net/users/davek
                   *****
"The truth is, no one knows how long they've got.  Anyway, it's not the
years that count, it's the moments...right now, as they happen."
_________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:21:50 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         No Name Available <MsLoisette@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Speaking of that story can someone please send me all 8 parts of that story
again!  I accidentally deleted it :(

Thanks.
Alexis ;-.)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 09:11:19 +0000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Chris Carr <c.carr@VIRGIN.NET>
Subject:      (O.T.) Printing page numbers
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

Please forgive me for posting this to the whole list, but since there
have already been two messages about this I can only assume that
people are interested.  Hope so anyway.

Re Maggie and LabRat's observations that Word sometimes refuses to
print page numbers:

Yes, Word often does that to me, too.  I'm not entirely sure *why* it
does this, or why my solution seems to work, but...

To check if your problem shows similar symptoms to mine: check on
Page Layout view (one of the tiny little buttons on the bottom left
of the text window) and see if your page numbers are appearing
there.  If they are, go into Print Preview.  Zoom in to the place
where you think your page numbers *ought* to be.  Is there nothing
there?  (If there is, the following almost certainly won't help.  If
there isn't, carry on...)

If you go to File: Page Setup you will get all the margin settings
that you are using for your document.  Although, on the face of it,
these probably look like they won't overlap one another, it is worth
playing around with them a little.  I like to print my page numbers
on the bottom centre of the page, and I find that if I move the
bottom page margin up a little, and the footnote margin down a
little, something seems to happen.  If it doesn't work first time,
keep trying: it should come right eventually.  (It's a very
hit-and-miss affair.)

Good luck!

Chris
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 10:24:07 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

>>S
>>P
>>O
>>I
>>L
>>E
>>R
>>
>>S
>>P
>>A
>>C
>>E
>
><snip incredibly kind, almost embarrassing, compliments which I'm
>perpetually grateful for> :)

Like I said last night, Karen, I'm only kind to dogs and strangers. Fanfic
writers are on their own and have to earn it. <G>
>
>>In fact I've only one quibble. There *might* be a sequel? Surely, you
jest?
>>That was a typo right? You meant when the sequel is posted, didn't you?
>
>Um . . . yeah.  That's what I meant. ;)  Seriously, I have every
>intention of writing the sequel, but, with me, sometimes intentions
>don't come to fruition -- at least not for a very long time. ;)  I'll
>see what I can do. ;)
>
Just so long as you're on it, that's all I ask. With the conclusion to Caped
Fear still *not* concluded or posted I have lost all credibility in urging
fellow writers to writer faster.

>>Oh, and I'd add my recommendations for those who haven't to read
Tomorrow's
>>Past. Quite possibly one of the most original post FH takes that I've read
>>and a darn good story too.
>
>Oh, wow! :)  I don't think I'll ever figure out what I did to deserve
>such praise.  I'm not knockin' it, though. ;)

I'll tell you. You wrote a couple of excellent stories. Easy. Now - go do it
again. ;)
>
LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 10:27:18 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: (O.T.) Printing page numbers
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Thanks for the advice, Chris. With Word as temperamental as it is, it comes
as no surprise that this method might solve the problem. <G>

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 07:38:37 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Rowan Fuller <LaneKent@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
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Has someone sent you those stories by now.  If not I'll mail them.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 1999 21:50:47 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: OT: Printing Page Numbers?
In-Reply-To:  <006601beb53c$dc6c41a0$629501d4@default>
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At 02:12 AM 06/13/1999 +0100, Labrat wrote:

>Oh, Maggie. I'm sorry I have no advice to offer - I was just surprised to
>see that someone else has the same problem. <g>

I wrote to Maggie about this with 2 possible solutions.

>I gave up trying to persuade Word to number pages years back.

I use Word97 at home and at work, so...

>It tells you it has, right? And they are on
>the screen, but not when you print?

I've never had this problem... maybe you're printing in Draft mode? I don't
know that that would make a difference--I never print in draft mode ;)

>Sigh. I got around it by going online
>and bypassing the need to print fanfic because I posted it instead. Or sent
>it by email. Suddenly nos. were superfluous. <G> Hope someone can ease your
>frustration.

Yes, one needs more information, like what version of Word (I understand
there
is one for Macs, for example) and what the user is doing. I've had to learn
a
lot fast, and often by stumbling through to the right solution. It's not
that I
don't like to read instruction books (not that we had one), but more that I
when something bizarre happens, the program's makers tend to give the
process a
name (i.e., sticky space? hard space? nonbreaking space?) that is not
descriptive of the problem, so one can't find the solution. It's like
looking
up a word in a how-to-spell-it book but not knowing how to start spelling
the
world
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 09:39:29 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
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Erin Klingler wrote:

> Don't look at me.  <g>  I've only read a half dozen nfics, so I'm hardly
an
> expert on the genre.  :)  When we were hashing out the 1999 Kerth
> categories, we decided that one single nfic category would be insufficient
> to cover the many, many great nfics written, with authors who very much
> deserved to have their due rewards for their efforts.

Frankly, I couldn't understand why n-fic needed to be relegated to one
category.  Why not have a subset of categorie*s* (plural) within the
Kerths?  This would have been my first preference, for whatever it's
worth, and it would have saved on having to organize two events.

> There had also been some talk as to the names of the awards, maybe naming
> them something different than Kerths.  Merriweather, perhaps?  It seemed
> that Zoom had a rather colorful suggestion for it on IRC late one night as
> well, but this is a family list. <g>

A group of us -- not on IRC -- were discussing this many months ago when
we discovered there would be no n-fic category.:(  A couple of clever
names were bandied about for a separate award.

I'm partial to "The Naked Kerths," myself ... the actress said to the
bishop.

Whether another awards thingy happens or not, I'm glad to see the issue
discussed here, since some of us don't go on IRC. If it needs to be
discussed on IRC for the sake of ease, I would suggest a certain date
and time be selected so that the people who *do* read and write it can
be there if they so choose.

Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:05:29 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere Notes...
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Hey.

Sitting here in the depressing Swedish climate, looking at dark clouds
and moaning about this &%=A4#@=A3$! humidity, I decided to come on out of
lurkdom and inflict my first LoC fanfic upon the unsuspecting list instead
of becomming even more depressed by writing on NC-17 fics dealing
with child abuse, rape and lots of other depressing things. It's the first
in a series-in-progress where I decided to re-write a number of
episodes in order to fit our favorite heroes into my own messy
crossover universe ( Marvel/DC/World of Darkness/Ally McBeal/
X-files/Highlander/Witchblade/Spawn/FX-the series... Hey, I did say it
was messy. :D ). So, unless these notes have scared you off by now,
feel free to jump right in and read the *very* imaginative named
"Premiere". ;) ( Yes, I admit... Comming up with names is one
of my many weak spots. :D )

Feedback, critique, flames or whatever, accepted at:
hawk@telia.com, ICQ:21771860 or the guestbook at
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/

- Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:05:51 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 1/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Title: Lois & Clark - Premiere
Author: Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson

Summary:
Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis, becomes a reporter at the Daily
Planet and Hawk's own version of the first episode from the show
takes place. Clark is different, the world is different and the
situation between our two reporters is certainly different from the
show.

Disclaimer:
The usual mumbo-jumbo, you know the drill. Most of the characters
aren't mine and I got large chunks of the story from the show even
though I've added a few of my own touches. Hey, that's why it's
called fanfiction! Read and enjoy, but please remember that I am
an illiterate Swede so there's hordes of grammatical and other
mistakes all over the place. I'm no expert in English names for
chemical compounds either, but I hope you get the general idea.
Niklas, Erik/John, HawkTech, HawkSoft Europe, Le Mat and The Pro
are mine, all mine. Touch without permission and you die, get it?

Thanks:
First and foremost to the astonishing Julie Gibson who did an
*amazing* amount of work going through this story, finding and
offering corrections for my various grammatical mistakes. Heaps
of thanks, a couple of big kisses and a bunch of rib-cracking
hugs go out to her. Also to my family, friends, relatives,
feedbackers, schoolmates, people I've bumped into on the bus,
the people fighting for animal rights, vegetarians, meat-eaters,
everyone I've ever met, everyone I've ever seen, everyone I
haven't seen and the rest of you as well. :) P-hew, that
should cover everything... :D

Updates'n stuff:
New stories, updated stories and sequels, can always be found first
at Hawk's Galaxy and www.fanfiction.net, the two first places I
upload my stories to when I'm finished with them. Feedback,
comments, corrections or whatever, accepted at hawk@telia.com,
ICQ:21771860 or the guestbook at Hawk's Galaxy
( http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/ ).

"....." = Speech
*.....* = Screams/Emphasis
/...../ = Thoughts
*/.../* = Telepathy/Projected thoughts
~.....~ = Translations
+.....+ = Sounds/Radio/Telephone/Computers
***     = Changing Point Of View
---     = Time passes without change in POV

He looked out of the window, the bus was getting closer to
Metropolis. After travelling across most of the world perhaps he
could find a place to call his own here. He relaxed and leaned back,
the young girl next to him was sound asleep at last. She had spent
hours talking to him, he had responded with an occasional grunt or a
few neutrally spoken words. He looked at her more closely, she
really was quite beautiful. Had he not felt such a tingle of
anticipation from finally coming to Metropolis, he might have
responded in another way, even made a few moves himself. But he was
not in the mood, not even willing to make an effort despite her
being a very pretty girl. He thought back on the last couple of
years, he couldn't really believe that he had spent so much time
away from home. He had visited his parents often, of course, but it
was years since he had stayed at home for more then a week or two
when it was time for harvest. He had seen so much, met so many
interesting people, been at so many really great places but had
still not found anywhere that felt right for him. He looked down at
the girl again, he had seen many women as well but not found *THE
ONE* yet. He remembered several fondly and he had a lot of happy
memories of past relations. Rachel, Lana and others from his home in
Smallville, back in Kansas. Jiribah, the princess he met in England,
who taught him ballroom dancing. Jeanette from Paris, who helped him
improve his French to a level normally reserved for native
Frenchmen. Mariko in Tokyo, Sally in New York, Gretchen in Berlin,
Natasha in Moscow and even more. Sometimes it seemed as if he found
at least a girl in every place he visited. Animals, children and
girls always seemed to sense something different in him, something
that made him irresistible. Children would often come to him and
start talking or cuddle up against him even though they had never
seen him before. He always seemed to be able to know what animals
were trying to tell him and they always seemed to enjoy his
presence. Girls and women, as well for that matter, always seemed to
treat him differently from other men, even other attractive men.
They seemed to be able to trust him completely at first sight, some
seemed to be able to shrug it off and some of them got angry with
him for some reason. He had several times been yelled at for doing
nothing more then to enter, say, an elevator or sitting next to
someone on a bus. They would first look closely at him, start
smiling and then blink a couple of times and then stare at him. Some
simply looked away but the worst kind was the ones that started
screaming and throwing things at him. The girl next to him suddenly
moved in her sleep and rolled over against him. Her head against his
chest felt good but he was not in the mood for this at the moment,
perhaps later. He concentrated on her and discovered that she was
awake, she was only pretending to sleep. He shook his head and sent
her a few messages, she would probably think they were her own
thoughts. */What if he's a murderer? Perhaps he's one of those
creeps that rape women? Maybe he's gay?/* She suddenly twisted away
>from him and he could feel her fear, perhaps he had overdone that a
bit so he sent her into a calm mood. He rarely used these powers
because it felt too much like intruding on people's privacy. He
could actually read people's minds like books if he wanted to, that
felt wrong somehow so he had not done that since he discovered that
he could actually do that. Another thing he could do was to sense
what emotional state and physical condition people were in, he
didn't even have to actually see people. He could feel them even
through walls and different altitudes as long as they were no more
then a couple of meters away. He could send messages to people as
well, most people seemed to think that it was their own thoughts, at
least no one had said anything about it so far. He had used it many
times to clear up troublesome situations. Like the one time that he
had managed to convince a terrorist that he forgot to load his gun
so he ripped out his clip to replace it with a new one. He had then
managed to knock him down without anyone getting hurt. Things like
*/There's something wrong here, I better run!/* had saved several
people from falling objects or gotten them out of the way from
speeding cars. He managed to get by by doing odd jobs here and
there, his only "real" work was the things he wrote. He had started
writing to his parents about the places he visited around the world
and his mother had edited his letters a bit and then sent them to
the local newspaper and they had started publishing them! After
reading what the paper called "Kent abroad" he had started writing
real articles that he sent along with the letters to his parents and
the newspaper had continued to publish them and even paid him a
little for it. He'd even done some freelancing for newspapers in the
places he visited, he had gotten a couple of job offers, but he
hadn't felt like staying at any of those places. He had other ways
of getting money as well, if he was really short on cash he could
always fish up a pearl or something like that. Fishing for pearls
with his incredible powers was easy, for variation he sometimes dug
up a diamond or two but those were harder to sell. Once he found a
*huge* diamond, almost as large as his own fist. He had not managed
to part with it though, he had thrown it in his old tree house along
with a few other memorables from his travels. He supposed he could
become rich by selling it or if he used his powers to make money
constantly but that also felt wrong somehow, he only resorted to
*that* when he really needed the cash like when he bought a laptop
computer for himself or when his parents' barn had almost burned to
the ground. He was so different from everyone else, not only because
he had all these powers that apparently no one else had. He had
discovered during his travels that most people wanted money, fame,
men/women, fancy titles, expensive things and much more. All he
really wanted out of life was a place to call *his* home, perhaps
also meeting *the one* he would like to ask to become his wife. He
had for sure met a lot of possible ladies but he had never really
felt that any of them was *the one*. His parents were worried about
that sometimes, his father was the one that expressed it the most
but he knew that even if his mother put up a brave face about it,
she wanted even more than his father that their beloved son would
finally find someone who would "trap him, tie him up and drag him
screaming to the altar" as his mother once said. He smiled at the
memory and took a deep breath, he made a face and looked out of the
window again. He had felt the air going from bad to worse and he was
really surprised to see that the bus had already entered Metropolis.
He shook his head in amusement, he had been so deep into his own
mind that he never even noticed that they had went into the city. He
had once been to Metropolis as a child when he went to school, he
and his classmates had been to a couple of museums and exhibits
before going back to Smallville. He had really liked the trip and
the city even though, horrified, he had exclaimed that "This air
sucks!" as soon as they had gotten off the bus. He smiled at that
memory as well and tried to concentrate on the city. The bus was
going to drop them off more or less in the center of Metropolis and
he had no idea whatsoever about what to do once he got off the bus.
He jumped off with everyone else from the bus, the girl he had been
sitting next to smiled at him and he smiled back. It felt good being
in Metropolis somehow, he did not know why, but he felt good just
standing there outside the bus. He got his suitcase and talked a bit
with the girl now that he no longer felt depressed. She was in
Metropolis to visit her sister who lived just a couple of blocks
away. He got her name, Tanya, and a tiny note with the phone number
to Tanya's sister so he could reach her to the end of this week,
perhaps he wanted to go out on a date? He smiled and said that he
might take her up on that, waved goodbye and walked down the street
where he saw a couple of cabs waiting for customers.

"Hey! I never even got your name!" screamed the girl as he reached
for the door on one of the cabs.

"Clark Kent!" he screamed and waved again before he sat down inside
the cab and asked the cabby to take him to a good and preferably
cheap hotel.

"Sure thing buddy, nice girl." the cabby commented. Clark smiled at
him and winked before leaning backwards against the seat, he wasn't
really tired but he felt drained somehow. He had been awake for more
then 29 hours by now but the excitement of once again going to
Metropolis had kept him awake. He could manage without sleep for
longer periods then this and he was sure that he could stay awake
for 50 more before he would get really tired but he would not do
that. Even though he wasn't really tired he would try to sleep some
as soon as he had called his parents. He could visit them, he could
be there in a couple of minutes but Metropolis felt so good that he
decided to stay here and use the phone instead. The cabby dropped
him off not too far away from central Metropolis, in front of a
small hotel that he claimed was both good and cheap. Clark did not
have his hopes up too high, but some of the places he had stayed at
in Asia and Africa had been worse then *anything* that Metropolis
could throw at him. He was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the
hotel actually seemed to be better then what he had expected for the
money he paid for his room. Sure it was small but it was well kept
and the bed looked marvelous. He had spent the last couple of days
in New York where he visited Sally Jameson, a girl he had met down
in Australia a year or so ago. Back then they had a short romance
but now they were just good friends so he had slept on her couch.
She had been down to Australia in order to get over the fact that
her boyfriend had left her and he had just come down from Japan in
order to see what it was like "down under". They had met each other
while scuba diving and they had spent two weeks together before
Sally had to go home to New York. She didn't have a boyfriend at the
moment so there had been no problems with him sleeping on her couch
for a while. Clark took out some spare change and picked up the
telephone in order to call his parents. The phone was picked up
almost at once on the other end.

"Martha Kent." said his mother in the other end.

"Hi mom, it's me."

"Jonathan, it's Clark!" his mother screamed in the other end. He
smiled and moved the phone away from his ear. "How are you, Clark? I
haven't heard from you since Jamaica almost a week ago!" she asked
nervously.

"Yeah, I left for New York the day after and spent a couple of days
with Sally, you know the girl I met down in Australia? Yesterday I
decided to leave and now I'm calling from Metropolis. How are you
and dad?" Clark heard a click and then,

"Hi son!", his father had picked up the extra telephone.

"Hi, Dad. How are things at home?"

"Well, your mother is trying out her talents as an artist. I don't
know what she's into now, she goes from one to the other faster than
you!" his father said.

"I'm doing modern art, Clark. Your father is to dense too understand
it. Are you still coming home for dinner, Clark?" his mother asked.

"Yeah, Mom. I wouldn't pass up the chance of your home-cooked meals
for anything in the world!" Clark said truthfully. His mother was a
truly great cook, she could make just about anything. He was not
that bad a chef himself but rarely got the chance to make any food
except when staying at some girl's place or when taking a temporary
job at a restaurant or something like that.

"What are you going to do in Metropolis, son?" his father asked
curiously.

"When are you going to stop travelling around the world?" his mother
put in. Clark leaned against the wall but decided against it and
instead jumped up into the air and floated on his back.

"I'm looking for a job, a real permanent job! I called Professor
Carlton and asked him for a favor. I remember him saying that he
once gave a real scoop to a young reporter named Perry White. Well,
Perry White is now the editor at the Daily Planet so Carlton
arranged a meeting for me. I'm going to show him some of my work and
see if he agrees to hire me. If he does I'm really going to try and
live here for a while, perhaps get myself an apartment instead of
living in cheap hotels all over the planet." Clark explained to his
parents.

"Work? Apartment? In Metropolis? What's so great about Metropolis,
son?" asked Jonathan.

"Put a sock in it, Jonathan! If our son finally has decided to
settle down, I for one will not tolerate you trying to scare him
off!" Clark heard his mother explaining to his father in the
background. He smiled, when Martha decided to do something, not even
his powers were enough to prevent her from doing whatever she
wanted.

"I'll call you later and I'll for sure show up for dinner as I
promised, bye Mom and Dad." he finished.

"Bye, son."

"Bye, Clark." Clark hung up and got some change back from the
machine.

---

The next day Clark went out to spend some time in the streets of
Metropolis, the meeting with Perry White was not until the next day.
He picked up a copy of the Daily Planet and took a seat on a bench
in a small park where he sat reading *the* paper and munching on a
danish he had picked up from a small bakery he had walked by on his
way to the park. He browsed through the paper and then read the
front page and the editorial again. Mr. White was a great writer but
the thing that really got Clark's attention was a story by Lois
Lane. He often bought the international Daily Planet so this was not
the first time he had come across articles by Lois Lane. He liked
her work. This time it was about a series of mysterious car thefts
all over Metropolis. Clark nodded, he presumed that now when Lois
Lane was on the case it was only a matter of time before this
mystery was solved. She seemed to have a strange talent of doing
what no one else managed to do. He had read about her knocking down
robbers, working undercover with terrorists, busting weaponsmugglers
and other dangerous assignments. A gang of thieves with a liking for
fancy cars was no big deal compared to her story about the "Red
death and jolly evening" society, a close-knit band of terrorists
that had almost managed to kill the mayor of Metropolis a couple of
years ago before Lois revealed their plans. He shook his head and
left the paper on the bench in case someone else wanted to read it
later. Clark jumped onto a bus for central Metropolis, he wanted to
check out the big city. He took an available seat but only had it
for two stops because then he turned it over to an old lady who got
on the bus only to find all the seats taken. She declined at first
but Clark rose and helped her onto the seat and then stood up for
the rest of the way. Some people looked strangely at him but he
ignored them, big city folks might not be the most polite people on
earth but he was raised in Smallville, a place where everyone knew
everyone and that made him what he now was. He saw a slimy fellow
also standing after a couple of more stops reaching for another
man's pockets and Clark rolled his eyes. He waited until the thief
had his hands down the other man's coat before Clark reached out and
tickled the thief who jumped and got his hands stuck in his victim's
pocket. The furious would-be-victim spun around and delivered a
straight right in the face of the creep. The thief fell backwards
and Clark reached out to keep him from falling and hurting himself
seriously.

"If you ever try something like that again I'll tear you apart you
no-good slime bucket!" the angry victim screamed to the man in
Clark's hands. Clark smiled and at the next stop he jumped off the
bus leaving the semi-conscious thief sitting on the floor of the
bus. Clark took in the surroundings and smiled again, he had jumped
off the bus just over the street from the Daily Planet. He looked at
the huge globe, the logo of the Daily Planet and the large building
itself. But he had nothing to do there today, that was for tomorrow.
He checked out the area around the building and bought himself a hot
dog with everything on it from a stand. /Not bad, not bad at all!/
he thought to himself while eating and walking. Clark picked up a
guidebook to Metropolis that he had picked up in New York and
decided to check out the Zoo, looking at animals was always a good
way to spend a couple of hours. He hailed a cab and was just about
to jump in when a short, bearded man in filthy clothes jumped into
the cab and said,

"Thanks!" with the voice of a girl. "Go!" she/he said only now with
a man's voice and slammed the door shut behind her/him. Clark leaned
down and looked into the window, it certainly looked like a bearded
man only there were some odd things about him. Clark adjusted his
vision a bit in order to get a better look but the cab drove off and
left him standing there looking confused. He shrugged and hailed
another cab that he managed to get into without any strange
men/women stealing it from him. He spent most of the day looking at
animals and they looking at him, Clark could feel their curiosity.
Animals always noticed him, always seemed to know that he did not
quite fit in among the other two-legs. He called Tanya and went to a
date with her in the evening, they went to see some old movie that
she had to study for some class in college. He had seen it before
but sat through it all and explained it to her. She wasn't stupid,
she was actually very bright but Clark gave her a few hints about
what to write about it. They had a quick drink at a pub and they
said goodbye after that. Clark kissed her goodnight but did not
invite her into his hotel room, he was too exited about the coming
day to invite her up to his room and so he walked her home to her
sister's instead.

***

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:07:19 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 2/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Lois Lane paid for her chocolate and jumped into the elevator that
just came down. Two men dressed in fancy clothes walked out. She
snorted, accountants or perhaps members of the board. She did not
recognize them so they were not reporters anyway, she pressed the
button for the newsroom and waited for the doors to close. She saw
them starting to close and started to smile, if she got the elevator
to herself she might be able to get rid of that pebble that somehow
had managed to find it's way into her right shoe. When the gap
between the doors had closed down to an inch, a hand found it's way
between the closing doors. Another hand joined the first and the
doors were pulled open. She gulped down a quick breath and prepared
to stare murderously at whoever it was. A man stepped inside and she
gulped down another quick breath, he nodded at her and stared at the
chart. He apparently found what he was looking for and reached to
press a button but let his hand drop to the side. Apparently he was
going to the newsroom as well, he glanced to her side and she
quickly looked away. /God, is he a *hunk* or what?/ she thought to
herself. She hoped that she had not blushed, it didn't feel like it
anyway but, gosh, was she close! She glanced at him again, he stared
at the numbers over the door and did not notice her looks at him.
His trenchcoat was a little worn and a single shiver went through
her body, when she saw what must have been a hole from a bullet on
the left side of it. The man was gorgeous with that black hair and
strange face, he looked like an American but he had some other
traits as well, both Asian and European. He glanced in her direction
again and she once again pulled her eyes away from him. He shrugged
and looked at the numbers again, she felt a drop of perspiration
crawling down on the side of her face and hoped that the elevator
would stop and more people jump in so she wouldn't have to face him
alone. She briefly considered pressing another button and jumping
off at another floor, but he stood next to the buttons and getting
closer to him was totally out of the question. She made a face,
that... that *man* was driving her mad. /What right does he have to
look *so* good?/ she screamed to herself. She got annoyed at
herself, she was a reporter, *the best* reporter at the Daily
Planet. She had faced armed men and women more times then she could
count! /106 times.../ said a little voice in her head and she
growled inwards at it. The elevator finally stopped and she sighed
with relief and rushed into the newsroom to get away from that man.

***

Clark gulped down several mouthfuls of air, that woman had been
*the* most beautiful he had ever seen! He corrected himself
mentally, he had seen and even had relationships with women that
were more beautiful but there was something special about this one.
He briefly wondered if he had blushed in the elevator but didn't
think so. He relaxed and tried to keep his mind off of her, he knew
that he *had* to find out just who *she* was. She apparently worked
here though. If this meeting went all right, he would make a point
in finding out just who *she* was. Even if it didn't go all right he
would sure try to find it out anyway. Clark looked around in the
huge newsroom, people were running around all over the place and
more people were sitting at their desks writing. He saw *her* again,
she emptied a bagful of something in a desk drawer and then sat down
in front of a computer. /*She* works here!/ Clark smiled but tried
to keep her out of his mind, he needed to concentrate on the meeting
ahead. A young man came out of another elevator with his hands full
of papers in a dangerously swaying pile.

"Ehh, excuse me?" he said to the young man. "I wonder if you could
show me were to find Mister Perry White?" Clark asked. The young man
nodded and balanced the pile of paper in his left arm and pointed to
an office with his right.

"His office is right over there, if he's not there, just follow the
screams." the young man said and walked down among the desks with
his load of papers. Clark walked over to the office and knocked on
the door.

"Just a minute, I'm on the phone!" he heard a voice through the
glass door. He saw a man in his 50's or around that sitting behind a
desk cluttered with papers and with a phone to his head. He could
hear occasional words from within the office even without his
enhanced hearing. It seemed that he could have gotten this
appointment on a better day then today, Clark guessed that Mr. White
was arguing with someone on the phone about something. He turned
around and looked over the newsroom again from this angle, he smiled
and drank deeply of the general mood and sense of excitement. "All
right, come on in but this better be good!" Clark heard from within
the office. He made a face to the world in general and took a deep
breath before entering the office. "What bad news do you have then?
I'm warning you right now, if you are from the IRS you might as well
start running because I'm mad enough to risk the Jailhouse Rock at
the moment!" said the man firmly and rubbed his forehead. "My doctor
says my blood pressure is too high and that's not strange
considering what I have to deal with! One more setback and I'll be
ready to be buried in Graceland!" he finished and leaned back.

"Pava leaves." Clark said without thinking.

"Pava Leaves? Where the *heck* are you from to get a name like
that?" Perry White asked.

"No, no, no. The Ulongu tribe eats Pava leaves to relax, it puts
them in a meditative state of mind and it's supposed to be very
healthy. I know it made me feel good anyway. I'm Clark Kent, I
believe Professor Carlton called about me?" Clark asked.

"Pava leaves? Meditative? Oh, Clark Kent, yes now I remember. Boy,
Professor Carlton. I haven't heard from him in years!" he said and
looked into space for a moment before returning. "He said you were a
*very* good writer, otherwise I'd told him to take a hike. And you'd
better be one because I just now got a phone call from one of my top
reporters who has ended up in a hospital for eight weeks! So pull
out something you have written or I'll kick you out my very own
self! This is *the* Daily Planet, we deal with war, crime,
international emergencies, murder..." Perry said but trailed off
when Clark sensed that someone entered the door behind him.

"Chief, I fixed the broken horn on your golf cart!" someone said and
Clark smiled behind the cover of his left hand.

"Not *now*, Jimmy." Perry said.

"But..." came the answer but it was cut off at once.

"I said *not* now, Jimmy!" Perry said and became red in the face
with anger. Clark heard the door closing behind him and he removed
his hand from his face and adopted a calm, neutral face. "Yes, now
where was I... Oh yes, Kent, I..." he started but got cut off again
as someone else entered.

"Chief, I think there's a story here. The papers I got from that man
this morning reveals that the space shuttle Messenger was sabotaged
and that he knew about it! I really think there's a story here,
Chief." a wonderful female voice said excitedly. Clark rose from the
chair and faced *the* woman from the elevator.

"Lois! Can't you see I'm in the middle of something here?" Perry
said from behind and sighed.

"Lois Lane - Clark Kent." he said simply and Clark put his hand
forward in greeting. She simply ignored him and was fully
concentrating on Perry.

"Nice to meet you... But, Chief, that man was one of the men who
built the Messenger, Samuel Platt and..." her attention was brought
elsewhere by that young man that had given Clark the direction to
Perry White's office standing outside knocking on the window. Lois
mumbled "Gotta go, Chief!" and practically ran out of the office
without having even glanced in his direction once! Clark shook his
head and sat down again. /So *that* was Lois Lane!/ he thought
bewildered, now he knew who she was. Perry shook his head, rubbed
the side of his head with his right hand and sat down in his chair
again.

"She is supposed to be working on a mood piece of an old theater
about to be razed down at 42nd street, but is she doing that?
*Noooooo*, I tell you, if that woman wasn't the best damn reporter
I've ever seen I'd... Now pull out some of your work and do it quick
before I send you packing!" Perry said irritably. Clark blinked and
reached down into his portfolio for something to show Mr. White. He
pulled out a random paper, there were no piece that he was
especially proud of, so any one of them would do just fine. "The
*Borneo* Gazette? Mating rituals of the knob-tailed *Gecko*?! What
in all of Graceland is this? You'd better have a real article
somewhere in there or I'll put my Blue Suede Shoe so far up your..."
he left the rest unsaid. Clark blushed, he had been sure that he had
left that particular article at the hotel he was staying at. He
pulled out a few random articles and checked them over so it was
something that would be accepted as a real article. He handed over
his work about the raid in Jamaica that had been published in
several papers on Jamaica, front page material. He also handed over
a piece he had written about the sloppy standards of a Russian
nuclear powerplant that he had published in a Japanese magazine and
along with that a English translation of that article. He also
handed over a piece he had written about a huge fight at a football
match in Florida, he had went by himself to see the game and had
been just ten meters away from the fight when it broke out. He had
written about it and it had been accepted in several large Florida
newspapers. Perry White browsed through the Jamaican one and started
to smile, he handed over the rest without even looking at them.
"Clark Kent, welcome to the Daily Planet." he said simply and put
his hand out for Clark who grabbed it thankfully and shook it.

***

Lois slammed the phone down and looked over to Perry's office, he
was still busy with someone in there. She had not really noticed who
it was, she had been fully concentrating on this story. She could
feel a tingle in the spine, she knew there was a story here and she
intended to write it! She thought back and remembered that she had
been assigned to another piece, she was supposed to write some
stupid mood piece on an old theater about to be razed. Since she
wasn't in the mood for it, she sent a message to Perry about it and
also announced that she was taking the rest of the day off to shop
for her and her sister who temporarily lived at Lois' apartment
since her former boyfriend had kicked her out. She pulled her things
together and stepped into the elevator just in time to see *that
man* walk out of Perry's office. Had he been the one Perry had been
talking to when she intruded? She truly hoped not, she had ignored
whoever it was and that guy was *certainly* not someone to ignore.
The elevator doors closed so she missed finding out what exactly he
was doing in the newsroom and why he had been in a meeting with
Perry.

***

As Clark walked up to the elevators in the lobby, he encountered the
young man who had directed him to Perry's office yesterday. The
young man introduced himself as Jimmy Olsen, wannabe reporter and
handyman. He offered to show Clark around the place and Clark gladly
accepted. He was very good at judging people and he liked Jimmy at
first sight. They stepped out into the newsroom and Jimmy walked him
around, showing him all the stuff he needed to know and introduced
him to a couple of people here and there.

"Don't look now but you are being watched." said Jimmy mysteriously
but with a smile. "Over there to your right by the coffee machines
are Lois Lane and Cat Grant, Lois is probably the best reporter ever
born and Cat is into gossip. They don't really like each other so if
you ever bump into them I'll give you a little advice, don't mention
either of them to the other unless you want to be way over your
head. Lois is strictly work, she is stubborn like no one else and
she has a very short temper. Cat now, she is one *major* babe. Rumor
has it that she makes a notch in her garterbelt for every man she
takes to bed and that she has had to replace it several times
already." Jimmy said while walking away from them. Clark tried to
sneak a look at them out of the corner of his eye but could not
really see them without turning his head around. He saw what must
have been Lois Lane standing next to a tall woman with red hair,
both of them looking in his direction. He could try and tune them in
with his excellent hearing but the noise all over would probably
make it impossible to hear what they were saying. Jimmy showed Clark
to his new desk, the one that had been vacated by the hospitalized
reporter. He left his stuff there and decided to grab a cup of
coffee. He turned around to walk in that direction and came face-to-
face with a *gorgeous* woman with red hair, probably that Cat Grant
Jimmy had been talking about.

"Hi. New in town?" she asked sweetly. He looked her quickly up and
down and decided to keep his eyes on her face instead of her more or
less non-existent clothing. She shot her arm forward up against his
face and he swiftly took hold of it to kiss her hand.

"Yes. Clark Kent, newly hired reporter here at the Daily Planet." he
answered and placed a swift kiss on her hand before dropping it.

"Catherine Grant, ol' toothless employee here at the Daily Planet."
she replied and moved closer. "If you want, I could give you a
personal tour of this place and the rest of this grand city."

"Miss Grant..." Clark tried but was interrupted.

"*Cat*." she said firmly with a sensual tone to her voice.

"I'll have to take a raincheck on that, I'd like to get settled in
here first. Perhaps later... Cat." he said firmly and carefully
removed his tie from her hands. He dodged her and moved along to the
coffee machines where he poured himself a cup of hot coffee and
dumped in four lumps of sugar. He tried some and was pleasantly
suprised at the taste. / Not bad at all! / he thought and moved down
to his new desk. He checked out the computer, the hospitalized
reporter had a password protection but Clark pulled out a floppydisk
>from his portfolio with a very good codebreaker that he put to work.

***

Lois pretended to read her article in today's paper, she had
infiltrated the car-jackers and her story was front page news.
Normally she *would* have read it but today she kept an eye on the
new guy. *He* had been hired on the spot by Perry yesterday, she had
not been able to get her hands on anything he had written yet but
she had managed to hack into the Planet's personnel database. Clark
Kent from Smallville, Kansas. She had searched other databases for
entries about him and had come up with a suprising amount of stuff.
At first she thought that Clark Kent from Kansas was some kind of
phony identity but she had found articles about him. Apparently he
had been a *very* promising football player back in Smallville, the
sports section of the Planet had even mentioned him a couple of
times back then. They all predicted that whatever team who managed
to get Clark Kent would win the Superbowl, that was how good he had
been. The guy had practically single-handedly put Smallville's
football team on the top of the league. The last she had been able
to find about him in the sports section was a small notice that
Clark Kent had stopped playing football to travel for a while and
that was more then five years ago. So he had not started playing
again for some reason. One long shot into the new joint police
records to see if he had a criminal record spitted out some rather
interesting information. As far as the police was concerned he had
never committed a crime in his whole life but he turned up several
times as a crime witness and he was recorded several times as having
stopped robberies, fights and even two rapes. A check of his
passport after some more hacking turned up a horde of information,
he had traveled across most of the known world and even been twice
in some places. At first she thought that his parents must be rich
as hell but a check on them showed that they were simple farmers
back in Smallville. The new guy had gotten Richard's desk and was
trying out the computer, she was just about to get up and move over
to help him out. She had hacked into Richard's computer and she knew
the password. She took several deep breaths and moved over towards
his desk but stopped. He was running some sort of program from
floppy and after about seven seconds he had broken the code and
gotten access to the computer. He snickered and put the disk away,
Lois saw him browsing through the computer checking things out.
Apparently he knew his way around computers like a true pro, she
shook her head and returned to her desk. She looked through his
personnel file again and shook her head once again. According to
this he spoke more than ten languages fluently! She looked and found
the line "Knows his way around computers" in the middle of the
comments Perry had written about him. She looked up and saw Cat
Grant /The *slut*./ walking up behind him. She put her hands on his
chair and leaned forward over his right shoulder. Lois strained to
hear what they were saying but Perry suddenly appeared from out of
nowhere.

"I see here that you want a 'task force' for your story about the
Messenger? Where do you think I can find someone available to act as
your 'task force' Lois?" he asked curiously.

"What about Peters?"

"Working on the arms treaty."

"Johnson?"

"Police corruption."

"Meyers?"

"The majors faulty taxation. Sorry Lois, you are on your own on this
story." he said simply and walked into his office. She growled and
ran after him, she entered his office behind him and closed the door
behind her.

"Look, Chief, I need at least one *good* reporter." she said.

"You can have Jimmy, he's the only one available!" he replied.

"*Get* real, *Jimmy*?" she said and threw her hands in the air.
Perry looked as if he was about to give her a piece of his mind when
he suddenly turned his head to the computer when he heard the beep
that announced that a new story had been sent for his approval.

"That's strange, I wasn't expecting a new story for at least another
couple of hours. There's no one in here writing anything I've
assigned but..." he pushed a few buttons and suddenly smiled
beamingly. "Kent! I told him about that story of the theater you
were supposed to write. He apparently went on his own and wrote a
piece on it! I hadn't even planned on giving him an assignment yet
and here's a great one. I just found your 'task force', Lois. Take
Kent!" he said with a pleased smile.

