TOC ~
Part 9
~ - ~
Alt-Metropolis – November 1984
“Freedom”
~ - ~
General Sam Lane scowled at the heavy pounding of fists on his door. Grumbling at the interruption, he closed Mensa’s report before stomping to the door and throwing it open. Surprise caught the angry words about to fly from his lips. His commanding officer was standing there, surrounded by a cadre of people; two MPs, a couple of men in gray civilian suits, a police officer, a man holding a camera, and a former Marine – his brother Mike.
“General Holcomb. How can I help you, sir?” Sam Lane was never one for small talk. Might as well find out what his CO and these civvies wanted.
“General Lane,” began Holcomb, “I’m here to inform you that the office of MEPWar has been disbanded in its current form.”
“What?! Why?” Sam Lane scowled at his brother. “Is this supposed to be some kind of practical joke?”
General Holcomb shook his head. “Far from it.”
“But, Sir! We’ve made some very important breakthroughs. If we could just discuss this…”
“General Lane,” one of the business suits interrupted.
“Who the hell are you?” Lane demanded.
“Donald Riggs of the United States Department of Labor. It’s come to our attention that you’ve been recruiting minors into your department by force and without adequate compensation.”
“That’s preposterous!”
Holcomb handed him one of the papers he’d been holding. “I’ve been informed by the Metropolis PD and the State of New Troy that the enlistment of underage minors is not just unconscionable, it’s illegal under the auspices of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
“We have a special dispensation for recruiting into the MEPWar division. What kind of proof is there of wrongdoing?”
“Actually, General Lane, the evidence we have is conclusive,” Riggs answered. “Your isolation and use of teenagers in experiments skirts the edge of human trafficking and torture, which are both federal offenses. We’re not only in our rights to take any minors in your unit into protective custody, but we’re considering pressing charges against all members of the MEPWar division.”
“Who’s been telling you …?” Sam Lane stopped speaking when he saw his daughter slip out from behind his brother’s back. His face darkened in anger as he growled her name. “Lois.”
General Holcomb looked back and grimaced as the young lady smiled unrepentantly at her father. “I’m sorry, Sam. Evidence has also been given showing false statements on recruiting paperwork, which is both a federal and military offense under Article 83 of the UCMJ. MEPWar may also be in contempt under Articles 15, 139, and 85. There’ll be a formal inquest, of course, but your unit is disbanded as of now and all mental espionage research shall cease until the conclusion of the inquest.”
Sam shook his head silently. This couldn’t be happening. Mensa’s latest report showed positive results in the use of psychics in the new battery of tests. They couldn’t shut them down now. A bright flash from the photographer’s camera brought Sam Lane out of his stupor and he suddenly saw red. He lunged for the cameraman and found his arms being tugged behind his back by the MPs present. He made one ineffectual move to get away and then slumped in defeat. He bowed his head and turned away from the flashing bulb of the camera.
General Holcomb turned to address Lois Lane, who handed him a completed form. “I’ve almost completed my four-year enlistment period,” she said. “Here is my term discharge. It’s a little early, but I’m within ninety-days of my normal separation date for educational purposes. I believe that I qualify for an honorable discharge.”
Holcomb glanced over the paperwork before signing his name to her discharge papers. “I can’t say that I approve of the way you bypassed the normal military channels and went straight to the Feds, the Metropolis Police, and the press. I would appreciate it if we could complete our inquest before I read all about it in a newspaper.”
“Oh, we’re not just any paper, sir,” the cameraman piped up. “I’m from the Daily Planet. We’ll be sure to get all the facts before going to print, but this little lady has already done most of the work for us.”
~
Lois smiled and turned to the other suited civilian man present. “I won’t be going with you, Mr. Turner. As requested, I’ve completed the judge’s petition for emancipation. I just received my high school diploma and I think the back-pay due by the MEPWar division should cover the financial requirements. Besides, I’ve secured a paid internship with the Daily Planet. As for living arrangements, my Uncle Mike has agreed to let me stay with him until winter semester begins at Met U.”
As the MPs escorted her father away, Lois crossed her arms both as a defiant gesture and to keep her trembling hands under control.
She was free.
It was an amazing feeling. For so long the loneliness and isolation of being a freak and a test subject in her father’s laboratory had weighted her down. But two months ago, she’d felt the most amazing feeling in the world. Clark had discovered that the bonds of gravity no longer tied him to the ground. He’d flown and she’d felt the exhilaration and freedom he’d felt as he swooped through the air.
Lois hadn’t mentioned Clark Kent to anyone since she was nine years old, but he was still a big part of her life, especially when his emotions were strong. He kept her company. She encouraged him when he was feeling down, comforted him when he was scared or lonely, and she drew strength from him in the same way. Life had knocked them both around hard – they both had lost loved ones at a young age and had to learn how to live with unusual abilities by themselves. Even though they’d never met in person, he was her best friend in the world.
