Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

Chapter 2

Lois and Clark walked out onto the wraparound porch extending from the Kent family home. "I can’t believe that you’d let Kara be exploited like that." She argued. Clark shrugged. "She’s over eighteen and besides, Ross Creamed Corn will contribute a good amount of the proceeds from their local sales toward educational scholarships."

"Are you going to stop her?" Clark playfully asked Lois. "No, I s’pose not. It’s just that Kara’s like my absentee little sister." She stood with her hands on her shapely hips. "I’m sure she’d appreciate that, Lois. I told her how much you loved Lucy despite your differences with her." Clark smoothed things over. "I hate it that you know me like that." Lois complained. "It’s a gift." Clark joked.

"Don’t worry, you and I will be there to watch over her." Clark assured her. "True." Lois agreed. If anyone got smart with Kara, she’d probably break him in half, Clark mused silently. I’d be more afraid for the general male population’s safety.

"What’re you going to be doing for the Fair, Clark?" Lois wondered aloud. "I usually do a lot of the setting up. You know, building booths, erecting attractions, transporting display merchandise, and some clean up." Clark answered. "The county saves money by having local residents volunteer to help."

"That’s cool!" Lois agreed. "There’s nothing wrong with a good hard day’s work." Her eyes sparkled as she mentally pictured a shirtless, hot and sweaty Clark Kent swinging a hammer. "What?" Clark asked, as he noticed her engaging look at him. "Nothing." Lois smirked as Martha came by.

Mrs. Kent had overheard their conversation in passing, and knew exactly what Lois was thinking about. She began to approve more and more of Lois as a possible girlfriend for her lonely, alien son. She recalled many a time when Lois put her life on the line for she and the late Jonathan Kent.

"When does this grand circus begin?" Lois inquired as she flushed. "The fairgrounds are clear, so the residents will begin assembling everything tomorrow." Martha informed them. "I’ll get the appropriate response from Lex regarding a Talon Coffee House promotion booth."

"Thanks, Mom." Clark sounded relieved. "Yes, thanks Martha." Lois added, "I can’t deal with the bald wonder anymore. What a major loser!" Clark stopped their trek across the front lawn. "I wonder if Perry White would want the Daily Planet to have a presence at the Fair." He brainstormed.

"I suppose the Smallville Ledger wouldn’t mind, in the spirit of competition, of course. We can set up subscriber booths at opposite ends of the main thoroughfare." Lois agreed. "I’ll talk to Perry." The star reporter finished her coffee, and headed over to her car. "I’m going in to the office for some follow up. See you later, Clark? Martha?" Lois waved as she opened the car door and got in.

Martha and Clark walked along the well-worn path past the corrals to the henhouse. "How’s it really going, son?" She asked immediately after Lois left. "It’s been tough, Mom. After dad died, I thought things couldn’t get any worse, but they did. Lex, Lana, and even Chloe and I have had major problems. Brainiac was a nightmare to say the least. We still battle meteor freaks occasionally."

"How’s Kara been adjusting?" Martha inquired. "Poor Kara was lost in the Phantom Zone, and Lois and I had to go in and get her." He replied. "You and Lois?" Martha’s eyes widened. "Did you tell her your secret?" Clark shook his head. "Almost. She’s getting closer to finding out on her own."

Clark explained about the stray phantom, Faora, Zod’s wife. "Poor Lois!" Martha nodded in disbelief. "Since she’s been back, Kara’s been fine." Clark continued.

"Kara believes that more of our people are alive and nearby." Clark added. "Though she has no proof, she thought that some of the other Phantom Zone prisoners spoke of an experimental science project to miniaturize the residents of Kandor." Martha gasped. "My word! I hope that they’re the good people of Krypton, Kandor or Argo."

Clark agreed. "Actually, I don’t know how I would’ve made it through all this without Chloe and Lois. They’ve really helped." He admitted. "Well, son, we have to keep looking to the future." Martha said as she cracked a smile. "I take it that you’re the Amazing Red and Blue Blur."

Clark nodded. "Yes, Lois has been writing about me. Also, Kara and Oliver have been seen over and around Metropolis as well. People don’t seem to mind." Martha considered that. "Really? Maybe it’s time to bury your secret, and show the people who you really are." She reasoned.

Clark was stunned. Clearly he hadn’t expected his mother to say that. "Mom! Dad died defending my secret!" He argued. "No Clark, Jonathan died due to heart failure brought on by stress." Martha pointed out. "He was proud to sacrifice his health for you, and we can’t continue to look backward."

