From:  "L-Soft list server at Indiana University (1.8d)" <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
To:    "ARTF@MemoryAlpha.nil"
File:  "LOISCLA-GENERAL-L
LOG0108A"

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Date:         Tue, 31 Jul 2001 10:36:23 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Vicki Krell <Vicki.Krell@ASU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: How did you become a FOLC??
MIME-version: 1.0

-----Original Message-----
From: Pam Jernigan [mailto:jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET]
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 9:42 AM
To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: Re: How did you become a FOLC??
<Pam said"
Okay, Crystal convinced me to weigh in on this one :)>

And me!

I've watched L&C regularly from the pilot episode. I was excited to watch
it, as was my husband, since we've always been Superman fans, and I LOVED
the movies with Chris Reeve. Okay, I loved 1 & 2, and won't comment on 3 &
4! :)

I was excited that they had hired Teri Hatcher to play Lois since I had seen
her in other things and thought she was a great choice. But I had definite
reservations about Dean at first, for a variety of reasons. I didn't even
think, initially, that he was good looking enough to PLAY Superman (notice
at this point I was more fixated on the Superman side, rather than Clark;
maybe because up until L&C came out, the emphasis in other shows and movies
[and of course in comic books] was on Superman rather than Clark), however,
Dean's appeal grew apparent to me very quickly. <vbg>

I was a very devoted watcher (and still watch every morning while getting
ready for work), even when I HATED the ARGH, and disliked intensely some of
the season 3, and quite a few of the season 4 episodes. I was involved,
mostly in lurk mode, on a newsgroup for L&C which I kind of stumbled upon
during season 3, but didn't discover Zoom's boards or the archive until the
show was cancelled. I was so excited to find the archive that I couldn't
stop reading. I was like a kid who had just taken out a stack of great new
books from the library and couldn't decide which one to read first!  After
mastering the archive, I found Zoom's message boards, and learned how to
participate, which I enjoyed and continue to enjoy immensely. I eventually
downloaded mIRC so I could see what this IRC was that so many participants
spoke so often of, and as Crystal said (I think it was Crystal!), it was
like meeting old friends to be able to talk in real time to the many
wonderful writers and readers whose names I had seen so many times. I hope
one day to actually get to LAFF and meet in person many of these warm,
funny, intelligent, talented people. :)

Oh yeah, I'm 43, and live now in Phoenix. My twin sister in Chicago has
always been a FoLC too; she just doesn't know it since she doesn't have a
computer. <g>

Vicki
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 07:14:58 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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In a message dated 7/31/2001 6:33:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
no1supermom@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

<<
 Big ideas for Smallville?
 If you were a staff writer for upcoming show Smallville, what plots would
 you develop for the man of steel? Tell us!
  >>

Okay... totally out of the loop.

What is Smallville?

When is it on?  What is it about?

No, I don't watch enough TV that I picked this info up on my own, nor has
anyone brought it up when I'm around.  I've been to the message boards, the
the only ones I usually see are the fanfic and nFic boards... goodness, I
really am out of the loop :/

-Crys-
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 07:35:48 EDT
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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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just a quick comment...

I did NOT put that in huge bold letters... ever :/  What's with this
newsgroup and it's odd workings with the posts :P~  *I* thought I was rude,
and I *know* I didn't do that!

Sorry...

I'll never understand the workings of the computer :(

-Crys-
(who typed this in nice Ariel 10 font, just like before, and hopes it gets
to
the list in the same fashion)
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 06:18:12 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby <dls@THUNTEK.NET>
Subject:      Re: question (again)
In-Reply-To:  <F98az7EjQxzmWecm9t0000082ef@hotmail.com>
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At 07:05 PM 07/31/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>Hello everyone I have a few more questions!! Sorry--what is  IRC??
>Which episode was it that Lois said, "Chumpy?"
>
>Thanks!
>april

Wasn't it Honeymoon in Metropolis? They were playing Scrabble, if I recall
correctly.

Debby
huitzilin
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 10:27:05 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Marilyn L. Puett" <no1supermom@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer

http://www.thewb.com/fallseason2001/smallville/

"Smallville" is a new tv series that I believe debuts next month.  It's on
the WB channel and will be on Tuesday nights.  The link above will tell you
more about it.  Basically, it's about a teenage Clark Kent.
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 12:09:13 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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Random thought -

Wells could show up with Superman from the future - an older, wiser 30
something Superman who could help young Clark through a rough time or two
- couple times a season, couple times a show - whatever!  Wonder who they
could find to play the older Supes?  Hmmm....

Just an idea!*BG*

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 14:27:54 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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Carol speculated:
>>
Random thought -

Wells could show up with Superman from the future - an older, wiser 30
something Superman who could help young Clark through a rough time or two
- couple times a season, couple times a show - whatever!  Wonder who they
could find to play the older Supes?  Hmmm....

Just an idea!*BG*
<<

Or, even better, this older Supes (played by a mystery actor <g>) could show
up, extending helpful advice, explaining how he's been time-travelling in
order to help history, and he knows this is a crucial time in young Clark's
life, etc, etc, etc... and then turn out to be either a) working under false
pretenses, so someone's using him to undermine his younger self or b)
testing the younger Clark, trying to steer him wrong in some subtle way to
teach him a lesson ...

Mysterious visitors from the future should not always be trusted <g>

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 21:50:26 +0200
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Who to trust, was Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
In-Reply-To:  <002e01c11ab7$aec88a00$21a0d6d1@oemcomputer>
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Pam wrote:

>Mysterious visitors from the future should not always be trusted <g>

Nor should self-satisfied complacent visitors from the past. ;p

Hazel, who can never resist a dig at Herb
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:42:28 -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"
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From:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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> Carol speculated:
> >>
> Random thought -
>
> Wells could show up with Superman from the future - an older, wiser 30
> something Superman who could help young Clark through a rough time or
two
> - couple times a season, couple times a show - whatever!  Wonder who
they
> could find to play the older Supes?  Hmmm....

> Just an idea!*BG*

And Pam went on...
>
> Or, even better, this older Supes (played by a mystery actor <g>) could
show
> up, extending helpful advice, explaining how he's been time-travelling
in
> order to help history, and he knows this is a crucial time in young
Clark's
> life, etc, etc, etc... and then turn out to be either a) working under
false
> pretenses, so someone's using him to undermine his younger self or b)
> testing the younger Clark, trying to steer him wrong in some subtle way
to
> teach him a lesson ...
>
> Mysterious visitors from the future should not always be trusted <g>

Of course - they are really being manipulated by someone from even
farther off in the future - Well, duh!  Who else could it be?!

*BG*

CM (who thinks we should really be writing for this show!  We could do
some *great* stuff!!)
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:14:16 -0700
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:         JaT <mr_d8a@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Fan Fic Question
In-Reply-To:  <20010801.134614.-165839.7.cmoncado@juno.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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What is the name of the Metropolis Football team?
james

=====
For the time will come when [people] will not put up with sound [teaching].
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will
turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-4

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
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Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:36:42 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Nancy Smith <deimos1@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fan Fic Question
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I think it was the Metropolis Tigers.  At least I seem to remember that
being mentioned in Super Mann.

Nan

JaT wrote:

> What is the name of the Metropolis Football team?
> james
>
> =====
> For the time will come when [people] will not put up with sound
[teaching].  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around
them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
> 2 Timothy 4:3-4
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:42:09 -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"
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From:         JaT <mr_d8a@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fan Fic Question
In-Reply-To:  <3B68685A.65682303@earthlink.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Thanks Agent Nan.
James
--- Nancy Smith <deimos1@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:
> I think it was the Metropolis Tigers.  At least
> I seem to remember that being mentioned in
> Super Mann.
>
> Nan
>
> JaT wrote:
>
> > What is the name of the Metropolis Football
> team?
> > james
> >
> > =====
> > For the time will come when [people] will not
> put up with sound [teaching].  Instead, to suit
> their own desires, they will gather around them
> a great number of teachers to say what their
> itching ears want to hear.  They will turn
> their ears away from the truth and turn aside
> to myths.
> > 2 Timothy 4:3-4
> >
> >
>
__________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Make international calls for as low as
> $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> > http://phonecard.yahoo.com/

=====
For the time will come when [people] will not put up with sound [teaching].
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will
turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-4

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 17:32:36 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Alexis W." <LoisLane9397@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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Whoever said they were out of the loop and didn't know what "Smallville" is,
don't feel bad.   Dean Cain was asked during a recent interview about that
show and he called, "Superman at 17"!  LOL! ;)

Alexis ;-.)
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 22:38:05 +0000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Bethy Em <jextra42@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: And By The Way... (2/2)
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Thanks Nic, Crystal and Carol for your comments.

Nic, I liked Jimmy's message, too.  It's not that way in the song, but we
just had a prank war with my cousins and so pranks were on my mind.  :)

Crystal and Carol -- Sorry, no more details on the reconciliation.
Basically, they kiss and make up.  That good enough for you?  <innocent
look>  Actually, never having experienced one, I'm not so good at writing
kisses.  So I don't!  :-P

Thanks again for you comments.

Bethy

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 22:41:45 +0000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Bethy Em <jextra42@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      NEW: Alien Gift (6/?)
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Okay, Carol, here's more.  <g>  Let me know what you think of what she says,
okay?  <eg>

Comments welcome publicly or in private at bethyem@yahoo.com

Part Six:

Elsha could tell that they were feeling nervous even before Lois and Clark
entered the room.  She wanted to probe into their minds to get an idea of
what they wanted to talk about, because it was obvious to her that that was
their reason for coming up.  And it was obvious that it was
something...serious.  But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to
enter either of their minds without permission.  She couldn't articulate
*why,* but she knew that it was wrong, that it was an invasion.  She would
have to evaluate that feeling later, but now Clark was starting to speak.

"I'm going to do this out loud, Elsha, so that Lois can hear, okay?"  She
nodded.  "And I understand if you don't want to speak verbally, but you need
to project your answers to both me and Lois, so that she's not left out,
okay?"  She nodded again, more cautiously this time.  It looked like this
was even more serious than she thought.

"Okay."  He took a deep breath.  "We need to know about you, Elsha.  Where
you came from, who abused you, how you got here, things like that.  We are
willing to help you, to try and get you back to your home, but we can't do
that without your help."  His thoughts were gentle, and she could feel his
concern radiating from his mind.

{Okay.} she answered, puzzled as to why they were so anxious.  Questions
weren't that big of a deal, were they?  And why *wouldn't* she want to help?
  {What do you want to know?}

"Well, first of all, where are you from?"

{Home.}

"Home?"  She felt their confusion; it almost seemed like they thought she
was playing around.

{Home.  There is no other name for it.}

"Is that the planet's name?  Or the country?  Or the city?  Or what?"

Now she felt frustrated.  It was Home.  That was it.  No fancy distinctions,
no nitpicky clarifications, just *Home.*  She tried to communicate that to
them, but they just weren't getting it.

Her frustration showed, and Clark moved on to the next question.  "Okay.  Do
you know why you were dumped here?  And who dropped you off?  Were they the
same people who beat you up?"

Well, that was an easy question.  {Yes, it was the same people.  They
kidnapped me.}  That much she *knew.*  But as to why...she felt like she
should know, but somehow didn't.  She remembered them taunting her, but
couldn't remember the taunts themselves.  She tried to think back, to the
actual painful event, but found she couldn't.  All she found in her mind was
a large, dark void.  It was as if everything had disappeared.  She
frantically searched, trying to remember something, anything!

But all she found was blackness.  Even the faces of her captors were fading;
whereas earlier she *knew* she had seen their faces, though their eyes were
obscured, now she only saw hazy shapes.  And Home, such a vivid picture
earlier, had completely disappeared.  What was happening?  Where was her
past?  Where was *She*?

Her thoughts clawing at each other, she frantically searched her mind.

{I can't remember!  I can't remember *anything.*}  She pleaded with them.
{Help me!  I can't remember!}

"I knew this was a bad idea," Lois whispered, and some corner of Elsha's
mind noted the self-directed anger behind the statement.  "I *knew* it."

*       *       *

"Clark, I've had some encounters with amnesiacs before.  I've *had* amnesia
before.  We need to find out the extent of the loss."  Lois didn't care what
they'd previously decided, she was taking over.

"Okay, I'm going to ask you some questions.  Answer as best you can, but if
you don't know, it's okay to say so.  All right?"

Elsha nodded, fear in her eyes, begging Lois to do something to help her.

"What is your name?"

{Elsha.}

"Is that it?  No last name?  Middle name?"

Elsha shook her head with a confused expression on her face.

"Okay.  How old are you?"

{21 ekahsklim.}

*Great.  Who knows what that is in Earth years.*  "When's your birthday?"

{Eklebre--I don't know.}  Elsha's breathing quickened, and Lois knew she had
to calm her down before she hyperventilated.

"Hey, calm down," she soothed.  "It's all right to say you don't know,
remember?  No problem."

{Okay.}  Her body shuddered once more, but then remained fairly calm.

"Do you know who your parents are?"

Lois could tell Elsha was thinking hard -- despite her assurances that it
was okay not to know, the prospect of not knowing must still be hard.

{I-I don't know.}

"What's two plus two?"

{Four.}

"How about seven times eight?"

{Fifty-six.}

"Okay, math skills are fine.  You got that one before me!"  Lois grinned,
trying to lighten the mood.  "Hmm...history won't work, neither will
spelling, really.  Clark, any ideas here?"

"What's your favorite color?"

She sent a picture of a deep blue, with a hint of purple in it.

"Okay, how about favorite food?"

Instantly both Lois and Clark 'saw' an image in their minds -- of a small,
dark sweet.  And the taste that came with it felt suspiciously like
chocolate.

{Kettra.  My mom won't let me have too much of it, but it's the best.}

Lois grinned.  "I think you and I are going to get along just fine."

"Well, Elsha," Clark spoke up again, "I'd say you've retained your
personality, and the memories associated with that, but you've lost other
aspects of your past, family, etc.  But you did remember something about
your mom when you thought of...kettra, was it?  So I'd say that's a positive
sign.  Lois, you agree?"

Lois nodded and a mischievous expression appeared.  "In celebration of that
discovery, how about we expose you to *our* version of kettra?  I assure
you, you'll love it."

And on that positive note, the interview was over.  They could deal with
adoption issues later.

*       *       *

"Amnesia.  Amnesia!  I can't believe it!"  Lois slammed a cupboard door and
then glanced up at the ceiling as though she could tell if she had disturbed
Elsha.  She grimaced and resumed her search through the kitchen for
chocolate.  Clark was still upstairs chatting with Elsha while Lois got the
job of finding chocolate.  Not that she minded, of course.  She'd take just
about any excuse for chocolate she could get.

And right now, she needed some.  She had been ready to burst with curiosity,
but forced herself to wait, knowing that Elsha needed time to sleep and heal
more than Lois needed answers...well, that and there was the fact that Clark
refused to let her wake Elsha up.

Where was that chocolate?  She couldn't believe they were out.  No, that was
just impossible.  She opened a drawer to find a screwdriver, a tape
dispenser and a few loose screws.  No chocolate.

She couldn't help but wonder if Elsha would have remembered more if they had
talked to her earlier.  What-if worry coiled in her stomach like a bite of
rotten food.  She squelched the idea in order to rid herself of the
sensation.  It didn't work.  She told herself that it wouldn't have
mattered, that the memory loss had to be connected to the attack, so even if
she had remembered previously, bringing it up in their questioning session
would have triggered the amnesia anyway.  But there was still that lingering
question.

Aha!  How ironic, a Clark bar.  Buried under trail mix, granola bars, and
crackers.  Boring stuff.  She smiled triumphantly.  She *knew* they could
never be without chocolate.

Now if only the problem of Elsha's memory loss were so easily solved.  What
if she never remembered anything?  Though Lois had already formed an
attachment to the girl, she wasn't sure if she was capable of being a
full-time mother, to an alien with no memory, to boot.

Aside from her own worries, she remembered what it was like when she had
amnesia.  When she was Wanda Detroit, she had a nagging feeling that
something was missing, or out of place, but she never could quite place it.
But after she remembered that she was Lois Lane, but couldn't remember
anything else about her life...That was one of the worst periods in her
life.  Not knowing who she was, where she came from, what she liked,
dislike, understood or loved.  The black hole that used to be her memory had
terrified her.  What else was she but a product of the events in her
memories?  Without them, what was she?  Who was she?  Was she even really
herself without her past?

She admitted to herself that Elsha was still a child, didn't have as many
memories to lose, but still, studies had shown that the beginning years were
some of the most important in forming a child's personality.  What if the
loss of those memories had robbed Elsha of a part of herself?  The way Lois
had felt she was robbed for that painful, albeit relatively short, time?

On the other hand, the fact that Elsha remembered something about her mother
when she remembered kettra was a good sign.  Maybe more familiar references
would work to bring forth the memories buried in her consciousness.  And
with every new memory, more tangential ones would surface, too.

They just had to hope.  And wait.  And right now, Lois couldn't afford to
even let these thoughts remain at the surface.  In a minute, she was going
to go upstairs to deliver the precious chocolate, and she didn't want Elsha
to even feel the residue of her inner turmoil.  The poor girl had enough on
her mind, she didn't need to feel like the only people of power in her life
were floundering, too.

With that resolve, she started singing an old Elvis song to fill up her mind
as she headed up the stairs.

*       *       *

Friday evening, Superman hovered high in the clouds, a small, pale figure in
his arms.  After the chocolate Sunday evening, neither Lois nor Clark had
wanted to broach the adoption issue and possibly upset Elsha more, so they
spent the short time that she was awake chatting about miscellaneous 'light'
issues.

She tired quickly and soon went back to sleep.  The entire week was spent in
a similar pattern -- Elsha would wake for a short time, then need more
sleep.  Monday afternoon, they decided it was time to bring up adoption.
Surprisingly, Elsha was very receptive to the idea.  Since she had little to
no memory of "Home," it did make some sense that she would want to stay with
the Lanes, one of the few familiar things in her short memory.

Her adjustment was smooth and she quickly adapted to thinking of them as
family.  Clark remembered the first time she'd called Lois "Momma" --
something that quickly became habit, along with "Daddy" for Clark.  They had
been playing Monopoly, trying to show her some of the tenets of popular
Earth culture.  She'd had particular difficulty with the concept of
bankruptcy and jail.  Her world obviously used a different system then the
capitalistic American one, but she couldn't remember anything about it.
Remembering her frustration at not being able to remember, he was glad they
hadn't pushed her.  Other memories had come on their own, without any
bidding, so both he and Lois felt that it would be best to let her natural
healing processes take charge.

The "Momma" incident hadn't brought up any new memories, but it had made for
an amusing new one.  Elsha had just landed on Boardwalk -- owned and heavily
developed by Lois.  Lois had started gloating, saying, "I'm gonna clean you
out, girl, just you wait and see!"  She wiggled her shoulders and waggled
her eyebrows, sending Elsha into a fit of laughter.

"Stop it, Momma!  Play nice!"

Clark had almost laughed out loud at the stunned expression on Lois's face.
Elsha had already called him Daddy, which he loved from the first time it
came out of her mouth, and he had figured that she would come up with a name
for Lois soon.  He just hadn't figured on Lois's reaction.  Pure shock.
Mixed with a little terror.  He knew Lois was afraid she wouldn't be a good
mother, and this probably brought all those insecurities rushing to the
surface.

Elsha grew silent, gazing up at Lois, wide-eyed.  Clark wanted to reassure
her, let her know that it wasn't a problem, that it wasn't her fault, but
didn't feel it was his place.  His desire to laugh disappeared and he
glanced over to Lois.  She seemed to be replaying the sound of it in her
head, at least if the movement of her lips was any indication.

She peeked at her property card and then looked at Elsha, completely
straight-faced.  "Don't think you can sweet talk me, young lady.  You still
owe me $1700.  So pay up."

Both grinned and the tension was broken.  Lois later confessed to Clark her
slight distate for the name, having always used Mom or Mother with her own,
but its appeal soon grew on her.  After all, this was something new,
something associated only with her and Elsha, with no association to her
relationship with Ellen Lane.

A slight movement in his arms brought Clark back to the present.  A second
later, though, reassured that Elsha was still sleeping peacefully, he let
his mind wander again.

They decided to finish out their week's vacation at the farmhouse; if more
time was necessary before returning to Metropolis, Lois was sure she could
get the time off.  If not, she could commute by "Superman Express" while
Clark continued his own writing in Smallville.

All in all, they were happy with how things were progressing.  Bernie had
had to leave for his convention, but promised that the new gravity machine
would be his first priority as soon as he returned.  In the meantime,
Superman 'visited' often for Elsha's stints in the upper atmosphere, careful
to avoid any actions that could give his secret identity away to the young
girl.  Tonight was one such time.

He floated gently above the clouds, content in the silence.  She looked like
she was going to sleep the whole time today, anyway.  Sometimes she slept,
sometimes they talked, sometimes they sang, and sometimes he told her
various stories -- truth and fiction.  She still had a little trouble
expressing her thoughts verbally in English, but she had improved vastly.
It helped hearing Lois and Clark speak.  That way she could hear
pronunciation and inflection, instead of just the meanings that she got in
her head.

He was so proud of her.  And he loved her so much; he found it hard to
believe that he'd only known her for less than a week.  The future posed
such possibilities, it was impossible not to hope.  Sure, they still had
questions, and there would be problems, but they would face them when they
arrived.  For now...  For now, he was content.

Elsha slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him.  He could lose himself in
those eyes.  Especially when she smiled.  He loved her smile.  He loved her.
  Being a parent brought out a whole new side of him that he never even
imagined could exist.  Content wasn't the right word.  Right now, he was
more than content.  He was joyful.

"Sleep well?"

"Yeah."  Her voice was so soft and delicate, just like her.  He loved
listening to it.  And she picked up slang easily enough!  Maybe that should
give him and Lois a hint about their speaking habits...

She rubbed her eyes with her fists, despite the annoying cast on one wrist,
and yawned.  It didn't look like she was going to fully wake up this time.
She was almost back asleep already.  She mumbled as she drifted off again,
"I love you, Daddy."

He dropped her.

He immediately flew down and caught her, no harm done.  Except maybe to
their respective hearts -- he'd bet they each managed to shave a few years
off the other's life.

"I'm so sorry, Elsha."  He had to physically restrain himself from babbling.
  In the process, unfortunately, he ended up gripping Elsha too tightly.

"Ow!" she exclaimed.  He loosened his grip and she giggled.

"I'm sorry, honest I am, it's just that you look so funny!"

"Thanks," he answered dryly, then did a mental double take.  "What exactly
did you just call me a second ago?"

Her eyes widened.  "Oops.  I'm sorry.  I know it was a secret, but I forgot.
   I didn't mean to say anything.  You're not mad, are you?"  Fear shone in
her eyes, and he wondered if she thought that they would use this as grounds
to abandon her.

"No, honey, just very surprised.  I didn't think you knew.  Um...so, how
exactly did you know?"  His mind was going crazy, and he felt like every
reporter's instinct had fled.  But he did remember enough to ask that one
important question.

"Oh, it was easy.  I didn't even know you were supposed to be two people at
first.  I just thought maybe the flying and stuff came along with the suit.
Like a package deal.  Then I noticed that Momma was always careful to call
you Superman when you were in the suit, and tried to act like you were
somebody else.  And..."  She looked away, the picture of a guilty child,
caught in the act.  "I wasn't trying to pry, honest!  But I could feel
it...in your head, I mean, that you were worried about me making the
connection between the two of you.  So, I decided not to let you know I
knew.  Although how you expected me *not* to know, I don't know.  Your mind
is the same whether you're you or him."

He grinned and instantly she relaxed.  She must have been too busy jabbering
to realize that he wasn't upset at all.

"It's no big deal, Elsha.  We weren't sure if you'd be able to tell if
we...I was the same person, so we thought it best to keep up the charade.
Nobody except Lois, and now you, knows that I'm Superman.  And we weren't
sure how to explain it to you, yet.  You do understand that this has to be
kept a secret?"  He tried to look stern, but knew she'd see right through
him.  However, some of his deep-rooted fears must have come through, because
she nodded seriously.  "You can't ever call me Daddy when I'm in this suit,
even when we're alone.  It would be too easy to get into the habit and then
slip up in public.  Okay?"

"Okay.  I promise."

"Good.  Now, we've been up here long enough, I think.  What do you say we
head home and have some ice cream?"

No answer was necessary.  Her {YES!} reverberated in his head as he laughed
and began their descent.

*       *       *

TBC

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Aug 2001 19:03:33 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Alien Gift (6/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
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On Wed, 1 Aug 2001 22:41:45 +0000 Bethy Em <jextra42@HOTMAIL.COM> writes:
> Okay, Carol, here's more.  <g>  Let me know what you think of what
> she says,
> okay?  <eg>

I think it was wonderful!  Bit of a shock - but not really - I was
wondering if he was the same in his head too!

Loved momma and daddy!

More soon!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 10:05:47 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Valley of the Shadow, 7/?
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Comments appreciated!

CM

*****

>From part 6

Clark turned to leave, but came back to look Luthor directly in the eye.
"Oh, and one more thing, stay away from Lois Lane-Kent."

"I don't believe I know a Lois Lane-Kent.  Now Lois Lane, I know.  She
seems to need someone since her husband abandoned her after she spent so
much time and energy trying to rescue him from the fiends who held him
captive.  If she needs me, I will be there for her."  Lex knew the
cutting words would find their way back to Clark.

Superman gave Luthor his best menacing look and rose a few feet above the
balcony railing.  "Stay away from her, Luthor."  He turned to fly off,
but remembering his first conversation with Luthor on this very balcony,
he turned back and called, "if you ever need to find me, ...all you have
to do is look up." With that he soared off to find a place to be alone
with his thoughts.

*****

Part 7

Two days later, Lois struggled against the chains that held her in place.
 It had been a week and she still hadn't seen her husband.  Regardless,
she was determined to find out who was behind his kidnapping.  She had
returned to the warehouse only to be instantly captured by another thug.
This particular thug wasn't one of the ones who had participated in
Clark's kidnapping.  They were all still in jail and would be for a long
time to come.  She probably should have stayed home, but even though she
didn't want to work, she couldn't just sit around and do nothing either.
So she had started snooping.

Lois reflected on what she would have done if this had happened even a
week or so earlier.  She grudgingly admitted that she wouldn't have been
there.  Clark and Perry wouldn't have let her out of their sight and
Jimmy helped them keep tabs on her so she wouldn't get herself into this
kind of situation.  But so much had changed.

The baby, the reason for her to be so careful, was gone and was never
coming back.  She was filled with an intense emptiness and longing that
didn't seem to be going away anytime soon.  She had cried herself to
sleep each night and was finally to the point where she didn't think
there were any tears left, but they always came.  Always.  She missed
Clark something awful as well.  She couldn't begin to comprehend what
made him decide to ignore her - to want nothing to do with her.  He had
promised her on so many occasions that their marriage would be nothing
like her parents.  He swore he would be there for her, no matter what
happened.  They would always be together.  It didn't mean things would be
easy - they both knew that - but they would always have each other.
Always.

Until now.  When she needed him most.

Two weeks ago, she just would have called out 'Help! Superman!' and he
would have been there in a flash - faster than a speeding bullet.  He
would have swept her up in his arms and they would have flown away
together.  He would have set her down gently, rounded up the offending
humans and then come back to her as Clark.  Later, he would have
admonished her as Clark, telling her to be more careful and she would
have promised to listen to his advice and to be more careful after all.
And then they would have kissed.  Those amazing kisses.

But now she really didn't want to call him at all.  She was the only one,
besides his parents, of course, who knew that Superman was really Clark
and if she called for Superman, she'd have to deal with her husband and
that was something she really didn't want to do.  If she did, she would
have a hard time stopping herself from throwing her arms around his
spandex clad body and holding him as though she'd never let go.  And then
the tears would come and then, more than likely, he'd push her away and
fly off like there had never been anything between them.

She couldn't take that kind of rejection.  She was resourceful - she
could get out of this herself.  She knew she could.  She had gotten out
of bigger jams than this before she ever met Clark and she could continue
to do so now that he was...  Now that he was...

Lois sighed and deliberately pushed Clark out of her mind as she
continued to struggle against the chains. Finally, she did the only thing
she could do.

"HELP! SUPERMAN!"

*****

Clark's head popped up.  He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Within seconds, he was launching himself off of the roof in the direction
of Lois' cry.  He couldn't imagine what she could have been doing to need
his help.  He was sure from her emails that she was staying home to
"recuperate", and that she wouldn't have anything to do with him,
superhero or otherwise.

He swept through the building, tying up the perpetrators as he went and
landed next to Lois.  He quickly broke the chains and removed them from
around her.

He felt awkward, something new in front of his wife, but he couldn't just
take off.  Finally he said, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."  Lois stood and moved in assorted ways to make sure all of
her limbs were working up to snuff.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Good."

They stood there in an awkward silence for a few minutes.  Finally, Clark
broke it.  "Can I take you somewhere?"

"No.  My jeep is right outside."

"Right."

Clark turned to exit the building, knowing he wouldn't actually leave the
area without knowing Lois was safe.

"Clark?"

He turned back, a hopeful look on his face.  "Yes, Lois?"  He started to
reach towards her, but stopped as he realized she wouldn't even look at
him.

She stared at the ground, knowing that if she looked him in the eye, it
was all over.  She'd break down completely and she couldn't let herself
do that.  "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"Okay."

"But, please, be careful."

"Right, Clark."  She turned and walked out of the warehouse.

Clark followed slowly, his eyes downcast, his cape drooping and his heart
breaking.

*****

"LOIS!  Lex is here."

"Thanks, Mom.  I'll be right there."

Lois looked nervously in the mirror.  The black dress was new, as were
the shoes.  The whole ensemble was a gift from Lex.  She wasn't sure what
had possessed her to accept his gifts and agree to dinner with him after
she found out that her mother couldn't join them, but she had and she
wouldn't go back on her word.

Clark wouldn't be pleased if he knew that she was having dinner alone
with Lex.  She knew that Lex hated Superman and really wasn't very fond
of Clark, either.  Clark had good reason to think that Luthor was up to
no good, but Lois didn't care.  Clark hadn't been there for her for over
a week and she didn't really care what he thought anymore anyway.
Especially after he had rescued her a couple of days earlier.  He didn't
even mention the baby or anything.  He had to be the coldest, most
callous man alive to not notice this was eating her up.

She felt like this was a date, even though it clearly was not.  He had
asked Ellen and Lois out to dinner and Ellen had agreed for them.  At the
last minute, she remembered a previous engagement and would not be
joining them.  So it really wasn't a date, just two people going out for
dinner after the third party cancelled.  She wasn't pleased with her
mother for canceling so late.  Late enough that she couldn't call Lex and
cancel herself.  And yet, a tiny part of her, somewhere inside was really
looking forward to an evening alone with Metropolis' most powerful man.
Well, human man, anyway.

She took one last long look in the mirror and a deep breath before
heading out to meet Lex.

*****

Lex walked toward her with open arms.  "Lois.  You look lovely."

Lois accepted the slight embrace and the kiss on the cheek.  "Thank you
for the wonderful gifts, Lex."

"It was nothing.  Nothing but the best for you, my dear.  The dress and
such was flown in from Paris this morning."

"You really didn't need to do that, Lex."

"I wanted to.  Nothing is too good for my Lois."

Something way deep down inside of Lois rebelled at the possessive
reference, but something stronger squashed it down even farther.

"There's some more of that chocolate cake you love in the kitchen, Lois."
 Her mother had watched the exchange with interest, noticing with an
internal smile that Lois was started to accept Lex's advances.

"Thank you, Lex."

"Shall we, my dear?"  He offered her his arm and they made their way out
of the apartment.

*****

"Hey, CK.  How ya doin'?"  Jimmy sat down in the guest chair next to
Clark's desk.

"I'm fine, Jimmy."  Clark didn't look up from the story he was writing.

Jimmy rolled his eyes.  "Don't lie to me, Clark.  Everyone knows you're
not okay."  He looked around the virtually deserted newsroom.  "You can
talk to me.  You know that, right?"

Clark sighed and nodded.  "I know and I appreciate everything you've done
for me this past week and a half, Jimmy.  You and Lucy both.  It's been
hard enough, but without you two and Perry I don't know what I would have
done."  Perry, Jimmy and Lucy had done their best to keep his mind off of
Lois and the baby.  They hadn't succeeded very well, but they had tried
valiantly and he appreciated it.

"No problem, CK.  It's the least we can do."  Jimmy sat there in silence
for a moment.  "Look, I've got tickets for the Comets game tonight.
They're playing the Cubs.  You want to come?"

Clark stared at the pencil he was twirling in his hands.  "No thanks,
Jimmy.  I'm not up for a baseball game tonight."

"Come on, Clark.  You need to get out of here and at least try to have
some fun."

Clark sighed.  "Okay.  Let's go.  I could use a Big Kahuna anyway."

"Chocolate chip cookies with ice cream in the middle?"  Jimmy grinned.
"Sounds good to me!"

***

Who else will be at the baseball game?  Guesses?  Not who you might
expect!
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:41:22 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Here we go:

Could Clark solder lead with his heat vision?

We know he can't see through it, and we know it protects him from =
kryptonite...

And if he can't solder it, presumably he could fuse it together with his =
bare hands?

What do you think?

(remember when you hit reply that it tends to come back to me instead of =
to the list - so check the reply address!)

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:51:32 -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>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
MIME-Version: 1.0
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I would assume he could solder, bend, do whatever with lead just fine.  It
doesn't take his powers away, just doesn't let him see through.  Nobody else
who solders lead can see through it either ;)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 14:28:10 -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:         Betty Cheng <bcheng@SFU.CA>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
In-Reply-To:  <000a01c11b93$c577f4c0$497086d9@91bb00j>
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In Peace's story "When the World Shatters" (I think), Clark couldn't rescue
Lois because his heat vision doesn't work on lead.  I don't know if this
idea is from Peace, some other fanfics, the show or the comics.  But if
Clark can't burn through the lead with his heat vision, he can rub his hands
on the lead fast enough to make it melt, thus soldering it, I think.  Is
that what you meant by "with his bare hands", Yvonne?  I don't think he can
solder metal by squeezing it though, no matter how strong he is, because
there will always be little holes left.  He would need to liquify the metal
somehow to fill in the holes.

Just my 2 cents,
Simba

-----Original Message-----
From: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic
[mailto:LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU]On Behalf Of Yvonne
Connell
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 1:41 PM
To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead

Here we go:

Could Clark solder lead with his heat vision?

We know he can't see through it, and we know it protects him from
kryptonite...

And if he can't solder it, presumably he could fuse it together with his
bare hands?

What do you think?

(remember when you hit reply that it tends to come back to me instead of to
the list - so check the reply address!)

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:20:25 +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"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Nicola Baker <nicola@NJBAKER.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 15
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Excellent, as usual.  Good thing it's Friday tomorrow, I want to know what
Nigel is planning (though, I have a few ideas, none of which are
particularly pleasant).

Nic

PS - Nice signature.  Can I borrow the time machine?  I could go forward to
a point where you've finished the story.  <eg>
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:29:32 +0100
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:         Nicola Baker <nicola@NJBAKER.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Alien Gift (6/?)
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> Although how you expected me *not* to know, I don't know.  Your mind
> is the same whether you're you or him."

Heh.  Not as daft as she's pudding-looking. <g>

Nic
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 17:41:22 -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"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
In-Reply-To:  <NFBBJPBFINGIONEOMGMDMEFDCAAA.bcheng@sfu.ca>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>In Peace's story "When the World Shatters" (I think), Clark couldn't rescue
>Lois because his heat vision doesn't work on lead.  I don't know if this
>idea is from Peace, some other fanfics, the show or the comics.  But if
>Clark can't burn through the lead with his heat vision, he can rub his
hands
>on the lead fast enough to make it melt, thus soldering it, I think.  Is
>that what you meant by "with his bare hands", Yvonne?  I don't think he can
>solder metal by squeezing it though, no matter how strong he is, because
>there will always be little holes left.  He would need to liquify the metal
>somehow to fill in the holes.
>
>Just my 2 cents,
>Simba

Actually, Simba, my understanding of what Peace was saying was that
Clark didn't dare try to melt through the lead restraints because he
couldn't SEE where her hands and feet were, and thus was afraid of
injuring her.  I don't think she meant to imply that he couldn't burn
through the lead but rather that he chose not to under the
circumstances.
I'm with Pam on this one.  I would assume he would have no problem
melting lead as long as there wasn't something on the other side of
it that he was afraid would be damaged in the process.
Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 18:11:29 -0700
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:         Nancy Smith <deimos1@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
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I don't see why he couldn't solder lead with his heat vision.  Lead is soft,
and
that's actually what solder is made of.  Anyway, heat is heat, whether it
comes
from a soldering iron or Superman's eyes.  Either way, it would melt lead.

Nan

Terry S. Horowit wrote:

> >In Peace's story "When the World Shatters" (I think), Clark couldn't
rescue
> >Lois because his heat vision doesn't work on lead.  I don't know if this
> >idea is from Peace, some other fanfics, the show or the comics.  But if
> >Clark can't burn through the lead with his heat vision, he can rub his
hands
> >on the lead fast enough to make it melt, thus soldering it, I think.  Is
> >that what you meant by "with his bare hands", Yvonne?  I don't think he
can
> >solder metal by squeezing it though, no matter how strong he is, because
> >there will always be little holes left.  He would need to liquify the
metal
> >somehow to fill in the holes.
> >
> >Just my 2 cents,
> >Simba
>
> Actually, Simba, my understanding of what Peace was saying was that
> Clark didn't dare try to melt through the lead restraints because he
> couldn't SEE where her hands and feet were, and thus was afraid of
> injuring her.  I don't think she meant to imply that he couldn't burn
> through the lead but rather that he chose not to under the
> circumstances.
> I'm with Pam on this one.  I would assume he would have no problem
> melting lead as long as there wasn't something on the other side of
> it that he was afraid would be damaged in the process.
> Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:10:10 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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In a message dated 8/1/01 1:17:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cmoncado@JUNO.COM
writes:

<< Random thought -

 Wells could show up with Superman from the future - an older, wiser 30
 something Superman who could help young Clark through a rough time or two
 - couple times a season, couple times a show - whatever!  Wonder who they
 could find to play the older Supes?  Hmmm....

 Just an idea!*BG*

 CM
  >>

Wonder if Dean Cain would be willing to reprise the role for that ep?

Personally I'd love to see Clark handle a first love/crush along with the
Superpowers.  It wouldn't last(I know who he's really meant for)!  But I'd
like to see him falling in love for the *First* time and have to deal with
superpowers.  *Shrugs* I like realistic stories.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:22:45 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
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> Personally I'd love to see Clark handle a first love/crush along
> with the
> Superpowers.  It wouldn't last(I know who he's really meant for)!
> But I'd
> like to see him falling in love for the *First* time and have to
> deal with
> superpowers.  *Shrugs* I like realistic stories.
>
> Juliet

I may watch a couple eps, but I can just see the tomatoes, etc being
thrown if they don't go with LC canon -like (and I know it's considered
acceptable either way in fanfic, not in the show) if he sleeps with Lana
or something.  And doesn't take Rachel to his prom or something.  Just
some thoughts.:o)

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 10:10:01 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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Is anyone else having trouble getting to Zoom's boards?  I tried last
night and again this morning, and keep getting a message talking
about internal server errors.  Is that annoying Worm involved?  Help!
I'm going into withdrawal!!
Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 15:21:59 +0100
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Wendy Richards <w.m.richards@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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Yes, the boards were down last night for close to an hour, and today it's
been over three hours since I first started trying. Definitely looks like
some sort of major server problem; normally when there's a problem getting
through it's all fixed within ten minutes or so. Not today!

Wendy

--------------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:24:33 +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"
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From:         Missy Gallant <zoomer71@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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Same here, Terry!

I've been trying all morning too.

Missy  (who's having serious withdrawal symtoms too.  And coffee isn't
helping...

>From: "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
>Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
>    <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
>To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
>Subject: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
>Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 10:10:01 -0400
>
>Is anyone else having trouble getting to Zoom's boards?  I tried last
>night and again this morning, and keep getting a message talking
>about internal server errors.  Is that annoying Worm involved?  Help!
>I'm going into withdrawal!!
>Terry

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 10:01:54 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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Same here too
merry

"Terry S. Horowit" wrote:

> Is anyone else having trouble getting to Zoom's boards?  I tried last
> night and again this morning, and keep getting a message talking
> about internal server errors.  Is that annoying Worm involved?  Help!
> I'm going into withdrawal!!
> Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:13:20 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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I tried logging onto the boards this morning ... it took forever, trying to
connect, then told me there was a server error.  So I went and did my
morning's errands, but now I'm back and it's still not fixed!! <g>  At least
it's failing much faster now, though; as soon as I hit the bookmark, it
tells me the page is unable to be displayed.  I suppose that's progress of a
sort.

In the meantime, I suppose some of us could post our stories to this list,
since that's what it's for, and all... <hint, hint> <g>

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:16:28 -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"
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From:         "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: trouble with boards
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Yes!!!  Try again, FoLCs - I just got on!!
Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 11:19:50 -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"
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From:         "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Sorry - spoke too soon
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Went back to the boards right after sending the message that I got
through, only to get a "server error" message when I tried to go to
the fanfic board.  And now I'm getting the "server error" mesage
again for the main site.  Oh well, I got through for a second, so
they're definitely working on it.
Terry
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 10:45:05 -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"
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From:         Liz S <lizgreg99@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards

I also have been having problems both yesterday and today.  I wonder if it
has anything to do with any of the viruses making the rounds...  (bite my
tongue!)

LIZ S.
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 12:10:44 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Laura Moore <Missbug02@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
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I have always had probelems. it wont even let me in?!@
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:23:20 +0000
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:         Missy Gallant <zoomer71@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick :)
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I know there's lots of frustration out there because of the lack of Zoom's
boards this morning.  This is my feeble attempt to help the cause because I
know that as soon as I post this here, the boards will go back up.  Murphy's
Laws - remember those?

So if you are not reading this story, sorry to clutter up your box with spam
:) If you are following this story, I hope I've left you in a better place
than I did last time... :))

>From Part 13

"You'll do, big reporter," she said softly with a straight face, surprised
that she found herself working up the nerve to flirt with him.  "I just hope
you're not in the habit of kissing strange women the first time you meet
them."

"Just you, Lois," he replied, guiding her skillfully into a graceful turn.
He chuckled softly and Lois noted the low vibrations coming deep from within
his chest.  It sounded nice and sincere, unlike Luthor's facade of
displaying emotions.

Remembering her dance with Luthor earlier, she whispered hoarsely, "Oh no!
I forgot to tell you!  He knows... about the kiss!  He thinks we... have
something going.  So what are we going to do about it?"

She gasped in surprise as his arms tightened around her and he lowered his
head down to hers...

Now Part 14

Clark's cheek slid slowly past hers until he was able to whisper in her ear,
"Luthor.  He's watching us now. What do you want to do?  Do you want to go
out on the balcony to discuss this?"

Lois nearly had a heart attack as she saw his face descend to hers, then
felt a twinge of disappointment as the smooth skin of his freshly shaven
face glided against hers. <This is quite nice just where you are, mister,>
Lois thought dreamily, closing her eyes as she breathed in his clean
masculine scent.   If they moved out to the balcony, she'd lose her lovely
vantage point here.  "No, let's stay put.  If he sees that you see him and
then we leave the room, then maybe he'll get suspicious."

"He's already suspicious," he smiled into her hair, reveling in the way the
soft curls tickled his chin.

"But he'll get suspiciouser," Lois retorted excitedly, her heart still
racing from her near kiss... er, miss.  "What is he doing now and why does
that even matter to us anyway?"

"I don't know.  I was going to ask *you* that question," Clark whispered,
grinning at her mutilation of the English language.  "Okay, let's look at
the facts.  You were in his office hiding under his desk for what I presume
was a lead on a story, right?"

"Right," she confirmed.

"So... I conclude that if you were sneaking around the mayor's office, you
were suspicious of him to begin with." Clark felt Lois squirming to change
her position, which in turn, was causing him to squirm.  "Just a second.
I'm going to dip you again to spin you around so we can take turns watching
him."

Just as dazzled by the second dip as she was from the first, Lois dizzily
wrapped her arms around his neck so she could more easily talk in his ear.
"All right.  Got him scoped out," she said, peeking over his shoulder.
"What am I looking for?  Or will I know it when I see it?"

"You'll know," Clark answered, secretly loving every minute of having Lois
wrapped up in his arms.  "I, too, am doubtful of his integrity.  That's why
I was there in his office this morning.  Do you know I saw him at the city
jail this morning?  I believe he was there visiting a federal prisoner and
do you know that prisoner was killed in a car bombing not long after that?
There's no evidence to prove this theory of mine, but I can't help thinking
that something is way off with him."

Was Clark discussing a story with her?  Was this something she really wanted
to do again with another reporter? And did they even have a smidgen of a
case against Luthor?  But his warm hand on her back was distracting her
thought processes as once again they were pretending to be a couple in love.

Was this facade even necessary or was it all just Clark's attempt to weasel
information out of her?  Already she was finding herself dazzled by his mere
presence and swept up into a flurry of feelings leaving her breathless -
again.

Could she be leading herself into the same, if not worse, disappointment
than what she had with Claude?

Somehow she didn't think she was.  This man *felt* different from the other
men she'd known before - even down to these hard muscles she was pressed up
against.  No, she couldn't even think about that asset... um, aspect of
Clark - it was way too dangerous.  Yet, the contrast between him and Claude
were like night and day.

Take some insignificant point for example.  Unlike Clark, Claude would have
bragged about knowing a princess; he had always shoved his important
contacts in her face, trying to impress the people around him.  At the time,
she fancied herself in love with him and let his arrogance slide by
unnoticed, happily letting him drone on and on with his boasting.

Clark, on the other hand, had seemed reluctant to talk about his royal
connection, even though it was someone she'd never heard of...  Of course
she'd heard of the country of Nigeria before so this princess had to be
semi-important, at least important enough to be well schooled in ballroom
dancing.   That first dip he gave her was bordering on modesty and if she
hadn't have chided him into doing another one, his talent would still be
hidden.  Hmmm.... wonder what other talents he's hiding.  <Don't even go
there, girlfriend!!>

Okay.  Seeing that her teenage crush had yet to run its course, perhaps she
*was* placing him on a small pedestal; it was only a two-foot high one -
really. But she could let experience be her teacher this time.  She had
learned her lesson, hadn't she?  It was so hard being objective while in his
embrace.  Her heart was racing full speed ahead while her head was tossing
road sign warnings at her like poker chips being anted at a hot card game.
Wasn't there an old saying that her father used to tell her?  Fool me once,
shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.  Could it be that she was being a
fool, or was she using her life-changing experience with Claude to help
guide her future paths?

"Lois," he murmured, feeling her tense up again.  "If you are uncomfortable,
we don't have to keep this up.  Let's discuss this on the balcony, if you
want to."

Sighing happily, she relaxed against him.  Her hero was once again concerned
about her feelings and welfare, and she could feel her heart sticking its
tongue out spitefully at her practical side.  'Just enjoy the moment', it
said; 'heroes don't come along every day.'

Opening her eyes, she saw Luthor staring at them again from across the room,
his beady little eyes watching their every move.  What a way to spoil the
mood.  Maybe she should take Clark up on his offer to go out on the balcony.
  Then they could think of something to do without Luther's prying eyes
watching constantly.