Clark inspired her. He’d been able to accomplish so much on his own, retaining his good and gentle nature while he experienced one disappointment after another in the foster care system. He’d made it, somehow, and if he could do it, then so could she. If he could escape the natural laws of the universe, then surely Lois Lane could escape her imprisonment.
And escape she did. Using every scrap of ability she had, as well as her burgeoning skills in investigative journalism, she had researched federal laws and military regulations until she’d understood her rights. She’d passed her GED and studied what it meant to be an emancipated minor. Then, she’d found the evidence she needed to break free.
Lois turned away from the reporter that was still grilling Mr. Riggs about his role and picked up her knapsack. Mike Lane picked up her other suitcase and they walked away, hand-in-hand toward his jeep.
She didn’t notice the figure staring at their departing backs from the shadows of the gatehouse.
~ - ~
Alt-Metropolis – July 10, 1997
~ - ~
Lois’s eyebrows drew down as the TV screen replayed the foiled bank heist. Lois bit her lip as the newscaster explained how the robbers had shot into a crowd of people after a teller tripped the alarm. Superman had arrived before the shots rang out, but had hesitated, only running in after the Metropolis Police unit had entered the building. Clark helped to capture the thieves, but he’d not arrived quickly enough either to save the teller or prevent injuries to four other bystanders. One was now in critical condition at Metropolis General.
Many news agencies knew he’d been helping with a huge traffic accident, but the reporters present hadn’t understood his hesitation outside the bank. Lois had. He had tried to hide it, but the camera had caught his expression when’d he’d landed a little harder than usual. The thieves had had kryptonite. That’s why he hadn’t flown in at super speed, but had run through the front door.
The press had not been kind.
As the news shifted to market reports, Lois turned to face the stairwell door in anticipation of Clark’s arrival. A moment later, the door opened and Clark entered, pausing briefly as the other reporters turned from the monitors to stare at him. Ducking his head, he made a beeline for his desk trying to ignore the commentary from his coworkers. Even Lois could overhear their uncaring remarks and she glared fiercely at Ralph’s not-so-quiet remark that Superman was “not really faster than a speeding bullet, then.”
She returned to her own desk and sat down behind her terminal, but kept her attention on Clark. He sat stoically typing up his account of the robbery until the Bullpen returned to its’ normal hustle and bustle. When he’d apparently sent his story to Cat, Clark sat back in his chair and after a surreptitious scan of the newsroom, released a heavy sigh and removed his glasses to rub at his eyes.
~
Clark wiped at the prickle in his eyes before replacing his glasses. What good were these powers if innocent people still got hurt? Why couldn’t he be faster? He hunched over his notepad, pretending to review his notes and rubbed at the tightness in his chest.
Suddenly, he felt the warmth of an embrace wrap around him and he took a shuddering breath. He closed his eyes tightly and let the familiar feelings of support flow through him, unconditional acceptance stealing over him and filling him with love and reassurance. Although his parents had been gone for twenty years, it seemed like they still managed to comfort him in times of need. His father’s strength and his mother’s consoling words had been with him through every challenge.
<It’s going to be okay, Clark. You give so much to others. Trust in yourself and believe that your goodness makes a difference. You can’t be everywhere. What you can do is enough.>
<Oh, mama,” Clark thought, “I miss you.>
<Mama?!>
That wasn’t his mother’s voice. That was Lois!
Clark’s eyes snapped open and he was stunned to see Lois looking straight at him, compassion and understanding shifting abruptly to astonishment. When she saw him looking at her, the connection broke and the warmth vanished. Clark blinked in surprise. How?
*Lois* was the source of the comfort? He’d been having these feelings since his parent’s death. How could Lois be speaking directly to his mind?
Could he really hear Lois’s thoughts? And if he could hear her, could she hear him, too? Clark closed his eyes tightly and thought her name.
<Lois?!>
<Clark, there’s no need to shout. I hear you.>
He opened his eyes to see her walking toward him, a twinkle in her eye. <If you think it *that* loudly, I can hear you from Shanghai.>
Clark gawked at her as her smile widened. <How? I thought you were joking about being psychic.>
<I think telepathic is more appropriate, actually. I don’t know if all Kryptonians are telepathic or if it’s one of your super powers, but you’re the strongest telepath I’ve ever met.>
<But … you’re not Kryptonian.>
<No. I’m the strongest *human* telepath I’ve ever met.>
<You can read people’s minds…> Clark suddenly felt violated. <Do you use this ability to spy on people? How often have you read *my* mind?>
<No!> she rushed to assure him. <It’s not like that. Look, I know that it’s wrong to invade someone’s privacy and I’ve learned control over the years. It’s like … when you use your x-ray vision. You don’t purposely use it to spy on innocent people without their consent. That’s the same for me. I try to only use my ability to help people in my investigations.>
<Sometimes I make mistakes or learn things inadvertently, but being able to sense emotions or receive someone else’s thoughts, it’s more like … when you use your super hearing to listen to someone’s heartbeat. You can tell when someone is lying to you. For me, I can interpret strong emotions as a kind of instinct; I can tell if someone is telling the truth or if they’re really scared.>
Clark felt mollified by this. Yes, he also had learned control over the years and once he’d learned how wrong it was to invade someone’s privacy, he used his powers only to help in a rescue or in his investigations. He also couldn’t fault her for ‘hearing’ things unintentionally. His super hearing still kicked in sometimes without his conscious decision.