"It would be your decision alone, son." She continued. "If you truly want to be out in the world helping people, than you should do so proudly. I know that Jonathan and I did the best we could raising you. We’ve done our jobs. Maybe it’s time for you to do yours." Martha added: "You’re destined for far greater things than hanging around our farm."

Clark considered his mother’s words carefully. "You sound like Jor El." He criticized. "I don’t approve of Jor El’s methods, but the end result is the same." Martha remarked. "Son, I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been in Washington. Most of it is bad."

"There are some truly scary things going on in our world today. This economic downturn we’re experiencing is affecting a lot of good, hard working people. These people can easily be led astray. Our people need hope. I believe that you are that hope."

"Gee Mom, no pressure there!" Clark grinned. Martha hugged him.

Chapter 3

"I insisted on returning to Smallville for the Harvest Fair." Martha went on. "It gives our local residents hope to live a better life. I’ve found that virtually everyone in Washington has a self-serving hidden agenda. We need someone out there fighting for us every day."

"I’m going to give a speech on Sunday." Martha began. "I pushed everyone I knows’ buttons up on the Hill. They wouldn’t dare let us down. Frankly, I’m making them put their money where their mouth is. We need to instill family values, the values that your father believed in."

"Sounds like the beginning for a great speech, Mom." Clark walked slowly beside his mother as they continued on towards the south pasture to check on some of the herd. A whirlwind kicked up just behind them, scattering pebbles and leaves across the path, which led to the barn loft.

"Aunt Martha!" Kara Zor El-Kent said. "It’s so good to see you!" The exuberant alien teen beauty hugged Martha carefully. "Clark?" She hugged him as well. "Hey cuz, any luck with locating clues to Kandor?" He pressed. "Not so far, Kal. I haven’t given up hope yet." Kara said solemnly.

"Where’s your better half?" Kara teased Clark. "Funny! Lois is at the Planet." He replied. "Come on Kara, I have so much to tell you." The three of them walked across the lawn back to the farmhouse porch. Martha was happier than she’d been in a long time. It was just like having a family again.

"Cousin Kal, I’m impressed that you finally got off the farm and out into the real world." Kara teased. "I thought that I would have to patrol Metropolis by myself." Clark eyed her suspiciously. "So you have been taking down criminals, Kara. Aren’t you afraid to get caught?"

"Not really." The alien beauty replied. "No one around here truly knows who I am, except for Chloe and Oliver." Clark rubbed his square jaw. "Oliver? He’s back in Metropolis as well?" Kara nodded. "I have a newsflash for you, Mr. reporter." Kara gibed. "Queen Industries is merging with LuthorCorp. Tess Mercer decided to partner with Oliver, now that Lex is back in the picture."

"Tess and Oliver figure that they can keep Lex in check." Kara continued. "Lex has decided to take what’s left of his family fortune and create LexCorp, a subsidiary of LuthorCorp. Oliver has helped me locate the criminals as Green Arrow. He’s willing to give me a chance."

Martha cocked her head. "A chance at what?" Kara shrugged. "A chance to join his group of ‘gifted’ friends. I assume he made that same offer to you, Clark." Clark reddened. "Yes, but I have so many other things to do." Kara put her hands on her curvy hips. "Like what?"

Martha smiled. Listening to Clark and Kara bicker was just how she’d pictured their little family, within her dreams. Except that Jonathan was still alive. "I thought that you were going to try and track down any possible leads on Kandor?" Clark questioned, as Kara glanced down.

"I will. Lately, the trail’s gone cold." Kara admitted. "Were you going to get your old job back at the Talon?" Martha inquired. "No, it’s far too limiting. Frankly, I’m still trying to figure out how to fit in." Kara sighed. Martha rubbed her niece’s shoulder. "You’ll figure it out, Kara. I know you will."

"I’m going to stick with the Daily Planet." Clark contributed. "I think that I can make this work." Kara’s big eyes sparkled. "You mean you’re going to stick with Lois." She needled as Martha laughed. "She is intense at times." Clark admitted.

Metropolis Daily Planet:

Lois knocked on Perry’s office door before entering. "Hey boss!" Lois smiled brightly. "How about a promotional opportunity for the Daily Planet?" She began without preamble. "It’s good to see you too, Lois, I’m fine, thanks for asking." Perry quipped. Lois took his dig in stride.

She’d gotten used to Perry’s off the wall sense of humor, and amazing dedication to duty with running the newsroom. "What did you have in mind, Lois?" The young reporter sat across from Perry, crossing her shapely legs. "I was thinking, actually with Clark’s input, that we should set up a promotions booth in Smallville, at the Harvest Fair."