Clark was getting confused.  One minute, she was a bundle of nerves and the
next she was as relaxed as she could be, sighing contentedly in his ear.
Now her lower lip was sticking out in child-like pout, and she still hadn't
answered his question about whether she wanted to end this close encounter,
or more importantly, she hadn't discussed anything 'Superman' yet.  Where
was the gloating?  Surely she'd be rubbing his face in her victory by now.

"I could use some fresh air.  Let's hit the baloney," she blurted.

"Baloney?" Clark asked, puzzled.  "Are you hungry?  I think they're serving
something more elegant than baloney."

"Balcony, silly!  Luthor's staring again," she retorted, releasing her grip
from around his neck.  "He's giving me the creeps!"

"Let's go!" Clark chuckled, loving the way she made his head spin from one
moment to the next.  Grasping her by the elbow, he led her towards one of
the many open French doors into the starry night.

"It's so beautiful out here," she said after they found a place by the
railing to watch the lights of the city.  "The view is breathtaking."

"It definitely is," Clark gulped.  Out in the slight breeze of the night
air, the wind played gently with the tiny ringlets resting on her bare
shoulders, almost hypnotizing him with their elegant dance.  Not wanting to
be caught staring, he tore his eyes away and tried to concentrate on the
lights below.

Lois could practically feel his warm gaze and turned to face him, but saw
that his attention was elsewhere.  A muscle in his jaw was twitching
nervously, almost as though he was worrying that she'd seen him sneaking a
peek at her.

Clark cleared his throat, then asked her, "So... have you been hired by the
Planet?"

"Yes, this afternoon! I've been trying for the past couple of days and
finally made it with this interview."

"So it *was* sort of fortunate for you that I didn't come back," Clark said,
trying to distract himself from his amorous thoughts.

"Not necessarily, buster.  I would've found another way to get this job. But
believe me, this interview just sort of happened.  I wasn't thinking too
clearly because I wasn't feeling too well while I was waiting for you.  Way
too much ice cream; never eat two Big Bertha's before lunch, trust me.
Before I knew it, I was in his office and he was insinuating that I was your
partner.  Who *knows* what kind of low life excuse could have come in and
grabbed this scoop?" she rambled.  "But when I arrived at the Daily Planet,
I was really nervous about running into you and now I want to set things
right and oh, I'm just talking on and nothing is coming out the way I
planned.

"But anyway, this really started bothering me because *he* took my story and
that made me so mad when he did that there was no way I could do that to
someone else even if I'd just met him.  I wasn't really stealing anything -
technically.  So now you are stuck working at the same newspaper as me and I
wouldn't blame you if you disliked me because that's the way I feel about
Claude."

She had walked over to the corner edge of the balcony halfway through her
tirade and was staring out, she couldn't bring herself to face him.  He had
the weirdest look on his face the one time she let herself look at him and
couldn't tell what he was thinking. The silence finally got too great to
bear, so she turned around and saw him lounging back in a patio chair with
his hands folded in his lap and a lopsided grin on his face.  Her heart fell
about two inches in her chest.

"Are you laughing at me?" she blurted defensively, thinking immediately that
there was absolutely *no* defense against that smile.  "What's so funny?  I
finally bear my soul, confess my sins and you are sitting there *laughing*
at me."

"Lois," Clark said calmly, "I'm not laughing at you.  Seemed as though you
were going to take a while."  Her babbling cleared his head somewhat, and
indicated to him that it was up to him to move the conversation forward in a
more intelligible direction.  "I told you before that I wasn't upset."

"Really?  Some reporters would be screaming bloody murder if someone took
their interview and it would be perfectly natural if you didn't want
anything to do with me.  Am I talking *that* much?"

"Like a brook!  And Lois, I'm happy you're working at the Daily Planet.
You'll be a great addition to the staff..."

"Yeah, great addition...  but watch your sources; she's been known to
appropriate them on occasion."

"Now, stop that!  As long as you're confessing... How did you end up under
that desk in Luthor's office in the first place?" Clark questioned, knowing
from his past experience he had to keep one step ahead of this small and
resourceful woman.  In this case, he needed to distract her from herself.

"Oh.  Just a hunch I had..."  Lois was feeling awkward from his direct
questioning.  "... and I thought I could find some clues in his office."

"Under the desk?" Clark's eyebrows shot up questioningly, but his eyes were
dancing.  "Did you find something under there?  I don't think cobwebs would
qualify as solid evidence."

"No."  <Solid evidence?  Just a pair of muscular legs and a gorgeous body>,
she thought.

"What would you have done if I hadn't have helped you out?"  Clark persisted
good naturedly as he rose from his chair to stand next to her at the rail.
"Become a one woman task force?"

"Only if I had to.  Look, sometimes I act impulsively, it can't be helped."
Lois stated matter-of-factly.  She noticed his face was stern, but the
corner of his mouth was twitching to keep from smiling.

She turned abruptly to him and demanded,  "Speaking off Luthor's office,
what kind of excuse is 'Cheese of the Month' anyway?"  Lois laughed.
Noticing his crimson blush, she gloated.

Clark shook his head and grimaced while he turned two shades of red.   "Oh
no!  I can't believe you remembered that!"

"Who wouldn't remember a lame reason like that?  It was pitiful!  Sad!
Lacking completely in originality!"

"It was all I could think of at the time.  Hey, you remembered it so it
couldn't have been that bad!"  Clark grinned at her with a pained look on
his face.  "So I'm horrible at excuses."

"Simply pathetic," she quiped, bumping his arm with her shoulder.  "So what
else are you going to grill me about?"   Surprised at how at ease he made
her feel, bantering with Clark came naturally to her, almost too easy.

Clark noticed that her shoulder bump had caused her hand to partially cover
his.  Why did the simplest of touches seem to mean the most?  She seemed to
realize it at the same time because she was staring at their partially
joined hands also. He met her eyes and the very air around them seemed to be
charged with an electrical current.  But Clark felt elected to continue with
a benign line of questioning.  He didn't feel he had the right to initiate
anything more between them.  That was her call.  "Why did you go to the
Daily Planet with your story instead of somewhere else?  You could have sold
it as a freelance or even been hired elsewhere?"

"I *have* worked elsewhere - at a place with the integrity of a pack of
hyenas! That's why this is bothering me all of a sudden.  I *know* that
you're saying it was okay for me to take your place at that interview;  I
*know* that I had the best intentions for the Daily Planet - I wasn't even
employed there officially yet - but deep down I feel like I took something
from you.  It makes me feel horrible - like I'm turning into him."

"Who took your story, Lois?"

"I tried to tell you before, but I just wanted to get this apology over
with.  I was so nervous about your reaction to everything and then you were
laughing at me..." Lois paused and smiled anxiously at him.  "I'm doing it
again."

"Slow down and take your time, I'm listening.  Apology accepted."  At her
smile, Clark felt his never-ending urge to enfold her in his arms and just
hold her.  This was obviously causing her distress, and that prompted his
need to protect her, to shield her from any discomfort.  Instead, he reached
out and caught her hand in his; after all, she knew he was Kal, didn't she?

The warmth of personal contact of his hand in hers gave her the resolve to
continue.  "I was working on a story not too long ago with someone, he took
all my research, leads, everything.  I arrived at work one morning, and
there was my story, on the front page with his name on it.  When I
complained about it, he turned the tables around in front of everyone and
accused *me* of trying to take *his* story.  I couldn't stay here, I had to
quit, that's when I left Metropolis."  Lois hesitated a moment and saw that
Clark was waiting for her to resume.

Even talking vaguely about what happened at the Metropolis Star had Lois on
the verge of tears, the hurt of betrayal from both a professional and a
personal relationship was still too personal for her to confide completely
to anyone, especially to a handsome new colleague.  This was the way it
started with Claude, first the chemistry and then she was confiding
*everything* to him and now she was doing the same thing with Clark.  As the
flood of unwanted emotions came pouring back, Lois drew her hand away from
Clark's and walked over to the edge of the balcony again.

As Clark listened to her explanation, he was more in tuned to the
expressions on her face than the words coming from her mouth.  Obviously,
this was a very painful experience for her to talk about; could this be the
event that drove her from Metropolis a few months ago?  More than ever he
wanted to comfort her, to take away her pain.  He watched her walk briskly
to the corner of the railing and fought the urge to go to her, but he felt
helpless to do anything.

"Lois... Are you okay?"  Clark inquired quietly after a long minute.

She winced at his kind, soft voice.  At that moment, she wished he would go
away and let her lick her reopened wounds alone.  Why did this have to
happen now, here at the ball in front of *him* of all places?  Being laid
wide open in his presence only made her want to throw herself in his arms
and be comforted.

Not having let herself cry once since leaving Metropolis, she recalled the
last time she had confronted Claude in his apartment.  She remembered the
tears which had streamed down her face as she told him exactly what she
thought of him for stealing her story.  Recalling his self-righteous smirk
as she had faced him, Claude had told her he never loved her and that all
she was to him was a cold fish in his bed and a stepping stone for some
information.

After retrieving her jewelry left on his bed stand from the night before,
she had placed her hand on the doorknob of his bedroom door.  It had been
partially opened before being slammed shut hard by a rough hand behind her.
She found herself suddenly pressed hard against the wood doorframe face
first, Claude's hands tight around her shoulders.

"I can melt you, Ice Princess."  Claude had groaned in her ear as he moved
his hands down her arms to hold her hands helplessly at her side.

"Claude, let me go," she had said angrily.  "I want to leave."

"Oh, I know what you want, cheri.  Let me show you again. Let's forget
this... little, um... disagreement we had earlier.  You are so beautiful
when you are mad."

She felt his hot lips trailing down her neck and her blood had instantly run
colder as suddenly she found herself on her back laying on the bed.
Twisting in his grasp, her knee had come up and landed square between his
legs.  She'd scrambled to get herself completely free as he doubled over in
pain.

"Come after me again, you moron, and you'll wish you never laid eyes on
Metropolis."

When she shut the doors to Metropolis after another horrific scene the next
morning at the Star, she wanted to lock away any part of herself that was
vulnerable.  Instead, she had busied herself in finding a job at another
paper, in getting her life back on track; she didn't allow herself time to
grieve.

She blinked back the tears that had started to form while she stood at the
balcony and turned back around to face Clark.

He noticed that Lois had zoned out on him and waited a few seconds before
waving his hand in front of her face.

"Lois! Lo-is!"  Her steady haunted stare disturbed something deep inside of
him.

"What?  Did you say something?"  Lois came out of her muddle.  "Yeah, I'm
fine. That's it.  Everything's okay."

Not believing her, but needing to do something to break the heavy mood that
had settled between them, he held out his hand and asked her, "Would you
dance with me, please?"

With a weak smile, she answered him by moving into his arms, and resting her
head on his shoulder, finding the comfort that she knew was there.  Clark
clasped their hands to his chest and leaned his cheek against her forehead.
Some memory or thought had disturbed her again, just like before when she
was dancing with Luthor.  But now was not the time to question her about it;
her heartbeat was slowing down and she was gripping his hand as though it
were a lifeline.  Some things were better left alone until later.

Dancing under the stars was lovely, but Clark longed to scoop Lois up and
head to the clouds as they had done the previous day.  There were too many
people around and she was acting a bit strange.  As they danced in silence,
he was starting to question if she really recognized him at all as Kal.  She
hadn't addressed him by name - either name - and surely she would have
referenced something to their friendship by now.

"Lois..."  he said softly.

"Hmmm..."

"Do you know who I am?"

_________________________________________________________________
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=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 09:29:25 -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: Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick
:)
In-Reply-To:  <F54rvCWO6hm8Ua8d9Ee000019de@hotmail.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Missy, bless you, bless you, bless you!  Thanks!!!  I
really mean that!

What a great installment!  Fun and WAFFy and sad and
sensual and... Evil!  You're plain evil where you left
us.

More!

Irene

=====
sirenegold@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
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=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 13:11:25 -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>
Subject:      Re: Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick
:)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Ah, bless you, Missy!  This was fabulous, just fabulous, and I'm glad
Clark's starting to wonder if she's made the connection to Kal, although I'm
*quite* certain that something will happen to distract them from the issue,
because that's just the sort of cliffhanger you write <g>  All the same, I
wouldn't mind if he decided to fly her away from the balcony, so they could
talk in private somewhere ;-)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 12:27:06 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick
:)

Yes, THANK YOU! I needed this too! I've been longing to read this all day,
and couldn't get into the boards. :P~~~

s
p
o
i
l
e
r

s
p
a
c
e

You are *evil!* Right at the start, when you *knew* we were expecting a
kiss, what do you go and do? Clark just whispers to her instead! Bad Missy!

But their conversation is so humorous and WAFFy, I can *almost* forgive
you. <g> Then Lois gets upset over the memory of Claude (awww) - oh, and I
loved her apology. And Clark's acceptance. And all those little touches -
hand, shoulders bumping and so on - were wonderful. :)

And then you finished it at that point!!!! You have *definitely* been
taking cliffhanger lessons, Missy! That's at least four times you've cut
off an instalment just at a point where you *know* you'll have everyone
screaming!

You better have the next part ready to post *very* soon, is all I can say!

Wendy
-------------

Wendy Richards
wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:02:38 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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In a message dated 8/2/01 10:49:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cmoncado@JUNO.COM writes:

<< > Personally I'd love to see Clark handle a first love/crush along
 > with the
 > Superpowers.  It wouldn't last (I know who he's really meant for)!
 > But I'd
 > like to see him falling in love for the *First* time and have to
 > deal with
 > superpowers.  *Shrugs* I like realistic stories.
 >
 > Juliet

 I may watch a couple eps, but I can just see the tomatoes, etc., being
 thrown if they don't go with LC canon-like (and I know it's considered
 acceptable either way in fanfic, not in the show) if he sleeps with Lana
 or something.  And doesn't take Rachel to his prom or something.  Just
 some thoughts.:o)

 CM >>

If he does sleep with somebody I will throw a fit, but I don't (hopefully)
expect them to go that route just yet.  Anything else I'm open to.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:30:20 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:         Anne Carlson <ACdrift@AOL.COM>
Subject:      No Zoom ..So NKerths Catch-up Reading
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  7bit

Hi All,

It is amazing how frustrating it is for me to not get into Zoom's boards!
So, I'm taking this opportunity to catch up on the reading for each category
of the NKerths.  Voting has begun.  Although I have read most of the stories
nominated, I want to reread them to compare them with the other fanfics in
each category.

I take my voting very seriously.  I reread or skim every story.  I try to do
a category each day or so.  It takes longer for the epics like the ones
nominated for Best Overall Nfic.  I think all of them were up for the
regular
Kerths, too.

Each year, whether it's the Kerth or NKerths, I try to vote for the most
appropriate story for the particular nominated category rather than just my
favorite story or writer.  I was surprised this morning in my choice in one
area.  It was not the one I thought I would vote for.  But, after comparing
it to the other entries, I found that my favorite just wasn't the right
choice for the category.

We have until Aug. 25th to complete the voting.  Good thing because it's
going to take me that long to carefully peruse all of the fantastic nfic
stories.

How about you?  It's certainly a great way to deal with the fact that there
is trouble accessing Zoom's boards.

Anne (ACdrift@aol.com)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 12:52:50 -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:         April Sycamore <ape130@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I'm just thinking that if he can't see through lead, then he probably could
not melt it because then he could just melt the lead away and he could see
what was on the other side. There would be no problem with lead if he could
just melt it. I don't know...

>From: "Terry S. Horowit" <horowit@UMIACS.UMD.EDU>
>Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
>    <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
>To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
>Subject: Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
>Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 17:41:22 -0400
>
>>In Peace's story "When the World Shatters" (I think), Clark couldn't
>>rescue
>>Lois because his heat vision doesn't work on lead.  I don't know if this
>>idea is from Peace, some other fanfics, the show or the comics.  But if
>>Clark can't burn through the lead with his heat vision, he can rub his
>>hands
>>on the lead fast enough to make it melt, thus soldering it, I think.  Is
>>that what you meant by "with his bare hands", Yvonne?  I don't think he
>>can
>>solder metal by squeezing it though, no matter how strong he is, because
>>there will always be little holes left.  He would need to liquify the
>>metal
>>somehow to fill in the holes.
>>
>>Just my 2 cents,
>>Simba
>
>
>Actually, Simba, my understanding of what Peace was saying was that
>Clark didn't dare try to melt through the lead restraints because he
>couldn't SEE where her hands and feet were, and thus was afraid of
>injuring her.  I don't think she meant to imply that he couldn't burn
>through the lead but rather that he chose not to under the
>circumstances.
>I'm with Pam on this one.  I would assume he would have no problem
>melting lead as long as there wasn't something on the other side of
>it that he was afraid would be damaged in the process.
>Terry

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=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 13:01:45 -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:         April Sycamore <ape130@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Yes, I agree. Not to mention I heard that young lex luthor is in it, and
that is so dumb! Lex Luthor is in metropolis not smallville, and they don't
meet until later!!!

>From: Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
>Reply-To: "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
>    <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
>To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
>Subject: Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
>Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:22:45 -0500
>
> > Personally I'd love to see Clark handle a first love/crush along
> > with the
> > Superpowers.  It wouldn't last(I know who he's really meant for)!
> > But I'd
> > like to see him falling in love for the *First* time and have to
> > deal with
> > superpowers.  *Shrugs* I like realistic stories.
> >
> > Juliet
>
>I may watch a couple eps, but I can just see the tomatoes, etc being
>thrown if they don't go with LC canon -like (and I know it's considered
>acceptable either way in fanfic, not in the show) if he sleeps with Lana
>or something.  And doesn't take Rachel to his prom or something.  Just
>some thoughts.:o)
>
>CM

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=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:33:19 -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:         Liz S <lizgreg99@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick
:)

Missy,

Your posts are never pitiful (sp?)!  Thank you so much!  It's been so
frustrating not being able to access Zoom's boards--probably frustrating to
her too!  And thanks so much for taking pity on us fanfic addicts!

Liz S.  (/me dances a jig!)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:49:00 -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:         "Marilyn L. Puett" <no1supermom@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      NEW STORY: Chocolat
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Lois=92s Rules for Chocolate
By Supermom (and some unknown person on the internet)
August 2001

All disclaimers apply, blah, blah, blah.

Lois ranted as she ripped the wrapper from her third Double Fudge Crunch
Bar of the day.  =93How *dare* he accuse me of eating too much chocolate!
I=

know how much is too much, and three bars during a workday is *not* too
much.=94

She bit off a huge chunk of the bar, chewed it noisily, and then took a big
gulp of coffee to wash it down.

=93Next think he=92ll be telling me is that I drink too much coffee,=94 she
griped.  =93Of course, I=92ve seen all the junk food he keeps at his place
s=
o
he really doesn=92t have room to criticize me.  Twinkies?  DingDongs?  Ha!
And then he didn=92t even have the decency to stay and fight like a man.
He=

used one of his lame excuses to get away from me.  Really!=94

Crrrrunch!  Lois bit off yet another hunk of the delicious treat and
savored its taste.  She really was a chocolate connoisseur.  She knew where
to buy the finest bars and the gooeyest bonbons.  How could something so
tasty=85so delightful=85so downright sensual=85 be bad for you?  There had
t=
o be
~something~ redeeming about chocolate.

Lois giggled as a brainstorm hit.  She logged onto her favorite search
engine and typed in the words =93chocolate=94 and =93healthy=94 and waited
t=
o see
what kind of hits she would get.  A smug grin crossed her lips as she
glanced at the screen.  And precisely ninety minutes later, she tapped
the =93Send=94 key to dispatch an email to Clark that would shut him up for
good.

*******

Clark Kent looked glanced around the bullpen as he exited the elevator and
headed forhis desk.  It had been a long afternoon for Superman.  First a
bank holdup and then a chemical fire by the docks had kept the Man of Steel
away from his job at the Daily Planet, which was probably good since he and
Lois had argued terribly earlier that morning.

Vernon, who ran the newsstand and snack bar in the Daily Planet lobby, had
stopped Lois on her way toward the lobby elevators and pulled four boxes of
Double Fudge Crunch Bars from underneath the counter.

=93Here you go, Miss Lane,=94 he said.  =93Your monthly shipment.  Shall I
j=
ust
charge your credit card as usual?=94

=93Sure, Vernon,=94 Lois replied absentmindedly as she grabbed the boxes
and=

balanced her purse on top of them.

Clark watched the transaction take place and then watched Lois juggling her
load.

=93Can I help you with some of that, Lois?=94

=93No, Clark.  Thanks, but I can manage,=94 Lois responded right before her
purse crashed to the ground.

Grinning sheepishly, she shoved the boxes of candy into Clark=92s hands and
stooped to retrieve her purse.

=93Do you ~really~ eat four boxes of these things every month?=94 Clark
inquired.

=93And what business is it of yours it I do?=94 she snapped back.

=93Well, Lois, there *is* a lot of fat in chocolate=85.=94

=93Are you saying I=92m fat?=94

If looks could kill, Lois would have been headed for death row at that
moment.  And if common sense was as common as it sounded, Clark would have
dutifully apologized and let the matter drop.  But he hadn=92t, and every
attempt to make things right with Lois had only served to dig the hole he
was in just a little deeper.  It was only the sound of a bank alarm, and
his departure to =93get his allergy medication refilled,=94 that stopped
wha=
t
had promised to be full-scale warfare.

As he dropped into his desk chair, Clark noticed that he had a number of
new email messages.  Most of them were from sources with follow-up
information on his stories.  One was from his mother to let him know that
his father=92s cold was much improved.  Two were spam messages.  But it was
the last one that caught his eye.  It was from Lois.

Clark hesitantly clicked on the message, knowing that if Lois had a way to
rig the email system to a bomb under his chair, she would have done it to
him today.  The message screen opened and Clark read.

TO: Clark
FROM: Lois
RE: Chocolate is Good

Dear Clark,

After our discussion this morning about my =93chocolate habit=94 as you
referred to it, I decided to do a little research.  I have found the
following information about chocolate that may just surprise you.  I guess
now we know why you eat all those chocolate cupcakes and stay in such good
shape.

Chocolate is a vegetable.  How, you ask?  Chocolate is derived from cocoa
beans.  Beans are a vegetable.  Sugar is derived from either sugar cane or
sugar beets.  Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable
category.  Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.  And you=92re supposed to eat
several servings of vegetables every day.

To go one step further, chocolate candy bars also contain milk, which is a
dairy food.  So candy bars are a health food, with calcium.  You wouldn=92t
want my bones to get brittle, would you?

Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices, and strawberries all
count as fruit.  So you can eat as many as you want.  Fruit is very healthy
and is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Chocolate has many preservatives.  Preservatives make you look younger.
Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate to look younger.  I don=92t know
about you, Clark, but I wasn=92t to stay young.

If you eat a chocolate bar before each meal, it will take the edge off your
appetite and you will therefore eat less.  See?  Instant diet!

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in
one place.  Now, isn=92t that handy?

And as a side issue, chocolate has been proven to be a boost to the
economy.  If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top
pantyhose.  Now, you wouldn't want to put the control top pantyhose people
out of business, would you?

So I will kindly thank you to stop making snide remarks about my case lot
purchases of Double Fudge Crunch Bars.  As you can see above, I=92m not
only=

supporting two industries (well, more actually, if you want to count all
the cocoa bean and sugar cane farmers, not to mention Vernon), but I=92m
eating something healthy.

Lois

Clark shook his head.

=93Ohhhhhh boy!=94 he thought.  It was going to be a long afternoon.
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:02:45 -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:         Phil Atcliffe <atcliffe@PERDICAS.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      NEW: Imbalance Part 16
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[Sorry this is a bit late, but here 'tis.

Last time, Lois and Clark were discussing why the Lex Luthor of this
universe is just as bad (he couldn't be *worse!*) as the one in "our"
world. Meantime, Nigel has come up with a sufficiently spectacular,
obscure, lethal and (hopefully) fool-proof plan, and is about to put it
into action.

Now read on:]

*****

Clark leaned back in his seat, drumming his fingers lightly on the table as
he regarded her thoughtfully, his eyelids partly closed. It was a
discomfiting sensation for Lois, being watched like that. "What?" she
asked, mildly irritated.

"I was just thinking," he said with a faint shrug.

"Dangerous activity," she told him, beginning to wonder -- and worry about
-=

- what was coming next.

He gave her a quick smile, but his expression became wry as he spoke. "You
know I've read all of your stories, so I'm pretty familiar with your past
investigations. And I couldn't help noticing that you've exposed a lot of
apparently upstanding, professional men over the years."

She stared at him. Was he saying what she *thought* he was saying? "You
mean people like Maxwell Deter, that psychiatrist who went around
brainwashing his patients so that he could get them to commit crimes? Or
Daniel Scardino, DEA agent, who was selling government secrets to drug
smugglers and mobsters? Or Lucky Leon, simple businessman on the surface,
but who was actually ex-KGB and was procuring weapons for terrorists? You
think I shouldn't have told the world the truth about scum like them?"

Clark was about to answer, but Lois wouldn't let him speak. "I can guess
what you're thinking, you know. Oh, don't look so surprised!" she threw at
him, jumping up from the table and starting to pace agitatedly. "I know
what people think of me! I'm a man-hater, and that's why I go after all of
these guys -- because I just can't believe that there's a man alive who
isn't corrupt. All men are bastards; everyone has an agenda, and it's my
job to expose them! I'm just a muck-raking, man-hating feminist hack who
likes to destroy men's lives. Isn't that what you think?"

But Clark frowned. "Lois! I'm just concerned that there are a lot of guys
out there -- guys who had a lot of influence before you got them thrown in
jail. It sounds like you've put your life at risk far too many times for my
peace of mind."

Taken aback, she stopped pacing and stared at him. "That's what Everett
said. That's one of the reasons he refused to work with me any more -- not
that I wanted to work with him anyway, so we were both happy."

"Well, I guess there's *one* thing he and I agree on," Clark
murmured. "Lois, the first time I met you -- *really* met you; our
collision in the morgue doesn't count -- you were falling to your death
from that funfair ride!"

"Yes, and I was grateful to you," she snapped. "What more do you want?"

"You to be a little more careful, so that I don't have to worry about
getting to like you too much?" he suggested dryly.

"Getting to like...?" she repeated, puzzled.

"Lois, strange as it may seem, in the short time we've known one another,
I've come to like you. A lot," he told her soberly. "I think we could be
good friends. But I'd prefer not to get too fond of you and then have you
turn up dead one of these days because you took one risk too many!"

That surprised her. Lois sat down slowly on one of her couches, as the
impact of his words sank in. People had expressed concern for her reckless
working methods before, but usually because they didn't want to be dragged
along with her. Perry's motives were a little more altruistic -- Perry
liked her, she thought -- but were also based on concern for the newspaper.
After all, if she died in the line of duty, the Planet would lose its top
reporter, and there would also be a large insurance payout.

Clark, though, was expressing concern for none of those reasons. He barely
knew her... and yet he wanted to be her friend, and seemed to like her
enough that the thought of her demise upset him. This was something very
new to her, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.

*****

Flying home from Lois' apartment later that night, Clark was beginning to
feel cautiously optimistic. Lois had opened up to him in a way that she'd
been reluctant to do earlier, and apart from her momentary suspicion as to
his motives -- which he'd managed to dispel -- she'd seemed to trust him
enough to tell him some things which he suspected she rarely talked about,
to anyone.

He *did* worry about her, though. She took risks with her safety which
almost suggested that she didn't place much value on her life. 'And perhaps
she doesn't,' he mused bleakly. After all, apart from her work -- which she
clearly loved -- what did she have? She wasn't close to her family. She had
no close friends that he knew of. She didn't get along with people at work,
other than Perry White. And there was no man in her life; from what Wells
had told him, there never had been. So this Lois Lane led a very lonely
life.

Well, he didn't intend to see that continue. Nor did he intend to let her
kill herself by engaging in risky activities. Oh, he was well aware that he
couldn't stop her taking risks -- apart from anything else, it was her
life, and he had no right whatsoever to dictate what she should or should
not do -- but he *cared* about her. Even if this Lois turned out not to be
his soul-mate, he wanted her to be safe.

But he was convinced that she *was* his soul-mate; getting *her* to accept
that would be another struggle, but he was prepared to be patient. For now.

*****

Nigel closed the access panel silently, then carefully made his way from
the Boston Airport flight line into the shadows of the nearby hangars. Once
hidden from view, he stripped off the maintenance coverall to reveal a
security uniform -- more like an ordinary suit, really, which meant that
the few small, and rather specialised, tools that he had just used could be
readily stashed in various pockets without them showing. The coverall went
into a plastic bag produced from another pocket, as did the thin latex
gloves he'd been wearing; the bag and its contents went into a dumpster
standing nearby, together with a small incendiary charge timed to go off in
half an hour.

As he strolled down the line of hangars towards a terminal, his mouth
twitched as he thought of the intriguing device he'd just spliced into the
aircraft's flight control system. The concept had originated with the KGB,
back in the days when there was such a thing -- well, it still existed, but
not under that name, and with nothing like its former reach and power --
but the Soviets didn't have the technological skills to make it work. No,
that had been left to Western expertise, which had turned concept into
reality very neatly -- as it was about to do for *his* concept of a
spectacular death for Lois Lane.

He smiled thinly, remembering the circumstances under which he'd acquired
the device -- which, after all, was hardly likely to be readily available.
There was an African potentate who was still alive only because Nigel's
mission to arrange an "accident" for him had been scrubbed at the last
minute -- just why, he still wasn't sure. It may have had something to do
with the SIS internal investigation that had forced him to leave the
Service shortly thereafter. It didn't matter; the important thing was that
he had kept the device and was now able to put it to good use. Miss Lane's
loss -- of life -- was the African's gain; or, since the potentate was not
a very nice man, perhaps Africa's loss was Intergang's gain.

Nigel reached the terminal and, with practised ease, slipped unseen into
the public section of the building. A quick visit to a Men's room enabled
him to strip all the "official" paraphernalia from his "uniform", turning
it into a simple dark suit of conservative cut. He strolled into a nearby
bar -- one with a view of the flight line -- and nursed drinks for a couple
of hours or so, unobtrusively observing the minor surge of activity when
the incendiary charge went off, using a small but powerful pocket scanner
and an earpiece to listen to the radio traffic.

He was pleased with what he saw and heard. The delay between the charge
igniting and the airport fire crew's response was long enough for the bag
and its contents to have been thoroughly consumed, and the police seemed
happy to treat the whole business as the result of carelessness on the part
of someone from one of the hangars. More importantly, there was no
indication that anyone was going to check nearby aircraft for signs of
tampering -- not that there were any, other than the presence of the
device, and it would take an expert to realise that it wasn't supposed to
be there.

Nigel got up and left after another 15 minutes. It had taken him just under
a week to plan and organise his strike -- he'd had the crucial device
readily to hand, but it took a while to obtain the *other* equipment he
needed, not to mention recruiting the operators -- but finally, all was in
readiness for the following morning, and it was a long drive back to
Metropolis.

*****

Lois sat down at her desk, enjoying the calm of the moment. The night shift
had mostly left, and the day staff was yet to arrive, so the newsroom was
almost deserted. It was a quiet time, and one which she was wont to use to
psyche herself up for the day ahead; if you were going to spend the next
eight-to-sixteen hours dealing with crooks, politicians and assorted other
forms of low-life -- like, say, Ralph -- it helped to have some time,
however short, in which you could have some peace to prepare yourself for
the struggles to come. Lois had talked to soldiers who said that praying
before going into battle helped them to deal with what was to come; she
wasn't very religious, but she could understand what they meant because
this time was, she thought, the same sort of thing for her.

This morning, the peaceful time was doubly welcome because she hadn't had
much of it lately. The newsroom was only this deserted at certain times of
day, and she hadn't been able to get in here this early for... oh, several
days, maybe even a week.

The reason for this departure from her usual routine could be summed up in
one word: Kent. He seemed to be a real morning person, one who enjoyed them
so much that he wanted to share them -- with her! Since she wasn't such a
great one for early starts, unless there was the prospect of a story like
her Harrington scoop, or the chance to get in to the newsroom ahead of
everyone else for her quiet time, they'd come to an amiable compromise --
surprisingly amiable; there'd been no contest of wills, no attempts (by
either of them) to impose their tastes or ideas on the other -- and had
decided to investigate breakfast as eaten (or "taken", as Clark had said in
a ridiculously snooty mock-upper-class English accent, which made Lois
dissolve into giggles) around the world.

Clark would get the food, courtesy of what Lois was now calling "SupEx
Special Delivery", and Lois would choose where they'd eat it -- with the
exception of Sunday morning, when Clark had insisted on flying her to the
Ritz in London at a ridiculously early hour (in Metropolis, anyway),
claiming that it was impossible to get decent kedgeree to take out.

Fortunately, the weather had been good this last week, and so they'd been
able to eat out -- in parks or at a beach -- rather than have to use one or
other of their apartments. Lois was still slightly wary of having him in
her home, however much she might tell herself that he'd been a perfect
gentleman, never pushing her to do anything that she hadn't agreed to; and
Clark didn't want her to see his place until it was completely finished.

Apparently, he had, as he'd predicted, done the sanding and painting and
floor treatment himself, but he was still waiting on some furniture to be
delivered -- or something like that. He was having a long, drawn-out
argument, involving several phone calls, with some storage place about
stuff that had gone missing. What amused Lois about this was the unfailing
tone of patience and helpful politeness that he invariably used when
talking over the phone -- she'd have hit the roof, threatening them with
expos=E9s and worse - *and* the fact that it seemed to be working; the
company had promised that they would search their warehouses yet again,
doing a sight inventory if necessary to locate Mr Kent's missing property.

Clark Kent was certainly like no other man she'd ever known -- and that was
not just because he could fly, either. First of all, he actually knew how
to behave: she'd never yet seen him lose his temper, even when he was
impatient or clearly angry at something. She suspected that he *could* fly
into a rage when severely provoked, but, at a guess, it would take
something spectacular to produce that effect.

Second, he treated her with respect. That was a novelty for her around the
corridors and bullpen of the Daily Planet, and was one reason why she was
prepared to spend so much time with him away from the familiar surroundings
of their working environment. And his treatment of her had not gone
unnoticed by others. Perry seemed to approve: Lois had caught him watching
the two of them at work, or on their way in or out of the bullpen, and she
suspected he'd noticed the way Clark behaved towards her. Others, such as
Everett and Friaz, and even the notorious Ralph Naylor, had clearly
realised that there was one male at the Planet who didn't regard Lois Lane
as either a man-hater or a vicious, ambitious ice maiden, and they seemed
to regard Clark with curiosity and even admiration. He, on the other hand,
was unfailingly polite to them, but consistently refused their invitations
to join them for a few beers or a poker game. He and his partner had work
to do, he usually explained.

But third, and Lois didn't know whether to be relieved or chagrined by
this, he was one of the very few men she'd ever met who hadn't hit on her
within a short time of meeting her. It was one of the trials of being
cursed with a passably attractive face and body, she'd decided a long time
ago; that, and the sheer inability of most of the male gender to control
their base impulses. Kent, though, had not -- beyond one or two ambiguous
looks -- given her any reason to suspect that he saw her as more than a
partner and potential friend.

That had caused her to wonder why -- out of sheer intellectual curiosity,
she told herself. Was it possible that, as a Kryptonian, he was somehow
sexless? Or, given that he *looked* undeniably masculine (so far as she was
able to tell), perhaps his race just had no interest in mating? Perhaps
Kryptonians reproduced in an entirely different manner?

She'd wondered, and despised herself for feeling peeved at his apparent
lack of interest in her beyond his pre-set boundaries. And so, what had
originally been intended as another test had become a little more than
that. Two evenings ago, she had invited him to dinner in her apartment,
prepared by herself. He'd been a perfect guest, bringing along wine and
flowers, had made witty and entertaining conversation, and generally been
good company for the evening. Later, she'd deliberately come to stand close
to him, brushing her arm against his sleeve as she drew his attention to
something. He'd merely smiled, apologised briefly, then moved away to give
her more space.

'Any other man I know would have taken that as an invitation to get closer
still... to make a pass, even if it was entirely unintentional!' she
thought now, her expression wry. But that was what she wanted from her
partner -- to know that she *wouldn't* be subjected to unwelcome advances!
So why was she now feeling... disappointed that he hadn't followed through?

'I'm not!' she insisted. 'Definitely not. Kent is a colleague. A partner.
Perhaps, one of these days -- who knows? -- a friend. No more.' And that
was the way she wanted it.

Satisfied, she closed and trashed the mental file marked "Kent -- possible
romantic interest?" and pulled some papers towards her, ready to get to
work. Her eyes slid unknowingly to "his" desk and chair, and she found
herself thinking that it hadn't been so bad having a partner after all --
*this* partner, anyway. He was a whiz at research -- literally, at times,
with that super-speed of his -- and, as she'd noticed the night they'd met,
his writing style really did mesh well with hers. If she knew her editor,
Perry was really happy with the work of what had begun to be known as "Lane
and Kent", and it didn't look like Clark would have much trouble becoming
permanent staff at the end of his trial period.

Which thought made her frown a little. Did she *want* a permanent partner,
even Kent? She wasn't sure, at least in the long term; right now, though,
she had to admit (but only to herself) that he was making her work that
much easier, and they were turning out some darn good journalism. So, she'd
have to wait and see about Kent...

Speaking of waiting and seeing, another big question with regard to Kent
was exactly when he was going to reveal Superman's existence to the world.
She was fairly sure, from what she'd seen in wire copy and the like, that
he'd already begun to help people on occasion -- just doing it unobserved,
presumably by moving so fast that no-one saw him, the way he'd described to
her when he was apologising for invading her apartment with the croissants
and coffee. Well, that was fine for the people he helped, but when was he
going to go fully public -- *and* give her that exclusive interview?

And there, as it happened, lay another creeping anxiety where Clark was
concerned. He was *Superman*. She was well aware that his powers weren't
confined to times when he wore that suit of his; he used them all the time.
And the past week had shown her how useful his powers were when they were
investigating. He was also a darned good writer, with an intelligent,
questioning mind. He would have no difficulty at all in making a good
career for himself working solo.

So... the question which had been at the back of her mind since the evening
they'd met kept returning to her, with increasing frequency as each day
went past. Just why did Clark 'Superman' Kent need Lois Lane? He'd insisted
that he wanted to be partnered with her -- *had* that really been only a
means of getting himself a job and becoming established in Metropolis and
at the Planet? He wouldn't really need her at all, once he'd established
himself sufficiently.

And in that case, they wouldn't be partnered any more. Well, that would be
nothing new for her -- though, in some ways, it was hard to believe that
only just over a week ago she had insisted to Perry White that she did
*not* need or want a partner. But Kent was *good*; and he had the advantage
of his super-powers. Working solo, he would be the kind of competition she
had never had before, and suddenly, she was beginning to feel inadequate.

Her musings were interrupted by the shrill note of the phone on her desk.
She grabbed the receiver, becoming her usual confident self again -- on the
outside, at least. "Daily Planet. Lois Lane speaking."

Silence greeted her, and then a click and the dial tone as the person on
the other end of the line hung up. Lois grimaced; people who just put the
phone down without so much as saying, "Sorry, wrong number," really annoyed
her. Unless, of course, it was a potential burglar checking whether there
was anyone home... Lois snorted. 'Heaven help any burglar who wants to rob
*this* place!' she thought. It must have really been a wrong number; why
else would anyone call and then hang up without saying anything?

She got up and stretched. People were starting to arrive -- not Kent,
though, not yet. 'Wonder where he is?' she mused. Oh, well, it probably
wasn't anywhere very interesting, or he'd have asked her to join him -- or
would he? She strolled out of the bullpen towards the Ladies', mulling over
the possibilities before deciding to concentrate on something more
pleasant, not to mention something she could decide about -- like where
they could go for breakfast tomorrow?

*****

[You've got to *live* that long, Lois -- and Nigel is trying to prevent
that!

Okay, the trap is set, the victim is in it, so to speak... Next time, it
all happens -- and so does a certain long-awaited event! Hold onto your
hats/hairpieces/parasols/head coverings of whatever description -- part 17
will, we hope, blow you away! But hopefully not Lois...]

Phil
----
"We gotta get out into Space / If it's the last thing we ever do!"
   -- Return to the Forbidden Planet
A sentiment echoed by Phil Atcliffe (atcliffe@perdicas.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:08:14 -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:         Phil Atcliffe <atcliffe@PERDICAS.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 15

On Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:20:25 +0100, Nicola Baker
<nicola@NJBAKER.FREESERVE.CO.UK> wrote:

>Excellent, as usual. Good thing it's Friday tomorrow, I want to know what
 Nigel is planning (though, I have a few ideas, none of which are
particularly pleasant). <

Well, you'll find out next time. I'll be interested to see how close you
get -- also if anyone can identify the video that gave Nigel the idea! <g>

>PS - Nice signature. Can I borrow the time machine? I could go forward to
a point where you've finished the story. <eg> <

Sorry, Little Gay and I are currently holidaying on Jaglan Beta I -- lovely
vacation spot, even for an intelligent time-travelling motorcycle. I may
have to bring Bernie and Carolyn here some day...

Phil
----
"Sic Transit Gloria Barramundi" (Or, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!)
   -- not Douglas Adams, but me: Phil Atcliffe
(atcliffe@perdicas.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:20:48 -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:         Phil Atcliffe <atcliffe@PERDICAS.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead

On Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:41:22 +0100, Yvonne Connell
<yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK> wrote:

>Could Clark solder lead with his heat vision?

> We know he can't see through it, and we know it protects him from
kryptonite... <

As others have said, this shouldn't be a problem, particularly these days
when heat vision seems to be a literal description of the power; Clark's
eyes emit beams of IR radiation -- or, alternatively, he has something like
pyrokinesis and can heat something up psionically.

In the (distant) past, this might have been more problematical -- in the
comics, at least -- because what we call "heat vision" was said to be
caused by the "heat of his x-ray vision", and so there was an argument that
he couldn't affect lead because he couldn't see through it! Actually,
that "explanation" ignores some basic physics; if Clark's eyes are pouring
out x-rays, the energy's got to go somewhere, and the likeliest place is
for the lead to absorb it -- which means that it'll heat up quicker than if
he _could_ see through it!

> And if he can't solder it, presumably he could fuse it together with his
bare hands? <

Easily. Superman (and other super-strong/invulnerable heroes -- like, say,
Captain Marvel, who notably lacks super-vision) has been known to fuse
_sand_ into glass, etc., by using "super-friction" and "super-pressure", so
solder should be a snap! Rub it until it's softer than usual, and then form
into the appropriate shape with fingers -- just like using plasticine or
soft putty/clay.

Phil
----
"I think... I think I am! Therefore I am... I think?" -- The Moody Blues
 I think _I_ am Phil Atcliffe (atcliffe@perdicas.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:26:04 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW STORY: Chocolat
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I
> know how much is too much, and three bars during a workday is *not*
> too
> much.”

AMEN!!! WIsh my hubby understood that!

I got an email with the chocolate information in it and I loved it just
as much this time!

Why is it that men just don't understand that? *sigh*

CM(who helps support multiple industries as well!)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 17:37:58 -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>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 16
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Cool! :)

s
p
o
i
l
e
r
s
p
a
c
e

I'm not entirely clear what the nefarious plan is... Nigel's going to crash
a plane into the Daily Planet building?? but obviously something's up.

Nice b-plot building, though I hope Lois is done testing Clark for a
while... the first five times it was cool, after that it got a bit
monotonous :) especially since he passed every one.  Who'd have ever thought
I'd be wishing for Clark to be *more* lunkheaded? :p

Still, over all, I'm enjoying the heck out of this.  So write more, post
more!

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:53:08 -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:         Diane Trim <whipurwauna@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Strangers III Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post (Take your pick
:)
In-Reply-To:  <F54rvCWO6hm8Ua8d9Ee000019de@hotmail.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

 Missy:

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.  I was up late last night and accessed
your story at 1:00 A.M., CST and was able to reply on Zoom's board.  The
near kiss was such a tease, Missy!  How evil of you, but I love the romantic
tension it, and the bumps and nudges Wendy mentions, creates.

Speaking of romantic tension, I was surprised that Lois didn't do much
comparing of Kal and Clark, like she did with Lex and Claude.  (She did a
tiny bit in #13, but only one sentence.)  Of course Lois found Clark
handsome, and of course she had romantic thoughts, but I expected more of
the introspection that she had done in previous installments--but positive
feelings this time!  Something like that might have underscored your
dramatic irony (Lois doesn't know that Clark=Kal) and heightened the
romantic tension.  Just a thought.

Oh, and Clark!  Hello!  Clark, are you only just suspecting at the end of
this installment that Lois doesn't know his other identity?  Ugh!  Sometimes
he can be so dense!  Yes, Clark, if Lois knew your other identity, she would
have also won the bet and would be rubbing your nose in it.  (Great
characterization, Missy!) By the way, what does the winner of the bet
receive?  Clark should be making his plans now!

Now, as a reader who wishes our favorite couple to get on with it and get
together, I want Clark to tell her in installment 14.  However, for the
story's sake, I'm hoping (and betting) that you're going to give us another
"near kiss" kind of revelation in 14.  I am also looking for something
beyond the couple's misunderstandings to enhance the plot.  So, I guess I
want a just a little more WAFF and a wham.

Great stuff, Missy!  I can't wait to read more--in fact, I'm re-reading my
favorite parts of I and II!

Diane

---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 20:39:26 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Yup - couldn't get the Index Updates done today because I couldn't access
the boards.

According to the BBC news website last night, it's now been acknowledged
that the Code Red virus was never any threat. Something about a
co-incidental train crash in a tunnel causing a systems blip in the internet
which was mistakenly misread by the analysts as Code Red attacking the
system. Go figure! <g>

LabRat :)

> I also have been having problems both yesterday and today.  I wonder if it
> has anything to do with any of the viruses making the rounds...  (bite my
> tongue!)
>
> LIZ S.
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 08:03:32 +1000
Reply-To:     Patricia Walpole <triciaw@bigpond.com>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Patricia Walpole <triciaw@BIGPOND.COM>
Subject:      Re: Strangers lll Part 14 - Pity/Pitiful Post [Take your
pick:]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  quoted-printable

Missy

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I'm going through withdrawal here. It's now been 2 days that I haven't =
been able
to get onto the boards.

This is wonderful! I love their conversation - humourous, waffy and also =
a touch of sadness. WOW! Did you have to leave it there?  MORE SOON =
PLEASE.

     Tricia
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:53:52 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 16
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

WOnderful as always!  Loved how Lois put away Dan and the others! *BG*

More soon please!

CM(who isn't really sure what Boston has to do with anything...)
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 15:20:33 -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:         Vicki Krell <Vicki.Krell@ASU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 16
MIME-version: 1.0

Hey, Pam! Where's YOUR post for today? ;) To quote you:

"I'm enjoying the heck out of this.  So write more, post
more!"

Vicki
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 17:52:47 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: NEW STORY: Chocolat
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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SuperMom,
Cute story.
merry
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Aug 2001 20:45:03 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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In a message dated 8/3/01 3:02:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ape130@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

<< Yes, I agree. Not to mention I heard that young lex luthor is in it, and
 that is so dumb! Lex Luthor is in metropolis not smallville, and they don't
 meet until later!!!

  >>

In the old pre - Crisis Superboy comics, Clark and Lex used to be best
friends before something twisted Luthor's mind.

Look, not everything is going to be L&C, it's going to have it's own
separate
canon and it's own continuity.  For me as long as these things happen: Clark
learns to use his powers responsibly, he's raised by Jonathan and Martha
Kent
with love and warmth and he meets his soulmate Lois in the end, then I'm
willing to give it a shot (that and John Schineder being a younger Jonathan
doesn't hurt, hehe) and who knows, it might be almost as good as L&C.  Let's
wait for it to premiere and give it a chance.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 10:47:09 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Fw: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Fwding for MissBug02@aol.com.