"Kent? That... *hack from Microville*?" she asked faintly. Perry
stared at her.

"Lois, have you been hacking into personnel again? I told you to
stop doing that!" he said and shook his head in frustration.

"I need a *real* reporter, not a newbie I have to potty train and
keep from doing beginner's mistakes!" she said in a strained tone of
voice.

"You can have Kent and Olsen or you can do it on your own, take it
or leave it." Perry said and waved at her to get out of his office.
Lois was steaming, she found Clark attractive, *very* attractive but
the man made her lose track of what she was doing. Besides, Cat had
probably already sunk her claws into him so deep that she'd have to
pry them out with a crow-bar before she could manage to drag him out
of the office. Jimmy was cute but what she might need later on was a
*good* photographer, Jimmy had promise but he had a lot to learn. He
showed some promise as a writer as well but not enough for her to
consider using him as a temporary partner. That left Kent, an
unknown equation that made her lose track of what she was doing. She
took a deep breath and walked pass Kent's new desk, she could make a
try but she would probably have to do it herself.

"You are coming with me!" she said firmly and boxed his arm just to
make sure he knew who she was talking to. She never expected him to
even pay attention to her with Cat sitting on his desk leaning on
his monitor but before she had walked more then eight steps he was
beside her with his trenchcoat on. She almost missed a step in
suprise.

"Do you mind if I ask where we are going?" he asked politely.

"We are going to talk to a man named Platt who says that the
Messenger may have been sabotaged." she said quickly and tried to
concentrate on not missing any more steps. She suddenly got angry
and turned around to face him. "Let's get something straight here, I
did not work my buns off to become an investigative reporter for the
Daily Planet just to babysit some *hack* from noweresville. And one
other thing, you are not working *with* me, you are working *for*
me. You are lowman, I am top banana and that's the way I like it.
Comprende?" she spluttered and pointed her finger at him while
waving the other arm around like a helicopter.

"You like to be on top, got it." he said simply. He looked a little
hurt by her sudden storm of insults but seemed to be able to shrug
it off more or less at once. She made a face and saw him smiling a
bit at her.

"*Don't* push me, Kent. You are *way* out of your league." she said
and almost ran into an elevator that had just stopped to drop of a
reporter coming in to type down some story. She spun around and saw
a reflection of Kent on the doors when they closed, he was *smiling*
smugly and shaking his head slightly. She felt just about ready to
spit venom, crossed her arms and stomped her foot all the way down.
The other people in the elevator who had learned to recognize the
signs of an *angry* Lois Lane pushed buttons and got off the
elevator as soon as possible. People who waited to jump onboard on
floors they stopped at took one look at her and backed away from the
open doors. She knew that most of the building knew her by sight,
she had been awarded reporter of the month at least twenty times and
pictures of her along with a copy of some articles had been on
billboards all over the building. She also knew that even those that
did not know what she looked like had heard about her temper and
heard enough to stay away when they saw someone with black hair
stomping feet with arms crossed. She fumed, later today she would be
able to hear whispers whereever she went. "Look out, Lois is *angry*
today.", "Do whatever she wants and do it the way she wants." or as
the braver ones would say while scrambling for cover, "Take cover!
Incoming!".

***

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:08:07 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 3/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Clark followed the *mad* Lois out on the streets where she hailed a
cab and scurried into it with the grace of someone who did that a
lot. It reminded Clark of something and he looked more closely at
her face. She suddenly turned her head around and stared at him.

"*WHAT*?" she growled at him and he knew where he had seen her
before.

"It was you! You were dressed as a man with a beard and everything.
You stole a cab from me yesterday." he accused with a boyish smile.

"I didn't *steal* your cab, I simply borrowed it." she said smugly.
Clark only shook his head and leaned back, this was one *strange*
woman. The cabby said something in a heavily accented English that
was almost impossible to understand, Clark recognized the accent
though.

~You're from Greece, am I right?~ Clark asked.

~Ahhh, it is so *good* to hear a decent language again. I have not
been able to speak anything but English with anyone except by
telephone since leaving Athens two years ago.~ the cabby said.

~What were you trying to say before?~ Clark asked.

~I was wondering were you wanted to go, the lady only said *drive*.
She is a feisty one ehhh?~ the cabby asked and winked. Clark smiled
and winked back at him.

"*What* am I missing here, could you speak a *real* language so I
can understand it as well? Farmboy, what's he saying?" Lois asked.

"He was only wondering were we would like to go, that's all." Clark
said and smiled at her. She mumbled something that did not sound
like something a lady would say and then gave the address to the
cabby.

~She *is* a feisty one, they make good wives once you've tamed
them.~ the cabby said in a neutral voice. Clark choked a bit on that
and laughed out loud, he had to remove his glasses to wipe away a
few tears.

~I'm not sure I would like to be the one who tames *her*.~ he said
when he was back in control of himself. The cabby laughed as well.

~Me neither!~ he said and laughed again. Clark did not dare to look
at Lois at the moment but instead concentrated on looking out of the
window.

"*What* are you guys talking about? Why are you *laughing* all the
time?" Lois growled.

"He told me a joke from Greece, as simple as that." Clark said
neutrally and really tried to keep himself from smiling or laughing.

"What was it?" she asked at once with a suspicious look in her face.

"It doesn't translate." he lied simply and looked out of the window
again. They continued in silence for the rest of the trip, both of
them looking out of their respective windows and the cabby sneaking
looks at them in the rear mirror smiling all the time. The man,
Platt, turned out to live in what must have been one of the worst
slums in Metropolis, it wasn't as bad as Bombay or some other places
Clark had visited but it certainly was worse then anything he had
expected to see in Metropolis. Lois jumped out of the car as soon as
it pulled over and left Clark to pay the cabby.

~She is a *very* beautiful woman, young man. You are one lucky guy.
Once you've tamed her that is...~ the cabby said and winked. Clark
smiled and handed over the money for the trip and a few bucks extra
for tip. He got out and took a few quick steps to catch up with Lois
who had already entered the building without waiting for him. Clark
smiled, she was determined to put him in his "proper" place but he
could feel her general mood. She was attracted to him but was angry
for some reason, not really at him but herself, but she took it out
on him. He could take a closer look at her mind and find out but he
preferred to stay away from that. Looking at other peoples thoughts
was a kind of rape in his opinion. He browsed through the building
with his x-ray vision because it looked just about ready to fall
apart. It seemed stable enough though. /No need to "suggest" to Lois
that we leave just yet./ She found the door they were looking for
and started knocking irritably until it opened an inch or two.

"Yes?" they heard someone say from within.

"Dr.Platt? It's Lois Lane, from the Daily Planet." she said in a
neutral tone of voice, Clark could feel her calming down. Following
a story seemed to make her forget to be angry at herself. A man's
face appeared and his eyes looked them both over suspiciously before
opening the door completely.

"I thought you'd be alone, Miss Lane." he said suspiciously. "Who
are you?" he asked Clark with a crowbar in his hands.

"I'm Clark Kent, reporter at the Daily Planet." he said and held out
his hand. Platt looked him over closely and finally let out a breath
he was holding.

"Yes... Yes, I can feel that you are telling the truth. Please sit
down, both of you." he said and walked over to a table filled with
papers, pencils, strange objects and a plate with a slice of old
pizza lying on it. Clark looked around in the apartment, the few
chairs that he saw had papers, books or something else on them. One
of them featured a rat eating on a piece of bread. Lois did the same
and shook her head.

"I don't think so." she mumbled. "Doctor Platt, why do you believe
that the Messenger may have been sabotaged?" she asked and readied
her notepad. Clark settled for looking at the apartment, there were
books all over the place. Mostly about physics, electronics and a
huge pile of various manuals from NASA. He only listened to what the
two were saying with one ear while he *quickly* browsed through a
couple of the books he picked up and every paper he could lay his
eyes on.

... installed cooling devices!" Platt said irritably. Clark rewinded
the conversation he had just heard while he read.

"To.. freeze the ion particles?" he blurted out and stared at Platt.
Platt spun around to take a suprised look at him, Lois did the same
but rolled her eyes in a shut-up-mr.hack-from-nowhere-you-dunno-
what-you-are-talking-about manner.

"Exactly Mr. Kent! The frozen ions would turn the Messenger from an
able space craft into a pile of burning junk!" he said and Clark saw
Lois' jaw fall all the way to the floor in suprise. "It's all in my
report, shortly after turning it in I was fired from my work. Before
I even got home I was dragged into a moving car and shot full of
drugs, I can't remember much of the following days but when I
resurfaced from the influence of the drugs no one took me seriously
anymore." Platt said sadly. Lois realized her mouth was open and
closed it swiftly.

"Do you have a copy of that report?" she asked.

"Of course, what kind of scientist would I be if I did not keep my
reports?" he said and started running around the place pulling out
papers from the strangest places. When he pulled out several of them
>from an old shoe, Lois got tired of the whole idea.

"Why don't you put it together and then send a message to the Planet
when you are ready, hmm?" she asked sweetly and stalked out of the
apartment. Clark rolled his eyes and gave Platt a card with the
phone number to the Planet where he scribbled down the number to his
own desk on the back.

"Let us know as soon as you are finished, if I can't be reached, try
for Lois or else Jimmy Olsen." he said and ran out after Lois who
screamed into her cell phone at some operator at a cab company.

"You'd *better* make sure to send a cab over *real* soon or I'm
going to write an inside article about your lousy service and imply
some things that will put the IRS and the police on your backs!" she
finished and hung up. A visit to EPRAD, the manufacturer of the
Messenger really didn't pay off. Dr. Baines, the woman in charge was
a very attractive young lady, but she didn't grant them access to
anything they wanted when Lois asked for it. Clark walked closer
after studying just about everything in her office.

"No exceptions?" he asked silently and smiled at Dr. Baines. She
swallowed and put her hands behind her back, fiddling all the way.

"I'll see what I can do." she said breathlessly and stared at Clark
with her eyes wide open and an adoring look on her face. He saw Lois
rolling her eyes in the corner of his eye and tried very hard not to
grin at the Daily Planet's star reporter. After getting that promise
>from Dr. Baines, they left her office and Lois mumbled to herself
while walking out of the plant.

"A very attractive woman, young for her position." he said
pleasantly, perhaps if he got Lois to talk she would loosen up a
bit.

"A *typical* male reaction, as soon as a semi-attractive woman shows
up your brain shuts down." she snapped sourly.

"Trust me on this, Lois. I'm *not* your typical male." he said and
tried to keep the edge out of his voice, never before had he been so
tempted to use his mind-reading powers on anyone. She was really
*angry* at something and it had something to do with him. He could
not figure out what it was he had done that could have made her so
angry though.

"No? Just because she's... okay looking..."

"*Very* okay looking."

"... you automatically assume she's telling the truth."

"And you assume she's not? Does everyone have an angle? No honest
people left in the whole world? That's pretty cynical, Lois."

"It's realistic, Clark, at least I don't go through life
disappointed."

---

Back at the Planet, their attention was caught by a sudden explosion
down in the sewers. A man came crawling out of a manhole all covered
in dust.

"John! John!" he screamed down the manhole and collapsed. Clark
didn't hesitate, he ran forward to the manhole, smoke billowed out
>from it but he showed no hesitation at all. He jumped down into it
before anyone close by could try and stop him from doing so. His
inhuman vision soon got results, he found a man lying down there. He
picked him up and in the cover of the smoke he floated up to the
hole where he raised the man up to street level and then pretended
to use the ladder to get himself up. He blinked several times in
order to make his eyes water and he pretended to cough while
staggering away from the crowd. A woman in the crowd shouted that
she was a nurse and she took care of the two men lying on the
street, Clark noticed that the crowd was mostly centered on the
woman checking over the two men and so he managed to walk away
without anyone really noticing him, except for Lois Lane.

"Are you *crazy*, Kent? What if there had been another explosion,
what if the fumes had been toxic, what if the tunnel had collapsed?"
she asked incredulously. He pretended to be out of breath and leaned
against the wall breathing heavily.

"Nobody else seemed about to do anything, that man down there was
still breathing when I got him up. If he had been down there any
longer I don't think he would have made it." he said and coughed
again. He took a final deep breath and pretended to stagger towards
the entrance with Lois forced to follow him. He spent a few minutes
washing up before taking the elevator up to the office where he was
greeted with cheers and claps of hands. He looked confused and then
nodded. /Lois. She must have told the others about my little
"adventure"./ he thought and made a face. He kept pretending to
stagger a bit and made his way over to his desk, he glanced at
Lois's desk and saw that she had already begun writing a story about
the sever accident.

"Hey, CK! Nice work, I heard you saved the day." said Jimmy while
sneaking up on him.

"It was nothing, Jimmy. I just went with my instincts." he said and
coughed again for effect.

"Kent! Why did you pull a stunt like that?" asked Perry White who
showed up from out of nowhere.

"I... I just did, Sir. I can't explain it. I just did what felt was
right!" he said faintly.

"Judas Priest! Another Lois Lane! Teaming you guys up perhaps wasn't
one of my better ideas." he said while shaking his head on his way
back to his office. Clark looked around and walked over to Lois's
desk where he sat down on an available corner to look at what she
was writing.

"See anything you like, handsome?" he heard a voice from behind. He
rolled his eyes and made a face. /Cat!/ he thought sourly.

"If you don't mind, Cat. I'm trying to read here..." he said and
tried to focus on the monitor. She crossed her arms and leaned on
his shoulders, he could feel her breathing down his neck. Lois had
smiled slightly when he had rolled his eyes and made that face but
now she looked angry again. He made his right hand into a fist and
raised it in level with Cat's head at his right shoulder. "*Cat*!"
he said and clenched and unclenched his right hand, she backed off
and he could hear her walking away in a state of shock. He shook his
head and continued to read, he could see Lois staring in surprise at
him, but with a hint of a smile on he lips. /She must *really*
dislike Cat, I wonder why?/ he thought and stopped reading. "Very
good, Lois, very good indeed. But there's only one 'i' in 'Ions'."
he said and borrowed her keyboard to make a few changes in her
story.

***

Lois pulled back in suprise and she could hear Jimmy behind them
taking a deep breath before he made himself scarce. /*Nobody*
besides Perry had ever even *dared* to suggest changes in one of my
stories!/ she thought with her eyes wide open. /*No* man had *ever*
refused Cat Grant anything!/ she thought with an inner giggle. She
looked at the changes he made and nodded inwards. He was *good*, he
might even be better then she was but that was something she would
never *ever* ever confess to *anyone*! She could see people looking
wide-eyed at the two of them, she could see them anticipating an
explosion from her. Perry who heard the sudden silence from within
his office walked to the door and saw Kent typing away at her
keyboard. Her editor shivered suddenly and rolled his eyes.

"There now, what do you think, Miss Lane?" Kent suddenly asked and
Lois turned her attention to the monitor again. She browsed through
the article and almost growled. He had changed a few words here and
there, added a few sentences and now it was a masterpiece. It had
been *good* before but now it was *great*! She let out a sigh, rose
>from the chair to a chorus of gasps in the office from people
expecting a temper tantrum and offered Kent her hand.

"Congratulations." she said silently and held out her hand . His
eyes opened wide and he gingerly took her hand. Probably expecting
some sort of trick she thought. "Your changes turned my article from
good to great, I can't argue with that. But learn this, Kent. If you
*ever* do something like this without my permission again, I *will*
skin you alive!" she finished with a half-growl. She retrieved her
hand from a surprised Clark Kent and sat down again to more gasps
>from the spectators. She stared at the shocked faces and scared them
into action again. She also saw Perry in the corner of her eyes. He
was holding on to his doorpost and shook his head in silence for a
while before he recovered.

"Kent! Get *in* here!" he said and staggered to his desk in order to
sit down. Kent obediently walked into his office but did not close
the door as he should have done. She could hear everything they said
since the rest of the office was still in a silent shock. "*How* did
you do *that*, Kent? If it had been anyone else she would have had
his or her hide in her collection right about now! Even *I* don't
try to change her work before thinking *at least* twice about it!"
he said with a note of respect in his voice.

"Well, I just reacted again. I didn't even think about it until I
heard the gasps and saw everybody staring at me. By then it was too
late, so I continued doing some changes. She must have *really*
liked what I did. I don't have any other explanation, sir." Kent
said with a note of wonder in his voice.

"Kent, you have got a *serious* impulse control problem." said
Perry, still a little stunned from the previous events. She shook
her head and picked up the telephone when it started to ring. It was
Mitchell, her date for tonight's event, Lex Luthor's party. She knew
what was up as soon as she heard Mitchell sneeze. She sighed.
Mitchell was rather cute but he was also a hypochondriac, if he even
suspected that there was the slightest chance of him getting sick he
stayed at home. If he had started to sneeze he'd probably not eat
anything but various pills and natural remedies for a week and not
leave his apartment in two! She pretended to be understanding but
could not resist to add,

"Don't call me, I'll call you.", in the end of their conversation.
She rubbed her forehead, Lex Luthor was *big* news. She had tried to
get him to agree to an interview for the longest time now, but the
only result was refusals from one of his secretaries that she felt
so close to by now that she wondered if she ought to send her a gift
for Christmas this year. Tonight was her *big* chance to meet Lex
Luthor in person, he would have a harder time refusing her then!
/But I *will* not go alone, that slut, *Cat*, will tease me forever
if I come alone!/ she thought and shook her head in defeat. She
would have asked Jimmy, she was desperate but she knew that he
already had a date for tonight. She saw Kent returning to his desk
and saw him typing away on his computer. /Kent.../ she thought and
walked over to him. "I don't suppose you have a tuxedo?"

"I could get one... Why?"

"Do you have any plans for tonight, Kent?" she asked and saw his
eyes open wide.

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

"Well, my date for tonight's party at Luthor's got sick so I..." she
left the rest unsaid and waited for his response.

"Yes?" he asked innocently. /Incredible! Is he really so dense or is
it just an act?/

"Well... Do you want to take his place or *not*?" she growled at
him.

"So... This is a date?" he asked sweetly.

"Date?" she tasted the word. "Oh, *oh* you mean like in *Kansas*
where you meet my parents and then try to give me a hickey in the
vacant lot behind the Dairy Freeze? No, this is not a *date*, this
is business!" she said, her voice dripping with contempt. *God*, but
he was gorgeous. She could smell him even from this distance.

"Oh, I don't know. I thought I might turn in early tonight." he said
with a smile. /This... This *man* drives me crazy!/ she mentally
screamed in her mind.

"Turn in early? Instead of going to a party hosted by *Lex*
Luthor!?" she asked him with her voice under tight control. He
smiled at her.

"Well, since you ask so nicely I suppose I will accept your...
'Suggestion' to accompany you to this *grand* event." he said
cheerfully with a smile that could melt ice. She was *not* about to
melt though!

"Good, meet me there!" she said and stormed out of the newsroom.
Since he was such a good reporter she'd leave it up to him to decide
*when* to meet her there. If he had to wait? *So what*? He deserved
it for treating her like this!

***

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:08:32 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 4/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Clark soared high over the city, he floated "on" his stomach and was
keeping an eye out for Lois Lane down in front of "Luthor's Tower".
Clark had spent 30 minutes in the library reading everything there
was to know about Lex Luthor, a fascinating man indeed. Clark had
his doubts about how he could have gotten so much power when he
literally started from scratch as a kid. He *could* have gotten
where he was today by following the law but Clark doubted that
*very* much. But it appeared that Luthor tried to pay for any crimes
in his past. Lex Luthor spent *huge* amounts of money doing good
deeds. He also never gave any personal interviews. According to the
gossip at the office, Lex had turned Lois down at least fifty times
this year alone! Clark had then flown home to Smallville, for a talk
with his parents, before returning here to wait for Lois Lane to
show up for the event. Suddenly he spotted her jumping out of a cab
and he quickly swooped down to the corner of the building and walked
quickly up the stairs. Lois stood stomping her left foot impatiently
looking over the street so she did not see him closing in on her
>from behind. He stopped a few paces away and looked her over, she
wore a *stunning* blue gown and she must have spent a fortune on her
hair.

"Good evening, Lois." he said and saw her spin around in suprise. He
looked her down and up and nodded to himself. "Lois, you look
*stunningly* beautiful. If Lex Luthor doesn't grant you that
interview tonight he *must* be out of his mind!" Clark said
truthfully. She blushed but regained control over her body after a
second or two.

"How did you know about that, Kent?" she asked curiously. He smiled
and offered his arm to her with a flourish.

"After listening to some gossip at the office and then reading some
about Lex Luthor I figured that your main reason for coming here was
to get a chance of talking to him in person." he said as they were
walking into the building.

"Well... I guess you are right, I'm not really that fond of big
fancy parties like this. If anyone other then Lex Luthor had hosted
this party, I most likely never would have went through all the
trouble of going here." she said truthfully.

"Oh 'aint I the lucky bastard." Clark said with a smile.

"What was that?" she asked, a snappish tone creeping into her voice.

"If someone else had hosted this evet, I never would seen you like
this. Uou look breathtaking, Miss Lane." he said and tried not to
drool at the sight of Lois Lane in that beautiful outfit.

"You don't look so bad yourself, farmboy. You might get a shot at
that hickey after all if you play your cards right." she said
teasingly.

"Take care, Miss Lane. We uneducated farmboys can be suprisingly
direct sometimes. If you talk like that I think a hickey or two will
be unavoidable." he said and entered the elevator together with
about fifteen other people.

"Clarkie!" he heard a voice behind him exclaim, he turned around and
came eye to eye with Tanya.

"Hi." he said weakly, he could feel Lois's good mood evaporating for
every second that passed.

"How nice to see you again. Oh where are my manners? Clarkie, this
is Darryl Walsh. Darryl, this is Clark Kent." Tanya said and
introduced the man she was with. Clark politely shook hands with the
young man standing next to Tanya. He was slightly familiar but Clark
could not quite recall where he had seen that face before. He had
bright red hair and he supposed that women thought he was beautiful.
What really caught Clark's eyes though were Darryl's eyes. Clark had
seen that same look only once before, he had been interviewing an
old Russian in a prison cell. The man had committed more then fifty
murders that could be proven and confessed to committing at least
two hundred more! He had spent more then thirty years killing people
for fun, twenty in prison and when Clark had met him he was
scheduled for execution. He had accepted what fate had in store for
him, he had abandoned all hope and his deeds were clearly written
all over him. Darryl Walsh had that same look in his eyes. The sort
of eyes that had seen too much, knew too much. "Well, Clarkie.
Aren't you going to introduce me to the lovely lady you are with?"
Tanya asked and Clark pulled his eyes away from Darryl.

"Sure." he replied and tried to keep his eyes away from Darryls.
"Tanya - Lois Lane. Lois, this is Tanya. We bumped into each other
on the bus to Metropolis." he explained quickly and felt Lois' mood
improve a little bit. The ladies shook hands and exchanged polite
words about each others clothes and hair. Lois turned to Darryl and
Clark could feel her surprise.

"Darryl Walsh, 'the hermit'! You don't need any introduction, I've
read about you and your family." she said breathlessly. Clark
suddenly remembered everything he had read about the strange family.
They lived in a huge mansion outside Metropolis, an ancestor of
Darryl's had fought bravely in the War of Independence. Ever since
the mansion was built shortly after the war it had been very closed,
nothing much reached the outside world about the strange Walsh
family. Every male member of the family got named Darryl Walsh,
Clark had never read anything about the rest of the family. In the
Civil War, a Darryl Walsh had fought for the North and received much
praise for his successes. Walshes had fought in both World Wars and
the Vietnam War as well, always with great success.

"Mostly lies and gossip, Miss Lane." he said neutrally. "One should
not believe everything there is to read in the papers." he said with
a slight smile. He turned away from Lois and took a good look at
Clark who felt himself shiver when the man's eyes measured him.

"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again, Mister Kent. Have a
pleasant evening with the lovely lady at your side." he said and
offered his arm to Tanya who turned to Lois.

"I'm sure you'll have a nice time. He's a *great* kisser!" she
finished with a whisper, Clark winced. Lois mood went from average
to lousy in a split second and then before he could groan, it went
to above average for some strange reason.

"*Is* he now?" he heard her mumble to herself. "Do you always kiss
girls you bump into when traveling?" she asked him with a smirk.

"Why don't you follow me on a vacation and find out?" he asked with
a slight smile and a twinkle in his eyes. She boxed his ribs and he
pretended to be in pain. He saw her rub her knuckles though.

"Aouch, are you wearing a bullet-proof west or anything, Kent?" she
asked and tried to clench her fist unsuccessfully. "That really
hurt!" she said and frowned. He took her injured left hand and put
his fingers on a couple of pressure points.

"Brace yourself." he said and pushed. She gasped and her eyes went
wide open in shock. She ripped away her hand from him and cradled it
in her right hand.

"Is that better?" he asked anxiously.

"Of course it's not..." she fell silent in the middle of the
sentence and raised her left hand again, she clenched it without any
problems and her eyes went even bigger than before. "How did you do
*that*?" she asked incredulously.

"I spent a lot of time in Asia learning various acient ways to make
life better." he said simply and offered her his arm again.

"Forget it, Kent! I'm going to find Lex Luthor and get that one-on-
one within an hour. If I fail, you have my full permission to get me
drunk and give me as many hickeys as you want!" she said and stalked
off to find her prey. Clark smiled and walked around in search for
something to drink, if she was going to continue teasing him like
this he would probably need something to cool him off. Perhaps a
glass or two of chilled champagne down the front of his pants would
help.

***

Lois searched the room from one end to the other and back again
without finding Lex Luthor. He had not made his entrance yet
according to the people she met. She saw Clark all over the place,
he danced with pretty ladies, talked with Jimmy whenever his date
was out dancing with somebody else since Jimmy wasn't much of a
dancer and she saw him talk with that strange man Darryl Walsh once.
Darryl was a strange one, his eyes were a weird sight. She had seen
eyes like that before, the eyes of someone who had seen horrible
things too often. The eyes of a cold-blooded murderer was the
closest thing that popped into her head but Darryl's were different.
She couldn't explain exactly how they were different though. After
Luthor she'd definitively try and get a interview with this Darryl
Walsh. The room was filled with important men and women, she saw
John Miller standing in a corner of the room chatting with Niklas
Jonsson. John was the founder and sole owner of HawkTech, an up and
coming company in the computer industry, he had recently acquired
more then half of the stocks in Microsoft after Bill Gates
mysteriously decided to retire. There were rumors that the feared
assassin Le Mat had broken into his home and threatened Bill Gates
to sell his shares, but Bill hadn't bothered to tell anyone his
reasons for selling. Niklas Jonsson owned HawkSoft Europe, a company
that was an independent part of HawkTech. She absently looked
between the two of them and noticed the many similarities between
John Miller and Niklas Jonsson. Their faces resembled each other,
they had exactly the same nuance of blonde hair, piercing blue eyes
and their noses were a dead match for each other. If she hadn't
known better, she would have thought that they were twins. There
were some things that set them apart though, John was almost 10 cm
taller then Niklas, not because he actually was, but because Niklas
wasn't standing straight, his knees were bent and his back was
slouched. John had the build of an professional athlete while Niklas
personified the nickname "Nerd". Two stunning women were chatting
pleasantly and moved to block the route to the two famous persons
whenever someone tried to get into the corner to talk with them.
John and Niklas finished their conversation and smiled at each other
before they joined the two women and walked off into separate parts
of the room with the ladies. She saw Clark again as well, he was
chatting pleasantly with a Japanese couple in their own language! He
was just plain *incredible*, too strange to be considered normal. An
interview with him might turn out to be just as interesting as one
with Lex Luthor, John Miller or Darryl Walsh. She paced the room
once again while waiting for Luthor to make his appearance, this
time when she saw Clark he was dancing with Cat Grant! She almost
growled out loud, before seeing this she had been determined to
ignore Kent for the evening and concentrate on Lex Luthor. That was
no longer possible, not with Cat around him.

"Mind if I cut in?" she asked sweetly and when Cat turned around to
see who it was, Lois ducked under her arms and grabbed hold of
Clark. He looked a bit suprised but not at all disappointed, he had
*that* smile again. The one she had learned meant that he had said,
was about to say something funny or had seen something amusing. She
danced along and tried to keep track of her feet, he did not seem to
have any problems with that.

"You are *very* good at this, where did you learn how to dance?" she
asked curiously.

"A Nigerian princess who studied ballroom dancing taught me a long
time ago, I'm just glad I can remember some of it at least!" he said
with a smile. He pulled her closer and she was about to protest when
she saw Cat dancing with Jimmy close by. Instead of putting Kent in
his proper place she drew him closer and put her arms around his
neck. He seemed even more surprised and the smile wavered for a
moment until she saw him notice Cat dancing near them. His smile
then got even bigger and he whispered in her ear. "Someday you just
*have* to tell me what you've got against Catherine Grant. I'll play
along though, no worries." he said kindly and started taking fancier
steps that she had a hard time keeping track of. He mumbled
instructions to her that she had to strain to hear, his helpful
advice made the whole thing easier and she even managed to make some
fancy steps of her own with his help. Cat looked furious when people
started giving her and Clark space to dance on and cheering them
along. Lois started to get nervous, if everybody were watching then
someone was bound to notice him whispering instructions. She looked
up with the intention of asking him to stop but noticed that he did
not move his lips! He was a Ventriloquist as well. He was smiling
pleasantly but his instructions kept on coming without even a twitch
of his lips. Clark finished with a final instruction and made a
couple of last fancy moves and then stopped just as the music did.
The whole crowd around them was cheering silently and politely
clapping hands when they stopped dancing and Lois blushed furiously
for a moment before she was back in control of herself again. She
was about to give up on Lex Luthor and instead offer Clark Kent her
heartfelt thanks when he suddenly bent downwards and whispered in
her ear. "There he is, Lex Luthor himself." he said and glanced in
the direction of the stairs. Lex was stopping every now and then and
said a few words to various people, some of them he talked to in
foreign languages. She took a step away and looked down to check out
if everything still was in proper order.

"I will get this interview if it's the last thing I ever do!" she
said determined and stalked away. She saw Clark out of the corner of
her eyes, becoming surrounded by gorgeous women who wanted to dance
with him. He smiled and winked at her before he took the hand of one
of the women and swirled out on the dance floor.

***

Clark spotted Lois approaching Lex and saw them dancing, his little
pointers came in handy because Luthor turned out to be just as good
a dancer as he was, perhaps better. He overheard them talking and
Luthor even agreed to an interview. Clark smiled, when Lois Lane
wanted something, she certainly seem to get it most of the time. He
danced a couple of dances and then excused himself, he found Jimmy
and made certain to stay around him over at the food. Clark filled a
plate and wandered around talking to Jimmy about various things,
after a while something got his attention. Lex Luthor was walking
around alone, without Lois Lane. He checked the room and soon
spotted her, she was walking up the stairs to the door Lex had
entered through. He shook his head in bewilderment and followed her,
he reached her just as she was trying to pick the lock of the door.

"And what are you doing then, Miss Lane?" he asked Lois who jumped
at his surprising appearance.

"I'm picking the lock to this door, stand there and look big so no
one can see me working." she said testily and fiddled with the door.

"Working?" he said with a smile. "I didn't know you did breaking-
and-entering for a living." he said pleasantly while covering her
>from the rest of the room.

"I'm being a reporter, you should try it sometime." she said and
gave a sigh of satisfaction when the lock gave in and snapped open.
She slipped inside and Clark followed.

"I think Luthor might consider withdrawing his interview when he
finds out that you are snooping in his office!" he whispered to Lois
who looked at everything with a piercing gaze.

"Shut up, farmboy! Just look around, this is reporting at it's
best!" she said and walked into another room. Clark shook his head
in amusement and bewilderment. He looked at the wonderful things
Luthor had on display, there were quite a lot of them. Ancient
weapons, old sabers, daggers, muskets and a small cannon on a stand.
A well preserved knight's armor complete with shield and sword stood
prominently displayed. Clark leaned closer to inspect a marvelous
crossbow with the year of it's making ingrained in it, 1238. Clark
shook his head and continued looking at the marvelous artifacts on
display. He was so concentrated that he never even noticed that
there was someone else in the room until suddenly he had the point
of a sword against his throat. He looked down at the sword and
identified it.

"Macedonian." he said simply and looked to the man holding the
sword, Lex Luthor.

"It once belonged to Alexander the Great, he used it when he
defeated King..." Luthor tried to explain when Clark interrupted
him.

"...Darius the third and was proclaimed King of Asia." he said
simply.

"You surprise me, I'm not often surprised." he said and turned the
sword over to Clark who tested the edge and the feel of the weapon.

"Alexander was a great tactician with a simple strategy, 'Always
seize the high grounds.'." Luthor continued.

"Lex! I hope you didn't mind, you have a beautiful home." Lois said
when she came into the room from the one she had explored. "This is
Clark Kent, the newest reporter at the Daily Planet." she introduced
Clark who shook hands with Lex Luthor politely.

"Not at all, but you could have asked me and I'd been glad to show
you my home. Have you seen the view?" he asked and opened a door out
to a huge balcony with a press of a button on his desk. It was
raining outside but there was a roof on the balcony protecting them
>from the weather. "The highest building in Metropolis! I must
confess that I like the feeling that everybody in the city has to
look up in order to see me." he said proudly. "But let's go down to
the others, I have a little suprise for everybody that I think you
will enjoy." he said with a greasy smile. Clark tried to shake off
the feeling that Luthor was not to be trusted, but it stayed. Clark
couldn't make himself fully trust the man for some strange reason.
/I've been reading to much./ he tried to tell himself. /If he was
still doing illegal things he would not be doing so many good
deeds!/ he shouted inwards to himself. He followed Luthor and Lois
down to the big ballroom deep in thoughts. Perhaps he ought to keep
an eye on Luthor for a while, perhaps he really was an evil man?
Clark shrugged it all off as the work of the "green-eyed-monster",
he was probably only jealous of Luthor because Lois seemed so
totally fascinated with the man. Luthor talked about the failed
attempts to launch the Messenger and complete the space station,
Prometheus, for a while and Clark was wondering what he might be
getting at. Luthor then told everybody of his plans to build a space
station of his own and a really impressive hologram of the planned
station was shown. Clark stared at the text written on it. /Space
Station Luthor./ The man had a huge ego, no doubt about that, but
many people had that. This didn't necessarily mean that he was a
criminal. He saw the rich computer nerd, John Miller, staring at the
hologram as if it was a personal insult to him. He whispered
something to himself and Clark absently tuned in to what he was
saying.

"Memo to self: Find out just how far along the 'Space Station
Luthor' project is." he said and looked closely at the hologram.
"Project blueprint appears to be identical to HawkTech's small space
station project, check for leaks and spies." he finished and shook
his head in frustration. Clark looked more closely at John, there
was something about his face, especially the nose and mouth that
reminded him of someone from his past. He desperately searched his
memory for anything to give him a hint of where he had seen John
Miller before. He somehow found himself looking back to a time a
couple of years back when he had been in Japan, studying Martial
Arts with some of the best in the world. He recalled having practise
interupted when he was studying the Kage-Mori branch of Ninjutsu by
a new arrival, someone who looked almost exactly like John Miller
did. His name hadn't been John Miller though, at least it hadn't
been the name he supplied. When he arrived, Sensei Hatsu Yakamoto
had sent one of his students to give the new arrival a little scare
and get a brief evaluation of how good he already was. The student,
a young man named Tameaki Iwata, had assaulted the newcommer with a
knife. Tameaki had gotten a kick in the stomach for his careless
attack and suddenly found himself facing a cautious opponent with
two knifes in his hands. Temeaki had ended up in dire need of
medical treatment with both his shoulders out of action and a broken
nose. Hatsu had talked with the newcommer who he apparently knew
>from before, then given him the task of taking out Katherine
Yakamoto, the old masters daughter. This time it had been the new
guy who had been in need of medical treatment, Katherine by far
surpassed everyone except Hatsu in skill, but the new guy hadn't
known that. He had been admitted as a student and introduced to the
others as Erik Jonsson. When Clark left two weeks afterwards to
continue with his travels, Erik still studied hard. They hadn't
really talked, but they had sparred once. Clark had the edge since
his powers rendered him invunerable and tireless in adition to his
slightly superior training, but he had still been hard pressed to
defeat Erik who fought with determination and a speed that Clark had
been hard pressed to match without drawing too much upon his
superhuman powers. Clark then remembered something and looked down
at John Millers left hand and his eyes widened as he saw the faint
outlines of a scar there. He knew that scar, he had witnessed when
Katherine Yakamoto had thrown a knife at Erik Jonsson in a dodging
exercise. He had stepped out of the way, but hadn't managed to move
his arm and hand fast enough. The knife had went straight through
his left hand. Clark was now looking at a scar that perfectly
matched that incident. He was now relatively sure that Erik Jonsson
and John Miller was one and the same. John/Erik walked over to a
girl standing on her own a few meters away and they both swept out
on the dance floor after John/Erik had looked one final time at the
hologram with a scowl on his face. The party continued after Luthors
speech, but since Lois was apparently tired of the whole thing and
wanted to leave, Clark gave in to her wishes and followed her home.
She absently held on to his arm while walking, she claimed to need
the fresh air to think. Clark laughed and tried to tell her about
what fresh air really was like. She snapped at him and told him that
she had indeed felt better air but this was all that was available.
Clark shrugged and thought about flying off with her, that would
definitively get her attention. He resisted that idea and kept her
company in silence. She absently walked into the house and all the
way to her apartment without even noticing him. She pulled out a set
of keys and started unlocking several locks on the door, she pulled
it open, walked into her apartment and had still not noticed him
even though she still held on to his arm.

