Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

Beyond Smallville: Byline

“Lane! Get in here!” Perry White bellowed. “You too, Kent!” He added at a slightly lower volume. Clark Kent appreciated the minimal break his super sensitive hearing got every once in a while. “How come I seem to be linked to you Lois, especially when you’re in trouble?”

Young Lois Lane smiled crookedly as she pinched Clark’s cheek. “That’s what friends are for, Clarkie.” She teased. Clark still wasn’t over Lana Lang, his high school sweetheart, but his adventures with Lois seemed to help ease the pain.

            “Yeah Chief?” Lois asked warily as she led Clark into the stuffy corner office of the Metropolis Daily Planet’s Assistant Chief Editor. “What’s this?” Perry barked, as he held up a copy of the Daily Planet’s morning final.

 “Uh…our front page from this morning?” Lois asked flatly, devoid of emotion. “Exactly!” Perry waved it in their faces. “Flying Menace Terrorizes City?” The elder white haired seasoned journalist read the headline. “Sixteen passengers slightly injured on large commercial jet, none seriously.”

Clark reddened as Perry read the sub headline. “What’s wrong with it, boss?” Lois asked impatiently. “Nothing.” Perry’s furry white brows knitted. “Except that everyone else knows the same thing!” He complained loudly.

“That’s all the info we have.” Lois defended tiredly. The newbie journalist had been on the phone half the night reassuring her cousin, Chloe Sullivan, who’d been in to see her mother, Lois’s aunt, at the mental hospital.

“I still don’t know how, with all of the camcorders, video phones, and digital cameras in this city why only one person managed to see this…this flying whatever it was up close.” Lois added with disgust.

            “One person! Who?” Perry nearly flew across his desk at them. “Get me the interview, Lane, or you’ll be back downstairs on midnights in the Obits and Wedding Announcements department again!” Perry threatened.

Clark cleared his throat. “Uh…that would be me, Chief.”  “Kent?” Perry White was incredulous. “How in all the universe did you manage to grab a digi-cam image of this flying ball?” Clark shrugged. “Yeah, I’d like to know too.” Lois whined.

            “Just lucky I guess.” Actually Clark had followed the mysterious round object for a few miles before it abruptly disappeared in a blinding white flash of light.

Clark had been practicing some flying maneuvers that he’d been experimenting with over Dead Man’s Gorge, when he spied the bluish green basketball sized object. The glowing ball had come up behind him.

            Clark had been caught in the act! If he didn’t keep his concentration, the 22 year old would likely have fallen to the ground. The fall wouldn’t kill him of course as far as he knew, but it was an experience he wouldn’t care to repeat, after several unsuccessful attempts at using his new ability.

The ball had been able to pace him in flight, and managed to stay ahead of him, even at hyper speed. That alone automatically backed his theory that the object wasn’t man made.

            Only recently, NASA had developed an unmanned high-speed probe that could travel at around 100 times the speed of a common jet airliner. It had been launched a few years ago and traveled out to the distant reaches of the solar system.

Its mission was to explore, map, and send pictures of tiny Pluto and its moons. After which, it would proceed inside the Kuiper Belt, a ring of debris widely assumed to be filled with thousands of comets and asteroids.

The commercial airliner was another story. Clark grimaced.            Maybe the object was in fact an advanced NASA probe, Clark speculated, as my luck would have it, probably not.

Likely it was big trouble, though he doubted that his biological father, Jor El had anything to do with it. If the long dead essence wanted to know something, he’d probably just ask Clark.

The young superhero still didn’t understand how the image array up at the ice fortress operated, only that it was somehow interactive.

            “Kent? Hello?” Perry’s gruff voice interrupted his thoughts. “Yeah Chief?” Clark reluctantly asked. Lois shook her head. Perry sighed. “Alertness, Kent! Alertness is one of the major qualities of a good reporter."