LabRat :)

i wounder if Zoom could change the username and passwords?!=20
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 20:49:08 +0930
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:         LizO <lizo@OZEMAIL.COM.AU>
Subject:      A technical question
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  quoted-printable

Hi all.

Just to let you know that I am working on Phoenix Rising - slowly!

Just a quick question. Would a crime of embezzlement involving a =
telecommunications company be dealt with by state police or the FBI?

Thanks

Liz
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 07:44:41 -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>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 16
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Vicki, my post for today ... won't be today, I'm afraid :)  My vacation put
me off schedule, and this week's scenes are being difficult to do.  I'm
hoping for early next week, and the switch to Monday might be
semi-permanent...

(I could post what I have, but it's only 6k and would probably get the mob
after my blood <g>)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 07:54:18 -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:         lcfic <lcfic@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: No Zoom ..So NKerths Catch-up Reading
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Well stated, Anne!!  It was all so good I couldn't
find just a snippet to pull out and quote :)  And
thanks for the plug :)

The votes are just pouring in - thanks to everyone who
has taken Anne's advice and participated already :)

Also, a reminder that the ceremony is on Saturday
September 8th 6pm Eastern.  We still need an emcee, 5
presenters, and stage hands, so if you'd like to help
out, drop me an email.

Thanks!
Dawn

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 13:38:23 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Zoom's boards and Second Thoughts

Apologies to anyone who either doesn't read Zoom's message boards or isn't
following my story Second Thoughts over there...

I should be posting a new part of Second Thoughts this evening. However,
with the boards apparently still out of action, that won't be happening. I
won't follow Missy's example and post the section here instead, because I
obviously can't include the 'illustrations' on the list, and I think they
do add to the story... especially in the section coming up!

So apologies for the lack of a new section; I promise to post it as soon as
I can get access to the boards again!

Wendy
-----------

Wendy Richards
wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 15:10:07 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:         Rachel Madden <LnCSwing@AOL.COM>
Subject:      NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition"  (0/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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Hi everyone -

       First of all, let me apologize to the people who were reading this
fic
the *first* time I tried posting it.  It was entirely my fault the the story
kind of went down the drain, because when I write, I take Writer's Block to
a
whole new extreme.  (Or maybe it's just laziness.... <g>)  Anyway, this time
I'm following through with it...the story is 4/5 done...I just need to write
the gigantically important scene at the end with...well, you'll see.  :)

       Next, let me explain that this story has absolutely *no* references
to
Lois and Clark whatsoever.  There's only one character from the show in this
story: Perry White.  A 28-years-younger Perry White.  However, you may
noticed that the two main characters seem similar to Lois and Clark, but
that's only because their personalities were made for each other....  ;)

       This fic is based on brief references to Billy Norcross and Serena
Judd in the show.  It may seem a bit far-fetched, but I was searching for
something new and unique, and I found it in these two characters.  I became
extremely fond of them and the younger (but still obsessed with Elvis) Perry
throughout the course of writing the story.  Not quite as fond as I am of
Lois and Clark, but still....  :)  It was fun taking two completely unused
characters and creating a story about them.  I hope you enjoy reading it as
much as I enjoyed writing it.

       And speaking of reading, I'm betting that's what you're wishing you
could get on with, right?  As always, any comments are appreciated.  Thanks!

-Rachel  :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 15:12:19 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:         Rachel Madden <LnCSwing@AOL.COM>
Subject:      NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (1/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition

by Rachel M. (LnCSwing@aol.com)
Part 1 of ?
Rated PG-13
Feedback: All comments are welcome.
_____________________________________________

    Mud churned as a man struggled his way up a slippery hill, gun in hand.
He quickly glanced behind him, readying his weapon as he ran.  A dog's howl
reached his ears, and he panicked, kicking up more mud as he tried to go
faster.  He slipped and fell, accidentally firing his weapon into the woods,
which were damp and dripping from the morning's heavy rain.  Ten more yards.
That was it.  But, no, he could hear the men shouting now.  Too late.

*       *       *

    "Thank God for that rain we had this morning."

    "Speak for yourself.  I just bought these shoes."

    "You're gonna be losing more than just a new pair of shoes if the police
find out we're tailing this guy by ourselves."

    "Well, they can just kiss my foot, because this is the biggest story of
the year.  I'm not going to let some men who think they're hotshots just
because they carry badges ruin our big chance of finally proving ourselves
to
Tom.  And besides, we're not tailing this guy by ourselves.  The police are
here...just a mile or so back."

    The man in the twosome sighed.  The woman, his partner, grinned
mischievously.

    "All right, but just remember that it's not only our paychecks, it's our
necks, too."

    "Completely understood."  The woman slipped on some mud and sat down
hard
in a large puddle.  "Damn...there goes the dress, too...."  She rubbed her
foot and looked around distractedly.  "If we get out of this alive, I'm
telling Tom to get me a new dre -- "

    The man looked back at his partner worriedly.  "Are you okay?  Why are
you staring at me like that?"

    "Look out!"

    CRACK!

    The woman jumped up and ran to the man, pushing him down and then
dropping to the ground alongside him.  There was another loud burst of
gunfire, and a patch of land just ahead of the pair was left bare by the
impact of the bullet.

    "Up!  Move!  Behind that rock!"  The man and woman pushed themselves up
and sprinted behind a small group of rocks.

    "Well, this is great.  Whose idea was this, anyway?" the woman demanded.

    "Yours."

    "Hey, at least we found him!"

    Another shot rang out, and the two ducked.

    "You'd better hope that the police get here soon."

    "They'll never get here in time," the woman said.

    "Well, then, O Bright One, what do you suggest we do now?"  The man,
wet,
filthy, and sweaty, turned to his partner, who looked like a savage Indian.
"Oh, no.  You've got that glint in your eye.  You're not serious...."

    The woman just grinned.

    "He has a gun!"

    "So what?  Together, we have two brains.  He only has one."

    The man folded his arms resolutely.  "He has a gun."

    The woman rolled her eyes.  "C'mon."

    The two backed slowly away from the rocks, straining to see the shooter
through the trees.

    "You know, just because we can't see him doesn't mean he can't see us,"
the man said.

    "Oh, shut up.  He would've shot us by now if he could see us," the woman
replied, then promptly backed into a tree and screamed.

    "Oh, great.  Now he knows where we are even if he *can't* see us!"

    "Keep your shirt on.  We can keep him occupied until the police get
here."  The woman yelled again, this time on purpose, and shook some bushes
to give the shooter an estimate as to where they were.  The gun popped, and
some bark on the tree right next to the woman flew off.

    "Okay, now let's go over there."  The woman pointed to their left.  "How
about you give it a try this time."  She smiled despite the danger.  "In
'Avoiding Armed Criminals 101' you get hands-on training."

    The man smiled grimly in reply and took a few small tree branches and
cracked them with his feet, then backed off.  Just as he stepped away, the
bullet sent some dead leaves flying right where the man had been standing.

*       *       *

    Patrick Frederickson sighed.  Escaping from jail had been hard
enough...and now he had to put up with *this*?  Two *tourists*, no doubt,
off
for a scenic hike, escaping from the nearby trails themselves.  That
reminded
him.  He had to stay away from those public trails.  The less people, the
better.  He didn't have time to shoot at potential witnesses.  The police
were hard on his tail.  He sighed again and reloaded his gun for future use.

    Then he heard the voice, deep and commanding.

    "Police!  Drop your weapon!  *Now*!"

*       *       *

    "We can't thank you enough for your help.  Even though I *told* you not
to go running off without us, I can't say I'm sorry you did it anyway."

    "No problem, Captain.  We appreciate the stories more when we almost die
for them," the woman said.

    Captain Robert Dale laughed along with the two reporters.  "Well, you
had
better tell Tom that you deserve a raise and a vacation.  And if he won't
allow that, well, you just call me.  I know the spot where it hurts the
worst."  Dale winked.

    "Excuse me, Captain Dale?"

    "Yes?"

    The three turned to look at a young officer, obviously new and in need
of
something to do.

    "I'm sorry, but I need to get your names.  You'll need to issue a
statement."  The officer gestured toward the man and woman.

    Dale made as if to answer for his two friends, but the man waved him
off.
 He turned and looked the officer in the eye with a steady, sincere gaze.

    "Norcross.  William Norcross.  And this is my partner, Serena Judd."
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 15:28:07 -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:         Phil Atcliffe <atcliffe@PERDICAS.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 16

On Fri, 3 Aug 2001 17:37:58 -0400, Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
wrote:

>s
>p
>o
>i
>l
>e
>r

>s
>p
>a
>c
>e

a
n
d

s
o
m
e

m
o
r
e

> I'm not entirely clear what the nefarious plan is... Nigel's going to
crash a plane into the Daily Planet building?? but obviously something's
up. <

But not for long... <eg>

> Nice b-plot building, though I hope Lois is done testing Clark for a
while... the first five times it was cool, after that it got a bit
monotonous :) especially since he passed every one. <

To be fair, Pam, most of Lois' "tests" have been unplanned, hey-that's-a-
good-idea sort of things that she's dreamed up on the fly. She's still
_very_ uncertain as to what to make of Clark -- somewhat less now that a
week or so has passed, perhaps, but that's not all that long, especially
for someone with a suspicious mind like Lois. <g>

> Who'd have ever thought I'd be wishing for Clark to be *more*
lunkheaded? :p <

Wait; there's lunkheadedness (is that a word? <g>) in the future...

>Still, overall, I'm enjoying the heck out of this. So write more, post
more! <

We are; I will. All in good time...

Phil
----
"If you let a smile be your umbrella... you'll get wet teeth!"
  -- a forgotten comedian, quoted by me: Phil Atcliffe
                               (atcliffe@perdicas.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 13:35:54 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (1/?)
In-Reply-To:  <24.17355a28.289da313@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 03:12 PM 04/08/2001 EDT, you wrote:
>The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition
>
>by Rachel M. (LnCSwing@aol.com)
>Part 1 of ?
>Rated PG-13
>Feedback: All comments are welcome.
>_____________________________________________

OMG... off to a riptootin' start you are, Rachel! Have to admit, I've been
curious about Norcross and Judd since I wrote my 'What REALLY Happened' a
couple years ago. So I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this :)
Please hurry up with the next part...

Melisma (on the edge of her seat, here under her Rock)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 16:21:19 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (1/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Rachel -  how much have you changed of the story that you have previously
posted?

merry

Rachel Madden wrote:

> The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition
>
> by Rachel M. (LnCSwing@aol.com)
> Part 1 of ?
> Rated PG-13
> Feedback: All comments are welcome.
> _____________________________________________
>
>     Mud churned as a man struggled his way up a slippery hill, gun in
hand.
> He quickly glanced behind him, readying his weapon as he ran.  A dog's
howl
> reached his ears, and he panicked, kicking up more mud as he tried to go
> faster.  He slipped and fell, accidentally firing his weapon into the
woods,
> which were damp and dripping from the morning's heavy rain.  Ten more
yards.
> That was it.  But, no, he could hear the men shouting now.  Too late.
>
> *       *       *
>
>     "Thank God for that rain we had this morning."
>
>     "Speak for yourself.  I just bought these shoes."
>
>     "You're gonna be losing more than just a new pair of shoes if the
police
> find out we're tailing this guy by ourselves."
>
>     "Well, they can just kiss my foot, because this is the biggest story
of
> the year.  I'm not going to let some men who think they're hotshots just
> because they carry badges ruin our big chance of finally proving ourselves
to
> Tom.  And besides, we're not tailing this guy by ourselves.  The police
are
> here...just a mile or so back."
>
>     The man in the twosome sighed.  The woman, his partner, grinned
> mischievously.
>
>     "All right, but just remember that it's not only our paychecks, it's
our
> necks, too."
>
>     "Completely understood."  The woman slipped on some mud and sat down
hard
> in a large puddle.  "Damn...there goes the dress, too...."  She rubbed her
> foot and looked around distractedly.  "If we get out of this alive, I'm
> telling Tom to get me a new dre -- "
>
>     The man looked back at his partner worriedly.  "Are you okay?  Why are
> you staring at me like that?"
>
>     "Look out!"
>
>     CRACK!
>
>     The woman jumped up and ran to the man, pushing him down and then
> dropping to the ground alongside him.  There was another loud burst of
> gunfire, and a patch of land just ahead of the pair was left bare by the
> impact of the bullet.
>
>     "Up!  Move!  Behind that rock!"  The man and woman pushed themselves
up
> and sprinted behind a small group of rocks.
>
>     "Well, this is great.  Whose idea was this, anyway?" the woman
demanded.
>
>     "Yours."
>
>     "Hey, at least we found him!"
>
>     Another shot rang out, and the two ducked.
>
>     "You'd better hope that the police get here soon."
>
>     "They'll never get here in time," the woman said.
>
>     "Well, then, O Bright One, what do you suggest we do now?"  The man,
wet,
> filthy, and sweaty, turned to his partner, who looked like a savage
Indian.
> "Oh, no.  You've got that glint in your eye.  You're not serious...."
>
>     The woman just grinned.
>
>     "He has a gun!"
>
>     "So what?  Together, we have two brains.  He only has one."
>
>     The man folded his arms resolutely.  "He has a gun."
>
>     The woman rolled her eyes.  "C'mon."
>
>     The two backed slowly away from the rocks, straining to see the
shooter
> through the trees.
>
>     "You know, just because we can't see him doesn't mean he can't see
us,"
> the man said.
>
>     "Oh, shut up.  He would've shot us by now if he could see us," the
woman
> replied, then promptly backed into a tree and screamed.
>
>     "Oh, great.  Now he knows where we are even if he *can't* see us!"
>
>     "Keep your shirt on.  We can keep him occupied until the police get
> here."  The woman yelled again, this time on purpose, and shook some
bushes
> to give the shooter an estimate as to where they were.  The gun popped,
and
> some bark on the tree right next to the woman flew off.
>
>     "Okay, now let's go over there."  The woman pointed to their left.
"How
> about you give it a try this time."  She smiled despite the danger.  "In
> 'Avoiding Armed Criminals 101' you get hands-on training."
>
>     The man smiled grimly in reply and took a few small tree branches and
> cracked them with his feet, then backed off.  Just as he stepped away, the
> bullet sent some dead leaves flying right where the man had been standing.
>
> *       *       *
>
>     Patrick Frederickson sighed.  Escaping from jail had been hard
> enough...and now he had to put up with *this*?  Two *tourists*, no doubt,
off
> for a scenic hike, escaping from the nearby trails themselves.  That
reminded
> him.  He had to stay away from those public trails.  The less people, the
> better.  He didn't have time to shoot at potential witnesses.  The police
> were hard on his tail.  He sighed again and reloaded his gun for future
use.
>
>     Then he heard the voice, deep and commanding.
>
>     "Police!  Drop your weapon!  *Now*!"
>
> *       *       *
>
>     "We can't thank you enough for your help.  Even though I *told* you
not
> to go running off without us, I can't say I'm sorry you did it anyway."
>
>     "No problem, Captain.  We appreciate the stories more when we almost
die
> for them," the woman said.
>
>     Captain Robert Dale laughed along with the two reporters.  "Well, you
had
> better tell Tom that you deserve a raise and a vacation.  And if he won't
> allow that, well, you just call me.  I know the spot where it hurts the
> worst."  Dale winked.
>
>     "Excuse me, Captain Dale?"
>
>     "Yes?"
>
>     The three turned to look at a young officer, obviously new and in need
of
> something to do.
>
>     "I'm sorry, but I need to get your names.  You'll need to issue a
> statement."  The officer gestured toward the man and woman.
>
>     Dale made as if to answer for his two friends, but the man waved him
off.
>  He turned and looked the officer in the eye with a steady, sincere gaze.
>
>     "Norcross.  William Norcross.  And this is my partner, Serena Judd."
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 16:22:03 -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 <dls@THUNTEK.NET>
Subject:      Re: trouble accessing Zoom's boards
In-Reply-To:  <001601c11c54$015a24c0$897f1f3e@land>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 08:39 PM 08/03/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>Yup - couldn't get the Index Updates done today because I couldn't access
>the boards.
>
>According to the BBC news website last night, it's now been acknowledged
>that the Code Red virus was never any threat. Something about a
>co-incidental train crash in a tunnel causing a systems blip in the
internet
>which was mistakenly misread by the analysts as Code Red attacking the
>system. Go figure! <g>
>
>LabRat :)

Sounds like a job for.... at least one or two intrepid reporters. Ides of
March, anyone?

Debby
dls@thuntek.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 21:04:09 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Kathy Brown <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Be a "Smallville" writer

On Fri, 3 Aug 2001 13:01:45 -0600, April Sycamore <ape130@HOTMAIL.COM>
wrote:

>Yes, I agree. Not to mention I heard that young lex luthor is in it, and
>that is so dumb! Lex Luthor is in metropolis not smallville, and they don't
>meet until later!!!

Actually, in at least one Superman comics canon, Clark and Lex were
childhood
friends, and only after Lex is involved in a serious accident does he become
evil.  Read the book, "The Last Son of Krypton" for all the details; it's
been years since I've read it so I can't remember all the particulars.

"Smallville" seems to be picking and choosing elements from the various
incarnations of Superman for it's universe.  For example, from what I
understand, Clark will be a toddler when he comes to Earth, along the lines
of the Chris Reeve Superman movies.  (To contrast, on L&C, he was only a few
months old, and in the current comics, he was actually in essense incubated
on his space journey and born on Earth.)

I think the young Lex storyline sounds interesting (he's a young man trying
to prove himself to a highly critical father who doesn't think his son will
amount to anything -- shades of L&C's Lois?).  What *I* don't particularly
want to see is the "Clark loves Lana but she doesn't know he exists"
storyline, but it will remain to see how they present it.

I know most of us have been spoiled by L&C, but we have to remember that L&C
was just one of many incarnations of Superman.  None is more "right" than
the
others; it's just a matter of personal preference.  Don't forget -- when L&C
premiered, many comics fans were outraged over Dean Cain playing the lead
because he had brown eyes (instead of blue in every other incarnation) and
because they felt he looked too young.  You also have many comics fans who
insist on Clark calling his parents "Ma" and "Pa", even when they write L&C
fanfic.  If Smallville is "dumb" because it deviates from L&C, then L&C is
equally "dumb" because it deviates from the comics canon.

Kathy
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 22:52:12 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Rachel Madden <LnCSwing@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (1/?)
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merry wrote:

//Rachel -=A0 how much have you changed of the story that you have
previousl=
y=20
posted?//

Actually, not much has changed...a few words here and there, some
grammatica=
l=20
errors.  Other than that, everything has pretty much stayed the same.
But=20
if, in later installments, I notice something huge that I added or
deleted,=20
I'll let you know.  Thanks for asking...I hadn't really thought about
that=20
myself.=20

-Rachel  :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 00:00:33 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Genevieve Clemens <nightsky@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Smallville Pilot -- a review
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Coming out of lurkdom to respond to this.  I have seen the Smallville
pilot, and it's really quite good.  (It's really quite nice to live in
the same town as Craig Byrne.  Craig has started an online fan club and
newsletter for Smallville, just as he did with The Krypton Club for Lois
and Clark.  You can get the latest news on Smallville, and subscribe to
the newsletter "Planet Krypton" at <Most of this news was originally
posted at KryptonSite at <http://www.kryptonsite.com>)

Let me start out by saying that I am first and foremost a fan of "Lois
and Clark".  But around the time season three was airing, I found I was
reading comic books, and buying them off the Internet until I have
almost all of the post-Byrne comics.  But, as befits a FoLC, my primary
interest has always been Clark Kent and his relationship with the people
around him.  Forget the monsters and the slugfests and Doomsday, it's
how Clark balances his two lives, and those two lives effect the people
around him that holds my interest.

So I was intrigued when I heard that there was to be a television series
focusing on the teenage Clark Kent.  I remember the Superboy comics from
the sixties, and obviously that Superboy has no place in our current
universe.  As I think about it, the comics haven't spent that much time
looking into what it was like for Clark Kent to grow up in Smallville,
to grow in to his powers.  We know from the comics that he took Lana
flying when he was 18; he trusted her enough to share his secret with
her, but not to stay with her, for he left Smallville the next day.  But
there is so much more that can be done with Clark's teenage years, so
difficult for everyone, even more so for someone as special as Clark.
The producers of "Smallville" have an incredible opportunity to examine
a cultural icon -- we all know that eventually Clark Kent will learn to
fly, will put on glasses, and will become the Superhero who will save
the world ... a lot ..., but what forces will mold him as he reaches
adulthood?  These stories have the potential to be a fascinating
exploration of character, as long as they don't become too overwhelmed
with the monsters and slugfests and X-files-like occurrences that happen
along the way.

I should say that the episode I saw is not going to be what airs on WB
in October.  They've recast the part of Martha, with Annette O'Toole
replacing Cynthia Ettinger, and are going to be reshooting Martha's
scenes.   There are no real spoilers here -- I'm not going to give away
the plot, just to point out some of what I see as some of the strengths
and weaknesses of "Smallville."

Last week we were discussing the question: What makes Clark Clark?  I
thought a lot about that question, especially given the fact that I'd
just watched Smallville.  My answers were a bit broader than most of the
ones posted.

First, Clark is one of the "simple folk."  This is shown by the fact
that he comes from the idyllic small-town America, where every knows one
another, cares about one another, and the values of yesteryear are taken
for granted.  He trusts people, he assumes they are inherently good, he
cares about everyone.  HOWEVER, Clark no longer lives in this idyllic
place, but in the Modern World, where these values are seen as
aberrations, bizarre.  People make fun of him for them, but he still
tries to live by them, by his view of What the World Should Be Like.
Smallville versus Metropolis.  We see this dichotomy in Lois and Clark,
in the Christopher Reeve movies, and in the comic books, whether they
were written in the 1930s or today.

And, surprisingly enough, we find dichotomy in "Smallville" as well.
Yes, Clark is still in Smallville, otherwise the show would have to be
called "Metropolis".  But the producers manage to maintain this
conflict, not by taking Clark out of the farm and sending him to the
city, but by looking at small town America with a realistic eye.  Let's
face it.  Towns like the traditional Smallville don't exist anymore, and
never they never did.   It's Jonathan Kent who is holding onto the old
time values, and trying to install them in his son, in a changing, 21st
century world.  Before the meteor shower hits Smallville in 1989,
Smallville has a population of 24,001 and was the "Creamed Corn Capital
of the World."   Twelve years later, in 2001, Smallville is the "Meteor
capital of the world"  and has a population of 45,001.  Luthor Corp
Fertilizer Plant #3 is in Smallville.  Housing developments are moving
in; we see a sign advertising "Pleasant Meadows, another Luthor Corp
project.  New homes starting at $248,000."  Clark Kent doesn't need to
move to Metropolis, not when Smallville is changing all around him.

The second character trait that makes Clark Clark in al the Superman
stories is that he wants to live a normal life.  He wants to be just a
guy, going to baseball games with Jimmy and Perry, having a career,
being respected as a writer.  HOWEVER, Clark has a secret, something
which makes this normal life an impossibility.  He has superpowers, and
he feels obligated to use those superpowers to help people.  In one
sense, Clark is proud of having the powers, proud of what he can do with
them, but at the same time, he just wants to be like everybody else.  In
some of the best stories he looses these powers, and becomes a normal
man.  In those stories, the tension is clearly seen, because he wants
the powers back.  This is a conflict at the heart of the Superman saga,
ever since the Byrne rewrite, although we also see bits of it in the
second Christopher Reeve movie.

In "Smallville," Clark Kent is just your normal fifteen year old boy,
who "just wants to go through high school without being a total
loser."   But he is becoming progressively aware of just how different
he is.  By the end of the episode Clark is aware that he has "a gift and
a destiny and a purpose."  I suspect that how Clark will mange being a
teenager, while being faithful to his gift and his destiny and his
purpose will form the basis of this show.

The third character trait that is indispensable in making Clark Clark is
that he someone who loves deeply and with commitment, whether this love
is reciprocated or hopeless.  He is also extremely loyal to his
friends.   I don't expect Clark to find his soul mate in Smallville --
we all know that happens years later in Metropolis, but I do expect him
to be a good friend. I don't expect to find a fully mature Clark,
because he's growing into who he is, but I found the pilot intriguing
and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it.

Clark seems to have a number for friends.  Lex may be one (more about
him later).  Pete Ross, familiar to anyone who reads the comics.  Chloe,
our intrepid investigative reporter, a Lois Lane substitute, and, of
course, Lana Lang, with whom he is obviously smitten.   And Lana seems
to be very nice, quite worthy of him, too.  Let's not be prejudiced by
the Lana in Tempus Anyone; in the comics she knows his secret, and
doesn't give him away -- even when she is tortured by Luthor.

As a mother of teenagers, I was grateful to see that his parents were
also very much in the picture, or at least Jonathan was.  Martha was
much more in the background than I'd like -- she's always seemed a very
strong character to me, but perhaps that's why they recast the role.  I
was quite impressed by John Schneider's portrayal of Jonathan Kent.  And
I liked the farm -- we see Jonathan working with some sort of farm
equipment, using ear protection.  No cows in the pasture, no waving
wheat fields, but real farm work.  Somehow it was that scene that made
me realize we were on a modern day farm.

The pilot episode of "Smallville" was full of promise.  Yes, there was a
crazy villain, and yes, he went through Smallville killing people, and
yes, when he tried to kill everyone at the Smallville High Homecoming
Dance, Clark stopped him.  (It appears that the meteor shower that
brought Clark to Earth also caused enough radiation to cause a lot of
strange mutations in the town; enough strange things happen in
Smallville that Chloe, our teenage reporter, has assembled a "Wall of
Weird.")   The guy-out-for-revenge plot really didn't blend too well
into the basic Clark-finds-out-he's-different plot.  I hope they manage
to do a better job of blending the action and character plots in the
future., but it was a small part of the plot.  Actually, it would have
been a good story without the bad guy at all, but I suppose that's too
much to hope for from episodic television.

There were some beautiful visual moments in the filming.  There is a
great moment right after Clark has just used his powers to save
someone's life.  He's sitting on the bank of the river, with the
ambulances and paramedics all around, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a
hot drink.  It's a poignant moment when Clark suddenly realizes that
what he just did is impossible, that he should have been killed.
Jonathan comes to take him home, and as Clark walks up the hill with his
father, the red fireman's blanket flares out behind him -- Superman's
cape.  A wonderful subtle reminder of just who Clark Kent will become.

The show had is funny, ironic moments, which I won't quote here, so
you'll appreciate them when you see them.  There were plenty of quotable
moments.  There were a few weaknesses.  The science is ... not well
researched, to put it mildly, and doesn't bear much deep thought.  The
writers are looking for convenience, I suspect.   Exactly what the
limits of Clark's powers are has yet to be explained.  We see him
running fast, but he is surprised that he is invulnerable.  Obviously,
he can't fly yet -- so how did he do the stunt he did at the end?  Mind
you it was a funny stunt, an LOL-sort of ending, but unless Clark is a
fully powered Superhero at this point, there's just no way he could do
it.  The writers need to set limits to Clark's powers and stick to them,
new powers should be introduced.  When he does something he just
shouldn't be able to do, just because it's cute, or because it's the
only way to get the bad guys in 45 minutes, it detracts from the realism
of the show.  The L&C writers never figured this out, but I hope the
Smallville writers do.

In summary, the show strikes me as a mixture between Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, where a teenager with special powers is called upon to use those
powers while trying to grow up, and the X-Files, with strange, weird
things arising from the cornfields at night.  But it's not just Buffy or
X-Files; as long as they keep the essentials of the Superman mythos in
the stories, we have the potential for a unique and intriguing show.
I'm looking forward to watching it this Fall.

----------------------

A few comments on some of the things that were posted here:

Some people have been posting along the lines of "if it's not like L&C,
I won't watch it because it won't be Superman."  For me, the Superman
legend is mythic in nature, something so large that it can be told in
many, many ways.  There is no one way to tell the story of Robin Hood,
or King Arthur, and yes, I put Superman in the same category.  There are
so many aspects to his story, that you lose so much if you restrict
yourselves to only one interpretation.  Sort of like only reading Le
Morte de Arthur, and never opening Mary Stewart.   You may become an
expert in Malory, but you miss many layers and depths to the story.

Tom Welling, who plays Clark Kent, looks like a young Christopher Reeve,
instead of a young Dean Cain.  I wonder what color Welling's eyes are.
There are so many people (not here, obviously) who never accepted Dean
as Superman because his eyes weren't blue.  The trivial things people
focus on, like what color a persons eyes are.  Or how tall he is.  Or
whether he resembles one actor or another.  Luckily, Superman transcends
all of this.  (BTW, Pete Ross is African American in "Smallville.")

Carole said:

< "I may watch a couple eps, but I can just see the tomatoes,
< etc., being thrown if they don't go with LC canon-like (and
< I know it's considered acceptable either way in fanfic, not
< in the show) if he sleeps with Lana or something.  And doesn't
< take Rachel to his prom or something. "  And Elizabeth: "If he
< does sleep with somebody I will throw a fit, but I don't (hopefully)
< expect them to go that route just yet.  Anything else I'm open to."

As a old-time FOLC, I feel obligated to point out that that Clark's
virginity was not part of canon until the middle of the third season.
And there were a number of great discussions on whether or not he was a
virgin.  There were a number of people who preferred their Clark Kent a
bit more experienced and a number of fanfiction stories that just
assumed a slightly less impure past for our hero.   There were a number
of FoLCs in the old days that did not see Clark's keeping himself pure
for his future wife as an essential part of the "old-time values" that
are a part of what makes Clark Clark.  I think I could handle an
experimenting Clark, especially if these experiences showcase his
uniqueness, and go into creating the man who will be Superman.

And it ought to be Lana he cares for in his teenage days, not Rachel.
Lana is part of the Superman mythos, she's been around for decades.
Rachel is an interesting character, true, but she was only in *one* L&C
episode, and I seem to recall that was only because they couldn't get
permission from TPTB to use Lana's name.

And April said:

< I heard that young Lex Luthor is in it, and that is so dumb!
< Lex Luthor is in Metropolis not Smallville, and they don't
< meet until later!!!"

In the old Superboy comics, Luthor was from Smallville.  One of the
reason he went psycho is that he always blamed Clark for losing his
hair, but I forget the details.  From what I saw in the pilot, they've
done a great job with Luthor great reason for his being in Smallville,
and it's going to be a fascinating part of the story.   Oh, and there is
a great fencing scene in "Smallville" which immediately brought the
scene with Lex and Miranda in Pheromone, My Lovely to mind.

In fact, Lex is one of the more intriguing characters in the pilot, with
the potential to become Lex Luthor a very complex character in this
drama. We *know* he's going to turn out evil, just as surely as we know
that someday Clark will learn how to fly.  But when?  We briefly see
Luthor's father, angry at the nine-year-old Lex when he is afraid.  In
the current time, the twenty-one year old Lex seems to despise his
father. Jonathan Kent tells us that Luthor senior is an unethical,
nasty, scheming, businessman who can't be trusted -- but is Lex?

Does the apple fall far from the tree?  Does Lex really want to be
Clark's friend, or is he already a psychopath playing the part of
friendly rich kid?  If not, when will he turn into Superman's arch
enemy?  And why?  And how much does Lex see?  He has this quiet,
pondering look after his meetings with Clark that had me wondering.  Is
Lex blind, or are his eyes wide open?  Lex Luthor is most decidedly one
of the least well developed characters in the Superman mythos, and a
character well worth exploring.  It's very easy to turn Luthor into a
caricature -- evil just because -- but I hope that "Smallville" gives us
a well-rounded character.  I think what they do with Lex's character
will be just as important as what they do with Clark's.

(And what makes Lois Lois?  One thing I can think of is that Lois is a
woman who for some reason has been told she cannot succeed, and is
determined to prove the world wrong.  In the 1930's, it was because she
was a woman, in the 1990s (L&C), it was less that and more because being
a reporter was a dog eat dog career.  (You're only as good as your last
story, Kent.)  I think her character would be very well cast as a
minority, determined to succeed -- as women become more and more
incorporated into the work place it'll be harder and harder to
understand why Lois is as driven as she is.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genevieve
<mailto:NightSky@starpower.net> <http://users.erols.com/nightsky/>

"Luthor Corp -- making America a better place to live" -- seen on a
billboard in Smallville.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Aug 2001 23:01:22 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (1/?)
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Thanks Rachel.
I've read 5 parts to the story.  I'll reread them soon - once you are about
caught up to them- so I'll be ready for the new parts.
merry

Rachel Madden wrote:

> merry wrote:
>
> //Rachel -  how much have you changed of the story that you have
previously
> posted?//
>
> Actually, not much has changed...a few words here and there, some
grammatical
> errors.  Other than that, everything has pretty much stayed the same.  But
> if, in later installments, I notice something huge that I added or
deleted,
> I'll let you know.  Thanks for asking...I hadn't really thought about that
> myself.
>
> -Rachel  :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 08:44:01 EDT
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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      This Week, on The Author's Mind...
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Hey all!!

Due to all the chaos on Zoom's boards, I won't be posting there until things
are stable.  Be that as it may, I couldn't let this week's author go up
without her announcement!

This week on the Author's mind, we have an author who needs NO intruduction
or fanfare <g>... so... I'm not gonna give her any <vbg>.

Come read about Wendy Richards this week, and her fantastic story:
FOR THE GREATER GOOD

http://www.geocities.com/authorsmind/main.html

You'll also notice that I've put up a preview of who's to come in the next
few weeks... enjoy!

Finally, there has been a complaint about the site in relation to Netscape.
If you have any problems, please let me know... otherwise use Explorer,
which
seems to do fine.  I've only had one person with problems, but I hate to see
even that.

-Crys-

Manager, The Author's Mind...
Come take a look into the Author's Mind at:
www.geocities.com/authorsmind/main.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:10:46 -0400
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: This Week, on The Author's Mind...
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Thank you, Crystal!  I'd gone looking for this earlier and was vastly
disappointed that it hadn't been updated yet <g>

And Wendy, it was a very enjoyable interview to read -- loved the bit about
the song on the radio <g>

Those of you who haven't seen it yet should, whether you've read the story
in question or not ;)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:23:04 EDT
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From:         Charlotte Fisler <Cdfisler@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Valley of the Shadow, 7/?
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Carol

You asked for comments.  Here's mine.   "Arrrrggghhhh!"

Please get them out of this soon.  I can't take any more.

(seriously - great story - really holds your interest.)

Charlotte
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:38:19 -0700
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From:         Marnie Rowe <Bumpkin@CGOCABLE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
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Genevieve,

This was wonderful to read and I have to thank you very much for your
posting of it. I have to agree with some of the more general points that you
made about the Superman mythos. In fact one of the favorite old story lines
that i loved from the comics was when Superboy and a very disturbed genius
Lex were friends. Lex was never a happy fellow, but he has always been
charasmatic. Thank you again,

Marns
~Pobody's Nerfect
----- Original Message -----
From: "Genevieve Clemens" <nightsky@EROLS.COM>
To: <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2001 9:00 PM
Subject: Smallville Pilot -- a review

> Coming out of lurkdom to respond to this.  I have seen the Smallville
> pilot, and it's really quite good.  (It's really quite nice to live in
> the same town as Craig Byrne.  Craig has started an online fan club and
> newsletter for Smallville, just as he did with The Krypton Club for Lois
> and Clark.  You can get the latest news on Smallville, and subscribe to
> the newsletter "Planet Krypton" at <Most of this news was originally
> posted at KryptonSite at <http://www.kryptonsite.com>)
>
> Let me start out by saying that I am first and foremost a fan of "Lois
> and Clark".  But around the time season three was airing, I found I was
> reading comic books, and buying them off the Internet until I have
> almost all of the post-Byrne comics.  But, as befits a FoLC, my primary
> interest has always been Clark Kent and his relationship with the people
> around him.  Forget the monsters and the slugfests and Doomsday, it's
> how Clark balances his two lives, and those two lives effect the people
> around him that holds my interest.
>
> So I was intrigued when I heard that there was to be a television series
> focusing on the teenage Clark Kent.  I remember the Superboy comics from
> the sixties, and obviously that Superboy has no place in our current
> universe.  As I think about it, the comics haven't spent that much time
> looking into what it was like for Clark Kent to grow up in Smallville,
> to grow in to his powers.  We know from the comics that he took Lana
> flying when he was 18; he trusted her enough to share his secret with
> her, but not to stay with her, for he left Smallville the next day.  But
> there is so much more that can be done with Clark's teenage years, so
> difficult for everyone, even more so for someone as special as Clark.
> The producers of "Smallville" have an incredible opportunity to examine
> a cultural icon -- we all know that eventually Clark Kent will learn to
> fly, will put on glasses, and will become the Superhero who will save
> the world ... a lot ..., but what forces will mold him as he reaches
> adulthood?  These stories have the potential to be a fascinating
> exploration of character, as long as they don't become too overwhelmed
> with the monsters and slugfests and X-files-like occurrences that happen
> along the way.
>
> I should say that the episode I saw is not going to be what airs on WB
> in October.  They've recast the part of Martha, with Annette O'Toole
> replacing Cynthia Ettinger, and are going to be reshooting Martha's
> scenes.   There are no real spoilers here -- I'm not going to give away
> the plot, just to point out some of what I see as some of the strengths
> and weaknesses of "Smallville."
>
> Last week we were discussing the question: What makes Clark Clark?  I
> thought a lot about that question, especially given the fact that I'd
> just watched Smallville.  My answers were a bit broader than most of the
> ones posted.
>
> First, Clark is one of the "simple folk."  This is shown by the fact
> that he comes from the idyllic small-town America, where every knows one
> another, cares about one another, and the values of yesteryear are taken
> for granted.  He trusts people, he assumes they are inherently good, he
> cares about everyone.  HOWEVER, Clark no longer lives in this idyllic
> place, but in the Modern World, where these values are seen as
> aberrations, bizarre.  People make fun of him for them, but he still
> tries to live by them, by his view of What the World Should Be Like.
> Smallville versus Metropolis.  We see this dichotomy in Lois and Clark,
> in the Christopher Reeve movies, and in the comic books, whether they
> were written in the 1930s or today.
>
> And, surprisingly enough, we find dichotomy in "Smallville" as well.
> Yes, Clark is still in Smallville, otherwise the show would have to be
> called "Metropolis".  But the producers manage to maintain this
> conflict, not by taking Clark out of the farm and sending him to the
> city, but by looking at small town America with a realistic eye.  Let's
> face it.  Towns like the traditional Smallville don't exist anymore, and
> never they never did.   It's Jonathan Kent who is holding onto the old
> time values, and trying to install them in his son, in a changing, 21st
> century world.  Before the meteor shower hits Smallville in 1989,
> Smallville has a population of 24,001 and was the "Creamed Corn Capital
> of the World."   Twelve years later, in 2001, Smallville is the "Meteor
> capital of the world"  and has a population of 45,001.  Luthor Corp
> Fertilizer Plant #3 is in Smallville.  Housing developments are moving
> in; we see a sign advertising "Pleasant Meadows, another Luthor Corp
> project.  New homes starting at $248,000."  Clark Kent doesn't need to
> move to Metropolis, not when Smallville is changing all around him.
>
> The second character trait that makes Clark Clark in al the Superman
> stories is that he wants to live a normal life.  He wants to be just a
> guy, going to baseball games with Jimmy and Perry, having a career,
> being respected as a writer.  HOWEVER, Clark has a secret, something
> which makes this normal life an impossibility.  He has superpowers, and
> he feels obligated to use those superpowers to help people.  In one
> sense, Clark is proud of having the powers, proud of what he can do with
> them, but at the same time, he just wants to be like everybody else.  In
> some of the best stories he looses these powers, and becomes a normal
> man.  In those stories, the tension is clearly seen, because he wants
> the powers back.  This is a conflict at the heart of the Superman saga,
> ever since the Byrne rewrite, although we also see bits of it in the
> second Christopher Reeve movie.
>
> In "Smallville," Clark Kent is just your normal fifteen year old boy,
> who "just wants to go through high school without being a total
> loser."   But he is becoming progressively aware of just how different
> he is.  By the end of the episode Clark is aware that he has "a gift and
> a destiny and a purpose."  I suspect that how Clark will mange being a
> teenager, while being faithful to his gift and his destiny and his
> purpose will form the basis of this show.
>
> The third character trait that is indispensable in making Clark Clark is
> that he someone who loves deeply and with commitment, whether this love
> is reciprocated or hopeless.  He is also extremely loyal to his
> friends.   I don't expect Clark to find his soul mate in Smallville --
> we all know that happens years later in Metropolis, but I do expect him
> to be a good friend. I don't expect to find a fully mature Clark,
> because he's growing into who he is, but I found the pilot intriguing
> and I'm looking forward to seeing more of it.
>
> Clark seems to have a number for friends.  Lex may be one (more about
> him later).  Pete Ross, familiar to anyone who reads the comics.  Chloe,
> our intrepid investigative reporter, a Lois Lane substitute, and, of
> course, Lana Lang, with whom he is obviously smitten.   And Lana seems
> to be very nice, quite worthy of him, too.  Let's not be prejudiced by
> the Lana in Tempus Anyone; in the comics she knows his secret, and
> doesn't give him away -- even when she is tortured by Luthor.
>
> As a mother of teenagers, I was grateful to see that his parents were
> also very much in the picture, or at least Jonathan was.  Martha was
> much more in the background than I'd like -- she's always seemed a very
> strong character to me, but perhaps that's why they recast the role.  I
> was quite impressed by John Schneider's portrayal of Jonathan Kent.  And
> I liked the farm -- we see Jonathan working with some sort of farm
> equipment, using ear protection.  No cows in the pasture, no waving
> wheat fields, but real farm work.  Somehow it was that scene that made
> me realize we were on a modern day farm.
>
> The pilot episode of "Smallville" was full of promise.  Yes, there was a
> crazy villain, and yes, he went through Smallville killing people, and
> yes, when he tried to kill everyone at the Smallville High Homecoming
> Dance, Clark stopped him.  (It appears that the meteor shower that
> brought Clark to Earth also caused enough radiation to cause a lot of
> strange mutations in the town; enough strange things happen in
> Smallville that Chloe, our teenage reporter, has assembled a "Wall of
> Weird.")   The guy-out-for-revenge plot really didn't blend too well
> into the basic Clark-finds-out-he's-different plot.  I hope they manage
> to do a better job of blending the action and character plots in the
> future., but it was a small part of the plot.  Actually, it would have
> been a good story without the bad guy at all, but I suppose that's too
> much to hope for from episodic television.
>
> There were some beautiful visual moments in the filming.  There is a
> great moment right after Clark has just used his powers to save
> someone's life.  He's sitting on the bank of the river, with the
> ambulances and paramedics all around, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a
> hot drink.  It's a poignant moment when Clark suddenly realizes that
> what he just did is impossible, that he should have been killed.
> Jonathan comes to take him home, and as Clark walks up the hill with his
> father, the red fireman's blanket flares out behind him -- Superman's
> cape.  A wonderful subtle reminder of just who Clark Kent will become.
>
> The show had is funny, ironic moments, which I won't quote here, so
> you'll appreciate them when you see them.  There were plenty of quotable
> moments.  There were a few weaknesses.  The science is ... not well
> researched, to put it mildly, and doesn't bear much deep thought.  The
> writers are looking for convenience, I suspect.   Exactly what the
> limits of Clark's powers are has yet to be explained.  We see him
> running fast, but he is surprised that he is invulnerable.  Obviously,
> he can't fly yet -- so how did he do the stunt he did at the end?  Mind
> you it was a funny stunt, an LOL-sort of ending, but unless Clark is a
> fully powered Superhero at this point, there's just no way he could do
> it.  The writers need to set limits to Clark's powers and stick to them,
> new powers should be introduced.  When he does something he just
> shouldn't be able to do, just because it's cute, or because it's the
> only way to get the bad guys in 45 minutes, it detracts from the realism
> of the show.  The L&C writers never figured this out, but I hope the
> Smallville writers do.
>
> In summary, the show strikes me as a mixture between Buffy the Vampire
> Slayer, where a teenager with special powers is called upon to use those
> powers while trying to grow up, and the X-Files, with strange, weird
> things arising from the cornfields at night.  But it's not just Buffy or
> X-Files; as long as they keep the essentials of the Superman mythos in
> the stories, we have the potential for a unique and intriguing show.
> I'm looking forward to watching it this Fall.
>
> ----------------------
>
> A few comments on some of the things that were posted here:
>
> Some people have been posting along the lines of "if it's not like L&C,
> I won't watch it because it won't be Superman."  For me, the Superman
> legend is mythic in nature, something so large that it can be told in
> many, many ways.  There is no one way to tell the story of Robin Hood,
> or King Arthur, and yes, I put Superman in the same category.  There are
> so many aspects to his story, that you lose so much if you restrict
> yourselves to only one interpretation.  Sort of like only reading Le
> Morte de Arthur, and never opening Mary Stewart.   You may become an
> expert in Malory, but you miss many layers and depths to the story.
>
> Tom Welling, who plays Clark Kent, looks like a young Christopher Reeve,
> instead of a young Dean Cain.  I wonder what color Welling's eyes are.
> There are so many people (not here, obviously) who never accepted Dean
> as Superman because his eyes weren't blue.  The trivial things people
> focus on, like what color a persons eyes are.  Or how tall he is.  Or
> whether he resembles one actor or another.  Luckily, Superman transcends
> all of this.  (BTW, Pete Ross is African American in "Smallville.")
>
> Carole said:
>
> < "I may watch a couple eps, but I can just see the tomatoes,
> < etc., being thrown if they don't go with LC canon-like (and
> < I know it's considered acceptable either way in fanfic, not
> < in the show) if he sleeps with Lana or something.  And doesn't
> < take Rachel to his prom or something. "  And Elizabeth: "If he
> < does sleep with somebody I will throw a fit, but I don't (hopefully)
> < expect them to go that route just yet.  Anything else I'm open to."
>
> As a old-time FOLC, I feel obligated to point out that that Clark's
> virginity was not part of canon until the middle of the third season.
> And there were a number of great discussions on whether or not he was a
> virgin.  There were a number of people who preferred their Clark Kent a
> bit more experienced and a number of fanfiction stories that just
> assumed a slightly less impure past for our hero.   There were a number
> of FoLCs in the old days that did not see Clark's keeping himself pure
> for his future wife as an essential part of the "old-time values" that
> are a part of what makes Clark Clark.  I think I could handle an
> experimenting Clark, especially if these experiences showcase his
> uniqueness, and go into creating the man who will be Superman.
>
> And it ought to be Lana he cares for in his teenage days, not Rachel.
> Lana is part of the Superman mythos, she's been around for decades.
> Rachel is an interesting character, true, but she was only in *one* L&C
> episode, and I seem to recall that was only because they couldn't get
> permission from TPTB to use Lana's name.
>
> And April said:
>
> < I heard that young Lex Luthor is in it, and that is so dumb!
> < Lex Luthor is in Metropolis not Smallville, and they don't
> < meet until later!!!"
>
> In the old Superboy comics, Luthor was from Smallville.  One of the
> reason he went psycho is that he always blamed Clark for losing his
> hair, but I forget the details.  From what I saw in the pilot, they've
> done a great job with Luthor great reason for his being in Smallville,
> and it's going to be a fascinating part of the story.   Oh, and there is
> a great fencing scene in "Smallville" which immediately brought the
> scene with Lex and Miranda in Pheromone, My Lovely to mind.
>
> In fact, Lex is one of the more intriguing characters in the pilot, with
> the potential to become Lex Luthor a very complex character in this
> drama. We *know* he's going to turn out evil, just as surely as we know
> that someday Clark will learn how to fly.  But when?  We briefly see
> Luthor's father, angry at the nine-year-old Lex when he is afraid.  In
> the current time, the twenty-one year old Lex seems to despise his
> father. Jonathan Kent tells us that Luthor senior is an unethical,
> nasty, scheming, businessman who can't be trusted -- but is Lex?
>
> Does the apple fall far from the tree?  Does Lex really want to be
> Clark's friend, or is he already a psychopath playing the part of
> friendly rich kid?  If not, when will he turn into Superman's arch
> enemy?  And why?  And how much does Lex see?  He has this quiet,
> pondering look after his meetings with Clark that had me wondering.  Is
> Lex blind, or are his eyes wide open?  Lex Luthor is most decidedly one
> of the least well developed characters in the Superman mythos, and a
> character well worth exploring.  It's very easy to turn Luthor into a
> caricature -- evil just because -- but I hope that "Smallville" gives us
> a well-rounded character.  I think what they do with Lex's character
> will be just as important as what they do with Clark's.
>
> (And what makes Lois Lois?  One thing I can think of is that Lois is a
> woman who for some reason has been told she cannot succeed, and is
> determined to prove the world wrong.  In the 1930's, it was because she
> was a woman, in the 1990s (L&C), it was less that and more because being
> a reporter was a dog eat dog career.  (You're only as good as your last
> story, Kent.)  I think her character would be very well cast as a
> minority, determined to succeed -- as women become more and more
> incorporated into the work place it'll be harder and harder to
> understand why Lois is as driven as she is.)
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Genevieve
> <mailto:NightSky@starpower.net> <http://users.erols.com/nightsky/>
>
> "Luthor Corp -- making America a better place to live" -- seen on a
> billboard in Smallville.
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 10:36:13 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: This Week, on The Author's Mind...