"Why, Miss Lane, what are you doing?" he drawled with a smile and
saw her suddenly jump. /She really had forgotten all about me!/ he
thought.

"Lois? Are you home already?" someone yelled from another part of
the apartment. A young girl came running from within, dressed in a
bathrobe and with her hair still wet. She looked a lot like Lois
although she had a more brownish/redish hue to her hair. "Wow!" she
said with an obvious hint of surprise when she saw the two of them,
Lois still holding on to his arm. "Perhaps you want me to go out for
a while so you can be alone?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"*Lucy*!" Lois screamed and blushed. Clark smiled and winked at Lucy
who looked him up and down.

"You really picked a good one, Lois. Hi, I'm Lucy Lane, Lois's
sister." she said and held out her hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy. I'm Clark Kent, reporter at the Daily
Planet." he said and kissed her hand. She looked a bit surprised at
that, perhaps she had expected a simple handshake.

"This is *not* what you think, Lucy! It's simply business, just
that!" Lois said with a note of panic in her voice.

"Yeah *right*, sis. I'll be ready to go in a minute or so." she said
and tried to scurry away but Lois stopped her.

"No need to, Lucy. I was just about to go home. Nice to meet you."
he said and turned to Lois. "I had a really great time, Lois.
Perhaps we ought to do this again sometime, without you trying to
get a fancy interview that is." he said with a smile. "Good night to
the both of you." he finished and walked out of the apartment,
closing the door behind him.

***

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:09:54 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 5/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

"Wow, Lois. What a hunk!" Lucy said and winked at Lois. "Did you
have a good time, sis?"

"I did actually, I *nailed* the interview with Lex Luthor!" she said
with a huge smile on her lips and a sparkle in her eyes.

"Not that, sis. How was your date?" Lucy asked and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, that." Lois said. "Well it was... He was very understanding, I
only went to get that interview, but he was very nice. We even
danced a bit and he was *so* nice to me. He whispered instructions
to me all the time and when people started looking at us dancing I
noticed that his lips were fixed into a friendly smile. He is one of
those people that can talk without moving their lips, ventro-
whatever it's called. He made one mistake though, I was just about
to give up on Luthor and start having fun with him instead, when
Clark pointed him out to me. Had it not been for that I might had
kicked you out of this apartment myself." she said with a
embarrassed smile.

"How do you manage to work at all with him nearby, sis? He is *such*
a great looking man!" Lucy said with a dreamy smile.

"I don't have time for things like that, sis, and with a man at my
work?" she finished incredulously. "You remember what happened last
time..." she finished in a subdued tone of voice and a single tear
appeared in her left eye. Lucy embraced her and tried to comfort her
sister, Claude was one of the few things that could break Lois's
well built defenses.

***

Clark jumped out of the elevator and came face to face with Jimmy.

"Good morning, Jimmy. Where are you going?" he asked cheerfully.

"Hiya, CK. Dr. Platt called, I'm on my way to pick up his report."
he said and jumped into the elevator before the doors could close.
Clark walked over to get a cup of coffee when someone tapped him on
his shoulder. He turned around and suddenly found his hands
intertwined with Cat's. She spun around and forced him to follow so
he would not break her fingers. They danced around for a few seconds
before he could get away from her.

"Miss G... Cat, not at work!" he said and rolled his eyes.

"But Clarkie, we never finished that dance yesterday." she said,
clearly disappointed. "How about that tour now, cutie" she asked.

"Perhaps another time, Cat. I'll have to take a raincheck. Some of
us have to work you know?" he asked with a slight smile.

"All work and no play, ehhh? Don't wait too long, Clarkie." she said
and walked away with her hips swinging. Clark rolled his eyes at her
and enjoyed the show. He had met some quite pushy and forward women
before but Cat was worse then any of them. She was beautiful though,
perhaps he should agree. But that would make Lois so mad that she
would never ever consider him as something else then a complete
jerk. He still hadn't managed to find out exactly what had made the
two women see each other as enemies. He shook his head and filled a
cup with coffee, he saw Lois sitting by her desk and so he filled a
cup for her as well. He did not have to worry about getting fat, or
bad teeth so he had real coffee with milk and several lumps of sugar
while Lois drank that decaf that made Clark want to vomit on the
spot. He sneaked up behind her and put the cup on her desk while
reading what she wrote.

"Thanks." she said absently and tapped along on the keyboard. She
was writing a background on Lex Luthor, Clark frowned a bit. She was
preparing for the interview with him. He didn't like the thought of
Lois and a ladies man such as Lex Luthor alone but there was nothing
he could do about it. He walked over to his desk and absently sipped
on his coffee while reading some of the material from EPRAD about
the Messenger. When Jimmy arrived later with the report from Dr.
Platt, Clark groaned. The report seemed to have been written on what
was available with whatever was available. One page had been written
on an old restaurant menu with a child's crayon! Clark could have
used his powers to do this really fast but not with Lois sitting
next to him talking by herself about men and their strange habits.
She finally threw her hands in the air and growled.

"Tired, Lois?" he asked teasingly. She stared at him and let out a
sigh.

"I guess so, this doesn't make any sense at all! I wish I knew a
place with good Chinese takeout." she wished out loud. He suddenly
smiled and flashed her a huge grin.

"I know of a place, I'll be right back." he said and put on his
trenchcoat.

"Don't you want to know what I want?" she asked.

"Hmm, I'll bring an assortment." he said and walked into the
elevator. He hoped that no one noticed that he went up to the roof
instead of down to the lobby.

***

Lois jumped when she eight minutes later noticed Clark setting down
boxes of food on the desk. There were no visible logos on them and
Clark didn't carry them in a bag.

"That was quick." she said and opened one of them. She picked up a
little white ball with her hands and took a bite.

"I took a shortcut." he said with a smile and opened another one of
the boxes. She chewed the sample and was pleasantly suprised by the
taste.

"Mmmmm, this is out of this world!" she said and leaned back while
putting the rest of the ball into her mouth. Clark shrugged and
started eating from all the boxes. Lois stopped talking and ate
everything in sight, she sunk back in her chair when finished and
enjoyed the feeling. "You just *have* to tell me where you got this,
Clark. This was *the* best Chinese food I've ever had!" Lois said in
a begging tone of voice.

"I don't think so." he said simply. "If I keep this to myself you
have to go through me when you want some and then we can eat
together." he said with that strange smile of his all over his face.
She shook her head at this strange man, but secretly thought that it
was a good idea. Perhaps she should start eating Chinese more often?
Lois hoped that she did not blush again, what would people think if
they saw her blushing whenever this man said something like this?
Clark reached over and offered her a fortune cookie, she cracked it
open and looked at the piece of paper inside the delicious cookie.

"It's in Chinese!" she said and rolled her eyes, why did the silly
buggers write in Chinese instead of in English? She was about to
lash out to the world in general when Clark reached over and grabbed
the piece of paper from her hand. "Oh, don't tell me you read
Chi..." she tried but was cut off.

"'A good horse is like a member of the family.'." he said and
returned the note to her without cracking the smile she knew he had
hidden somewhere within. Sometimes she thought of him as a walking
smile.

"I hate those, that is not a fortune!" she said and rolled her eyes
again. Then that smile blossomed and he stared at her with a sparkle
in his left eye. /He looks *so* good when he does that./ she thought
and swallowed a breath of air. He was distracting her from the story
again, she never used to behave like this before he started at the
planet. "You are a strange one, Kent. But I've got you figured out
now." she said with a smug smile she had to force along to achieve,
she needed to put him at a disadvantage before he swept her off her
feet.

"Really? It didn't take you very long." he said, still smiling.

"I *am* an investigative reporter, it's my work to figure things out
in a hurry." she said and felt the smile becoming more natural. He
just kept staring at her and smiled, he looked so much like a happy
puppy when he did that. She had to grab on to her dress in order to
keep her hands from touching him. /He was impossible! Is there
nothing that will keep him off my back?/ she thought and rolled her
eyes. "Don't fall for me, farmboy. I don't have the time for it."
she said and returned to the report from Doctor Samuel Platt. /Geez,
I sound like such a snob, he must think that I'm crazy./ she thought
and tried to keep a blush off her face. "On your feet, Kent. We'll
go over to Platt again. Perhaps he can help us piece this mess
together." she said and put
all the papers in her bag.

***

Clark felt that something was wrong as soon as they found the door
open, Platt had almost as many locks and bolts on his door as Lois
did.

"Lois, wait." he said and tried to come up with a reason for him to
go in alone.

"Cut it out, Kent. I've seen it all. War, crime, famine..." she said
and kicked a rat out of her way. He almost smiled but the creepy
feeling kept him from it, there was definitively something very
wrong here. It was then he saw the sparks coming from a chair turned
away from the door. He looked down and saw feet in a bowl of water
and heard a strange sizzle from the chair. He caught up with Lois
just as she walked around the chair and saw Dr. Platt sitting in the
chair with his feet in the water and electrical wires connected to
him. Clark lowered his head, Platt was dead. He did not have a pulse
anymore, he would have heard it even from where he stood. Lois
gasped and turned to Clark for comfort, he put his arms around her
but she recovered within two seconds. She calmly looked the corpse
over and studied everything in sight before she retrieved her phone
>from a pocket. The police arrived later and after looking everything
over gave the simple conclusion suicide. Clark groaned inwards and
Lois did more then that, Clark had to drag her away from the shocked
police officers before any of them recovered enough to take her into
custody. Some of the things she said shocked even Clark and he had
heard a *lot* of filth during his travels. "All right, Kent. You can
let go. I'm calm now." she said when he had her out on the street.
He looked her over carefully and stepped away from her to stand in
front of the doorway into the building. She stared suspiciously at
him and rolled her eyes at him. "Not much more we can do tonight,
Kent. Let's go home and we can start early tomorrow. I'll pick you
up." she offered and clearly expected no objections from him. Clark
flashed a weak smile despite the horrible murder of Dr. Platt. He
believed that it had been suicide about as much as Lois did, that
is, not at all.

---

"There has to be some way I can use my gifts and still live a normal
life, Mom. I don't think I can just step aside when people need my
help, I just can't!" Clark said into the telephone.

"If someone finds out about you they will drag you off to some
laboratory and dissect you like a frog!" said Jonathon and Clark
chorused him. It wasn't the first time his dad had used that
argument in order to make him not use his powers in public.

"I know, Dad. But what else can I do? I *have* to help people who
needs me but I don't want to give up my chances of a normal life
either." he said and shook his head, he had said that a lot of times
and he had then been unable to come up with a solution for it. Now
he thought he might be onto something that could solve this. "But I
have an idea. Mom, do you still have that sewing machine?" he asked.

"Yes, Clark. Why?" she asked curiously.

"I think I need some kind of outfit." he said hesitantly but never
got around to explain further because there was a knock on the door.
"Mom, Dad, it's Lois, I have to go." he said into the phone.

"Is she there? Well, well now..." he heard his Mom say in the voice
she always used when he talked about his girlfriends.

"Take care, son, and be careful!" Jonathon piped in.

"Bye, I love you both." Clark said and hung up on them. He walked to
the door and opened it, Lois was just about to knock a second time
but she froze and stared at him in silence. "Hello, Lois?" he said
hesitantly. She shook herself.

"I said nine, I thought you'd be naked... um, I mean ready." she
said and whipped her eyes up to his face. Clark looked down and saw
that he only wore a towel. His parents had called while he was still
in the shower.

"Oh, make yourself at home. This will only take a second." he said
and walked into the bathroom. His state of (un)dress didn't bother
him at all, he had lived for a whole month with a tribe in Africa
where he had been completely naked most of the time.

***

Lois stared at Clark as he walked into the bathroom with only that
towel covering his private parts. She gulped down air in a throat
that felt completely dry. She looked into a shelf for a glass she
could drink something from and was greeted by a incredible sight.
Several sorts of cookies and candy of all sorts. She stared off
towards the bathroom door in a state of shock. She found a glass
standing on the bench that looked clean enough and opened the
refrigerator looking for a soda. What she saw made her open her
mouth in shock, candybars, chocolate, jam, biscuits and a few high-
fat takeout leftovers. She closed the door and put down the glass,
this guy was incredible. /How can he eat all this and still look
like *that*?/ she asked herself. She turned to the bathroom door and
it opened, revealing a dressed Clark Kent coming out looking as if
he had had several hours to make himself ready. She stared at him so
hard that he looked down to see if anything was wrong before she
turned away from him, preparing to leave. She was overwhelmed with
curiosity though so she spun around.

"Explain something to me... You eat like an eight year old but you
look like Mr. Hardbody. What's your secret and can I have it?" she
asked and stared at him. /How did he dress so fast?/ she wondered.

"I never gain any weight so I don't have to watch what I'm eating."
he said with a nervous smile. It was so unfair, he could eat all
that and look like he did while she had to work out once a day and
still watch what she was eating in order to keep her weight.

***

Clark sneaked up behind Lois, he had just talked to Mrs. Platt and
her daughter, Amy, and found out some surprising things. She was
still doing a background on Lex Luthor, the talk of the newsroom was
all about this interview, Lex Luthor had never given anyone a
personal interview and he rarely answered questions about him as a
person. Now Lois Lane of the Daily Planet had nailed an interview
with him. She kept on writing without noticing that he was just
behind her and he tried to keep his eyes on what she was writing
instead of her but it was impossible.

"Lois, what would you say if I asked you out tonight?" he whispered
in her ear. She jumped and he could hear her pulse racing, she was
probably just as suprised as he was. This was not something he had
planned but he had blurted it out and now it was to late. She spun
around in her chair and faced him with a stunned look on her face.

"Clark, I would... I say... yes." she said and looked almost as
suprised as he must have done.

"Great! I'll pick you up at... eight?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes, that will be... Oh no, what am I thinking? I can't go, I have
something else to do tonight." she said and looked both disappointed
and happy at the same time.

"Luthor?" Clark asked, a little hurt by her rejection.

"Yes, I just have to do this interview, Clark." she said silently.
Clark understood her, but it would take ages before he dared to ask
her out again. He thought about Luthor and made a face without
thinking. "Clark!" she said. "This is the most important interview
of my life, I would have done anything to get it!" she said and
looked a little hurt as well. He was just about to tell her that he
understood but his feelings got the upper hand.

"*Anything*, Lois?" he asked with a sneer. She pulled back and
stared in shock at him, he was just about to ask for forgiveness
when she stood up.

"I have three rules, I never get involved with my stories. I never
let anyone else get there first and I *never* sleep with anyone I
work with!" she said and stormed off in a rage. Clark closed his
eyes and breathed long, deep breaths of air while leaning his head
back for a couple of seconds before he felt ready to face the world
again. He returned to his desk under the watchful eyes of the
newsroom. No one could have heard what they were talking about
except Lois's last screamed words about not sleeping with anyone she
worked with. The gossip mill would have a lot to talk about today,
he absently thought.

"Kent! Get down to the police headquarters and demand to speak with
a guy named Henderson. According to my sources, there's a guy here
in Metropolis that has hired The Pro!" Perry came from out of
nowhere and almost scared Clark out of his clothes.

"'The Pro'?" Clark asked. "Who is 'The Pro'?" Perry stared at him
and shook his head.

"The Pro is an assassin, a highly skilled professional. Rumor has it
that he's really hired by the government but that he takes jobs on
the side from people willing to pay his price. If he really is here
in town, we can expect some truly spectacular assassination really
soon. See if the police know anything, it's a long shot but get on
it right now!" Perry said and waved him away.

---

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:11:04 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 6/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Clark spent the whole evening down at police headquarters without
any results. Henderson was silent and no one else was willing to say
anything about The Pro. Clark gave up and decided to try at a
library. But didn't find anything about The Pro anywhere. At last he
went up to the newsroom and used his skills as a hacker on the
police network. Five minutes later he was able to pull out a file on
The Pro. Clark stared in shock at the information. According to the
police database, The Pro had committed more then a hundred
assassinations and murders that they knew of. No one knew who he
really was and the descriptions of him varied from time to time.
They had fifteen different drawings of him with different hair
colors, beard in some pictures, clean shaven in others and one with
a huge wart on his nose. Clark looked closer at the assassinations,
he did not seem to have any particular mode of operations. Some were
shot with a sniper rifle from a very long distance, some were shot
at close range, some had been strangled, some had been knifed, some
had been beaten to death in close combat, some had been poisoned,
some had been in the middle of explosions, some had been hit by cars
and one had been struck dead by the landing gear of a low flying
airplane! The Pro apparently managed to bypass extremely advanced
security measures like they weren't even there, do his stuff and
then sneak away without anyone noticing him. No information about
current whereabouts, aliases or anything that could help finding
him. The man was a ghost, a deadly ghost. The final note on the
document was a shock to Clark.

"The Pro is not to be apprehended, keep under surveillance but do
not interfere. Notify The Lark if spotted." he parroted. Clark spent
two more hours looking for information about The Lark without
success, it was obviously a codename for something, but for what? A
quick check at Interpol increased the list of assassinations made by
The Pro with about fifty more spectacular assassinations. Here the
final note was a bit different. "The Pro is not to be apprehended,
stay away from him at all costs! Notify The Golden Eagle if
spotted." No information about either The Lark or The Golden Eagle
anywhere at the Interpol database. Clark spent a few more hours
putting together information about the various assassinations
connected to The Pro without any real results. The victims were more
often then not big time criminals, corrupt politicians, financial
tycoons suspected of economical crimes and people like that. But
then there were others, like a mother of four children that was
clean according to the police,  she had been beaten to death and her
children strangled. A chief of police who had been pushed off a
bridge, a stern judge who had been beaten to death with his own
club, a reporter who had gotten his own articles stuffed down his
throat until he choked to death and many more that apparently were
in no way connected to any criminal activities. Clark leaned back
and rubbed his eyes, he had stayed up all night browsing through all
he could find on The Pro. He could have used his incredible speed to
do it but he never even thought about doing it that way despite
being all alone in the newsroom. He put all his work in a pile and
leaned forward on his crossed arms to rest a bit, he did not need to
sleep but he needed some rest.

***

Lois walked into a strangely silent newsroom and walked all the way
to her desk before she saw why it was so silent, even Perry
whispered his instructions. Clark had his head on his crossed arms
and was snoring lightly, apparently no one had dared to wake him up
yet. Perry noticed her and picked up a thick folder from Clark's
desk before walking over to her.

"The poor thing must have been working all night, I don't know where
he got all the information and I'm sure that I don't want to know
either because it looks as if he got some of it from some sort of
police or intelligence agency. According to my sources, The Pro is
in town, Lois. Something is about to happened and we are the only
paper in town with this knowledge!" he said excitedly and waved the
folder in front of her. "When you've finished with this sabotage
story I want you and Kent working full time on what The Pro is doing
here!" he said in a more normal tone of voice. Lois heard a grunt
and Kent apparently woke up. He stared around and smiled while
blushing, he blinked a few times and then he looked as if he had
slept a good night's sleep in a proper bed instead of a few hours in
a uncomfortable chair. He got up and walked over.

"Chief, Lois, I wonder if anyone of you know anything about
something called 'The Lark' or 'The Golden Eagle'?" he asked
hesitantly. Lois shrugged, she had never heard anything about it.

"Where did you find out about that, Kent?" Perry asked quietly while
glancing around the newsroom.

"When I was looking at information about 'The Pro', if the police
spot him they are not supposed to arrest him. They are to keep an
eye at him and notify 'The Lark'. Interpol agents are told to stay
away from him and notify 'The Golden Eagle' if they spot him." he
said just as quietly. Perry looked horrified and shocked.

"Both 'The Lark' and 'The Golden Eagle' are nicknames for an
unlisted telephone number in D.C., the only thing answering is a
machine that doesn't give any information at all, its just the beep.
The only ones with access to that answering machine is the President
of the United States and some of his trusted advisors! Any message
left at that machine is sure to reach the President with a minimum
of fuss!" he said in a strained tone of voice and Lois understood
why. If the president of USA was in any way involved with "The Pro",
it was knowledge that could be fatal.

"But how can the president be so exposed? Any police with a tad of
brains can puzzle out that 'The Pro' is involved with the president
after reading the report on this assassin." Clark said doubtfully.

"I doubt that anyone in the police knows anything about this number,
ordinary policemen probably don't have access to any information
about 'The Pro'. The chief of Police probably do and if they know
anything about 'The Lark' or 'The Golden Eagle' it's probably only
the number they are supposed to call. I know only because I once had
to call it myself, a dying man revealed it to me and asked me to
call it. He then said who had access to that number. You have not
heard this from me and don't even dare to ask why I had to call that
number!" he finished in a stern tone of voice. He looked around
again and resumed his normal voice. "Now finish this story and start
working on 'The Pro' later!" he commanded and stalked off to shout
orders to other reporters. Clark sneaked a look at Lois but did not
know how to ask for an apology after the things he had said to her
yesterday so he just walked away. He sat down at his desk where he
tried to access The White House private network, it was probably one
of the largest, perhaps the largest central of information in the
world. It was also supposed to be secret, Clark only knew about it
because he had found a file about it when he hacked into the
Pentagon a couple of years ago. He almost gave up at once upon
seeing the first screen that greeted him, it was scrambled beyond
belief. He clenched and unclenched his fists a couple of times and
then started working. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't
even notice Lois and Jimmy leaving the newsroom.

***

Jimmy worked on the lock and after just a couple of seconds he
managed to pick it open.

"That's amazing, Jimmy! Where did you learn how to do that?" Lois
exclaimed wonderingly. She was not bad at picking locks herself but
she was not even close to being this good.

"Reform school." he said off handedly. "It was a bum rap." he
finished and held the door open for her to enter.

***

Clark worked the keyboard like a madman, pages of code were flying
by at superspeed but to no avail. Every time he unscrambled a screen
and managed to crack the code he ended up with another scrambled
screen and another code. He kept on working though, sooner or later
he'd find a way through this mess. When he heard the door open he
slowed down to normal speed again but kept his eyes on the screen
and kept on tapping on his keyboard until he suddenly felt cold
metal pressed against the back of his head.

"One 'rong move'n ya'll be feedin' the fish t'night." said a heavily
accented voice silently from behind him. A hand reached out for the
keyboard and Clark blanched at the sight of the hand. It was a
pattern of old scars and parts of the flesh had been exposed to
enough heat to burn away some flesh. A few keys were tapped and the
scrambled screen was replaced by a blank one as he was disconnected
>from a computer system he wasn't supposed to know existed. "Stop yar
foolish attempts o' hackin' this system. If ya ever try somethin'
like this again, Mistah Kent, Ah'll make sure ya'll regret it for
the rest o' yar life! Neither ya or yar parents will outlive yar
next attempt by more than a day or two at the most. Ah also know o'
yar intrusions into the police'n the Interpol. Don't try anythin'
like that again either'n forget that this monologue ever took
place." he whispered and then the cold metal was pressed even harder
against his head. "Don't move, don't turn 'rond'n ya'll be all
right. Try anythin'n ya'll die." said the man behind Clark and he
could feel him moving away. When he was half-way to the elevators
Clark threw himself to the floor and tried to catch a glimpse of the
unknown man only to see him run towards the elevators completely
dressed in black with a hood over his face. Clark ran to catch up
with him but the unknown man somehow sensed that Clark was moving,
spun around and started shooting. Clark threw himself to the floor
and shuddered in shock as sudden fiery explosions tore the office to
pieces. Each bullet from the gun exploded with the power of a hand
grenade. The gunman moved into a waiting elevator, kicking away a
small wedge holding the doors open on his way in. He then crossed
his arms over his chest when the doors closed, standing and somehow
managing to convey utter smugness with his stance. Clark got up from
the floor and reached for the fire extinguisher with a curse, he
couldn't follow the perp because he now had company. Perry and the
others who had been having a meeting in a conference room peeked out
just in time to see the doors close on the gunman in the elevator.

"Clark! Great shades, what happened?" screamed Perry and stared at
the destruction in his newsroom.

"Dunno, Chief, a terrorist perhaps?" he said hesitantly and managed
to extinguish the last flame. "He just walked out of the elevator
and started shooting before he jumped back in." lied Clark smoothly.

"Where's Lois and Jimmy?" asked Perry suddenly. "Do you know where
they are?"

"No..." replied Clark slowly. "I assumed they were in there with the
rest of you." said Clark who had been escused from the staff
meeting.

"No." said Perry and frowned. "I'm not suprised about Lois, but
Jimmy usually tells me when he's going somewhere." Clark looked over
at Lois desk and sighed as he saw what she had pulled out before she
left. /Information about Antoinette Baines, EPRAD and the
Messenger./

"I have a hunch, Chief, I'll go check it out." he said and shrugged
into his trenchcoat when the last of the burning flames had been
taken care off.

***

"Well, Lois, such a shame that you didn't bring along your hunk of a
partner, he is a *very* attractive young man. If I stay in
Metropolis after this, I might just ask him out. I can't wait to see
what he's hiding underneath that trenchcoat of his." said Toni with
a faraway look in her eyes. A small smile appeared on her lips as
she scratched her chin with the pistol.

"Stay away from him you, certified *slut*." snapped Lois and stared
darkly at Doctor Baines.

"Lois... Such bad language. I really expected more from a respected
reporter like you."

"When you are talking with trash, you have to talk in a language
they can understand." snapped Lois and spared a glance at Jimmy who
was still unconscious. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing compared to what I'm going to do with you..." whispered
Toni and smirked at Lois.

+crash+

Both their heads wipped towards the sudden noise and saw a door
coming flying through the room as a dark shape rushed into the room
and rolled into cover. /Clark!/ thought Lois as she saw his face for
a split second. Toni gestured for her handyman to take care of it
and he moved over in the direction Clark had taken with his UZI
prepared.

"Clark! Watch out!" screamed Lois before she was silenced by the
butt of Toni's pistol.

"Silence." snapped Toni and aimed her gun in the direction Clark had
taken. Lois heard a strange sizzling noise from above and looked up.
She frowned as she saw the chain of a large winch suddenly melt as
if some sort of acid was eating through it. She opened her mouth to
comment on it when it suddenly broke and came falling down right
onto the head of Toni's henchman who dropped to the floor,
unconscious.

"Drop it." said Clark suddenly and Lois wipped her head around to
see Clark standing behind Toni with a large pistol in his right hand
directed at the back of her head.

"I still have my gun directed at sweet little Lois Lane here."
snapped Toni. "If I'm dying, I'm going to take her with me." she
snarled and turned her head around to look at Clark. "Can you handle
that, Kent? Being responsible for the death of two women?" she asked
with contempt. Clark's eyes were practically glowing as he stared at
Toni, he spared a glance down at her and his eyes softened for a
moment.

"No." he replied after a few seconds. "Besides, this is only a
lighter." he said and pulled the trigger. A small flame appeared out
of the guns barrel and flickered out as Toni exhaled with obvious
relief. He shrugged and put it back into one of his pockets.

"Very droll, Mister Kent. I'm afraid that you will have to join your
partner here. Sit down and don't move." she ordered.

***

"Told Perry I needed a task force... *Task force*! What do I get?
Amateurs. I still can't believe you came barreling in here like a
500-pound gorilla. If you really thought we were in trouble, *why*
didn't you call the police? *Don't* tell me, I already know! Because
you're like every other man in Metropolis! You've got this
testosterone surplus that says 'I can do it myself!'. Baines has to
kill us now, I don't know why she hasn't done it already." snarled
Lois behind his back. He sighed and tore the lock away from the
chains he had been secured with.

"Lois I've somehow managed to..." he started to say.

"Mess everything up? No kidding!" she snapped at him.

"Now hold on a second. I'm not the one who snuck in here..." he
tried to interrupt.

"What are you saying? Are you saying that this is *my* fault? At
least I had the guts to come in here..." her tirade silenced for a
second. "What am I saying? This probably is my fault..." she
admitted silently. "Oh God..." she breathed. "I sometimes do
things... You know, like jumping into the pool without checking the
water level first. But... Clark, it's the only way I know how to do
it. How to get the job done. How to get the respect that I want, the
respect I deserve!" she admitted with an emotional voice. He thought
about trying to tell her again that he had managed to liberate
himself but stayed silent for some reason. "You remember when I told
you about my three rules?" she asked. "Well... I've broken every one
of them." she admitted. "I somehow manage to *always* get involved
with my stories..."

"You slept with someone at work?" he interupted, his voice tinged
with disbelief.

"Yeah..." she admitted.

"It wasn't... Jimmy, was it?" he asked as the image of her and Jimmy
being intimate invaded his mind. He looked over at Jimmy, the kid
was still breathing at least, even if he hadn't regained
consciousness yet. He was more or less all right though, it wasn't
anything serious.

"Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped. "It was a long time ago when I
first started at the Daily Planet..." she explained. "Claude. He was
French. I must have been in love with him, or thought I was...
anyway.  One night, I told him about my story... And the next
morning when I woke up, he was gone. So was my story. He won an
*award* for that! He didn't even thank me for my input." she
complained bitterly. He thought about what she had said for a moment
or two.

"I guess when you're in love with somebody, it doesn't matter how
smart you are or how many rules you set for yourself. You're still
vunerable." he said, trying to make her feel better.

"We're only human... Oh what difference does it make now anyway,
we're just gonna die!" she wailed.

"Lois... You know what you said, about respect? I just want you to
know that everyone on The Planet... *everyone*, thinks you're just
about the *best reporter they ever met... Perry told me that at the
day I was interviewed." he said, a smile coming to his lips as he
recalled their first meetings. First the taxi incident, then in the
elevator and when she barged into Perry's office. He had fallen in
love with her on the spot, he already cared more about her then
anyone else he knew with the sole exception of his parents.

"He did?" she asked silently.

"Yeah... Not that it really means anything coming from a *hack* from
Nowheresville, but, I think you're pretty terrific too." he
admitted.

"Oh Clark... I'm sorry! About everything! I know it's too late for
apologies, but I never meant..." she sobbed out but was interrupted
as Toni walked into the room again.

"Well, I hope you'll forgive the accommodations... Then again, I
never was much of a hostess." she said and looked down at the three
of them.

"Answer one question... *Why*?" asked Lois, all traces of her
sobbing a few moments ago had just vanished out of her voice. She
was now cool and collected again, a reporter in every inch of her
body. He knew without seeing her that despite the fact that she was
tied up like she was, she would look as regal as a queen in her own
castle.

"It's simple, Lois... *Profit*. Outer space is no different then any
other new frontier, it will belong to them who gets there first...
and seize the high ground." explained the bad doctor. Something she
said made Clark remember something though. /Seize the high ground?
Luthor! I knew there was something was wrong with that guy!/ he
thought.

"You're in league with Luthor!" he exclaimed. "It was his plan,
wasn't it? He ordered you to sabotage the Messenger so the
Prometheus project would fail. Then he would put his own station up
there and earn billions from creating his own vaccines in a zero
gravity laboratory!"

"Clark! That's preposterous!" exclaimed Lois. "Are you really *that*
jealous?!" asked Lois, disbelief plain in her voice.

"Actually, Lois, he's right... More or less." admitted the doctor.
"*Very* good, Mister Kent. But you got a few facts wrong. He didn't
order me to do anything. I came up with the idea, suggested it to
him once I had him in my bed and he agreed. He loaned me a
henchman..." she said and pointed at the still unconscious man lying
partly buried underneath a pile of iron chains. "... And he helped
raise me into a position of power here at EPRAD so I would be able
to arrange everything we had planned together. Then you three came
along, I'm afraid I'm going to have to do something about that." she
said. "It's a lovely evening. Sorry you won't be around to enjoy the
rest of the it... But accidents do happen." she said and smirked
down at them.

"Accidents?" asked Lois slowly, still somewhat shocked by the
doctor's revelations.

"Yes... You see, while dismantling the orbital maneuvering system...
DeMonoMethalHydrogen leaked... and mixed, with the
NitrogenPetroOxide... Unfortunately, the blast killed three *nosy*
reporters who didn't bother to read the signs..." she said and
sighed theatrically. Clark just looked coldly at her as she slowly
bent down and placed a single kiss on his lips. "See you later...
not." she whispered and then scurried out of the room as the two
liquids were slowly pouring out of two large barrels, slowly running
down towards a drainage where they would mix. Clark tore the chains
away from his hands, spun around and tore the chains away from Lois
as well. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up into an upright
position.

"Clark! How did you?!" she asked but Clark cut her off.

"Missing link... Come on!" he snapped and bent down to pick the
unconscious Jimmy up from the floor as he pushed Lois along towards
the exit.

+fzzsst+

/Oh hell.../ he thought as he heard the sizzle as the two fluids
mixed behind them.

+kaboooooooooooooooooooooooom+

As he heard the blast, he took off into the air, keeping them a
meter or so above the ground. One arm around Jimmy and the other one
around Lois's waist. He kept them ahead of the actual explosion and
touched down into a large mud puddle when they were at a safe
distance from the billowing flames from the EPRAD facility.

"Ah! Oh! Aouh! What happened?" yelled Lois as she dried muddy water
out of her face. The filthy liquid dripping from both her face, hair
and clothes. He supposed that he himself looked about the same, he
sure as hell felt drenched anyway. But he figured that the water
would cool them down and give them some protection from the heat, so
he had touched down there on purpose.

"I don't know. I guess the force of the explosion must have carried
us here." he said doubtfully, not really comfortable about lying to
hide his mysterious powers.

"Look!" she exclaimed and pointed towards a helicopter that had just
taken off. He zoomed in and saw Toni at the controls. Before he was
able to come up with some excuse to run away or at least destroy
something on the chopper with his Heat vision, it exploded.

+kabooooom+

"Oh!" she exclaimed.

"Ah!" he yelled and felt like screaming. /Luthor! I just know it!/

"*Ouuuuuhhh*." groaned Jimmy who turned around and looked at them
with glazed eyes. "I feel *bad*." he said and fixed his eyes on
Lois. "The next time you want someone to come with you, call for the
National Guard or the Army." he said and Clark chuckled despite
their situation. He helped Jimmy and Lois to get back onto their
feet and hugged them both closer to himself, keeping his arms around
their shoulders.

"What a team we are!" he exclaimed and chuckled again.

"No offence, CK, but count me out okay? I want to live long enough
to become a reporter. Doing those obituaries the chief wanted seems
pretty appealing to me at the moment."

"All right, Kent and Lane. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?" he asked
and looked down at Lois.

"*Lane* and Kent, farmboy." she told him firmly but with a smile on
her lips.

---

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 16:12:22 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Niklas 'Hawk' Jonsson <hawk@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alt Premiere 7/7
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

"What do you mean we can't write anything about Luthor?" asked Lois.
"I heard what she said!"

"Hard facts, Lois! Hard facts is the name of this game. I am *not*
going to have an article in my newspaper saying that the most
powerful man in Metropolis is responsible for this mess. Until you
two has some good, *solid* evidence against him, Luthor is not to be
mentioned or implied in your article." said Perry firmly. "I might
not like the man myself, but until there is proof to suggest
otherwise, he is *not* going to be mentioned in your story. Am I
making myself clear?" asked Perry and stared them both in the eyes.

"Yeah." said Lois.

"Yes, sir." replied Clark after a moments hesitation.

"Good. Now get out there and rewrite the article." ordered Perry and
sat down at his desk. As Clark stood up, he noticed a small package
on the desk.

"'Pava leaves.'." Clark read out loud as he examined the scribblings
on the box. He smiled and left the room without saying anything
else. Perry had arranged for a small celebration that was slowly
starting to gain some momentum in the newsroom. Neither he or Lois
would be able to join in it for a while longer though, they had to
rewrite the story first so that Lex Luthor wasn't mentioned or
implied in it. Clark felt like screaming, the man was a horrible
monster who should be in jail! But nothing had been found that could
be used against him, the man was nothing if not cautious.

---

"Were you scared Jimmy?" asked Anette from sports.

"Scared? No. No, ladies, not at all. I was... I was more concerned
with the larger issue." stuttered Jimmy, surrounded by gushing women
as he told them his version of what happened. Clark smiled but kept
his mouth shut, Jimmy deserved his five minutes of fame. "Unless we
got out of there alive, the colonist launch could blow up as well."
he said and managed to sneak his arms around Dana from research and
Brenda from accounting.

"I just spoke to ground control over at EPRAD, they went back over
the colonist launch vehicle with a fine-tooth comb. Found the same
coolant problem in the protective vense and fixed it. Launch is all
set for tomorrow morning." reported Perry and his announcement was
followed by wild cheers from everyone in the newsroom except Lois
and Clark who were a little subdued due to the fact that Luthor
seemingly had gotten away with what he had done. "It's a no-go for
you, Lois, no reporters allowed." said Perry silently when he had
made his way over to the two of them.

"But, Chief. Imagine the Daily planet getting an *exlusive* personal
account on being *on* the colonist transport!" Lois said with a
voice that was somewhere between whining and persuasive. Clark
suppressed a grin and the urge to shake his head.

"No can do, Lois." said Perry and shrugged.

"All right, another time. Maybe." she replied and Clark was
instantly on the alert. She looked as if she agreed and had decided
to stay out of it, but he felt her resolve and knew without even
looking into her head that she somehow would be onboard the launch
vehicle, no matter what.

"Mhm. Now, Clark, you'll be pleased to know that Platt's widow and
daughter are back onboard." said Perry and turned towards him
instead. Clark blinked and rewound what Perry had just said.

"Thank you very much, sir. I appreciate that." he said after a
moments hesitation. He looked after Perry as he left without saying
anything else. He was just about to follow him and tell him about
his 'suspicions' when Lois stepped in front of him.