 "Get yourself a dose of caffeine. You and Lois are going on a little investigative trip.” Lois looked at Perry. “But Chief…”

            “Butts are for Billy goats Lane.” Perry challenged. “I was gonna say, Clark was supposed to run with the remainder of the airline passengers’ story…” Lois began.

“It’s already done.” Clark boasted as Lois stomped on his foot. Naturally, he didn’t notice. “Oh yeah. Done, huh Kent?” Perry was clearly impressed.

 “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about Lane. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle! You were the first on the scene when the plane landed, weren’t you Kent?” Clark nodded. “Great job!"

"What’s that yuppie phrase the brass’re always beating into our heads at meetings? Oh yeah. Being proactive.” Perry praised as Lois fumed. “Kent, I’m gonna recommend to the big wigs that you and Lane be hired as full time cub reporters."

"How’d you like that?” Lois’s eyes sparkled. “Sounds good to me Chief.” She gushed. Clark was more hesitant. “Thanks, Mr. White, can I get back to you? There’s the farm and all that.”

            Lois glanced at Clark like he’d grown a third eye in the middle of his forehead. “Sure Kent, I understand.” Perry sounded disheartened. “I won’t be in front of the top dogs until next Tuesday, let me know by then."

"Clark, I think you and Lois would be a great team. It’s a good opportunity for you both. Kent, I want that follow up article on my desk after lunch!”

            “You’ll have it.” Clark assured him. “In about an hour I want you two back in my office. This next assignment is big!” Perry added as he went back to reading the front-page story.

Clark followed Lois back to her desk, where he’d left the follow up article. The two really hadn’t spoken a word since leaving Perry’s office. “You know how much I hate awkward silences Clark.” Lois complained. “So you keep telling me.” He retorted.

            “Can I see the article?” Lois asked calmly. “Sure.” Clark handed it over to her. She read through it fairly quickly. “I don’t believe it!” Lois exclaimed as Clark shuddered. “Can’t believe what?” She looked up at him approvingly.

 “I can’t believe that you didn’t misspell a single word!” Lois’s voice rose slightly. Clark breathed a sigh of relief. The young journalist had been growing ever closer to discovering Clark’s secret of late.

            “Isn’t there anything that you screw up?” Clark wanted to tell her the truth. He had in fact screwed up. Big time. He had been chasing the speeding glowing ball for a few minutes before it disappeared. Somehow Clark hadn’t heard the Land/Sea/Air Boeing 7E7 jet come up behind him.

 As Clark began to turn back toward Smallville, he’d flown straight into the commercial passenger airliner’s right wing, shearing part of the engine’s protective plate off in the process.

            The pilots’ emergency lights blinked on and began beeping telling them that there was a fire in one engine. Clark had immediately blown out the fire with some super breath.

However, the indicator lamps forced the pilots to make an emergency landing at Metropolis International. As the plane slid to a stop, some of the passengers were shaken up.

            Clark was certain that a few of the passengers milked their injuries, hoping to file a lawsuit at a later date. The fact was that he’d been careless, and very lucky.

 Since losing his father, then Lana and for all practical purposes, Chloe, Clark’s concentration had been off, just when he’d needed it most. Great move, Clark. He remembered thinking.

 “Oh you’d be surprised how I can mess things up.” He countered Lois’s rhetorical question.  Lois put the article down and sat on one corner of her desk, crossing her long shapely legs. Clark tried unsuccessfully to ignore them.

There’s no doubt that Lois was an attractive young woman, though to him, annoying at times. “Clark? What do you think that you’ll decide about Perry’s offer?”

Lois was one for getting straight to the point. It was a quality that Clark most admired about her. She didn’t mince words or play games. Uncomplicated, that’s it.

            “I’d like to go full time, sure. I don’t think that I can juggle taking care of my mom, running the farm, and being on the go all the time.” Clark lied.

Of course he could do all that plus more, however he still had to keep up appearances for Lois. Clark’s secret identity had already cost the lives of his father and Alicia Baker, and had nearly cost Pete, Lana and Chloe their lives as well on a number of occasions.

            Suddenly Lois’s eyes began to tear. She looked away in a vain attempt to hide her feelings from Clark. “Damn!” Lois cursed vehemently. “What’s wrong Lois?” Clark was caught off guard by the sudden burst of emotion from his long time friend. It unnerved him.

            Lois took a breath. “It’s just that things … things just suck! I feel I have to somehow make up for the things that Chloe’s going through. I was on the phone with her half the night. She kept going on…” Lois choked on the next words as she warily looked around.

 “Kept going on about what?” Clark felt a high sense of dread. “Kept going on about you! Tell Clark I need his help. The aliens are attacking! She said. After what’s happened to her, I feel I owe her. It’s like I have to complete the dream she started. You know, being a top notch reporter.”

            Clark felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach. “Look Lois, what happened to Chloe is nobody’s fault.” He began, except probably mine he mentally berated himself. “Maybe the doctors just need to change her medication."

 "Maybe she’s getting the care she needs to at the mental health facility. Maybe the doctors can eventually help her. We can hope.”

            Lois had let down her guard for a moment. It was a rare occurrence to be sure. She prided herself on her strength of character. Lois pulled Clark close to her.

The stress was getting to her and there was nothing Clark could do about it. “I hate it when I get all wimpy like this!” She sniffled into his nice gray suit jacket.

            Lois made a painful point. It was actually his fault that Chloe was in this predicament, even though the team of psychiatrists blamed her condition on Chloe’s mother’s hereditary mental illness. Bad genes, they’d said.

Clark still wasn’t one hundred percent convinced of that. “I promise that I’ll look into Chloe’s condition as soon as possible.” He said quietly into Lois’s ear.

The scent of her hair invaded his nostrils. It was a particularly good smelling tropical shampoo. He tried to focus his thoughts, but they suddenly clouded over. “Thanks.” Lois said tearfully, as he continued to hold her in his arms.

            Something gnawed at the back of his highly advanced mind. Chloe’s psychosis…it couldn’t be hereditary…it was stress related. He’d read that in a psychology text book somewhere. Clark was starting to see a dark mental picture.

He bet that he’d find at least one of the team of psychiatrists with ties to LuthorCorp or the Feds. There was probably nothing wrong with Chloe. They could have given her any number of hallucinogens and sedatives.

            It all makes perfect sense, Clark thought, the Feds wanted Chloe out of the way, and killing her, or dumping her in a faux witness relocation program was not the optimal solution.

            Lois finally stopped crying and gently pushed away from Clark. “I’m going out west to visit Chloe and have a word with her doctors!” He stated emphatically. “I appreciate that, Clark."

"Oh! Perry wanted both of us to take this new assignment.” Lois remembered reluctantly. “True. Maybe we better take care of that first. It’ll give me some time to do research.”

            “Research? On what?” Lois’s mood suddenly lightened. “I don’t want to get your hope’s up, but I’m not convinced that Chloe’s mental issues are genetic.” Clark began. “What about her outburst involving the attacking aliens?” Lois queried.

 “Unfortunately, that sounds like a symptom of a classic paranoid delusional condition. It could be a manifestation of all the freaks we encountered in Smallville, or something she saw on TV. Either way it can be caused by any number of mind altering drugs, not that I’m an expert or anything.” Clark quickly qualified.

            He had knowledge on some level involving mind altering drugs administered to Lex by either his late father Lionel, or Helen Brice. It caused Lex to be institutionalized for a time.

Add to that his problems with red, black, and silver kryptonite, which reacted similarly, and he had more than his share of experiences to draw upon. “Where did you get that information?”

            Lois’s curiosity surfaced. “I … uh… had too much time on my hands at some point, and read a lot of books.” Clark flushed. It was mostly true. “How about you Lois? Did you read a lot of books growing up?” Lois shrugged.

 “Not really, unless you count Cosmo or any number of military handbooks, and propaganda fluff pieces my father had. What can I say Smallville? I was never a good student.” Clark smirked. I bet you could teach me a thing or two.

            “What?” Lois glanced up at him. “Why are you grinning like Alice’s Cheshire cat?” She folded her thin arms. “No reason.” Clark deflected. “See? You are familiar with some literary forms."

 “Yeah. My mother used to read me all the popular fairy tales from around the world.” Lois felt her eyes well up with tears. “I was supposed to be her little princess. Geez!"

"Here come the waterfalls again.” She sniffed. “Someone punch my ticket, and let me off of this emotional roller coaster that I’ve been on!"  Lois exclaimed.

            “Come on Smallville! Let’s get some lattes.” Lois urged as she wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her neatly tailored blue suit jacket. “Remember, Perry only gave us an hour!”

She half dragged Clark to the elevator, which led to the first floor lobby of the Planet. The elevator doors hissed shut behind them. “I don’t see you as the fairy princess type, Lois.” Clark needled.

            “Oh? How do you see me?” Lois challenged. “Certainly not the damsel in distress!” Clark grinned broadly. “No, as more of the dragon slaying warrior queen type.” He quipped.

“Yeah? Well you are not my prince charming!” Lois jabbed him in the ribs as Clark snickered and the elevator doors opened. They bolted across the busy Metropolis street toward 'Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe.'

 Lois led the way again, not waiting for Clark to open the door for her. “It’s not nearly as good as the Talon’s creations, but it will do in a pinch.” Lois commented. While they waited in line, Lois tapped her foot impatiently.

She is really intense at times, Clark thought as he peered over her slim shoulder at the coffee cake selection placed atop the counter. He ran over some stray possibilities in his mind:

If Chloe’s affliction wasn’t hereditary and was caused by some man made combination of drugs the problem was twofold: How could he be sure he was right and what type of drug interaction could be created to ‘sober’ Chloe up? The second part of the equation is how? And why?

            Lex, and by extension, LuthorCorp’s experiments immediately came to mind. Chloe had steered clear of Lex since the two had argued over Lois’s first article, slamming LuthorCorp’s environmental record.

 It didn’t seem to be worth putting Chloe’s life in danger for. Lex had threatened to sue the Daily Planet if the article were to be published.

            The Planet’s power brokers suddenly grew conservative, and in the end the article had gotten into the paper as a watered down version of Lois’s original.

The legal wrangling had cost former editor, Pauline Kahn her job. She’d resigned, accepting a position at the Central City Tribune instead. Neither Lois nor Chloe had lost their jobs over the debacle.

            Perry White had delivered an impassioned speech to the Board of Directors citing freedom of speech issues, and the fact that the Daily Planet had backed down. Perry made no secret of the fact that he disliked, actually hated Lionel Luthor and by association, Lex.

Perry’s maneuver had impressed the CEO, and he promoted the experienced journalist to assistant editor. Though Clark enjoyed seeing Lex pissed off, it didn’t seem to be enough of a problem for him to attack Chloe. Something still wasn’t right. There was only one way to find out.

            “Here!” Lois thrust a fresh steaming latte into Clark’s hand. “I would have paid!” Clark protested. “Next time Smallville.” Lois finally smiled brightly and Clark instantly relaxed. He was starting to be himself around her, at least his human-like self.

 The disaster with Lana had taught him many things. One was to appreciate your friends or lovers while you can, because one day they could be gone. Lois led the way toward the front of the coffee shop.

            This time Clark made it a point to open the door for her, using a fraction of his super speed. Though she didn’t admit it, Lois’s eyes told him that she appreciated the gesture.

Promptly on the hour, Clark and Lois wandered into Perry White’s office. “Sit down.” Perry ordered, looking up over his bifocals. Clark yanked a chair out for Lois to sit on, scraping the hardwood floor in his haste. Clark reddened at the sound of the high-pitched squealing.