Thanks so much, Crys, both for this terrific idea and for offering me the
opportunity to be one of the first authors included. The site looks
fantastic, and you've done a wonderfully painstaking job in collecting
everything together - you know, you scared me when you pointed out how many
stories I've written! ;)

Thanks too, Pam, for the plug... and the way you put it. <g> Looking
forward to yours next week!

Wendy

----------
Wendy Richards
wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:26:24 -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:         Diane Trim <whipurwauna@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      New:  Weekend Feature, 3/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Since Zoomway's boards are down, I guess I'll just post this installment
here, for now.  Please offer any comments and/or suggestions.  As a
fledgling writer, your feedback is so helpful!

Diane

>From part 2:

“Hmm,” Clark murmured in thought.  “She’ll be a tough one.  Helen Worth
doesn’t give personal interviews - - not even in her own magazine.”

“Well,” Lois’s eyes narrowed.  “We’ll just have to use any and all means
necessary.”

Clark looked at his partner.  Was that why she had brought the spy pen?
What was she up to?

***

Part 3:

Lois and Clark walked the short distance to the modern, high-rise building.
The Worth Tower was now the largest building in Metropolis, eclipsing Lex
Luthor’s skyscraper by 15 stories.  An L-shaped building, the first four
floors formed the base and the rest of the tower, only half as wide, rose
over Metropolis.  Helen Worth housed her television network in the lower
floors, ran her magazine publishing enterprise from the middle floors, and
reserved the uppermost levels for her own personal use.

This evening’s ball would be held in the building’s lower floors.  Lois and
Clark entered on the ground floor and took the elevator to the third.
Before entering the ballroom, they left Lois’s briefcase with the coat
attendant.

Guests entered the hall on the third floor, though the ballroom itself was
on the second level.  Overhead was an arched glass ceiling that allowed the
sun in during the day and starlight at night.  Lois and Clark descended the
great staircase arm in arm.  At the bottom, Lois stood on her toes and gave
Clark a quick peck on the cheek.  “Back to work, partner!” she smiled and
turned to leave.

Clark reached for her arm, gently pulling her to face him.  “Lois,” Clark
said in a deep voice.  “You look stunning.  Will you . . . will you reserve
a dance for me?”

She gave his arm a quick squeeze and smiled.  “Let’s get these interviews
and meet back here in two hours, O.K.?”

He gave her his warmest smile.  “It’s a date.”

***

“Yes, Mr. Stump,” Lois said in a bored voice, “I’ll be sure to quote you on
that.”  She searched the crowd, looking for someone - - anyone - - she knew.

“Jimmy!” she yelled, and then to Henry Stump she said apologetically, “I’m
sorry, Mr. Stump, I really have to speak with our photographer.  Thanks for
the gardening information.  I’ll be sure to tell my mother about your home
remedy for leaf spot.”  She grabbed her tape recorder from the table, shook
Stump’s hand, and sprinted toward Jimmy.

He was wearing a rented tuxedo, polished dark cowboy boots, and a blonde on
one arm.

“Jimmy!  Thank God!”  Lois exclaimed.

“Hey, Lois!”  Jimmy smiled.  “Let me introduce you to . . .”

“Not now, Jimmy.  Look, I’m going to need some photos of Juliette Brioche.”

“Lois, they’re not letting any of the press up to her room.”  Jimmy said.
“And I don’t blame them.  She’s like, 80, Lois.  Frail. Old.”

“Fine, Jimmy,” Lois said irritably.  Then she sighed.  “It does sound like
the kind of stuff the National Whisper would do.”  She thought for a moment.
“Get me some shots of the front and back of her house.”

Jimmy opened his mouth to object, but Lois waved her hand impatiently.   “A
little crime scene tape shouldn’t stop you, Jimmy.”

“But, Lois . . .” Jimmy started.

“And another thing.  I’ll need some research.  Find out Brioche’s financial
status and who might stand to inherit once she dies.”

“Uh, Lois?”

Lois checked her watch.  “Gotta go, Jimmy.”  She abruptly turned on her heel
and headed for the stairs.

“Yep.  I’ll get right on that, Lois,” Jimmy muttered to her retreating back.

“Wow.  Friendly, isn’t she?” the blonde noted.

Jimmy raked his hands through his hair.  “Oh, yeah.  Friendly.”  He grinned
at his date.  “Good thing Lois didn’t know your last name’s Brioche, isn’t
it?”

***

Clark watched Lois bulldoze her way across the room toward the staircase,
pushing aside guests who were mingling idly in her path.  Her low-cut dress
clung intimately to her hips as she forced her way through conversing groups
and past dancing couples. The dress was tight enough that each step Lois
took sent ripples up and down the fabric, from her breasts to her legs.  His
mouth went dry.  From the look on her face, Clark knew that Mad Dog Lane was
on the scent of a story, but that dress - - the way it outlined her figure,
the way it suggested, teased, but didn’t reveal a thing - - had seduced him.

Lois continued to push her way past the aimlessly milling guests.  She
noticed Clark leaning against the stair and scanned him quickly, taking in
the way he filled out his tuxedo.  Her eyes met his and he grinned broadly.

She smiled at him in return, redoubled her pace, and mentally set aside her
lead on Brioche - - for the moment.  After all, she still had a mission to
accomplish where Clark was concerned and this ball was a great opportunity
to explore his . . .

“Lois,” Clark began, wondering if she’d dance with him, even though she
obviously had a hot story to pursue.  He ran his fingers through his hair.
“Lois, may I have this dance?”

She tilted her head toward him and held out her arm.  Clark laced his arm
though hers and led her to the dance floor.  They began to dance to a slow
tune; his hands caressing the fabric low on her back, her bare arms around
his shoulders.  All evening that dress had tormented him; it was all he
could do to take his eyes off of her while conducting interviews.  He leaned
his head over hers, touching her hair with his face and breathing in her
scent.

“Mmm, Clark, this is nice,” Lois murmured, bringing her body and that dress
into close contact with him.  Before Clark could get used to the feeling of
her hips brushing against his thighs, the music stopped.  Couples separated,
clapping for the band.  Lois leaned back and cupped Clark’s cheeks with her
hands.  She moved her fingers slowly into his hair and past his ears, gently
searching, probing, and accidentally nudging his glasses.

As she wiggled her fingers through his hair, Clark’s expression changed from
interest to desire.  He contemplated her slightly open mouth and bent to
touch his lips against hers.

She moved to accept his kiss, shifting her hands in his hair, and then
knocking his glasses loose.  Clark jerked backwards in shock and his glasses
clattered on the wooden floor.  For a brief instant, their eyes met.  Lois
licked her lips.  He did nothing.  Releasing him, she bent over quickly to
pick up his glasses and handed them to a stunned Clark Kent.

Clark swiftly replaced his glasses and cleared his throat.

“Sorry,” Lois began as she looked at Clark in his glasses.  She squinted her
eyes and looked at him, hard.

“N-n-nooo.” Clark stuttered.  “I-I-It’s, It’s alright.  I’m, I’m . . .”  he
studied Lois, desperately trying to read her body language, wishing he could
read her mind.  “I’m, uh, I’m pretty blind without them.”  He thrust his
hands in his pockets, his whole body tense.

Lois unconsciously moved her hands to the temples on his frames, starting at
the lenses, then progressing to the tips around his ears.  Clark closed his
eyes, fearing the worst.  Lois frowned and shook her head.  “Yeah, I imagine
you are.”

“Huh?”  Clark’s eyes flew open.

“Pretty blind.  I imagine you are pretty blind, Clark,” she said and left
the dance floor.

****

Clark started to follow Lois, but a woman stepped in his path.  “I
understand you were looking for me?”  Helen Worth said in a low voice.

“Uh, yes, Ms. Worth, I was,” Clark said.  “I’m Clark Kent . . .” He offered
his hand.

“Daily Planet, yesss,” Helen drawled, taking his hand in both of hers and
not releasing it.  Like a satiated predator would look at its prey, she
surveyed him lazily.  “You’re quite a dancer, Mr. Kent.”

“Thank you, Ms. Worth - - I’ve learned from the best.” Clark said,
withdrawing his hand and reaching inside his jacket for his pen and notepad.
“Do you have a moment for an interview for . . .”

Helen placed her hand on his jacket, stilling his hand.  “All business, are
you, Mr. Kent?  Have you no time for pleasure?” she asked, keeping her hand
on his chest.  “I’ve yet to dance tonight and I’m hosting the party.  Would
you care to join me for a waltz?”

Clark quickly scanned the room for Lois.  She was standing with her back to
him, locked in an argument with a bartender.  “I am here on Planet business,
Ms. Worth, but I would be honored to dance with you.  Perhaps afterward you
could give me a few quotes for my story?”

“Perhaps,” Helen said as she took his arm.  “But, please, call me Helen.”

“Thank you, Helen.”  They began to dance.  “Call me Clark.”

Even though they had dropped the formalities, Clark kept a respectful
distance from Helen.  She slowly closed the gap and gave his arms several
squeezes.

“You’re muscular man, Clark.  Do you work out?”

“I, uh, played football in college.”

“Hmmm.  I noticed you don’t wear a ring.  I thought all college ball players
wore their rings.”

“Ms. Worth . . .”

“Helen.”

“Helen.  This feels more like you’re interviewing me than the other way
around.”

“Clark,” Helen began in a low voice.  “I don’t mind telling you that I’ve
been watching you.  I’ve read your work and I like what I’ve read.  You ask
the tough questions when most reporters would shy away.  But I like your
style.  I observed you tonight while you interviewed my colleagues.  I saw a
quiet, respectful man; a man I wouldn’t mind seeing again.  Do you know what
I’m getting at?”

“Um, I’m not sure.”

“Clark, let me be frank.  I’m a powerful businesswoman and public figure.  I
have a successful career and global business interests.  It’s tough for a
woman like me to date anyone who is not a competitor or a fan.  I’m looking
for companionship, Clark - - an intellectual equal with whom I can spend
some time.”  Helen looked down and lowered her eyelids in what she hoped was
a coquettish manner.  “I’m hoping you’ll be that companion.”

“Well, uh, Helen, I, uh, hardly know you.”  Clark danced more stiffly.  He
scanned the room for Lois, but couldn’t find her.

“It’s not like a commitment or anything, Clark.  I’m just asking you to join
me for dinner and a show.  Do you like opera?”

The music ended and they clapped.  Helen took Clark’s hand and led him
across the floor to her private rooms.

“I’m ready for the interview now, Clark,” she said as she opened the door.
The sitting room was large, but intimate.  Helen had decorated in warm
colors - - paprika, cinnamon, and deep mustard.  The ample, overstuffed
chairs were upholstered in middle-eastern fabrics and the walls held Arab
artifacts.  To complete the intimate feeling, she had placed ornate wooden
screens around seating areas, creating coziness within the vast space.

Helen motioned him to sit and she sat in the chair next to his.

“I like the mashrabeya,” Clark said.  “Where did you find them?”

Helen looked at him appraisingly.  “So you’ve traveled, Clark.  Your Arab
accent is quite good.  Where did you pick it up?”

“Um, here and there,” Clark said, uncomfortably.  “The wooden screens,” he
prompted,  “they’re museum-quality.  Where did you acquire them?”

“Here and there,” she echoed with a laugh and placed her hand on his knee.
“I can see you would be a useful travel companion.  We should consider a
trip.”

Clark started to reply, but stopped and listened instead.  No way.  He was
picking up a swift, erratic heartbeat - - Lois’s heartbeat - - and it was
coming from the screen directly across from Helen and him.  He lowered his
glasses and x-rayed the screen, where he saw Lois, her lips pursed and her
fists clenched.  A fleeting smile appeared on his lips, and he pushed up his
glasses.

Clark turned in his seat to face Helen and fumbled in his jacket for his
notepad and pen.  “Helen, I would really like to consider our interview,”
Clark said.

Her hand, dislodged from its spot on Clark’s knee, absently smoothed her
cream-colored dress.  “Yes, the interview.”

Clark interviewed Helen, asking her about her entertainment empire, her
skills as a decorator, and her travels.

“Helen,” Clark said, “are you aware that your colleague, Juliette Brioche is
in the hospital?”  He thought he heard Helen’s heartbeat quicken.

“Oh, yes,” Helen said in a syrupy tone.  “Poor, dear Juliette.  She was such
a pioneer in television cuisine, and, really, a dear friend.”

“The police believe that Juliette was attacked.  Have you any idea who might
have had any reason to attack your friend?”

Helen feigned disbelief.  “Juliette?  An enemy?  Why, Clark, this is the
first I’ve heard of such a thing.  We in home arts television are like
family.  No one I know would be capable of such . . .”  She frowned briefly.
“Unless. . .”  She shook her head.  “Well, I do recall that she and Henry
Stump had a disagreement a few months ago,” Helen said conspiratorially.
She placed her hand on Clark’s, stilling his pen.  “This is off-the record,
of course, Clark.  I could never accuse Henry of hurting anyone.  He even
uses integrated pest management in his gardens, you know!”  She laughed
derisively.

“Integrated pest management.  That’s . . .” Clark began.

Helen waved her hand airily.  “IPM gardeners wage war in their own gardens,
bringing in predatory insects to kill off the smaller insects.”  She
laughed.  “I suppose you could say it’s a bug-eat-bug world.”

Clark laughed a little too long at her joke, taking the opportunity to sneak
a look at Lois.  She was shifting her weight from one foot to the next.  Her
feet must be killing her in those shoes.

Clark returned his notepad and pen to his jacket.  “Thank you for the
interview, Helen.”

Helen’s sharp little teeth smiled.  “Well, Clark, tomorrow night is the
opening of Lucia de Lammermoor.  Will you join me?”

“Gaetano Donizetti?”  Clark noted the composer.  “No, that opera’s too
tragic for my tastes - - and I have a story to cover all weekend.”  He rose
from his seat.

Helen stood and took Clark’s hands in hers.  “Well, perhaps another time.”
She inched nearer to him and put her arms around his shoulders.  Lois crept
from her hiding spot and edged her way toward the door.

“Helen, I think we should keep our relationship on a professional level . .
.” Clark began as Helen’s hands circled his neck.

“Clark,” Helen said seductively, “I am a woman who is accustomed to getting
what she wants - - and I want you.  I am prepared to wait, if need be, but I
will have you.”

“Helen, you are a beautiful woman, but . . .”

Helen didn’t wait to hear the end.  She grasped Clark’s head possessively
and kissed him.  His first instinct was to pull away, but then he heard his
partner’s gasp.  Trying to conceal Lois’s presence, Clark finally deepened
Helen’s kiss.

Lois scowled and slipped out the door into the main ballroom.

***

---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 12:44:21 -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 <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review

Thanks for posting your observations and opinions, Genevieve. This was a
wonderful read; I enjoyed it very much.  Based on your comments, I think I'm
even more likely to check out the show in the fall than I would have been
otherwise.  I hope when it gets ready to air, those in the know will post
reminders as to date and time, so that I might set my VCR. (Since the show
is
bound to air fairly early in the evening, I'm usually busy with the kids and
can't take off for an hour to watch.)

Is your review going to be posted in Craig's Smallville newsletter by any
chance?  It certainly is worthy!

Thanks again for your thoughtful and well written post.  I hope you continue
to provide us with information on Smallville.

Kathy
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 17:15:00 -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:         Genevieve Clemens <nightsky@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Kathy Brown wrote:
>
> Thanks for posting your observations and opinions, Genevieve. This was a
> wonderful read; I enjoyed it very much.  Based on your comments, I think
I'm
> even more likely to check out the show in the fall than I would have been
> otherwise.  I hope when it gets ready to air, those in the know will post
> reminders as to date and time, so that I might set my VCR. (Since the show
is
> bound to air fairly early in the evening, I'm usually busy with the kids
and
> can't take off for an hour to watch.)

Tuesday at 9:00 right after the Gilmore Girls, or right after Buffy,
depending on your preferences.  We're still having a family fight as to
whether we'll be taping Buffy and watching Gilmore Girls real-time, or
taping the Gilmore Girls and watching Buffy, but everybody's unanimous
about Smallville.  Even my husband liked the pilot, although he's only
watched it once.  The rest of us have watched it at leave five times!

> Is your review going to be posted in Craig's Smallville newsletter by any
> chance?  It certainly is worthy!

That was part of the deal when he loaned me the tape, but so far I
haven't come up with anything I've been satisfied with.  I feel like
Thomas Jefferson in 1776 when he's trying to write the Declaration of
Independence, and surrounded by crumpled up pieces of paper.  ("No, Mr.
Adams, I mean to say it is not yet begun.)  I just can't seem to get
anything I'm satisfied with.  It has to be suitable for a general
Superman audience (i.e. not take FoLCness for granted), and I just can't
find the structure I want.  Last night, I cut and pasted from about six
different versions for the review here, which is why it rambled a bit.
I'm going to try writing it again with the "What makes Clark Clark"
parts in it.

And I really do recommend Craig's newsletter.  It's not that long, nor
does it come out that often.  And he's been in communication with the
producers, actors, and writers in Vancouver.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genevieve
<mailto:NightSky@starpower.net> <http://users.erols.com/nightsky/>

The World Wide Web has made it possible for anyone to find in five
hours what a competent librarian can find in five minutes. :-)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:42:07 +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:         Meredith Knight <meredith@PUTWET.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:      Looking for a beta reader (?)
MIME-Version: 1.0

I'm a relatively new FOLC, having been badly smitten by the BBC rerun of
L&C.  I'm steadily making my way through the fanfic archives, and am
awed by the dedication and talent of the authors.

I've taken the plunge into writing my first ever fanfic: a rewrite of
All Shook Up, on the premise that Supes doesn't lose the Suit during re-
entry.  I think I'm about 1/4 of the way through.  My husband is
starting to ask how long this is going to last... I decided "I don't
know" was a safer answer than "Quite possibly forever.  What's for
dinner, dear?"

So I'm looking for a hardy volunteer to look over what I've done so far,
and tell me whether it's worth carrying on or whether I should hang up
my keyboard and go back to being a consumer, which was a lot easier. :^)
I'm also looking for input on American vs. British English, since I'm
trying to stick to the canon.

(Is that what a beta reader is?  And what's an alpha reader?)

Thanks,
Meredith
meredith@putwet.demon.co.uk

--
Meredith Knight
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:03:24 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Thanks, all of you, for the very useful opinions on this question.  The
majority appears to be that he can solder lead, so that's what I'll go with.

Yvonne
(who was most convinced by Phil's splendidly scientific explanation :) )
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:12:15 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Looking for a beta reader (?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi Meredith, and welcome to the wacky world of fanfic writing.  You sound
like you've got the bug badly, I'm afraid, and I rather doubt whether you'll
be able to go back to being a consumer <g>.  Yes, it's a lot easier, but
writing is an addiction which is impossible to shake once you're hooked.
You get a fix (ie, you write something you're proud of), then when you come
down off the high, you hit the side-effects (writer's block), and finally,
after a very short period of abstinence, you're ready for the fix again <g>.

I wish I could offer beta-reading help, but if you want input regarding
American versus British English, then you're probably better off with a
native speaker.

Good luck with your project, which sounds intriguing.  You've snagged our
interest, so now you have an obligation, I'm afraid, to finish the story!

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:22:37 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

> I'm just thinking that if he can't see through lead, then he probably
could
> not melt it because then he could just melt the lead away and he could see
> what was on the other side. There would be no problem with lead if he
could
> just melt it. I don't know...

Oh, crikey, April!  I saw this after I sent the other reply, and now you've
blown my thinking out of the water!  Someone help me, quick - is there a way
out of this?

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:30:36 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Many thanks for the fascinating review, Genevieve.  I've been curious about
this new Superman show ever since I first heard about it, and now a lot of
questions have been answered.  If it ever makes it over to the UK I'll
certainly take a look, especially after reading your review.

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:36:29 -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:         Nancy Smith <deimos1@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Question for fic - Clark's powers and lead
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

As I said before, heat is heat.  If you can solder lead with a soldering
iron,
Supes could do it, too, with his heat vision.  Melting through it would be
an
option; on the other hand, how much damage would people put up with if he
went
around melting holes in any shielded place he wanted to see through?  Think
of
the lawsuits if he did that every time.  Not to mention damage to potential
evidence (if he can't gauge his progress well, he could inadvertently hurt
someone or destroy something he shouldn't) or if he didn't want the bad guys
to
know he's checking up on them?.  If he's that determined to see something on
the
other side of something and doesn't care what kind of damage he does, he
could
just punch a hole in it with his fist, but he doesn't usually do that
either.
<g>

Nan

Yvonne Connell wrote:

> Thanks, all of you, for the very useful opinions on this question.  The
> majority appears to be that he can solder lead, so that's what I'll go
with.
>
> Yvonne
> (who was most convinced by Phil's splendidly scientific explanation :) )
> (yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:59:04 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      OT: Smallville question for Canadian viewers
In-Reply-To:  <3B6DCA6D.80C84547@earthlink.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Here in Vancouver I don't get WB channel. But I know that several Canadian
stations pick up US stations that we don't get. So, do any Canadians know
if Global or VTV or other Canadian stations will show Smallville for us?

Thanks!

Melisma (under her Rock, but only for another day. The striking bus drivers
got legislated back to work last week, and she plans to ride the buses all
day Tuesday, the first day they are back on the road!!!!)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 00:10:22 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Yvonne wrote:

> Many thanks for the fascinating review, Genevieve.  I've been curious
about
> this new Superman show ever since I first heard about it, and now a lot of
> questions have been answered.  If it ever makes it over to the UK I'll
> certainly take a look, especially after reading your review.
>

I've just caught up with Genieve's review and it pretty much matches my own
opinion.

Through the wonders of modern technology I was able to watch this myself the
other day and must admit that I really enjoyed it. Much more than I'd
suspected I would. The plot was a little light, but then most pilots are and
there was certainly more than enough potential for interesting times ahead,
I thought. The two leads were engaging enough and I will certainly be
watching more when I can. Probably taping it too. ;) One very nice touch, I
thought was Clark becoming a total accident-prone klutz whenever he got
within three feet of Lana being down to the fact that she wore a necklace
with a small chunk of K from the meteorite shower around her neck <g>

The Chloe character reminded me an awful lot of one of the characters in
Roswell. Both in looks and behaviour. Not enough of a fan of that show to
say what her name is. The waitress friend of the main female lead - the
kooky one. Again, the potential there to mesh into a nice team.

LabRat :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 21:27:15 -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:         "Marilyn L. Puett" <no1supermom@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW STORY: Chocolat

I posted this without having anyone beta read it first, because I stupidly
thought, "How many mistakes could such a short thing have in it?"  LOL!  I
found out today when LabRat sent be back the GE'd copy for the archive.

My apologies.  :-/

Look for the CORRECTED version on Zoom's boards (if and when they ever get
back up) and on the Archive (when the story moves to the top of the posting
list).
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 21:27:15 -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:         Kathy Brown <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Looking for a beta reader (?)

On Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:42:07 +0100, Meredith Knight <
meredith@PUTWET.DEMON.CO.UK> wrote:

>I'm a relatively new FOLC, having been badly smitten by the BBC rerun of
>L&C.  I'm steadily making my way through the fanfic archives, and am
>awed by the dedication and talent of the authors.

Hi Meredith!

Welcome to the wonderful world of fanfic ... as you now know, it's very
addicting. <g>

I'm leaving for vacation (yes again) Wed morning or else I'd be glad to take
a look at what you've written. If it's not too long, I might be able to look
at it before I go, or if you aren't in a hurry, you could send it to me
after
you get back.  But I'd understand if you didn't want to wait!

But regardless of what you decide, I wanted to welcome you to the list.  I
just love it when someone comes out of lurkdom. <g>

Kathy (list mom)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:00:29 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: A technical question
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 8/4/01 7:21:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
lizo@OZEMAIL.COM.AU writes:

<< Hi all.

 Just to let you know that I am working on Phoenix Rising - slowly!

 Just a quick question. Would a crime of embezzlement involving a
telecommunications company be dealt with by state police or the FBI?

 Thanks

 Liz
  >>

FBI I think.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:39:02 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Genevieve,
Just to let  you know I liked your review.  Thank you.
ditto others
merry
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:40:57 -0500
Reply-To:     truitt22@flash.net
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         timothy truitt <truitt22@FLASH.NET>
Organization: tnt technical services
Subject:      Re: New:  Weekend Feature, 3/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Diane,
Loved this.  And Clark being hit on making Lois jealous.
more soon please
merry
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:23:34 +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:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

A few weeks ago, Wendy posted an absolutely charming first person, present
tense fic here regarding Jimmy's train of thought in TOGOM. If you didn't
read it then, you can find the archived version here:
http://www.lcfanfic.com/stories/2001/myfriend.txt

Since it was (sort of) dedicated to me, and I thought Wendy did a marvelous
job, I immediately asked if she would permit me to continue the story to
complete the episode. Wendy gave me permission, but I was instantly swamped
by one of my periodic bouts of RL - one that I only emerged from at the end
of last week.

I hadn't forgotten my request, but it wasn't exactly in the forefront of my
mind until I downloaded this week's new fics and discovered this comment in
the author's notes of Wendy's fic:

"Look out for a sequel to this soon, written by Hazel herself. :)"

AUGH! That's blackmail! That's humiliating, too. :) But Wendy is quite
pleased with herself, because it worked! I sat down and wrote it last
night. I know it's short, but Wendy didn't leave me *that* much of the ep
to finish. But I would like to thank her for writing the story in the first
place. Tank's rants notwithstanding, Jimmy Olsen was a very powerful
component in TOGOM, and I'm glad to see it highlighted.

Please note that this does *not* stand alone. If you haven't read Wendy's
fic, the themes and undercurrents in this continuation will not make sense.

***

My Friend, part 2

Events are moving too quickly for me. CK is gone. Lois is out there
somewhere, grieving. And me? I have to be here, at a party.

For Perry, I suppose. And somehow, for Clark.

I don't belong here. Sometimes I think I never belong.

Perry is speaking about Clark now, but I can barely hear the words. The
glass of champagne in my hand seems too heavy. A final toast is just that
-- too final. I don't want to think about it.

"To Clark Kent," Perry says.

I raise the glass in salute with everyone else. There isn't anything else
to do. I wish there was. I want to smash something. I want to scream. I
want to hit someone. But all I can do is drink a toast to CK.

Some people are applauding, but I can't. I can't do anything.

Why isn't there anything I can do?

There's a sudden voice. Loud, braying. Arrogant.

Capone. He's got his henchmen lined up with tommy guns. He's going to shoot
us down.

And there --

Clyde. The last time I saw him was in Perry's garage, when he left Perry
and me to die; but the only thing I can think about is...

"You're the one who killed CK."

This is the slime who murdered one of the best people I've even known. He
tried to kill me too, but that isn't important now. The only thing that
matters is that he killed CK.

I walk towards him, but he shoves me back.

"Hey, everyone!" I shout. I can hear the tremble in my voice, but I can't
stop now. "This is the guy who killed Clark!"

"Shut up," he hisses. His hands twitch. I don't think he would hesitate to
kill again.

Perry's talking, trying to reason with Capone. I have eyes only for the
creep who gunned down a man for trying to protect the woman he loves.

There is a shout, and a sudden blur. Superman.

He saves our lives, but I feel a sudden fury as he crushes those bullets to
dust. Why is he here now? Where was he when CK was killed?

He'd wanted to tell Lois something, I remember. Maybe he'd wanted to
apologize. Didn't it occur to him that I was hurting too?

No one ever notices me. Not even Superman.

The gangsters drop their guns when they turn red-hot from Superman's heat
vision, and it's suddenly a free-for-all. I think Capone tries to run, and
Superman chases after him; but I'm only after one guy.

Clyde isn't much without a weapon. He tries to make a break for it up the
ramp, but I grab him by his jacket. One solid punch to the stomach is all
it takes to leave him groaning on the floor.

Man, it felt good to do that.

I step back a pace to glare at his face while he coughs and gasps. "That's
for CK," I tell him. The tremor is still in my voice, but I think it has
more to do with satisfaction now.

It's over in moments. I can hear the sirens in the distance; Superman must
have gotten Capone. It looks like everything is all wrapped up... except
that Clark is still dead.

I still can't believe he's gone.

Perry comes up to me, but before he can say anything, Lois interrupts. I
didn't even see her come inside; she must have arrived at the same time as
Superman. She looks even worse than she had that morning. What happened to
her clothes, and why is she wiping frosting off her face? I probably don't
want to know.

"Have you guys seen Clark?" she asks.

I freeze. I look at Perry, and he's as helpless as I am. Please, Lois,
please don't do this to us. You know he's dead. You know it better than any
of us; you saw it happen.

Please don't snap like this, Lois.

I don't think I could bear it if I lose Lois on top of Clark.

"Now, Lois," Perry tries, "you've been through a horrible ordeal..."

Her face looks *blank*. Puzzled. Oh, man.

"Clark is gone, honey," he says gently.

"I don't know about that, Chief."

My head snaps up. That sounded like --

It *couldn't* be --

Well, who else would say something so banal about jogging at a time like
this?

"CK!" I burst out. I have to blink hard as I throw my arms around him. He's
*alive*! I laugh out loud as I embrace him tightly, just to make sure he's
really there.

Perry asks him how he can still be alive, and Clark tries to explain. I let
the details wash over me as I keep glancing from Clark to Lois. He's real.
He's there. He's alive -- and that means that Lois is alive again, too.

It seems that Superman saved him with Hamilton's DNA cloning process. I
make a mental note to punch Superman in the mouth the next time I see him.
He could have let me know that CK was still alive.

I guess I don't count for much. Even Superman didn't think it was worth
telling me that one of my best friends is still alive. But I'd rather be
lost in Clark's shadow than have to stand in the spotlight because he's
gone.

"Wow," I finally say. "That's an incredible story."

To be honest, I don't believe him. Even by our standards, the story is too
bizarre, and his explanation is just a little too smooth. He's hiding
something from us, something that really explains his miraculous return.

But I don't care. The important thing is that he's alive. That lost look on
Lois' face is gone now, and I never want to see it again.

And I -- I have my friend back.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I tell him. I wonder if my voice carries the
overwhelming relief I feel that tomorrow exists; that there *will* be a
tomorrow for CK.

It seems that he does, for he smiles and slaps my arm. "Tomorrow," he says
simply.

And that's enough for now.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:06:32 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.0.14.0.20010806091253.00a09a00@actcom.co.il>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Oh wow, Hazel! That's just... Wow!

You and Wendy make a great team :)

Melisma (under her Rock, accepting applications to the Hazel's Number One
Fan Club)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 03:39:50 -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:         Betty Cheng <bcheng@SFU.CA>
Subject:      FW for Zoom - Mirror Message Board ready
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Forwarding for Zoomway ...

-----Original Message-----
From: zoomway@aol.com [mailto:zoomway@aol.com]
Sent: August 6, 2001 3:24 AM
To: lcnfanfic@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LCN Fanfic] Mirror Message Board ready

I set up a mirror message board at www.redboots.net/boards  I tried to
transfer the registrations, but only got to the first 30 before the lastson
board pooped out again. I know the last thing you want to do is register yet
again, but this board is for the current emergency so that those who want to
post next installments of their fanfic and especially those who want to read
the next installments and comment on them can do so, and for those who have
LAFF pictures and comments they want to share until the regular boards come
back up.

I'm not currently on the fanfic list, so if someone would be kind enough to
post this message there, I'd appreciate it, thanks ;)

These are the subscribers I was able to transfer:

zoomway

ga-ga

Supermom

cafeameric

widget

ChrisP

Anita (Anita T)

Laurach

Ceri

tim

Leuch

Thanatos

Keshandra

Bumpkin

Carole

ardchem

SimbaFoLC

Nyna

NearlyNoelNeill

EFR3214

swatson1982

sandra

Leslie

Maria

kralc

Alisa1231

Crit101

Elena

LabRat

Kaethel

If you're not on that list, I'm afraid you'll have to register again.

Sorry for all the inconvenience.

Zoomway@aol.com

To visit our archives, login at YAHOOGROUPS and try:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lcnfanfic/

"It's just hard, Lois.  It's harder than I ever thought it would be." --
Clark Kent/Superman

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 06:21:08 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)

Hazel, I just loved this. It was so poignant; poor Jimmy is still trying to
get on with his daily slog, still hurting inside. And you've shown how,
even now, he's still being ignored; it never occurred to me that Superman,
in not telling Jimmy that CK was alive and well, had also been completely
thoughtless. Just like everyone else.

And I'm not surprised that Jimmy wants to sock him one! Hmmm... /me has an
idea for another sequel... ;)

Clark's return was very nicely written; I could feel Jimmy's joy, and I was
so glad that you wrote him as sceptical of the explanation Clark gave! He's
a smart boy; far smarter than most people give him credit for.

Thank you for writing this. I'm very flattered; even more so since it's
obvious that you took a lot of care to echo the style of the original
story. I love it. I was practically wiping tears from my eyes when I read
it first. It's just great. :)

Wendy
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 06:44:48 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: FW for Zoom - Mirror Message Board ready

Simba, thanks for posting this here! I don't read the nfic list as
regularly as this one, and hadn't seen Zoom's announcement.

For anyone who's interested, I've reposted Part 5 of Second Thoughts over
on the mirror boards, illustrations included.

Wendy

------------
Wendy Richards
wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 07:55:01 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Old Zoom boards back?

FYI anyone who's interested... they've been working pretty constantly over
the past half-hour or so... Don't hold your breath, though, just in case!

Wendy

--------------
Wendy Richards
wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:00:16 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: FW for Zoom - Mirror Message Board ready

Well, the mirror doesn't seem to like me.  Just tried to login and was told
I don't exist ;)  Always thought there was something different about me...

Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:08:22 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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      FF: A Little Help, part 1 of ? (PGish, at least... may go up)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Heyyas...

This one is NOT my usual style, and I promise it will cheer up as it goes.
BTW, I can't promise a rating, as it may very-well go nFic before it's all
said and done... we'll see... if it does, I'll move it to another list. :)
It deals with a serious topic, and I'll do my best to handle it with
sensativity and medical accuracy... constructive criticism and comments
ALWAYS welcome... you know that ;)

-Crys-

A Little Help...
By Crystal Wimmer

Chapter One

Lois took a deep breath and looked at the pills.   She hated them.  God, she
hated them, but she hated hiding them more.  It had all begun so innocently,
so simply.  She hadn't realized it was going to get out of hand so quickly.
Somewhere along the line though, she had lost something that she needed to
manage her life, and the medication gave it back.  She had never meant for
it
all to happen...

*   *   *

"Lois, are you okay?"

She looked up at her husband and put on her brightest smile.  "Of course I'm
okay.  I'm just fine."  Sarcasm crept into her voice as she continued, "I'm
married to Superman, I can't have kids, and I'm behind on three deadlines
with no stories to be found.  Yeah, I'm great."

"Perry understands," Clark told her softly.  "There are times that news is
slow.  That's actually a good thing."

"Good for the world, yes, but not for the Planet," she replied.  "If sales
drop any lower Perry's going to have to start laying off reporters."

"You honestly think he'd fire you due to lack of news?" Clark inquired with
a
grin.

She turned on him, rising from her desk as she did so and nearly screaming.
"Of course not, but we aren't the only reporters in this building!"

Clark looked taken aback, and she didn't blame him.  "I'm going to run a
patrol," he told her softly.

She didn't even look at him as he left.  She couldn't.  Now she had anger,
sadness, and guilt.  One more emotion was not what she was ready for.  Lois
put her face in her hands and did her best not to cry.  She couldn't
understand this!  She was Mad-Dog Lane, the Planet's best reporter, and she
was coming apart at the seams.  This wasn't the confusion and insecurity
that
she'd felt when she and Clark had been dating, but something deeper.  God,
she wished that she understood it.

There wasn't anything wrong.  Work was fine, if quiet.  Her marriage was
wonderful, and she loved spending time with her in-laws.  She was healthy,
had plenty of ideas for filler-stories that she could run with, and Perry
wasn't as upset with the news lull as she was.

So why was she coming apart?

In the last three months she'd lost almost ten pounds.  Clothes that she'd
worn for years were now falling off her.  She was so small that even those
few pounds made a huge difference, and she hated it.  If she didn't do
something, Clark would notice.  It wasn't as though he didn't spend as much
time as possible looking at her body.  She didn't even resent that; she was
flattered.  Still, missing a meal here and a meal there was starting to add
up, and she couldn't seem to get her appetite back on track.

She wasn't sleeping well, either.  Well, that wasn't exactly right.  She
slept.  She slept deeply, never seeming to dream, but she just never felt
rested.  Last weekend she'd slept for almost ten hours, and then she'd woke
up exhausted.  It was frustrating as hell.  She seemed to be dragging
through
every day, and she didn't know what to do about it.

Eating and sleeping were basic functions to human survival, and she didn't
seem to be able to accomplish either one effectively.  What was worse, she
always seemed to be on the verge of tears, or ready to tear someone apart.
Her moods swung back and forth with no rhyme or reason, and it made her more
tired than anything else.  She was mad at the world, upset at everyone, and
yet felt guilty because no one had done anything to really provoke her
wrath.

She was just tired of it.  Grabbing her day planner, she glanced through the
address book until she found her physician's number.  This had to be some
kind of nutritional imbalance, she reasoned.  She'd get a check-up, find out
what was wrong, and then she'd fix it.  Enough was enough.

*   *   *

"Your H&H is a little low," Dr. Deerfield commented.  "Not anemic, but still
close to the line.  I'm going to prescribe a vitamin and iron supplement
just
to be on the safe side.  The CBC doesn't show any signs of infection."

"That's good, right?" Lois asked.

The doctor smiled, and then sat down at her desk as Lois pulled at her
sweater.  She always seemed to be cold lately; most likely because of the
weight she'd lost.  Lois waited patiently as the doctor looked back through
the chart, made a few notes, and then faced her.

"How long have you been feeling tired, Lois?" she asked softly.

Lois shrugged.  "A month or two," she said slowly.  "Maybe longer.  I don't
know."

"Is the fatigue enough to limit your daily activity?"

Lois shook her head.  "I still do everything.  Actually, once I get moving
I'm okay.  It's just really hard to get started.  I do better at work,
actually.  If I'm home, I just lay around."

"Exercise?"

"I run two or three times a week," Lois admitted.  "I used to run almost
every day, and do aerobics, but I don't have the energy for it."

"Well, that might be part of your problem," Dr. Deerfield reasoned.
"Decreasing your exercise would certainly decrease your appetite, and
eventually your energy level.  You could try to gradually work up to where
you've been in the past and see if it helps.  There's no medical reason
evident for your fatigue."

"So it's all in my head?" Lois asked sheepishly.  Suddenly she was near
tears
again.  She had hoped this would solve the problem.  She'd wanted an easy
answer.

"Actually, I'm starting to wonder," the doctor admitted.  Dr. Deerfield laid
the chart down and looked at her patient.  "How are your moods?  Have you
experienced any sadness or depression to go along with the fatigue?"

Lois shrugged.  "I'm not really sad," she hedged.

"But do you feel like yourself?" she continued.  "Or do you feel a little
different?  Maybe, have trouble keeping things in perspective, overreact to
situations, or get upset when there doesn't appear to be a reason?"

Lois shrugged again, but with less certainty.  "I'm just tired," she
explained, and could have cursed when she felt the tears welling in her
eyes.
 "There's nothing wrong.  I don't have a reason to be upset about anything."

Dr. Deerfield took a moment to open a fresh box of Kleenex and pass a tissue
to her.  Lois mopped up tears gratefully, and then gave the older woman a
completely lost look.  She was out of ideas.  She didn't know what to do,
and
she hated it.

"There is one disorder we haven't ruled out," she explained.  "It's one that
can cause mood swings, weight loss, erratic behavior, and a general malaise.
Frankly, you show a great deal of the symptoms."

"What is it?" Lois asked softly.

"Clinical depression is quite common in women your age," the doctor
continued.  "It usually begins gradually, and then when it's left untreated
it progresses until it begins to cause health disorders."  She looked up at
her patient and smiled.  "It's sad, really, because the disorder is normally
very easy to treat.  You see, in many women the brain becomes very active in
absorbing a certain chemical it makes called Seratonin.  Now, this is the
chemical responsible for controlling appetite, sexual interest, activity
level, and mood.  When the brain absorbs this chemical before it can be
used,
the resulting lack can cause the symptoms we've been discussing.  All we
need
to do is keep the brain from reabsorbing the chemical before it can do what
it's there for."

Lois didn't like the idea of depression, but she liked how she was feeling
even less.  "How do you do that?"

"There are a number of medications available.  The most well known is
Prozac,
but it's really only one of a whole family of SSRI medications."

"SSRI?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized.  "For all my training not to, I still fall into
acronyms.  SSRI is Sustained Seratonin Release Inhibitors.  Specifically,
it's a medication to prevent your brain from absorbing that chemical.  It's
all they do.  They simply make sure your body doesn't reabsorb the Seratonin
it makes."

"But, depression..." Lois trailed off.  She really didn't know anything
about
it, except that it sounded like a weakness.

"Is an illness," Dr. Deerfield continued softly.  "Have you ever heard of
diabetes?" she asked suddenly.

Lois looked confused.  "Of course," she answered.  "We have a diabetic at
the
Planet.  She can't eat donuts, and she needs shots."

"That's correct.  Insulin is the body's chemical for digesting sugars.
Without that chemical, a person can't process sweet foods, or any foods
really.  We use medications to improve the way their bodies utilize what
little insulin they make, and if that isn't enough we have to give them
insulin by injection."

"What does that have to do with me?" Lois asked, still not seeing the
connection.

"The body requires certain chemicals to function," the doctor explained.
"Without them, illness begins, and if left untreated the results can be
deadly.  A diabetic can go into shock without insulin in the system, and
that's followed by coma and death."

"So, you're saying I could die if my brain doesn't have this seri-stuff?"

Dr. Deerfield smiled softly.  "Unfortunately, one of the worse side-effects
of depression is death.  Oh, there are many ways that happens, from eating
disorders to suicide, but it does happen.  The worst part is, it's totally
unnecessary."

"So, how do you find out if I'm depressed?"

"Well," the doctor said briskly.  "Unlike diabetes, it doesn't require blood
tests.  What we do is start you on a medication to treat the illness, and if
we see improvement we know we were right.  The medications have very few
serious side effects, so there isn't a great deal of risk regarding the
treatment.  There are a lot of risks to the illness, however.  We consider
it
in medicine to be a justifiable risk."

Lois sighed and nodded her understanding.  "So, I take a 'happy pill'?"

"No," the doctor said with a grin, reaching for a prescription pad.  "What
you take is a medication to balance your body chemicals.  It' not a 'happy
pill'.  In fact, it's very much the opposite.  If this is indeed the
appropriate treatment, it will take almost two weeks to have a significant
effect.  You have to take it every day, even if you feel fine, and even
continue for months after the depression goes into remission."

"Remission?" Lois asked.  "Like cancer?"

"Actually, that's a fairly appropriate analogy.  Just as cancer eats away at
the body, depression can eat away at the mind."

"That's a picturesque image," Lois grumbled.

"It is that," the doctor said with a smile.  "But there's more.  This is the
first step: the medical one.  Take one pill from these samples - that's ten
milligrams of the medication - every morning with your breakfast.  And yes,
you need to eat breakfast, even if it's just a glass of milk or a piece of
toast.  Your body needs food to function.  In one week, you start taking the
actual prescription I've written.  That's twenty milligrams of the Prozac.
It's a low dosage, but it should be effective."

"That doesn't sound hard," Lois admitted as she took the small box and the
piece of paper.  "One pill, once a day."

"That's the first step," the doctor explained.  "The second is much more
difficult.  I want to refer you to a colleague of mine.  She's a
psychologist."

Lois bristled.  "I've seen Psychiatrists before," she began, but the doctor
didn't give her an opportunity to continue.

"The medical end I can handle," she interrupted.  "Even as a general
practitioner, I'm qualified to diagnose and treat the physical symptoms.
Unfortunately, depression usually has an underlying cause.  Sometimes it's
stress, other times it's a biological predisposition, but it's always rooted
in something.  You need to address whatever that something is before you can
prevent recurrence.  I don't want to put you on a medication for the rest of
your life, so we need to get at the cause.  Dr. Evans is a psychologist, as
well as a practicing physician.  She wanted to do more than Psychiatry, but
that's her story to tell.  I want you to make an appointment to talk with
her."

"Just talk?" Lois asked.  "No group therapy or extended rambling sessions?"
She had no desire to have a repeat of Dr. Friskin's reflecting sessions.
They'd made her feel stupid that she couldn't sort her life out on her own.

"That's up to you," Dr. Deerfield answered with a smile.  "But I want you to
meet with her in the next forty-eight hours.  It's important.  I'd like her
to confirm my diagnoses, and make any additional recommendations for
treatment."

"So, you're not positive?" Lois asked.  "That I'm depressed, I mean."

"I'm certain that you meet the diagnostic criterion for clinical
depression,"
the doctor explained.  "And that the medication is appropriate.  What I'm
not
sure if is whether or not the medication is enough."

Lois nodded, then slipped the prescription and sample box into her purse.
"Thanks," she said simply, standing to walk to the door.

"You're welcome, Lois," she replied.  "Feel better."

(end of chapter 1)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:09:18 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      NEW: Fear of Discovery IV Part (whatever the latest number is)

I have no idea what part number I'm up to!  Anyway, since the boards still
seem a little flakey, I'm posting FoDIV here.  Fortunately, I haven't
written any nfic-only material for this story since the very first scene,
so no-one's missing out on anything.  My thanks to Wendy for her incredibly
swift reply to my beta-reading request last night, and her helpful
suggestions.  Oh, and for helping me sort out my Clarks from my CKs, and my
Loises from my Ls <g>. And finaly, finally - the last part of this is very
fresh, and consequently may be a little rough.

Previously on FoDIV:

"Um...I think I got all the kryptonite off," said Lois from the sink.

"Let's see," replied L.

She checked Lois's hand, and, satisfied with the result, took her into the
living room to test her on Clark.

"We've got to know sooner or later," she explained, "and there's no sense
in both of them getting a dose."

Lois offered her hand gingerly out to Clark, who looked at it as if it were
a poisoned chalice.  Nevertheless, he took her wrist and peered down at it
as before.

"Anything?" asked Lois anxiously.

"No," replied Clark.  "I feel fine.  This, on the other hand, needs a band-
aid, and we don't have any."

"CK can fetch some," said L.  "I'll tell him."

Now read on...

********

CK stirred his improvised pasta sauce, made out of the various tins and
dried ingredients he'd found in Clark's cupboards.  It wasn't exactly one
of his most sophisticated concoctions, but at least it was food, and it was
hot.

A feminine arm snaked around his waist.

"Smells good," said L.

He gave her a rueful smile.  "Not what you'd call haute cuisine, but it's
the best I could do.  I was just wondering if I should put on the pasta -
is everyone ready to eat?"

"Well, I guess so, except Lois needs a plaster for her hand, and I said
you'd go and fetch some for her."

He shrugged.  "Sure - won't take me more than a couple of minutes.  Clark's
all right, though, isn't he?"

"He says he's fine, but I still think it's safer if you go."

"Okay."  He was about to spin into the suit and launch himself upwards when
he remembered something.  "Oh!"

"What?"

"Can you get some money from him?  I don't think our cash will be legal
tender here."

L raised her eyebrows and nodded slowly.  "Good point.  But why not ask him
yourself?"

He hesitated, then turned quickly to the pasta sauce pan and stirred it a
bit.  "I have to keep an eye on this."  He snatched a quick glance over at
her and saw her frowning at him disapprovingly.  "It could catch on the
bottom if I don't stir it," he added.

And he wasn't ready to talk to Clark yet.

He heard her leave and come back a minute later.  "Here," she said, handing
him two ten dollar bills and giving him a look he studiously ignored.

"Thanks."  He abandoned the sauce and span into his suit, ready to leave.

"Want me to keep stirring?" she asked sarcastically.

"Oh...yes.  That would be good."

He rushed off before she could say anything, and was back five minutes
later with the band-aids and some wine for their meal.  He handed her the
box and took over at the cooker.  "Tell them dinner will be ready in around
ten minutes."

"And will you be dining with us, or are you going to hide in here all
evening?" she asked with a touch of ascerbity.

He pulled a face.  "Lois, I am not hiding.  I'm cooking."

"Have you spoken to Clark since he told you about you know what?"

"No, but-"

"You're hiding," she said flatly, and turned to go back into the living
room.  "You have to talk to him sometime," she shot over her shoulder.

Yes, he did.  Because although he'd calmed down a lot, he still wanted to
know why Clark had felt the need to hurt his wife.  That made him mad.  And
yes, he was avoiding Clark for the same reason - because he was angry with
him.

Ten minutes later, he was decanting pasta and sauce into serving dishes and
following L back through into the lounge, where she'd already set the table.

Lois was already sitting at the table, looking annoyed about something.
Clark was just pulling up a chair.  "I guess nobody wants the Chinese I
brought back from Metropolis," he said off-handedly.

"You brought take-out?" asked CK in surprise, pausing in the act of placing
the pasta sauce dish on the table.  Why hadn't he said anything?

"Yes, but it's probably cold by now anyway," Clark replied
dismissively.  "You might have said you were going to cook," he added with
a trace of belligerance.

<You didn't give me a chance!>

CK laid down the dish before answering, biting back the swift retort that
was on his lips.  "I'm sorry," he said slowly and deliberately.  "It was
getting late, and I didn't know you were planning on getting us anything."

"Well, you *are* our guests.  I don't usually let my guests starve."

"Clark!" exclaimed Lois.

"What?"

"You're being incredibly rude."

"Am I?  I thought I was just explaining to CK here how well I usually take
care of my guests."

"Stop it," she muttered angrily.  "Just stop it."

CK began to wonder if he would have been better off lurking in the kitchen
after all.  Clark seemed hell-bent on annoying everyone he spoke to.  Yes,
it was a shame he'd brought back food that was going to be wasted, but it
wasn't worth sulking over.  Silently, CK began dishing up the pasta,
starting with L's plate.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" burst out L irritatedly.  "Let's get the blasted
take-out and have that too."

She pushed her seat back, grabbed some cartons off a side table and brought
them back to the dinner table.  Ripping them open one by one, she dumped
them unceremoniously in the middle of the table.  "There.  Now everyone's
happy."

CK laid her full plate of pasta in front of her as she sat down again, and
looked at Lois.  "Can I have your plate, Lois?"

"Sure," she said, handing it up to him.

Clark began helping himself out of the opened take-out cartons.

CK finished Lois's plate and looked at Clark.  "Do you want any pasta?"

"No, this is fine, thanks," replied Clark, digging vigorously into the rice
with his fork.

It looked stone cold as far as CK could tell.  He gave himself a portion of
pasta and sat down to eat.

They ate in silence.

Lois cleared her throat.  "Is there anything to drink?" she asked,
fingering the stem of the empty glass to her right.

He pointed a finger at her.  "Forgot the wine.  Be right back."

He rushed into the kitchen, grabbed an opened bottle and brought it back to
the table.  "I hope you don't mind, Clark - I used some of your cash to buy
a cheap bottle of red."

Clark shrugged.  "Fine by me."  But he put his hand over his glass when CK
offered to pour some for him.  "Red doesn't really go with Chinese," he
said.

Lois laid down her fork deliberately.  "Clark, can I have a word?  In
private?"

"Sure."

She stood up.  "Excuse us," she said to CK and L.

CK smiled up at her.  "No problem."

He let out a long sigh when they'd disappeared into the kitchen
together.  "Is it just me," he said to L, "or is he being a complete jerk?"

"I think that's what Lois is about to tell him."

*********

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Lois hissed in a furious whisper.

"Well, he's just so darned perfect," Clark hissed back.  "Cooks a meal out
of thin air, fetches your band-aids, remembers to buy wine - I bet he even
made dessert."

Lois threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.  "Clark, I can't
believe I'm hearing this from you.  I thought these people were your
friends."

"They are."

"Well, you have a funny way of showing it.  You've been rude, belligerent,
and totally ungrateful towards them - in short, a total jerk, and with all
the maturity of a five year-old.  What's got into you?"

He shrugged.  "He annoys me."

She wondered briefly if CK had always annoyed Clark; surely it can't have
been like this every time they met, otherwise why were they friends?  But
she wasn't going to open that can of worms right now - he needed telling
off, short and sharp.  There was no excuse for bad behaviour.

"Well, find a way to deal with that and...and grow up, for heaven's sake!
Let's have a mature discussion about this thing, instead of a scene out of
kindergarten."

He glared at her for a moment, but she met his glare with an equally cold
stare, until he turned away.  "You don't understand," he muttered.

Remembering that he probably wasn't aware that she knew about the kiss, she
held back from telling him she understood completely.  "It doesn't matter
whether I understand or not, you're still being rude," she said
instead.  "Does L annoy you?"

"No," he replied, as if that much was obvious.

"Then think how your bad behaviour is affecting her."  She walked around
him, grabbing his arm so that he couldn't turn away again.  "Does she
deserve to listen to you sulking over some stupid Chinese take-out?"

He pulled a face.

"I thought not.  So are you going to behave?"

He stared at her for a second, and just when she thought he was about to
pull away from her again, he suddenly laughed.  "You sound just like my
Mom."

She blinked, wrong-footed by his sudden switch into good humour.  His
Mom?  "Well, good," she retorted quickly.  "And what would she think of you
right now?" she demanded, refusing to let go of her anger just yet.

He smiled fondly.  "She'd give me a good telling off."  He glanced around
the kitchen.  "Probably did it right here, once or twice."

"Sounds like she didn't do it often enough," observed Lois.

"No," he said, shaking his head ruefully, "she probably didn't."  He
sobered suddenly.  "I guess she ran out of time."

No doubt this place reminded him a lot of his parents, but Lois still
wasn't ready to cut him any slack because of that.  She'd lost her mother
too, after all.

But before she could make any comments, he began moving towards the
door.  "Come on, we'd better get back before the food gets cold.  I promise
I'll behave."

**********

CK eyed Clark warily as he retook his place at the table.

"Apparently, I've been a total jerk with the maturity of a five year-old,"
Clark announced with surprising warmth.  "I'm sorry, guys."

"Apology accepted," replied CK coolly.

"Likewise," added L.

Apparently L was less mad at Clark than CK would have expected; she gave
him a small smile and a nod of encouragement.  CK didn't think he deserved
that from her yet - after all, she was supposed to be the injured party
here, wasn't she?

Clark looked down at his plate and gave a big, theatrical sigh.  "And can I
please have some of that wonderful-smelling pasta, CK?  This stuff is
disgusting."

CK couldn't help smiling.  "Sure.  You want some wine, too?"

"Yes, please."

CK watched Clark take a sip of wine.  Whatever Lois had said to him in the
kitchen, it seemed to have done the trick.  He looked far less surly and
disgruntled, and he was even giving his girlfriend a small smile.  CK
couldn't remember seeing him so moody and unstable as he'd been the past
few hours - since they'd arrived, really.  Whatever had been going on in
his life recently really must have upset his equilibrium.

But that was no excuse for rudeness and callousness.  CK wanted more than a
quick apology before he was going to trust this man again.

"How are you?" he asked politely.  "I hear you got a dose of kryptonite
earlier."

"I'm fine, thanks.  It just made me a little dizzy for a couple of minutes."

CK nodded, and turned his attention to twirling pasta around his fork.
Someone else could make the next conversational gambit.

"This is very good, CK," said Lois.

"Thanks," he replied with a smile.  "I didn't do much."

"Well, it's better than anything I could make," she said.

So she was as bad a cook as L?  Was this possible?

He smiled again.  "It's just a jar of sauce with a few extra herbs and a
tin of tuna.  I'm sure you could make that."

She shrugged.  "Maybe.  Clark's the one you should ask, though - he's
experienced my cooking first-hand."

He glanced over at Clark and their eyes accidentally met over the table for
a second.  Clark shrugged slightly, and CK hastily snatched his gaze back
down to his meal again, aware that Clark was doing the same thing.  The
quick glimpse suddenly reminded CK that he hadn't been able to get through
to Clark earlier; now he realised why - Clark had been shutting their mind
link down so that CK couldn't find out about the kiss in the kitchen.
Understandable, perhaps, but hardly admirable.

<<Look, I'm really sorry, okay?>>

CK froze for a second, staring at his food.  Had Clark guessed that he'd
just been thinking about their telepathy, or had he somehow sensed it?
Whatever - an apology still wasn't enough.  It was a start, but that was
all.

He raised his head slowly and looked at Clark again.  This time their gazes
met and held.

<<Apologies are easy>> he observed.

Clark's eyes narrowed.  <<What do you want - blood?>>

<<I want to know you'll treat my wife with the respect she deserves>>

<<It was a mistake.  It won't happen again>>

<<How do I know that?>>

<<Beats me.  Guess you'll just have to trust me>>

<<I'm having a hard time with that right now>>

Clark glared at him and bent his head back down to study his plate.  CK
felt a soft hand over his.

"Honey?" said L.

He turned to his wife.  She was looking at him with a worried expression.

"Everything all right?" she asked.

He softened his features, realising that they'd frozen into a hostile
frown.  "Sorry, sweetheart - I was miles away.  Did you say something?"

"No, I just wondered...never mind."

"Look," said a firm, annoyed Lois.  "I can't stand this.  Can we please all
talk about what's bothering us, instead of playing this stupid game?"

It occurred to CK that she probably didn't know about his and Clark's
ability to speak telepathically.  L knew about it, of course, although she
didn't always realise when they were actually 'talking'.

"What do you mean?" asked Clark in a surprised voice.

"And you, especially, can quit pretending," Lois snapped.  "You may as well
know now - I know what happened in the kitchen.  So let's get this out in
the open, can we?  I'm tired of play-acting."

********

Clark stared at her.  How did she know?  He hadn't told her - he'd been
intending to tell her after dinner, as soon as they could get a few minutes
alone.  L wouldn't have told her - she'd said earlier that he had to
fix 'the mess', as she called it, himself.  Which left CK.  Lois and he had
been in the kitchen together just before dinner.

<<You could have let me tell her myself!>> he shot at CK.

<<What?!>>

"Well, don't just stare at me, Clark," demanded Lois, interrupted the
silent conversation.  "Say something.  Something like, 'I'm sorry, Lois',
or 'I don't know what got into me, Lois'.  Either of those would do for a
start."

He looked around the table, seeing three pairs of accusing eyes trained on
him, all watching him as if he was some kind of evil monster with two
heads.  CK had gone behind his back and told Lois.  Lois looked like she
wanted to throttle him.  L seemed pleased he was getting attacked by the
other two.

He snapped.

"You're right - I don't know what got into me!" he exploded.  "I made a
stupid mistake - a big one, I'll admit it - but it was a mistake.  How many
times do I have to say that?  It was a mistake.  A mistake!  And you know
what - I bet I'm not the only one in this room who's made mistakes.  I'm
sure everyone around this table has done something they regret."

His eyes settled on CK as the most likely culprit.

"That's probably true, Clark," said L from opposite, irritating him because
he had wanted CK to answer. "But this isn't about our mistakes.  It's about
you attacking me for no other good reason than your own insecurities."

He tore his gaze away from CK and laughed.  "Insecurites?  When am I
insecure?"

L sighed, shaking her head slowly.  "All the time.  Ever since I first met
you, you've been a mass of insecurites and hang-ups."  She sighed.  "I
thought you'd gotten over most of it when you left Lana and became
Superman, but I was obviously wrong.  You still can't accept who and what
you are, Clark."

He couldn't believe she was saying this.  Of course he could accept who he
was - he'd spent his whole life dealing with it!  And hadn't he become
Superman because of what he was?  "I don't have to listen to this," he
muttered.

"That's right - you could turn away and pretend it's not happening.  That's
what you usually do, isn't it, Clark?  Bury your head in the sand and stop
listening."

"No!"

"Yes, you do, Clark," interjected Lois.  "You run away - like last night
with Lex and the press, or you bottle things up - like you did after that
bad rescue the other day.  You don't confront things you don't like."

He glanced around the table again, incredulous that he was suddenly being
picked on from all sides and analysed like a psychiatrist's play-
thing.  "What is this - group therapy?  Or a lynch mob?"

"Don't, Clark," said Lois, and when he looked at her, she looked almost
sad.  Why did she look sad?  "Stop being defensive and listen to what L is
saying - she's making a lot of sense."

"Is she?  I run away, do I?  What about everything I did for you?" he
demanded, deciding that he must have mistaken sadness for something
else.  "I knew who you were long before you did - did I give up when you
told me to butt out?  Did I give up when Luthor trapped us in that cellar?
Do I run away when someone needs my help?"

"No, of course you don't, Clark," she replied calmly.  "And I know how hard
you fought to make me remember who I am.  I love you for that.  But there
are certain things - personal things, usually, that you *do* avoid."

He crossed his arms angrily.  "Okay, I'm here and I'm listening.  What is
it you want to tell me?"

He glared at Lois challengingly, but all she seemed able to do now that
she'd given her free rein to say what she liked was stare back at him.  He
waited.

Into the silence came CK's dry voice.  "How about you stop thinking about
yourself and start thinking about someone else for a change," he said.

"Shut up, Clark," said L, to Clark's surprise.  "You're not helping."

"Lois!" protested CK.

"I mean it, honey."  CK frowned at her, but remained silent.  L turned to
Lois.  "Lois?  What do you want to tell Clark?"

Lois glanced at her, then looked at him.  "I want to tell you that I love
you, Clark," she said, immediately taking him by surprise and deflating
some of his anger.  "You know that - we've been through too much together
not to know each other's feelings inside out."  She paused and took a deep
breath.  "And that's why I know L is right when she says you're insecure."
He started to protest, but she laid her hand firmly over his, and somehow,
he found himself falling quiet again.  "It's okay, Clark.  You're entitled
to be insecure - life hasn't exactly been very kind to you, has it?  But
what you have to do now is recognise that and find ways to deal with it -
ways that don't involve turning away, or internalising everything."  She
squeezed his hand.  "You've got me now, Clark.  Use me when things get
tough."

As she'd spoken, his anger had drained away, until he was left with nothing
but a strange lump in his throat.  She seemed to see right through him;
even understand things about him he didn't fully understand
himself.  "Lois..."

"I haven't finished," she said calmly.  "This kiss - this thing you did to
L in the kitchen - I need you to tell me why you did that.  I think you
know, really, but you're taking the easy way out at the moment and calling
it a mistake.  But now it's time to admit the truth to yourself, and to
everyone else around this table.  They all deserve to know, Clark."

Well, that was probably true, but he wasn't at all sure that he knew the
answer to the question she was asking.  He glanced down at her small hand
covering his, and marvelled at the strength contained in such a small
frame.  She seemed to have more answers than he at the moment.

He looked up into her eyes.  "Lois, I'm not sure I can tell you what you
want to know."

She looked steadily back.  "Yes, you can."

He took a deep breath.  It looked like he was going to have to try - but if
he was going to do this properly, he'd have to start at the beginning.  "I
nearly kissed L once before," he began, snatching a glance at a grim-
looking CK.  They'd had one horrible conversation about this a few months
ago; he didn't enjoy raising the subject again with CK in the room.
Nevertheless, he doggedly retold the story of CK's exile, and his own visit
to their universe to try and help find him.  He told of a late night, when
he and L had been sitting together on the sofa, depressed and lonely, and
how the late hour, and the strain of the day, had made him do something
stupid.  He'd always felt strangely drawn to L, even though he knew she was
a married woman, and that night, he'd let his inhibitions run free.  The
result was a catastrophic near-kiss.  They had jumped apart, and L had
quite understandably put as much distance between herself and him as
possible.

"It was my fault, too," added L quietly.  He looked over and saw her
holding onto her husband's hand.  "I nearly kissed Clark.  I was lonely and
confused, missing CK and sitting close to someone who looked exactly like
him - behaved a lot like him, too."  She smiled faintly at him.  "Even
then, you had a lot in common with him.  But something strange happened
that night, and we've both paid for the consequences."

He nodded.  CK's lack of surprise told him that she'd already discussed
this with him, bit it sounded as if it hadn't been a very easy discussion.

"But I told you then that I thought the feelings you had for me were really
for your own Lois," she continued.

"Me?" asked Lois.

"Yes, you," said Clark.

"But you hadn't even met me - I must have still been in the jungle at that
point," she protested.

"Yes, but remember, I told you about all of this.  How I searched for you,
even though I'd never met you?"

She looked thoughtful.  "Oh, yes.  It's all beginning to make sense..."

"Right," he said.  "Anyway, I thought L was probably right at the time, and
that's why I started to look for you - but it took me a long time."  He
paused.  "A few things happened."

Like Mayson.

But he wasn't going to talk about Mayson's death.  Lois already knew about
her, and really, she was irrelevant to all of this.

Irrelevant.

He closed his eyes.  <Sorry, Mayson>

"Clark?"  A gentle squeeze on his hand made him open his eyes again.  "You
were saying?" she said.

"Yes.  So - I found you."  He smiled fondly at her.  "That was the most
wonderful moment in my entire life."

"What - when I yelled at you for ruining my show?" she asked with a smile.

"I've never been so beautifully yelled at.  It was music to my ears," he
said reverentially.

A corner of her mouth quirked upwards.  "You might regret you ever said
that."

"Too true," interjected CK suddenly, with a welcome spark of humour in his
voice.

"Hey!" said L.  "You're supposed to be keeping quiet."

Clark found CK looking at him. "See what I mean?" he said with an dead-pan
face.

Clark nodded.  "Think I do."

"Come on, Clark, let's get back to the subject," said Lois.  "You haven't
finished yet."

He sighed.  "Okay.  Well, I guess you know now that L and I have
a...history.  So now we come to this morning.  We were having an argument,
if you remember."

"Well, if you want to call it that.  I was just trying to figure out why
you'd dragged me out here," she said pointedly.

"I know.  But I think you can safely say we weren't exactly getting along."

"Okay, I'll accept that."

"So I'm trying to smooth things over-"

"No you were not!  You were sulking."

"I was trying to think of ways to make things up to you."

"Ha!  You call-"

"Guys!" interrupted L.  "Let's not have a repeat of this morning, shall
we?  What's your point, Clark?"

He drew in a slow breath.  "I wanted us to stop arguing.  But then you and
CK arrived, and made things even worse between us.  Now I had to explain
about alternate universes and visiting friends that looked exactly like me
and Lois.  Not exactly conducive to better relations.  Do we agree on
that?" he asked, turning to Lois.

"I guess so."

"So, our relationship was going through a rocky patch this morning.  Next
thing, I'm alone in the kitchen with you."  He looked at L.  "Lois and I
aren't getting along, and there you are, the woman I was first attracted
to, all those years ago.  I...I just had to prove it to myself."

"What, Clark?"

Suddenly, it hit him with crushing certainty that they had been absolutely
right.  Insecurity had led him to hurt L this morning.  Insecurity in his
own ability to make the right choice; to sustain a relationship with the
woman he loved.  It was like a blow to the solar plexus.

But could he tell Lois to her face that he'd kissed L out of doubt - doubt
that he'd chosen the right woman?

He took a gulp of wine.

"I needed to make sure I wasn't making a mistake - that my true feelings
were really for L, not you," he said over the rim of the glass.  "And
you're right, L - insecurity made me do it.  Insecurity in my own ability
to make the right decision.  I was also mad at you, and I knew it would
shock you if I kissed you."  He laid the wine glass carefully down and
stared at it.  "Everyone happy now?"

No-one answered.

"Okay, if you'll excuse me," he said, pushing his chair back slowly.  "I
need to freshen up.  And just for the record, I'm not running away."

*********
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:11:39 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: FW for Zoom - Mirror Message Board ready

That'll teach me not to read the whole thread.  Sorry, didn't realise we
had to re-register!

Y.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:16:55 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: This Week, on The Author's Mind...

Well, even though I knew some of the story behind FTGG, I really enjoyed
reading your tale of how it came into being.  Good old Whitney, eh? <g>

Yvonne
(looking forward to finding out which story each author chooses as their
favourite)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:22:10 -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>
Subject:      Re: FW for Zoom - Mirror Message Board ready
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Yvonne, you'll have to register at the mirror site, but thankfully that
doesn't take long :)

And Wendy, I just tried the old boards and couldn't get in :(  So I'll post
HD on the new boards and to this list...

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:24:32 +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:         Kaethel <Kaethel@WANADOO.FR>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Oh, Hazel...

S
p
o
i
l
e
r

S
p
a
c
e

This was just as heartwrenching and beautiful as Wendy's first part. Both
parts blend so well together, it's amazing when you know they've been
written by two different authors. :) And wow. You managed to show Jimmy's
emotions through the rest of the episode, and his loneliness even when
Clark's back, so well. And then, a flicker of hope with the last line,
telling us that Jimmy thinks that a smile from CK is enough, for now.

Awesome!

Helene :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaethel
Kaethel@wanadoo.fr
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:37:52 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)

Lovely, Hazel.  You continued the mood Wendy established beautifully - in
particular, I was right there with Jimmy when he said it felt good to top
Clyde.  I'd completely forgotten how he rose above himself in this episode,
and you expressed it very well.  I could also feel his pain when he said
bitterly that not even Superman notices him.  Poor Jimmy :(

Yvonne
(who heard a rumour about another sequel...<g>)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:27:29 -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>
Subject:      NEW: Hearts Divided, part 16/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  quoted-printable

I haven't been keeping up with this on the list, for which I =
apologize... if anyone asks, I can send the whole thing.

Last time, Lois and Kal were working on a new plan to rescue Zara from =
Nor's ship, but Sev might have plans of his own...

Hearts Divided
part 16/?
PG-13
by Pam Jernigan

****

"Excellent news, my dear!" Nor swept into the ship's lounge, startling =
Zara from her perusal of the stars.

"News?" she asked him warily.

He dropped down on the padded bench next to her. Zara stiffened, but =
retained enough control not to retreat from him. "As I told you, your =
would-be suitor, Kal-El, is on a ship nearby. As I did *not* tell you, I =
have an ... agent ... aboard his ship."

Zara frowned at the possibility. "Kal-El would surely choose crewmen =
that are loyal to him."

"Ah, perhaps he would if he'd had the chance; the ship he commands was =
diverted from a different mission."

"But surely the Council would not send one of your men against you," =
Zara argued, confused and dismayed at the thought that Kal and Ching =
might be betrayed. After contacting Ching, her spirits had risen, but =
now she didn't know what to think.

"The Council does not know all of my men," Nor snapped. Then he smiled, =
regaining control. "This particular crewman has not worked for me =
before, but he knew of my reputation, and apparently he formed some sort =
of grudge against Kal-El within two days of meeting him." Nor's smile =
widened slightly. "Your birth-husband does have that effect on some =
people. There was some unpleasantness over concubines, I believe; it =
doesn't matter."

Zara swallowed. "What damage could one crewman do?"

"Not much, of course, though he was an excellent early-warning system. =
However, in discussion with other crew members, he discovered that the =
ship's lieutenant seemed to be quite devoted to you."

Zara kept her face carefully neutral, and her mental shield tightly =
closed. "I serve the House of Ra; its members serve me."

"Yes, of course," Nor said, watching her closely. "But I do seem to =
remember certain rumors circulating a full cycle or more ago. Some of =
the more low-minded speculated that in Kal-El's absence, you had =
developed a partiality for one of your guards ... a fantastic story, but =
the rumor gained some credence when your father abruptly arranged to =
have the man transferred to a deep space survey mission. And by an =
astonishing coincidence, it is that ship that Kal-El now commands."

"The trouble with rumors," Zara replied evenly, feeling her fingernails =
dig into her palms, "is that they are so often untrue."

"Hmm." Nor studied her for a moment, then shrugged. "I am sure my lady =
would do nothing improper. However, it does seem that this lieutenant =
has either formed or retained some sort of feelings for you ... so much =
so that my agent was very cleverly able to use it against him."

Zara struggled to breathe normally. "What do you mean?"

"It's a dangerous thing, cleverness," Nor mused, inspecting his =
fingernails. "Naturally, I don't mind when it works to my advantage -- =
but too much initiative is dangerous in a subordinate, and this fellow =
seems too capable of switching masters. I must remember to dispose of =
him as soon as I have Kal-El."

She stared at him, unwilling to beg for information; he was obviously =
enjoying her agitation. There was no need, anyway; Nor never had been =
able to stop talking about himself.

"Don't you want to know what he did?" Nor asked, his eyes gleaming like =
a predator watching disabled prey. "Of course you do; after all, you're =
involved. My agent spoke to the lieutenant, telling him that he was =
fearful for your continued safety. He hinted that I was becoming =
dangerously unstable -- which is another reason to dispose of him, come =
to think of it -- and that once I realized their ship was heading back =
to this system, I would kill you in a panic. That upset your lieutenant =
quite a bit, apparently. So my man told him that the only way to save =
your life was to relieve Kal-El of command, and turn him over to me as a =
prisoner." Nor smiled broadly. "I do so like that plan, don't you?"

Zara swallowed again, unable to come up with a coherent reply. She knew =
Ching was an honorable man, and she was sure he was dedicated to the =
good of New Krypton; there was no way Ching could possibly think that =
letting Nor win this fight was for the best. And yet ... if he believed =
her life was at stake? He was not normally prone to making decisions =
based on emotion, but it was possible that the shey-ana bond between =
them might cloud his thinking. This was probably why the ancients had =
discouraged romance, came the random thought; it made men illogical and =
sacrificed the good of the whole.

Kal-El would not be thus distracted. He held her in affection and =
esteem, as she did him, but that would not prove a disadvantage. Just =
because a mutiny was planned did not mean it would succeed. "When will =
they make their attempt?" she finally managed to ask. Perhaps, if she =
had some solitude, she could reach Ching again, and tell him he was =
being deceived.

Nor glanced at her, seeming irritated by her lack of reaction. "Oh, some =
time ago. We just received a message from my agent, reporting his =
success. They will bring Kal-El's ship to dock with this one shortly. =
Would you like to come with me to greet them?" Now his gaze was coldly =
mocking.

She lifted her chin. "Certainly." She was tired of being insulated from =
events, and if she was there at least she wouldn't have to suffer =
through Nor's gloating recital at a later date. Besides, she needed to =
be close to Ching, needed to find out what was in his mind. They had =
once been able to communicate in absolute privacy, undetected by others =
nearby. If that bond held true, she would soon be able to speak to him =
directly.=20

She held tight to the possibility that this might all be a ruse of some =
sort. If so, she wanted to be nearby, to help in any way she could. She =
had not wanted to risk sabotage, not with the ship so far from =
everything, but if circumstances permitted, she knew exactly what she =
wanted to do.

****

Ching adjusted his grip on the unfamiliar hand weapon as the small group =
waited for the airlock to cycle. In mere moments, they would be entering =
Nor's ship. Kal-El stood passively ahead of him, his hands tied. Ching =
regretted that necessity, but couldn't resist a guilty moment of =
pleasure at this reversal of roles.

Behind him, Sev kept a wary eye on the three women. Ching would much =
rather not have brought any women along, but Sev had insisted that their =
presence would help to pacify and distract Nor. Ching supposed he had a =
point, and left it at that; his consciousness was all taken up with =
thoughts of Zara.

He hadn't seen her in over a year; their brief telepathic contact had =
been like water in the desert. She had said Nor wasn't mistreating her. =
He hoped she hadn't been shading the truth. It would be like her to =
downplay her own discomforts so as not to distract from what she thought =
was a larger issue. Ching felt unfamiliar emotions welling up within him =
at the thought that Zara might have been hurt. If she had been, he would =
do what he must to make sure Nor suffered much more greatly.

A soft chime announced that the other side of the airlock was now =
pressurized, and the door smoothly opened. Ching kept an eye on the =
entire group to make sure they all moved to the new enclosure, but there =
were no problems. After a much shorter wait, the last door opened, =
allowing them into Nor's ship.

A burly guard awaited them. He eyed Kal-El's bound hands and grinned. =
"Welcome aboard, m'lord." He bowed, mocking protocol. Kal-El ignored =
him. The guard scowled, then turned his attention to the three ladies. =
"Ah, the concubines." He walked closer, leering at them. Lois glared =
back, and Brenda looked ready to say something cutting.=20

Ching stepped between them and the guard, forcing him backwards. "They =
are not for you," he said firmly.

The guard glowered, but gave ground. "Not yet, anyway," he mumbled.=20

Ching chose to ignore that, and if the women replied it was in an =
undertone. "Where is Lord Nor? We are to meet with him."

The guard nodded and pointed down the corridor. "This way."

"Sev, you cover Kal-El," Ching ordered, then let the procession pass so =
that he could keep an eye on all of them.

The corridor was fairly short and opened up into a large open room. They =
fanned out into a ragged line, facing Lord Nor. Nor was standing in the =
center of the room with another guard behind him and Zara by his side. =
Ching allowed himself one quick look at her, noting with relief that she =
seemed unharmed. Her face showed her tension, though, and he could feel =
her mental probes as she tried to connect with him. Ching wished he =
could respond, but didn't dare divert his concentration from the very =
important confrontation to come. Resolutely, he focused on Lord Nor, who =
was gloating.

"Ah, Lord Kal-El," Nor began, his voice almost a purr. "It's so lovely =
to see you, especially like this."

Kal-El nodded gravely. "I've been looking forward to seeing you, too."

Nor raised an eyebrow at that, but continued down the line. "Which of =
you gentlemen is Sev?"

Sev stepped forward half a pace. "I am, my lord."

Nor smiled broadly. "So very nice to meet you at last ... I appreciate =
all your efforts to please me, and believe me, you will be rewarded =
appropriately."

Sev bowed his head and stepped back, and Ching thought he looked rather =
sick. It was obvious Sev hadn't fully realized what he was getting into, =
and perhaps the man was now remembering some of the more unsavory =
aspects of Nor's reputation. Ching refused to sympathize with him.

"And you must be the loyal Lieutenant Ching," Nor continued, his voice =
dripping irony.

Ching dipped his head briefly, in the least respectful gesture he dared. =
"I have that honor." Ching kept his mental shields steady, but Nor =
appeared to make no efforts to probe him. Perhaps it would be safe to =
contact Zara after all, if he kept it brief.

"I understand you're quite devoted to the lovely Zara," Nor continued =
silkily. "I find it touching when servants are so faithful. I trust your =
loyalties will extend to me, as her husband."

Ching felt Zara's mental inquiries grow more frantic, and he risked a =
brief transmission. **Wait.** Aloud, he said, "I serve the Lady Zara's =
best interests." After a brief pause, as Nor stared challengingly at =
him, he forced himself to add, "My lord."

Nor nodded slowly, doubtless planning to dispose of Ching as soon as =
practical, and moved his attention to the three ladies. Francine was =
first, and she was looking bored.=20

"I understand you three are somewhat exotic." Nor smiled, seeming =
excited by the thought. "Alien, in fact. I look forward to exploring all =
your strange secrets."

Francine pretended not to notice him, nonchalantly inspecting her =
fingernails.

Nor smiled thinly, and Ching held his breath, grateful for the language =
barrier. None of the ladies would understand Nor's remarks, although the =
body language on each side was clear enough.=20

"I will capture your attention soon enough," Nor told Francine, then =
moved down the row to inspect Brenda. "Such skin color!" he marveled, =
running a finger down her arm. "Beautiful."=20

Brenda smiled sweetly. "You can kiss my black behind, sugar."

Nor smiled broadly, then narrowed his eyes, clearly unsure of how to =
take this. "I look forward to exploring you at my leisure," he said, =
then moved on to gaze at Lois.

She was standing tall, despite the flimsy garments. She stared coolly at =
Nor.=20

"Are you a woman of spirit, too, my sweet? You're a trifle skinny for my =
tastes, but not in all areas..." He reached out lazily towards Lois's =
chest. She knocked his hand away, and Nor grabbed her arm, scowling. =
"You will not deny me," Nor ordered.

Kal-El started towards Nor and Lois before Ching grabbed his arm, and =
the movement distracted Nor. "Oh, Kal-El ... was she your favorite, =
then?"

"Leave her alone," Kal-El demanded.

Nor seemed to recover his cool, raising an eyebrow. "But how wonderful! =
I had planned to have you witness my marriage to your birth wife, but it =
should be even more entertaining to have you there as I take your =
concubine." He turned back towards Lois for a moment. "Were you fond of =
him, too? I do hope so, it would make things ever so much more =
enjoyable."

Lois wrenched her arm free. "Don't count on it."

"Later, my sweet. Guards!" Nor snapped his fingers, and the two henchmen =
stepped forwards. "Take these lovelies to separate quarters ... and no =
sampling!"

Ching suddenly saw a way to get Zara safely out of the line of fire. =
Risking another short contact, he sent, **Go with them.**

She sent him a startled **What?**

**Trust me,** he sent back. **Go!**

"My lord," Zara spoke up, "I'll go with them."

Nor gazed at her speculatively for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. =
This business is properly for men at any rate."

Zara nodded, keeping her face calm, and with one last hungry look at =
Ching, she followed the women and guards out of the room.

****

Kal-El watched Lois leave the room with a sense of relief. The ladies =
were safe for the moment, at least -- and Nor's guards were out of the =
room. Now it was time to get down to business. "Lord Nor!"

Nor stiffened at the distinctly non-servile tone. "You dare defy me =
now?"

"I offer you terms of surrender," Kal replied evenly. "If you surrender =
yourself and your ship peacefully, right now, I swear not to bring =
capital charges against you in Council."

"You offer terms?" Nor laughed.=20

"They're the same terms I offered to Sev," Kal said.=20

Nor frowned. "And why should that impress me?"

"Because he accepted." In a quick motion, Kal twisted his wrists and =
pulled out of the loose ropes. Beside him, he was aware that Ching was =
holding his handgun steady, aimed directly at Nor.

****

Lois allowed herself to be herded out of the room and down the corridor. =
It had been fascinating to see the enemy at last. She hadn't expected to =
feel such a rush of adrenaline, in facing him. Even knowing that this =
was all a ruse and that Kal could defend her if necessary, Nor's =
presence had made her skin crawl. To her surprise, she had been able to =
understand everything he said -- some sort of mental echo through Kal, =
she supposed. She had certainly felt Kal's rage when Nor had threatened =
her. She wanted Nor stopped, of course, but now she also wanted someone =
to hit him hard where it hurt. Maybe later, she thought hopefully.

The guards took them around the first corner. "Okay, ladies," Lois said =
quietly and casually, turning her head to get a good sense of where her =
target was. "You two get big-and-hairy up front; I'll take =
short-and-stinky. One, two, three!"

Lois whirled, ducking and swinging one leg out to knock Shorty off his =
feet. On his way down, she kicked again, this time connecting with the =
side of his head. His startled yell cut off abruptly, and he landed =
hard. Lois jumped back, keeping a wary eye on him. That move should have =
knocked him out, but she wasn't willing to take chances.=20

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Brenda and Francine were =
taking the big guy down with no problems. They had picked up quite a lot =
from just a few sessions of that self-defense class. "Great job!"

Francine smiled, the first honest smile from her that Lois had ever =
seen. "Believe me, it was a pleasure. I just remembered every jerk I've =
ever known."

Brenda laughed. "You go, girlfriend. Let's do that to every jerk we meet =
from now on, too."

"Just don't get yourselves arrested," Lois laughed too, aware that the =
release of tension was making them all a little giddy. They weren't out =
of danger yet, but so far, things were going just as planned. Except for =
one thing. Lois turned to find Zara staring at the scene in the hallway =
in stunned amazement. Her expression shaded towards fear as she looked =
from one Earth woman to the next, and she asked a low-voiced question.

Lois winced; away from Kal she couldn't understand Kryptonian anymore. =
"Lady Zara?" she asked, holding out an empty, hopefully reassuring hand.

Zara nodded slowly, still looking puzzled.

Lois thought hard, wondering how to get the necessary concepts across. =
She pointed to herself and said, "Lois." Then she gestured to the =
dancers, pointing to each in turn. "Brenda -- Francine." Sweeping her =
finger over all three of them, she said. "Friends."=20

Pointing now towards Zara then back up the hallway, she continued, "Zara =
-- Ching -- Kal-El. Friends. Lois -- Zara -- friends?"

Zara nodded again, smiling shyly, then spoke again. "Kal-El -- friend. =
Ching -- friend. Lois -- friend."

"Great! Oh, and just for the record," Lois made an exaggerated face. =
"Nor -- bleah!"

Zara grinned at that. "Bleah!"

"Yeah, yeah," Brenda interrupted, "Me Tarzan, you Jane, but shouldn't we =
get these guys under wraps?"

"Good thinking." Within a few minutes, with all four women helping, they =
had stuffed the two unconscious guards into a small room, and Zara had =
done something to the lock. Lois finally remembered to pull out her =
concealed handgun. "Now where should we go? Back to Kal-El?"

"I'd just as soon not see Nor again," Brenda said frankly, "but if you =
think Kal could use the help...."

Zara spoke quickly, trying a few hand gestures, but Lois had no idea =
what she was trying to get across, and cursed the language barrier. =
After a moment, Zara gave up, and just started off down the hallway, =
motioning for the others to follow her.

"Lois?" Francine asked uncertainly.

Lois shrugged. "She's got an idea, and she's on our side. Let's go back =
her up."

****

...tbc...

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net =20
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 10:56:20 -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:         Marnie Rowe <Bumpkin@CGOCABLE.NET>
Subject:      Re: FF: A Little Help, part 1 of ? (PGish, at least... may go
up)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Crystal,

This is a great start! I think that as long as you keep things as clear as
you have so far that you are going to have one heck of a great story on your
hands, a very powerful and moving story too. I for one can definately
relate.

Marnie
~Pobody's Nerfect
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:03:24 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
Mime-Version: 1.0
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*giggles* Be interested in what ol' Tank has to say when Zoom's boards get
back up.  Good fic you too.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:30:26 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Hey there!  Loved this!

CM (Who wouldn't mind that other sequel that was mentioned and who has a
couple ideas herself about where it could go)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 10:21:24 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Hearts Divided, part 16/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
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AHHHH!

You are evil!  You can't just give us the whole thing at once can you?!

Loved it!  Hated Nor - but that was to be expected!

More soon!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:19:48 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Smallville Pilot -- a review
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I enjoyed this as well!  Any idea when the new season starts!

I feel like
> Thomas Jefferson in 1776 when he's trying to write the Declaration
> of
> Independence, and surrounded by crumpled up pieces of paper.  ("No,
> Mr.
> Adams, I mean to say it is not yet begun.)

LOL!!! Sadly, many probably have not seen this wonderful Broadway play
(or the video with Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World as John Adams), but I
show it in my US History I classes and absolutely love it!  Saw it in
person too and it was wonderful then!

CM (who really knows more useless facts about random stuff , including US
History, than she should)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:27:25 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Looking for a beta reader (?)
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Hi Meredith.  I have some time - since Valley of the Shadow is almost
done and that's all I'm working on!  Please feel free to send it on to me
privately!

CM

On Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:42:07 +0100 Meredith Knight
<meredith@PUTWET.DEMON.CO.UK> writes:
> I'm a relatively new FOLC, having been badly smitten by the BBC rerun
> of
> L&C.  I'm steadily making my way through the fanfic archives, and am
> awed by the dedication and talent of the authors.
>
> I've taken the plunge into writing my first ever fanfic: a rewrite
> of
> All Shook Up, on the premise that Supes doesn't lose the Suit during
> re-
> entry.  I think I'm about 1/4 of the way through.  My husband is
> starting to ask how long this is going to last... I decided "I don't
> know" was a safer answer than "Quite possibly forever.  What's for
> dinner, dear?"
>
> So I'm looking for a hardy volunteer to look over what I've done so
> far,
> and tell me whether it's worth carrying on or whether I should hang
> up
> my keyboard and go back to being a consumer, which was a lot easier.
> :^)
> I'm also looking for input on American vs. British English, since
> I'm
> trying to stick to the canon.
>
> (Is that what a beta reader is?  And what's an alpha reader?)
>
> Thanks,
> Meredith
> meredith@putwet.demon.co.uk
>
> --
> Meredith Knight
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:03:31 -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>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Hearts Divided, part 16/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Hey Carol :)

I'm not evil, just a slow writer ;)  I'm glad you're enjoying this!  I am
posting as I write tho, and frankly I'm lucky to come up with a section once
a week ... I'd like to be able to post more frequently, but I started
posting it too early and ran out of cushion two months ago <g>  Look for
more next Monday (if I'm lucky and the betas approve!)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:20:07 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
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Okay  - here's part 8 of Valley of the Shadow!

Comments appreciated!

CM

*****

>From part 7:

Clark stared at the pencil he was twirling in his hands.  "No thanks,
Jimmy.  I'm not up for a baseball game tonight."

"Come on, Clark.  You need to get out of here and at least try to have
some fun."

Clark sighed.  "Okay.  Let's go.  I could use a Big Kahuna anyway."

"Chocolate chip cookies with ice cream in the middle?"  Jimmy grinned.
"Sounds good to me!"

*****

Part 8:

Clark and Jimmy settled into their seats four rows from field, right
behind home plate.  "These are great seats, Jimmy."

"I wish I could take credit, but John got them for me.  When I told him I
wanted to take you to a game, he pulled out all the stops."

"I'll have to remember to thank him then."

Jimmy looked around and then whispered as he pointed at a dark haired man
with a baseball cap on.  "CK, check it out.  That's the guy from that
'Believe It or Not' show.  You know - the one who used to play in that
superhero television show."

"It is, isn't it?  I heard he was supposed to throw out the first pitch
tonight or something.  I think he's in town promoting his new movie."

"Wow.  We're hobnobbing, Clark."

Clark just smiled and couldn't shake the feeling that his wife was
around.

He looked around the ballpark and couldn't believe it when he saw Lois
sitting with Lex Luthor in the ritzy Stadium Club out in left field.  He
looked away quickly and tried to cover up by pointing out another
celebrity to his young companion.

"Hey, Jimmy."

"Yeah?"

"Isn't that the woman from that same show?"

"Yeah, it is.  She's hot!  I wonder why she's not sitting next to her
former co-star?"

They watched as another man sat down next to her and wrapped his arm
around her.

"Ah, I get it, CK.  The jealous husband.  Didn't like all the time the
two of them spent together when they were working on the show and now he
doesn't want them to have anything to do with each other?"

"Jimmy, don't let Perry find out how much you read the National Tattler.
He'd have a fit.  Let's just watch the game, huh?"

"Sure.  GO COMETS! WOOO!"

Clark sighed as he glanced back up to see Lois laughing at something Lex
said and then he turned back to the first pitch of the game.

*****

"Lex, I don't understand why we're at the baseball stadium."

"You said you wanted to do something a little more normal.  What's more
normal than a baseball game?  Besides, my dear, I own a part of the
stadium.  In a sense.  I helped build this place and as part of my
repayment, I get to eat here whenever I want.  I thought it would be
something a little different, just like you wanted."

Lois smiled.  Lex's idea of normal for a baseball game was a little
different than most people's idea.  Clark would buy seats way up in the
upper deck and they would eat hot dogs and nachos and Big Kahunas until
they both - well, Lois anyway - felt sick.  He had convinced her to try
it a couple of months earlier and sure enough, even though she was sick
the next morning from a bad hot dog, she had had the time of her life.
Well, unless she counted that first weekend at their island in the
Caribbean.  She couldn't help but wonder if Clark would ever take another
woman there, since things between them seemed to be over.  It had only
been a little over week, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she had
lost her husband.

This was going to be a bit different from her ballgame with Clark.  The
Stadium Club was the fancy restaurant situated in left field even with
the second tier of seats.  There was a special entrance with an elevator
so the valued guests didn't have to walk the ramps and stairs that led to
the upper levels of the park.  Even Clark had seemed a bit winded when
accompanying Lois to the nosebleed section.  Lois had whined just a bit,
but Clark had insisted it was the best way to see a baseball game - from
the cheap seats.  Lois wondered what Lex would do if she suggested they
change into shorts and a Comets T-shirt and view the game from the
unairconditioned seats with the 'common folk'.  Lois pushed her
experience with Clark out of her mind and focused on what was sure to be
a delicious dinner with Lex.

*****

It was the top of the third inning and Lois sipped on her white wine.
The crowd "Oh"ed as a foul ball was hit straight back to the net behind
home plate.  She giggled a little bit knowing that no one could really be
hurt with the net there.  She did a double check as she saw a familiar
face appear on the large screen in the outfield.  There, larger than
life, was Clark, who was righting himself after flinching from the foul
ball.  He and Jimmy were laughing, as though they had no cares in the
world.

She stared into her wine, wondering if she could really do this.  If she
could be here if Clark was as well, even though she couldn't actually
pick him out in the crowd from this distance.  Fortunately, though, Lex
hadn't been paying attention to the screen and wasn't aware of the
presence of her husband in the ballpark.

"Would you like to use some binoculars, my dear?  Get a little better
look?"

Lois nodded and took the offered glasses, glad that if Clark had to be
here, he was behind home plate.  Lex would never know that she wasn't
looking at the batter.  She peered through them and looked directly at
her husband who was now sitting quietly.

Suddenly, he turned and looked over the top of his glasses, directly at
her.  Even through the binoculars, their eyes met.  Time seemed to stand
still as she noticed a lack of something in his eyes.  She couldn't quite
put her finger on it, but he seemed resigned somehow, to something she
couldn't understand.  Contact was broken as Jimmy turned his attention
elsewhere.