"Anyway, Clark... I just... Well, I want to thank you for all your
help getting us out of there." said Lois and he instantly forgot
everything about telling Perry as she smiled shyly up at him. He
stood straighter and smiled down at the lovely woman. /God, she's
gorgeous!/ he thought and decided that he should respond in some way
to what she had just said. He felt tongue-tied around her, his mind
worked slowly and thoughts of her invaded his mind every few
seconds.

"I'm glad it worked out." he said and was proud of the fact that he
managed to say that without stuttering or hanging his tongue out to
drool at the sight of her right next to him.

"And..." she began and slowly moved closer to him. "One other
thing..." she practically purred and he felt his mind slowly close
down as she leaned slightly towards him. "If you *ever* breathe a
word of anything I told you in there, I will *deny* it and I
will..." she told him in a no-nonsense way. He relaxed as his mind
shifted into proper gears once again and he interrupted her with a
smile on his lips.

"You can trust me, Lois." he told her and looked into those deep
eyes.

"Right... I've heard *that* one before." she said, plopped a party-
hat onto her head and joined the party. He chuckled and grabbed a
glass of bubbly as he followed her example.

---

"I don't know about this costume thing, Clark." said his fathered
doubtfully when he had told his parents about his idea. After
finishing up the story, and getting tired of the festivities, he had
left for Smallville to discuss the idea he had.

"It'll work! It has too. If I have an effective disguise, I won't
have to worry about people finding out about me." he told him,
trying to sound sure of himself even if he himself had started to
get a little doubtful about the whole idea.

"Come on, let's get started." said Martha and he relaxed, his mother
fully supported him in this and she had bought a carload of cloth to
make a costume out of.

---

"Mom... Do I even *want* to know why you had the whip and *this*?"
asked Clark and held up a black leather whip and a dark brown
leather pouch for male genitals. That was when he saw something he
never had seen before, not even when he had walked into his parents
bedroom without knocking when he was seven. His mother blushed,
turned red as a tomato and looked at the floor for a split second.
"Mom?!" he exclaimed. He knew that his mother had been pretty wild
in her youth, but the pouch couldn't have been more then two or
three years old. He blushed himself as he tried to get the mental
image of his father with the pouch and whip out of his head. He
dropped both objects and absently wiped his hands off on a yellow
cape they had discarded as a *bad* idea.

---

"I look like a bandit out of the wild west in neon pink tights,
Mom!" he complained and removed the cloth covering the lower part of
his face. He even had a holster with two fake revolvers.

---

"A trenchcoat? I look like the sort of man who might jump out of the
bushes and display my... private parts!" he said and removed the
black hood from his face.

***

"What about that one?" asked Martha and closed her eyes for a few
seconds.

"I don't know." replied Clark through the door. "What do you think?"
he asked as he came out and looked at himself in the mirror. Martha
nodded approvingly, this was the best one yet, the cape especially
looked great on him.

"Well, one thing is for sure, nobody is going to be looking at your
face!" she exclaimed.

"Mom!" he protested and blushed slightly.

"Well, they don't call 'em tights for nuthin'!" she told him and
giggled. She looked him over once again. "I don't know, there's
something missing... Something..." she trailed off as she suddenly
got a flash of inspiration. She pulled out the box of memorables and
opened it.

"What's that?" asked Clark curiously.

"The baby blanket we found you in so long ago... And this." she said
as she held up the strange insignia, the 'S' shield. A few minutes
later, it was attached to the suit and she nodded firmly. It was
perfect. "Your folks would be proud of you... We sure are." she told
him and gave him a fierce hug. Ever since last year when they moved
the shuttle he had arrived in and found the strange globe, she
sometimes thought of his real parents. He never talked about it, but
she knew that he often thought about them. He returned the hug and
stroked her back, knowing somehow that she needed comfort right now.

"Thanks, Mom. I'm not... so sure about the cape though..." he said
slowly as they parted and he looked at the mirror again.

"Oh really? I love it! It will be great when you're flying." she
told him proudly.

"Hey, you two, come on in here! Launch vehicle is about ready to go
up." yelled Jonathan and they walked into the living room where he
was looking at the news. It was live from the launch. "Colonists are
just about all onboard." he told them quietly and looked at the
screen as if he was mesmerized. He hadn't even noticed what Clark
was wearing yet. "Historic occasion. Remember when you were a kid,
Clark? When we watched the first moon landing?" he asked and turned
around. He blinked in suprise and fell silent as he saw Clark in his
uniform.

"What do you think?" asked Clark and smiled broadly.

"That's my boy!" exclaimed Jonathan and practically beamed with
pride.

"Oh, that's right! What if somebody recognizes you?" asked Martha
worriedly. She didn't want anyone to find out about her little boy.

"I don't think they will, Mom. Because it won't... be... me." said
Clark and removed his glasses. She and Jonathon shrugged and all
three of them turned around to watch the launch her son and that
woman reporter had saved from disaster. When the launch was halted,
Jonathan turned around to say something to Clark, but both of them
only found empty space and the door closing. They smiled at each
other and turned around to watch the TV.

***

Lois couldn't believe her eyes when the strange man suddenly
appeared. /What... the... hell... is... this?/ she wondered. /Candid
camera?/ He grabbed the bomb and tore it apart with his bare hands.

"Hey, get away from that! What kind of a lunatic are you? That's a
bomb!" she exclaimed in suprise but fell silent as he suddenly put a
part of the bomb into his mouth and swallowed. She thought her eyes
were going to pop out of their sockets when he suddenly burped with
a hand covering his mouth.

"Excuse me." he said and smiled slightly. /Holy.../ her mind felt
sluggish and she was unable to do anything except ask one question.

"What the *hell* are you?!" He shrugged and walked out to meet the
colonists who had walked out in force to find out what was going on.
"There was a bomb... He... He... He... ate it!" she exclaimed and
indicated the weird man with the tights and red cape. His eyes
locked on Amy Platt and he crouched down in front of her.

"Hi." he greeted her and Lois's heart melted as she saw how the girl
locked eyes with him and smiled slightly.

"Hi. I like your costume." she told him. /Me too... Damn! What *a*
butt!/ thought Lois as the cape flopped aside and revealed buns of
steel to her hungry gaze.

"Thank you. My mother made it for me. What's your name?"

"Amy. Amy Platt. Who are you?" asked the little girl and looked him
over.

"I'm a friend..." he said hesitantly.

"Can you teach me how to fly?" asked the girl. /Yesyesyes. Me too?/

"Not fly. But once this lab is operational, walk. That's very
possible." said the wondrous man calmly.

+Attention colonists. The mission has been scrapped. Prepare to
disembark.+ came the message from ground control through the
loudspeakers followed by a chorus of protests and exclamations of
disappointment from the colonists.

"That's it then. It's all over." said one of the colonists.

"Why?" exclaimed Lois.

"Once the thrusters has been fired, they have to be replaced." said
Platt's former wife.

"We loose our launch window." explained the first colonist.

"Yes." agreed the Platt widow.

"We just have to forget about Space Station Prometheus."

"No. You don't. There's nothing wrong with this transport vehicle or
the station. You only need to get there." said the caped crusader
confidently.

"How are they supposed to do that?" asked Lois.

"Easy. I'll give them a boost." he said flippantly and walked
outside, closing the door behind him.

***

"I still don't believe it! A man who flies!" exclaimed Perry and
looked at the pictures he was holding.

"But, Chief, it's all over the TV." said Jimmy. Cat once again
looked him over and thought about him. He was cute, but for some
reason, she hadn't approached him just yet. She didn't know why and
it annoyed her to no end.

"Oh, Jimmy, don't believe everything you see on TV! I'll tell you
one thing though, whoever pulled off a hoax like this is... is a..."
grumbled Perry but fell silent, staring in shock out through one of
the windows. Cat followed the direction of his gaze and almost
fainted as she saw the flying man approaching the window with Lois
in his arms. "Great shades of Elvis!" exclaimed Perry and Jimmy
started taking pictures with the camera he was holding.

+click+ +click+ +click+ +click+

"I see it, but I don't believe it." said Cat as the flying couple
landed right in front of Lois desk. One eyebrow shot up and her mind
raced. Cat wasn't a great believer in coincidence, it could have
been pure chance, but she didn't think so. This guy knew where Lois
worked...

"What? A man who flies?" asked someone behind her.

"No. Lois Lane. Finally, literally, swept off her feet. Too bad he's
an alien." she said flippantly to cover the way her mind was working
at the moment. Not many people knew it, but she had the highest IQ
of anyone in the building. If it hadn't been for a little incident
in the principal's office during her studies, she would probably
have been working at Star Labs as a scientist right now. She didn't
really mind though, her current occupation was much more fun anyway.
If she had continued with her studies, she probably would have ended
up as a total geekette, buried in her research. Once she left
school, she had turned from a closed-up shy ass-kisser into the
woman she was today. After she colored her hair red, she hadn't
regretted a single thing in her life except for the fact that it
took her so long to realize what a waste her life had been until she
was kicked out of school for seducing a teacher on the principal's
desk.

"I-I think, considering that I saw you first, you owe me an
exclusive." stuttered Lois and Cat emerged from out of her
ponderings to concentrate on the flying man and Lois Lane. She
smiled a little at the fact that the normally unshakable Lois Lane
was reduced to stuttering in the presence of this guy.

"Is that the rule?" he asked and something clicked in Cats mind, she
*knew* that voice.

"Well, no. But I'd appreciate it very much." said Lois breathlessly.
He only smiled and took off, slowly flying towards the window. "Wait
a minute! How do I find you?" screamed Lois after him and ran
towards the window.

"I'll be around." he said and suddenly vanished with a 'woosh'.

"Real smooth." exclaimed Jimmy as Cat made her way over to Lois
Lane, hoping to get a clue to if Lois had realized what she just
had, the identity of the flying man.

"Did you find out what the 'S' stands for?" she asked and looked
closely at Lois.

"Super..." she breathed. "Superman! Oh. Oh." she exclaimed and
stared at the window being closed with eyes large as teacups.

"Hey, hey, hey, let's get back to work! We've got a newspaper to
run!" yelled Perry and everyone started to walk back towards their
desks except for Lois who was still staring at the window. Cat shook
her head in disgust, Lois had no clue whatsoever. /What is she?
Galactically stupid?/ Cat looked over at Clark's empty desk and
smiled to herself. What would she do with what she knew? She looked
over at Lois again and shook her head again. Lois reminded her too
much of how she herself had been before she realized how wrong she
had been. She had disliked Lois from the moment she saw her, buried
in her work, no social life. Lois Lane was a constant reminder of
how she herself had been, it brought up a lot of bad memories. Lois
apparently sensed her dislike and they had developed a instant hate
of each other on the day they met.

***

+clap+ +clap+ +clap+

Lex applauded mockingly as Clark walked into his office after Lex
had opened the door for him.

"Astonishing debut... Superman!" said Lex and Clark raised an
eyebrow at him. "Haven't you heard? That's what they're calling you,
it's international news." explained Luthor with a smile on his face.
"So, to what do I owe this 'honor'?" he asked, trying hard but
failing to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

"I came to tell you I know who you are... Who you. *really*. are. I
suppose on it's face it was a good plan. Destroy Prometheus so that
you could put your own space station in it's place. Then not only
would you make billions from the patents of the vaccines developed,
but you would also be the supposed 'savior' of the space program."
said Clark firmly, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at
Luthor.

"Well, it's an interesting theory, 'Superman'. But, I'm afraid
that's all it is."

"You are also responsible for the death of at least three people.
Commander Latterman... Samuel Platt... Doctor Baines... Those
probably aren't the only skeletons in your closet."

"So you've become both my judge and executioner?" asked Lex
mockingly.

"Like any other citizen on the planet, I must obey the law. I am not
above it. You seem to believe that you are."

"I hold... a certain position in this city." he replied with a
pleased grin.

"Yes... And there is *nothing* that would please me more then to see
you dethroned and behind bars like any... common... criminal. That
day will come."

"I trust not. But... As they say... Let the games begin!"

"Oh, one more thing... If you ever need to find me, all you have to
do is look up."

+woosh+

---

"Morning, Lois." said Clark when he walked up to her the morning
after.

"Clark! Where've you been?" asked Lois cheerfully and grabbed his
arm, pulling him with her over towards the elevators.

"Around." he replied.

"Well, not that it's anywhere near as exiting as the stories you
covered on the Smallville Press, but, Superman was in the newsroom
and I just about nailed down the exclusive." she told him with a
pleased grin that went from ear to ear.

"Well, congratulations."

"Clark, you should have seen him! Up close, he is the most...
magnificent figure of a man that I have ever..." she said dreamily
and trailed off as her eyes glazed over.

"Sounds like he made quite an impression on you?" Clark asked and
tried to hide his pleased grin at her reaction.

"He did... Mm. *Why*?! Are you jealous?" she asked suspiciously and
looked at him.

"Of Superman? Should I be?" he asked flippantly.

"Puh-leaze!" she exclaimed.

"Where are we going?" he asked as the elevator doors opened for
them.

"Terrorist shoot-out on sixth. ... And, Kent, I'll ask the
questions." she told him and sighed a happy little sigh as the doors
closed on them.

THE END!

--<< Sent By >>--
Niklas "Hawk" Jonsson
ICQ:21771860
http://hem.passagen.se/hawkgts/
hawk@telia.com

"All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power!"
- Ashleigh Brilliant
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 10:34:26 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Sandy commented:
> Frankly, I couldn't understand why n-fic needed to be relegated to one
> category.  Why not have a subset of categorie*s* (plural) within the
> Kerths?  This would have been my first preference, for whatever it's
> worth, and it would have saved on having to organize two events.

I should probably answer this, as it's at least partly my fault ... for
the original Kerths, I suggested a bunch of categories, and since I'm
not widely read in nfic, I naively assumed that one category would be
enough.  Plus, nfic stories were allowed in all other categories ... but
as you've pointed out, they have a limited readership and are therefore
handicapped to a degree. (Though I note that some nfic stories did win
their categories)  The 1998 Kerths were, ahem, a learning experience in
many ways.

When we were gearing up for the 1999 awards, we discussed the nfic
situation.  One category wasn't enough, given the wide range of nfics
out there.  But if we did enough sub-categories to do the genre justice,
we'd pretty much be duplicating the non-nfic categories.  One of our
goals, to make the whole thing workable, was to *reduce* the number of
categories, not double them :) so we decided to split it off into a
totally separate award.

Which is what we're gearing up for now, I hope, because there are a lot
of good stories that haven't been given the recognition they deserved.
That's one of the hazards of writing for the over-18 crowd, of course,
but that's all the more reason to award the best of the genre.

As for what to call the awards ... Kerths?  Nfic Kerths?  NKerths? <g>
The Snorkel Award?

> Whether another awards thingy happens or not, I'm glad to see the issue
> discussed here, since some of us don't go on IRC.

I think this list is definitely the place to discuss things, at least
until some coordinators are chosen (or drafted <eg>) and then they can
arrange things among themselves.  E-mail has several advantages over
live chat; you can think about what you want to say & keep on track
easier.

People seemed to really enjoy the IRC awards ceremony, we might want to
do that again.  Although that raises a question: should we try to limit
the attendees to those over 18?  Or would that be an unnecessary
hassle?  Questions to think about, later :-)

--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 08:42:21 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 4, Introduction
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

TITLE: My Journal
          Day 4, Friday, May 6
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums
          No Editing please (though you can fix typos)

          Also available as Word97 .doc and .RTF on my site,
                    ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/dstark/Stories/MyJournal

       SUMMARY  Read Days 1, 2, 3 and 3 Amendment before Day 4. Clark Kent's
adventures in Metropolis continue.  There will be no attachments to this
installment. Next time, yes :)

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 08:45:11 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 4, part 1 of 3
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

TITLE: My Journal
          Day 4, Friday, May 6, PART (1 of 3)
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums

                                       My Journal

                                    by Debby Stark

Friday, May 6

          I mailed my Amendment home this morning before heading for work. I
attached it to a simple note in Vietnamese, because Dad knows enough of
that.
"Read everything" my note said. Assuming they have time to do this, I won't
have to waste any of my time tonight explaining what's happened over the
last
few days. And I *will* be going home, *no* one's stopping me.
          Life before Metropolis used to be so simple, and now suddenly
there's
so much to think about.
          For example, I'll have to be careful about how I leave town in
deference to Lois Lane's spies, and for the same reason my trip home won't
be
for as long as I want. After all, I don't know how competent her spies
really
are. They haven't found out anything important about me - yet, but they may
try
harder with her decision to make me part of her plans.
          Is my acceptance of my cleaned suit tacit agreement to their
intrusion into my life? But what else can I do with it? Throw it defiantly
in a
rain puddle out in the street and jump on it for good measure? That would
sure
send a message - that I'm stupid, and I'm not. How about this: if they
bring it
up - "But we cleaned your suit for you!" - I'll reply politely "Thank you -
that's part payment for you *kidnapping* me!" That should shut them up,
particularly since they no doubt think they had the upper hand throughout
the
ordeal.
          Will they consider my communicating with my own parents an
abrogation
of an agreement (not to talk) that I didn't sign off on? Will they threaten
Mom
and Dad? How far does Lois Lane's influence reach? As far as Kansas? How
many
people are under her command? Are Mom and Dad in trouble if I don't figure
out
what to do about all this? Will Maxine return? Will Lois Lane punch her out
to
keep her in line? Will I have to defend people I don't like?
          In the harsh light of day, what was new and bizarre last night - I
might as well throw in "titillating", too, for a few moments of it *were*
even
though they should never have been - has suddenly become distressing and
very,
very dangerous.
          On my walk to work I tried not to see the troubled, hopeless city
around me or feel how small and helpless I was in the big picture. During
this
walk I came to several decisions about what I have to do to regain control
of
my life and the optimistic outlook I'd been enjoying only yesterday morning.
          First, I have to play along. I don't have a choice there. Since I
didn't stop the abduction before it got started, when Jimmy's Big Friend
grabbed me, I have to take responsibility for everything that followed.
Everything. I could have stopped it at any time thereafter, but I didn't. I
can
*say* it was my "investigative reporter's instincts kicking in," but since
I'm
not really an investigative reporter and that's not the direction I'm
trying to
move my career in, my failure to foresee what might happen last night and
act
to forestall it was simply stupid. The fact that that part of the experience
was titillating makes my inaction even worse. I don't like being hard on
myself
- who does? But someone has to be since I can't talk to anybody but Mom and
Dad, and they'll probably be all soothing and comforting.
          Second, "playing along" means to some degree doing the
predictable,
like going to work and trying to interact normally with my colleagues, some
of
whom will no doubt be watching me on Lois Lane's behalf. I think that
predictability can also include my trying to figure out who is responsible
for
what happened to me last night. What they won't know is that I'll be trying
to
find out all I can about this Lois Lane person. Who she is, why she came to
the
Daily Planet, and what happened to force(?) her to leave and become the
ratty
little person she is now. I'm also going to act nervous and suspicious for a
while, as though I'm defenseless and under a lot of stress.
          That part sure will be easy!
          Third, I'll keep to myself all the advantages I have, like my
skills
and my knowledge that Jimmy is deeply involved. Mr. White may be, too.
Include
Inspector Henderson, and no doubt other people I've met recently. From what
I've overheard, they've all been watching me one way or another. I'm *not*
paranoid, it *is* happening. The only ones who will know what I know are Mom
and Dad, and you who read this, my dear great-grandchildren - always
assuming I
manage to find someone who's not a nut case to form a family with. At this
rate, who knows? I used to be optimistic about that, too.
          To ensure my/our privacy, after last night's adventure, I did
write
the little all-inclusive virus I mentioned before. I attached it to my
amendment and I'll send it along with all future journal entries. Anyone not
using the proper decryption program will activate it. After it reads how
fast
their system is, they'll get a warning: "You have xx seconds" (where xx is
determined by their processor speed) "to close down the program attempting
to
read this private message or pay the penalty." If they scoff, they'll find
critical files being devoured. I'm calling it *The Godzilla Virus.*
          I hate having to do that, but I have no choice. While I'm forced
to
change my life to take their devious actions into account, I refuse to
surrender.
          But I don't hate them. If they confine their focus to me and don't
threaten anyone I love, I can be upset and angry at them - even intrigued -
but
I can't hate them.
          Well, on the bright side, there's probably a story in this, maybe
even a book. Would an expose work or should I novelize it? Who will ever
believe my life? Maybe I should consider science fiction.
          All of these conclusions sounded great this morning - if you like
sobering thoughts - but I didn't get answers to any of my questions today.
If
anything I only thought up more questions. But today was even busier than
yesterday.
          I arrived at work right on time. I was not feeling very chipper. I
hadn't felt like eating breakfast, and doing that often affects my mood. I
was
acutely aware of being watched by everyone in the packed elevator -- even by
people I didn't know.  I felt the same way when I reached the newsroom.  It
probably wasn't true, but it felt like it.
          I did have the presence of mind to follow a pack of my coworkers
out
of the elevator and into the kitchen area to grab a croissant and a guest
cup
full of coffee. Mad Dog Memorial Coffee *is* strong coffee. I have yet to
find
out why it's named that.
          I took this to my desk, way in the back at the end of the filing
cabinets, and settled in. I observed everyone I could see and a few I
shouldn't
have been able to see. I also listened in on conversations, spot checking
on my
colleagues around the big room. I used to do this kind of thing only by
accident. A few days ago the "accidents" became more frequent, unconsciously
prompted, I guess. Now it seems I do it on purpose all the time. That's not
a
good thing, it's not fair. But I did it anyway.
          It took me about three long minutes to finally admit that no one
was
paying any attention to me. If I hadn't come in, few people would have
noticed
except perhaps those with whom I've been working, and no doubt Steve and
Eduardo could have gotten along without me.
          So much for *that* moment of fame. I plummeted from paranoia to
depression... not a long drop. I missed my duck.
          I decided at that point, while contemplating my computer, to find
out
who Lois Lane is. I decided to start simply: enter her name in the search
function of the Planet's on-line morgue.
          Then I stopped. What if they're monitoring me here, too? It would
be
incredibly easy to do since the computer I use at work is networked to every
other computer in the Pit and, for all I know, throughout the building and
maybe further.
          Assuming that's the case, will they wonder why I'm searching for
Lois
Lane? Yes, they will, because there's no good reason for me to be curious
about
her. I'm sure that was her last night, but we weren't exactly formally
introduced. I don't even know if she's using an alias, though several come
to
mind: La Zorra, MegaMaid, Sewer Rat Avenger... nah.
          However, I *have* heard of her in several contexts, most
obviously on
Wednesday, when Dr. Platt barged in begging to see her. *Why* did he want to
talk to her specifically?
          I pulled up the files I had collected on him, the Prometheus and
EPRAD and began searching through them again. I didn't recall seeing her
name
during my first read through yesterday... and that remained the case today.
He
had not thought to talk to her because she had worked on the story of the
Prometheus in the past.
          Okay, investigating it from that angle didn't work, but I thought
up
another angle: Dr. Platt expected there to be trouble with the Messenger
and he
suspected the cause would be sabotage. He also expected Lois Lane to be
able to
help him, which must mean she had done something earlier that had caught his
attention. (It doesn't matter that she's been gone from the Planet for
"months
now," as Mr. White said, because Dr. Platt hasn't been reading the paper
lately.) (I hope that wherever he is, he is still capable of reading; I
don't
want to think of him in the past tense.)
          He must have thought Lois Lane would be sympathetic to his cause
and
capable of helping him because... she had made a name for herself as an
investigative journalist? Could be. Perhaps he thought his story would
interest
her because it hints at a conspiracy. He hinted to me on Tuesday that he
thinks
EPRAD's problems have not been entirely of their own making. Have they been
helped along by an outside force?
          Like... the competition?
          As you know from what I wrote in this journal yesterday, Luthor
Scientific is EPRAD's main competitor in the space business. Is LS a
legitimate
business or does it take after another arm of Luthor Industries, Luthor
International Environment Conservation Unlimited? You know I don't trust
them.
I wondered as I sat there at my desk if Dr. Platt thought Lois Lane might
have
questions about Luthor Scientific, too.
          Would Luthor go so far as to commission acts of sabotage against
EPRAD? Wouldn't he be the first one people suspect? Or does he cover his
tracks
too well? Does Dr. Platt think Lois Lane is, was the reporter most
qualified to
investigate Luthor for the crisis Dr. Platt perceives to be in the making?
Why?
Did she have experience investigating Luthor before she left the Planet?
          Well, my questions gave me the lead I needed. Investigate Lex
Luthor's space plans further and maybe "stumble across" a link to Lois Lane
and
begin to compile a picture of her through her work.
          Before I could dive into this, though, I saw Jimmy Olsen, arch
assistant conspirator and highly skilled assessor of mental stability. "I've
heard that Kansas is the armpit of America," he claimed on Wednesday. I bet
he
was trying to see how angry I'd get. Would Lois Lane want someone who blew
up
over every little thing?
          He sauntered past the open end of the rows of filing cabinets,
but it
didn't matter to me where he was. He could look over my shoulder,
physically or
by a tracking program, and all he would see was me working on a logical
extension of what I was working on yesterday.
          Jimmy doubled back, and I tried to look all innocent and not
really
nervous.
          "Hey, CK!" He approached with his hands in his pockets, relaxed, a
look of mild concern on his equally innocent face. I bet he's had a lot of
practice feigning innocence. He said, "Where were you last night? We drove
around the block at least three times and didn't see you at all."
          Early this morning, when I couldn't sleep, I thought about what
I'd
do in just this situation. Sure he's untrustworthy and I have no clue what
he
and his friends are up to, but he likes sports and he's been helpful at work
-
when not baiting me or dissing Kansas behind my back. Unless that was some
form
of testing. His defense of me to Lois Lane last night was compelling - but,
of
course, he had helped put me in the position to need defending.
          The benefits of having him as a friend, though, seem at the
moment to
outweigh the drawbacks.
          I sat back and sighed, shaking my head. "Jimmy, if I told you...."
          He pulled his hands out of his pockets as though expecting to
have to
use them to ward off something, and he looked a touch apprehensive. Did he
think I had forgotten or decided to ignore the warning not to say anything?
Was
he preparing to head me off somehow? Would he spring over my desk and tackle
me, pushing me back, my chair rolling into the filing cabinets behind me
with a
crash? Would he hurt himself?
          It was easy for you last night, when you were sure you were safe,
wasn't it?
          Aloud I continued, "...you wouldn't believe me. This is one
*weird*
city."
          He relaxed, running his hand through his hair in a self-comforting
move. "Yeah, it is."
          Before either of us could explore this new discovery of mine, we
heard his name being shouted from every corner of the room. He is apparently
the person charged with setting up the television and he had been slacking
off
on the job. Everyone wanted to watch the special morning launch of the
Messenger, which was taking up to the Prometheus three replacement crew
members, supplies, and the last components of the station.
          I was among those who gathered around to watch after Jimmy rolled
the
television into place and hooked up the satellite feed from the dish I
understand is up on the roof. I stood in the back because I'm taller than
many
and I could hear perfectly well in spite of the chatter in the room.
          I'll be including clippings that detail what happened next, though
you must know already, dear great-grandchildren, assuming the explosion
made it
into the history books. I can't see why it won't, wouldn't have; it was
history
in the making and it was horrific. Commander Laderman, his crew and
passengers
died instantly. A score more on the ground were injured. Launch Complex C
was
effectively destroyed, shutting down a third of the EPRAD's Future City
site in
a matter of moments.
          Everyone in the newsroom was stunned into silence until someone
cried
out, "No!" And as though a dam had broken in the Pit, everyone had
something to
say.
          I found myself silently comparing the event to the smash up on the
freeway the day before. What could I have done had I been there beforehand,
with some inkling that a disaster was in the cards? What could I have done
afterward instead of just watching? I don't know. Something, anything.

(continued)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 08:46:03 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 4, part 2 of 3
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

TITLE: My Journal
          Day 4, Friday, May 6, PART (2 of 3)
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums

          Over all this Mr. White's voice boomed, drowning out even Carmen
Alvarado's on-site live report which many were straining to hear. "All
right,
people, all right! Calm down! We have a job to do!" Everyone wanted to work
on
this story, yes, he understood, but that wasn't possible. Those reporters
who
already had stories were to continue working on them. If they needed
guidance
(or, I suppose, if they were distraught and unable to focus), they should
ask
him for help; his door was open. Those with time on their hands were to
report
to Eduardo - Pronto!
          As people six people (including me) converged on him, Eduardo
pointed
at the conference room. "Everyone, in there." He looked up at Mr. White.
"I'll
need photographers and the helicopter, too."
          Mr. White nodded and said, "You can have whatever you need."
          Eduardo took it, and in the conference room he began assigning
segments of the developing story to reporters.
          Needless to say - but I will anyhow - I was ordered to find Dr.
Platt
and bring him in to the newsroom. We would keep him under wraps until he
could
tell his complete story to us, and, in time, to the police. Jeanne, an
intern
with a minor in science would assist me, and Jimmy would go along to
photograph
the doctor in his habitat.
          We found Dr. Platt's habitat (I can't help it, that rhymes; Dr.
Platt
did strike me at first sight as being a sort of mild wild animal in need of
feeding and grooming) in a tenement on the edge of Hobbs Bay, a district of
the
city notorious for its high crime rate but low rental costs. Unfortunately,
we
didn't find Dr. Platt.
          At first glance it looked like his apartment - which was easy to
get
into as his door was ajar - had been ransacked. Jimmy and Jeanne immediately
speculated that the Metropolis Star had gotten here before us and had
kidnapped
him. Or almost as bad, he had been taken by some fast-moving
commando-conspiracy group on orders from the New World Order. Neither of my
colleagues could say exactly who is in the Order other than just about every
rich and influential person in the World and it had all started back in
ancient
Egypt. I didn't know this, and I've been to Egypt. I'll have to check it
out.
          I found enough proof now, though, to convince them of the more
mundane: Dr. Platt simply lives in a cluttered fashion. There were signs of
order in the stacks of papers and journals in the main room, bedroom and
bathroom. I think that if the place had been turned over during a search by
either the Star or people who meant to harm the doctor, it would have looked
a
lot worse. There would have been no scientific papers left, and there might
have been blood everywhere. "They" might have killed him or made it look
like
he committed suicide and left his body behind.
          On further investigation, Jeanne found that Dr. Platt probably
ate at
least some breakfast because the oatmeal in the pot on the stove was still
moist when she lifted the lid. Jimmy discovered that the TV worked, if one
overlooked the alarming red tone of the picture. The set itself was warm,
meaning it had been recently watched and Dr. Platt had had the presence of
mind
to turn it off.
          We concluded that he was eating breakfast, watching TV and saw the
explosion. He fled because he believes he's in danger for having made his
prediction public. He may be right if the explosion was caused by sabotage
and
not, for example, by poorly manufactured parts.
          I thought about calling the police at that point, but Dr. Platt
had
only been missing for about an hour. I did find a phone in his apartment,
picked it up and got a dial tone. I noted his number and decided to call him
periodically. After all, he might calm down and come back. If he remains
missing, I'll ask Mr. White about the advisability of informing the police
of
what we know.
          I told my colleagues that Dr. Platt told me he gave Dr. Antoinette
Baines, Director of the Prometheus Project, a copy of a report. (You'll
recall
that he said the report outlined his suspicions of wrongdoing in the
construction of the Messenger.)
          Jeanne wrinkled her nose. "Baines! I've been trying to talk to her
about her work - for the paper and for my thesis, 'Women in the Space
Program.'
But she doesn't like to talk, and it'll be harder than ever to make an
appointment with her now."
          I said, "Well, if we can find the original of his report, maybe we
can use information from it to get her attention."
          They thought that was sneaky. Jimmy said, "You're catching on,
CK."
Jeanne nodded, "We'll make an investigative reporter of him yet."
          But we didn't find anything useful. On my own, using some speed, I
probably could read every piece of paper in the entire apartment in a day...
and still come up empty handed. We found more than enough proof that the
man is
intelligent, but he's a pack rat and, according to Jeanne, he "eats like an
eight year old."
          On the way back to the office, we received a cell phone call from
Eduardo, who told us Dr. Baines was at EPRAD's science complex on the
southern
edge of the city. She was going to give interviews - first come, first
served!
"Get one, Clark!"
          Jeanne executed a skillful U-turn as soon as traffic along Schnall
Boulevard was light enough to allow it. Actually, from what I saw of the
boulevard, I doubt the traffic is ever light there. Jeanne simply warned,
"Hold
on!" and in moments we were heading south again. Since we survived, I didn't
say anything, but Jimmy praised her driving skills. She said that's how they
drive in Italy, her favorite foreign country. She's visited several times
and
learned a lot that she can use here in Metropolis.
          We weren't first to arrive at the complex but ninth, and more
reporters were on our heels. We checked in, were given temporary ID badges,
and
told to wait in the massive lobby featuring big windows for solar heating, a
fountain generating negative ions, and soothing paintings to encourage
mental
relaxation. I recognized these things because I've read up on them for use
on
the farm.
          I was surprised the Planet didn't have any reporters on site
already.
I've since learned that that almost everyone in the media expected Dr.
Baines
to be out at the launch site, where the situation was still critical and her
guidance surely needed. Only second-tier and stringer reporters had been
hanging around the science complex.
          Quickly bored and not under strict orders, Jimmy and Jeanne
wandered
off and cornered an assistant director, who, flattered, took them away on a
tour. I resisted the temptation to do the same when I saw other
administration
and PR people siphoning off reporters from the crowd. I stayed in the lobby
and
waited for Dr. Baines.
          I caught a glimpse of her on TV this morning, before the
explosion.
She was in an EPRAD control room, being questioned rapid fire by a horde of
reporters. She presented a strong image and answered every question with the
quiet patience of an elementary school teacher addressing special education
students. A little later, when cornered by many of those same reporters, she
appeared unruffled by what had happened, though considering the timing, only
minutes after the explosion, maybe she was still in shock.
          In person, she's tall, dynamic, and even prettier. Her generic lab
coat and severely pulled-back blond hair couldn't disguise her beauty and
youth, both a surprise in one holding such a high position. Both must also
fool
a lot of reporters into thinking she's easy to manipulate. Quite a few of
them,
women included, jumped up and tried to surround her when she came into the
lobby. Security people moved in quickly, but I have the feeling she could
have
beaten everyone off with one hand while signing memos with the other.
          She was handed a clipboard with what I assume was the most recent
sign-up sheet on it. Ignoring calls for her attention from the growing
crowd,
she began to peruse the list. I wondered if she would ignore the first-come
rule, too, and whether I should work my way to the front to try to catch her
attention.
          Before she could announce any decisions on who she would talk to,
the
cell phone which hung at her side rang. She pulled it up, turned away, and
said, "Baines."
          A man's voice (am I becoming a nosy parker or what?) said,
"Perfect!
It was perfect! It was so much more than I expected!"
          In the same preoccupied tone of voice she'd used to identify
herself,
she replied, "I can't talk now."
          "Ah, I understand, the center of the attention! If only they--"
          She frowned, said firmly, "I'll talk to you later," switched off
the
phone, and hung it back on her belt. She turned and surveyed us as though
nothing at all had happened, but it was obvious that she wasn't pleased with
the anxious, ragtag mob she confronted now.
          Was I the only other one who suspected the exact opposite, that
something had happened, something important? Yes. Was there anything I
could do
about it? No. Stymied again. Drat. I wondered how I could communicate to
Jimmy
and Jeanne, who had returned during this pause, that I had a hunch we should
keep an eye on the very interesting Dr. Baines?
          She looked at us all one by one, seeing each of us panting for an
exclusive. I'm sure I looked just as eager as everyone else. It was a good
thing she couldn't see what I was thinking. I sure wondered what was on her
mind. Sometimes I wish I could trade a couple of my more useless abilities
for
some good, basic mental telepathy. Freezing breath? Why do I need that? It
used
to be good only for chilling the occasional bottle of beer. Sure I used it
yesterday at the freeway carnage site and it was more helpful than not, but
how
often will I face that kind of situation?
          "I only have..." she started to say. Everyone quieted to listen.
"I
only have a short time. Is there anyone who...?" She consulted the list
again.
"I haven't talked to anyone from the Planet recently. They're always so
polite...."
          This prompted derisive noises from many in her audience. I
recognized
her divide-and-conquer strategy.
          "Who's here from the...." She didn't seem to have to search, which
was a good thing since I didn't have the presence of mind to wave my hand
wildly. She pointed at me. "You."
          Yes!
          Now I wonder why she chose me. I have some suspicions, but I'll
tell
you my thoughts on this as my tale unfolds.
          There was a mass sigh of disbelief and indignation - the Planet
was a
known factor, but I certainly wasn't; the new kid didn't deserve this
privilege. I received a lot of jealous looks. I've never been in the
position
to be the recipient of those before, but somehow, incongruously, they only
emboldened me.
          I checked with my colleagues first though. Jeanne said quickly, "I
want to call in what the Assistant Director told us." And Jimmy said, "I'll
go
with you," by which he meant me.
          I nodded; both plans were fine with me.
          Whereas before I might have walked around it, I forced the crowd
to
part before me. Jimmy trailed behind at a respectful distance, grinning like
a
victorious fool, which I, a professional journalist, wasn't allowed to do.
          I introduced myself and shook Dr. Baines's hand. She looked almost
pleased to meet me, "almost" because I don't think she was actually pleased
with anything at the moment, and I doubt she wanted to be here talking with
me
or anyone else. Maybe she meant her remark about Planet reporters being
polite.
Maybe she didn't expect me to waste her time.
          I certainly didn't plan to give her any trouble, at least not on
our
first meeting. I had to be careful because I wanted to come back.
          "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Kent. I admire your newspaper. Let
me
show you the hangar where we're going to bring the remains of the Messenger
so
we can find out exactly what went wrong...."
          There were more groans behind me. They didn't get to go - ha-ha!
          I told her I would be very interested to see that and asked if my
photographer could come along and take pictures.
          She looked at Jimmy and her pleased expression faltered somewhat.
Had
she expected she and I would be alone? That sure would have put a different
spin on the interview. But she recovered gracefully. "Yes, of course." She
looked at him, "But you can only take pictures with my permission. We
perform a
lot of proprietary research here."
          She took us outside the main office building and to a company
parking
lot, where a driver was waiting in a golf-cart-style run-about. "Take us to
Hangar 9," she told him. It turned out to be about half a mile away, on the
southern edge of the site. As we zoomed along, she told us how EPRAD was
reacting to this morning's disaster.  "Naturally, we're all still in a
state of
shock. I don't have to tell you what a catastrophe the explosion was.
Commander
Laderman...." She looked grim. "He was one of our best. Three kids, his
wife...."
          We pulled to a stop in front of a gigantic structure reminiscent
of
the hangars in which blimps are sheltered. Inside, it was mostly empty,
waiting, and our voices echoed. Jimmy was allowed to take pictures here. As
he
did that, I began the interview.
          I asked her when she expected the first of the wreckage to arrive
at
the hangar.
          She said she expects that to start on Monday.
          "Can we take a look at it?"
          "Sorry," she said automatically as she watched Jimmy walking about
probably trying to figure out how to best capture the immensity of the
hangar.
"No press allowed."

(continued)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 08:45:27 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      My Journal, Day 4, part 3 of 3
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TITLE: My Journal
          Day 4, Friday, May 6, PART (3 of 3)
          AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
          RATING PG-13
          FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums

          For some reason I wasn't surprised. If she knows more about the
catastrophe than she reasonably should know ("It was perfect!" had to mean
something after all), then of course she won't want the press, and
especially
science reporters, anywhere near the hangar on Monday.
          At that point I could have argued the public's right to know, but,
I
told myself, if I'm right in my suspicions, she'd drop her almost pleased
tolerance of me and kick me out.
          However, if I *didn't* try, she might think it odd. I said, "No
exceptions?"
          She gave me a brief, provocative look and one corner of her mouth
twitched upward slightly. I've received this kind of look from older women
before, but I've never known what to do about it (other than not let my
imagination rule the day). As Dr. Baines gave me that look, I decided to
pretend I knew what she was trying to communicate. People like to be
cooperated
with.
          She said, "I'll see what I can do."
          I smiled. "Thank you. On Wednesday, a man named Samuel Platt
visited
our offices with..." careful, Kent, careful "an incredible story about the
Messenger being in some kind of danger. I know you've had some small
problems
in the past - large projects *do* have problems - so we thought he was
taking
advantage of that and just being an alarmist...."
          She frowned, thinking. "Platt...."
          "Thin, unkept, manic, in his 50s...."
          Her brow relaxed somewhat. "Ah, yes. I've been wondering what's
happened to him. A real waste of talent. Seems that the pressure of building
the space station - he was on our A team, you see - along with his divorce,
finally got to him. He started drinking and taking drugs. It went from bad
to
worse."
          During our interview on Wednesday, Dr. Platt said he thought he
had
been drugged at one time but now he avoids suspicious foods. He didn't
mention
anything about drinking and there was no odor of alcohol on his breath or
his
clothing. We had seen only rubbing alcohol in his apartment. This could
mean he
ran out of money to spend on it, but I don't think so.
          "He wouldn't go to Employee Health or talk to any of our staff
psychologists. We kept him on as long as we could...." She sighed, "But,
after
he set fire to one of the laboratories, we had to let him go."
          Interesting. He had said nothing to me about a fire. Did he not
realize he'd done it--or did he not do it at all?
          "That's completely understandable," I said to her. "He mentioned
something about having submitted a report to you about coolant devices
installed to freeze the ion particles?"
          "Coolants? No, I don't recall any report about coolants." She
herself
was incredibly cool. Why? I think she should have been pleased to receive a
clue about what might have caused the disaster. "I could check my records."
          "I'd appreciate that. I'd like to include your preliminary
findings
in my story. If you could give us a call...." I had some generic Daily
Planet
business cards in my pocket. I pulled one out and jotted down my name and
extension number on the back.
          She took my card, glanced at it politely, and tucked it into the
pocket of her lab coat. Then she continued the tour, telling us more about
the
hangar and the attached loading dock area. This required another fifteen
minutes or so and I found it interesting. We parted with another handshake
and
smiles.
          Almost everything went into my article. All the facts, of course,
but
nothing I overheard and none of my impressions, hunches or suspicions. While
looking over what I wrote, Eduardo asked me for all the details I hadn't
included. I told him about my approach to Dr. Baines and what I hoped she'd
seen: a polite, perhaps slightly dull, definitely Kansas-centric reporter.
That
made Eduardo nod and say, "Good, good...." When I mentioned Dr. Baines's
smile,
he smiled, too, but his smile was sly. "She thinks she has you, a reporter
for
the best newspaper in the world, right in her pocket. We'll let her
continue to
think so, for now."
          I nodded. *This* was like TV. "I can manage that. So do you think
Dr.
Platt was right?"
          "Well, let's say I think there's a bigger story here than we're
likely to learn from EPRAD's press releases."
          By the way, at this point Dr. Platt was still missing. I called
his
apartment, but there was no answer. When Eduardo and I took my story and
Jimmy's pictures to Mr. White, I informed him of my wish to contact the
police.
He nodded grimly and said it was a good idea and he would take care of it.
After we left his office, I heard him page his secretary to get Inspector
Henderson on the phone for him. I hope the doctor is found safe and unharmed
soon. I don't care about the story; I just want him to be okay. I called his
home again before beginning this journal entry and, again, there was no
reply.
          At about 2:30 I decided I had earned a good lunch. I warned Pat
that
I was leaving for a while and I was told to have fun. There is a money
machine
in the lobby, so I stocked up ($20) and went for a walk. I headed south for
no
other reason other than I hadn't seen much in that direction yet. There are
a
lot of shops, the area is colorful, and this after noon it crowded with
happy
people who didn't seem to be letting the troubles of the world bother them.
I
found a delicatessen and ordered a huge sandwich with all the trimmings and
a
vanilla cream soda. I sat at a table in a nearby plaza and enjoyed the
sunshine
and the atmosphere. When I was finished, I figured I still had some time
left
so I continued strolling along.
          I came across Max's Tuxedos, Rentals and Sales. I'd forgotten that
Mr. White said it was south of the Planet. What if I had found time to go
there
yesterday morning as planned? Would Maxine have been foiled or would she
have
wanted to remeasure me? I wondered how she would react if she saw me now, me
with a full stomach and a good outlook on life at last.
          The shop's door was locked. A sign on it said: "By Appointment
Only."
Drat. Then again, if the shop has been flooded with orders for formal attire
due to the White Orchid Ball, perhaps this was the only way to manage the
onslaught. Mr. White called on my behalf, though, so maybe that was like
having
an appointment. As this could be the only chance I'd have to visit the shop,
I
knocked.
          A small, wiry old gentleman (who turned out to be Max) rushed to
the
door and frowned at me through the glass. In a heavy accent he said, "We're
not
open!"
          "I know, sir, but my boss, Perry White, called about a tux for me.
I'm Clark Kent."
          The man brightened. "Oh! Mr. Kent!" He unlocked and opened the
door
wide. "You're almost too late!"
          He introduced himself as he pulled me into the shop. He had the
suit
ready for me; he said he was hoping I would drop by "*some* day" to try it
on.
As I was the only customer in the shop and I didn't feel any pressure to get
back to my desk, we agreed we would spend a little time doing the fitting
properly.
          "Such nice broad shoulders and strong arms.... You *are* in good
shape, young man. I couldn't believe your proportions." He paused amidst his
zipping around with his measuring tape and called toward the back of the
shop.
"Maxine! He's here! The one with the proportions? Come see him!"
          Flattered despite myself, I smiled, "Sir, that's not necessary--"
          "On, no, it's all right. You will see. My granddaughter, she's a
very
nice young woman." He smiled as he wound up his measuring tape. "Are you
married? Gotta girlfriend? I don't think so." Sympathetic. "You're new in
town,
eh? You have this accent from somewhere else, am I right? I know how it is.
I
used to be from out of town, too."
          "I wouldn't have guessed."
          "Ha!" He slapped my arm, a friendly gesture. "You have a good
sense
of humor! You know, you can't go wrong meeting a nice girl who can sew and
cook, *and*," confidentially, "she likes children very much. She needs a
good
man to help her see what life is really about, no more dreaming...." I could
almost hear him add, "You, maybe?"
          So could his granddaughter, who appeared at last, pushing aside a
curtain in the doorway of the far wall. "*Grand*father!"
          "Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry. This is Clark Kent. He is
a
man with a good job. Mr. Kent, my granddaughter, Maxine."
          We shook. Her hand felt a little clammy and I could feel her heart
rate increase as we touched. She was alarmed, not turned on.
          I smiled but in a totally noncommittal manner. "Nice to meet you."
          "Yes...." She took her hand back. "I suppose a man with a good
job...." She looked at her grandfather, "...is a *very busy* man...."
          "Even busy men slow down now and then. Look at me! I'm going to
retire next year. I'll be 75. I'll go sit on the beach all day. What are
you,
Mr. Kent? 25? 26? That's a good age to *start a family*--"
          "Grandfather...!"
          I suppose I could have taken the hint and began romancing Maxine
right there, even with her chaperon present. She looked like she'd had a
hard
day;  her hair was frazzled, her makeup worn, her lipstick chewed off. I bet
she would rather have gone home and taken a hot bath than stayed and enjoyed
a
conversation with me. How would her getting involved with me, or me giving
indications I wanted a relationship, sit with one Lois Lane, Queen of the
Underground? Should I try? Would Maxine get in trouble? Would I? Did it
matter?
Would doing the wrong thing force Lois Lane to communicate with me again,
this
time telling me what was going on?
          All of that sounded too complicated, so I simply said, "A day
spent
sitting on the beach is certainly tempting!"
          Max sighed, "Watching the children play...."
          "Um, I'd love to do that some day, but I'm so busy these days,
especially lately. Something incredibly strange has come up...."
          A dead calm fell between us. Max didn't say anything about how
being
married is incredible, and Maxine didn't whine about his trying to run her
life.
          This was perfect. I looked at her as though I recognized her, as
though there was something about her....
          Her blue eyes widened ever so slightly and she inhaled a little
more
sharply than she probably wanted to.
          But then I looked away, confused by myself, and shook my head:
"Nah...." that's dumb, I'm wrong, I'm paranoid....
          Her exhale was markedly relieved.
          Max laughed. "Well, yes, *of course* you're busy now! Later, in a
few
weeks, maybe you won't be. I will have this ready for you tomorrow morning,
all
right? Maxine will bring it to you." He slipped the jacket off me and
indicated
I should remove the slacks. "
          As I waited for Maxine to *leave*... which she did after I paused
and
made it abundantly clear, without having to say a word, that I'd keep the
slacks if she didn't go.... I told him that sounded fine. She still makes me
very uncomfortable and I'm not sure why since I got a little revenge and it
felt good.
          I returned to the office then and spent the rest of the day
helping
Eduardo go over and incorporate EPRAD and Congress of Nations statements
into
articles for the morning edition. The CoN has announced a press conference
for
tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. and I'm supposed to be there. I talked to Pat
about
my working hours. She advised me I should plan to be working part days on
Saturday while taking off Sundays and (she checked the office calendar for
this) Wednesdays. This is open to change, she told me, depending on what's
happening on the news front. I'll get paid overtime after 40 hours. If I
have
any more questions about it, I'm supposed to talk to either Mr. White or
Personnel. I can't think of any questions at the moment.
          Now I'm home (the flophouse) typing this up. I'll stick it on a
diskette and take it home (the farm) with me. Expect an amendment to this
day's
journal entry. Mom and Dad always have something interesting to say.

[to be continued]

[Your real author thanks my proofers and creative consultants Pat H., Jeanne
P., Sandy McD., and Steve H.]
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 10:53:18 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         PJ Piasecki <PJPiasecki@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
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In a message dated 6/13/99 8:36:02 AM CST, jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

<<
 Which is what we're gearing up for now, I hope, because there are a lot
 of good stories that haven't been given the recognition they deserved.
 That's one of the hazards of writing for the over-18 crowd, of course,
 but that's all the more reason to award the best of the genre.
  >>

So what is the plan for these awards?  Will it only be open to stories from
the last year, or everything up to this date?  I hope its the latter,
because
I'd like to first in line to nominate Sandy's "Love As a Blonde" for the
comedy catagory!  It's still one of my all-time favorites.

Piper
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 11:17:16 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Maggie <maggie13@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: OT: Printing Page Numbers? Eureka!
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Super-duper-extra-Dean-Flavored-Thanks-with-a-cherry-on-top
to all the FoLCs who sent me tips to solve this little conundrum!

Debby, Chris, Laurie, Eileen  :o)

You have no idea the extreme levels of frustration
I was feeling and the evil thoughts I was having
about Mr. Gates, and that office assistant thingy...it's like
Look! If I type in "printing Page Numbers" do you think
I want to know add line numbers!?!?!   I know how
to format them, I know how to insert them, all I wanna
do is *print* them buster.....(sorry, my latent
Lois tendencies are showing again <g>)

Anyway, I changed the margins for the Headers/Footers and my page
numbers printed perfectly!

Labby--yes, you and I were having the exact same problem!
Glad to know I was not alone in my misery <g>

Debby--yes! exactly like looking for a needle in a barn full of hay
stacks....

FoLCs are the Best! positively super I tell you! <vbg>

Maggie
happily printing her Arial 7 pt, 2 columned, front and back,
page numbered fanfic now.........

maggie13@bellsouth.net  (aka supermags on IRC)
My rationale is that there are people starving all over the world,
so I don't bother to waste food by attempting to prepare it.
 And the world thanks me for that!
--My friend Margaret on Cooking :o)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 11:45:04 +0500
Reply-To:     mulders@mindspring.com
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Bob or Chris Mulder <mulders@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Bye for a while ...
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Dear FoLCs,

I've got to go Nomail for a while.  I can't keep current with the posts
and have a backlog of @1500 messages I've got to clear out.  Plus, I'm
trying to catch up on my fanfic reading, and I've got one or two stories
of my own that I'm working on, so I'm going to say good-bye to you
nice people until I can get a bit more caught up.

Take care, and keep those great discussions going. :-)

--Chris

 mailto:mulders@mindspring.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 11:53:22 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandy McDermin <smcdermin@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
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Pam Jernigan wrote:
>
> Sandy commented:
> > Frankly, I couldn't understand why n-fic needed to be relegated to one
> > category.  Why not have a subset of categorie*s* (plural) within the
> > Kerths?  This would have been my first preference, for whatever it's
> > worth, and it would have saved on having to organize two events.
>
> I should probably answer this, as it's at least partly my fault ... for
> the original Kerths, I suggested a bunch of categories, and since I'm
> not widely read in nfic, I naively assumed that one category would be
> enough.  Plus, nfic stories were allowed in all other categories ... but
> as you've pointed out, they have a limited readership and are therefore
> handicapped to a degree. (Though I note that some nfic stories did win
> their categories)

You know, I actually went back to the website and checked on this when I
wrote my first message.  It seems only one n-fic -- *as nfic* -- won a
category other than ... the nfic category.  Ironically enough for me, it
was the roundrobin.;)  All other nfic not nominated in the nfic category
had non nfic versions posted.  So, there was a version everyone could
read in those cases, and therefore the stories didn't face the nfic
problem that Love as a Blonde, for instance, would have.

> When we were gearing up for the 1999 awards, we discussed the nfic
> situation.  One category wasn't enough, given the wide range of nfics
> out there.  But if we did enough sub-categories to do the genre justice,
> we'd pretty much be duplicating the non-nfic categories.  One of our
> goals, to make the whole thing workable, was to *reduce* the number of
> categories, not double them :) so we decided to split it off into a
> totally separate award.

Well, I don't think you really needed to *double* them, but I
understand.

> As for what to call the awards ... Kerths?  Nfic Kerths?  NKerths? <g>
> The Snorkel Award?

I still think the Naked Kerths is the best I've heard thus far.  (I
can't remember who suggested it.  It might have been Debby or
Genevieve.)  It plays off of the title of that series on Bravo:  Naked
Hollywood.

<<
 Which is what we're gearing up for now, I hope, because there are a lot
 of good stories that haven't been given the recognition they deserved.
 That's one of the hazards of writing for the over-18 crowd, of course,
 but that's all the more reason to award the best of the genre.
  >>

>So what is the plan for these awards?  Will it only be open to stories from
>the last year, or everything up to this date?  I hope its the latter,
because
>I'd like to first in line to nominate Sandy's "Love As a Blonde" for the
>comedy catagory!  It's still one of my all-time favorites.

>Piper

Piper, I really appreciate that.  But, the truth is, the story was
nominated for 1998 and it was my decision to withdrawal it.  As much as
it deeply pains me to say it<g>, I don't think I should get a pass on
that.

Sandy
smcdermin@erols.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 12:11:16 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         No Name Available <MsLoisette@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
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No one has sent me those stories so you can if you want! =)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 11:22:25 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Diyan Smith <zimri@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
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Don't forget that when you've been delete happy you can always visit the
archives:

http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/loiscla-general-l.html

> Speaking of that story can someone please send me all 8 parts of that
story
> again!  I accidentally deleted it :(
>
> Thanks.
> Alexis ;-.)
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 14:58:32 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Karen Ward <ward8120@MACH1.WLU.CA>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hypernion Avenue
In-Reply-To:  <19990613162516.68553.qmail@hotmail.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Sorry I've been slow to reply here, guys -- work's been busy and I
haven't had a chance to check my email till now.  Anyhow . . .

>Don't forget that when you've been delete happy you can always visit the
>archives:
>
>http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/loiscla-general-l.html

Yes, and if, for any reason, anyone can't reach the list's archives,
just email me personally and I'll be more than happy to pass it
along. :)

Yours,
Karen :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 12:45:34 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 3, Amendment Part 1 of 4
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.6.32.19990613074919.008f5e10@actcom.co.il>
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At 11:50 PM 06/12/1999 -0500, Hazel wrote:
>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>
>Ah, Debby, you make me leap for my e-mail program on Sunday and Thursday
>mornings -- please keep it up!

You'll note another installment today :) (Sunday)

>I love how the mystery keeps twisting around
>itself, and those references to measuring for a suit -- without mentioning
>*which* suit (it can't be *the* Suit!!)

heh-heh-heh... ;)

>-- are even more intriguing that
>your persona-non-grata who still has a reserved desk and contacts among the
>staff... :)

You'll find out more about her soon. (MJ04A)

>I found it a bit surprising that Clark considered being "afraid" *worse*
>than being "apathetic." He's such an understanding guy that I'm sure he
>could understand the former, while the latter would prolly be beyond his
>comprehension.

You're probably right. I can't remember the context, other than he hasn't
been
afraid often in his life up to this point, or apathetic, either, for that
matter. His life has been mostly happy-go-lucky :) Reality bites...

>I also note that any Lois of your creation has a Maxine in her life,
>whether it's a maniac wielding a tape measure and dry-cleaning suits or a
>pregnant guppy. :)

:D

>One thing that bothered me, though:  Maxine. You told the story through
>Clark's eyes, a guy who could actually see and hear what was happening and
>had the power to extricate himself at any moment if he felt the need to do
>so. But when I read it -- and reread it to make sure I wasn't overreacting
>(not that rereading it was any kind of torture <g>), I couldn't help
>picturing the following:
>
>Take an ordinary guy. Someone who is friendly and outgoing, a good
>journalist, etc. etc. -- in short, everything that Clark is, only *without*
>the superpowers. Reassuring hand on the shoulder notwithstanding, a
>non-superpowered guy would be in a panic at being kidnapped -- he's been
>blindfolded, gagged, hands handcuffed behind his back, he's been told that
>there's a gun pointing at him, and as far as he knows, Jimmy is nowhere in
>sight, so there's no friend to look out for his interests. He's led deep
>into a building he can't see, he doesn't know where he is... and after
>sitting in a chair for several minutes, with nothing to do except let the
>panic settle in a bit more, he hears someone come into the room and say,
>"Can you help me stand him up?" And after a bit more dialogue between his
>kidnappers, the newcomer starts undressing him.
>
>I can't help it, Debby. A non-super kidnappee in these circumstances --
>still blind, still gagged, still handcuffed -- would only be able to
>conclude that it was a prelude to something akin to rape.

See, proofer Pat, you were right!  :D I deal with this in MJ04a (that's a
bit
of spoiler, isn't it?)

>Maxine taking
>*pleasure* at her tactile contact comes across as pure sadism. Even after
>the other kidnapper stopped her from removing his jeans, would an ordinary
>person know what that thing was that kept moving across his chest? I'd hate
>to imagine the terrors that a fertile imagination would create out of
>circumstances like that.

True!  But CK didn't have to imagine so much as an ordinary guy would. He
had
to, though, imagine what an ordinary guy would do. Mostly he thinks that an
ordinary guy would be feeling pain so that's what he tries to mimic. If I
had
written this from a 3rd person POV, I might have realized what you're saying
now as I wondered what observers would think about CK's inaction and as I
tried
to describe that reaction as an onlooker. Or if I put Jimmy in his place, an
ordinary fellow if there ever was one :)

>>From Lois' reaction, Maxine wasn't sposed to be there, so I'll assume that
>this wasn't part of Phase One or Two or whatever -- that Lois wasn't trying
>the sink-or-swim method with this potential whatever-it-is she's looking
>for: "Well, if he's not a gibbering wreck by the time we take him back
>home, he just might be the right guy for the job." At least, I hope she
>wasn't.

You might be surprised (I hope you will be :)

>Lois rightfully tore into Maxine for doing it, but I can't believe that
>Lois would employ someone capable of so heartlessly terrorizing someone who
>was helpless to stop her.

Well, she takes what she can get... which will be explained later in
comparison
to... no, I better not say ;) I wish I could, but I can't :D

>Am I overreacting here?

Not at all! I appreciate all the observations you and other readers make :)
I
hope I can keep inspiring you :D

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 12:47:13 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
In-Reply-To:  <NCBBJNGDMKLABKKGIMFDGEPKCHAA.erink@ida.net>
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At 11:26 PM 06/12/1999 -0600, Erin wrote:

>There had also been some talk as to the names of the [Nfic[ awards, maybe
naming
>them something different than Kerths.  Merriweather, perhaps?...

I think MerryWhoopie would be more appropriate...

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
way behind on reading Nfic, too...
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 15:05:48 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         PJ Piasecki <PJPiasecki@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
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In a message dated 6/13/99 9:54:37 AM CST, smcdermin@EROLS.COM writes:

<<
  But, the truth is, the story was nominated for 1998 and it was my decision
to withdrawal it.  As much as it deeply pains me to say it<g>, I don't think
I should get a pass on  that. >>

Well, Sandy, whatever my 2 cents are worth (penny & a half, or so) I would
say that the Naked Kerths <g> are a new event, totally separate from the
Kerth Awards.  Nothing else nominated for the comedy category for the Kerths
would have been eligible for the soon-to-be-coveted NK award.  So I think
you
should *definitely* get a pass.

Piper
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 13:07:51 -0600
Reply-To:     erink@ida.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin Klingler <erink@IDA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
In-Reply-To:  <3763D3F2.6FBE436D@erols.com>
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Sandy wrote:

>I still think the Naked Kerths is the best I've heard thus far.  (I
>can't remember who suggested it.  It might have been Debby or
>Genevieve.)  It plays off of the title of that series on Bravo:  Naked
>Hollywood.  <snip of various replies>

> But, the truth is, the story was
>nominated for 1998 and it was my decision to withdrawal it.  As much as
>it deeply pains me to say it<g>, I don't think I should get a pass on
>that.

One suggestion might be to make all nfics eligible since that's what we did
that very first year that we had the Kerths. (Except those stories that were
nominated or won a Kerth in the 1998 awards, of course.)

Another suggestion:  Sandy, you seem to have a lot of suggestions, plus
you've clearly shown your interest in having an nfic awards.  How about you
organize it then??  <eg>

Erin  :)
_________________
erink@ida.net
ELK on IRC
Visit my 1999 Official Kerth Awards Website!  http://www.ida.net/users/davek
                   *****
"The truth is, no one knows how long they've got.  Anyway, it's not the
years that count, it's the moments...right now, as they happen."
_________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 15:12:53 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
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Piper asked:
> So what is the plan for these awards?

That's what we're trying to figure out, Piper :-)  I don't think
anyone's officially in charge, yet, we're just throwing ideas around.
It ought to be someone who's very widely read in the genre, which leaves
me out :-)

> Will it only be open to stories from
> the last year, or everything up to this date?  I hope its the latter,

That's what I'd vote for too; maybe make it all stories posted before
12/31/98 (to clear the field for next year's awards ;) since nfics
didn't really get a fair shake in the original Kerths.  Maybe disqualify
any that actually did win Kerths?  I don't know, it's just a thought :-)

I mentioned elsewhere that I thought nfic stories had won in a few
categories, and Sandy replied:
> You know, I actually went back to the website and checked on this when I
> wrote my first message.

Ah, that's more reliable than my erratic memory, then.

> So, there was a version everyone could
> read in those cases, and therefore the stories didn't face the nfic
> problem that Love as a Blonde, for instance, would have.

Which is exactly why we ought to have a new awards process, to fix that
problem :)

> the truth is, the story was
> nominated for 1998 and it was my decision to withdrawal it.  As much as
> it deeply pains me to say it<g>, I don't think I should get a pass on
> that.

It's your decision, of course, but I'd put LaaB in the same category
with all the other nfics nominated that year ... their eligibility
should be judged as a class; and my first instinct would be to declare
them all eligible.  But that decision falls to whoever ends up
coordinating this :)

So, anyone interested?  The hardest part is collecting nominations, from
what I've heard from Erin and Leanne, since the field is wide open --
and people send in nominations along the lines of "the one where they go
on their honeymoon, by whatsherface," which could describe any number of
stories ;-)  Oh, and even before that you have to have categories
defined -- you can use the previous Kerth categories as a starting
point, but that list may need tweaked to fit the field.  (Are there any
"next-generation" nfics??)  Sandy?  Debby?  Anyone?  Anyone? <g>  I'd be
glad to help out as a technical advisor of sorts, since I've been
involved in the two previous Kerth processes, but I am not that widely
read in nfic, so I'm not qualified to judge which story goes in what
category.
--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 15:15:13 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kate Crane <KCrane1865@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: OT: Printing Page Numbers? Eureka!
MIME-Version: 1.0
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In a message dated 6/13/99 8:04:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
maggie13@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

<< Anyway, I changed the margins for the Headers/Footers and my page
 numbers printed perfectly!
  >>
Ok, so what did you change them to?
Kate
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 20:23:58 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hyperion Avenue
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Karen,
>
> >S
> >P
> >O
> >I
> >L
> >E
> >R
> >
> >S
> >P
> >A
> >C
> >E
>

Coming in late as usual...

In particular, I thought the way you handled the aftermath of the rape was
very sensitive and touching.  Clark's extreme distress, and then Lois'
concern for him despite her own terrible demons was quite simply
devastating.

This was a tough story to write - as you said yourself - but the work you
put into the story was well worth it.  Best of all, there isn't a hint
that the story was hard to write; on the contrary, it flows (seemingly)
effortlessly along.

Best of luck with the sequel, if you can face writing it :)

Regards,
Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 17:54:32 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Mandy Crustner <mandyc@LCC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Nightmare on Hyperion Avenue
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S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E
*
*
*
*
*
Just in case :)  Another great job, Karen :)  I read through this again this
morning and though I loved the original versions I read through, found this
one to be even better (I didn't know how that was possible, but you
accomplished it <g>).  You dealt with the very hard to deal with subject
wonderfully and made me feel the emotions you were conveying.  I wanted to
say thanks for letting me be a part of this story early on, it was a joy!
Also, just had to point out that I still love the foot kissing scene in the
Daily Planet, it's classic LnC in my opinion and something I would have
loved to see played out :)

Thanks for the Super read,
Mandy
Who's with LabRat, this one's going into my 'Kerths 2000' file! ;)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:40:32 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      Season 6 Ep10 is on the web :-)
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I'm posting part 3 of Sheila's three-part drama to this list, but, if
you prefer, it's also available on my website:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/Season6/season6.html with several
yummy pictures to enhance your viewing pleasure <g>

Happy reading :-)
--
-------------------------------------------------------
Pam Jernigan            |  jernigan@bellsouth.net
ChiefPam on IRC         |
-------------------------------------------------------
"I heard about Superman at the UN.  I don't mind him
wanting to take over the world, really, but he sounded
a little ... well ... nuts."
--Dr. Klein, "Blast from the Past", IRC Round Robin
-------------------------------------------------------
The FoLC Obsession Page has moved to:
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:16:47 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 1/6
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STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 1 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR

Written by Sheila Harper
Edited by Lynda Love

PREVIOUSLY ON LOIS & CLARK:

"Dr. Trifyllis?" Lois called.  "Your door was open.  Are you still
here?"

Clark followed her into the room, catching her hand.  Something was
wrong.
He tipped his glasses down and began to scan the apartment.  "Lois,
wait,"
he said--

--when a white blaze of light seized them and held them rigidly in
place.
Then the light vanished, and they crumpled onto the floor.

*****

"Wha-what happened?" Clark asked--

--and recoiled at the sound.  High-pitched, unmistakably feminine . . .
what
had happened to him?  Ignoring the pain in his head, he raised up on one
elbow and looked down at himself.  A suit dress?  Nylons?  He ran a
disbelieving hand down his chest, over an all too familiar shape.
Horrified, he lifted his gaze to his double's.  "Lois?"

The image of himself nodded, and he groaned, "Oh God, not again,"

*****

"Someone's searched his apartment--someone who didn't care who knew it,
either."  Lois dropped down on the couch next to Clark.  "I couldn't
tell if
anything's missing, but Nick wasn't there, and I didn't see any
bloodstains," she added.

Startled, he jerked around to look up at her.  "I didn't think of that.
God, if he'd been killed--"

"--we might be stuck like this.  Forever."

*****

The next morning, Clark put his foot through a second pair of nylons.
"That's it," he said, standing up and throwing the cobwebby fabric into
the
trash.  "No dresses, no pantyhose, and *no* heels."  He pulled a brown
jacket and slacks out of the closet.  "Is this a work outfit?" he asked,
holding it up so Lois could see it from the bathroom.

She wrinkled up her nose.  "I guess."  He waited for her to explain, and
she
continued, "It just . . . makes me look frumpy.  Never mind.  Wear
either
the white or rose shell with it."

He looked at her side of the closet helplessly.  "Rose shell.  That's a
pink
shirt, right?"

*****

Clark bolted out of the ladies' room and hurried down the ramp to the
pit,
his blush clearly visible without the protective cover of Lois's usual
makeup.  Lois was waiting for him so they could go to the staff meeting.
"You're blushing," she said, curious.

His cheeks burned redder.  "Don't ask," he said.

*****

"And when can I expect to see some copy on that school improvement press
conference you covered yesterday, Lois?" Perry continued.

Clark was about to answer when Lois, who had returned to doodling on her
notepad, absently said, "I'll have it on your desk in an hour."

Briefly closing his eyes in prayer, Clark leaped in with a further
explanation.  "Clark's proofing it for me before I send it to you,
Perry."
Under cover of the table, he poked Lois in the leg.

*****

Lex flopped back in his chair.  Not only did Dr. Trifyllis have the
Zelig
stone, but, based on those letters Enrico had dug up, he probably had
the
disk with the encrypted clone files that his brother had stolen, *and*
he
might be able to tie Lex to the murder through Enrico.  The millionaire
ground his teeth.

*****

Alex's eyes blazed furiously.  "Why don't you just take out a damned ad
in
The Planet while you're at it, Nick?  God!  Don't you get it?  Those
guys'll
*kill* you if they find you!"  He stormed across the small living room
and
looked out the front window for a minute, then turned back, his light
gray
eyes swimming with tears.  "They already got Chris, Nicky.  I don't want
to
lose you, too."

*****

"Can you give us the owner's name?" Clark asked.  He gave the burning
wreckage a last look, then followed the patrolman.

"For what it's worth.  The plates are registered to Nicholas Trifyllis,
New
Troy."

Clark suddenly stumbled, and Lois caught him.  Their brown-eyed gazes
locked; then as if with one mind, they turned to look into the ravine.
Far
below, the car continued to burn.

*****

ACT 1

"Dead?"  Lex Luthor bit back the anger he could feel pounding in the
veins
in his forehead, but the stress in his voice was audible as he
continued,
"Did you get the stone?"

"No, sir."  Lindy Barrows' voice sounded calm, almost detached, over the
phone line.

Rage, blind and uncontrolled, boiled up, stealing away his breath.
Dimly,
he remembered a time when setbacks were little more than an
inconvenience,
when his control was so absolute that even a personal defeat generated
little more outward expression than an incautious snip of his pruning
scissors.  What was happening to him?  He had begun to lose control of
his
newly regained empire, and now he was losing control of himself.

Lex took a long, slow breath.  Shrieking at her would only drive her
away,
and then he wouldn't have the information he needed to deal with this
new
situation.  "What happened?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"I located Trifyllis's car at a body shop," she reported.  "I staked out
the
shop, but someone picked it up--apparently when I took a restroom
break--because it was gone when I returned.  The only address the owner
had
was in Metropolis, so that was a dead end.  On the off-chance that
Trifyllis
was staying with a relative, I checked information, and found an address
for
an A. Trifyllis."

"Alex?" Lex broke in, interested.

"Maybe.  I don't know.  No one was home, and no cars were there.  I
intended
to wait until they returned, but my scanner picked up a state police
call on
a car wreck.  When they ran the plates, it was for Nick Trifyllis, so I
went
to the scene of the accident.  They hadn't hauled the car or bodies out
of
the ravine, and police were everywhere, so I didn't have a chance to
search
either the bodies or the vehicle."

Her detached, impersonal report had quieted Lex's fury, and he was
thinking
again.  "All right," he said.  The encrypted clone files hadn't been in
any
of the zip disks Enrico had brought, so Nick Trifyllis had to have them.
"Search the address you found.  They probably left the Zelig stone, the
device, and the files at home.  If you *don't* find anything, pretend
you're
a girlfriend and get a look at the car and their effects."

"Yes, sir," she said and rang off.

Lex swiveled back to face the expanse of sky visible above his balcony.
There was still hope.

*****

Clark was silent as he and Lois walked back to their Jeep.  Looking into
the
ravine, he had been so appalled by the end of his chances of returning
to
normal that he didn't feel his usual compassion for the frightened
scientist
who had died in the burning wreckage--just anger that the man hadn't
first
managed to undo the harm he had done.  Lois finally had to drag him
away,
and he stumbled blindly away from the car wreck.

His gaze slid downward, past smoothly swelling breasts, down long,
slender
legs to small, neatly shod feet.  He clenched one slim hand into a
fist.  He
couldn't do this.  In every way he defined himself, even during those
frightening years when his powers were first appearing and he didn't
know if
he was even human or not, he had clung to one thing:  he was a man.
Dimly
he remembered an echo of one of his earliest conversations with Lois:

<You . . . seem to have all the . . . parts of a man. >

<Well, I am a man, Lois.  Just like you're a woman.>

And now that had been torn from him.  Vulnerable to all the ills and
injuries humans were prone to, stripped of his enormous speed and
strength,
banished--he cast a quick, aching glance upward--from the sky that had
been
his retreat and his joy:  those were problems he had faced before and
could
deal with again.  But not this.  Dammit, he *wasn't* a woman!

Clark tripped on a half-buried root, and Lois shot one hand out to
steady
him.  For a moment, he stared at her hand--*his* hand--grasping his arm.
"Are you okay?" she asked.

His night-dark gaze lifted to hers, and he studied her face--his *own*
face,
which looked oddly backwards, a mirror image of his normal
reflection--and
slowly nodded.  They split up to enter the Jeep, and he cast a couple of
quick glances back at his wife.

He should have realized it earlier, but since he thought of his own body
as
being the "right one," it hadn't occurred to him that being trapped in
his
body was as distressing to Lois as being trapped in hers was to him.
And
yet, that was what she'd said:  his body was too big and awkward, and
she
had to constantly think of how to control it.  He opened the passenger
door
and stepped into the Jeep, his anger and despair fading into the
background
as concern for how Lois was handling Trifyllis's death came to the
forefront.

She slammed the door closed and leaned her forehead against the steering
wheel, her hands tightening on the plastic.  At the ominous cracking
sound,
Clark asked, "Honey?"

Lois released the steering wheel and lifted her head, her eyes
glittering
with tears.  "I can't do this," she whispered.  "I have to control
myself
every single minute.  I can't let myself get angry or upset or I could
really hurt someone."  She raised one hand and studied it, flexing and
extending the fingers.  "Clark, you've had a lifetime to learn to
control
yourself--not just your powers--so you can live among humans without
hurting
us.  But I don't have that kind of control . . . and I'm afraid--"

She broke off what she was going to say as she blinked back tears.
"This is
a nightmare.  I hurt you once when I was Ultra Woman--and I have even
*less*
control of *this* body.  What if I--"  Her voice cracked, and she
stopped,
her head lowered, her shoulders shaking.

"Oh, honey!"  His heart breaking for her, he reached for her and pulled
her
head down to his shoulder.  "It's okay, it's okay," he murmured, rubbing
her
back.  "We can still get switched back.  Nick probably left the machine
at
his brother's house.  We can go there and find it.  It'll be okay,
sweetheart.  Don't worry."

Lois lifted her head, her eyes tear-reddened. "Do you really think so?"

