Man, CC, this is just beautiful. Lois' deduction that this is all an elaborate scheme perpetrated by this flying alien, then her despair when she can't just go home. I'm glad their memories of Tempus have kicked in, and that they're working together to try to figure out just what the heck has happened here.

And of course the Peacekeepers. I just *love* this part of the story. And this had me ROTFL...
A full-time job, absolutely. Maybe they need a few more committee members, since they haven't been entirely successful in the past. Can I volunteer?

Anxiously waiting for Tuesday, because we still don't know why L&C can't be found with the soul tracer, and now the lifeline levels are dropping! Yikes. This is indeed a time for cursing. Hell, yeah. Like Hank said...

Kathy

Such an emotionally charged segment, CC. Poor Lois. Poor Clark! I remember snuffling into my kleenex reading her painful conclusions that this was all a scam by Clark, first time I read this.

And, again, have to echo Kathy on Madge and Co. Inspired! You just have to love the idea of baked goods as camouflage. The scenes with Madge and her willing band of helpers provide such a wonderful, hilarious counterpoint to the angst our heroes are currently enduring. Brilliant interaction between them.

It's been a while since I read this part - was that tag line from Hank a new addition? Either way, it had me

Roll on part 4!

LabRat

What confusion!

But at least she got passed her paranoia and started talking to Superman so she's in investigative mode. (Hated when you broke off to check in on Madge.)

And poor Clark was interrupted when he was going to make his revelation. Well, I'm sure Lois will find out soon and boy will she be mad.

And then there was


I'll be around on Tuesday....

gerry

What goes on in your mind?!

If I ever have to hide an international peace keeping mission, or master criminal opperations (often the difference only depends upon your point of view), I'm going to use a bakery.

I'm loving this, emotional and kooky (never thought I'd use that word, but it just sprung in there) at the same time.

Thank you!

Helga

Ditto everyone! Here I am alternately laughing my head off, gasping in amazement and sighing in sympathy as I read. And all the time I'm thinking - right, definitely time to hang up my keyboard. How can anyone even come close to this genius?

And I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop - it's obvious that Lois is going to see or hear something soon which tells her that Superman is actually her lowly, annoying, foisted-upon-her junior partner at the Planet. Of course Clark isn't going to be able to tell her himself. And when she does find out... sparks will fly. And she might not even care that she'd get hurt if she tries to hit him again!

Wow. Just amazing. And just keep it coming!


Wendy

Darn, Helga beat me to it..two for one donut day..ROTFL!!

Poor Lois, I really feel for her. The confusion, the anger..blaming Clark!

And CLark the poor thing..bombarded with his entire history all at once! Way to much to handle. Then he almost messes up at the end there calling her partner..oops.

Keep it coming, it's like a magical, mystery ride. See you Tuesday indeed.

~Liz

Wow, CC... I hadn't realized, last time, that Clark had not actually heard of Krypton yet... it must have been an exceptionally bizarre experience for him.

I haven't any smart guesses about where this is going, but so far I'm sure enjoying the ride!

PJ
(who do I have to bribe to get advance looks at this??)

An interesting ride so far.

Watching Lois and Clark discover their apparent future together is going to be pretty fun. I look forward to Lois' first confrontation with herself in the 'short-haired' part of her life. Will it be through holophotos, or another actress playing the role of a later Lois?

Even given all the fun of Lois and Clark's explorations, we still have the somewhat sinister undercurrent of the Peacekeepers and their 'true' agenda, an agenda that has to be kept from the general populous. Typical, Utopia is this supposed idyllic place to live... but at what price is it maintained?

Tank (who finds CC's writing annoyingly good)

Most secret organizations are usually behind the dry cleaners. I thought it was very imaginative to have them behind a bakery! This is so great I'm in awe. I really like this Lois and Clark. And that "damned" Wells - ROTFLMAO!
I can't wait until Tuesday!

Artemis

I had to also laugh at the bakery front.