*****

Clark agreed with whatever it was Jimmy had just said, not really sure
what it was his young friend had pointed out.  Probably another pretty
girl.  He'd already pointed out several.

"Uh, Jimmy.  What would Lucy say if she knew you were looking at so many
other girls?"

"Oh, right.  Well, as long as I don't touch?"  Jimmy raised a hopeful
eyebrow.

Clark rolled his eyes.  "If you think she's okay with it...  Lois would
skin me alive."  Clark didn't realize what he had said until it was out.
He looked at his hands, fighting the depressing sadness that had come
over him so often recently.

"Hey, CK.  It's okay.  You're bound to think about her sometimes."

"I know."

Jimmy tried to change the subject.  "I think I really am in love with
Lucy.  I've never felt like this about anyone before.  I've never lived
with a girl before, so that whole thing is new.  I love waking up in the
middle of the night and watching her sleep.  The moon shines in that
window sometimes and she just takes my breath away."

Clark shifted uncomfortably.  Some of what Jimmy was talking about hit a
little too close to home.  "Sounds like love to me, Jimmy."  He couldn't
help but look at the Stadium Club again, his eyes meeting Lois' before
the waiter showed up with their meals.  He sighed and thought seriously
about leaving, but determined that he was going to put it out of his mind
and enjoy the baseball game.  After all, the Comets were winning.

*****

Lex was pleased when Lois announced she needed to use the ladies room.
He signaled to the doorman and picked up the binoculars.  He watched as
the usher spoke briefly into his walkie-talkie and then walked down the
steps to where Clark Kent was sitting with that young man from the
Planet.  He observed with great interest as the two argued forcefully and
then were lead up the steps and out of the stands.

At least *he* wouldn't be distracting Lois anymore.

*****

Lois checked for Clark again as soon as she felt she could ask for the
binoculars again without being obvious or ignoring her dinner.  When she
focused her attention on the area behind home plate, he was gone.  She
panned the area and noticed the two stars her husband and his companion
had noticed earlier.  She made a mental note to try to find reruns of the
series they had been in.  She remembered the superhero had married his
lady-love and maybe they could give her some insight into being married
to someone who was slightly more than normal.  She also wondered why they
weren't enjoying the game together.  She caught them sharing a glance and
noticed how quickly they both looked away.

So much like her and Clark.

She sighed and turned her attention to her meal, the field holding no
more interest for her now.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:27:56 -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:         Kay Atkins <trenna@WHIDBEY.COM>
Subject:      Beta Reader

Hi,  I've discovered FOLCdom after beginning to watch the TBS series (in
order) in March and have "consumed" and enjoyed a lot of LnC Fanfic since
then.   I haven't done any feedback because I don't feel qualified to make
any literary comments except how much I've enjoyed the stories.  If authors
like to hear just that...I've got a lot of emails to send!

What makes one qualified to be a beta reader?  Is a thorough understanding
of the Superman saga (started in the 50's so that tells you I'm older <G>)
and repeated viewings of all the L&C episodes enough or should a beta
reader also be a writer with some experience in fiction?  My only writing
experience (so far)is in reporting, but I'm definitely familiar with
American English. <G>

Kay
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:44:47 -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>
Subject:      Re: Beta Reader
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi Kay, welcome to the party! :)

>>.   I haven't done any feedback because I don't feel qualified to make
any literary comments except how much I've enjoyed the stories.  If authors
like to hear just that...<<

Trust me, they do ;)

>>I've got a lot of emails to send!<<

Yes <g>  But don't let that overwhelm you, just sending feedback from now on
will be appreciated :)

>>What makes one qualified to be a beta reader?  Is a thorough understanding
of the Superman saga (started in the 50's so that tells you I'm older <G>)
and repeated viewings of all the L&C episodes enough or should a beta
reader also be a writer with some experience in fiction?  My only writing
experience (so far)is in reporting, but I'm definitely familiar with
American English. <G> <<

Every author and beta reader are different, so it's not so much a question
of qualifications as it is of finding a good match.  I've been blessed with
several betas -- one fixes my characterizations,  another fixes my commas,
and believe me, I need them both! <g>  Being a writer of fiction would give
you a different perspective, but not necessarily a better one :-) because
the audience has a large proportion of non-writers, and the story has to
work for as many people as possible.  I know I've gotten lots of valuable
feedback from people who write very little if any fiction.

And as with everything else, the more you practice, the better you get ;)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:32:24 -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:         "Irene D." <sirenegold@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  Weekend Feature, 3/?
In-Reply-To:  <3B6E11C9.26A1DF28@flash.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Diane, I really enjoyed this section of the story.

Well done!

Irene

=====
sirenegold@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:33:10 -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: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.0.14.0.20010806091253.00a09a00@actcom.co.il>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hazel, I thoroughly enjoyed this continuation of
Wendy's story.  Well done!

Irene

=====
sirenegold@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:05:45 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: Beta Reader
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  7bit

In a message dated 8/6/01 1:38:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
trenna@WHIDBEY.COM writes:

> .   I haven't done any feedback because I don't feel qualified to make
> any literary comments except how much I've enjoyed the stories.  If
authors
> like to hear just that...I've got a lot of emails to send!
>

You better believe authors like to hear just that.  :-)   We all love to
hear
that someone enjoyed our efforts.

> What makes one qualified to be a beta reader?  Is a thorough understanding
> of the Superman saga (started in the 50's so that tells you I'm older <G>)
> and repeated viewings of all the L&C episodes enough or should a beta
> reader also be a writer with some experience in fiction?  My only writing
> experience (so far)is in reporting, but I'm definitely familiar with
> American English. <G>

There are different types of beta-readers.  Some are primarily focused on
grammar and spelling and things like that. Others are a lot of help with
plot
glitches and charaterization.  Some are wonderful with both areas.  (Thanks
Labby and Carol.)
Many beta-readers have never written a fic, but are still good judges of
quality.  I have a feeling a fair number of writers are people who started
as
beta-readers and then realized, "Hey, I could do this!"

As far as understanding canon, what is really helpful is some knowledge of
Lois and Clark.  Since it is somewhat different from previous incarnations
of
Superman, characterization tends to follow L&C canon.

Hope this helps.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 22:50:34 +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:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <5.1.0.14.0.20010806091253.00a09a00@actcom.co.il>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Wow, such generous FDK! I'm flattered. :)

Thanks Melisma, Yvonne, Irene (loved your form letter <g>), Helene, Juliet,
and Carol for your response. I'm glad you all enjoyed it - especially
Jimmy's desire to punch Superman in the mouth. :) I get the impression from
Wendy that her continuation might very well reflect that emotion.

And special thanks, Wendy, for your emphatic two thumbs up! It was a
pleasure collaborating with you, even in such a small fashion. :)

Hazel
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:46:17 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  Weekend Feature, 3/?
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Uhoh - what's Lois going to think about this?!  Does she realize the
ruse?

More soon please!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:06:28 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

This is a continuation of two vignettes based on TOGOM and recently posted
to the list and MBs: My Friend, which I posted a few weeks ago and which is
now on the Archive at http://www.lcfanfic.com/stories/2001/myfriend.txt.
Hazel then wrote a lovely, poignant sequel which took us up to the end of
the episode, and which was posted on the list and the lastson boards this
morning. Hazel=92s sequel inspired me to write this.

If you haven=92t read either My Friend or My Friend 2, this will make no
sense at all! You=92ll find My Friend 2 here:

http://listserv.indiana.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=3Dind0108a&L=3Dloiscla-general=
-
l&F=3DP&P=3D10424

or if you=92d prefer to read it on the message boards, you=92ll find it
here=
,
on the mirror site:

http://www.redboots.net/boards/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=3Dget_topic&f=3D5&t=3D0000=
19

~ My Friend 3 ~

I=92m hanging around taking pictures of emergency services freeing people
from a car wreck near the edge of town when suddenly there=92s this loud
>whoosh< from above.

It=92s *him*. Superman.

I carry on snapping as he makes short work of getting the trapped victims
out, then quietly informs the paramedics about their injuries. What a guy.
What a smart, all-knowing, decent, *caring* guy.

Yeah, sure.

I take one final photograph. He=92s finished. My heart starts to thump
faster. This is my chance; I=92ve been waiting for this for over a week,
and=

I=92m not going to miss it now.

I step out from the small cluster of reporters and snappers.
=93Superman!=94=

He pauses, glancing towards me. =93Jimmy?=94 He takes a step in my
direction=
; I
move further away from the other people, gesturing to a side road. Giving
me an enquiring look, he follows.

When I stop, he stops too, a friendly, encouraging smile on his face. I
realise that he thinks I want an interview. No, thanks, I mutely retort,
scorn dripping from the words I don=92t speak.

I silently gear myself up, reminding myself just how it had felt last week,
hearing what had happened in that club, and waiting, waiting for the
punchline, in which Superman swept in and saved everyone. The punchline
that never came, because then they told me that CK was dead.

Superman never came. And because of that, CK was dead.

And then later Superman didn=92t even bother to tell me that my friend was
alive after all. That=92s why I=92m furious with him. Even though CK is
safe=

and well and it=92s great to have him back, the pain=92s still there inside
=
me.

This is my chance. I take a deep breath, then launch my fist upwards and
towards his chin.

It never connects. I didn=92t even see him move, but his hand is gripping
my=

wrist. It=92s a tight hold; I can=92t move my arm. And yet it doesn=92t
hurt=
. I
knew he was strong, but not that he could be so... gentle.

I look up to see puzzlement in his face, and something which looks
suspiciously like... compassion.

*Compassion*!

Ha! It would have been something if he=92d shown any of that last week.

=93Let go of me,=94 I mutter.

He releases my wrist immediately. =93I=92m sorry, Jimmy,=94 he said softly.
=
=93I
couldn't let you do it. You could have broken your hand. And anyway, even
if I=92d been able to moderate my reactions to stop you being hurt, you
wouldn=92t have hurt me.=94

I mutter something; I don=92t even know what it was. It=92s just typical. I
never get anything right. I can=92t even punch Superman out for what he
did.=

And once he tells Lois, or CK, what I did, I=92ll be a laughing-stock. As
usual.

No, CK wouldn=92t say anything. He=92s not like that. But then, he=92s the
o=
nly
one in the whole damn place who doesn=92t think I=92m not worth bothering
wi=
th.
I=92m invisible, except when people want something.

This was a waste of time. No, worse; a humiliation. I turn to walk away.

=93Wait.=94 I half-turn, surprised to see Superman=92s still there. Why
hasn=
=92t he
flown away by now? After all, what=92s to keep him here? Just me. Just
Jimmy=

Olsen, the guy nobody ever notices.

=93Jimmy, something upset you so much you wanted to punch me. I=92d like to
know what.=94

=93It doesn=92t matter,=94 I say curtly. But it does. It matters more than
I=
 can
tell anyone. But I=92m not going to embarrass myself any further. This was
a=

stupid idea. =93Go on, get on with whatever it is you do; go rescue someone
or whatever.=94

=93No-one=92s calling for help right now,=94 he answers. His expression is
troubled; he=92s looking at me, and there=92s definitely compassion in his
eyes. I recoil; I don=92t want his compassion. I wanted him to be there
nine=

days ago, when I lost my friend. Okay, he brought CK back - at least,
that=92s what CK says. I don=92t believe the story CK gave us, but the part
about Superman being responsible is probably true.

But that=92s not the point. Superman wasn=92t there when he was needed. And
he...

Well, nobody notices me anyway. Why should he be any different?

=93Let=92s talk, Jimmy.=94 He=92s holding out a hand towards me. =93Not
here=
 - will
you let me take you somewhere?=94

Hot tears are now threatening, humiliating me further; a lump in my throat
is choking me. Part of me longs to go with him, to tell him exactly what I
think of him. But I can=92t. Not like this. I have to get away, now, and
try=

to forget that I was so stupid.

After all, no-one else seems to blame Superman for anything. Not even Lois,
and she missed CK even more than I did, I think. I don=92t know about
CK=92s=

parents; they never came to Metropolis in the end. Perry gave him a couple
of days=92 leave and he flew out to see them.

I shake my head, not looking at him, and begin to walk out of the alley.
There=92s nothing for me here.

I don=92t know why I even bothered, really. CK=92s back; shouldn=92t that
be=
 all
that counts? Superman didn=92t do anything that lots of other people
don=92t=
 do
every day. He just didn=92t notice me. Sure, he spoke to me; but he
didn=92t=

notice me.

I hear a sigh, and suddenly a strong arm is wrapped securely around my
waist, and my feet aren=92t touching the ground. What...?

=93Let me go, Superman,=94 I say, trying to sound firm, but my voice cracks
=
as
I speak.

=93We need to discuss this. If I=92ve done something to hurt you, or make
yo=
u
angry with me, I want to know so that I can put it right,=94 he tells me.

I sigh. He=92s not going to let me go. So I concentrate on not looking at
him, and willing those betraying tears away. We=92re not flying for long;
barely a couple of minutes later he=92s landing. I look around; we=92re on
t=
op
of a building somewhere. It=92s a very tall building - in fact, I can=92t
se=
e
anything in the skyline that=92s taller.

=93Where are we?=94 I can=92t stop myself asking.

=93The top of the old LexCorp building,=94 he answers immediately. That
make=
s
sense; the tallest building in the city. No-one can see us up here, unless
they=92re in an airplane.

=93Jimmy. What did I do?=94 he asks, his voice concerned.

Finally, I can turn to face him, my traitorous emotions under
control. =93It=92s what you didn=92t do,=94 I announce curtly.

He=92s waiting, so I add, angrily, =93Where were you when CK was shot?=94

He flinches.

I allow myself a cynical smile. He knows exactly what I mean, and at least
he has the conscience to feel guilty about it. But not enough to apologise
to Clark=92s friends, obviously. I wonder if he even apologised to CK.

Quietly, he says, =93I wish I could have been there. Believe me, there=92s
nothing I wished more after it happened. If you think I let him down...
then I did.=94 His eyes are sad as he looks at me, and I find my anger
beginning to dissipate.

=93Jimmy.=94 He=92s speaking again, and I bite my lip. =93I can understand
t=
hat you
might have been angry with me last week because I wasn=92t able to prevent
Clark getting killed. But this isn=92t why you tried to hit me back there,
i=
s
it?=94

Of course he=92d figure that. I should have known he wouldn=92t accept the
f=
act
that he didn=92t save CK as the whole story. I sigh. =93That was part of
it,=

but it=92s not the whole reason.=94

=93Then tell me the rest.=94 He=92s looking concerned now; the sad look has
=
gone,
but he=92s clearly not going anywhere until I tell him everything.

I feel stupid. I=92d run, except there aren=92t many places to go when
you=92=
re
on the roof of the highest building in Metropolis. And knowing my luck, the
stairwell is probably locked.

=93You didn=92t tell me,=94 I blurt out at last, unnerved by the way he=92s
=
looking
at me.

He blinks. =93Didn=92t tell you what?=94

=93You knew CK was alive, and you didn=92t tell me!=94

He freezes. I stare at him; he looks scared suddenly, as if he=92s afraid
I=92ve stumbled on something and he doesn=92t know how to get out of it.
For=

someone as powerful as Superman, he looks kind of like a rabbit facing an
oncoming wolf.

=93I... how did you know?=94 he asks at last.

I shake my head, not understanding what=92s going on here. =93When you came
back to the Planet and saved us all from Capone and his gang. You knew CK
was alive, and you didn=92t tell me. Didn=92t you *know* how much I was
hurting? - how much we all were grieving for him? Didn=92t you care?=94 I
accuse him angrily.

=93You mean... then...?=94 I still can=92t figure out what=92s up with him.
=
Now he
looks relieved, as if something he=92d feared hasn=92t happened after all.
B=
ut
I don=92t understand. Is there something I=92m missing here?

Well, that=92d be nothing new.

I have to ask one more question, though. =93Did you know when you came
looking for Lois?=94 I demand.

He shifts a little, avoiding my gaze. =93I... hoped. But I wasn=92t sure,
th=
en.
I... wouldn=92t have wanted to get your hopes up.=94

=93But you were going to tell Lois,=94 I remind him, my voice hard.

=93I wanted to tell her first,=94 he admits.

Yeah. Just like everyone else, he thought of Lois first. I suppose she is
CK=92s partner, and she says he=92s her best friend. And he=92s in love
with=
 her.
I know that, but I=92m pretty sure she still doesn=92t. And if she started
t=
o
think again about what she feels for him, during those hours when he was
dead, it doesn=92t look like she=92s doing anything about it.

She still doesn=92t know what she has. I=92d give anything to have someone
c=
are
about me - *love* me - the way Clark loves Lois.

Okay, I can forgive Superman not telling me then. But when he came back, at
the party, he could have told me then. But I guess I shouldn't blame him
for doing what everyone else does all the time.

Not noticing me.

I turn away. =93Please, take me back down now.=94

=93Jimmy, you=92re right,=94 he says. =93I could have told you after I=92d
d=
ealt with
Capone and his gang. But I didn=92t. I should have. I... didn=92t
realise...=
=94
He trails off; I turn around again and notice that he=92s looking
uncomfortable.

=93You didn=92t realise what?=94 I demand. =93That he was - *is* - my
friend=
 too?
That he=92s the only one in that whole newsroom who doesn=92t treat me as
ju=
st
a gofer? That... that I *cared* that he was dead? Is that it?=94

I turn my back on him again, embarrassed that I actually said all that. Why
would he care, anyway? I=92m just feeling sorry for myself, and I hate it
when I do that.

=93Forget about it, Superman,=94 I mutter, knowing that he=92ll hear.
=93Jus=
t take
me back down.=94

=93Jimmy, I=92m sorry.=94 Now his voice is gentle, and suddenly he is
standi=
ng in
front of me. He looks stricken, and his eyes... I blink. He has incredibly
expressive eyes. Kind of like CK does, actually. And right now they=92re
looking at me and telling me that he=92s appalled with himself. =93I
didn=92=
t
think,=94 he tells me. =93It=92s no excuse, but I just didn=92t think.=94

=93That=92s okay,=94 I tell him awkwardly; a little belligerently still.
=93=
No-one
ever does where I=92m concerned.=94

=93It=92s not okay,=94 he insists, still looking apologetic. =93I should
hav=
e known
better. You=92re a good friend, Jimmy - you=92re very loyal to the people
yo=
u
care about. And you deserve better treatment.=94

Yeah, I think I do deserve better treatment. Not much. Being noticed now
and again might help. And it=92s nice of Superman to say so. It=92s just a
p=
ity
that it took me yelling at him to make him say it.

Hey, that=92s a thought! Maybe I should yell at the Chief a little. That
might make him stop treating me like part of the furniture. CK=92s always
telling me that I need to stand up for myself. I guess he was right all
along. But then, I knew that. I=92m useless that way. Sometimes, you=92d
thi=
nk
that *I* don=92t notice me.

=93Superman.=94 I look him straight in the eye and smile. After all, it is
thanks to him that CK=92s alive after all. =93Thanks for bringing CK back.
T=
hat
was a very good thing you did.=94

He smiles in return. =93I=92m glad you think so, Jimmy.=94

=93I do. Will you take me back now, please?=94

=93Sure,=94 he says, wrapping an arm around my waist again. =93And, Jimmy?
T=
hank
you for telling me how insensitive I was. I=92ll try not to do it again.=94

No, I don=92t think he will - do it again, that is. But I=92ve learned
something even more important today, something which I hope will stop
people treating me like I=92m invisible in future.

I can=92t expect anyone to have any respect for me unless I have respect
for=

myself. And that=92s a lesson well worth learning.

=93Thanks, Superman,=94 I say as he lowers me to the ground next to my
bike.=
 He
thinks I=92m thanking him for the ride. I know better.

  ~ The End ~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:16:03 -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:         Wendy Richards <wendy@KINGSMEADOWCR.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      REPOST: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Sorry; for anyone who reads on the web archive, my first post of this was
all messed up with hyperlink code. Here goes again!

This is a continuation of two vignettes based on TOGOM and recently posted
to the list and MBs: My Friend, which I posted a few weeks ago and which is
now on the Archive at http://www.lcfanfic.com/stories/2001/myfriend.txt.
Hazel then wrote a lovely, poignant sequel which took us up to the end of
the episode, and which was posted on the list and the lastson boards this
morning. Hazel=92s sequel inspired me to write this.

If you haven=92t read either My Friend or My Friend 2, this will make no
sense at all! You=92ll find My Friend 2 here:

http://listserv.indiana.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=3Dind0108a&L=3Dloiscla-general=
-
l&F=3DP&P=3D10424

or if you=92d prefer to read it on the message boards, you=92ll find it
here=
,
on the mirror site:

http://www.redboots.net/boards/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=3Dget_topic&f=3D5&t=3D0000=
19

~ My Friend 3 ~

I=92m hanging around taking pictures of emergency services freeing people
from a car wreck near the edge of town when suddenly there=92s this loud
>whoosh< from above.

It=92s *him*. Superman.

I carry on snapping as he makes short work of getting the trapped victims
out, then quietly informs the paramedics about their injuries. What a guy.
What a smart, all-knowing, decent, *caring* guy.

Yeah, sure.

I take one final photograph. He=92s finished. My heart starts to thump
faster. This is my chance; I=92ve been waiting for this for over a week,
and=

I=92m not going to miss it now.

I step out from the small cluster of reporters and snappers.
=93Superman!=94=

He pauses, glancing towards me. =93Jimmy?=94 He takes a step in my
direction=
; I
move further away from the other people, gesturing to a side road. Giving
me an enquiring look, he follows.

When I stop, he stops too, a friendly, encouraging smile on his face. I
realise that he thinks I want an interview. No, thanks, I mutely retort,
scorn dripping from the words I don=92t speak.

I silently gear myself up, reminding myself just how it had felt last week,
hearing what had happened in that club, and waiting, waiting for the
punchline, in which Superman swept in and saved everyone. The punchline
that never came, because then they told me that CK was dead.

Superman never came. And because of that, CK was dead.

And then later Superman didn=92t even bother to tell me that my friend was
alive after all. That=92s why I=92m furious with him. Even though CK is
safe=

and well and it=92s great to have him back, the pain=92s still there inside
=
me.

This is my chance. I take a deep breath, then launch my fist upwards and
towards his chin.

It never connects. I didn=92t even see him move, but his hand is gripping
my=

wrist. It=92s a tight hold; I can=92t move my arm. And yet it doesn=92t
hurt=
. I
knew he was strong, but not that he could be so... gentle.

I look up to see puzzlement in his face, and something which looks
suspiciously like... compassion.

*Compassion*!

Ha! It would have been something if he=92d shown any of that last week.

=93Let go of me,=94 I mutter.

He releases my wrist immediately. =93I=92m sorry, Jimmy,=94 he said softly.
=
=93I
couldn't let you do it. You could have broken your hand. And anyway, even
if I=92d been able to moderate my reactions to stop you being hurt, you
wouldn=92t have hurt me.=94

I mutter something; I don=92t even know what it was. It=92s just typical. I
never get anything right. I can=92t even punch Superman out for what he
did.=

And once he tells Lois, or CK, what I did, I=92ll be a laughing-stock. As
usual.

No, CK wouldn=92t say anything. He=92s not like that. But then, he=92s the
o=
nly
one in the whole damn place who doesn=92t think I=92m not worth bothering
wi=
th.
I=92m invisible, except when people want something.

This was a waste of time. No, worse; a humiliation. I turn to walk away.

=93Wait.=94 I half-turn, surprised to see Superman=92s still there. Why
hasn=
=92t he
flown away by now? After all, what=92s to keep him here? Just me. Just
Jimmy=

Olsen, the guy nobody ever notices.

=93Jimmy, something upset you so much you wanted to punch me. I=92d like to
know what.=94

=93It doesn=92t matter,=94 I say curtly. But it does. It matters more than
I=
 can
tell anyone. But I=92m not going to embarrass myself any further. This was
a=

stupid idea. =93Go on, get on with whatever it is you do; go rescue someone
or whatever.=94

=93No-one=92s calling for help right now,=94 he answers. His expression is
troubled; he=92s looking at me, and there=92s definitely compassion in his
eyes. I recoil; I don=92t want his compassion. I wanted him to be there
nine=

days ago, when I lost my friend. Okay, he brought CK back - at least,
that=92s what CK says. I don=92t believe the story CK gave us, but the part
about Superman being responsible is probably true.

But that=92s not the point. Superman wasn=92t there when he was needed. And
he...

Well, nobody notices me anyway. Why should he be any different?

=93Let=92s talk, Jimmy.=94 He=92s holding out a hand towards me. =93Not
here=
 - will
you let me take you somewhere?=94

Hot tears are now threatening, humiliating me further; a lump in my throat
is choking me. Part of me longs to go with him, to tell him exactly what I
think of him. But I can=92t. Not like this. I have to get away, now, and
try=

to forget that I was so stupid.

After all, no-one else seems to blame Superman for anything. Not even Lois,
and she missed CK even more than I did, I think. I don=92t know about
CK=92s=

parents; they never came to Metropolis in the end. Perry gave him a couple
of days=92 leave and he flew out to see them.

I shake my head, not looking at him, and begin to walk out of the alley.
There=92s nothing for me here.

I don=92t know why I even bothered, really. CK=92s back; shouldn=92t that
be=
 all
that counts? Superman didn=92t do anything that lots of other people
don=92t=
 do
every day. He just didn=92t notice me. Sure, he spoke to me; but he
didn=92t=

notice me.

I hear a sigh, and suddenly a strong arm is wrapped securely around my
waist, and my feet aren=92t touching the ground. What...?

=93Let me go, Superman,=94 I say, trying to sound firm, but my voice cracks
=
as
I speak.

=93We need to discuss this. If I=92ve done something to hurt you, or make
yo=
u
angry with me, I want to know so that I can put it right,=94 he tells me.

I sigh. He=92s not going to let me go. So I concentrate on not looking at
him, and willing those betraying tears away. We=92re not flying for long;
barely a couple of minutes later he=92s landing. I look around; we=92re on
t=
op
of a building somewhere. It=92s a very tall building - in fact, I can=92t
se=
e
anything in the skyline that=92s taller.

=93Where are we?=94 I can=92t stop myself asking.

=93The top of the old LexCorp building,=94 he answers immediately. That
make=
s
sense; the tallest building in the city. No-one can see us up here, unless
they=92re in an airplane.

=93Jimmy. What did I do?=94 he asks, his voice concerned.

Finally, I can turn to face him, my traitorous emotions under
control. =93It=92s what you didn=92t do,=94 I announce curtly.

He=92s waiting, so I add, angrily, =93Where were you when CK was shot?=94

He flinches.

I allow myself a cynical smile. He knows exactly what I mean, and at least
he has the conscience to feel guilty about it. But not enough to apologise
to Clark=92s friends, obviously. I wonder if he even apologised to CK.

Quietly, he says, =93I wish I could have been there. Believe me, there=92s
nothing I wished more after it happened. If you think I let him down...
then I did.=94 His eyes are sad as he looks at me, and I find my anger
beginning to dissipate.

=93Jimmy.=94 He=92s speaking again, and I bite my lip. =93I can understand
t=
hat you
might have been angry with me last week because I wasn=92t able to prevent
Clark getting killed. But this isn=92t why you tried to hit me back there,
i=
s
it?=94

Of course he=92d figure that. I should have known he wouldn=92t accept the
f=
act
that he didn=92t save CK as the whole story. I sigh. =93That was part of
it,=

but it=92s not the whole reason.=94

=93Then tell me the rest.=94 He=92s looking concerned now; the sad look has
=
gone,
but he=92s clearly not going anywhere until I tell him everything.

I feel stupid. I=92d run, except there aren=92t many places to go when
you=92=
re
on the roof of the highest building in Metropolis. And knowing my luck, the
stairwell is probably locked.

=93You didn=92t tell me,=94 I blurt out at last, unnerved by the way he=92s
=
looking
at me.

He blinks. =93Didn=92t tell you what?=94

=93You knew CK was alive, and you didn=92t tell me!=94

He freezes. I stare at him; he looks scared suddenly, as if he=92s afraid
I=92ve stumbled on something and he doesn=92t know how to get out of it.
For=

someone as powerful as Superman, he looks kind of like a rabbit facing an
oncoming wolf.

=93I... how did you know?=94 he asks at last.

I shake my head, not understanding what=92s going on here. =93When you came
back to the Planet and saved us all from Capone and his gang. You knew CK
was alive, and you didn=92t tell me. Didn=92t you *know* how much I was
hurting? - how much we all were grieving for him? Didn=92t you care?=94 I
accuse him angrily.

=93You mean... then...?=94 I still can=92t figure out what=92s up with him.
=
Now he
looks relieved, as if something he=92d feared hasn=92t happened after all.
B=
ut
I don=92t understand. Is there something I=92m missing here?

Well, that=92d be nothing new.

I have to ask one more question, though. =93Did you know when you came
looking for Lois?=94 I demand.

He shifts a little, avoiding my gaze. =93I... hoped. But I wasn=92t sure,
th=
en.
I... wouldn=92t have wanted to get your hopes up.=94

=93But you were going to tell Lois,=94 I remind him, my voice hard.

=93I wanted to tell her first,=94 he admits.

Yeah. Just like everyone else, he thought of Lois first. I suppose she is
CK=92s partner, and she says he=92s her best friend. And he=92s in love
with=
 her.
I know that, but I=92m pretty sure she still doesn=92t. And if she started
t=
o
think again about what she feels for him, during those hours when he was
dead, it doesn=92t look like she=92s doing anything about it.

She still doesn=92t know what she has. I=92d give anything to have someone
c=
are
about me - *love* me - the way Clark loves Lois.

Okay, I can forgive Superman not telling me then. But when he came back, at
the party, he could have told me then. But I guess I shouldn't blame him
for doing what everyone else does all the time.

Not noticing me.

I turn away. =93Please, take me back down now.=94

=93Jimmy, you=92re right,=94 he says. =93I could have told you after I=92d
d=
ealt with
Capone and his gang. But I didn=92t. I should have. I... didn=92t
realise...=
=94
He trails off; I turn around again and notice that he=92s looking
uncomfortable.

=93You didn=92t realise what?=94 I demand. =93That he was - *is* - my
friend=
 too?
That he=92s the only one in that whole newsroom who doesn=92t treat me as
ju=
st
a gofer? That... that I *cared* that he was dead? Is that it?=94

I turn my back on him again, embarrassed that I actually said all that. Why
would he care, anyway? I=92m just feeling sorry for myself, and I hate it
when I do that.

=93Forget about it, Superman,=94 I mutter, knowing that he=92ll hear.
=93Jus=
t take
me back down.=94

=93Jimmy, I=92m sorry.=94 Now his voice is gentle, and suddenly he is
standi=
ng in
front of me. He looks stricken, and his eyes... I blink. He has incredibly
expressive eyes. Kind of like CK does, actually. And right now they=92re
looking at me and telling me that he=92s appalled with himself. =93I
didn=92=
t
think,=94 he tells me. =93It=92s no excuse, but I just didn=92t think.=94

=93That=92s okay,=94 I tell him awkwardly; a little belligerently still.
=93=
No-one
ever does where I=92m concerned.=94

=93It=92s not okay,=94 he insists, still looking apologetic. =93I should
hav=
e known
better. You=92re a good friend, Jimmy - you=92re very loyal to the people
yo=
u
care about. And you deserve better treatment.=94

Yeah, I think I do deserve better treatment. Not much. Being noticed now
and again might help. And it=92s nice of Superman to say so. It=92s just a
p=
ity
that it took me yelling at him to make him say it.

Hey, that=92s a thought! Maybe I should yell at the Chief a little. That
might make him stop treating me like part of the furniture. CK=92s always
telling me that I need to stand up for myself. I guess he was right all
along. But then, I knew that. I=92m useless that way. Sometimes, you=92d
thi=
nk
that *I* don=92t notice me.

=93Superman.=94 I look him straight in the eye and smile. After all, it is
thanks to him that CK=92s alive after all. =93Thanks for bringing CK back.
T=
hat
was a very good thing you did.=94

He smiles in return. =93I=92m glad you think so, Jimmy.=94

=93I do. Will you take me back now, please?=94

=93Sure,=94 he says, wrapping an arm around my waist again. =93And, Jimmy?
T=
hank
you for telling me how insensitive I was. I=92ll try not to do it again.=94

No, I don=92t think he will - do it again, that is. But I=92ve learned
something even more important today, something which I hope will stop
people treating me like I=92m invisible in future.

I can=92t expect anyone to have any respect for me unless I have respect
for=

myself. And that=92s a lesson well worth learning.

=93Thanks, Superman,=94 I say as he lowers me to the ground next to my
bike.=
 He
thinks I=92m thanking him for the ride. I know better.

  ~ The End ~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:11:49 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

AW, this was wonderful!  *sigh*

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Wouldn't it be somethign if Jimmy puts the pieces together before Lois?!
*BG*  He's already thinking something is funky!

Thanks Wendy and Hazel!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 23:19:12 +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:         Hazel <zis-s@ACTCOM.CO.IL>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%2001080615062905@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Wendy,

As always, you work quickly and beautifully! It rounds out the "series"
very nicely.

More detailed comments on the mbs. :)

Hazel
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 16:27:31 -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>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Oh, nice, Wendy!  I haven't commented much on this series, but all the parts
were good (great work, Hazel, too!), and this one was extra good, with Jimmy
realizing he has to stand up for himself a little bit more.  Tank would
approve ;)

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 22:59:40 +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:         Kaethel <Kaethel@WANADOO.FR>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Oooooooooooooooooooh...

S
p
o
i
l
e
r

S
p
a
c
e

Wendy, this was another wow part! It's true that Jimmy was underused in the
show (sorry, Tank <g>), and throughout this 3-parts story, Hazel and you
have set things right and done him justice. I love the paradox of Clark
being his role model, the one who does care, whereas Superman was as
thoughtless as the rest of the Planet crowd. Wonder how Clark felt about it
when he realised that, actually. Very guilty, probably. I also loved
Superman's worry seen through Jimmy's eyes, for what we all know was the
secret identity. :)

Beautiful story, reflecting Jimmy's pain and his will to be something more
than a secondary character.

Helene :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaethel
Kaethel@wanadoo.fr
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:12:15 -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: My Friend 3
In-Reply-To:  <001f01c11eb6$850d3140$9aa2d6d1@oemcomputer>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Very nice, Wendy.  I enjoyed it very much.

Irene

=====
sirenegold@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 17:41:24 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: REPOST: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Wonderful story Wendy.  He he Tank is going to die from all the Jimmy fic
floating around if it makes it to the boards when their back up.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:40:25 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%2001080615062905@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Awww....

Thanks for this, Wendy :) It feels finished to me now, but if you or Hazel
can think of a way to continue it, I won't complain! (I thought for a
minute you were going to have SM let Jimmy in on the secret, BTW.)

Melisma (ducking under her Rock to try and figure out how many buses she
will be able to ride tomorrow once the strikers are back to work -
YIPPEEEEE!!!!)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 17:56:41 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      OT:  ListBot shutting down.
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

(
http://news3.lycos.com/news/special_report.asp?report=3DE-Biz&section=3DSpe=
cialRe

port&storyId=3D45814)

MS Sends Listbot to the Heap
By Angel Gonzalez
Aug 06, 2001 02:00 a.m. PDT

- - - - -
Microsoft's ListBot, one of the Web's most popular mass e-mail services,=20
will shut its doors on Aug. 20, reviving the fear that the free Web may
be=20
going the way of the dinosaur.

The decision will force more than 90,000 mailing list publishers to
choose=20
between paying for List Builder, a subscription-based list service, or=20
finding refuge in the few remaining free listservs on the Web.

Listbot belongs to bCentral, a Microsoft (MSFT) unit that sells Web-based=20
software and services to small businesses.

It consists of a free list server supported by advertising, and, on
ListBot=20
Gold, a pay service with extra features. It was used mainly by hobbyists=20
and small businesses.

Among the e-mail lists that have been hosted on ListBot are the Human=20
Cloning Foundation, Rescue Source, a community of rescue instructors, and=20
Weird Crimes.

Posts to ListBot's lists will be suspended on Monday, but the archives
will=20
be available until Aug. 20. The archives can be transferred either to=20
Listbuilder or to MSN communities. Otherwise, ListBot will have to
transfer=20
the archives themselves. After Aug. 20, they'll be removed and discarded.

"The whole industry is moving to subscription-based services," said
Pradeem=20
Rathinam, bCentral's lead product manager. "It's becoming more and more=20
evident today that it's really hard to do business on the free-service
model=
."

Rathinam says bCentral is shutting down ListBot to focus on its core=20
strategy, catering to small businesses.

Bcentral expects to make ListBot's small business customers migrate
towards=20
List Builder, offering them a 40 percent discount. Rathinam said it's
been=20
a success. "List Builder has become the leading list service on the=20
Internet today," he said.

Individuals who run lists related to their personal interests are
expected=20
to join the free MSN Communities site, which, Rathinam said, offers the=20
same list-management capabilities.

Other list servers have been flooded with hordes of frustrated ListBot=20
members who are now being asked to pay for something that used to be
free.=20
FreeLists, a small site specializing in technology-related lists, posted=20
the message "Welcome, former ListBot members!" on its front door.

"On the same day the shutdown announcement was made, ListBot members=20
started signing up with us," FreeLists' John Madden said.

Topica, a list server that counts more than 70,000 members, has welcomed=20
more than 9,000 former ListBot publishers.

"There was some dissatisfaction at the way (the ListBot shutdown) was=20
handled," said Patrice Marney, Topica's vice president for membership=20
marketing. "People are disappointed at not having the free opportunities=20
they used to have and they seem quite happy to be able to come here."

Topica says it will maintain its free list server along with a service=20
dedicated to corporate lists and mass marketing.

But even though many individuals are voting with their feet against
paying=20
for list servers, many agree that Microsoft's choice makes sense.

"This is something people have been expecting for a while," says UCLA law=20
professor and Internet specialist Eugene Volokh, who has moderated the=20
popular Libertarian Center-Right listserv on Listbot for several years.
"If=20
something is valuable for people, they should expect to pay for it."

Volokh said there will always be free stuff on the Internet -=C3=A2=E2=82=
=AC=E2=80=9C but=20
somebody=20
will end up paying for it. In many cases, it will be the taxpayers, as=20
government and public interest organizations will continue to provide
free=20
information.

Paying for valuable services over the Web will be considerably cheaper
than=20
obtaining those same services in the pre-Internet economy, because of low=20
distribution costs. "People will spend some money ... but that doesn't
mean=20
they will end up paying a lot of it," Volokh said.

However, some will always resist the idea that the Internet is about
costs=20
or money. "We don't have an income model," says FreeLists' John Madden.
"We=20
don't sell a thing, we don't make any money. We are all programmers, and
we=20
do it all for fun."
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 17:21:52 -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 <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: REPOST: My Friend 3

I liked it, Wendy!  For some reason, this one came through as one big web
address, too. <g>  But I read it anyway, and I liked it!

And Hazel's too -- a nice little series!  Kudos to you both. :)

Kathy
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 23:32:59 +0100
Reply-To:     Yvonne Connell <yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Yvonne Connell <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
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Oh, yeah :)))  Liked that a lot!

Yvonne
(yvonne@yconnell.fsnet.co.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 15:45:35 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Diane Trim <whipurwauna@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Zoomway's mirror site?
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I can't locate the web address for the message board's mirror site!  Can
someone, who is more organized than I, please e-mail it to me?

Thanks!

Diane

---------------------------------
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Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 19:08:31 -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"
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Zoomway's mirror site?
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Diane, it's http://www.redboots.net/boards/ultimatebb.cgi

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 19:31:28 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      New:  A Special Child (1/1)
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This was written for the LAFF booklet, to support this year's charity.  =
It was not easy to write, and a lot of credit goes to Anne Ciotola for =
her support and gentle nagging :)

A SPECIAL CHILD

by Pam Jernigan

***

"Congratulations, Mr. Kent, Ms Lane ... you have a healthy baby boy!"

Lois collapsed back on the bed for a moment, exhausted after her labor, =
but then lifted her head up again. "Let me see him."

Clark moved across the room to carefully supervise the nurses who were =
giving his son his first sponge bath, weighing and evaluating him. They =
worked quickly, then handed the baby over to his father. Clark tenderly =
held him close, in awe of this miracle child.

"Let me see him," Lois repeated, softly. Clark brought him to her, and =
she eagerly reached for him. The baby squirmed and fussed for a moment =
during the clumsy transfer from one set of arms to another, then settled =
down to gaze intently at his mother. Lois gazed at him in wonder. "He's =
beautiful."

"He's perfect," Clark agreed. "Mommy and Daddy love you, Adam"

***

"You okay, Lois?" Clark asked as they entered the newsroom.

She shrugged. "I'm okay. I miss him -- a lot -- but I know he's in good =
hands."

"Mrs. Espejo does have a knack with babies," Clark admitted. It was =
strange; he'd been coming to work without his son for three months, but =
this morning he had hated to leave him. But Clark had been very involved =
in the search for child care, and he had every confidence in the =
motherly woman they'd found. Adam was at home with his familiar things, =
and if anything happened, Daddy was only a phone call and a sonic boom =
away.

"He'll be fine," Lois said, reassuring both of them. "We just have to =
get used to trusting someone else with him. We've left him with your =
mother before, remember? He hardly seemed to notice we were gone."

***

"Come on, honey," Lois coaxed. "You can do it, just take one teeny =
step..."=20

Adam stood where he was, his pudgy hands firmly grasping the edge of the =
coffee table, and refused to budge. He scanned the room, his eyes =
flickering past his mother to locate a brightly colored toy at the end =
of the table. Keeping at least one hand on the coffee table at all =
times, he inched sideways towards the toy.

Lois heard a chuckle from behind her, and turned to see Clark standing =
in the doorway. "He's so cautious, isn't he? He definitely doesn't get =
that from his mother!"

Lois smiled, but it was an effort. "Yeah, but he should be trying to =
walk by now, don't you think? He's over a year old!"

Clark came further into the room, settling himself on the carpet next to =
Lois. "There's a big variation on normal, Lois. Some kids don't walk =
'til they're 15 months old, and that's totally normal. My mom says I =
have a cousin who didn't walk until she was a year and a half ... but =
once she got started, it was tough to stop her." He studied her. "What's =
bothering you?"

Lois picked at a tiny bit of carpet fuzz. "I talked to my mother today."

"Ah."

"Clark, she said Adam's behind on his developmental milestones, and then =
she gave me this *look* and went into the same old story about how *she* =
quit her job to raise her kids, how *she* sacrificed everything for us =
-- for all the good it did. She never comes right out and says that she =
thinks I'm evil for working, but Clark, I know she's thinking it!"

"Well..."

"I mean, I know kids need their mothers, and I'm here for him; I spend a =
lot of time with him."

"Of course you do--"

"We go to the park, and he goes with us everywhere, although it's not =
quite as easy now as it used to be when he'd fall asleep in a =
restaurant, but it's *fun* to watch him looking around; he studies the =
world so intently, it's adorable, and now he can eat some finger food, =
and drink out of a cup so that's easier."

"Exactly, we spend a lot of time--"

"And I'm sure I'd be miserable if I stayed home, just the way my mother =
was -- I mean, really, does she honestly think she set a *good* example =
in the mother department? Anyway, Adam is fine with Emma; she takes =
great care of him, and he likes her a lot. I mean, isn't it good for =
kids to have more people loving them?"

"Adam is certainly well loved," Clark assured her, pulling her into a =
hug. "Don't let your mother do this to you, Lois. We found the solution =
that was best for us -- it's not the same as the choice she made, but =
that doesn't make it wrong." He rubbed her back as she stayed =
uncharacteristically silent.

"I guess this is what the parenting books call the Grandparent Problem," =
she said finally. "They want you to do whatever they did."

"That's probably part of it, yeah. Sometimes I wonder though ... you =
said she wasn't very happy at home."

"Maybe she was at first," Lois grudgingly allowed. "I wasn't old enough =
to know. But later, she was so miserable that she'd given up her =
career."

"Maybe she's just jealous that you're getting to do what she couldn't."

***

"And he just figured out how to walk last week," Lois reported proudly. =
"It was the day before he turned fifteen months."

"I knew he'd get there." Dr. Baker, the pediatrician, smiled benignly. =
"Just lie him down in your lap for a moment, please, so I can examine =
him." They arranged themselves sitting knee-to-knee, with Adam's head =
closest to Lois's torso, and his feet nearly tickling the doctor's =
stomach. "There we go, Adam, good boy. So Lois, what was the big moment =
like?"

"He just decided the time was right, I guess. I think he was excited =
that his grandmother -- Clark's mother -- had come to visit. One minute, =
he's holding onto a dining room chair, the next, he's walking across the =
room to see her. I was so excited." She grinned, reliving the moment. =
"And then he just kept walking -- from the front door to the kitchen and =
back, a couple of times. A couple of times, he nearly lost his balance, =
but you should have seen him. Whenever he started to sway, he'd crouch =
down in a squat until he got his balance again, then he just stood right =
back up and kept walking. I yelled for Clark," -- no need to mention =
that Clark had been at work at the time -- "and he came in with the =
video camera, so we've even got it on tape."

"That's terrific, Lois." The doctor finished his gentle probing. "And it =
looks like he's doing great -- still a big boy, I see, but his growth =
pattern is entirely normal."

Lois received the reassuring news eagerly. She still sometimes worried =
that Adam's half-Kryptonian heritage would show, somehow, but so far the =
doctor hadn't mentioned any anomalies.

"How's his vocabulary?"

"Oh, um..." Lois tried to think. Why couldn't the doctor's office have =
given her these questions before the visit, so she'd have a chance to =
take notes. "He still says 'ma' instead of 'mommy' -- it's been his =
complaint syllable for a while now. I think his first real word was =
'book'." She laughed. "We have enough of them around the house. He's got =
a couple of other words, too."

"Okay, great." The doctor made a funny face at Adam. Adam teethed on a =
book. "How does he react to people?"

"Fine, I guess. He hasn't got too much stranger anxiety, but he's =
usually happy to see me again."

"Good, good. Now, watch this." Gently, the doctor drew Adam's legs =
straight, putting his ankles together. "I'll bet your mother will tell =
you he's bow-legged and pigeon-toed, but that's actually very normal for =
this stage of development."

Lois smiled. "I'll tell her -- not that she'll believe me. According to =
her, I'm ruining his life by leaving him with a nanny."

"Well, you're not ruining his legs," the doctor replied, side-stepping =
the issue.

"Good to know. Um..." Lois paused, then plunged ahead. "Does he seem =
okay to you, really? I mean, my mother is annoying, but I think maybe =
she's really worried about him, and she used to be a nurse..."

Dr. Baker shook his head. "You know, it's perfectly normal for =
grandparents to give new parents a hard time. Adam is fine, trust me."

Lois allowed herself to be reassured. Adam was such an adorable little =
boy -- maybe he was going to be an introvert, unlike his parents, but =
there was nothing wrong with that. He could be a deep thinker, someday; =
maybe he'd write the novel both his parents talked about but never found =
time for. He did things in his own time, but he was meeting all his =
developmental milestones within the normal ranges. So what if he didn't =
always wave bye-bye? He was just busy with his own agenda, that was all.

"Okay, we're done here," the doctor announced with a bright smile. "Just =
keep him in his diaper for now, and the nurse will be right in with his =
vaccinations."

"Great, thanks." Lois always worried about this part of the visit. She =
hated hearing Adam cry -- after a shot he could only be soothed by a =
ride in the car -- but it would be worse if he suddenly had invulnerable =
skin. However, the vaccinations proceeded smoothly.