            “First off, Kent.” Perry’s tone of voice was low and steady. “Your report on interviewing the witnesses on the plane, ground, and airport personnel is fine. Nothing showy. No embellishment.

 You could punch it up a bit. Let me see more detail.” Clark took Perry’s criticisms to heart. “There’s one story that you missed.” Clark’s eyes widened and Lois shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Lane picked up on it though.”

            “Lois snagged an interview with a bystander, who swears he saw a black, cigar shaped object immediately in front of the airliner. Most likely he thought it was some kind of a UFO.”

Lois looked at her feet. “Probably just some kid on crack or something. That’s not the point, however. I want to see more attention to detail from you both. Lane, as of this minute, you’re giving Kent a shared byline.

Starting with this next story, you two are a team. Kent gives us the good follow up. Lane, I haven’t found many faults in your stories. Aside from your spelling.”

            “Everybody on the same page here?” Perry asked sternly. “Thanks Chief.” Clark and Lois chorused, exchanging puzzled glances and nodding. “Now, I know that you’re not one hundred percent committed to us Kent. We’d love to have you on board.

 You’re both under qualified for these jobs, but school documents don’t really impress me, action does. You two bring intangibles, that some of the other applicants didn’t have.”

            In other words, we’re the best cheap help you could hire, Lois thought sourly. “How much am I paying you Lane?” Perry seemed to read her mind. “Uh…about $12.50 an hour Chief.” Lois answered quickly.

Which is roughly twice what I was being paid at The Talon, not counting tips of course. “That much, huh? Kent, will you come on board for this story at $11.00 an hour?” Perry put Clark on the spot. He hadn’t considered the money. “Sure Chief. Thanks.”

            “Great. Negotiations are over. Here’s the skinny on the story:” Perry settled back into his squeaky old chair. “I’ve been dogging this guy for a story for months. Finally, I got him to schedule us an interview this Friday.

Your subject is Marcus Worthington.” Perry paused for dramatic effect. Lois and Clark stared at him blankly. “You do know who he is?”

            “Um…yeah. Mr. Worthington is one of the twenty wealthiest men in America, and ranks up there in the international community as well.” Clark parroted a brief article he’d read in GQ.

Lois reddened. She’d had no idea who this Worthington is. Why hadn’t her father, Sam Lane ever mentioned him? “Good job, Kent. Except that Worthington is more like top ten in America. Anyway I’ve hooked you two up for the interview at his Northern Arizona ranch. This guy is a real mover and shaker.

 Doesn’t care for the media too much unless it serves his purposes. If you two could bring me an exclusive story, it will go a long way toward furthering your careers, and be great for the paper. If you two somehow blow it…don’t bother coming in on Monday, got it? Kent? Can you handle it?”

            “I … uh yes, of course I could.” Lois piped up. “I?” Clark glared at Lois. “There’s no I in team, Lane. Remember that. Will you commit to this Kent?” Clark flushed.

It didn’t sound too hard. Just what he needed, another confrontation with a wealthy young billionaire. “Sure Chief. I’m in.” Perry actually smiled, which according to Chloe was a rare occurrence indeed. “Now that’s what I want to hear Kent.”

            “The two of you are booked into the Seven Palms Resort, just outside of Lake Havasu City. Worthington’s ranch is about fifty miles north-northwest of Kingman, as the crow flies, or in this case, the buzzards. It’s about a five-hour drive.

Worthington said he’d send a limo to pick you up. First class all the way. We’re giving Lane an expense account. She’s the full timer. Lois, just write up Kent’s expenses on the report under your account.”

            The young journalists gawked at him. “What’s wrong with you two? Something green under my nose?” Perry joked. “Worthington’s ranch is near Vegas too. No, you may not go there at the company’s expense.

If you do get up there one day, make sure you check out the Elvis museum though. I know it’s a big assignment, but you’re in the majors, now kids. I hear that Worthington is pretty approachable. It won’t be too bad.”

            Lois finally got over her initial shock. “Thanks Chief. We appreciate the chance.” Perry was only slightly more convinced. “That’s better Lane. Let’s see some spirit. Compared to that bastard Lex, interviewing Worthington should be a cakewalk.”

Clark fidgeted. “Uh…about the sleeping arrangements…” He began as Lois rolled her eyes. “Don’t sweat it Kent. I trust you kids will be on your best behavior. Our budget isn’t all that big. You and Lois will share a room, double bed, if you insist.

We need to have enough funds to clothe and feed you. We can’t pull out all the stops financially, even to impress an internationally known billionaire. Appearances count for everything, hence the clothing budget.”

Perry handed Lois a credit card as her eyes lit up. “This time I get dibs on the shower first, Smallville.” Lois teased as Clark scowled. “You two will have to work out the details.” Perry added. “Lake Havasu is not cheap.

 It’s the closest big town to Worthington’s place. Kingman is nothing more than a dusty old glorified truck stop. I’ll send the itinerary to Lane’s apartment. You’ll get food, drinks, and tip expense allowance. Don’t be hitting the resort’s mini bar either!”

“Clark doesn’t drink.” Lois chimed in. “Good. Nasty habit. Hitting the sauce. Actually it’s partially thanks to Kent here that I kicked the whiskey monster out of my life.” Clark grinned.

“You didn’t do anything you didn’t want to, Mr. White.” He said sincerely. Lois cast him a puzzled glance. “Anyway you two are catching a cab to Metropolis International tomorrow at 8 AM sharp.

 Don’t be late. Worthington is expecting to hook up with you tomorrow night around 7 PM Pacific time.” Perry finished and checked his watch.

“What about flying Clark?” Lois asked. “Huh? What about it?” He asked nervously. “What about your fear of flying? Isn’t that what Chloe told me?” Lois pried. “I …uh…guess I got over that.” Clark answered.

“Don’t worry Smallville, I’ll let you hold my hand.” Lois taunted. Perry grinned appreciatively. He could see Clark and Lois’s rapport improving by the minute.

“You’ll be back here at Met International late on Sunday morning, hopefully with a great exclusive interview.” Perry was finally done. “Class dismissed. I’ve got a paper to run!”

Clark and Lois filed out of the office stopping briefly at Lois’s desk to check her e mails and voice mail. Clark started drifting toward the exit. “Freeze, Smallville.” She ordered after hanging up the phone. “Your day’s not done yet.”

Clark warily stood nearby. “First you and I are going shopping and then you’re taking me to dinner.” Clark gaped at his good friend. “Say what?” Lois grabbed her purse and suit jacket.

“Double time soldier. You are not going to accompany me to a fancy resort and a meeting with a young billionaire wearing your usual rags.” Lois directed as she led Clark out the swinging doors of the Planet’s editorial department.

“I have a suit, Lois.” Clark argued. “Listen, flannel king, the suit you bought from Arnie’s Roadside Emporium doesn’t count. You should know better than to buy anything from a place with a big plastic pig out front wearing an Elvis toupee.”

Clark choked back a laugh. “You saw that place, did you?” He joked, taking her shtick in stride. “Actually Lex bought me a suit a few years ago…I almost burned it.”

“Exactly my point. We’re a team now. I’m talking Armani here.” Lois explained as she pressed the elevator button. “I can’t afford an …” Clark began before Lois cut him off. “Hear me out Smallville.”

They entered the elevator. Lois held up Perry’s credit card. “This, my dear, is a P Card. Corporate purchasing at it’s finest. P stands for purchasing power. The Daily Planet gave me this.”

She held up a small piece of paper resembling a check. “Do ya see all those zeroes?” Clark’s eyes lit up. “This is a pay voucher. Part of the perks of being a full timer includes a clothing allowance.