Years ago, when I worked at a finance company (most of the U.S. readers would recognize the name), I used to write loans to finance sewing machines. AFter a while, I realized that all of those men hanging around in the back of the sewing machine shop were Mafiaosa types!

Who would suspect? A sewing machine shop?

Anyway, this is very original and quirky.

Batting another 1000 here, CC!

to Tuesday!

Oh, good god, Lois. You're blaming Superman for all of this? **cough Foul Ball cough**

CC this is so great!!!!!

I can´t wait to read the next part

Karla

I was itching to pop Lois one for accusing Clark of engineering this entire thing, especially while he was looking so distressed and unhappy. This had to be his celebrity nightmare from ILTY come to hideous technicolor life. So I was very happy when Lois remembered Tempus and started working with Clark instead of blaming him.

However, that whole Peacekeepers bit has some horrifying possibilities. I'm worried that the lifelines are tied to L&C's existence. Could Clark possibly be powering a future world, or is there something in this time that is sapping L&C's lifelines? Or is this Utopia going to convince L&C that no sacrifice is too great to prevent the development of such a horrific world?

I know. I have a morbid imagination, which is why I don't handle depressing stories very well. But you've got me hooked now, and I don't know how I'll drag my attention away from this story to grade the essays filling my memory stick.

Wow Cc I am enjoying the ride! I can't wait for more. Laura

This is really, really good. It's imaginative, clever, and also happens to be a real nail-biter. Keep it up!

The one thing that always bothered me when Tempus would try to stop Utopia from becoming a reality in the future was: Wouldn't he also keep himself from being born? Maybe the drop in the lifeline vitals is affecting Tempus too, and he'll have to make a choice to die and destroy Utopia (meaning that he won't get to enjoy the experience) or tell them where Lois and Clark are (and ruin his fiendishly clever plan). Or maybe he sent them to an alt-Utopia and - oh, never mind! I'll just wait for the next post.

Please don't make me wait too long.

I just read all three parts. CC! You genius! This is absolutely brilliant!!

Please, CC! I can't wait til Tuesday! I need more *now*!

First off, I want to echo Pam. Who do I have to bribe to not have to wait until Tuesday? I have donuts!

This is just wonderful. So many great lines have already been quoted. And, like Jen, I'm wondering where Madge is going . . . ? And I also noticed, as she did, that Clark almost spilled the beans. Leave it to a Jimmy to stop him!

Tuesday is going to be a very busy day for me. Any chance we could talk you into Monday? Or since that will be busy too, perhaps Sunday?

How about now?

I wish I could be original at this point, but really, there's no response available to me other than the tried and tested WOW!

On the other hand, this story is fantastically original, CC. Everything is drawn from the familiar, but you've extrapolated an amazingly vivid and very real set of characters and scenes which go well beyond anything we've seen before. Not only that, but it all seems so right. The Daily Planet as a museum dedicated to the life and work of Lois and Clark, 'Perry' as the ring master, the garish Superman colours everywhere...I'm speechless.

A few highlights for me:

God. Her reaction had to be incredibly distressing for Clark. It's his worst nightmare come true - she's terrified of him because he's an alien.

LOL! Again, just so right for this world you've created.

Generally, the low-key way you've introduced new technology. It's there, as it should be, but it's in the background - also as it should be. Unlike a lot of sci-fi movies.

A nice moment of shared film-buff knowledge. Wonder when Lois is going to switch her ferret mode back on and start noticing all this stuff he knows about? Or his admission that he wasn't that sure of his own origins...?

Love the names you've given the Peacekeepers - especially Petal. Over here, 'petal' is an endearment in some areas - like 'dear' or 'duck' or 'hen'. And Odias Sinders - how on earth did you come up with such a wonderful name???

ROFL! And Madge's 'damned' before, too. Sorry - another film reference coming up. Have you seen Star Trek 4, when Spock attempts the vernacular while dealing with an odious youth on a bus? I think Kirk has a go, too, but neither of them manage to sound particularly colloquial. It's a fun moment, and so was this.