"I really do," he told her earnestly.  The idea had come to him while he
was
comforting her, but the more he thought about it, the more sure he was
that
it was right.  "He was *hours* ahead of us.  He probably got in last
night
and stayed at his brother's place, and that's where the--the
facilitator'll be."

*****

Lois drove with her usual aggressive flair through Carsonville,
frightening
the locals off the streets while Clark shielded his eyes with one hand
and
prayed they didn't hit anyone.  "What if the thingamajig *isn't* at
Alex's
place?" she finally asked, wisely choosing to slow down when a police
car
pulled in behind her.

"It will be," Clark told her.

"How do you know?"

An almost-smile quirked one corner of his mouth.  "Because we'll get
through
this--like we always do.  And because you make a lot better woman than I
do."

She shook her head.  "You shouldn't make bad jokes to keep my spirits
up."

"Why not?"

"Because--" she turned back to her driving-- "you only do that when
things
are *really* bad."

*****

Alex Trifyllis lived in a run-down apartment house in the low-rent
district
of Carsonville.  "Are you sure this is the right place?" Lois asked,
peering
at the old building through the windshield.

Clark didn't even glance at his notes.  "Apartment twelve."

"Be sure you lock up," she said and shut off the ignition, muttering,
"This
is the kind of place where we'll come back and find the Jeep jacked up
and
all four wheels, the spare, and both bumpers gone."

Ignoring her grumbling, he hopped out of the vehicle, strode across the
sidewalk, and disappeared inside the building.  Lois quickly locked the
Jeep
and dove into the apartment building after her husband.

Inside, the corridors were dimly lit and branched off oddly, but she
didn't
have any trouble locating Clark.  There were some definite advantages to
having super powers, she noticed, turning the corner and running up the
stairs two at a time.  By the time she reached the top, she had caught
up to
Clark, whose face was faintly flushed but who was breathing evenly.
"Twelve?" she asked.

"Over there," he said, and they started down the hall.

At that moment, the door of apartment twelve opened, and a small,
slender
dark-haired woman in jeans and a casual top stepped out, turning back to
close the door behind her.  When the woman looked down the hall, Clark
stopped abruptly, and Lois barely held back a gasp.  Even in casual
clothing, it was the woman from the police drawing; she was sure of it.
"What are you doing in that apartment?" she demanded.

The woman stopped, a puzzled frown furrowing her face.  "What are you
talking about?  My . . . boyfriend lives here."

It was Lois's turn to stop dead.  Was she that mistaken?  She glanced at
Clark to see what he thought, but the sight of his face--*her*
face--just
reminded her why she thought she recognized the other woman.  There was
something indefinably Lois-like about both the drawing and the woman
facing
them.

"Alex Trifyllis?" Clark asked.

"Why, yes," the woman said.  "Are you friends of his?"

"No," he said, "we're newspaper reporters--"

"--and we've come to interview him for a story we're doing," Lois broke
in.

The woman stared at them for a moment.  "Reporters?  Oh, I know!  You
must
be Lane and Kent.  I've seen your pictures."

Clark lifted his eyebrows in surprise and glanced over his shoulder at
Lois.
"Pictures?  Are you from Metropolis?"

Lois's look-alike laughed lightly.  "No, but I read all the tabloids.
That
was some mess you went through trying to get married, wasn't it?"

Lois rolled her eyes.  Clark enjoyed collecting the crazy articles about
them, but the so-called news stories still left her feeling unclean.
"Just
makes you appreciate it more when you finally get there," she said with
a
fake jocularity that was intended to be a conversation-stopper.

The other woman, however, seemed unconscious of the intended meaning.
"Oh,
and everything worked out okay with your baby, didn't it?"

"What?" Lois and Clark asked at the same time, moving closer to her,
flanking her on either side.  "What about her?" he continued, his voice
urgent.

The woman looked back and forth from one face to the other.  "I mean,
you
got her back from Social Services okay, didn't you?  The papers never
said .
. ."  Her voice trailed off.

Lois blinked, finally making the connection.  "Oh, the court case last
fall."  Then, because she couldn't stand misinformation being spread,
she
continued, "It never was a case of getting her *back*--"

This time, it was Clark's turn to interrupt.  "--it came out fine.  What
did
you say your name was?"

"Li-Lindsey," she said.  "Lindsey Bailey.  But if you want to talk to
Alex,
you came at the wrong time.  He's gone."

"Do you know where?" Lois asked.

Lindsey shook her head.  "No, I stopped by to meet him for lunch, but he
wasn't home."

Clark caught Lois's gaze from behind Lindsey's head and quickly drew one
finger across his throat in a cut-it-short gesture.  "Thank you, Ms.
Bailey," he said.

"You've been very helpful, but we've taken enough of your time," Lois
added.

Obviously dismissed, Lindsey started down the hall, but when Lois and
Clark
didn't follow, she stopped and asked, "Aren't you coming?  He isn't
home."

"I know, but we're--" Clark looked toward Lois, his eyes pleading for
help.

"We're--uh--leaving him a note," Lois finished, and Clark dug a notebook
and
pen out of his purse and held them up for Lindsey to see.  "Bye," Lois
added.

"Yeah, well . . . bye," Lindsey said and slowly turned away and started
downstairs.

Lois lowered her glasses on her nose and watched the woman drive off in
an
economy car that had been parked down the street.  She zoomed in on the
plates, then wrote the number down on the notebook Clark was holding.
She
tore off the page, folded it, and tucked it into the breast pocket of
her
suit jacket.  "Just in case," she said.

He nodded and pulled the cell phone out of her purse.

"What're you doing?" Lois asked as he punched in a short number.

"Turning in that plate number to the police and reporting that we may
have
seen a woman wanted in connection with a murder in Metropolis."

Lois was relieved.  She hadn't been sure how well her intuition would
work
in a different brain.  "You didn't trust her either?"

"Not as far as I could throw her--and that's not very far now," he said,
a
faint smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

*****

The woman kept an eye on the rear-view mirror as she drove her economy
car
away from the curb.  But no one appeared on the sidewalk to try to stop
her;
no police car suddenly pulled in behind her with flashing lights and
siren.
It looked like they'd bought her story.

She let herself relax a little.  *That* was an unexpected meeting.  What
were Lane and Kent doing in upstate New York instead of Metropolis?  And
were they really interested in Alex Trifyllis, or were they after Nick,
as
she was?  Good thing she'd completed her search before they arrived.
Speaking of which . . .

She flipped open her small cell phone and dialed the number with her
thumb.
"Hello.  Mr. Luthor? . . . Yes, sir, it's Lindy Barrows . . ."

*****

CONTINUED IN PART 2/6
sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:18:01 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 2/6
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 2 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR
PART 2/6

Super powers were useful for the odd bit of breaking-and-entering, too,
Lois
thought with satisfaction as she watched the tumblers line up.  It had
hardly taken her longer than using a key would have, and she opened the
door
and let Clark walk in first.  "That's a handy talent, too," she said as
she
followed him in and closed the door behind them.

He grunted absent agreement.  "Keep an ear out in case Alex comes back."

"Got it."  She turned to face the room and gasped.  "What a pig sty!
You
don't think he lives this way, do you?"

Clark shrugged.  "Maybe that woman ransacked it."

"Is that what you think she was doing here?"

"Looking for something?  Sure.  Maybe those files that Chris Trifyllis
was
going to send to Alex."

Lois shook her head, surveying the room in disgust.  "Well, what does
the
thing look like?"

"Gendell said it looked kinda like a camcorder--one of the bigger ones
because Nick balanced it on his shoulder."  He moved toward one of the
back
rooms.  "You check the living room and kitchen," he suggested.  "I'll
get
started on the bedrooms."

"Okay."  Lois prowled through the front room, examining everything with
x-ray vision, just to make sure the device wasn't hidden inside or under
the
furniture.  But as she continued to scan every inch of the living room
without seeing the device, she felt a sinking sensation in her belly.
She
turned to the eat-in kitchen and hesitated, afraid to look and find
confirmation that the device wasn't in the messy apartment.  What were
she
and Clark going to do if it wasn't here?

*****

Lois had checked the kitchen, living room, bathroom, linen and hall
closets,
and stacks of clothes in the hallway when Clark finally emerged from the
second bedroom.  "No luck?" she asked, though his set, frustrated
expression
was answer enough.

He shook his head.  "I can't think where . . . That woman didn't have
anything with her, did she?"

"Just a purse, and it wouldn't have held a compact camcorder, much less
what
you described."

Clark shoved one hand into his slacks' pocket and carelessly raked the
other
hand through his hair.  He sighed and shrugged in frustration.  "I don't
know where to look next."

Lois blinked away tears as she watched her husband's familiar
gesture--made
almost unrecognizable when performed by her body.  "I think we need to
find
out who was in that car."

He lifted his gaze from where he had been contemplating his shoes.
"Okay."

*****

"The ambulance just left with the bodies," the helpful young trooper
said.
He was directing the towing operations now that the car had been
examined.

"Bodies?" Lois perked up, but Clark felt a heavy, sinking sensation in
the
pit of his stomach.  He'd hoped one or the other of the brothers had
survived, but that chance seemed to be disappearing.

"Yes, Mr. Kent.  We pulled two of them out of the wreckage."

"Were you able to ID them?" Lois continued.

The officer shook his head.  "No, they were pretty much--"  He glanced
at
Clark and moderated whatever he was going to say-- "in pretty bad shape.
It'll probably take dental records or DNA tests to be sure."

"That only works if you have something to compare with," Clark said.
"Did
you find anything besides the car registration that showed who they
might be?"

The trooper seemed a little surprised by "Lois's" knowledgeable,
business-like attitude.  "Actually, ma'am, we did.  There were a couple
of
suitcases in the trunk, and they weren't too damaged.  The contents
indicated that our John Does are probably . . ."  He glanced at his
notes
then continued, "Nick and Alex Trifyllis."  The state patrolman suddenly
seemed to realize what he'd said, and, flustered, he stammered,
"That--that
isn't for public release yet.  The captain doesn't like unconfirmed
information getting out."

Clark briefly closed his eyes.  *Both of them.*  A muscle in his jaw
flexed
as he clenched his teeth, getting himself under control.  "Was there
anything in with the luggage?" he asked, his voice hoarse with strain.
"Electronic equipment, video camera, laptop computer?"

"I don't know," the officer responded, belatedly becoming cautious.
"Why?"

Lois jumped in.  "The man we're looking for is a real hacker, and he'd
have
had a computer with him--even on an overnight trip."

The trooper shrugged and shook his head in an I-don't-know gesture, and
Clark thanked him before he and Lois returned to their Jeep.  "Now
where?"
he asked.

She took a deep breath.  "Home."

*****

Lois glanced over at Clark, who had been staring out the window for the
past
hour.  Hiding, she thought.  Well, she hadn't exactly been eager to
talk,
either--but that was because she'd been thinking through the
ramifications
of what had happened.  "You're going to have to be silent a lot longer
than
that before you can go for the Guiness record," she said.

He slowly turned to face her.  "What?"

"You can't avoid this forever, Clark."

He looked away.  "There isn't anything to talk about."

"Isn't there?" she challenged him.

"Trifyllis is dead; his soul exchanger has vanished; and we're stuck.
What
else is there to say?"  He sounded resigned, but she saw a flicker in
his
dark eyes that told her he wasn't as calm as he pretended to be.

She drove down the freeway thoughtfully, casting brief glances at her
husband.  As hard as it was to look at him and see her own body, it was
much
worse to glance in the rear-view mirror and see Clark's reflection
instead
of her own.  "How about how hard it is to answer to your name instead of
mine.  And how much I hate not being able to call you by name."  She
frowned.  "I thought that it was hard to be in a super-powered body.
Worse
to be in a male one.  But that isn't the worst part."

He glanced at her, his expression concerned.  "What is?"

"Losing my *self.*  I have to pretend to be someone else all the time.
It's
like I lost my history and my name--everything that makes me *me.*"

Clark's faint smile contained more than a touch of irony, and as she
reviewed what she'd said, she suddenly understood.  "That's nothing new
for
you, is it?  Hiding your real self, pretending not to be who you really
are
. . ."

"Except with you."

"And your parents."

He dipped his head in acknowledgment, then said, "I'm sorry, honey.
Instead
of sulking in my corner, I should have realized that *you* needed to
talk
about it."

"And you don't?  Clark, even though you couldn't let anyone else know
that
you're really Superman, and you've had to pretend to be vulnerable and
everything else, at least you could still be *Clark.*  Now you won't be
Clark or Superman--or even a man."

His hands fisted in his lap.  "I know."  He looked out his side window
again, then turned back to face her.  "And you won't be Lois or a
woman--or
even human."  The sarcasm in his voice betrayed the raw nerve she had
hit.
"Does it help to hear me say that?" he demanded.

Lois bit her lip.  Face set, she stared down the freeway in front of
them.
"Maybe not.  But it makes me realize what I'm--*we're*--going to have to
deal with."  She took a deep breath.  "I think we should tell your
parents."

"What?  Are you crazy?" he exploded.  "Let someone else know that--?
No."

"I'm not talking about 'someone else,' Clark.  I'm talking about your
parents."  She glanced over at him and saw his jaw set mulishly.  "Do
you
honestly think we can keep it from them?  It'd be like my parents and
hiding
the fact that you're Superman.  Is that the kind of relationship that
you
want with your parents?"

His voice was low.  "No."  Clark was silent for so long that she would
have
thought he was ignoring the problem again, except for the way that his
fists
clenched again and again.  At last he whispered, "I can't . . .  It's
too--"
His voice dropped off, but her super hearing picked up his nearly
inaudible,
"embarrassing."

Embarrassing to be a woman?  She started to fire up angrily, but then
she
remembered how embarrassed he had been when he was shrinking, and how
hard
it had been for him to share that with her.  She sighed.  "Besides, if
we
told them, that'd be at least one more place where we could be
ourselves."

"All right," he said at last.  "We'll tell them when we get back."

Lois nodded and turned back to her driving, but she didn't feel her
usual
triumph over forcing Clark to concede the rightness of her position.  It
had
finally occurred to her that his acquiescence meant that he had given up
hope of getting changed back.

END ACT 1

*****

ACT 2

"Mr. Luthor?  It's Lindy Barrows."

"Yes, Ms. Barrows," he said, putting the phone on speaker.

"I need to have you send one of your lawyers to Carsonville, New York."

He straightened abruptly.  "A *lawyer*?  Why?"

"The state police picked me up for questioning in the murder of Chris
Trifyllis."  Her voice was calm and steady, but he thought he detected
an
underlying bit of stress.

Lex sank against his chair, thinking.  "The New York police?  Why?"

"Apparently someone called in my rental car plate and reported that I
matched a police drawing of one of the people who were seen leaving
Chris
Trifyllis's house."

He hissed angrily.  "Lois Lane and Clark Kent."  He should have realized
when she mentioned meeting them earlier that they'd try to wreck his
plans.

"I don't know how they would have managed it.  They never saw me go to
my car."

That wasn't a problem for a man with super vision.  With Nick Trifyllis
dead
in a car wreck and no trace of his soul-switching device, Lex's dream of
taking over Superman's body was fading, but it also meant that there
would
be no witness to pick Lindy Barrows out of a line-up.  He could still
keep
using her, and he didn't have so many operatives that he could afford to
waste them.  "I'll get a lawyer up there."

*****

"Martha!  The kids are home!" Jonathan called as Lois and Clark unlocked
their front door and walked into the house on Hyperion.  Lois eagerly
took
Laura from Jonathan's arms.  "How's M--my little girl?" she asked,
cuddling
the baby close.

Martha walked in, wiping her hands on a towel.  "Hi, honey," she said,
reaching up to give Lois a kiss.  She opened her arms to give Clark a
hug.
"Hi, Lois."

Clark held back a second, not wanting to get too close to his mother in
case
she guessed their secret--then understanding exactly what Lois meant
when
she said it would ruin his relationship with them.  The emotions of
childhood came back to him with a rush, when a hug from his mom would
make
the hurt bearable at least.  He walked into her embrace and put his arms
around her, burying his face against her shoulder.  "Mom," he
whispered--and
saw Lois's head snap around even as Martha drew back to look at his
face.

"We have something to tell you," he said.

*****

He and Lois sat side-by-side on the couch with Laura playing at their
feet
while his parents watched from the chairs on the other side of the
coffee
table.  Clark reached for Lois's hand, seeking comfort and courage.
Jonathan waited patiently, but Martha was perched on the edge of her
chair,
her eyes bright with excitement.  "Are you . . . ?"

Clark gave Lois a sideways glance, then looked back at his mother.  "Are
we
. . . ?"

Martha raised her eyebrows and smiled.  "Expecting?"

He choked, and Lois shook her head and laughed.  "No, thank God,
although .
. ." she waited until Clark looked at her curiously, "it might be
interesting."

"Don't even think it," he said, appalled, then turned toward his
parents.
"Lois and I were in an accident a couple of days ago."

"Lois and . . . you?" Jonathan repeated.

"Yeah."  Clark glanced at his wife again.  "I'm . . . Clark, and this is
Lois.  We were hit by a ray that . . . exchanged our bodies."

Martha had one hand to her mouth, and Jonathan was frowning behind his
glasses.  "Lois?" he asked tentatively.

Lois nodded.  "He's right, Jonathan."  She squeezed Clark's hand.  "It's
been a pretty horrible few days."

"But . . . how did this happen?  Why haven't you gotten changed back?"
Martha asked, bewildered.

Clark bent over to pick up Laura and kept his head down, blowing kisses
with
his daughter while Lois gave a short but complete account of what had
happened during the past few days.  But when his mother asked, "And how
are
you dealing with it?" he stood up and announced, "Laura needs to be
changed," and fled upstairs.

He had Laura in a clean diaper and was fastening her clothes back when
his
father said from the doorway, "Running away isn't gonna solve anything,
Clark."

"And what good is talking gonna do?"  His father's gaze shied away for a
moment, and Clark half-laughed.  "I can't look at myself in the mirror,
either.  Dad, I don't know how to *be* a woman," he added passionately.
"What's worse, I don't know how to be Lois.  Most of the time, it's all
I
can do just to be *me*."

Jonathan walked into the room and held out his arms for his
granddaughter.
"Then you'll just have to be the best *person* you know how to be, won't
you?"

*****

"So, what's the men's room like?" Martha asked.

Lois gaped at her for a moment, then laughed.  Trust her mother-in-law
to
find the quickest way to lighten an intense discussion.  "Don't tell
Clark,
but I don't know," she admitted.  "So far, I've just ducked out and
flown
home when it was necessary."  At Martha's giggle, she continued, "Well,
I
don't have the aim part down very well, and I didn't want to answer any
questions about why Clark was suddenly using a stall every time.
Besides,"
she said sheepishly, "that's more than I want to know about the guys who
work there."

At that, Martha's giggle became a guffaw.  "That also explains the
beard."
She studied Lois for a moment.  "Clark never could grow a decent beard,
honey.  You're just going to look scruffy if you don't shave."

"I know, but I can't aim my heat-vision to shave, and I don't want to
burn
the house down while I'm practicing."

"I'd almost forgotten . . . Clark nearly did that when he was learning
to
shave."

"Yeah, he told me," Lois said.  "But I also got some first-hand
experience.
You should see the burns on our bathroom wall."

Martha giggled again, and thinking it over, Lois decided that it was
kind of
funny.  "You might think about taking a mirror out and practicing in the
ocean," her mother-in-law suggested.  "At least you wouldn't burn
something
up out there."

"Fish beware?"  Smiling, Lois looked upstairs, wondering what was
keeping
Clark and Jonathan so long.  She was almost tempted to lower her glasses
and
take a real look, but she decided that was at least one invasion of
privacy
that she could avoid.

Martha must have noticed her preoccupation because she said, "I already
gave
Laura a bath.  They may be putting her to bed."

Putting her to bed.  Their bedtime ritual always included breastfeeding.
Lois's smile vanished, and, concerned, Martha reached for her hand.
"What
is it, Lois?"

She shook her head, her eyes blurring with tears.  "Nothing.  It's
just--nothing."  Blinking the tears away, she forced a smile.  "Really,
it's
nothing."

Martha gave her a look of exasperation.  "Honey, you aren't as good at
hiding when you're upset as Clark and Jonathan are--and they haven't
been
able to fool me for longer than you've been alive.  What's the matter?
Is
something wrong with Laura?"

The tears came flooding back.  Lois didn't think about how odd it must
seem
to Martha to see her "son" crying.  She just buried her face against the
tiny woman's shoulder and let the tears fall.  "I'm jealous, Martha,"
she
whispered.  "Clark's been--he's been nursing Laura since we got
switched,
and that was my special thing with her, and now he's doing it and I
can't
anymore, and I must be the meanest, most horrible person in the world
for
feeling like this. . . .  But I'm angry and--and jealous . . . and it
hurts."

Her mother-in-law patted her back as she must have done with Clark so
many
times and murmured, "Shh, shh, oh, sweetie, it's okay.  You're not a bad
person, honey."  She continued to whisper soothing nonsense to her son's
wife.

After a moment, Lois calmed down and raised her head.  She swiped at her
eyes and sniffed.  "I'm sorry," she said hoarsely.  "I didn't mean to
dump
all that on you."

Martha squeezed her shoulder.  "It's okay, honey.  That's what family is
for."  She hesitated, then said, "For what it's worth, Clark's probably
feeling the same way about the flying . . . because that's always been
*his*
special thing."

Lois looked at her in astonishment, and Martha added, "You know, Lois,
you
kids really should talk."

*****

"Here you go," Lois said and handed Laura to Clark, then went across the
room to put up the books she had read to their daughter.  When she
turned
back, Clark was in the rocker with Laura sitting on his lap, tugging at
his
T-shirt.  But he made no move to unfasten his clothes, and it occurred
to
her to wonder if he were embarrassed to feed Laura in front of her.
Martha
was right:  they were both worried and upset and afraid to hurt the
other by
sharing how they felt. . . .  She sighed.  But it wouldn't do any good
to
force him to do something that made him uncomfortable.  "I'll go close
up
the house," she said.

She returned a few minutes later, successfully resisting the temptation
to
putter around downstairs until Clark was done.  Without Nick Trifyllis
or
his machine, it would probably take months--at best--before Dr. Klein
could
duplicate the results, which meant she and Clark had better start
treating
each other's bodies like their own instead of like temporary loaners.
And
that meant they had to deal with some issues that they had both been
avoiding.

He looked calm, even serene, with the baby suckling contentedly in his
arms,
but he had given Lois a quick, nervous glance when she entered the room,
and
he had drawn his shirt down a bit, covering himself a little more.  From
the
door, she could hear the swift thump of his heartbeat, and she
half-smiled,
suddenly realizing how many times the sound must have given her away to
Clark.  She sat next to the rocker on the cushioned bench-top of Laura's
toy
chest and slid one large finger into her daughter's small hand, but she
didn't say anything until Laura's fist relaxed in sleep.  "Can I burp
her?"
she whispered.

His dark eyes searched hers, and he nodded.  She carefully took the baby
>from his arms and lifted her daughter to her shoulder, bouncing Laura
slightly and rubbing her small back until a bubble of air slipped out
with a
soft "bur-rup."

She laid Laura down in the crib and covered her with a light blanket,
then
stood for a moment, looking down at their baby.  "She does better when
we're
both here."

"So do we," he said.  "Maybe that's why."

Lois turned and held her hand out to Clark.  "C'mon, we need to talk."

*****

CONTINUED IN PART 3/6
sharper@cncc.cc.co.us

=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:18:50 -0400
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
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Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 3/6
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STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 3 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR
PART 3/6

In the darkness above the city, Lois and Clark drifted side-by-side,
joined
by the unbreakable grip on his slender wrist and forearm that he had
always
used on her.  She looked down, and he asked, "Is she okay?"

"Her breathing hasn't changed."  Her enhanced vision pierced the rooftop
far
below them.  "And she's still sleeping."

"Okay."  He relaxed, letting the peace that he always found in flight
soak
into his soul.  "Thank you for this," he said after a moment.

"Your mom reminded me that you probably missed it," Lois said.

"I have.  Like you've missed . . ."  He hesitated and looked away.

"Nursing Laura?"

"Yeah."

She took a deep breath.  "I can't do anything about that."

"Do you want me to wean her?"

"Do you dislike it that much?"

"No," he said, "it's just . . . I thought it might be easier on you if
you
didn't have to see me doing what you can't.  I mean," he added
helplessly,
"it's your body."

"That's just it, Clark.  It isn't.  Not any more.  And the sooner we get
used to that, the better."  She dashed a sparkle of tears from her eyes.
"Let's go home."

*****

In their bedroom, the bedside lamp glowed softly while Lois lay in bed,
staring at the ceiling.

Clark slid under the covers and lay on his side facing her, one hand
supporting his head.  "If we're stuck like this, then what're we gonna
do
about . . . you know?"

"I don't know."  She rolled over to face him.  "I can't even sleep with
my
head on your chest.  You're not shaped right, and it just doesn't feel
like
*you.*"

"I know."  He swallowed hard.  "I miss holding you, but when I do . . .
it
isn't you."  He studied his slim hand resting on her strong forearm,
then
looked up.  "But, Lois . . . it doesn't matter what the outside looks
like.
I still love you."

Her eyes flooded, and Lois closed them against the tears.  She felt the
soft
brush of his mouth against hers, and she nearly sobbed aloud, her lips
parting under the gentle pressure of his.  "I love *you*," she
whispered.

*****

The sound of running water awakened Clark, and blinking sleepily, he
lifted
his head to look in the bathroom.  The light showed through a one-inch
crack
in the door, and he saw a figure moving there.  "Lois?" he called.

"Yeah, I'm home," she said.

He listened for a moment.  That was water running into the sink, not the
shower.  He crawled out of bed and stumbled across the dark room to the
bathroom door.  "Honey . . . ?"

She jerked around guiltily, holding the razor she normally used on her
legs.
Clark stared at the shaving foam on her face, and his mouth dropped
open.
"What're you--?  How--?" he stammered, then grasped her forearm.  "Lois,
what's happened to your aura?"

She shook her head.  "I don't know.  I went out to the ocean to practice
with my heat vision--you know, to see if I could aim it to shave--and I
finally managed to hit myself with it, except . . . Clark, it felt hot
on my
skin, and that didn't seem right.  At least, I don't remember you ever
saying that it felt like it was burning you, so I quit, and--"

"Lemme see," he said urgently, grabbing a towel and wiping the shaving
creme
off her face.  Her skin looked red, but it wasn't blistered.  He ducked
his
head against her bare shoulder.  "Thank God," he murmured.  "It's only
first
degree--like a sunburn."

"But it shouldn't've done that, should it?" she said quietly.

Clark shook his head, studying her face.  "Are you losing any other
powers?
Flying?  Strength?"

"I don't think so.  And the razor still doesn't work on my beard."  She
held
it up, and he saw the pits on the blade.

His brows drew together as he considered that.  "That means at least
part of
your aura's still there.  Maybe it's just failing against super-powers."

"Clark . . ."

"Yeah?"

"You don't think . . . ?  Does this mean my . . . soul is destroying
your
body?" Lois said in a small voice.

He took as much of her in his arms as he could reach.  "I don't think
so,
honey.  You're not feeling sick or weak, are you?"  When she shook her
head,
he continued, "Well, see?  You're not hurting my body.  And I don't feel
hot
or sick, so I don't think I'm hurting yours."  He considered.  "Except .
. ."

She had started to wipe the remaining traces of shaving creme off her
face,
but she stopped at that.  "Except?"

"I feel kinda . . . I don't know, blah?  Tired, maybe?"

Lois grinned.  "Uh-oh.  Treadmill for you tomorrow, sweetheart.  That's
how
I get when I don't work out for a few days."

Clark looked at her in astonishment.  "Lois, you're on the run all day
long.
What do *you* need exercise for?"

She laughed.  "You don't know how great it is to hear you say that.  I
guess
some good comes out of the worst situation."

*****

"C.K., are you growing a beard or something?" Jimmy asked as Lois
stirred
two packets of creamer and three packets of sugar into the black brew
euphemistically known to The Planet staffers as coffee.  She took a sip
and
smiled.  Substitutes were never as satisfying as full-sugar, full-fat.

She looked up and saw him apparently waiting for an answer.  "I'm sorry,
what was that, Jimmy?"

"I was just wondering if you were trying to grow a beard."

"No, I--"  She stopped and touched her face gingerly, feeling the
tenderness
of the faint burn.  At least this time she had a ready-made explanation.
Constantly trying to come up with excuses for 'super' behaviors had
gotten
old in a hurry.  "I got sunburned, and I can't shave for a few days."

Jimmy peered at her face.  "Wow, that's a first for you, isn't it?  I
mean,
you *never* get sunburned."

"No, not a first," Lois said, wondering if Clark ever *had* gotten a
sunburn, "but the first time in a long time."  She picked up her coffee
and
automatically headed toward her own desk.  "Clark!" Perry poked his head
out
of his office.  "What are you doin' with that jet sabotage story?"

She looked around for her husband--an instant before she realized Perry
was
talking to her.  "Umm, calling STAR Labs to see what Dr. Klein
discovered
and . . . going through a stack of research, looks like," she added,
noticing the pile of folders on Clark's desk.

"A'right," Perry growled.  "I want the follow-up on that story before
you go
harin' off after your missin' witness.  Speakin' of which, what did you
two
come up with yesterday?"

"Apparently, he was killed in a car wreck just before we got there."
Clark's voice at her shoulder made her jump.

"Apparently?" Perry asked.

Lois picked up the story.  "The bodies hadn't been ID'd yesterday, so
we're
checking with New York on it this morning--"

"--and then the MPD on Chris Trifyllis's murder--" Clark broke in.

"--and Owen Preece, to see what else he knows about the files that Chris
apparently gave to his brother Nick--or Alex--both of whom are missing."

"Sounds like you have a busy afternoon planned," Perry said.

"Afternoon?" Lois asked.

"Afternoon.  As in, after *you* get the jet story finished, and *you*--"
he
handed a folder to Clark-- "investigate the group that's protestin' the
school improvement project."

"But, Perry . . ." Lois began.

He turned around slowly.  "You have a problem with my story
assignments?"

Lois opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap.  Clark didn't argue
about
assignments--darn him!  "No, Perry."

"Good," the editor said.  He waited, looking at both of them.  "Don't
you
people have somethin' to do, or do I just pay you to stand around and
shoot
the breeze?"

They hurried toward their desks, bumping into each other as both of them
made a dash for Lois's desk.  "*My* chair," Clark whispered as he slid
into
it just in front of Lois.

"Oh, yeah."  She straightened up, then paused, looking down at him
curiously.  "How'd you get there before me, anyway?"

He smirked at her, enjoying his moment of triumph.  "Musical chairs
champion
three years running at the Smallville Junior High School carnival."

She rolled her eyes and started back to Clark's desk.  "I should've
known."

*****

Beth waited just outside the door of Nick Trifyllis's apartment while
his
landlady looked in each room, calling, "Mr. Trifyllis!  Yoo-hoo!" as she
went.  Unless he really was unconscious or injured in the bedrooms or
bathroom, as she had told his landlady in order to get into his
apartment,
he definitely wasn't there.

"He's not here, but I don't see anything wrong," the heavy, fiftyish
woman
said when she returned to the front door, her eyes suspicious.  "He's
probably just at work."

Beth shook her head, although she didn't have the faintest idea whether
he
was at work or not--or even *where* he worked.  "That's why I was
checking
here.  He's been in danger ever since he saw his brother's killers," she
said, repeating her earlier excuse.  "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

Walking back to her car, she could feel the other woman's gaze boring
into
the back of her head.  Frustration at getting no answer by phone and no
response to repeated knocking at his door had driven her to get help
from
his landlady, but now she was afraid that she might have done something
that
Lex would find out about.

And she still hadn't found that person who might be willing to help her
defeat Lex.

*****

Clark stopped by his desk and bent down to brush a kiss across Lois's
cheekbone.  "I'm off to cover that protest," he told her.

She nodded and pointed to the phone receiver at her ear.  "It's Dr.
Klein--I'm on hold.  Then I'll start through the research Courtney dug
up--unless something else--" she made a loosening-the-tie motion--
"comes up."

"Be careful."

"You too," she called after him.  He looked back and smiled, then strode
up
the ramp to the elevator.

Dr. Klein was still waiting for results on his tests and said he would
call
when he had anything, so Lois picked up the stack of research for the
jet
sabotage story and went to the conference room where she could spread
out.
Racing through the pages in each file at super speed, she was engrossed
in
her reading and didn't hear Jimmy approaching the conference room.

"CK?"

She jerked around, thankful that she had just been fanning through a
stack
of papers rather than moving papers and files at super speed.  "Oh,
Jimmy,
hi!  What d'you need?" she asked breathlessly.

Jimmy raised his eyebrows.  Apparently he was starting to notice
"Clark's"
odd behavior.  "Call on line one.  And I've got that research on Asabi
that
you asked for," he told her, holding out a file.

"Asa--?  Oh, yeah.  Terrific!  Thanks, Jimmy," she said, reaching for
the
file with one hand and the phone with the other.

He nodded and left the room as she said, "Hello . . . Clark Kent here."

"Mr. Kent, this is Officer Williams, with the New York State Police."

*****

Clark stepped off the elevator, frowning thoughtfully.  Before he
started
toward the ramp, Lois grabbed him by the arm and hustled him across the
pit
toward the conference room.  "What is it?" he asked.

"We need to talk," she said, almost vibrating with tension or
excitement.

At the conference room, he automatically reached for the door and held
it
open for her, and she entered ahead of him.  He was closing the door
when it
suddenly occurred to him how it looked.  He sighed.  No matter how much
he
tried to remember to act like Lois, he kept doing what he always did.

He leaned against the wall, thrusting his hands into his pockets--but
they
just kept sliding down his thighs.  Clark frowned.  Why couldn't
clothing
manufacturers put pockets in women's slacks?  He started to fold his
arms
over his chest, but the yielding softness against his hands flustered
him,
and he lowered his arms and gripped the back of a chair instead.
"What's
going on?" he asked.

"Clark, we're not giving up!" Lois announced, pacing restlessly along
one
side of the conference table, about to explode from the strain of
holding in
her news until they could get someplace private.

"What?"  He shook his head, confused.

"Ever since we saw Nick Trifyllis's car in that ravine, we've given up.
Even what we told Perry this morning was just . . . going through the
motions."

"Okay . . ."  He eyed her narrowly.  He recognized that
I-have-not-yet-begun-to-fight attitude of hers, and more often than not,
it
resulted in success, but . . .  "I don't see what we can do that we
haven't
already done."

"We've been following a trail someone else left for us," she said, "and
we've come up with exactly what they wanted:  Nick is dead; the device
is
lost or destroyed; case closed, end of story."

"But the device wasn't at his house or at his lab --" Clark began,
seeing
her reasoning.

"--or at his brother's house or in the car *or* the ravine where the car
went off the road."

"The state police were that thorough?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in
surprise.

"No, but--" she glanced toward the door to make sure Perry wasn't about
to
burst in-- "Superman was."

"I thought you were checking with Dr. Klein about the oil sample."

"He hasn't called back yet, but that New York trooper did."

"And?"

"He remembered you asking about electronic equipment, and he wanted to
let
us know that they didn't find any.  And that started me thinking."

"So you buzzed up to New York to check for yourself," he said with
amusement.

"And examined the ravine and the car, and there's nothing that even
looks
like it could have been a piece of high tech equipment."

He began to pick up her excitement.  "Then what did the police say about
the
bodies?"

"Ah hah!"  She grinned.  "According to the medical examiner, those
bodies
were long dead--like over 72 hours--before they went over that
embankment.
In fact, she thinks they might have come out of someone's morgue in the
first place."

Clark hugged her and laughed.  "He faked it.  Thank God, he's still
alive!"

Lois hugged him back, effortlessly lifting him off his feet.  "Now all
we
have to do is find him."

END ACT 2

*****

ACT 3

Writing and editing an 800-word article on a protest demonstration was
forty-five minutes' work for Clark.  Writing it in Lois's style rather
than
his own nearly doubled the time, particularly when she was sitting next
to
him and kept reading aloud particularly interesting bits of information
she
discovered in the research for the jet sabotage story.  When, for the
sixth
time, she said, "That's odd.  Listen to this," he groaned out loud.

"Honey, *please*.  I've gotta finish this story before I can think about
that one."

She looked up from the stack of pages on her lap.  "Oh.  Do you want
some help?"

His fingers flew over the keyboard.  "I'm sending you what I've got so
far.
Could you check it over for me, please?"  He added softly, "Make sure it
sounds like you and not me, okay?"

Lois grinned as she got up to go to Clark's desk.  "Do you mean you're
giving me *permission* to edit your copy?"

He grinned back.  "I'd say that it looks like *you're* giving *me*
permission."

She rolled her eyes.  "Cute, Kent."  But he saw that she was grinning as
she
walked across the aisle to his desk.  It was amazing, he thought, how
different they both felt after they realized that Nick Trifyllis wasn't
dead.

He had just received the edited article back from her when her phone
rang.
She picked up the receiver and absently said, "Hello," as she continued
reading the jet sabotage research.

Out of the corner of his eye, Clark saw her perk up.  "Oh, you did?
Good!"
She started to scribble notes on a pad, writing at super speed.

Troubled by her careless use of super powers, Clark got up from Lois's
desk
and strolled to his.  Bending over, apparently reading her notes, he
blocked
the sight of her hand from the rest of the room.  "Thanks, Dr. Klein,"
she
said at last and hung up.

Looking over pages of transcription, she shook her head.  "No wonder you
don't bother with a tape recorder," she said softly.

He shrugged and stroked her right hand.  "But I don't speed write in
public,
either."