"Smallville? That’s a long way from Metropolis Central." Perry brought up. "That’s Ledger territory, isn’t it?" Lois nodded. "Couldn’t we set up a booth near the main thoroughfare, for possible new subscribers?" Perry watched her face carefully. "Promotions cost money, Lo’."

"I know." She agreed. "We’ll set it up ourselves. All the paper has to provide is the subscription forms, and maybe a few raffle tickets?" Perry cast her a puzzled glance. "Who’s we?" Lois shifted her position. "Clark and I. We’ll decorate and set up the booth. Can’t you talk one of the powers that be into raffling off some type of graft or another?"

"You and Clark, eh?" He smirked. "Graft? You know that we don’t accept gifts, Lois." She sighed. "Of course we don’t…officially." Lois hinted. "That being said…" Perry reached into his desk and pulled out an unopened bottle of Port Wine. "You didn’t see this here." He instructed her. "No, I didn’t." Lois played his game.

"I also didn’t see the bottles of White, Burgundy, and Concord wines." Lois snickered. "I didn’t see them atop the Assistant Editor’s desk, the Foods and Diner Guide’s editor’s desks, and I especially didn’t see the bottles of other assorted spirits in and around Catherine Grant’s desk." Perry’s eyebrows rose. "I didn’t see any of them either, literally."

"Should I gather up all these phantom bottles and put them in a nice basket to raffle off?" Lois asked, tongue in cheek. "Sure, and of course I have no idea what you’re referring to." Perry countered playfully. "I’m sure you don’t. Thanks, Chief." Lois smiled brightly and began raiding cubicles.

Back on the Kent farm:
Martha spent time explaining the political system to Kara, and Clark regaled them with stories of the Red and Blue Blur, Oliver, and the others. Before long, Lois returned. "Hey kiddo! You decided to grace us with your presence!" She needled Kara.

Lois placed a nicely decorated basket on the kitchen counter, with several different wines within it. "The Daily Planet staff…uh…generously donated this collection of treats to raffle off at their promotions booth." She explained as Clark whistled. "I had no idea that they were so generous." He remarked. "Neither do they." Lois’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

"I have to man the Daily Planet display." Lois began. "I offered our services to Perry for free." Clark’s eyebrow rose. "Us?" She nodded. "Yes, us. It was the only way that Perry would agree to it." Lois informed them. "Looks like we’ll need more help." Clark said, picking up his cell phone.

"Like whom?" Lois curiously glanced over his broad shoulder. "Like Laura Lake, Tim Servo, Chloe, and Jimmy." He responded. "Isn’t Laura a bit young for you, Smallville?" Lois teased. "Nice. I was thinking more along the lines of some friends for Kara." Clark added, nodding towards his cousin.

"Don’t you think that Kara can find her own friends?" She asked as the teen alien approached them. "I don’t mind." Kara added. "Laura and Tim seemed nice, though a bit odd."

"Chloe could just as well pour the Talon’s finest for the thirsty masses." Lois said. "Jimbo can grab some cute photo ops, and maybe snag some incriminating pictures of Washington D.C. insiders." Martha chuckled. "Jimmy would never have enough film for all of them." She quipped cynically.

"Maybe I should give Oliver a buzz, and see if he’d care to contribute something from Queen Industries." Clark suggested. "Uh…I can do without the incredible green bean showing up here." Lois grumbled. "Lois, it’s for a good cause…namely the local economy." Clark chastised her.

"All right, I’ll deal with it." Lois said solemnly. "Only in the name of patriotism, and doing my share to help the economy." Clark grinned. "Thank you. Your sacrifice is appreciated." He teased her. Kara enjoyed their witty banter, wishing that she had someone like Lois as her own personal friend.

Clark’s cell phone rang and Laura Lake was on the line. "Hey Clarkie." Laura taunted. "Is the world about to end? A call from the great Clark Kent is rare indeed." Clark flushed as Lois tried to listen to the conversation without being obvious. "Laura?" Clark began. "How would you like to come to Smallville, and help out? Hello? Laura?"

There was a knock at the front door. Lois answered it. There stood a grinning Laura Lake. The turbo charged teen had sped to Smallville from her hometown of Falcon Claw. "Whoa!" Lois freaked out. "How’d you do that?" Lois gaped. Clark flipped off the phone and sighed with resignation.

Laura hadn’t thought to ask Clark if he was alone. "Uh…I was in the neighborhood." She lied convincingly. Lois let the young super hero in. "Mrs. Kent? Good to see you again. Hey, K Girl, what’s up?" The pleasant teen exchanged fist bumps with Kara.