***

Clark was quiet during Adam's bedtime routine, and by the time the busy =
toddler was finally asleep, Lois was anxious to find out what her =
husband was brooding about this time. There hadn't been any =
Superman-related tragedies that she knew about, but he still had a few =
moments when he wasn't as open with her as he should be.

Seeing the Clark was settling in on the living room sofa, Lois decided =
that now was a good time for some delicate probing. Fetching two glasses =
of wine, she joined him, and they sat in companionable silence for a few =
moments.

"How was your day, sweetheart?" Lois asked finally, tipping her head up =
to check his expression.

He was staring off into the distance, but at her movement, he looked =
down and smiled wryly. "Not bad, but ..."

Lois tried to look attentive, without being pushy. It was too early to =
be pushy.=20

"Well, you know there was that bomb threat at a day care today."

Lois nodded, calling up what few facts she remembered. "Little Angels, =
wasn't it?"

"Right. Superman checked the place out, and it was clean, then I went =
back as Clark to get the story."

"I read the article; sounded to me like it was the owner's ex-husband =
harassing her."

Clark shrugged. "The police will sort it out, I'm sure."

Lois frowned at this uncharacteristic lack of concern. Well, that wasn't =
exactly right; he was obviously worked up over something, it just wasn't =
bomb threats. "So what's the problem?"

He sighed. "Lois, while I was talking to the director, a little girl =
came in. She had slipped out of class, and she was chattering up a storm =
-- really cute stuff." He tried to smile, but couldn't quite pull it =
off. "Lois, she was talking ... short sentences, and they weren't =
exactly grammatically correct, but I could understand a lot of what she =
said."

Lois felt a cold ball form in her stomach. "Unlike Adam, you mean."

Clark nodded miserably. "I asked the director how old she was ... it's =
hard to tell with kids, you know? But she said the girl had just turned =
two."

Lois winced. Adam was nearly two and a half, and still wasn't putting =
words together. She reached for her usual rationalization. "Well, girls =
talk earlier than boys."

"Lois... I... yeah, maybe you're right." But he didn't look convinced.

Lois put her wineglass down and leaned closer into her husband's =
embrace. It killed her to think that her perfect son might not be =
perfect, after all. Clark tightened his arms around her. They remained =
that way for a long time, in silence.

***

"A," Adam said, handing his mother a puzzle piece.=20

Looking at it, Lois saw that it was indeed a letter A, from Adam's =
alphabet puzzle. He'd demonstrated an early interest in letters, and by =
the time he'd turned two he had memorized the alphabet. He couldn't =
pronounce all the letters -- W was pronounced "dub-na-bull" -- but when =
asked, he could identify any of them by pointing, and could recite all =
twenty-six in order.

"A!" Adam said again.

"A," Lois repeated patiently, and took the letter. They'd played this =
game before. He brought her all the letters, in order, and she lined =
them up at the edge of her desk. When the letters were all in a row, =
Adam retrieved them all, one at a time, in opposite order. Sometimes he =
repeated the whole ritual three or four times. At first, Lois had liked =
the game; it gave her the opportunity to do a little work on her =
computer while he was playing. Now, it made her vaguely uneasy. Was it =
normal for a child to be so intent?

"Adam," she coaxed, "let's sing a song or something, okay?"

"B," he told her, pushing the puzzle piece at her.=20

She held it in her hand. Maybe if it were out of sight, she could =
distract him. "Adam, let's play! If you're happy and you know it, clap =
your hands--" She paused, but he was busy clawing at her closed hand.=20

"B!" he repeated, growing a little frantic at her refusal to play the =
game.

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands--"

"B!!" His stubby fingers worked on her closed hand, prying her fingers =
open, his whole body trembling in agitation.

Lois sighed. "B," she repeated, surrendering the puzzle piece. Adam =
placed it carefully next to the A, then went back to the puzzle for the =
next piece.

It occurred to Lois that through this whole exchange, Adam had never =
once met her eyes. Was that normal? The uncertainty was getting to her. =
It was time to find out what normal was.

***

"Look, I just want to know how he's doing, developmentally."

"He's fine," Dr. Baker soothed her, with a brief glance at Adam, who was =
busily opening and closing the cabinet doors.

"No, I don't think he is," Lois contradicted, her voice almost breaking, =
in time with her heart. "Look, if you won't examine him, I'll find =
someone who will."

It finally dawned on the pediatrician that this was more than typical =
new parent nerves. "Okay, calm down. Hey buddy," he called to Adam. =
"Come here."

It took several attempts to gain the two-year-old's attention, but he =
willingly played a few simple games with the doctor. Lois was proud to =
notice how clever he was at figuring them out, but still, he didn't talk =
much, communicating instead by gestures, or by taking the doctor's hand =
and using it like a tool. "He does that with me, too," she said, unable =
to keep quiet. "When he's thirsty, he'll come grab my hand, and lead me =
to the refrigerator -- sometimes he'll say 'mil' or something, so I'll =
know he wants milk. I mean, that works for him -- he's home most of the =
time, either with us or with our nanny, so we know what he wants, so why =
should he bother learning more words?" Put like that, it almost sounded =
plausible.

Dr. Baker tousled Adam's hair affectionately. "Good job, Adam, thank =
you." When he looked up, his expression was thoughtful. "I'm going to =
give you a referral, to the Developmental Evaluation Center."

Even though she had half-expected it, this was still a blow. "Why?"

"Well, he doesn't have much eye contact ... maybe that's because I'm a =
stranger, but he's not very verbal, either. And some of his movements =
... well, I'd just like to have the DEC look at him, to be sure."

"What's that?" she managed to ask.

"It's a service of the county; they have teams of speech therapists, =
occupational therapists, educational specialists, a pediatrician, a =
social worker, and a couple of others, I think. They can do a better job =
assessing his progress; a team effort is better for these sorts of =
things."

Lois took a deep breath, controlling herself. "When can we take him?"

***

"Adam, can you say 'Milk, please'?" Lois coached her son, crouching down =
to try to make eye contact.

He pulled at the refrigerator door handle, and said "Mih."

Lois accepted that; he still had difficulty in speaking clearly. "Say =
'please'," she prompted, making no move to fulfil his desire.

"Mih!"

"Say please," Lois insisted. They had fought this battle several times =
already. Lois felt terrible at causing her son distress, but at his age =
he should be able to do this. Eventually, he was coaxed into saying =
'pease'.

"Certainly!" As quickly as she could, she prepared Adam's sippy cup. =
"Good job, honey," she praised him, as she handed him the cup.

He took a big drink and smiled. In his child-clumsy speech, he tried to =
copy her words. "Good job, honey."=20

***

"Here in my hat, I have Little Cat A," Clark read from _The Cat in the =
Hat Comes Back_ to Adam, who was busily jumping up and down on the bed. =
He had been jumping for the past few minutes, to all appearances =
oblivious to his father. Clark turned a page and sighed. This was one of =
the longest books that Adam had, and Clark was starting to get tired of =
reading it every night. He glanced at his jumping son, then turned two =
pages at once and continued reading.

Adam stopped jumping. "No, Daddy!" he said, and firmly turned the page =
back to what Clark had skipped.

Clark chuckled. "Okay, okay, no cheating." He finished reading the book, =
and Adam came over to sit with him for the last page, at least. "The =
End," Clark said firmly, closing the book. Before his son could ask for =
it again, he suggested, "Let's jump 1 2 3."

Adam scrambled up, his face beaming. He loved numbers almost as much as =
he loved letters, and he'd created this game.=20

Clark stood by the edge of the bed, while Adam stood on the bed, facing =
him. Clark placed his hands under his son's armpits. "Ready?"

"Yes!"

Slowly at first, carefully at all times, Clark picked up Adam, then =
lowered him again, in assisted jumping. "One ... two... three!" At the =
count of three, he gently tossed the boy sideways on the bed.=20

Adam giggled in delight, then scrambled up again for another round. =
"More!"

Clark grinned at his son, delighting in their interaction. "One ... two =
... hey!" Adam twisted himself out of his father's hands to flop down =
early. "That's not right!" Clark said in an exaggerated scold.=20

Adam giggled even harder and echoed "That's not right!" tickled to death =
with his own joke. Then he scrambled to his feet again. "More, Daddy!"

At moments like this, Clark found it hard to believe his son was =
anything but normal.=20

***

Before they could even get on the waiting list for an evaluation, they =
had to fill out a questionnaire. "Does he play appropriately with other =
children?" Clark read.

"How the hell are we supposed to know what 'appropriately' means?" Lois =
demanded crossly. "He's the first child I've ever paid any attention to. =
They're the experts; they should tell me."

Two months later, they did. The evaluation took four nerve-wracking =
hours. The details of the tests blurred together, but Lois would forever =
after remember the shirt Adam had worn that day. Even though they had =
known he was a little behind in his speech, the tests had revealed =
deficits in his fine and gross motor skills, as well. At least he had =
shown his intelligence in picture-matching and counting. His hearing and =
eyesight were checked and deemed normal. No, he hadn't had many ear =
infections. Yes, he often seemed to be in a world of his own, but he was =
just introverted, right? The experts had murmured platitudes.=20

***

The week before they got the results almost seemed longer than the two =
month wait for the evaluation.

"Mr. Kent, Ms. Lane, thank you for coming back," the team leader, Dr. =
Taylor, greeted them.

"No problem," Clark said politely. It had actually been quite difficult =
to make sure all three of them -- Lois, Clark, and Superman -- were all =
available for this late-afternoon appointment, but nothing short of a =
national disaster was going to keep them away from this. Adam was at =
home with his nanny, and their work day was over. Clark kept hold of =
Lois's hand, whether for giving or receiving comfort, he wasn't quite =
sure.

"You have a delightful little boy," Dr. Taylor began. "And he has some =
impressive strengths. However, he also has a few significant weaknesses, =
primarily in the social and communication areas. We feel that he fits =
the profile for Autistic Spectrum Disorder."

Clark felt his heart pound as Lois gripped his hand. Their perfect son =
... all their dreams and hopes for the future. All shattered into =
nothingness, with nothing to replace them.

"Here, we've made a chart," the doctor continued, "showing all his test =
scores, and I'll explain them all to you..."

Clark tried to pay attention, but the rest of the interview tended to =
blur.=20

"He is verbal, which is a very positive sign; about half of all autistic =
individuals never speak."

He tried to remember what he'd read about autism, which wasn't much. =
Would Adam end up in an institution, banging his head against the wall?=20

"You said he spoke mostly by quoting phrases that he's heard; that's =
called echolalia. It's actually a common stage in language-learning that =
most children go through. Some children, like Adam, seem to get stuck =
there for a while."

Would Adam ever hold a job, or make friends ... or fall in love? What if =
he inherited superpowers? Dire possibilities chased each other around in =
his head.

The doctor finally let them go, laden down with lists of recommended =
reading and clinics that did pediatric therapy, along with a few =
badly-photocopied articles on autism. They walked out to the parking lot =
in silence.

When they reached the car, Clark couldn't bear to let Lois's hand go, =
and instead pulled her into a hug. For a long moment, they just stood =
there, taking whatever comfort they could from each other. When Lois =
pulled away, Clark could see a sheen of tears in her eyes. "Are you =
okay?"

She considered that. "No, not exactly. I'm just numb, mostly."

A distant cry for help came in on the wind, and Clark was almost =
relieved by the familiarity of it. Petty criminals, he could deal with. =
"Are you okay to drive?" he asked his wife.

Her gaze sharpened. "Yeah, I'll be fine. You hear something?"

At his hesitant nod, she squared her shoulders. "I'll be fine -- go! =
I'll meet you at home."

Their lips met for a kiss that lingered a bit longer than usual, but =
then he turned away to find a place to turn into Superman, feeling =
remarkably un-super. His son had been devoured by a mysterious monster =
called 'autism' and he was powerless to fix that.

***

Lois put Adam to bed herself, trying to sneak in as many cuddles as she =
could while reading to the squirming child. He was still as cute and =
adorable as ever; it was almost impossible to think of him as disabled. =
"Developmentally delayed" was the term the doctor had used. Did that =
mean that he would develop eventually? There were no guarantees. And =
already he was almost a year ahead of his age group in pre-academic =
skills.

Reluctantly, Lois tucked Adam into his crib and let herself out of his =
room, so that he could play a while more and put himself to sleep. She =
supposed she ought to eat something; dinner had held no appeal. Clark =
had been gone for hours, and while that wasn't entirely unusual, she was =
starting to wonder.

She found him sitting in the living room. She sat next to him on the =
couch, as he made the automatic adjustments in posture to tuck her in =
close. "Busy evening?" she asked lightly.

He shrugged. "Sort of. I had a lot to think about."

"Yeah." She looked over at the coffee table, which held the papers from =
Dr. Taylor. "Have you read those articles?"

"I glanced at them. The first thing they said was that this was a =
genetic disorder." His voice sounded strained and flat. "I'm sorry, =
Lois."

"Clark!" Lois had worried he might blame himself. "This has nothing to =
do with Kryptonian genes. I looked through those papers, millions of =
kids in America have autism, and they can't all be part-Kryptonian! If =
anything, I should apologize for my rotten family. Anyway, they don't =
know yet *what* causes autism, so don't be so quick to blame yourself."

He glanced up at her. "Thank you, honey."

"Oh, don't thank me," she said, crossly. "I'm just barely holding myself =
together -- I'm only propping you up because we can't both collapse at =
once. I was getting him ready for bed, and Clark, I love him so much, =
and I'm so scared..."

His arms came around her, and in the safety of his embrace, she finally =
let herself cry. She cried for the loss of the child she'd thought she =
had, and she cried at the amount of work they would all need to do, to =
try to compensate as best they could for his disability.

***

Lois found herself crying at several points during the next week; it =
seemed any little thing could set her off. But in between crying and =
working, she determined to research this new enemy. She cleaned out the =
bookstore and spent every spare moment reading the latest books. When =
she finished those, she hit the Internet. And bit by bit, the feeling of =
helplessness receded. There was no cure for autism, according to =
traditional medicine. But there were a great many things that they could =
try with traditional therapy and alternative medicine. Some methods =
boasted of cures, others bitterly denounced them for raising false =
hopes. And it was emphasized over and over and over that every child was =
different.

Adam's case, it seemed, was relatively mild. He could speak, and he was =
not mentally retarded, as perhaps as many as three-quarters of autistic =
children were. A ray of hope peeked out from behind the clouds. At least =
for Lois.

***

Clark was having a more difficult time coping. He had incredible powers, =
he saved lives almost daily, and mediated conflicts all over the world. =
But in the face of this new adversary, he was helpless. The week passed =
in a black cloud of depression. He barely functioned at work. In the =
evenings he went flying, just for something to do. Some distant part of =
him regretted leaving Lois alone, but he rationalized that she was too =
buried in her research to notice.

By the end of the week, he found himself following some dim impulse and =
heading west. In no time at all, he was touching down on his parent's =
farm. Spinning out of the suit, he walked up to the side door. "Mom? =
Dad?"

"Clark?" his dad's voice answered. Jonathan emerged from the house and =
gave Clark a big hug. Clark endured it, feeling nothing. Jonathan took a =
long look at him. "Let's go out to the barn. I've got a tractor engine =
that needs to be looked at."

"Okay," Clark answered, not entirely sure why he was there. He'd almost =
dreaded seeing his parents after this week's news, feeling obscurely =
that he had ruined their joy in their grandchild, but a lifetime of =
relying on their love was not so easily wiped away.=20

"Your mom's in town tonight," Jonathan told him. "Some school board =
thing; you know your mom's gotten real interested in public education =
since -- well, since Adam was born."

Clark laughed harshly. "That's ironic. Adam won't be anywhere near =
normal schools."

Jonathan considered that for a moment. "You don't know that," he finally =
said. "He's a real bright boy, even if he is a little different. You =
don't know what he'll be able to do."

"Yeah, that's just it, Dad -- we don't know. I used to think I knew; =
Lois and I had it all planned out, you know? He'd be as bright as his =
mother and he'd go to Princeton and maybe be a writer -- not just =
articles like we do, but stories and books... *real* writing. =
Literature, even." Clark stared around the inside of the barn, oblivious =
to it. "Now we'll be lucky if he doesn't end up in a home somewhere, =
banging his head against the wall all day, or counting spilled =
toothpicks!"

Jonathan listened patiently as Clark's disappointment and anger at the =
world spilled out. "Parents never really know," he finally said.

Clark turned to focus on his dad, a question clear in his eyes.

"Parents never know how their children will turn out," Jonathan =
elaborated. "You just found that out earlier than most of us. Most of =
us, we spend the first five or ten years thinking we can plan it all -- =
give them the right lessons, the right activities, and we can predict =
what they'll do with it. Some families try to run their kids' lives for =
longer than that. Eventually, though, the kids break away -- or at least =
they should. Look at you."

"What about me?"

Jonathan smiled, love for his son evident. "When you were little, you =
had a real love for animals. We used to think you'd grow up to take over =
the farm, or maybe we'd let you go far enough away to be a veterinarian =
in town. We never thought you'd end up traveling the world and saving =
lives."

Clark squirmed. "I never realized..."

"It's okay, son. You had a destiny -- you help a lot of people, and we =
love you. So even though it wasn't our dream, we were happy that you =
found your niche." He paused. "You have to let Adam find his niche."

"But dad, he'll never be normal!"

Jonathan laughed. "Normal is overrated. He's still Adam, Clark. Still =
your perfect son. He's different, yes ... and you know that being =
different can be hard. But different can have its good points, too." =
Jonathan gave his super-powered son a significant look. "Your job as a =
parent is to help him. You find the ways to help him, and you do all you =
can, then you stand back, and let him fly. Don't worry, Clark. Adam's =
smart. He'll fly on his own someday."

"You mean, literally?" Clark couldn't help asking.

"That too," Jonathan smiled equably. "Maybe someday, that too."

***

Clark flew back to Metropolis in a much lighter mood. The future was =
still unknowable, but then it always had been. It was only the illusion =
of certainty that had been lost. Adam was still a great kid, with a lot =
going for him, and Clark was determined to do everything he could to =
help.

He landed in the back courtyard and walked into the house. Lois was in =
the study peering intently at another website. "Lois? Have you been in =
here all evening?"

"I've been working," she told him, then swung her chair around to face =
him. "Where have you been?"

"I went to see my dad. He really got me thinking. I've been going a =
little crazy this week--"

"Yeah, I've noticed," she said softly, without criticism.

"But I think I'm okay now. There's got to be things we can do to help =
Adam; that's what's important right now."

"Exactly. Clark, there's a lot of things we can do for Adam. We need to =
get him into speech and occupational therapy; I've already found a =
clinic that takes our insurance. They've got a waiting list, but at =
least we're on it. New Troy has some decent public services for special =
needs kids, and our county has Early Childhood Intervention; we're on =
that list too. I think I'm on the track of a local support group -- from =
what I can see on the web, a lot of the progress in autism is made by =
parents working together, so we need to get hooked into that network. =
And I've found a book that talks about one-on-one intervention, it's =
called Applied Behavior Analysis. Some parents have had really good =
results with that. There's also the whole biological theory; there are =
doctors who think that autism is caused by various malfunctions in =
people's digestive systems! Something about incomplete proteins that =
have a narcotic-like effect on the brain. Supposedly there are diets =
that can really help some kids -- you'll have to cook for us," she =
grinned, "but we can try that, too. The point is, we have options, and I =
intend to check into them all."=20

Clark blinked. She'd been busy.

"But it's going to take a lot of time." Lois took a deep breath. "Clark, =
I know I've always been career-obsessed... but when I see a problem the =
only way I know how to deal with it is to dive in, head first. Now we've =
got this autism thing; we've got to figure out how to fight it. I want =
to take a leave of absence from work."

He raised an eyebrow, then slowly nodded. "Okay. We'll fight this."

"We'll fight this," she agreed, reaching for his hand. "And somehow, =
we'll win. Together."

"Together."

THE END

Dedicated to all the parents of kids with autism.

All people with autism are different, with different symptoms and levels =
of impairment. Other problems, like mental retardation or cystic =
fibrosis, can co-occur with autism. There is currently no physical test =
for autism, although certain tests do show characteristic patterns. The =
Autism Research Institute (http://www.autism.com/ari/), the LAFF charity =
this year, is dedicated to finding biological causes and treatments for =
autism. Perhaps someday there will be a cure.

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net =20
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 16:46:17 -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:  A Special Child (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <002601c11ecf$ece9e6a0$9aa2d6d1@oemcomputer>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Pam, I can only imagine how difficult this was to
write, but you've done a wonderful job.  As your
knowledge of autism grows, I would love to see you
continue this, if you felt able to do so.  Lois and
Clark's experience of Adam as an adult - with or
without superpowers - would be fascinating and
educational for many of us who don't have a huge
amount of experience with autism.

I'm sure that this took a lot of courage for you to
write, but you've done a brilliant job with it.

Irene

=====
sirenegold@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
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=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 19:52:12 -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 <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: New: A Special Child (1/1)

Pam, this is a beautiful and powerful story.  I'm grateful that you shared
it
with us.  I've never considered the parallels between Clark's special gifts
and those of special needs kids, but you make a compelling analogy, and
Jonathan's speech was very thought-provoking.  Adam, like Mikey, is a
special
kid with extra special parents. :)

Kathy
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 21:19:25 -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:         "Demona (Angel Of The Night)" <nightangel@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <002601c11ecf$ece9e6a0$9aa2d6d1@oemcomputer>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Pam,

I admit, I don't find the opportunity to read a lot of fanfiction for Lois
& Clark anymore.  But somehow, I ended up opening your email and reading
the first few paragraphs, and then I couldn't stop.  I have a dear friend
with an autistic son who just turned three.  I was so, so very moved by the
scenario you wove.  It took great strength of character and courage to set
this story down into words.  Though I admired you before, I think my
admiration grew ten-fold after reading this piece.  Thank you so much for
sharing it with us.  This wasn't simply fanfiction.  It was inspiration and
truth.

Demi

___________________________________________
Demi aka Demona
nightangel@home.com

"Time is a finite concept borne of physical mortality and fear.
It swallows up entire generations of dreamers; falls with harsh
revenge upon the minds of those who dare to see beyond such
linear boundaries.  But time means nothing to the living spirit.
Pushed against such infinite awareness, the ticking melts away;
liquid and pliable as the fluid of inspiration."
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 21:26:53 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:         "Ann E. McBride" <Aerm1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  7bit

Pam,

This had to have been extremely difficult to write.  I hope that it was, in
some way, cathartic.  Jonathan is right -- all children are special in their
own way, and no matter what, you never know what they'll do.

Raising a special child takes special parents.  Mikey is lucky to have you.

This was extremely well-done.  I think you should consider sharing it with a
wider audience.

Ann
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 21:39:12 -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:         Jacalyn Sue Newman <jacalynsue@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <002601c11ecf$ece9e6a0$9aa2d6d1@oemcomputer>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Spoilers ahead

You've been warned. :-)

Last chance to miss the spoilers

Okay, Don't say I didn't warn you!
  :-)

Pam, thank you SO much for that story. My 19 year old brother is
mildly autistic, and I was 12 when he was born. (that makes me
somewhere over 21..... <grin>)  You managed to hit the emotional
impact of this disorder dead on. The what ifs, the how do we's....
you got it.

Aside- did you read Erma Bombeck's column about being a parent of a
child with special needs being a lot like getting off the plane you
were taking to Paris and finding out you're in Holland?

On to specific things that were especially touching....
>
>"I mean, I know kids need their mothers, and I'm here for him; I
>spend a lot of time with him."
>
>"Of course you do--"
>
>"We go to the park, and he goes with us everywhere, although it's
>not quite as easy now as it used to be when he'd fall asleep in a
>restaurant, but it's *fun* to watch him looking around; he studies
>the world so intently, it's adorable, and now he can eat some finger
>food, and drink out of a cup so that's easier."
>
>"Exactly, we spend a lot of time--"
>
>"And I'm sure I'd be miserable if I stayed home, just the way my
>mother was -- I mean, really, does she honestly think she set a
>*good* example in the mother department? Anyway, Adam is fine with
>Emma; she takes great care of him, and he likes her a lot. I mean,
>isn't it good for kids to have more people loving them?"

Oh how I relate! As a work-for-money Mommy  (stay-at-home moms are
WORKING moms, as you all know!) of an almost-two-year-old,  I
appreciate this feeling of being torn between everyone's needs  Like
Lois, I know I'm a better Mommy when I'm not a full-time Mommy. But I
have guilt. We all do about something. Too much Mommy time, too
little, not enough playmates, too many.....

>Dr. Baker shook his head. "You know, it's perfectly normal for
>grandparents to give new parents a hard time. Adam is fine, trust
>me."
>
>Lois allowed herself to be reassured.

A common mistake. How easy it is to allow ourselves to believe that
an M.D. gets a crystal ball and an oracle's wisdom along with the
degree. Just another human being under that coat, folks. How hard it
is to accept that.... because we WANT to believe everything is
fine....

>"Look, I just want to know how he's doing, developmentally."
>
>"He's fine," Dr. Baker soothed her, with a brief glance at Adam, who
>was busily opening and closing the cabinet doors.
>
>"No, I don't think he is," Lois contradicted, her voice almost
>breaking, in time with her heart. "Look, if you won't examine him,
>I'll find someone who will."

Yup. Classic case of the M.o.M overruling the M.D ! Go girl! The
D.a.D. degree is also highly qualified at trumping the M.D. The
Imaginary crystal ball is shattered... now we begin the search for
Truth. Answers, and Hope.

>Even though she had half-expected it, this was still a blow. "Why?"

That doesn't mean it's EASY to travel this path....

>Clark felt his heart pound as Lois gripped his hand. Their perfect
>son ... all their dreams and hopes for the future. All shattered
>into nothingness, with nothing to replace them.

Reality sets in, with all the sharp edges intact.

>"Your mom's in town tonight," Jonathan told him. "Some school board
>thing; you know your mom's gotten real interested in public
>education since -- well, since Adam was born."
>
>Clark laughed harshly. "That's ironic. Adam won't be anywhere near
>normal schools."
>
>Jonathan considered that for a moment. "You don't know that," he
>finally said. "He's a real bright boy, even if he is a little
>different. You don't know what he'll be able to do."
>
>"Yeah, that's just it, Dad -- we don't know. I used to think I knew;
>Lois and I had it all planned out, you know? He'd be as bright as
>his mother and he'd go to Princeton and maybe be a writer -- not
>just articles like we do, but stories and books... *real* writing.
>Literature, even." Clark stared around the inside of the barn,
>oblivious to it. "Now we'll be lucky if he doesn't end up in a home
>somewhere, banging his head against the wall all day, or counting
>spilled toothpicks!"
>
>Jonathan listened patiently as Clark's disappointment and anger at
>the world spilled out. "Parents never really know," he finally said.
>
>Clark turned to focus on his dad, a question clear in his eyes.
>
>"Parents never know how their children will turn out," Jonathan
>elaborated. "You just found that out earlier than most of us. Most
>of us, we spend the first five or ten years thinking we can plan it
>all -- give them the right lessons, the right activities, and we can
>predict what they'll do with it. Some families try to run their
>kids' lives for longer than that. Eventually, though, the kids break
>away -- or at least they should. Look at you."

Pass the kleenex, please. That last paragraph especially, summed it
up. We never know. We do the best we can and hope for the best from
them. Some kids have an uphill battle that is steeper than that of
their peers. Some have heavy loads to haul besides. All have to
struggle to reach for their futures. And we can't do if for them, no
matter how much we want to. Some kids slip and fall, despite all our
efforts to keep them out of trouble. Sometimes, they fall so far they
take lives, including their own. Who hurts more in those cases, I
wonder? The parents of the victims, or the parents of the
perpetrators? How can you measure pain?

>Jonathan laughed. "Normal is overrated. He's still Adam, Clark.
>Still your perfect son. He's different, yes ... and you know that
>being different can be hard. But different can have its good points,
>too."

Something that is too easy to forget when you're doing the best you
can and it never seems to be enough!

>Clark flew back to Metropolis in a much lighter mood. The future was
>still unknowable, but then it always had been. It was only the
>illusion of certainty that had been lost. Adam was still a great
>kid, with a lot going for him, and Clark was determined to do
>everything he could to help.

Wise words, Clark. Memorize them.

>"Exactly. Clark, there's a lot of things we can do for Adam.

Yup. And let's not leave out the miracle of Auditory training. I've
seen the results first hand. Sensory integration training worked
wonders, too. Neither provided all the pieces to the puzzle, but they
made a huge difference. Sounds that had been painful to Joe became
tolerable. He gained a better sense of where his body was in space.
His balance improved, his life improved. The shell he was behind
cracked and let a beautiful personality emerge.

I remind my mother of that when she phones me with the reports of
teenage-boy behavior that can drive her crazy.  Remember when we
worried he'd never HAVE an opinion????? :-) It takes the edge of the
frustration we naturally feel when he won't let GO of an opinion!

>All people with autism are different, with different symptoms and
>levels of impairment. Other problems, like mental retardation or
>cystic fibrosis, can co-occur with autism. There is currently no
>physical test for autism, although certain tests do show
>characteristic patterns. The Autism Research Institute
>(http://www.autism.com/ari/), the LAFF charity this year, is
>dedicated to finding biological causes and treatments for autism.
>Perhaps someday there will be a cure.

In the meantime, there is hope. :-) Anyone interested in autism and
auditory sensitivity will find "The Sound of a Miracle" by Annabel
Stehli fascinating reading. --it's about her daughter's journey
through the world of autism. She's also edited a compilation of other
children's stories - "Dancing in the Rain."

Pam, thank you SO much for writing this. I sent a copy on to my mom,
and she's not even a FoLC! The writing is so powerful, the emotions
so true, that I have no doubt she'll be touched by it.
  :-)
Jackie
--
Jacalyn S. Newman
jacalynsue@earthlink.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 20:46:13 -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 <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Sad news, the loss of a FoLC

I'm afraid I have some sad news for everyone. I received an email from Jon
Knutson this evening, informing me that his wife, Barbara, passed away this
morning.

For those of you who have been in FoLCdom for several years, you will surely
remember Barbara Knutson, aka "WAFFyBarb".  Barb and her husband Jon met on
IRC, in our #loiscla channel, in the mid 90's, and were one of our great
FoLC
love stories.  After meeting through FoLCdom, they were married several
years
ago, after Jon moved cross-country to be with his lady love. :)

Barb was a fixture on IRC in those early years, and I considered her a close
on-line friend during the show's run.  I had the honor of meeting her
personally at an area get-together I hosted several years ago, and she was a
sweet and fun in person as she was on-line.  She authored a couple of
fanfics
(which can be found in Anne's nfic archive under "Jon & Barb"), and we
stayed
up late on IRC more evenings that I can count "splashing in the gutter" back
then.  After she and Jon married, she hadn't had as much time to participate
in FoLCdom, but we never forgot her.

Jon gave me permission to inform everyone, and I thought the best way to do
that would be to repost his email below.  I, for one, am very saddened by
the
loss of Barb, but I will never forget the good times we shared.

Kathy

_______________

Hi, Kathy,

I don't know if you remember Barbara and I... it's been a long time
since I was on the list, and almost as long since Barbara's posted.

Barbara passed away this morning... she'd been in the hospital for
four months being treated for a very bad infection, but she'd finally
come home a week ago last Thursday.  Last Wednesay night, her
heart stopped, and unfortunately, the ambulance couldn't get there
on time... they were able to get her breathing and heart going again,
but it had been too long, and an EEG showed almost no brain
activity whatsoever, and she was being kept alive only through a
respirator.  A long time ago, when we discussed this kind of thing
ever occurring, we both agreed if this happened, the other would
authorize being taken off the machine to die with dignity.  The
respirator was turned off Friday morning (I'd waited so my parents
and brother and her sister could fly in from Washington state and
Pittsburgh), and the end finally came for her at 6:58 am this morning.

(by the way, if you want to share this with the list, that would be
fine... I know there are still some on it that were there when we met
and announced our engagement and later, the wedding)

She'd asked that no services be held, but instead, if people want to
get together for personal meetings and remember her, I think she'd
appreciate that.  Her original wishes were that her body be donated
for medical research, but for various reasons, she wasn't a
candidate for that, so she'll be cremated on Wednesay or Thursday.
 A notice is going in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Wednesay,
and I'm hoping to get a memorial page set up in the near future.

Instead of flowers, I think she'd appreciate it if people wanted to do
more of a memorial to her by making a donation in her name to the
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (http://www.cbldf.org).  Since she
heard Harlan Ellison talk about it a few years back, she was greatly
in favor of the organization and their mission.

If anyone wants to reach me, I'm still at waffyjon@execpc.com.

Thank you,

Jon Knutson
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 19:11:18 -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:         lcfic <lcfic@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Message Board Index Update through August 4
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi FoLCs!

I understand that Monday is a holiday in Australia,
Canada, Ireland, and Scotland.  Have a great day!

Lots of activity again this week, despite a rough
start and end!  Check it out on the L&C Message Board
Index and Links page at
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Meteor/7378/lnc.html

New stories this week:
CALLING LEX LUTHOR AND CO.      THE LEX LETTERS COMES TO A
CONCLUSION      VARIOUS
DEAR DIARY, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD        COMPLETE VIGNETTE       A
LURKER (POSTED ON BEHALF OF BY CAROL MONCADO)
HERITAGE:       NAN SMITH
IMITATION OF LIFE:      CHRISTY LANDRUM
LITTLE DOG LOST COMPLETE VIGNETTE       TANK WILSON
ON RECEIPT OF (ANOTHER) WEDDING INVITATION      POEM    ROZ
HARVEY
POINT SYSTEM    COMPLETE VIGNETTE       CAROL MONCADO
SUPERMAN MEETS LARRY-BOY: A VEGGIETALES CROSSOVER
COMPLETE VIGNETTE       CAROL MONCADO
TO TELL THE TRUTH       AN EPILOGUE TO 'FASCINATING
INFORMATION'    VARIOUS

New part(s) posted:
ALIEN GIFT:     BETHY
DUET:   SHAYNE TERRY
FEAR OF DISCOVERY:      YVONNE CONNELL
FOR BETTER OR WORSE:            JESSI MOUNTS
HEARTS DIVIDED:         PAM JERNIGAN
IMBALANCE:      PHIL ATCLIFFE AND WENDY RICHARDS
LONELY IS THE MAN:      JONWOLFFE
PURPLE CHAOS:   EMILYH
SECOND THOUGHTS:        WENDY RICHARDS
STRANGERS III:  MISSY GALLANT
SURVIVAL OF THE SIGNIFICANT:    MANOFSTEEL30
VALLEY OF THE SHADOW:   CAROL MONCADO
WEEKEND FEATURE:        DIANE

Completed stories this week:
CODE OF HONOR:  DAWN FIELD
DATE WITH SUPERMAN, A:  GERRY
I STILL LOVE YOU:       CHRISTY LANDRUM

New TOC's
Superman's Shower by Carol Monacado

Added to the Archive this week:
Fire at StarLabs: One Rat's Hair-rowing Tail  by Dawn
F. and Anne D.
Mayson's Diary  by Terran
World Without, A  by Terran

Enjoy!
Dawn & the Index Crew

__________________________________________________
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Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
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=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 23:24:08 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:         Rachel Madden <LnCSwing@AOL.COM>
Subject:      NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (2/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  7bit

Okay, here's part two.  You were introduced to Billy and Serena in the
previous installment, so now you'll get to meet Perry White...a different
Perry, but the same person in many ways.  :)  Well, particularly one way....
;)

-Rachel  :)

*           *       *

    "No, no, *no*!  I will not tolerate this type of insubordination in my
newsroom!  What would the King say?"

    Perry White tried four different faces until he found the one he wanted,
then started all over again.

    "What in *tarnation* is going on here?  Judas Priest!  Are we here to
work or stare at the ceiling?  We've got a deadline to meet!  Let's go!"

    There.  That would work.  He'd have to write that one down for future
use
along with the six others he already had.  That face had been kind of hard,
though.  It had used muscles in his face that Perry hadn't even known he
had.

    Taking a wary look at the door, he geared up his confidence and was
about
to launch into his famous Elvis speech he had been practicing for the past
two weeks when the door whipped open and slammed into the wall.

    "White!  Get your tailgate back in here, boy!  You've been in this
bathroom for 20 minutes!  People have been rioting for the past hour because
there are no donuts out on that table!  So get moving!  Now!"

    Perry nodded his head vigorously.  "Yessir!"

    After the door closed (and he noticed the doorknob-sized hole in the
wall), Perry stepped back from the mirror and ran stubby fingers through his
dark brown hair.  Time to get moving.

*       *       *

    After getting donuts and brewing more coffee, Perry wandered around for
a
while, keeping one eye out for his boss and the other out for Billy and Ser.
They had been gone for over 4 hours now, and he didn't think interviewing
Captain Dale about organized crime could take 4 hours...unless something had
happened.  You never knew what could take place in the lives of
investigative
journalists.  Especially in the lives of world-famous investigative
journalists like Billy Norcross and Serena Judd.  Even though they were both
only in their late 20s, they had seen many things that people their age
could
never even dream of.  War, famine, robberies, drugs, government scandals,
gangs, crime rings, etc., etc., were all part of the reporting team's daily
lives.  Pretty much everything that was too slippery for normal human beings
to grasp they had grasped with no problem whatsoever.

    It had taken Perry a while to find out that Billy and Ser were the best
in the business.  He had actually never heard of the Daily Planet until Tom
Walsh had called him up one day asking if he wanted a job.  Perry's father
had known Tom for 15 years, it turned out, so Perry suspected that his
father
had been the man behind the scenes in that play.

    He had been all for it, of course.  He had worked for his local paper
for
several years and was ready for something new.  So his parents, mainly his
father, shipped him off to Metropolis, about 250 miles from his hometown,
when he was 21.  He had never been to college.  After settling in a modest
apartment thanks to the substantial wad of money in his pocket (courtesy of
his father), he had dived right into the chaos at the Daily Planet offices.
Mr. Walsh (the "Chief") had chucked him in with the other blue collars,
asking him to just be there when anyone needed immediate service.  At first
it had seemed like an easy enough job.  Brewing coffee, grabbing donuts,
some
take-out for lunch every now and then.  He ran errands and made copies for
people.  He lugged research through the whole building and was Mr. Fix-It to
some less handy colleagues.  However, Perry's job soon turned into a very
large cold sore that wouldn't go away.  He soon found himself the newsroom
slave and the village idiot.  He catered to anyone and everyone's whims.
While he had done menial tasks before, he was now fixing people's cars.  And
he was sick of it.  However, telling Mr. Walsh was out of the question,
because then he'd be out of a *job*.

    So Perry sat and watched from the safety of the conference room.  A
staff
meeting was scheduled for two o'clock, so he didn't really have enough time
to find a good hiding spot.  Just 15 minutes.  Enough time for a breather,
but that was it.  After about five minutes of sitting and watching, he saw
Billy and Serena enter the newsroom.

    Mr. Walsh immediately pounced on them.  Questions flew through the air:
"Where were you for four hours?", "What happened?", and most important of
all, "Did you get the story?"

    Billy and Ser looked calm enough.  They gently told their boss about
whatever had happened while they were gone.  Mr. Walsh about had a stroke
right there in front of everyone.  The pair practically had to carry him to
the conference room, where Perry was quietly sitting in a chair.

    Perry's investigative instincts kicked in, and he crawled under the
table
where he could hear without being noticed.  Mr. Walsh would surely lop
Perry's head off if he was discovered, but, even though he had only a year
or
two of experience, he had learned that eavesdropping was one of the top ten
reporters' information-gathering techniques.

    He had just gotten situated underneath the table when the three entered.
Trying to breathe quietly, Perry listened to their conversation.

    Billy: "Are you all right, sir?  Can you stand up now?"

    Mr. Walsh: "Yes, Norcross, I'm fine.  And you can let go of my arm!"

    Billy: "Sorry."

    Mr. Walsh: "Now I want a straight answer from you two.  You managed to
almost get yourselves killed, which would have put the Daily Planet under
for
the next decade, and you come back saying you want more.  I don't
understand.
 You caught the guy, talked to the police...what more do you need?"

    So the opportunity was presenting itself.  Perry had heard about big
breaks -- he figured this the Mother of them all.

    Ser: "Tom, we think we have a shot at a front-page story here.  This
wasn't the first time Frederickson has tried to escape.  They keep loading
more restrictions on him, but he keeps on finding his way out.  Captain Dale
said that they're thinking about moving him to that maximum security prison
in eastern New Troy."

    Mr. Walsh: "Holton?  That's quite a place.  I almost feel sorry for the
guy."

    Billy: "Well, don't be, sir.  He's serving a double life sentence for
thirteen counts of murder, thirteen counts of rape, and thirteen counts of
armed robbery.  A very sick and twisted man."

    Mr. Walsh: "What's with all the thirteens?"

    Ser: "His father, who was addicted to alcohol and died of an OD when
Frederickson was a teenager, had a fear of the number thirteen.
Triskaidekaphobia is the word for it, I believe.  Anyway, Frederickson hated
him.  Police records show that he beat Frederickson's mother several times,
judging by the number of times the police were called over to their house by
the neighbors, and probably more times we'll never know about."

    Billy: "This is Frederickson's way of getting back at his father.  You
know, making him roll over in his grave until he gets dizzy.  At least,
that's what we *think*."

    Mr. Walsh: "Good reasoning, you two.  But how is this material for an
article?  Does Frederickson have a few skeletons in the closet the police
don't know about or are you just hoping he'll break out again?"

    Billy: "We haven't gotten to the best part yet, Mr. Walsh."

    Mr. Walsh: "Well, hurry it up!  I've got nine copies to edit in the next
half-hour!"

    There was a long pause.

    Ser: "You tell him."

    Billy: "No, why don't *you* tell him.  You're much better at this than I
am."

    Perry flinched when a nylon-clad leg with a very painful looking high
heel attached flew through the air and whacked Billy on the shin.

    Ser: "No, no, I insist.  *You* tell him."

    Perry couldn't see the pair, but he was certain that Ser was giving
Billy
one of her Looks.  Not to mention that bone-snapping kick.  Perry winced
just
thinking about it.  He heard a submissive sigh, then a deep drawn breath.

    He knew what was coming.  Billy and Ser's "best part" was always the
most
difficult to explain, for some odd reason.  Perry grinned.  This was why the
two of them were so legendary.  Their sad excuses for leads always, in some
way or another, developed into another Kerth Award for the reporting team of
Norcross and Judd.

    Mr. Walsh: "Listen, you two.  Don't think I don't know what you're about
to say...."

    Obviously Mr. Walsh also knew what was coming.

    Mr. Walsh: "You're going to tell me about some wild scheme of yours and
then beg me to reassign your other stories until you get done with this one.
Am I right?"

    Perry could sense Billy dejected nod and Ser's defiant glare aimed at
Mr.
Walsh.

    Mr. Walsh: "Well, let's just skip it this time.  Go and investigate or
do
whatever you do after defeating the old man who sits in the office with
"Editor-in-Chief" on the door and apparently has no authority over you
whatsoever."

    Ser: "Don't worry, Chief.  You're still the Almighty Spellchecker in our
eyes."

    Perry couldn't help but grin.  And unfortunately, his mouth chose this
moment to give him away.  A small chortle escaped as he tried to stifle his
laughter, and he clapped his hands over his mouth, wide-eyed, wondering if
they had heard him.

    Billy: "What was that?"

    Ser: "What?"

    "Billy: "I heard something."

    "Ser: "You're hearing things."

    Billy: "No, I distinctly heard a noise.  And it was coming from
underneath the - "

    Perry tried to scramble away as Billy's chair scraped away from the
table
and his face appeared.

    " - table."

    Ser's face soon appeared also, followed by Mr. Walsh's head and a loud
creak emanating from his back.

    "Perry?  Is that you?" Tom asked incredulously.

    Perry lowered his head and murmured, "Yessir."

    "Get your tailgate out from under there and tell me *exactly* what in
the
*hell* you think you were doing!"

    Perry stood up and stared at a fixed point on the wall while Tom, Ser,
and Billy bored holes in his head with their gazes.

    "I was just listening, sir."

    "No, I get it, son...you were making daisy chains, right?  Damn right
you
were listening!  *Why* were you under the table in the first place?"

    "Well, sir...."  Perry gulped painfully.  "You're always telling me to
take my chance while I still have a chance, so I took it."

    There was silence for a few seconds.  Tom's fiery glare softened.
"Can't
argue with that."

    Ser and Billy turned their eyes to their boss.  Ser asked, "Now what are
we going to do?  Perry heard everything.  There's no way we can just tell
him
to forget he'd ever been here and send him on his way...is there?"

    The three looked to Perry.

    A mischievous grin spread across Perry's face.

    "Well, we can just forget about *that*," Billy said, flinging his arms
up
in the air exasperatingly.

    "Tell you what, guys.  You let me help out, and I'll keep my mouth
shut."

    Tom, who had been staring at the wall trying to think of a way to keep
Perry quiet other than killing him, turned around with a grim look on his
face.  "You sure do know how to bargain, son."  He looked at Ser and Billy.
"This okay with you two?"

    Billy and Ser started to shake their heads no, but then looked at Perry
and solemnly nodded.

    "All right.  You're in, Perry.  But one little peep about this story,
even if it's accidental, and you're off the team.  Gone.  Capeesh?"

    Perry grinned, nodded enthusiastically, and raised his fist in
celebration of victory.

    On their way out of the conference room, Tom leaned over and said, "Good
thing you didn't demand a dozen donuts along with this perfect example of
blackmail."

    Smiling, Perry asked, "Would I have gotten them?"

    Tom called back over his shoulder as he walked away, "No.  But you would
have gotten a pink slip instead."
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Aug 2001 22:44:55 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (2/?)
In-Reply-To:  <68.1267ee90.28a0b958@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

OMG!!!!

ROTFLM6OOAOAOAOAOA....

:::tries to catch breathe while wiping eyes:::

Rachel, I could *see* Perry under that table - and I don't think even Jimmy
would do that! :)

Whoa, keep it coming, please!

Melisma (under her Rock, starting to giggle again)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 08:48:21 +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:         Nicola Baker <nicola@NJBAKER.FREESERVE.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Continued Fic: My Friend, part 2 (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hazel, this was a great ending to Wendy's fic.  I especially loved this
bit...

s
p
o
i
l
e
r

s
p
a
c
e

> To be honest, I don't believe him. Even by our standards, the story is too
> bizarre, and his explanation is just a little too smooth. He's hiding
> something from us, something that really explains his miraculous return.

I like it when people don't assume that Jimmy is stupid.

Nic
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:24:50 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Sad news indeed, Kathy and my condolences go out to Jon and everyone who
counted Barbara as a friend. I never knew her personally - she had left
FoLCdom before I arrived - but she was still talked of fondly at that time
and I can still remember that her stories were among the first I read and
how much pleasure they gave me.

LabRat :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 04:30:23 -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:         Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA>
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
In-Reply-To:  <000f01c11f33$9459f0c0$897f1f3e@land>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I met Barb once or twice on IRC, back in the days when #loiscla and #deano
got a lot of traffic. She seemed really nice, and I wish I could have
gotten to know her. I have a lot of her stories in my personal archive,
that I rather enjoy. She will be missed, even by those of us who didn't
know her well.

BTW, are we going to organize a card or a FoLC memorial (like we did for
Kendra) or something?

Melisma (saddened under her Rock)

Visit my rock at http://www.intergate.ca/personal/melisma/index.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:49:26 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Fwding...