Therefore, I’m buying you an Armani suit and then we’re going to buy me a snappy new dress from Bloominghale’s, and all that shopping will make me hungry.”

“What if I don’t take the job at the Planet? Do I have to give it back?” Clark asked, immediately regretting his statement. Lois had silenced, and was visibly agitated as they left the elevator and spun through the revolving doors at the building’s entrance.

Still silent, Lois hailed a cab. Clark held the car door for her as Lois slid all the way to the other side of the back seat. “Armani’s Outlet Store on Fifth Avenue please.” She directed the cabbie.

 “Clark! What is your problem?” Lois hissed. “What? This is about our assignment isn’t it? Do you want me to back out?” A woman once again had confused Clark. “No! I don’t want you to back out! When are you going to quit living in the past?

"You have been offered an opportunity to make something of yourself, unless you really want to spend the rest of your life alone on the farm!” Lois’s voice rose. Clark gulped. Lois had hurt his feelings, but was she really right?

“It’s not that simple.” Clark defended weakly. “Life is never simple, Clark!” Lois snapped. Lana had said nearly the same thing to him on more than one occasion. “Fine. I’ll try it!” Clark acquiesced.

“Good! That’s all I ask!” Lois calmed down slightly. “I know what you’re thinking.” Clark frowned. “I seriously doubt that.” He retorted icily. “You’re thinking that we’re about to take on a gravy assignment with perks and all, while Chloe is suffering."

"She would never back down! We’re going to do this for her! She would tell us to go for it! If they sent me into the street to interview freaks, weirdoes, murderers, and perverts, I’d still do it. It’s no different. Chloe saw potential in me. It’s time that you started to believe in me and yourself.”

“Listen Clark. Think of the suit as your uniform. You played football, right? This is just another form of a game. We’ll go out west, snag the interview, maybe have a few laughs along the way, and come home.”

Lois reasoned as Clark opened the door to Armani’s Outlet for her. “If you still don’t want to commit…” Lois choked on the word. “I’ll get off your back.” Clark couldn’t fault that way of looking at it.

“Deal.” He forced a smile, which seemed to soften Lois’s mood. Clark tried on several expensive suits, modeling them for Lois. At least two young ladies stopped by to check him out as well. Naturally Clark was oblivious to them.

Finally Clark settled on a nice charcoal gray pinstripe suit, and Lois was impressed. “You look almost handsome in that one. We’ll take it.” Lois handed the cashier the P Card. Clark looked around nervously. “Relax Smallville. It’s paid for, and I got it on sale.” Lois flashed a bright grin.

Next stop was Bloominghale’s. Lois tried on about a dozen fancy dresses and settled on two. She asked Clark’s opinion on which to choose. Clark gulped. Lois’s first number was an elegant black strapless dress, knee high cut, that hugged her figure.

 Lois was indeed a very attractive woman. Clark had forgotten all about Lana for a few moments. Her second choice was a fire engine red short hemmed mini dress.

The sales lady had pulled Lois’s long brown hair up into a bun, leaving only two strands of hair dangling near her ears. Again Clark was speechless. How had he missed her?

He shook his head, lost in thought. It would never work. “What? You don’t like the red one?” Lois interrupted his thoughts. “Um…no, I mean yes. It’s great.” Clark flushed and faltered. Lois nearly giggled.

“You are no help at all, Smallville. I think we’ll take the black one. The red one isn’t really appropriate for our meetings.” The sales lady nodded and wrote up the purchase. “Oh my gosh! I need shoes for it!” Lois exclaimed.

Clark stifled a groan. “Ah! Here we go. Size Eight. Black pumps.” Lois grabbed a pair of shoes in a matter of seconds and tried them on. “We’ll take these as well.”

A few minutes later they were on their way to dinner. “Mission accomplished.” Lois smiled broadly, finally melting Clark’s heart. “That wasn’t so bad was it?” Lois smirked.