Her eyes widened, and she looked around nervously.  "Oops."  She
grimaced.
"It's hard to remember to hold back."

He half-smiled.  "I know.

*****

"Thank you, sir," Lindy said, sitting in the visitor chair in front of
Lex
Luthor's desk.  "The lawyer had my alibi worked out and ID in hand when
he
arrived, and I was out within thirty minutes."

"I pay them for results.  I'm glad to hear that they're continuing to
deliver."  Lex leaned back in his chair and eyed the operative
consideringly.  "Are you ready for another assignment?"

"That's what you pay *me* for, Mr. Luthor."

He smiled, a terrifying shark's smile.  "I appreciate willingness in my
staff.  Now that the Trifyllis brothers have been good enough to remove
themselves from the picture, we only have one loose end left to trim
off. . . ."

*****

Lois and Clark had gone back to the conference room, where they sorted
information about the jet sabotage while Perry looked at Clark's story.
Jimmy's three-way cross-referenced list hadn't turned up anything, so
they
compared the people who had the technical know-how with the ones who had
physical access and the ones who were involved in lawsuits or corporate
takeovers.  After two hours, they had eliminated some possibilities, but
while there were nearly three dozen people who had the skills, the
opportunity, or the motive, no one appeared in all of the lists.  "I
think
it's Luthor," Clark said.  "He's getting back into the airline business
in a
big way, and destroying his competition by sabotage has been the way
he's
done business as long as I've known him."

"Clark, we can't write a story based on nothing but speculation.
Perry'd
stick us on dog show stories and high school graduations until Laura
goes to
school."  At the mulish set of his jaw, she added, "And you know as well
as
I do that we never found any publishable evidence back then.  What makes
you
think we'll find it now?"

Clark sighed and pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes.  "All
right.  Back to Jimmy for some background info?" he suggested, lowering
his
hands.

Lois nodded.  "I'll write up the stuff Dr. Klein gave me, which'll make
Perry happy, but otherwise . . ."  She shrugged.

"We're done until Jimmy gets us some more information," he said, then
added,
satisfied, "so it's time for *our* investigation."

"And I know just where to start."

*****

CONTINUED IN PART 4/6
sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:21:01 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 4/6
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 4 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR
PART 4/6

"House of Astrology?" Clark read incredulously while Lois bit her lip to
keep from laughing.  He looked at the window display, at the dangling
crystals, teak carvings, and a tall brass urn with a long tube extending
>from it.

"What is that thing?" Lois asked, pointing.

He glanced down at the urn.  "A hookah.  A water pipe," he explained.

They pushed open the door to the tinkle of chimes and a waft of incense.
Clark breathed deeply, closing his eyes.  "It doesn't smell the
same--nothing does right now--but I think it's amber."  He wandered
toward
the teak carvings.

"You recognize the smell?" Lois asked.

"I like amber," he said, rubbing his thumb over a small teak carving,
enjoying the feel of the smooth wood.

She shook her head and strolled toward the books she saw in the next
room.
A dark-haired man, head bowed submissively and palms pressed against
each
other, suddenly appeared from the back room to block her way.  "How may
Asabi serve you?" he asked.  He glanced at his customers, a flicker of
recognition in his eyes, but his expression remained closed.

"You could tell us what Lex Luthor is up to these days," Clark said.

"I cannot say," Asabi said smoothly.  "I did not return to Mr. Luthor's
service when he returned to the world. . . .  Since I do not have the
information you want, perhaps you would be interested in a book or . . .
a
good luck charm."  He gestured toward his books with one hand and toward
the
teak carvings with the other.

"I understand Nick Trifyllis got a book on astral projection from you,"
Lois
said.

Asabi bowed his head, hesitating before he answered.  "A regular
customer."

"With an interest in soul transference?" she continued.

Something flashed in the older man's eyes, but he corrected her, "With
an
interest in helping slow learners.  He has often spoken of his desire to
help others."

"Did he ever tell you about his research?  How he planned to help slow
learners?" Clark asked.

"Certainly," Asabi said.  "He hopes to share *understanding* from one
mind
to another."  He shook his head.  "Perhaps you should read his
dissertation.
He has often said that he has been interested in the subject from his
student days."

Not by as much as a flicker of his eyelids did Clark show that he had
already read Nick's dissertation.  "His interest in psychic phenomena
wasn't
related to his research?"

Asabi shrugged.  "Perhaps.  But the technical details of his work are
beyond
my humble understanding."  He extended his hands as if to say he had
told
them all he knew.

Clark gave Lois a quick glance and caught her looking back at him.  He
lifted his shoulders, and she nodded briefly. They had been reporters
long
enough to know when an interview was going nowhere, and right now was
definitely time to look elsewhere.

*****

" . . . we only have one loose end left to trim off . . . Owen Preece."
Lex's voice on the recorder was more ominous for being so calm and
unconcerned.  Owen stared at the recorder, his expression both
fascinated
and appalled.

"Preece?  Why him?" a woman's voice asked.

"Enrico said Preece was acting suspicious when he went through
Trifyllis's
files.  And I don't want him to put two and two together about my
request
for information on what Trifyllis had been working on and his death,"
Lex's
voice continued.

"Are you sure, sir?  You don't think two deaths in the same department
within a few days might make the police suspicious?"  The woman's voice
was
as calm as if they were discussing meatloaf recipes.

"Make it look like an accident--no, better yet, a suicide," Lex said.
"Leave a note confessing to Tryfillis's murder.  That should put an end
to
the investigation into Chris Trifyllis's death."

Beth Luthor turned off the recorder.  "Well?"

Owen slowly lifted his gaze, his face ashen.  "Why did you play this for
me,
Mrs. Luthor?" he asked hoarsely.

She took a deep breath.  It was now or never.  "I need someone to help
me
bring Lex down.  Someone that he can't buy.  Someone that knows about
computers, so we can get into his records.  And that sounded like you."

"Why don't you just take this tape to the police?"

"He'd get out of it.  He'd say the tape was a fake, and he'd hire enough
experts to prove it.  All that it would do is force me into the open,
and
I'd be dead before I could ever testify against him.  He'd see to that."
She knew she was pleading, but she couldn't stop herself.  "Will you
help me?"

He looked at her with disbelief.  "Are you crazy?  You just tell me that
someone is going to kill me, and you want me to hang around and play
policeman with you?  How much good do you think I'd be to you *dead*?"

"I'll hide you," she told him earnestly.  "But I need somone with your
computer skills."

Owen nearly laughed in her face.  "You're going to hide me from *him*?"
He
shook his head.  "Thanks for letting me know what's going on, and I wish
you
luck, but I'm not going to risk my life to put your husband in jail."
He
stood up.  "If you'll excuse me, I have some arrangements to make."

*****

Lois frowned thoughtfully as she drove the Jeep toward the Planet.  "I
think
you're right.  Asabi knows more about Nick Trifyllis's process than he's
letting on.  But I'm not sure he knows where Nick is.  He didn't react
strongly enough to his name."

"Whether he knows anything or not, he's not gonna say anything," Clark
said,
"so we'd better start looking from a different angle."

She gave him a quick glance.  "What d'you think?  Backtrack the
brother?"

He nodded.  "He probably had the contacts to come up with the cadavers
for
the car wreck."

"As well as fake IDs and a hole to disappear into."  At his nod, she
continued, "But I'd better write up the information from Dr. Klein, or
Perry'll take us off the payroll."

Clark rolled his eyes.  "Why can't we ever get just one story at a
time?" he
complained.  "Either it's so slow that we might as well shut off our
computers and go home, or we've got stories burying us like an
avalanche."

Lois smiled.  "Maybe you should take it up with someone higher up."

"Perry?  Nah, he'd give us more stories if he could."

"I was thinking of someone a little higher than that," she said, her
thumb
pointing upward.

"Oh."  He grinned.  "What makes you think I'd have any clout with
heaven?"

"Pure heart?" she suggested.

He laughed.  "I don't think the thoughts I have about you are usually
considered . . . pure."

"But we're married, so that's allowed."

"Good thing."  Clark gave her a wicked grin.

But his smile faded as he noticed that Lois had tilted her head to
listen to
something beyond his hearing.  She swore softly and pulled over to the
side
of the street.  "Honey, I've gotta go," she said.

He grasped her forearm.  "Be careful," he told her urgently.  "You
aren't
completely invulnerable now."

"I know."  She leaned over and closed her eyes briefly as she kissed
him.
Then she straightened up and opened the door.  "I'll be back later."

*****

"Lois Lane and Clark Kent just left my shop.  They were asking questions
about Nick Trifyllis," Asabi said.

Lex turned away from the computer and picked up the receiver, shutting
off
the hands-free speaker function.  "What do you think they were after?
They
were in New York.  They must know he was killed in that car wreck."

"They were wanted to know about his research.  One of them mentioned
'soul
transference.'"

Lex frowned.  "That wouldn't have been in his research notes.  Were they
looking for the stone?"

"They never mentioned it.  However, I sensed a peculiar energy from them
. . ."

Lex waited, but when Asabi said no more, he continued, "The stone was
lost
with Dr. Trifyllis's device, and they can't connect us with the
Trifyllises'
deaths in New York.  Keep me informed if they return."

As he hung up, Lex scowled at the Daily Planet on his desk.  Page three
had
an article by Clark Kent following up the initial story on the PanGaea
jet
that Superman rescued.  Not only was Kent investigating some of the
shootings Lex had ordered, but now he was also sniffing around the
PanGaea
jet and making noises about sabotage.

Luthor jabbed at a call button, and Enrico O'Reilly entered and shut the
door behind him, but he waited across the room from Lex's desk.  Luthor
raised one eyebrow, and O'Reilly clenched his jaw, resisting.
Eventually he
moved forward to the visitor's side of his boss's desk.

Although Lex didn't actually smile, he relaxed at his aide's submission
and
said, "A loose end at SATAN leads back here.  Offer him the usual
severance
package."

*****

After Clark drove back to the Planet, he found Lois's notes from her
conversation with Dr. Klein on his desk, and he began to read through
them
as he walked back to her desk.  He smiled to himself.  She had written a
complete transcription of the conversation--which meant that he could
write
the story--if he had her notes and his own from before.  He stopped a
moment, then headed back to his own desk.

By the time Clark had finished a rough draft of the article and sent it
back
to his own computer, Jimmy had dropped another stack of folders on the
desktop next to his keyboard.  "Background on those names, Lois," he
explained.

"Thanks, Jimmy," Clark said and watched his friend walk away.  If he and
Lois couldn't get switched back, there was a relationship that probably
wouldn't survive.  All the more reason to finish this story and get back
to
finding Nick Trifyllis.  He set his jaw and, picking up the stack of
folders, went to the conference room.

*****

Lois strode into the Daily Planet newsroom, fiddling nervously with her
tie,
wishing she had worn a clip-on today because she wasn't sure she retied
it
right.  She took advantage of that extra half foot of height to look for
Clark, but he wasn't at his desk.  Then it occurred to her that she was
looking for her six-foot husband, not her five-and-a-half-foot self, and
she
checked her own desk.  No luck.  She lowered her glasses to peer over
them
and quickly eliminated Perry's office and the copy room but finally
struck
paydirt in the conference room.

"Hi, honey," she said, carefully closing the conference room door behind
her.

Clark jerked around.  "Oh, hi.  Are you okay?"

She nodded.  "I'm fine.  I didn't have any trouble, but all I did was
bring
in another jet.  Another PanGaea.  With a frayed rudder control cable."

"Really?  Accidentally frayed?" he asked, his eager interest apparent in
his
body language.

"I don't know.  The outer edges were all dirty and greasy," she offered.

"Were they rusted or corroded?"

"I didn't look that closely."  Her mouth twisted a little.  "You'd've
looked, wouldn't you?"

He stood up and grasped her upper arms, his expression earnest with his
desire to reassure her.  "Honey, don't worry about it.  The
investigators
know what they're doing, and if someone cut the cable, they'll find it."

"I know.  It's just . . . It's hard enough trying to control the powers
*and* a body I'm not used to when I don't know the thousand and one
things
you've learned that make Superman so effective."  She looked down into
his
troubled face and, taking a deep breath, straightened up.  "I'm okay,
honey.
I just want to finish this plane sabotage story so we can get back to
looking for Nick Trifyllis."

"All right."  Clark turned back to the table.  "I wrote up a rough draft
of
what you found out from Dr. Klein, and I just got started on the
background
info we asked Jimmy for."  He gave her a rueful smile and held out the
folders.  "You wanna take a look and see if there's anything?"

"Cover me," she said, smiling faintly and nodding toward the door with
her head.

He grinned and shook his head at her facetious comment but got up and
kept
an eye on the newsroom through a crack in the blinds.  Behind him, Lois
whipped through every page in the pile of folders, and three seconds
later,
she set them down.  "I think we've got something."

Clark moved to stand beside her.  "What is it?"

"These two."  She pulled out two folders.  "A pilot who was fired for
insubordination and a mechanic for PanGaea Air.  They both belong to
something called . . . SATAN."

He lifted his eyebrows.  "Satan?"

"Stop Air Traffic Accidents Now."  She frowned.  "Vicious acronym for
such a
harmless sounding organization."

"Maybe they aren't as harmless as they sound."

*****

Beth drove numbly away from the LexCorp Information Technology Center.
She
still couldn't believe that Owen Preece had turned her down, that he
hadn't
seen how much safer he would be if he could put Lex in jail.  That only
left
her with Nick Trifyllis--if he was still alive.  And after what she'd
heard
in the conversation she had played for Owen, she wasn't sure any more.
Maybe she should go back and collect the bugs she'd planted.

As she stopped at a traffic light, she glanced at the monitor sitting in
the
top of her open purse.  The two lights were off--and if Nick didn't go
back
to his apartment or lab, they'd probably stay that way.  But they
weren't
hurting anything where they were, she decided, and she couldn't afford
to
ignore any possible source of help.  She would leave them where they
were
for a few weeks.

*****

At Lois's computer, Clark had found a website for SATAN, and he was
scrolling through it, frowning as he read.  "It says that they
originally
organized to protest unsafe transportation practices, and . . ."  He
clicked
on a link for an update on current activities.  ". . . and it looks like
they're urging a boycott of PanGaea Air."

Lois leaned over his shoulder.  "Does it say why?"

He paged through several screens.  "Yeah.  Safety violations.
Inadequate
maintenance schedules.  Forcing pilots to fly too many hours with too
little
down time between.  That sounds familiar. . . ."  He paged through the
folder lying open on his desk.  "Here it is.  That's what that pilot who
got
fired said PanGaea was doing."

She speed read through the pages in the file.  "He claims that's *why*
he
was fired.  He refused to fly when he had too many hours without time
off.
PanGaea says he was fired for insubordination."

Clark shook his head.  "I don't know.  I don't think that someone who
refuses to fly when he isn't fit is the kind of person who would put 300
people at risk by sabotaging both of a jet's engines."

Her brows snapped together in a question.  "What difference does it make
whether it's one or both engines?"

"A plane can fly and land with one engine," he explained.  "It would've
stopped the flight, but they wouldn't have called Superman for help."

Lois reached for the phone and pressed one of her speed-dial numbers.
She
smiled and shook her head.  "You know the oddest things. . . .  Yes, Dr.
Klein?"  She spoke with him for a few minutes, and when she hung up, she
told her husband, "I wondered why the first oil sample didn't show any
sign
of tampering, but the second one did."

He guessed where she was headed.  "The samples were taken from different
engines?"

"Got it in one," she said, pointing her finger toward him.  "One was
sabotaged, and the other--the other suffered a mechanical breakdown.
Too
much wear with too little maintenance."

"Sounds like we should have a talk with this pilot," Clark suggested.

"And the mechanic," she added.

*****

According to the name card above his mailbox, Tony Morales hadn't moved
from
his small apartment after he was fired by PanGaea.  When he opened the
door,
Lois and Clark saw a smiling, athletic man in his mid-thirties, the kind
of
person, Clark thought, that he'd like to shoot hoops with.  But as soon
as
they introduced themselves, the pilot's smile vanished and he lowered
his
eyes, thinking, apparently.  After a moment, he looked up and opened the
screen door.  "I've been expecting something like this," he said.  "You
might as well come in."

His small apartment was as clean as Clark had kept his, and he was clean
shaven and tidy in a short-sleeved Henley shirt and jeans, his brown
hair
neatly combed.  He didn't look like most unemployed men that Clark had
seen.

"What do you mean, you were expecting this?" Lois asked.

"Let's not fence, Mr. Kent.  In a way, it's almost a relief."

Lois's surprised gaze flicked toward Clark, and he asked softly, "You
didn't
expect the other engine to give out, did you?"

Tony Morales shook his head.  "*Never.*  I wanted to let people know
what
was going on at PanGaea, so they'd be forced to clean up their act, but
I
*never* intended to hurt anyone."

"What about the frayed control cable today?" Lois asked.

He seemed ashamed to meet her eyes.  "It should've been caught in
pre-flight.  That flight should never have gone out."

"After the last time, when the second engine failed because of shoddy
safety
procedures . . . and you *still* risked it?"  Clark heard the judgmental
tone in his voice and wished he could have taken it back.  Nothing was
guaranteed to shut up a source faster.

Morales was quiet for a long moment.  "Superman saved the first one, so
we--I thought . . ."

Clark noticed the slip, but he was too angry to take advantage of it.
Lois
gave him a quick, sidelong glance and picked up the interview.  "He was
your
backup system," she stated.  "Why did you tamper with a second plane?"

"Because no one was discussing PanGaea's safety violations.  The only
thing
anyone was talking about was sabotage."

Clark's anger had vanished, and now he only felt tired.  God save him
from
stupid, well-meaning people, he thought.  If only Morales had come to
them
in the first place, they would have investigated his allegations--and
probably nailed PanGaea for it.  But he had taken the law into his own
hands, and now he--and his accomplice--would pay for it with prison
time.

Clark got out his notebook and pen.  He had a story to write.

*****

CONTINUED IN PART 5/6
sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:21:25 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 5/6
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 5 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR
PART 5/6

"He got the formula off the Internet," Lois repeated in disbelief as she
and
Clark walked to the Jeep after their interview.

"Yeah, but most people wouldn't have realized that the compound could be
added to the lubricant in a jet engine.  Or that the friction would
increase
the temperature enough to burn it off and hardly leave any residue.
It's
not exactly like putting up the directions for making a pipe bomb,"
Clark
said.  "He said 'we.'  What d'you think?"

"It's the mechanic," she stated with certainty.  "They're both in SATAN.
Both have a motive, especially Morales, but the mechanic has the
access."

"I'd've bet anything it was Luthor . . . but you're right.  Next stop,
Derek
Chambers?" he asked, mentioning the mechanic by name.

"D'you have an address?"  He nodded, and she opened the driver's side
door
of the Jeep.  "All right.  Let's get this story wrapped up."

*****

"Not at work *or* home?" Lois asked in disgust as she rang the doorbell
at
Derek Chambers' house for the fourth time.  "Why can't people be easy to
find?"

Looking hard at the door, she reached for her glasses, and Clark grasped
her
wrist.  "Lois, please.  People have a right to private lives."

She rolled her eyes.  "You and your rules.  I bet Waldecker drove you
nuts."

A half-smile quirked the corner of his mouth.  "Resplendent Man?  He
never
could understand that the powers were to be used to help people, not
take
advantage of them."

She sighed.  "Okay.  I get it.  But I don't think we should wait to
interview Chambers.  We've broken the story, and we're still ahead of
the
police.  If we wait, we'll risk losing the exclusive."

"You think?"  He laughed.  "Perry'd kill us if we did."

"*You.*"  She bumped against his hip.  "Then it's back to the Planet, I
guess."

"How 'bout we write this one from home?  That way we don't have to get
someone to watch Laura," he said.

"Fine by me," Lois said as she started to step off Chambers' porch, but
the
arrested expression on Clark's face stopped her.  "What is it?"

"I just realized how to find Nick Trifyllis."  He dug through Lois's
purse
until he found the cell phone.  "I hope we're not too late," he
muttered,
flipping through his notebook for the number for the lab where Nick
worked.

*****

On the other side of Derek Chambers' front door, Enrico O'Reilly stayed
still, hardly daring to breathe.  A pool of blood slowly spread across
the
floor from the gunshot wound in the back of the airline mechanic's head.
O'Reilly watched the viscous red fluid inch toward his shoes, but he
couldn't risk moving and making a noise that would alert those nosey
reporters to his presence.

Besides, they seemed to think the computer geek's brother was still
alive,
and he wanted to find out what they knew and where they thought he was.

END ACT 3

*****

ACT 4

Superman shot through the window of the master bedroom at 348 Hyperion
and
spun into jeans and a dark T-shirt, rushing to get ready for the
stakeout at
the lab.  Only then did Lois realize that her daughter was standing on
unsteady legs, clinging to the bedspread with one hand, and grinning and
squealing as she watched her 'father.'  "Oh . . . super," Lois muttered
and
reached down to pick up Laura, wincing as she did so.

"Honey, is that you?" Clark called from the bathroom.

"Yeah," she sighed, turning her head to avoid smeary handprints on her
glasses.  They really needed to talk about this whole Daddy and Superman
thing.  But first, she needed to figure out how to clean and bandage the
stinging bullet wound on her shoulder without Clark knowing about it.

*****

The Jeep was parked halfway down the block from the lab complex so Lois
and
Clark had a clear view of the side entrance where deliveries were made.
"I
should let you handle my mother all the time," Lois said, her mouth
pursed
with a suppressed grin as she wrote her story on the notebook computer
on
her lap.  "She didn't complain more than three times about your calling
at
the last minute."

Clark turned away from the window, where he had been watching the door
to
the lab complex.  "Don't even think it.  She just liked the idea that we
trusted her enough to leave Laura with her while we were on an all-night
stakeout."

"Oh god, you don't really think it'll be an all-nighter, do you?" she
groaned.  Clark's body didn't usually get tired like hers did, but with
her
aura fading, she wasn't sure if that was true any longer.

"I don't know."  He looked back to watch the lab entrance.  "The
secretary
said the people from the kennel were supposed to be there before six.
If
Trifyllis is with them, that'll be it.  But if we have to follow them to
him
. . . I don't know how long it'll take, and I don't wanna risk losing
him."

"Neither do I. But if it's a public shelter, they may not know anything
about him.  We could end out staking it out for days, waiting for him to
show up and collect them."

Clark shook his head.  "The secretary said it was some sorta private
kennel.
If he doesn't do something tonight, I'm betting they'll have an address
for
him."

"I hope so. Good thing you remembered what she said about his animals."
She
looked at their article for a moment, then saved what she'd written so
far,
closed the lid, and turned the computer off.

Clark smiled faintly.  "Thank God for chatty secretaries."  He looked
over
at Lois.  "Aren't you gonna write any more?"

"I want to talk to you about something first."

"I recognize that tone," he said nervously.

"What?"  She eyed him with amused exasperation.  "Clark, even *I* don't
recognize this tone.  These days, I don't recognize *any* of my tones."

He grinned and looked back at the lab complex.  "Okay, you don't have a
tone.  What d'you wanna talk about?"

"Laura."

His head jerked toward her, his expression concerned.  "What about her?"

She hesitated.  "When I got back from that shootout at the New Troy
Mercantile Bank, Laura was in our room, and I . . . sort of . . ."

"Changed in front of her?  I wondered."  At her shame-faced nod, he
shrugged.  "It happens, honey.  But she's pretty little still.  She'll
forget.  You'll--*I'll* just have to be more careful so she doesn't see
Superman up close any more."

That was as far as they'd gotten last time.  "I don't think that'll be
enough."

He frowned.  "To keep her from recognizing that Daddy and Superman are
the
same person?  Why not?"

"Honey, you know as well as I do that your Superman disguise is as
situational as it is physical.  Despite the obvious resemblance--" she
smiled as she said it, since he didn't resemble Superman in any way at
the
moment-- "no one guesses because Clark Kent's an ordinary man, and
Superman's a super-powered alien."

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with Laura?"

"Because Daddy flies her around and super-speeds down the stairs after
changing her when we're running late."  She paused, then admitted to
some of
the responsibility, too.  "And . . . Superman changes into Daddy in
front of
her.  When she's seen Daddy do the same kind of things that Superman
does,
and the pictures of Superman look just like Daddy . . .  You tell me."

He looked out the window at the lab complex.  "You're right," he finally
said.  "And until she's old enough to understand how important it is not
to
tell anyone, she can't know."  Clark sighed and looked at his slender
hands.
"I'm gonna miss floating when I'm watching football."

Lois smiled at his doleful tone, but she covered his hand with hers and
hurried to reassure him.  "Honey, I didn't mean you have to stop using
your
powers at home.  Just in front of Laura.  If she's asleep or out of the
room
or if you're doing something that doesn't show--" she adjusted her
glasses--
"there's no reason you have to stop being yourself.  The last few days,
I
got a good look at how hard it is for you to hold back at work.  I
couldn't
do it.  And I can't imagine how you could pretend to be powerless at
home
all the time, either."

The relief on his face made her feel guilty for even bringing up the
issue.
"I'm glad."  A tiny smile lifted one corner of his mouth.  "I was
starting
to feel sorta like Samantha on 'Bewitched.'"

"Oh, no, Clark!  I don't want to make you feel guilty for being who you
are.
Besides," she added in a small voice, "I don't think we could get
everything
done if you didn't use your powers."

"I know.  I was afraid it'd put too much of a burden on you."  He
smiled,
teasing her a little.  "I guess I can learn to use pot holders when I
cook.
If I have to."

Her smile froze.  If they didn't get changed back quickly, she was going
to
*have* to use pot holders.  Thank God he just gave her a good excuse for
it.

Clark turned his hand to clasp her larger one and lifted it to his lips
for
a brief kiss.  "You know, we're talking like we're about to be changed
back
any minute."

She smiled, trying to raise his spirits.  "Aren't we?"  Her gaze
sharpened
suddenly, and she straightened up, feeling her heart begin to thud
heavily
with excitement.  "Look over there."

He turned quickly.  "That van?  See if either Trifyllis is there," he
said,
pantomiming lowering a pair of glasses.

It only took a second to concentrate in the special way that let her
look
through objects.  "Three men.  Two of them look like the pictures Jimmy
turned up."

She heard the quick surge of Clark's pulse.  "Show time," he said.
Lithe in
jeans and sneakers, he got out of the Jeep and ran lightly across the
street, using the van to shield his approach.

Lois ran after him and quickly caught him, even without super speed,
then
slowed to match his casual pace.  She glanced at her watch.  With any
luck,
the front door would still be unlocked and the helpful receptionist
would be
there.

She was.  Clark went up to the front desk and said, "Hi, I'm . . . Lois
Lane, and this is my partner, Clark Kent.  I asked you about--"

"--about Dr. Trifyllis's dogs.  I remember."  'Lois' may have been the
one
talking to her, but the young woman couldn't take her eyes off 'Clark'.
"Weird story, if you ask me, but I guess you guys can't always be
writing
about the NIA.  Anyway, you're barely in time.  The people from the
shelter
are already here."  Even as she chattered, she pressed a button on her
panel, and a moment later, a security officer strolled into the lobby.
"Hi,
Carl.  Could you please take Ms. Lane and Mr. Kent back to the kennels?"

"Thank you," Clark said, ever polite.

"Sure," the receptionist said absently, her gaze on his six-foot spouse,
adding, as they turned away, "Partner, huh?  Some girls get all the
luck."

*****

"'Weird story'?" Lois asked softly as they followed the portly security
officer to the back of the building.

Clark shrugged.  "I told her we were doing a series on lab animals:
where
they come from, how they're treated, what happens to them."

She rolled her eyes and elbowed him.  "Don't mention it to Perry or
he'll
give it to us on a slow news day."

He elbowed her back, grinning.  "Beats covering dog shows."

Ahead of them, Carl opened a door at the end of the hall and held the
door
as he gestured them into the kennel.  For the first time, Lois
remembered to
wait and let Clark enter in front of her.  "Couple of reporters to see
you,
Andy," the security man announced and closed the door behind them.

A tech in a light green lab coat was in back with two other men in
coveralls.  "Be right with you," he hollered over several dozen dogs
that
started barking at the unexpected visitors.  When he continued in a
quieter
voice, Lois could clearly hear him say, "You've got leashes and a cat
carrier, right?"

"Nick Trifyllis?" Clark said, and one of the men froze.  "We're Lane and
Kent, from the Daily Planet, and we need to talk to you."

The small, thin man in coveralls studied them, his eyes sharp and
penetrating.  "You're Lane and Kent?" he asked.

Lois moved to stand by Clark.  Driver's license photos rarely looked
like
the person, but still . . .  "Yes.  But you're not--are you Alex?"

"Where's Nick?" Clark added.

Lois didn't miss the swift flicker of Alex's eyes, and she faked a
cough,
bending down a little and covering her mouth with her fist as she
scanned
through the floors above, looking for Nick's lab.

"Nick?  Alex?  Who are you talking about?" the man countered.

The other man with him, a crew-cut blond who was as big as Lois, chimed
in,
"You must have the wrong people.  We're here to pick up some animals."

Clark glanced up at Lois, and she looked at him hard, then lifted her
gaze
upward without moving her head.  At his faint nod, she turned back to
the
men.  "Are you sure you aren't Alex?  You look like the picture of him."

Lois tried to listen for Alex's heartbeat, but she didn't have Clark's
knack
of sorting it out from other sounds.  Alex smiled a little.  "You know
how
pictures are.  Catch 'em at the right angle, and it could be anybody."

"O-o-o-kay," Lois said.  "Sorry to bother you.  We'll wait outside and
let
you get on with . . . whatever you're doing."  She took Clark by the
arm.
"C'mon."

Outside the kennel, with the door closed behind them, he asked, "Okay,
so
what'd you find?"

"Nick's in his lab."

"Does he have the facilitator?"

"I just took a quick look."  It had taken everything she had to see into
the
lab three floors above.

"Let's get him."  He clapped his hand on her shoulder, and she couldn't
hold
back a wince.  Shocked, he jerked back.  "What is it?"

"A scratch," she said, her hand cupped over her shoulder.

"Lemme see," he said, but she shook her head and turned away from him.
"Lo-is.  What happened?"

"A bullet graze at the bank holdup," she admitted.

His eyes were bleak; a muscle in his jaw flexed as he clenched his
teeth;
his breathing was uneven.  "Let's go get Nick and get changed back."

*****

Carl, the security officer, heard the side door open, and he turned down
the
hallway to see a smallish man with dark hair starting up the stairs.
"Sir!"
he called.  "Can I see some ID?"

The man turned around and started back toward him.  "Sure.  I've got my
badge in here somewhere."  He felt in his pockets while the security
officer
waited.  "Oh, here it is."

At his words, Carl looked down expectantly--and missed the swift
headbutt
that crumpled him to the floor.

The intruder looked down at the security man's larger form for a second,
then grabbed him by the heels and dragged him into the shadows under the
stairs.  He dug in his pocket and found a small tablet, which he placed
under his victim's tongue.  Emerging from under the stairs, he glanced
at
his watch.  He had thirty minutes.

*****

Nick Trifyllis continued to copy his research onto yet another zip disk.
Alex had said he could have fifteen minutes--no more--and it looked like
it
was going to take every minute of that.  He stared at the screen.  If
only
there was a way to get hold of some of the money Mr. Gendell had
promised
him.  He was going to have to start all over again, and if Alex was
right,
it couldn't even be in his own field, so he would need some money to get
started with.

"Dr. Trifyllis?"

Startled, he jumped.  He remembered that voice, and he slumped lower in
his
chair as he groped for the cognitive facilitator he had brought with
him.
He didn't trust locks--on cars or houses--any more, so it was never more
than a few feet away from him.

"It's Lois Lane and Clark Kent.  From the Daily Planet.  We need to talk
with you."

Daily Planet?  Was this a trick--or had he used his device on an
innocent
couple?  He peeked around his monitor, his facilitator held in front of
him
like a gun.  "What do you want?"

The woman continued, "We came to see you three days ago, and we were hit
by
some kind of ray that knocked us unconscious. . . .  Dr. Trifyllis,
please.
We need your help."

He remembered the dogs' and cat's misery, and there was something of
that
same distress in her voice.  He peeked around the monitor again.  The
couple
was standing at the door, holding hands.

Illogical though it might be, he couldn't imagine a pair of killers
holding
hands while they waited, and he emerged from behind the computer,
facilitator clutched to his chest.  "You aren't the people I saw leaving
my
brother's house."  It was a statement rather than a plea for assurance.

The man, big, athletic, shook his head.  "No.  We were covering the
murder
for our paper, and we came over to interview you."

"Oh god, I'm . . . sorry," Nick said.

"I'm not."

Three heads jerked toward the corner where a compact, dark-haired man
emerged from behind a file cabinet, a .357 pistol held in his fist as if
it
had grown there.

*****

Clark measured the distance from himself to the gun, calculating whether
he
could make it in a human-seeming leap, and just how he needed to grab
the
gunman's hand so a stray bullet wouldn't hit anyone else--

--when he suddenly realized that he not only didn't have super powers,
but
he didn't have a man's strength and reach.  And if he knew his wife, she
was
running the same calculations through her head--but she was no longer
invulnerable to bullets.  He clutched her hand.  "Don't," he muttered
under
his breath.

"Distract him," she whispered back.

"You'll get *hurt*."

She ignored that as completely as the gunman seemed to be ignoring them.
"You're the computer geek's brother.  I saw you driving to his house,"
he
said to Nick, the pistol unwavering in his hand.  "That must be the
machine
I've been looking for.  The one with the white rock?"

Nick seemed confused, his hands sliding over the facilitator as if he
were
assuring himself that it was still there.  "I'm sorry, what?  White
rock?
Yes, that's what's in this device."

The small, dark-haired man gestured with his free hand.  "Hand it over."

Clark exchanged one frantic glance with Lois.  They *couldn't* lose the
facilitator, not now.  She pantomimed her eyes rolling up into her head,
and
Clark took her hint and let himself fall to the floor in a graceless
heap.

The gunman jerked toward the sudden motion, the pistol switching
instantly
>from Nick's midsection to Lois's.  "What happened to her?"

"Low blood sugar," Lois said and squatted beside Clark's limp body,
forcing
herself not to flinch away from the weapon now aimed at her head.  She
looked over the top of her glasses at the pistol, a faint shimmer in the
air
the only sign that she was using her heat vision.  The metal of the gun
heated rapidly, and the gunman started to drop it, his finger clenching
on
the trigger when he let it go.

As if in slow motion, she saw the bullet begin to spiral through the
barrel
toward them, and she flung herself over Clark, wincing in anticipation
of
the pain just as a blaze of light caught them both.  Distantly she
thought
she heard a dog barking--

--and everything went black.

*****

CONCLUDED IN PART 6/6
sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 19:22:18 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam/
Subject:      NEW S6, Ep10--Mirror, Mirror 6/6
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

STORY TITLE:  Mirror, Mirror (Episode 10 of Season 6)
PART: 6 of 6
AUTHOR:  Sheila Harper
RATING:  PG
FEEDBACK: All feedback welcomed, on this list or privately.
DESCRIPTION:  Lois and Clark lost their chance of returning to normal
when Dr. Nick Trifyllis died.  Now Metropolis may lose Superman, too.

MIRROR, MIRROR
PART 6/6

Clark drifted toward consciousness.  At the feel of Lois's body under
his,
he frowned, wondering how he could have been so tired that he fell
asleep
without rolling off her first.  Then he realized that they were both
fully
dressed and his cheek was pressed against the floor, not a pillow, and
memory came flooding back.  The gun . . .

He jerked his head up and saw Lois lying beneath him--her dear,
beautiful
face; her slender, sexy body; her coffee-dark eyes opening and focusing
on
him--and he hugged her tight, his face buried in her dark cloud of hair.
"Oh, sweetheart, we're back," he whispered.

Her arms tightened around him.  "Are you okay?" she asked.  "The bullet
. . ."

"Missed me."

"I'm sorry," a man's hesitant voice interrupted.  "I was aiming at
him--"

The speaker broke off and took a step back as Clark shot to his feet and
turned to face him in one swift motion.  Belatedly, Clark realized that
his
expression had been threatening, and he forced himself to relax.  "Dr.
Trifyllis?  What about the man who shot at us?"

Nick nodded toward a couple of bodies lying on the floor nearby.

Eyebrows drawing together in a puzzled frown, Clark asked, "What
happened?"
He turned back and helped Lois to her feet.

"I--I was going to use the facilitator on him--to try to knock him
unconscious.  But he jerked away when he shot at you, and I got you two
instead.  So I tried again . . . only Lucky came in . . . and I got the
two
of them.  I just switched them back."

They stared down at the large mixed-breed dog and the unconscious man.
Clark jumped when he felt Lois's finger touch the bare skin of his side.
Her mouth close to his ear, she murmured, "The bullet didn't miss."

He looked down and saw her finger poking through a hole in his T-shirt.
Horrified, he met her gaze.  "If Nick hadn't missed and switched us . .
."

She gave him a crooked smile and suggested, "Maybe we should get this
gun-happy creep tied up before he wakes up."

*****

Clark was securing the gunman's feet with duct tape when Alex and his
large
friend burst into the lab.  "Nick!" Alex called.  "What's the hold up?"

"This guy--" he pointed to the man Clark was tying up-- "tried to steal
my
invention."

The burly blond pushed forward.  "I toldja they were fakes," he said to
Alex
as he reached down and grabbed Clark's shoulder.

"No, no, not *him*," Nick said as Clark got to his feet, shrugging off
the
other man's hand.  "The guy on the floor."

Alex stood back, trying to take in the situation.  "So now there's three
more people who know you didn't die in that car wreck."  He swore.
"You're
never gonna get those killers off your trail if everyone knows you're
still
alive."