> Very sad news, Kathy.
>
> I didn't know Barbara well.  We corresponded once, I
> believe, when I sent her feedback for one of her
> stories.  But I loved reading her webpage and about
> her courtship with Jon.
>
> My condolences go to him and to his family.
>
> Irene
>
> =====
> sirenegold@yahoo.com
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 06:17:17 -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 <dls@THUNTEK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%2001080620461329@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 08:46 PM 08/06/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm afraid I have some sad news for everyone. I received an email from Jon
>Knutson this evening, informing me that his wife, Barbara, passed away this
>morning.

If "Soulmates" was any guide, they'll meet again in the future...

Debby :(
dls@thuntek.net
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 08:49:03 -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>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Thanks, everyone... I should start by saying that this story is definitely
fictionalized -- Lois and Clark grabbed a clue long before I did, for
instance ... Michael was my first child, so I just assumed everything he did
was normal :)  My mother-in-law thought there was something wrong with him,
but then she criticizes me on pretty much everything and we were fighting
about day care at the time (she seemed to believe that no good mother would
deprive her child of the benefits of a good day care, while I preferred to
stay home, and you know how heated *that* battle can get).  Most of the Adam
games were copied directly from Michael games; Mikey loved lining things up
and rituals, and he thought it was the funniest thing in the world to fool
Mommy or Daddy by getting it wrong.

Like Lois, I spent a lot of time crying at first, but unlike her, I also
spent a lot of time praying (usually while crying), and trying to figure out
how a loving God could do this to me and my son.  It helped me to remember
that God doesn't judge people the same way we do -- if Michael never lives
on his own or holds down a job, it doesn't diminish his value in God's eyes
one bit.  It makes life a little more challenging for me <g> but I do
believe God will be there to help me meet those challenges.

And Michael has made so much progress in this past year that I think I could
term it a miracle :)  Last year he literally couldn't make up a sentence on
his own, it was all quotes from things he'd heard -- but now he's very
verbal, even if his grammar/word choice is unique ;)  "Pick up me!" or "I
want the tall bread" (hot dog bun) or "No, computer is finished.  Click on
all the Xs!" (when he wants me to get off IRC <g>).  Oh, and now he's
teaching himself how to read, too.  Not too surprising for a boy who had the
alphabet memorized before he turned two.

Irene, thank you ... and now that you mention it I might be able to come up
with a sequel, which could only be more cheerful than this one <g>

Kathy, if you liked the conversation with Jonathan, thank Claire Hess, one
of my beta readers.  She helped steer me in the right direction, as she
always does :)

Demi, I don't know that I deserve that much admiration ... I'm just slogging
away doing the best I can, and truthfully Michael is very lightly affected.
As Crystal pointed out, there's always someone who has it worse ... like the
parents of normal twins or triplets ;)  But I do feel some obligation to
educate people about autism, so I'll be very satisfied if the story works on
that level.

Ann, you're right, it was difficult to write ... not so much in the
beginning, but the evaluation/diagnosis parts were tough.  I'm glad I wrote
it, though.  And I have thought about editing it so that I could send it to
a magazine -- if I sell it, I'll tell everyone which magazine to buy! ;)

Jackie, thanks for sharing some of your experiences ... I'll respond
privately in more detail, but I'm glad you thought I got this right.  Autism
touches a lot of families, so I do think it's important to spread the word
about what it is, and what can be done.

Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/

~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 13:05:55 +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:         Missy Gallant <zoomer71@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New: A Special Child (1/1)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Just lovely, Pam!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and heart with us  :)))

Missy

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 08:15:29 -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:         Yvonne <yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: FF: A Little Help, part 1 of ? (PGish, at least... may go
up)

Great start, Crys.
S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

A very scary one, though - Lois addicted to Prozac?!  Does Clark know?
I'll be happier once that question is answered, because then at least I'll
know how bad things really are.  Please post more soon!

Yvonne
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:18:02 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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      FF: A Little Help, part 2 of ? (PGish, at least... may go up)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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Chapter 2

Clark checked his watch and almost groaned.  Superman had been in demand
today, and he was exhausted.  Lois had asked him to meet her at the house.
They were going to have dinner early, and then she had something to tell
him.
 He could only hope that the something would relieve the worry that had been
plaguing him for the last several weeks.

Granted, the last month had been better.  She was still a little
high-strung,
but she hadn't been swinging so radically from screaming to tears.  She was
still a little too independent, a little reluctant to let her guard down
around him, but she was clearly better.  Okay, their sex life had been
essentially absent, but a marriage wasn't about sex.  He'd gone without it
for over thirty years, so a week or two of just cuddling wasn't a horrible
thing.  He missed the closeness, sure, but it was almost worth it to have
his
wife back in his arms.

Lois hadn't been Lois in a very long time.  She'd always been his little
tornado, but lately she'd been spinning in every direction at once, rather
than in her usual direct path.  The result was just as destructive as her
namesake.  He'd actually been grateful when the news had dropped to a
standstill, thinking that all she needed was some rest to recover from
whatever was going on within her, but it had only made matters worse.  With
nothing specific to focus on, Lois seemed to be spinning in circles -
frantic
- and he wasn't sure what to do about it.

He'd spoken with his mother several times over the last couple of months, as
Lois' behavior seemed more and more unusual, but she'd just reminded him
that
Lois had always been all or nothing.  Mom was right.  Lois had never done
anything half way, and she was always moving ahead full-speed.  Now, with
nothing specific to move towards, it made sense that she would flounder a
bit.  That didn't make him worry any less, but it certainly explained
things.

Lois wanted to talk to him.  He hoped that was good news.  He hoped that she
was finally going to tell him what was wrong; what was bothering her.
Unfortunately, he was supposed to have met her an hour ago, and he still had
two stories to get written and delivered to Perry before he could get out of
here.

Taking a seat and looking around, Clark set about getting his work finished
as quickly as possible so that he could meet his wife.  The earlier he got
there, the less likely she would be to go completely off on him when he
arrived.  She'd done that a lot, lately; more than a lot.  Shaking his head
at his distraction, he once more applied himself to the story.  Supertyping
with distraction was a good way to destroy a keyboard.

He'd known he was out of his depth almost a month before, when Lois' had
gotten completely out of control.  He'd honestly thought she was going to
leave him.  Even now, he held himself carefully in check so as not to upset
her, but that night had frightened him terribly.

*   *   *

Clark sighed and waited for the tirade to end.

"...And if you think I was going to let him get away with that, you'd better
think again!  I swear, you'd think it was the middle ages!  Just because I'm
a woman, he gets this stupid high-and-mighty protectiveness that he knows
has
no place.  If anyone should understand the importance of a story, you'd
think
it would be him, but no..."

"Lois, he cares about you," Clark interrupted in his most gentle voice.
He'd
learned to walk softly around his wife, and he rarely interrupted her.  It
purely wasn't worth the effort.  Still, he couldn't stand to hear her berate
Perry so badly.

"I've been doing this long enough to take care of myself," she argued.  She
tossed another sweater aside and continued her search for the one she
wanted.
 Clothes were heaped up on the bed from where she'd discarded them, and he
spared a moment to wonder who would be cleaning up the mess.  No contest, he
decided wryly.  Superspeed was a necessity when keeping up with Lois'
destructive moods.

"It's not unreasonable that he wants you to take someone to a contact,"
Clark
commented, wondering how upset she'd be if he began folding the clothes she
was tossing across the room.  Very, he concluded.  It was better to wait.

"Don't you start," she said in a deadly quiet voice.  "I don't need to be
guarded by Superman to do my job!"

Clark took a deep breath and did his best to control his rising temper.
He'd
let her get to him before, and it wasn't worth the guilt afterwards.  "I'm
not talking about a blue and red guard; I'm talking about your partner
accompanying you to meet a source."

Lois jerked a black sweater over her black turtleneck and then reached for
her black jeans.  The middle of the night, down by the docks, dressed in
black... and she didn't want him to go along.  Absently, he wondered why he
hadn't just agreed with her and then flown a high patrol to keep an eye on
her.  God, it would have been so much easier than reasoning with her.

"I'm going," she announced.

"I know you are."

He didn't think his voice had been sarcastic, but she turned on him anyway.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and counted backwards from ten.  In
Romanian.  "I won't apologize for worrying about my wife," he said calmly.
"I know you worry about me.  It's part of the package... you love someone,
so
you worry."

Lois turned quickly from where she'd gone to the door, and he saw tears well
up in her eyes.  "I do love you," she said, her voice barely above a
whisper.
 "You know I love you more than anything."

The crash.  He'd known it was coming.  He stepped forward and tugged her
into
his arms.  She clung to him, her arms almost frantic in their disconnected
movements.  "I know, Sweetheart," he told her softly.  "Are you sure you
don't want some company tonight," he offered, hoping her emotions would let
him in while the defenses were at a low.

"I can do this," she declared swiftly, wiping away tears with no evidence of
embarrassment.  "I'll be home early.  This shouldn't take any longer than an
hour."

"Should I bother to tell you to be careful?" he asked, hoping his smile
would
make the question into a joke.

"I'm always careful," she told him with a grin.  If it weren't for the red
blotches under her eyes, he wouldn't have been able to tell that five
minutes
ago she'd been screaming, and one minute ago she'd been crying.

With a wink, she was gone.  Clark listened carefully, heard her walking down
the steps to the sidewalk, and then heard the door to the Jeep open.
Standing and spinning quickly, he changed into his suit to keep a high
lookout on her.  She was just too volatile, he decided.  She shouldn't be
out
there alone.

With all his heart, he prayed that she wouldn't get into trouble tonight.
If
he had to explain what he was doing keeping an eye on her, she would
probably
kill him.

*   *   *

"I told you there wouldn't be a problem," Lois announced triumphantly.
"Information attained, and not a bad-guy in sight."

Clark smiled at that.  If she'd only known that he'd taken out two
near-riots
within half a mile of where she'd been, she would have been a lot less
cocky.
 "I'm just glad you're home," he offered.  "We have more important things to
do than to pump sources for information."

Clark eased his arms around his wife, taking comfort in her nearness, in her
safety.

"Mmm," she mumbled in agreement.  "That's for sure."  Her lips met his in an
avid kiss, and for a few moments he was able to forget that she'd been on
edge for the last several weeks, that she was as volatile as dynamite when
confronted over anything.  He let her kiss him, kissed her back, and let
himself begin to relax.

Well, he tried to relax.  Relaxation didn't seem to be what Lois had in
mind.
 She was normally aggressive - or at least assertive - when they made love,
but this was unusual even for her.  Her lips ground into his, her hands
groped almost desperately, and her body nearly flattened his own as she
pressed ever closer.

"Hey, slow down," he requested with a smile.  "I want to take some time to
enjoy this.  You keep up at this rate and we'll be done before we get to the
bed."

"Got a problem with that?" she asked, matching his grin.

"Not a bit," he replied, lifting her as she nearly climbed up into his arms.
Her legs went around his waist and her kisses became - if possible - more
ardent.

Resigning himself to a less than leisurely session of making love, he
allowed
her to take the lead.  She had his shirt off, and her own, in record time.
Kisses trailed down his chest and around his neck even as her heels dug into
the small of his back.  It didn't hurt, not really, but it wasn't as
comfortable as he would have liked to be.

"Let's go to bed," he suggested softly, his lips against her right ear.  "I
want to do this right."

Without warning, she pushed away from him and released her legs.  If he
hadn't been so quick, she might have fallen in her haste to back away from
him.  "What's wrong with the way we are doing this?" she asked, her voice
just shy of a scream.

Clark was stunned - lost - and trying desperately to find his bearings.
"Nothing," he said in confusion.  "I just wanted to slow down."

"Better idea," she suggested.  "How about we stop."

"What?"

"I'm sick of you telling me how to do things," she declared.  "You tell me
when I can meet a source, what stories I can write, and even how I can write
them.  I'm an adult, and I'm tired of it!"

"Pointing out a grammatical error is hardly running your life," he reasoned,
but it was automatic.  Placating her had become a full time job, and he was
beginning to do it unconsciously.

"Don't give me that," she growled.  "I put up with you bossing me around at
work, and editing my copy when I haven't even asked you to, but I'll be
damned if I let you tell me how to make love."

"I wasn't telling you..."

"Don't you argue with me!" she said, cutting him off.  "I know what you were
doing!  You wanted it your way, and that's the end of it.  Well, I'm sick of
it!"

"Okay, let's take a step back," he suggested, his voice a forced calm.  "One
minute you're all over me, and then I make a request and you're having a
tantrum.  Making love is for both of us, so we each get an opinion.  I don't
get it.  What is the matter with you?"  He hadn't intended to ask it quite
that baldly, but he wasn't sorry he had.  She wasn't herself, and this was
more than a heavy case of PMS.  She was erratic, unreasonable, and he wanted
to know why.

"What's the matter with me?" she asked incredulously.  "What's the matter
with you?"

"Me?"

"Overprotective, unreasonable, and totally unfair.  Hell, for all I know you
didn't even let me go to that interview on my own.  You were probably
overhead the whole damn time, as I'm apparently incapable of doing anything
myself!"

His eyes gave him away.  Honest to a fault, he couldn't deny it.  Still, as
erratic as she had been, he hadn't expected the fallout to be quite so bad.

"You did," she accused softly, daring him to deny it.  "You followed me!
After I expressly told you not to, you followed me anyway!"

"I had to take care of something in the area," he hedged.  It wasn't a lie -
he had dealt with some nearby rioting - but it evaded the fact that he had
been in the area because he wanted to be within calling distance if anything
had gone wrong on the interview.

"Yeah, right," she muttered.  "Like I believe that."

Clark watched as she yanked on her turtleneck, and then her sweater.  She
didn't even bother to reach for the black bra that had been discarded during
her earlier frenzy.  God, why had he said anything?  Why hadn't he just gone
along?  No, he didn't particularly like it rough, but it wasn't like she
could hurt him.  He was still standing there, reliving how he could have
done
things differently, when she reached for her purse.

"Where are you going?" he asked, the worry clear in his voice.

"Out!"

"Lois, it's the middle of the night," he reasoned.

"It doesn't matter," she said, and abruptly her face crumbled.  "You don't
trust me," she said on a sob.  "I can't stay with you if you don't trust
me."

"Lois, I do trust you," he said softly.  "It's the rest of Metropolis I
worry
about, especially down at the riverfront."

"Why can't you just trust me?" she asked, her voice watery.  "If you loved
me, you'd trust me."

"Lois, I do love you, and I do trust you," he said gently, feeling that he
was on eggshells at the moment.  She'd been hasty in the past, but this was
an entirely new level of fear for him.  She was poised to leave, her hand on
the door, and he had to make her stop.  He didn't know why it was so
essential, but he knew that it was in a way he couldn't question.  He
reached
out a hand, gently touched her cheek, and whispered softly, "Please, let's
talk about his."

She shook her head firmly, sending tears flying.  His fingertips were wet
from where he'd touched her cheek, and her sorrow was tearing him apart.  "I
need some time alone," she said, and at least she sounded reasonable.

"Stay here," he begged.  "Please."  She was shaking her head again when he
continued.  "I'll spend the night with my parents, or with Jimmy.  Hell,
I'll
fly patrol if you want.  Just, please, don't make me worry about you in a
motel somewhere."

"You don't have to worry," she told him, but at least she wasn't refusing
flatly.

"I know I don't have to," he whispered.  "But I do.  You're my life, and if
I
lost you I'd die.  You know that, Lois.  You know what you are to me."
Never
had that knowledge frightened him as it did this moment.

She just stood there, thinking.  He would have done anything to be able to
take her in his arms, but he didn't dare.  She'd asked for time, for space,
and he could give her that.  He couldn't understand her, couldn't reason
with
her, but he could give her room to settle down.  Something told him that if
she walked out the door, she wouldn't be back.  He couldn't live with that.

"It'll just take me a second to get my suit," he told her gently.  "Just one
second.  Please."

She finally nodded her assent.  He dashed to the secret compartment, grabbed
a clean suit, and changed with a spin.  Uniform in place, he moved towards
the door, where she was blocking his way.  It didn't matter, he decided.
He'd use the back doors, over the balcony.

"I love you," he told her softly.  "I'll see you in the morning."

She nodded, but didn't say a word.  He couldn't think of anything else to
say
either.  He wanted to kiss her, to hold her... something.  Instead, he
turned
and walked to the glass doors leading to the balcony, and then took off for
the stars.  He prayed she'd be feeling better in the morning.

(end of chapter 2)
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:22:21 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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FF: A Little Help, part 1 of ? (PGish, at least... may go
up)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 8/7/2001 9:16:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
yvonne@YCONNELL.FSNET.CO.UK writes:

<< Great start, Crys.
 S
 P
 O
 I
 L
 E
 R

 S
 P
 A
 C
 E

 A very scary one, though - Lois addicted to Prozac?!  Does Clark know?
 I'll be happier once that question is answered, because then at least I'll
 know how bad things really are.  Please post more soon! >>

LOL... nope.  She's not... but we'll get there <g>.  And no, Clark is
clueless... which is part of the dilemma.  The story is outlined so that it
starts in the middle... now I backtrack to explain what's going on, and then
move forward for how they deal with it.  I thought it would have more impact
that way.

Thanks for the feedback... and I'm planning to post a chapter a day or so,
so
you shouldn't have much of a wait :)

-Crys-
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:33:16 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:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

WARNING: religious beliefs ahead... I'm not imposing them, just sharing
them.
 If you don't want to know about it, feel free to delete this now - but
don't
say I didn't warn you ;)

In a message dated 8/7/2001 8:52:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

<<
 Like Lois, I spent a lot of time crying at first, but unlike her, I also
 spent a lot of time praying (usually while crying), and trying to figure
out
 how a loving God could do this to me and my son.  It helped me to remember
 that God doesn't judge people the same way we do -- if Michael never lives
 on his own or holds down a job, it doesn't diminish his value in God's eyes
 one bit.  It makes life a little more challenging for me <g> but I do
 believe God will be there to help me meet those challenges. >>

I don't think you can raise a disabled child without a strong faith in God.
That's just me, perhaps.  All I have to do is look at one of the special
ones... the autistic children, the mentally retarded, the ADHDs... and you
see something different from what everyone else has.

Each child is a miracle, but those that face these challenges every day with
the innocence that makes failure impossible... they give hope to us all.
I'm
a firm believer that God blesses some of us with these children so that the
rest of the world can be humbled by their perfection, not their disability.
They never willingly disobey, always trust with their whole heart, and they
see the best in the world around them.

I'm not just talking about my own son, either... I teach these blessings
every day - the mentally retarded, developmentally delayed, and various
other
health impairments - and they are truly the best of a race gone horribly
conceited.  They bring us an example, because each tiny step is a chasm to
them, and it's appreciated and recognized for the success it is.

If you ever want to see God, look into the eyes of a child who just learned
to write their own name, or got a glass of milk the first time they found
the
words to ask for it, or just laughed - no reason - because life was fun at
just that moment.

They have so much to teach us!

Yes, God has plenty of angels on earth... you just have to look for them.

-Crys-
"Romie's Mom"
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 14:54:56 +0100
Reply-To:     LabRat <labrat@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         LabRat <labrat@BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
Organization: LabRat
Subject:      Fw: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Fwding...

Could I remind everyone to check their To box please before posting if
they're replying off off my earlier post. Thanks!

LabRat :)

> This is indeed sad news Kathy.  My condolances to  Jon also.
> merry
>
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:48:29 -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 <kathybrown91@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC

On Tue, 7 Aug 2001 04:30:23 -0700, Melisma <melisma@INTERGATE.CA> wrote:

>BTW, are we going to organize a card or a FoLC memorial (like we did for
>Kendra) or something?

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow or I'd volunteer.  I know several folcs
have written Jon privately, and have said they would make a contribution in
her name, as suggested.  If anyone wants to volunteer to coordinate a group
contribution, that would be great, or else people can just do what they feel
comfortable with.

As for a FoLC memorial (not sure what we did for Kendra, sorry!), the Kerth
committee has already talked about dedicating the next Kerth awards to her
memory.  I know Barbara loved fanfic, and I like to think she'll be smiling
down on us during the ceremony. :)

Kathy
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 10:03:10 -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:         Phil Atcliffe <atcliffe@PERDICAS.FSNET.CO.UK>
Subject:      NEW: Imbalance Part 17

[For those who prefer to read this on the MBs, parts 16 and 17 are now up
on the new mirror site. I'll add them to lastson.com as soon as it starts
working for long enough for me to _do_ it! <g>

Okay, FoLCs who find action scenes boring can give up on this one now;
well, not really <g>, but it's time for Nigel's plans to come to fruition --
 which means that it's *also* time for someone in a certain red-and-blue
suit to go public!

Oh, and this part also serves as my rebuttal to Paul Dini et al., the
creators of the latest Superman animated series, who made Clark just too
weak to be credible; *this* is how *Superman* deals with a plane crash!

Now read on:]

*****

At 8:30 a.m., Atlantic Shuttle flight 865 took off from Metropolis Airport,
bound for La Guardia and Dulles. The aircraft was a Boeing 747SP, a little-
known version of the world's largest intercontinental airliner specially
modified, perversely, for short-range inter-city hops, using the lifting
capacity normally devoted to carrying the fuel needed to fly for 12 hours
or more at a time to transport nearly 600 passengers the few hundred miles
between Boston and Washington DC, calling at intermediate destinations like
Metropolis, Gotham, New York or Philadelphia, according to the route being
flown.

It seemed that a lot of Metropolitans had business elsewhere on the East
Coast that day; the aircraft was packed. The airline had also topped off
the fuel tanks; Metro Oil was currently offering a much better deal on jet
fuel than its rivals, and filling up at Metropolis gave the aircraft enough
fuel to do two round trips up and down the coast, or even more if loads
were light -- which they certainly weren't, this morning!

The combined effects of a full passenger load and full tanks put the
aircraft close to its maximum take-off weight, Captain Allerton had
realised. Well, that wasn't particularly difficult to cope with, although
it did mean that the plane would be somewhat less than agile in the air,
and perhaps a bit reluctant to climb as fast as noise abatement procedures
and airspace "steps" demanded. She was just glad that it was nice and cool,
which would alleviate the problem slightly; the older airline crew still
told the story of the heavily-laden 747 that, one very hot day, couldn't
climb fast enough and ended up in uncontrolled airspace, thereby scaring
the heck out of every light aircraft pilot in a 50-mile radius when they
broadcast their advisory message. It was held up to every new flight crew
as an awful warning, and the pilot had no desire to have the same thing
happen to *her!*

That didn't seem likely, though; the 747 lifted off readily enough and
settled into the appropriate climb with no trouble. A gentle turn put the
aircraft on course for a standard departure from Metropolis -- one which
would take it over the downtown area as it climbed to join the airway
running southwards along the coast. Since it was a beautiful morning, the
captain took the opportunity to advise any interested passengers that this
would be a good time to take a look at the world's largest city from the
air.

*****

What Allerton didn't know was that while her passengers were staring out
their windows at the spectacle of Metropolis' skyscrapers gleaming in the
morning sunlight, several pairs of eyes were staring back at her aircraft
with malicious intent from those same buildings -- five pairs, to be
precise. Four of the five belonged to nondescript-looking "workmen"
standing on the roofs of buildings located either side of the 747's flight
path over the city; the fifth belonged to Nigel St John.

Nigel took a deep breath; as the final check before beginning the
operation, he had verified that Miss Lane was indeed in the building, and
so it was time to put all his preparations into action. "Very well,
gentlemen," he intoned over the radio link, "Stand to."

On one of the buildings, one of the "workmen" looked in confusion at his
companion. "What'd he say?"

"He means get ready to shoot, dummy."

"Oh."

"Dummy" reached into the long black bag beside him on the roof, and took
out of it a not-quite-so-long green tubular object, which, on closer
inspection, proved to be a launcher for a heat-seeking surface-to-air
missile, or SAM -- and it was loaded. He fiddled with it for a moment,
deploying the sights, hand-holds, trigger and the like, then donned a
protective helmet and raised the launcher to his shoulder. His colleague
also set up his weapon, but did not put it to his shoulder yet; he was the
back-up man and would only fire if anything went wrong with his partner's
shot. Across the city, the other pair of "workmen" mirrored their actions.

The 747 slowly approached the waiting missileers -- or so it seemed.
Actually, the aircraft was crossing downtown Metropolis at more than 200
knots, but, to the men, it appeared to crawl towards them as they waited
for it to come into range of their weapons.

"I got tone!" the first man announced as the receiver in his ear began to
growl, indicating that the missile seeker had picked up the heat of the
aircraft's engines. The growl became a steady note, which meant that the
missile was now tracking its target. "I got lock!"

Nigel, hearing this, peered intently at the laptop in front of him; on its
screen was displayed a picture downloaded from the aircraft's computers --
a map with a dot showing the aircraft's position, together with precise
latitude and longitude co-ordinates, courtesy of the plane's satellite
navigation system; also shown was a black cross, indicating the location of
the Daily Planet building. He touched a key, and a small red circle
appeared on the map. The 747 was headed directly for it, and almost there.

Nigel took a deep breath and forced himself to have patience. This part of
the attack was over-elaborate, but so was the whole plan; that was what the
customer wanted, so that's what they would get. He didn't really need to
shoot the aircraft down, but he'd arranged it so as to create the greatest
amount of confusion for the investigators. Let the police and FBI run
around in circles looking for terrorists; all trace of what had really
happened would have been erased, and he would be long gone.

The dot that was the 747 on the computer screen was just about to enter the
circle. "Stand by, but do not fire until my command. I repeat, hold your
fire until I say, or I will feed your intestines to the hyenas at the
Metropolis Zoo." A little melodramatic, but one needed to be when dealing
with men of lesser intellect, and these four certainly qualified -- skilled
cannon fodder, but nothing more, which is why they were to be terminated
immediately after they'd done their job.

The airliner was now inside the circle, and it was finally time to act --
and fairly quickly, before the plane crossed the kill zone and left it. Not
that it really mattered, but why give the authorities any assistance? The
whole point of shooting at the 747, and particularly while the aircraft was
in the circle on the map, was to make its subsequent dive into the city --
into the Planet building, to be specific -- appear to be a natural result
of the damage caused by the missiles. That way, no-one would even suspect
that the Daily Planet was the *real* target.

"Fire!" he barked into the microphone.

Streaks of white fire leapt into the sky from the rooftops. Nigel trained
his binoculars on the unfortunate aeroplane and waited for the right time
to make *his* move...

*****

One of the reasons that aircraft above a certain size have two pilots is to
manage the workload during peak periods such as on and immediately after
take-off; that way, one can look after the complicated or tedious stuff --
updating the navigation system, dealing with Air Traffic Control on the
radio, making the usual boring announcements over the intercom, etc. --
while the other actually flies the plane and undertakes the vitally
necessary task of keeping a look-out, particularly in crowded skies like
those over Metropolis. So it was that Captain Allerton and her First
Officer were hard at work at that moment, unaware of the threat to them and
their aircraft.

That they did not remain ignorant, secure in the proverbial bliss that that
state brings, resulted from Allerton's conscientiousness and good nature:
since it was such a nice morning, she had turned the take-off and climb
over to her co-pilot instead of hogging it herself; besides, she wanted to
keep in practice at all the hack-work that captains traditionally off-
loaded onto their hapless juniors. This meant that the co-pilot was the one
who was looking out of the cockpit -- and he, like so many of his brethren,
was a former military pilot who had been trained to recognise missile
attacks.

He couldn't believe it, and stared at the familiar, yet alien sight outside
for just an instant, and then swore loudly as his old training and
instincts kicked in-- before he stifled them in near-panic. This was an
*airliner*, not a fighter; there were 600 people on board, he had no decoys
or countermeasures, and he sure as hell couldn't haul it around in a 9g
turn! Allerton looked up, startled by his unusual profanity -- but before
either pilot could communicate or react, the missiles struck and all hell
broke loose.

The aircraft rocked violently, then again, and alarms went off all over the
cockpit, most notably those screaming that both outboard engines were on
fire. Allerton immediately activated the extinguishers and began the shut-
down procedure as fast as she could; only then did she manage to take a
breath and yell, "What the hell is going on?"

The co-pilot's answer was anguished, and no comfort at all: "We've been
shot at! Two SAMs! And she's not answering the controls!"

*****

Nigel saw the explosions under each wing and smiled as he began to work a
small joystick attached to his laptop. 'Now for the biggest game of darts
in history...'

*****

The flight deck was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. There was
nothing to say. There was nothing to *do*: the 747 was completely out of
control, not responding to anything that either pilot tried, and it was
turning and entering a shallow dive -- straight at a skyscraper! Allerton
and her co-pilot exchanged glances as the captain reached for the
microphone switch on the control yoke to broadcast a Mayday call; barring a
miracle, they were dead, and so was everyone in the Daily Planet building!

*****

Moments before, Clark had arrived and was sitting at his desk, going
through some background material for a sidebar to a story on the effects of
the expanding suburbs on the local aquifer. He was deep in the intricacies
of water usage, leak rates, catchment areas and rainfall statistics when he
suddenly felt uneasy. He sat up, looking around to see what could possibly
have brought on this weird sensation of... impending danger? Unconsciously,
he sought out Lois, but she was away from her desk. He was about to take a
quick x-ray peek to see if he could find her when his hearing kicked in.

His head turned sharply as the *whoosh* of the SAM launches reached his
ears. 'What the--?' He lowered his glasses and looked out into the city for
the source of the sound. He found it soon enough, and his eyes widened in
horror as he watched the missiles strike the 747. The resulting explosions
set the aircraft's wings on fire, and it began to descend, gently turning
as it did so until it was heading directly towards him -- which meant it
was coming straight for the Planet building!

Lois was returning to her own desk when she saw Clark's head come up as
though he'd heard something; she watched him fiddle with his glasses, but
thought nothing of it until he shot out of his seat just as she reached his
desk. "Clark, what is it?" she asked, suddenly concerned, almost in spite
of herself -- if the look on his face was any guide, something was *very*
wrong.

"Plane crashing!" he hissed, eyes raking the newsroom like a raptor
searching for prey. "This is it, Lois. Cover for me -- and look out the
window." With that, since no-one was watching, he was *gone*, the rush of
wind that marked his passage sending papers flying.

Lois stood still for an instant, wondering what he could mean -- and then
it hit her! She was about to head over to the newsroom window when a scream
from that direction attracted the attention of everyone. One of the
clerical staff was pointing out the window, her mouth now working in silent
terror as she watched the oncoming airborne behemoth trail fire as it came
towards her.

Lois sprinted across the newsroom, taking in the situation in a glance. For
a moment, the enormity of the danger stunned even her, but her newswoman's
instincts, aided ever so slightly by having been forewarned, snapped her
out of the momentary paralysis and she turned away from the sight just long
enough to yell, "Jimmy! Get over here! And bring your camera!"

Her attention then returned to the impending cataclysm. In this, she was
like the other newsroom inhabitants who crowded around her; where she
differed from them, although she didn't realise it at the time, was that
her eyes were not fixed on the approaching aircraft -- instead, they danced
around the edges of the view out the window, searching for a figure in the
sky. Searching for hope -- and survival.

*****

Clark tore at his tie as he raced down the empty hallway towards the
fortuitously open window at its end. But even super-speed running didn't
seem fast enough, so he left the ground and flew down the corridor,
wrenching his shirt open to reveal the S. Like it or not, Superman was
about to make his first appearance in this universe.

He dived through the window and soared into the sky, spinning as he did so
to complete the change into his uniform. The identity switch complete, he
flashed towards the stricken aircraft, the sonic boom of his passing
rattling the windows of the buildings around him. His head snapped back and
forth as he surveyed those same buildings, developing a three-dimensional
map of the locale in his head.

It was as he'd thought -- and feared. He *might* be able to stop the 747 in
the room he had available -- if it didn't come apart under the stress, and
if the fuel tanks didn't blow up due to the engine fires, and if any of a
half-dozen other things he could think of didn't happen -- but it would be
risky, to say the least. No, better to get the plane back where it
belonged -- in the sky. Then he could deal with the fires and everything
else without having to worry about the city.

He looped around the airliner and came up underneath the centre section of
the wings, where they were attached to the fuselage. This, he knew, was one
of the strongest parts of the aircraft's structure, so it was the best
place to grab in order to move the plane as a whole. He rammed his hands
into the metal, and it bent inwards under the impact; for a fraction of a
second, he was reminded of the handprint he'd left in a bus, the day he'd
first arrived in Metropolis (*any* Metropolis), but he dismissed that and
got back to the matter in hand -- so to speak.

'Right -- up we go.' As he had done with the Nightfall asteroid, a few days
and a universe ago, he pushed against the aircraft, forcing it up, up into
the sky from which it had so quickly and terrifyingly fallen. Some of the
push went to slow the plane down slightly, buying a few more seconds before
it hit the city, but most of it was upwards, and the 747, far lighter than
Nightfall, began to ascend -- at first slowly, almost unwillingly, but
then, as if it had changed its mind and remembered how much fun it was to
soar above the world, it seemed to race into the air.

*****

It was a testament to their character and their training that Captain
Allerton and her co-pilot hadn't fainted, had hysterics or wet themselves
by now. One minute, they were staring death in the face as the 747 came
closer and closer to an inevitable collision with a skyscraper; the next,
impossibly, their aircraft was climbing, somehow clawing its way back into
the air, away from the deadly cityscape. But, as the roof of the *Planet*
building and its trademark globe loomed closer and ever closer, the two
pilots tried to judge their flight path, seeking the answer to one crucial
question: would there be time and space enough for them to escape, or would
this... this miracle fail at the last instant?

*****

Unseen by the flight crew, Clark was asking himself the same question. 'No!
Don't think like that! You *can* save this plane, and you *will!*' Gritting
his teeth, Superman made one final, supreme effort... and the 747 soared
over the Planet globe, missing it by about a hundred feet.

That was far too narrow a safety margin as far as Clark was concerned, but,
to paraphrase an old saying, the people of Metropolis would be walking away
from this one, so it had to qualify as an adequate rescue -- just not one
that he'd care to repeat

Now to deal with the plane itself. Blasts of super-breath dealt with the
burning engines quickly enough, and there wasn't much in the way of
structural damage from the fires, which was a relief; he didn't have to
worry about bits falling off the airframe. Still, the 747 belonged on the
ground as soon as possible. Making sure his grip on the aircraft was strong
and secure, Superman turned and headed for Metropolis Airport with his
burden and its precious cargo of 600 lives.

*****

Allerton and the co-pilot stared at one another. Shock piled upon shock had
reduced their capacity to do much else, and their aircraft wasn't
responding to them anyway. It was wonder enough that they were still alive,
and they had no idea why, but now the plane was flying itself, returning to
Metro Airport like an injured animal going home to lick its wounds. And,
since the fire warnings had turned themselves off, the "licks" seemed to be
*working*...

Allerton shook her head, trying to get her brain going. Eventually,
exasperation at her impotence, combined with the increasingly frantic tone
of the radio as Air Traffic Control tried to work out what the hell was
happening, broke through the stupor and, falling back on the habits
ingrained in her by her training and years of experience -- although
neither had prepared her for a situation like *this!* -- she took a deep
breath and tried to think how she could explain the inexplicable.

"Ah... Metropolis Approach, this is Atlantic 865," she began. "The
situation is... ah, stable at present. We do not have control of the
aircraft at this time... but we don't seem to *need* it! The fires are out,
and the airplane is flying itself -- not, repeat, *not* under autopilot,
and manual controls remain ineffective -- but it's heading back towards you
of its own volition. Present speed is 200 knots, and we're maintaining
Flight Level three-zero."

ATC, understandably, wanted confirmation of what she'd said -- and, for
that matter, whether or not she was in her right mind. A short, sharp
shouting match later, the doubters were silenced -- by the captain's
command of invective, if nothing else -- and Allerton, looking out the
window, seized the opportunity to terminate the conversation.

"Look, Approach, if it has escaped your pea-sized brains, we've just joined
the circuit on a left-hand base leg, and should be turning onto final
approach any second now -- don't ask me how or why! Whether you believe me
or not, this bird is about to land herself, so I'm switching to Tower
frequency." Which she did with a satisfied stab at the frequency button.

"Metropolis Tower, this is Atlantic 865. Somehow, by some miracle, we're on
final approach and are about to land. Roll the fire trucks if you haven't
already, because we're not on fire any more, but we are leaking fuel."

"Atlantic 865, this is Metro Tower. We copy, and the fire trucks are on the
way. Ah... you might want to lower your gear and shut down your remaining
engines. You see, *we* can see what's bringing you in, and it doesn't look
like he needs any help."

Now it was Allerton's turn to wonder what the guys on the other end of the
radio were on, even as she watched the co-pilot hit the landing gear switch
and castigated herself for not having gone through the normal pre-landing
checklist already -- but then, what was normal about *this* situation?
After checking that the wheels were down and locked, she asked the
inevitable: "Atlantic 865 -- say again, Metro Tower. Did you say *he?*"

"Affirmative, Atlantic 865. Believe it or not, there's a guy underneath
your centre section -- and, from what you say about your controls, he's
doin' the flying for you! So why not sit back and enjoy the ride? Oh,
you're clear to land, by the way."

After a brief acknowledgement of that message, no more was heard from
Atlantic 865, not even when the 747 slowed almost to a halt at the runway
threshold (despite the efforts of the two functioning engines, which
Captain Allerton had dared not shut down) and "taxied" -- if the word was
appropriate when it involved a 400-ton airliner moving at no more than a
fast walking pace, floating ten feet off the ground -- over to a
maintenance parking area. By now, Allerton had got the message and shut
down the engines, so that the aircraft's final slow and almost impossibly
gentle descent onto its undercarriage took place in eerie silence.

*****

Once the 747 was down and safe, Superman sped over to one wing-tip, and
then across to the other. Investigators would later find the damaged fuel
pipes pinched shut.

He had things to do and places to be but, before leaving, Superman hovered
in front of the cockpit windows for a few seconds and half-waved, half-
saluted the flight crew. Then he streaked off, leaving a pair of
flabbergasted pilots to deal with evacuating the plane.

*****

[...and, once that's done, they can faint in peace. <g> But while *their*
job may be done, Clark's isn't: there are still four mercs and Nigel out
there -- and they're in for a rude shock! Find out *how* rude next time...
<g>]

Phil
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 08:14:19 -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:         Vicki Krell <Vicki.Krell@ASU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
MIME-version: 1.0

I echo everything Irene said, Pam. This was marvelous, taught me a lot, and
I also would love to see sequels someday, and find out how Adam grows and
matures, with or without super powers, if you feel you want to do that at
some point. :)

Thank you for a moving, educational, lovely story. I know how difficult this
must have been for you to write, but as Irene said, you did a fabulous job.

Vicki
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 08:42:39 -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:         Vicki Krell <Vicki.Krell@ASU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Imbalance Part 17
MIME-version: 1.0

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Phil, wow!!! I'm still sitting on the edge of my seat. That was incredible!!
You wrote that whole scenario so clearly, with wonderful detail and
suspense, and the action was amazing.

I *loved* this (can you tell yet??). I loved how Lois yelled for Jimmy to
get his camera while everyone else around her was shrieking in terror, I
loved how Clark's feelings of uneasiness kicked in at exactly the right
moment, and he handled the rescue beautifully.

Loved the dialogue between the captain and the pea-brains on the ground. ;)
And I loved the tower's breezy advice to Captain Allerton to relax and enjoy
the landing since the guy flying the plane didn't need any help!! "Did you
say *he*??" LOL

Last but not least, I enjoyed Clark's jaunty half wave/half salute, and
can't wait to read about the mercs and Nigel's reactions when they see
what's coming for them!!

How about posting part 18 this afternoon?? :)

Vicki
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 10:20:46 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: Imbalance Part 17
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

> [...and, once that's done, they can faint in peace. <g> But while
> *their*
> job may be done, Clark's isn't: there are still four mercs and Nigel
> out
> there -- and they're in for a rude shock! Find out *how* rude next
> time...
> <g>]
>
> Phil

Talk about rude!  Leaving us there!  What were you thinkiing?!

More soon please!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:01:33 -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:         Kath Roden <kmroden@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Zoomway's mirror site?
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Thanks Pam!  I didn't even know this existed!!

KathR
-----
"Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination."
--Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>From: Pam Jernigan <jernigan@BELLSOUTH.NET>

>Diane, it's http://www.redboots.net/boards/ultimatebb.cgi

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:06:19 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:         Annette Ciotola <AMCiotola@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding:  7bit

Kathy,

Thanks for passing on the news to us. I was very sadden to hear of Barbara's
passing. I knew her a little more than just passing, but no more than how I
communicate with most of my FoLC friends ... but it always hurts to lose a
friend.

My thoughts a prayers are with Jon and their family.

Anne
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 17:30:21 +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:         Wendy Richards <w.m.richards@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I want to thank everyone who commented on My Friend 3; I really appreciate
all your thoughts and feedback very much. :)

Carol, as I said over on the MBs, it wasn't at all my intention that Jimmy
should work out that Superman was Clark. Apart from all the other reasons
which I outlined over there, it wouldn't have been right for this vignette,
and I couldn't see Jimmy putting the pieces together with so little evidence
in any case. But thanks for your feedback. :)

Hazel, thank you too. It was enjoyable working with you!

Helene, you're very sweet; thank you. Your comments are, as ever, very
insightful, especially this:
>>>I love the paradox of Clark being his role model, the one who does care,
whereas Superman was as thoughtless as the rest of the Planet crowd.<<<

Yes, that's exactly what happened, isn't it? And yes, Clark did feel very
guilty when he realised, hence the stricken look. We can read more into it
than Jimmy can, of course. Thank you again!

Irene, I'm glad you liked this. :)

Hi Juliet, and thanks! Did you see Tank's response on the new boards? <g>

Mel, thank you! Yes, this 'unintentional series' is definitely finished now.

Kathy, sorry about the formatting on the archive site; I didn't know how to
stop that happening. It just didn't seem to realise that the URL had ended -
and yet there are URLs in other posts, which don't end up formatted like
this one did. :P~~~  Thanks for persevering, and I'm glad you liked this and
Part 2.

And thanks to you too, Yvonne. :) Yes, I'll get back to sending you more
Second Thoughts now! <g>

Wendy :)
--------------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk

--------------------------
Wendy Richards
w.m.richards@hrm.keele.ac.uk
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 12:30:38 -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:         Carol L Moncado <cmoncado@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: "The Legend of Norcross and Judd: Exposition" (2/?)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Just caught up.  Very interesting premise.

Very Jimmy-like Perry - but definitely still Perry!

More soon please!

CM
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 15:05:25 -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@MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: LAFF (was  Re: How did you become a FOLC??)
In-Reply-To:  <005c01c11894$47710460$23a3d6d1@oemcomputer>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

OK, Pam, I seem to be missing the point about drool.......

Carolyn

>April, I just found the LAFF website (thx, Jen!), you might be interested
to
>check it out...
>
>  http://www.geocities.com/aviatiko.geo/LAFF2001.html
>
>Just remember, drool and keyboards don't mix ;)
>
>Pam Jernigan / ChiefPam / jernigan@bellsouth.net
>http://www.geocities.com/~chiefpam
>http://personal.rdu.bellsouth.net/~jernigan/
>
>~~God answers knee-mail~~
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 15:17:14 -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@MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Dean Cain on Fox News Live
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.BSI.4.21.0107300347020.27602-100000@fellspt.charm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

So I gather he never did show up?  Looks like they let the talent get
away without an interview......:(

Carolyn

>On Sun, 29 Jul 2001, Carolyn Schnall wrote:
>
>>  So did anyone actually cathc him on FNC?
>
>I set my VCR for 11:45 to 12:15 and they broke into it for live coverage
>of the sentencing of the kid who killed his teacher and got 28 years.  I
>never did see Dean, and when I went back to the website, the information
>was gone.  I had thought they might reschedule, but I haven't seen
>anything with him, and I do watch Fox News a lot.
>
>
>Nancy
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>nancym@charm.net  ..... (future) http://www.charm.net/~nancym/
>The Kitties Page  ...........  http://members.aol.com/Mysnats/
>My Sister's Karaoke Site ............  http://karaokeklub.com/
>--------------------------------------------------------------
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 15:45:34 -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:         Carolyn Schnall <cschnall@MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Old Zoom boards back?
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%2001080607550198@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

OK, I was away, so which boards are up and which boards are down?

I can think of three sets of boards....

Carolyn

>FYI anyone who's interested... they've been working pretty constantly over
>the past half-hour or so... Don't hold your breath, though, just in case!
>
>
>Wendy
>
>--------------
>Wendy Richards
>wendy@lcfanfic.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 17:38:51 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:         Wanda McCants <WLCME7@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 8/6/01 7:46:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
sirenegold@YAHOO.COM writes:

> I'm sure that this took a lot of courage for you to
>  write, but you've done a brilliant job with it.
I'm not sure of what more can be said, except  that the worry and depth of
your love for your child is evident in your writing and the personal journey
that your family has embarked upon. Thank you for sharing your wonderful and
poignant story with us.
Yours,
Wanda

"What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up like a raisin in the
sun?" ......Langston Hughes

Wanda
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 18:04:10 -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:         Nancy Merckle <nancym@CHARM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Sad news, the loss of a FoLC
In-Reply-To:  <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L%2001080620461329@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

I was very fortunate to be able to spend some time with Barb before L&C
ever aired.  We used to go to meet up at World Science Fiction
conventions.  There are several incidents I remember from Atlanta in '86
that will never be duplicated... I will miss her greatly.

Nancy
--------------------------------------------------------------
nancym@charm.net  ..... (future) http://www.charm.net/~nancym/
The Kitties Page  ...........  http://members.aol.com/Mysnats/
My Sister's Karaoke Site ............  http://karaokeklub.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 19:40:18 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:         No Name Available <Larus2407@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 8/7/2001 12:32:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
w.m.richards@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK writes:

<< Did you see Tank's response on the new boards?  >>

Wendy, could you share here? I've been away (still am, actually--won't get
home till tomorrow night) and cannot even get to IRC.

--Laurie
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 20:16:57 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:         "Elizabeth Rowe(Juliet)" <SWEETVALLEY99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NEW: My Friend 3
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

In a message dated 8/7/01 12:32:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
w.m.richards@HRM.KEELE.AC.UK writes:

<< Hi Juliet, and thanks! Did you see Tank's response on the new boards? <g>
  >>

Yeah and I LMAO.

Juliet
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2001 21:51:21 -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:         Becky Bain <rbain@USWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: New:  A Special Child (1/1)
In-Reply-To:  <003401c11f3f$5e470d40$2fa2d6d1@oemcomputer>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I virtually never read stories posted here - I don't have time!  I wait and
read 'em when they hit the archive.  But for some reason, I started this
one... and once I started, I couldn't stop!

Pam, this was just beautiful.  I think Mikey's very lucky to have you for a
mom!

And like Kathy, I loved Jonathan's speech.  I am blessed with two daughters
who happen to be healthy and "normal" (I use quote marks because they're
teenagers, so right now it's sometimes hard to tell!), and they sure
haven't turned out like I thought they would!  (Well, okay, they're smart
and reasonably well-mannered and clean, and I did hope for those
things!)   So I was nodding my head with every word Jonathan said.   Every
parent should have to read that, when they're handed that brand-new baby.

>"No, computer is finished.  Click on
>all the Xs!" (when he wants me to get off IRC <g>).

LOL!  He knows what he wants...

>And I have thought about editing it so that I could send it to
>a magazine -- if I sell it, I'll tell everyone which magazine to buy! ;)

Do.  It's wonderfully done, and I bet it'll sell.  And then educate.

Wonderful story.

Becky

rbain@qwest.net

"I do not like to form in my mind an idea that I don't have any proof of."
                                   - Rosa Parks, from her autobiography
                                                 Stride Toward Freedom