“No. No it wasn’t.” Clark agreed. “I’m sorry for being such a number one bitch today, Clark.” Lois apologized, freaking Clark out completely. “No. You weren’t that bad. I think you’re right. I have to stop living in the past.”

Lois held back some tears again. She played it off. “Geez, what’s my problem? Maybe I’m just hungry.” “I’ll think about staying with the Planet Lois, I really will. I’d have to discuss it with my mom of course.” Clark said tiredly. “That’s all I ask. Consider all the options.”

Lois yawned and rested her head on Clark’s chest in the cab ride out to the restaurant. Clark felt something changing at that moment. Could Lois be the one? It seemed highly unlikely.

His new temporary partner could fill the void left in his heart by losing his dad, his friendship with Lex, his loss of Chloe’s support, and finally, losing Lana. That was a lot to ask of her, he knew. It wasn’t time for that yet. Clark had something to prove to himself first.

The cab screeched to a halt, waking Lois, and disrupting his train of thought. “What the hell?” Lois was really crabby. Clark made a mental note to be cautious when waking her in the future. The traffic had suddenly become grid locked.

Lois had already called ahead with her cell phone for dinner reservations at Chez Beaumond, a moderately priced restaurant in the bustling French Quarter of Metropolis. They were still seven or eight blocks away.

“Come on Smallville, we’ll have to hoof it. I can’t see paying the cabbie to sit on our keesters.” Lois urged, as she paid the cab fare, remembering to write it down on her Planet Expense Report.

 Clark stepped out into traffic, quickly opening the door for Lois and guiding her safely to the curb. “Wonder what caused the traffic snarl?” Clark asked.

“Who knows? You’d think that fairly late on a Thursday night, the traffic would be minimal.” Lois answered. Clark didn’t seem convinced. “What’s up Smallville? Is your Spider Sense tingling or what?” Clark flashed her a lopsided grin.

“Maybe we should check it out…on the way to the restaurant of course.” He suggested. Lois caught something in his statement. Was Clark flirting with her? It seemed unlikely. It was probably just his natural farm boy charm showing through. Not that there was anything wrong with that…”

Twenty five hundred miles away a team of scientists scurry about a dimly lit laboratory. “Okay team, report.” A pleasant, serious young man directed. “I’m sorry boss. The spider camera went rogue on us and fouled up the traffic signals on the east side of Metropolis, Kansas.” A smartly dressed brown haired female lab technician explained.

“I see. Shake it off, team. Carla, what caused the S-31 to go haywire?” “It’s a bug in the software program, Mr. W., Trish and I are working on a patch. For now, we shut down the S-31. Renee said she saw the electromagnetic readings go off the chart just before the traffic signals grid locked.”

Marcus Worthington nodded. “Let me know when you’ve gotten it cleared up.” The billionaire entrepreneur stated calmly. Field tests were always risky, though we always manage to learn a lot, he considered. “Marla, where’s the S-31 now?” The young red haired technician’s fingers sped across the keyboard.

“We have her hidden in a large row of hedges, about 30 meters from the intersection of Melville and Fifteenth, near the Metropolis French Quarter.” Marla responded within moments.

 “At least she’ll be safe there for a while, since its already past sunset in the Midwest.” Marcus nodded. “As soon as she’s clear, light her up. Engage stealth mode. Bring her back here.” Marla keyed the coordinates in. “Oui” She joked. “She’s on standby.”

This seemed to satisfy her boss. “Trish?” He turned his attentions to the Tech Ops Assistant Manager. The highly intelligent thirty something blonde was ready for instructions. “Yeah boss?”

Marcus waved her away from the console, and the two of them walked slowly toward the high-speed hydraulic lift elevator. “You want to know what happened in the skies above Smallville yesterday.” Trish proactively began.

"Exactly." Marcus placed his hands behind his back.

link to chapter 4: First Mission