His mind swirled with this new information. Telepathic? Even for him this was hard to accept, but here he was *thinking* a conversation with Lois. The warmth he’d felt a few moments before was back and the connection with her practically sizzled with energy when he looked into her eyes.
<How long …?>
<I’ve been able to receive people’s thoughts and emotions my whole life. As for you, I first started playing with my ‘imaginary’ friend, Clark, when I was four years old.>
<Imaginary friend…I had an imaginary friend when I was little. A little girl…Lolo?>
<Lolo was what Lucy called me when she was little.>
Lois propped her hip on his desk while he gaped at that thought. Clark started remembering instances over the years when he’d felt this particular feeling, this connection. Yes, they were there for as long as he could remember. Wait. He’d noticed a muted difference in college and while he’d been traveling the world, but then it’d all but disappeared four years ago…
Clark mentally slapped himself in the forehead. Four years ago, exactly when Lois had disappeared in the Congo. The feelings had returned this past year. That must have been after she’d returned from Africa.
Was that really what happened? Everything fit. With a start, Clark realized that his return to Smallville and his subsequent engagement to Lana were a direct result of Lois’s disappearance to the Congo. He’d been desperate to find a place to fit in, to feel part of humanity, so he’d sought friendship and support by turning to the only other person who knew his secret.
Unbidden, his midnight conversation with the other Lois came to mind.
“Look, about that ‘chemistry thing’ you mentioned… Just like it’s easy to confuse you and Clark… I think *you* have me confused with *her*. Your Lois. And those feelings are meant for her.”Clark realized that the other Lois had been right. He had wondered how he could have feelings for someone he’d never met, but she was right. Maybe he had never even loved the other Lois, maybe his infatuation had just been his true feelings for his Lois, misplaced.
He’d been missing this Lois, *his* Lois, and he hadn’t even known it.
Lois was the driving force behind every episode of comfort when a rescue didn’t work out, of courage to act, of shared joy at his accomplishments. She had been his constant companion, his friend – his best friend – for his entire life. With a sinking feeling, her animosity the day they’d met made sense now. She had expected to meet a lifelong friend and he had cast her aside in favor of her double.
<I’m sorry, Lois. I … didn’t realize. I didn’t understand. I always thought it was somehow my parents that were helping me, encouraging me. Memories of them or feelings ... I had no idea that it was you.>
Her forgiveness was immediate. Lois leaned over to rub his shoulder and he felt the connection treble and flow through him from the contact. Clark caught her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her knuckles in gratitude. When she threaded her fingers through his, he could feel her joy at his recognition and acceptance.
She leaned over to touch her forehead against his and Clark closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he found himself staring directly at Lois’s chest. He shut his eyes and willed his mind to blankness, but it didn’t work. A glimpse of cleavage and heat suffused his face as some altogether inappropriate images flitted through his mind.
<Lois, can you hear *all* my thoughts?>
<No. Not your thoughts. Unless I want to read someone and I’m touching them, I block everything out to give people their privacy. I can usually sense your presence.> She gave him a wry look. <Strong emotions and a few images do sneak through sometimes.>
The implications of Lois being privy to his feelings sent a rush of mortification through him. He let go of her hand and covered his eyes as he audibly groaned.
<Oh my god. I’m so embarrassed…>
She retrieved his hand and threaded her fingers through his again. <There’s no need to be. My connection with you started as a child with images and thoughts, but it dulled over the years to just the strong feelings. As a teenager, if I sensed something from you, like fear or joy, it took a tremendous effort to ‘connect’ with you and share my thoughts or feelings. To keep myself sane I learned to shield myself from regular people and for the most part, learned to block you out, too. And I’ve *never* had a conversation like this before with anyone.>
<Why haven’t you done it before? Talked with me mind to mind?>
Lois shrugged. <Maybe we had to spend enough time together to ‘sync-up’. Maybe this type of communication is a wavelength and we both had to be tuned to the same channel.>
Clark was soothed by this, not just because of her words, but because he could sense the truth from her. He’d never understood why he could do that, but he realized now that maybe he could read people because of his telepathic abilities, too. If Lois’s experience was anything like his, then he didn’t have to worry about her invading his private thoughts. He trusted her.
Lois sat up and looked around the newsroom. She realized that their mute conversation hadn’t gone unnoticed. There were several people watching their silent exchange with quizzical expressions. She looked back at Clark and tipped her head toward the elevator.
<Why don't we meet at my place and I can teach you to shield your thoughts.>
At his nod, she made her way back to her desk. As she bent over to pick up her purse, she heard Clark mentally wolf whistle at her. She laughed and quickly gathered her notes and briefcase before turning to give him a wink.
<Or we could explore just how much fun we could have combining telepathy and superpowers.>
~
TBC
