Aaarrgh!!! Clark, you lunkhead! I remember commenting in the last section that hopefully he wouldn't be foolish enough to open the box...and of course he's starting to do just that!! Very nice cliffhanger, Nan.

We were expecting *something* to happen. So the question is, what next? Will something happen to stop Clark from actually lifting the lid, or will the next installment find both Clark and Brian writhing on the floor? That would have been an interesting sight for Peeping Floyd to see.

Kathy

LOL!

Hi,

Great part.

Still excellent, Nan! You're writing the clone so well - so childlike, so anxious to belong. (Sorry; I just can't call him Brian. That name... just doesn't work for me! )

And Floyd... ROFL!!

More soon!! When is Clark going to find out that Lois knows?


Wendy

Hmm... I've got it! Clark's gonna open the box, he and Brian are both gonna collapse from kryptonite exposure, only to be saved by Lois, who closes the box and calls Clark an idiot for opening the box, thereby revealing that she knew what it would do to him, thereby revealing that she knows who he is... or, you know, not.

I liked the idea of Brian hanging out eating junk food <g> (unlike my esteemed colleague, Dr. Richards, I think "Brian" fits him well enough) and it's really entertaining to see his perspective on the world, considering his background and limited life experience...

Oh, and what's the little problem Dr. Klein wanted to talk to Superman about, in person?

More, more! Babies sleep a lot, right? No problem then...

PJ

Nan

Another superb part!

Tricia

LOL at Floyd!

Brian is wonderfully portrayed. Although it is fun to watch, it is also rather scary - this combination of a small boy's brain and Superman's body. You have made Brian so real that I don't want him to die. I'm hoping that Doc Klein's news will be that once Brain loses his powers, they will be gone permanently.

I was a bit confused by this: I thought Clark was under the impression that he had just stolen his own lock of hair. So, why is he now wondering what could be in the box?

It seems to me that if he were convinced it were his hair sample, he would open it; if he did not know what it contained, he'd call Lois and make up some excuse to leave the room while she opened the box.

In any event, I am exceedingly curious to see just what *is* in that box! Looking forward to Part 19...

- Vicki

Clark took the lock of hair and incinerated it. The lead box was something else that was in the vault.

You have to remember the timeline here. Later in the series, Clark might have been more careful, but as of this date, he has only seen Kryptonite once -- at his parents' farm. The piece that Irig sent to the lab in Wichita disappeared, but he has no reason to think that Luthor might have it.

Now I'm not saying that's what is in the box, but this is why Clark is less careful than perhaps he should be when opening a mysterious lead box.

Nan

Oh, gosh, do I ever feel silly!

Sorry, somehow I must have skipped over something. I don't remember reading anything about Clark incinerating the lock of hair! Ooops, my bad.

- Vicki (slinking off to go re-read this story and see what else I've missed!)

Another great post.

Let's see what is inside lead box number one...

It's green and glowing! ARGGGHHHHHH!!!!! Thud..Thud...

James