Lucky was beginning to stir, and Nick squatted down to rub his ears.  "I
think that's one of them," he said, nodding toward their attacker.  "He
said
he saw me drive up to Chris's house."

Clark looked down at the gunman, then over at Nick.  "You thought I was
*this* little guy?"

Lois elbowed him.  "Put him in a suit and glasses . . . at a distance .
. .
walking with someone who looks like me . . . it could happen."  She bent
down and started searching for the man's wallet.

Alex scooped up the gun that the man had dropped.  "This is the guy that
killed Chris?"  He held the weapon in a hand that trembled, the muzzle
wavering toward Lois and Nick as much as the gunman.

Clark stepped between Alex and the others.  "Put the gun down,
Trifyllis."

"He killed my brother," Alex choked out.

"Nick *thinks* he did," Clark said softly.  "If he did, he'll pay for
it.
But are you gonna throw your life away on a guess?"

Alex hesitated.  "Get outta the way."

"If you kill him," Clark continued, "you'll never be able to prove who
sent
him--and you'll be letting the person who ordered your brother's death
go
free.  Is that what you want?"

Alex's face was tense and white, his eyes wide as he stared at the face
of
the man at his feet.  "No," he said at last.  His hand relaxed on the
gun,
and Clark grabbed it from him.

As calmly as if she hadn't had a gun pointed at her for the second time
that
evening, Lois held out a driver's license and an employee's ID card.
"Enrico O'Reilly," she said.  "He works for LexCorp."

*****

"Do you think that was wise?" Lois asked.  She and Clark were alone in
the
lab with O'Reilly tied at their feet while they waited for the police to
arrive.

"To let 'em go so Nick can still pretend to be dead?  I don't know."  It
was
Clark's turn to use the laptop to work on their stories.  They sat
side-by-side on the examination table, their arms touching lightly, the
underlying attraction between them sparking in the air like electricity.
"But I know I couldn't promise that I--or even Superman--could keep him
safe, so . . ."  He pointed the toe of his basketball shoe at their
prisoner.  "I hope this guy is too busy defending himself against a
murder
charge to remember that Nick was here."  He shrugged and pressed 'save'
as
he leaned over and nuzzled his wife's neck.  "I'm just glad that we're
back
to normal."

"Mm-*mmm*, me, too," she sighed.  "*And* that you got rid of that
Zigfield
rock-thing."

"The Zelig stone?  Yeah."  Nick had been reluctant to admit that
something
besides his invention had been responsible for the soul switching, but
he
finally gave in under the weight of Lois and Clark's questions.  After a
pointed reminder of what he had done to them, Nick had quickly given up
the
stone, and Clark had taken the first opportunity after the other men
left to
hurl the deadly thing into outer space.  "It won't bother us any more."

"Good.  I love you, Clark, but that doesn't mean I want to *be* you."
She
snuggled closer to him.  "Speaking of being back in our own bodies . . .
since Mother's set to watch Laura all night, how about we sneak off and
play
hooky after we file our stories?"

He grinned.  "Go to that deserted island in the South Pacific?"

"Oooh, I have some fond memories of the palm tree on the beach," she
whispered against his lips.  "You leaned me up against it, and--"

His eager kiss cut off her words, and one of his hands slid into her
hair,
cupping the back of her head.  "God, Lois," he murmured, breaking off
the
kiss and pressing his forehead to hers.  "We're never gonna get this
story
finished at this rate."

"We can't have that," she replied, but her hands were sliding over his
chest, teasing him.

On the floor, their prisoner began to squirm, drawing their attention.
"I
see he's decided to join the rest of the world," she continued.

Enrico's eyelids flew open.  His gaze fastened on their faces, and his
eyes
widened in a look of horror then slammed shut, and he whimpered.

Clark raised his eyebrows and looked at Lois.  "Maybe he *won't*
remember
Nick was here."

*****

Beth parked down the street from the rooming house and, sliding a
cassette
tape into her pocket, locked her sporty little car.  When she had seen
that
one of her bugs was picking up activity, she had bolted from the
penthouse,
risking a ticket as she sped across town to Nick Trifyllis's lab.  Even
so,
she had arrived just in time to see the surviving Trifyllis brothers get
into a van parked outside the lab complex.  Before she could hail them,
the
van had roared into the street, leaving her no choice but to follow as
best
as she could.

She rubbed her damp palms against her slacks as she walked down the
street.
After Owen Preece's refusal, she couldn't afford to fail again.  Once
people
knew that she was recruiting a team to work against Lex, *he* would know
it,
too.

The desk clerk just stared at her when she asked about her three
"friends,"
so she used her snooping device to listen at each door until she heard
someone say, "Nick" and "Alex."  She slipped her tiny cassette tape into
the
personal recorder, thumbed up the volume, and rang the doorbell.  Inside
the
room, she could hear a low-voiced, "Get outta sight," and a confused
scrambling sound.

After a moment, a big, blond man who looked like a construction worker
opened the door.  "Yeah?"

"I'm Beth Luthor, and I have a proposition for your friends.  I want
their
help to get the man who had their brother killed."  She flicked the
"play"
button and Enrico O'Reilly's voice rang into the empty-appearing room:
"One
curious computer geek out of the way."

Nick and Alex Trifyllis emerged from an alcove, and she stopped the
recording.  "Interested?" she asked.

*****

"I just missed Preece at work, Mr. Luthor, but he hasn't come home yet
either," Lindy Barrows said into her cell phone.

"Hold a moment," Lex told her, muting the line as he switched to the
incoming call.

"Mr. Luthor?"  The president of the Lexor Industrial Bank didn't have to
identify himself.

"Michael, what can I do for you?" Lex said, leaning back in his chair
and
drawing on his cigar.

"Mr. Luthor, we've had some kind of computer glitch . . . and $300,000
was
mistakenly transferred from the LexCorp account to . . .  Well, we're
not
exactly certain *where*."

Lex sat up.  "A third of a million dollars vanishes, and you don't know
*where*?"

"Not exactly.  However, Owen Preece came in today and withdrew exactly
$300,000 in cash from his personal account."

The bank president continued speaking, but Lex had quit listening.  If
anyone could arrange such a glitch, it was Preece:  he had the access
codes
and the knowledge, and if he was using cash, he would be nearly
impossible
to trace.  "I'll call you back," he said and switched back to Lindy
Barrows.
"Our bird has flown," he said.  "Start looking for how he got out of the
city."

Another incoming call flashed, and Lex switched to that line.  "Yes?" he
snapped.

By the time he hung up, his fury had been replaced by a satisfied smirk.
His dream of taking over Clark Kent's body and powers may have burned up
in
a ravine in upstate New York, but the new weapon was functional, and
there
was a certain seductive appeal to killing that super thorn-in-his-side
instead.

*****

Blissfully content, Lois snuggled into her husband's arms, rubbing her
cheek
against the solid curve of his chest and looking up at the dusting of
stars
in the southern sky.  A dozen yards away, the waves whispered onto the
beach.  "This is so much better," she sighed.

"Sand and all?" he asked, amusement in his voice.  His hand strayed down
her
bare back to her waist, and he brushed a kiss across the top of her
head.

"Yes--anything.  It doesn't matter.  I'm just glad we're back to normal.
You handling the flight plans . . ."

"*You* giving Laura the house special *and* dealing with your mother
when we
stopped by . . ." he put in.

Lois grinned at Clark's teasing reference to breastfeeding, but she
rolled
her eyes at the mention of her mother.  Dealing with Ellen Lane was one
of
those tasks she would as soon let Clark keep.  "Perry sure was happy
when we
dropped by the Planet to file our stories, wasn't he?"

Laughter rumbled in his chest under her ear.  "He was muttering
something
about radio ads and fireworks, I think."

"I heard 'Kerth' come up a few times while he was reading the plane
sabotage
story."  Her smile faded, and she lifted her head to look at her
husband's
face.  "But, Clark, what was he doing at the Planet that late at night?
I
thought he was going to cut back so he and Alice could spend more time
together."

He shook his head.  "He was.  He did.  But something must've come up.
Maybe
Alice went to visit the boys, and he's at loose ends without her.  Or
maybe
he fell back into his old habits after that terrorist-hostage situation
at
the Lexor last month when he was sleeping at the Planet during the
crisis,
and he just hasn't stopped to realize what he's doing again."

She laid her head back on his chest.  "I used to think that all people
had
to do was see what they *should* do and decide to do it and that was it.
Never have to deal with that problem again.  But the older I get, the
more I
realize that we just fight the same battles over and over."

His arms tightened around her.  "That's because the battlefield keeps
changing.  You win the fight in one area, and then things change, and
you
gotta figure out how to make it work in different circumstances."

Lois was silent for a long moment, listening to the surge of the waves
and
to the steady thump of her husband's heart.  "That's how it was with me
being jealous of Superman," she said at last.

"What?  How could you be--?"  He stopped, biting back his question, then
rephrased it.  "What were you jealous of?"

"At first?"  He nodded, and she continued, "Being left behind.  Missing
out
on the action."  She rolled on top of his warm, solid body and crossed
her
arms on his chest, resting her chin on the back of her hands so she
could
see his face.  "I killed that dragon a long time ago . . . I thought.
Until
the last few weeks."

"When Superman's been so busy," he said softly.

"Yeah.  It seemed like you were always taking off to do something brave
or
important and I was stuck at home washing spit-up rags or wiping baby
food
off the high chair or changing diapers.  I thought . . . you were
escaping
>from the ordinary, boring routine, and I was jealous."

"Honey--" he began, but she put a finger on his lips to shush him.

"Let me finish," she said.  "Except . . . these past few days I realized
*again*--" she half-smiled-- "that being Superman also tears you away
from
things you want to do.  Being with Laura and me.  Doing the ordinary
things
that--that connect you to everyone else on this planet.  All those
things
you wanted when you created Superman.  And besides," she added in a low
voice, "you don't feel very brave or heroic when you carry a dead baby
out
to its parents."

"Sweetheart," Clark whispered and gathered her close in his arms.  "I
wish
you didn't have to go through that.  You didn't even get to talk to me
about
it afterwards."

"No."  She sniffled and shook her head.  "I started to--and then someone
called for Superman, and I had to go--like you've had to do a thousand
times.  I know it doesn't change anything, Clark.  We'll be in the
middle of
an important conversation or fixing dinner together, and you'll still
have
to go.  But I can't imagine being jealous of it any more."  She managed
a
watery laugh.  "Besides, I *hated* always having to play catch up at the
Planet."

He lifted her up to kiss her, offering love and acceptance and comfort
in
his touch.  "I learned a few things, too," he said, "about making you
raise
Laura alone when I'm gone so much as Superman."

"Oh, Clark, I'm sorry," Lois said, shame-faced.  "I shouldn't have said
that."

"No, honey, I'm glad you did.  I needed to hear it--even if I did end up
getting a first-hand look at what you were talking about."

He was silent for a moment, his warm brown eyes searching her face.
"When I
take care of Laura by myself, I use super speed to do a lot of chores or
heat vision to warm her bottle--"  At her expression, he broke off what
he
was saying, and a faint smile pulled at one corner of his mouth.  "I
know.
No more folding laundry or putting groceries away at super speed in
front of
her."  He sighed and then resumed what he had been saying.  "Anyway . .
. I
hardly ever get tired, either, so I didn't realize how hard it is for
you to
juggle so many things when I'm off being Superman . . . or how tiring it
is."

She smiled.  "I've gotten pretty good at it, but it's nice having you
recognize the effort."

"Yeah, but I think I can do more than just acknowledge it."

Lois lifted her eyebrows, waiting, and Clark continued, "I'm gonna start
fixing extra meals on my days off.  Stuff that can be stuck in the
freezer,
so all you have to do is pop it in the microwave and heat it up.  And if
Laura and I do the grocery shopping on the day I watch her each week,
you
won't have to run to the store after work as much."

She looked at him in surprise.  "You've really been thinking about
this."

He nodded and brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek.  "And it's
ridiculous for you to get stuck cleaning house if some emergency calls
me
away.  Even with the townhouse and a nine-month-old in daycare, we make
enough money to afford to have someone come in once a week to clean the
downstairs and the bathrooms."

She was already shaking her head.  "We can't do that, Clark.  We can't
risk
having a stranger coming into our house.  What if she saw something?
What
if she found the secret closet with your spare suits?"

"I can lock the secret closet.  That's not a problem.  And if the house
cleaners come by when Laura and I go to the store, what're they gonna
see?"

"I don't know."  He seemed to have thought it through, but the whole
idea
still seemed too risky.  "Let me think about that one, okay?"

"Okay." He cupped her jaw with one large hand, his thumb caressing her
cheek, his eyes dark and serious.  "Honey, I love you.  I don't ever
want
you to feel like you're getting 'stuck' with something in our marriage."

Lois smiled and stroked the dark hair away from his forehead.  "I love
you,
Clark Kent."  She kissed him, slow and sweet, but when she lifted her
head,
her grin was impish.  "But I hope you aren't too literal about my *not*
getting stuck with things."

"Why's that?" he asked.

"Because I've gotten used to being stuck with you."

Clark laughed against her mouth and rolled them over so she sprawled on
the
sand under him.  "Well . . . that's okay."

"Good.  So let's take advantage of my mother being stuck babysitting."
She
pressed her hips against his, and he sighed with pleasure.

"Maybe we should let someone know we're gonna be late for work."  His
last
word trailed off as Lois traced the edge of his ear with her tongue.

She laughed softly.  "What d'you think I was doing at my computer while
you
were filing our stories?"

*****

Under the graphic of a door knob with a "do-not-disturb" sign hanging
from
it was a short message:  "All work and no play makes Lois and Clark a
very
dull couple.  It doesn't do much for a marriage, either.  So we're
playing
hooky this morning.  See you after one."

Perry White read the message on his computer screen and started to
laugh,
but something stopped him.  He stared at the words thoughtfully, then
reached for the phone.  "Hi, Alice.  I'm takin' off early this afternoon
. .
. Yeah, about five . . . Wear somethin'--sexy . . ."

FADE TO BLACK

THE END

sharper@cncc.cc.co.us
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 18:10:07 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfic Awards
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

--- Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET> wrote:
> Piper asked:
> > So what is the plan for these awards?
>
> That's what we're trying to figure out, Piper :-)  I
> don't think
> anyone's officially in charge, yet, we're just
> throwing ideas around.
> It ought to be someone who's very widely read in the
> genre, which leaves
> me out :-)

(big snip)

> So, anyone interested (in coordinating)?  The hardest part is
> collecting nominations, from
> what I've heard from Erin and Leanne, since the
> field is wide open --
> and people send in nominations along the lines of
> "the one where they go
> on their honeymoon, by whatsherface," which could
> describe any number of
> stories ;-)  Oh, and even before that you have to
> have categories
> defined -- you can use the previous Kerth categories
> as a starting
> point, but that list may need tweaked to fit the
> field.  (Are there any
> "next-generation" nfics??)  Sandy?  Debby?  Anyone?
> Anyone? <g>  I'd be
> glad to help out as a technical advisor of sorts,
> since I've been
> involved in the two previous Kerth processes, but I
> am not that widely
> read in nfic, so I'm not qualified to judge which
> story goes in what
> category.

I can't believe I'm volunteering to do this, but I would be willing to
help - the word "help" is underlined here, people - coordinate this.
But I really would not have my feelings hurt if anyone else were more
interested in helping. (Trust me on this one!)  I would like to suggest
to Erin and Leanne that they please sign on as  technical advisers
however. Their experience would be invaluable.

Irene
sirenegold@yahoo.com

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 21:10:53 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kate Kent <KateKent@AOL.COM>
Subject:      FoLCing it, My mini-fest in NYC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hey FoLCs-

Well, now that I'm finally done with my first year at University maybe I'll
get to post more.  I do miss chatting with FoLCs *me gives you all a HUGE
huggles*  but alas, I think a college education will do me well in the end.
Sure all my role models never finished school and if my screenplay is
optioned...OK, well I'd still finish college...eventually *wink wink* I know
I know, my entire family is rolling over in their grave.  Yikes!  OK, can we
say tangent <g>
        Anywho, today I had the opportunity to meet up with a FoLC in NYC.
I've always had such positive experiences with FoLCs that I jumped on the
opportunity when fellow FoLC Carolyn offered a trip out in the city to
exchange a comic book I was selling.  So I thought I'd just post our little
story.  I'm sure Carolyn will post her version but as Lois says "There are
no
new stories, only new angles" anyway.  So, you'll get to read it from both
our perspectives.  Since that is what the list posts are all about, getting
different angles to the same 88 eps.  God bless nit picking.  Anywho, I am
Kate, and this is my story:

I met Carolyn at the Tramway in New York City on this Sunday afternoon.
Despite being a diehard jeans fan, I decided to go all out and where a skirt
(I know, those of you who know me your jaws are dropping.  I've become very
grown up my first year of college *takes a small curtsey*  We of course did
something very typical of New York gals, we ate and shopped.  I am very
proud
to say that when we went to the WB store after a nice dinner at California
Pizza Kitchen (yes, they have one in NYC)  I didn't buy a thing.  I'm very
controlled these days.  See, I'm getting old you know.  I'll be 19 on wed.
HA!  I'm growing up *sigh*  We also got the pleasure of the Puerto Rican Day
parade while we shopped (Borequa!!  no, I'm not Spanish, I'm Jewish, but I
went to school in Brooklyn so I inherited some Spanish spirit)  Carolyn was
very nice to me and bought me a S-man keychain to replace the one I
mentioned
loosing a few weeks ago, thanks hon *smooch*  Then after that we went to
barnes and noble for some starbucks.  Yes, we are soo cliche and we love it!
After discovering we are both big sci fi buffs, we headed upstairs to the
sci
fi section.  Again, I showed incredible restraint, I know, I'm fabulous.
Anywho, we were heading for the checkout and past the journals.  I was just
saying how I always write in composition notebooks when I spot the CUTEST
journal with yiddish words printed all over it.  I was like, WOW!  So I
scooped it up and bought it.  Then we walked towards uptown and back to the
tram.  All and all, we ended the day deciding to get together again.  We
also
had sore throats from talking sooo much.  We're both chatterboxes, which
incidently in my book is a high compliment.  I Love to talk!!  Anywho, my
mom
is insisting to use the phone so I gotta go.  A special shout out to Carolyn
for a lovely day.  My message to all you FoLCs, KEEP ON FESTING!!! Ok, TTFN

Love
Kate aka KatieBugz
Formerly Lois_Lane on IRC
- - - - - - -- -
"I seem like I got it all figured out, but believe me, I screw up plenty" -
Fran Drescher
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 01:05:53 -0500
Reply-To:     mfwillia@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "M.F. & J.B. Williams" <mfwillia@FLASH.NET>
Organization: The Skywatcher
Subject:      REMOVE
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Please REMOVE me from the LOISCLA list server
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 07:46:07 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yconnell@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 4, Introduction
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Dear Clark,

Being blessed with a computer with a very slow processor speed, I was
luckily able to read your warning message before shutting down the
document.  I was also able to read some of the text of the document -
enough to make me realise that you wrote the encryption progam yourself.
I'm surprised, knowing what a fair-minded fellow you are, that you have
written the program so that people with faster computers have less time to
shut down before damage starts to be done than those of us with slow
computers.  Surely you could make a calculation based on their processor
speed so that xx (the time in seconds before the virus activates) could be
constant?

BTW, don't bother asking me where I obtained a copy of your journal,
because I won't reveal my sources - I think you can respect that as a
journalist.  Suffice to say, those of us in our group are your friends.

Best of luck tracking down Lois Lane,

A Friend.

----------
> From: Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
> To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
> Subject: My Journal, Day 4, Introduction
> Date: Sunday, June 13, 1999 3:42 PM
>
> TITLE: My Journal
>           Day 4, Friday, May 6
>           AUTHOR Debby Stark, Debby@swcp.com
>           RATING PG-13
>           FEEDBACK Comments welcome in all forums
>           No Editing please (though you can fix typos)
>
>           Also available as Word97 .doc and .RTF on my site,
>                     ftp://ftp.swcp.com/pub/users/dstark/Stories/MyJournal
>
>        SUMMARY  Read Days 1, 2, 3 and 3 Amendment before Day 4. Clark
Kent's
> adventures in Metropolis continue.  There will be no attachments to this
> installment. Next time, yes :)
>
> Debby
> Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 09:18:24 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Phillip Atcliffe <Phillip.Atcliffe@UWE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: The Universal Union  Part 4 of 4
In-Reply-To:  <199906101447_MC2-78FA-43C@compuserve.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Jenni,

Nice story! I hope you're planning on a long series, because there's a
_lot_ of ways that you could take this, both on Krypton and on Earth.
And I always enjoy seeing Luthor getting clobbered. <g>

One very minor nit-pick:

> The journey had lasted longer than Lois had supposed and yet when
she considered the many thousands of miles she had been told they would
travel before reaching their destination, the odyssey took no time at
all. [...] <

"Thousands of _miles_" won't get you to Mars, much less Krypton "on the
other side of the galaxy." Make that "...the tens of thousands of
light-years she had been told..."

Like I said, a minor point, but also one that emphasises Lois'
isolation.

BTW, why am I ever so slightly wary of Kal-El's other bodyguard? Ching,
no problem, but whatisname...? Call me paranoid, but I wonder....

Astronomical Phil
------------------------------------------------------------
"Sic Transit Gloria Barramundi"
   (Or, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!)
   -- not Douglas Adams, but me: Phil Atcliffe
                         (Phillip.Atcliffe@uwe.ac.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 1999 18:49:52 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Nfanfiction (was Re: fanfic recommendations)
In-Reply-To:  <006401beb53c$db042620$629501d4@default>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 02:08 AM 06/13/1999 +0100, Lab wrote:
>>For those of you who enjoy nfic - and are of the required age to
appreciate
>>it - may I recommend a story which just hit my mailbox this morning from
>>Debby's mailing list. "What If I Never Left Krypton' is by an entirely new
>>writer, D. Field and, incredibly, this is her first posted fic.

That story is now available through the list.

>Quite a few FoLCs have mailed me to ask where to get this one. For anyone
>unaware, to sign up to Debby's mailing list simply mail her at
>debby@swcp.com with your request to join. Include an age statement and a
>declaration that you will not distribute stories received to a third party
>without the writer's prior permission. You can then get WIINLK - and other
>previous nfic stored in the archives - from Joyce Fitch.

But DO NOT WRITE TO JOYCE to join. She'll just tell you to write to me. I'm
the
buffer here :) She does a *tremendous* job and I don't want her to worry
about
processing members, too.

Also, when you write, be sure to state that you understand the nature of the
stories, that they are sexually graphic (not kid stuff) (or stuff for
Congressmen, for that matter)

Again, DO NOT BUG Joyce - bug me. If you bug Joyce, you'll get in big
trouble
with me and you won't get any stories.  :)

Debby
Debby@swcp.com

heard on KFI radio
         "Life explained here.
          Your life may vary."
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 06:15:31 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Nfanfiction (was Re: fanfic recommendations)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

 At 02:08 AM 06/13/1999 +0100, Lab wrote:
 >>For those of you who enjoy nfic - and are of the
> required age to appreciate
 >>it - may I recommend a story which just hit my
> mailbox this morning from
 >>Debby's mailing list. "What If I Never Left
> Krypton' is by an entirely new
 >>writer, D. Field and, incredibly, this is her
> first posted fic.

Just let me add my two cents here.  When I received the first draft of
this story after volunteering to edit, I thought 'Oh no!  It's a New
Krypton story' - not my most favourite genre.  Those stories have to be
handled extremely well for me to enjoy them.  Let me tell you, Dawn did
a wonderful job with this story and I'm already waiting (im)patiently
for the next one in the series.

So, if you're on Debby's list, and you received this story and placed
it at the bottom of your to-be-read pile, move this one to the top of
the pile immediately.  You don't want to miss it.

And Dawn, please keep writing. I can't wait for the next one.

All the best,
Irene
sirenegold@yahoo.com
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 14:49:35 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
Subject:      Re: What If I Never Left Krypton
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Irene wrote:

>And Dawn, please keep writing. I can't wait for the next one.
>

And more tuppence worth from me. <g> I'd urge everyone who has read WIINLK
and enjoyed it to please take the time to write Dawn and tell her so. (I'm
not certain that she is on this list, although I could, of course, be wrong
there.) Her eddress is on the story. New talent like this needs to be
encouraged and Dawn definitely deserves the praise.

LabRat :)
Doc. Klein's LabRat
labrat@ukf.net

"What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I
definitely overpaid for my carpet." -- Woody Allen, Without Feathers, 1976.

"I won't eat anything that has intelligent life but I would gladly eat a
network executive or politician." - Marty Feldman.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 10:15:14 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         adena <adena@MAILCITY.COM>
Organization: MailCity  (http://www.mailcity.lycos.com:80)
Subject:      Remove
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Please REMOVE me from the LOISCLA list server.
---
adena

Get your FREE Email at http://mailcity.lycos.com
Get your PERSONALIZED START PAGE at http://my.lycos.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 15:16:36 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Carolyn Schnall <cschnall@MAIL.MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: FoLCing it, My mini-fest in NYC
In-Reply-To:  <2b65c137.2495b09d@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Kate and FoLCs:

Just wanted to agree with everything Kate wrote here, and to say we had a
blast!!!!

I was the spendthrift at WB and at B&N since I found a ton of Sman stuff
(mostly t-shirts, a new pen, a notebook, a crew hat) at WB and several
books, one of them recommended by Kate, at B&N.  Smooch back:)

We also saw at B&N, a $65 dollar box set of the very first Sman comic and a
figurine that comes with it!  Neither of us bought it (hoping for a sale
price, personally)!

This was my first fest (not counting people in my life who were L&C fans
before I was!) and we had a total ball.  We covered a ton of territory both
geographically and L&C-wise.  What a kick to be able to do this person to
person.  Kate, you totally impressed me and I am looking forward to doing
this again!

I think there are other NYC FoLCs out there, so maybe it will be a larger
mini-fest next time!

So, Happy Birthday Kate!!!!

Thanks,
Carolyn
cschnall@mail.med.cornell.edu

>Hey FoLCs-
>
>Well, now that I'm finally done with my first year at University maybe I'll
>get to post more.  I do miss chatting with FoLCs *me gives you all a HUGE
>huggles*  but alas, I think a college education will do me well in the end.
>Sure all my role models never finished school and if my screenplay is
>optioned...OK, well I'd still finish college...eventually *wink wink* I
know
>I know, my entire family is rolling over in their grave.  Yikes!  OK, can
we
>say tangent <g>
>        Anywho, today I had the opportunity to meet up with a FoLC in NYC.
>I've always had such positive experiences with FoLCs that I jumped on the
>opportunity when fellow FoLC Carolyn offered a trip out in the city to
>exchange a comic book I was selling.  So I thought I'd just post our little
>story.  I'm sure Carolyn will post her version but as Lois says "There are
no
>new stories, only new angles" anyway.  So, you'll get to read it from both
>our perspectives.  Since that is what the list posts are all about, getting
>different angles to the same 88 eps.  God bless nit picking.  Anywho, I am
>Kate, and this is my story:
>
>I met Carolyn at the Tramway in New York City on this Sunday afternoon.
>Despite being a diehard jeans fan, I decided to go all out and where a
skirt
>(I know, those of you who know me your jaws are dropping.  I've become very
>grown up my first year of college *takes a small curtsey*  We of course did
>something very typical of New York gals, we ate and shopped.  I am very
proud
>to say that when we went to the WB store after a nice dinner at California
>Pizza Kitchen (yes, they have one in NYC)  I didn't buy a thing.  I'm very
>controlled these days.  See, I'm getting old you know.  I'll be 19 on wed.
>HA!  I'm growing up *sigh*  We also got the pleasure of the Puerto Rican
Day
>parade while we shopped (Borequa!!  no, I'm not Spanish, I'm Jewish, but I
>went to school in Brooklyn so I inherited some Spanish spirit)  Carolyn was
>very nice to me and bought me a S-man keychain to replace the one I
mentioned
>loosing a few weeks ago, thanks hon *smooch*  Then after that we went to
>barnes and noble for some starbucks.  Yes, we are soo cliche and we love
it!
>After discovering we are both big sci fi buffs, we headed upstairs to the
sci
>fi section.  Again, I showed incredible restraint, I know, I'm fabulous.
>Anywho, we were heading for the checkout and past the journals.  I was just
>saying how I always write in composition notebooks when I spot the CUTEST
>journal with yiddish words printed all over it.  I was like, WOW!  So I
>scooped it up and bought it.  Then we walked towards uptown and back to the
>tram.  All and all, we ended the day deciding to get together again.  We
also
>had sore throats from talking sooo much.  We're both chatterboxes, which
>incidently in my book is a high compliment.  I Love to talk!!  Anywho, my
mom
>is insisting to use the phone so I gotta go.  A special shout out to
Carolyn
>for a lovely day.  My message to all you FoLCs, KEEP ON FESTING!!! Ok, TTFN
>
>Love
>Kate aka KatieBugz
>Formerly Lois_Lane on IRC
>- - - - - - -- -
>"I seem like I got it all figured out, but believe me, I screw up plenty" -
>Fran Drescher
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 16:28:54 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Erin H <ErinFoLC@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FoLCing it, My mini-fest in NYC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi!
  You guys are so lucky..i have never met a FoLC where I live..it is very
depressing at times!! No one understands my obsession..people call me "The
Superman freak"..and I'm proud to be called that! Anyway. I live in NJ..and
i
can see NYC from where i live. I absolutely adore NYC..so if you guys wanna
hook up and have another mini-fest, i'm all for it!! Any other NYC/NJ FoLC's
out there??
                                                Peace, and happy FoLCing!
                Erin~Jean

<< Hi Kate and FoLCs:

 Just wanted to agree with everything Kate wrote here, and to say we had a
 blast!!!!

 I was the spendthrift at WB and at B&N since I found a ton of Sman stuff
 (mostly t-shirts, a new pen, a notebook, a crew hat) at WB and several
 books, one of them recommended by Kate, at B&N.  Smooch back:)

 We also saw at B&N, a $65 dollar box set of the very first Sman comic and a
 figurine that comes with it!  Neither of us bought it (hoping for a sale
 price, personally)!

 This was my first fest (not counting people in my life who were L&C fans
 before I was!) and we had a total ball.  We covered a ton of territory both
 geographically and L&C-wise.  What a kick to be able to do this person to
 person.  Kate, you totally impressed me and I am looking forward to doing
 this again!

 I think there are other NYC FoLCs out there, so maybe it will be a larger
 mini-fest next time!

 So, Happy Birthday Kate!!!!

 Thanks,
 Carolyn
 cschnall@mail.med.cornell.edu

  >>
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 15:55:41 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Mandy Crustner <mandyc@LCC.NET>
Subject:      Bobby Bigmouth
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hiya! :)  I need to know how do Lois and Clark usually get in contact with
Bobby?  Is there some number they call, or do they put word out on the
street, or what?  Was this ever dealt with in the series?  I know one time
we see Bobby on a pay phone talking to Lois and then one time he's in some
sort of soup kitchen, but how do they usually find him?  Any help would be
greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

Mandy (aka Moonlight on IRC)
mandyc@lcc.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 23:30:05 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         =?iso-8859-1?Q?D=E9bora_BOBO?= <d.bobo@WANADOO.FR>
Subject:      Michigan State
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Hello !
I'm going to leave in East Lansing,Michigan State soon and I want to =
know if there was someone on the list who lived in Michigan and could =
give me some information.
=20
Please e-mail me.
d.bobo@wanadoo.fr

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<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
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</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Hello !</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I'm going to leave in East =
Lansing,Michigan=20
State soon and I want to know if there was someone on the list who lived =
in=20
Michigan and could give me some information.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Please e-mail me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"mailto:d.bobo@wanadoo.fr">d.bobo@wanadoo.fr</A></FONT></DIV></BOD=
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=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 18:20:10 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Liz A." <SilvrBrwne@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FoLCing it, My mini-fest in NYC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi Erin :)

>  can see NYC from where i live. I absolutely adore NYC..so if you guys
wanna
>  hook up and have another mini-fest, i'm all for it!! Any other NYC/NJ
FoLC's
>  out there??

/me raises hand <g>  I live about 15 min by train from the city.  I
absolutely love the city, especially the WB store <eg>  I should be going
back this weekend to get the silver S-sign watch that they had, I love it.
The one thing I wanted the most was the standing superman, lol, it wasn't
that expensive either; but if I would have bought it, my mom would have
killed me and I was also taking the bus home, so that wouldn't have worked,
lol.  I can picture it: the little old lady standing because I had to sit
with Supes, lol <g> ;)

SilvrBrwne@aol.com
Liz :)
ICQ# 23588950
SuprBrwne on IRC
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 19:03:02 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Rich & Dawn <rfield@ROANOKE.INFI.NET>
Subject:      Re: fanfic recommendations
MIME-Version: 1.0
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> Date:    Sat, 12 Jun 1999 19:42:40 +0100
> From:    LabRat <labrat@UKF.NET>
> Subject: Re: fanfic recommendations
>
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
>
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
>
> For those of you who enjoy nfic - and are of the required age to
appreciate
> it - may I recommend a story which just hit my mailbox this morning from
> Debby's mailing list. "What If I Never Left Krypton' is by an entirely new
> writer, D. Field and, incredibly, this is her first posted fic.

I want to thank LabRat and others who have written me about my story.  I
really appreciate all of the comments and positive feedback I've gotten.
And a special thanks to LabRat for recommending it!

> The subject of what may have happened to Lois and Clark's relationship if
> Clark had been raised on Krypton has been covered before, but I have to
say
> that this is the best take on the subject I've read so far.  The prose is
> crisp and at times quite poetic, the dialogue sharp, witty, and easy to
> read, the characters real and the story exciting and I found myself
> constantly having to guard against the temptation to skim ahead to find
out
> what happened next. Waffy moments abound.
>
> I was delighted to discover when I finished that the writer plans this one
> as part one of a trilogy. At times, especially as she has seeded in the
odd
> line of dialogue from the show throughout but with a different spin on
them
> to suit the particular situation, I was reminded of Chris Mulder's Meet Me
> In Kansas City. For me, this story held the same air of magic.

Well, that's my intention, but right now I am at a loss for words :)  I was
very nervous about sending the story out, and really didn't know what to
expect.  I was hoping for a couple of "nice story", and since I got those
>from my editors (thanks again, Irene & Carolyn!) I figured that was it :)
And to have Chris' MMIKC mentioned, I'm stunned.  Thanks again, LabRat.  I
consider this quite high praise coming from one of the great ones!

> What more could you want? Oh, yeah....the nfic bits are pretty hot too.
> <vbg>
>
> LabRat :)
> Doc. Klein's LabRat
> labrat@ukf.net

Thank you!!
Dawn
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 19:13:20 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby <Debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: My Journal, Day 4, Introduction
In-Reply-To:  <199906140711.IAA03454@radius.connectfree.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 07:46 AM 06/14/1999 +0100, Yvonne (my sister-in-law is named Yvonne :)
wrote:
>S
>P
>O
>I
>L
>E
>R
>
>S
>P
>A
>C
>E
>
>Dear Clark,
>
>Being blessed with a computer with a very slow processor speed, I was
>luckily able to read your warning message before shutting down the
>document.  I was also able to read some of the text of the document -
>enough to make me realise that you wrote the encryption progam yourself.

CK thinks: Godzilla's working - already taking "r"s on a random basis...

>I'm surprised, knowing what a fair-minded fellow you are, that you have
>written the program so that people with faster computers have less time to
>shut down before damage starts to be done than those of us with slow
>computers.

CK thinks: au contraire. mystery writer must be using a Packard-Bell...

>Surely you could make a calculation based on their processor
>speed so that xx (the time in seconds before the virus activates) could be
>constant?

CK thinks: mystery writer's Packard-Bell must be a 486... too bad:  bye-bye
come y2k...

>BTW, don't bother asking me where I obtained a copy of your journal,
>because I won't reveal my sources - I think you can respect that as a
>journalist. Suffice to say, those of us in our group are your friends.

CK thinks: next mystery writer will claim "This is who we are." Open the pod
bay door, HAL... gosh I miss Millennium; season two was terrific...

>Best of luck tracking down Lois Lane,

CK thinks: clue after clue... none of them adding up. I'll ask Mom and Dad
what
they think about it tonight...
>
>A Friend.

ck thinks: I hope so! I need all the friends I can get. Maybe I can
interview
mystery writer sometime

CK
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 22:31:04 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kate Kent <KateKent@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FoLCing it,
              My mini-fest in NYC Special ATTN: ERINFOLC and Silvrbrwne
(Liz)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hey all y'all, I am always open for a fest.  Hey Erin, if you live a long
the
path train, we could make it happen!  Festin' it Metro/NYC Style all the
way!
 As for Liz, babe, we need to get together.  A year ago I tried to organize
NYFF, New York FoLC Fest and was unable to do it because I was too busy
graduating HS.  How about we make my dreams a reality.  They don't call me
DreamKate for nuttin.  This is a shoutout to all FoLCs in the Tri-state
area.
 I'd like to play a trip to Great Adventure...um, it's somewhere in NJ.  All
I know is that there is a bus from port authority in Manhattan.  Also, coke
has a special deal for 2 for one tickets when you go on a weekday.  Anyone
who's interested in having fun with FoLCs please respond.  There's nothing
better than a fest to boost a summer.  Great Adventure isn't set in stone,
just an idea and a fun place to go.  Let your voices be heard, post your
thoughts :)

-Kate
aka KatieBugz
formerly Lois_Lane on IRC
- - - -
"Honey, you don't need to loose weight to impress a guy, that's what control
top is for" - Fran Drescher