More!

Yvonne

Did CC forget to mention that Lois's mother will be played by two different-looking holograms depending upon the wing they are in?



Rock on, CC.

Sherry

/me kidnapps Well's time machine...

Jose

Two FDK posts in one, CC.

Surprisingly enough, I'm a *lot* more interested in Madge and Co. than I am in the travails of Lois and Clark. Good grief, woman, if you make me like Herb by the end of this one, I'll never forgive you!

I love how new and original this is, how Madge tries to manipulate Tempus and the way your Utopia works. I did feel anguish for Lois, and more for Clark at this shocking discovery of his roots. But really, I'm much more intrigued by what Madge and Co. are doing than in Lois and Clark spinning in circles. MORE, and soon!

Hazel

I, however, will pay extra. Double, even!

Hi CC,

I think I'll just copy Yvonne and say WOW!

Can't wait till the next post.

Yours Jenni

You post on the weekend you get late TJ fdk, but as usual

CC

WOW!

Tricia

This is so great! Thank you for still being here and for your continued comments!

I hardly know where to start in responding, which, again, is the very best sort of problem to have.

I promise I won't do this every single time, but some of these remarks are just too good to pass up.

First and foremost, this: Oh, Helga, that is so perfect. And, really, if we can all adopt that as our motto for this entire fic, I think we'll get along famously! Sums it up just right.

On the subject of kooky: Loved this! And Chris's sewing machine shop, Jen's sports academy. I nearly chickened out on the bakery detail, for fear that pushed the absurd-envelope a tad too far. So, thanks to Sherry, behind the scenes whip-cracking reader, for assuring me it was very Get Smart and I should just go for it.

Speaking of going... You know, that needs tweaking. Thank you for that. Madge is pretty certain she's going to lose her job- be demoted or fired since this is all on her head. However, that was really vague, so I appreciate the catch!

And as for Madge: I'm so glad to hear that, Hazel! Many times I tried to remind Madge she was a *secondary* character, all the while she was wrestling the plot from me and running off with it.

Other really, *really* good things... on which I have no comment. None whatsoever. (Though some of you are doing the mind-reading thing.)

Love all of these, but that's all I'm saying.

As for the name 'Petal.' Thank you, Y. I had no idea it was an endearment. I just liked the sound of it. The kind of name a parent in Utopia might call their child- and less obvious than Flower or Sunshine. As for 'Odias Sinders'. Yay! I'm particulary proud of that one. Though it just sort of fell out of my fingers onto the keyboard, so I'm not certain I can take credit.

Last and finally: Wait no more, part 4 is on the way!

And, again, *thank you* so much to everyone who read and commented.

I can't tell you how very much I appreciate your good words! I'm grateful!

CC

Wheee! Look at me! Finally on part threee!!

Awwwww!!! So sad that she's blaming Clark! But... I guess I can't blame her. What is she supposed to think? And oh, good god... what is she going to think (of him?) when she sees the... the... Happily Ever After Wing? (or whatever you'll call it) Now I'm scared.

Love this line! And ouch!

Closing time??? It's closing time and we haven't been allowed to see poor Clark??

*gulp*

Awwwww!!!! And she's going to think he did it. I hope he can talk some sense into her.

Oops. <g>

Awwwwww!!!

Wow! Yeah... don’t blame him.

ROTFL!!!!!

*snork*!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

*snicker* <g>

Whoo, yeah. No kidding.

LOL! What have you done, CC?? The Utopians are cursing! <g>

Great, great, great, great, great, high-class, first-rate stuff, CC!!!!

Amazing writing. Tangible emotions. That little touch of humor to keep us sane. And... really, still blown away by the premise!!!

Sara (who's hoping to catch up on this... maybe today... we'll see)

Wendy said:

Egads!!!! *How* could I have forgotten that???? Here I was thinking... *snicker*... ain't she going to be surprised that they're married. Hello, Sara!!! Duh! She doesn't know yet! :p

Anyway...

Sara :rolleyes: