Clark and Lois The Lost Years Matchmaker Chronicles Vol 3 44/46
By Ken Janney
This version is rated PG-13
* denotes emphasis *
< denotes thoughts >
[ playback of a recording or TV Commentary] / telepathic communications /
(#) footnotes
As always comments are welcome. (ken.janney@kjanney.com)
Reminder:
Universal Locator Designation
Alpha 023 x Gamma 004 x Tau -120 - Canon Lois and Clark universe also called – Prime
Alpha 023 x Gamma 025 x Tau 036 – Canon Alt Clark universe also called – Alt 1
Previously:
“Last question.” Superwoman pointed to a reporter from the Star.
“What does the symbol on your chest stand for?”
Superman responded, “It actually has a dual meaning. It is a symbol in my native language for the name of my house, the house of El. My wife wears the same symbol because by marriage she is now also of the house of El. The other meaning is derived from its similarity to your English letter ‘S’. It stands for Superman and Superwoman, the names we go by when we help.”
“That is all the time we have for questions. My wife and I wish to thank you for your time. We have other commitments that we need to attend to.” He took Superwoman’s hand in his and with a wave of his free hand they took to the skies.
They flew straight up until they were out of sight and then headed for 348 Hyperion Ave. They landed quickly and went inside. They spun out of the uniforms and into their civilian attire.
“I think that Clark is going to feel better. The headache he was suffering from has lifted and he can accompany his wife back to work for the afternoon. What do you think?”
“I think I would love to have my husband with me. I’m glad the headache lifted.”
“Wonderful stuff that aspirin.”
They both started laughing. Lois said “I guess we need to get in and write up this story. We don’t want the Star to scoop us after all.”
And now:
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Chapter 44 – Another Revelation Or Is It?
February 28, 1993
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Later that night the telephone at 348 Hyperion Ave. rang. The caller ID showed Ross, P. /It’s Lana or Pete. Lana knows my secret. After the press conference today I bet she knows yours. Shall we fill Pete in on the secret? I believe that we can trust him./
‘Kent residence.”
Lois thought back, /Your call./
“Clark, Lana! Since when is Lois able to do you know what?”
“Hi Lana. Are you and Pete free this evening? We’d like you guys to come over for dinner.”
“Okay, what time?”
“Seven thirty sound good to you?”
“We’ll be there.” The line went dead.
“Now that you have powers we don’t need to worry so much, but it isn’t fair to Lana to have her know and not Pete. I’ve known him all my life and I trust him. Actually I’ve meant to tell him for a long time now. Besides, sooner or later we might be in the market for babysitters and who better than Pete and Lana?”
“I trust your judgment and besides they are our closest friends. At first I wasn’t so sure how things would work out with Lana but next to you, she’s become my best friend. She’s my best *girlfriend*.”
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That evening
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Clark had made a Shrimp Stir Fry for dinner. Lois had called for egg rolls and fortune cookies. As they were finishing up Clark started the conversation. “Pete, we’ve known each other a long time. I think it’s about time I told you some things about me … “
Pete interrupted. He had a very concerned look on his face as he said “Clark, could I see you for a second, in the kitchen?”
With a somewhat mystified air Clark replied, “Sure, if you need to.”
They got up and moved to the kitchen. Lois and Lana both had questioning expressions on their faces at this turn of events. Lois said, “Well, while they’re out of the room, I guess we could start talking about the wedding.”
“I want to talk about you having Clark’s powers. How’d it happen? Can it happen to just anyone?”
“We don’t know, but we don’t think so. We think it has something to do with a laser beam Clark was hit with. It somehow changed me and did something else to my jewelry.”
“Do you have *all* of his powers?”
“From all that we’ve been able to determine, yes, I’ve got them all.”
“I don’t know if I should congratulate you or say I’m sorry for you. How do you feel about it?”
“We’re happy. Now I won’t have to worry about being made a pawn to force Superman to do something he doesn’t want to do. We can do *everything* together, not just the ‘normal’ stuff. Lana, you have no conception what it feels like to fly, under your own power, no wings, no engines just you and the sky. It’s wonderful. I wish you could experience it. Maybe I could take you up for a flight sometime. I think you’d like it.”
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Meanwhile, in the kitchen.
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“Okay Pete, why did we need to come out here?”
“How much does Lana know about you?”
“Huh?”
“How much does Lana know about what you can do? Are you sure you want to talk about it in front of her?”
“What do you mean? How much do you know?”
“Clark, we’ve been best friends for how many years? A lot of years. Do you think that it’s possible to hide something like that from someone so close for all that time? Buddy, I’ve known about you for years. I’m glad that you finally found a way to do it out in the open.”
“Let’s go back in the dining room. The girls need to hear about this.”
When they had returned to their seats Clark said, “Lois, it appears as though we have been scooped! Pete has known my secret for a while now.”
There was a gasp from Lana, “I didn’t say a thing!”
Laughing Clark replied, “I know that Lana. Pete tells me that he’s known for years about me and has kept my secret; apparently even from you since neither of you knew that the other knew. When did you find out Pete?”
“Remember that camping trip we took up to Reeves’ Overlook? That night in the tent I woke up in the middle of the night and I saw you floating three feet above your sleeping bag. Your nose was practically brushing the tent ceiling. After that I started watching for unusual things. Remember when Billy was trapped under that tree and you lifted it enough to get him out? None of us thought much of it at the time. We thought that the tree was rotten or something, but I went back and tried to lift it. I couldn’t budge it an inch. When we were on that hiking trip and we got caught in the rain. You managed to start a fire using wood that was so wet it was like it had been pulled out of a stream. There were other things. I realized that you were something special, I didn’t know just how special you were but, you were my best friend and there was no way I would reveal your secret. I’ve kept it to myself all these years. Like I said out in the kitchen, I’m glad you have finally found a way to work out in the open. I guess that somehow Lois now has your powers too. I couldn’t see you acting the way you did at that press conference with anyone but Lois. How’d it happen?”
“Pete, I need to say that you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, except for Lois. You discovered my secret on your own and kept it and me safe all these years. Lana has known for some time. I told her about myself when we were getting serious. She has kept my secret all these years also. Thank you, both of you.”
“About Lois’ powers, that’s something we want to look into and you’re just the guy to do that for us.” Clark got up and went to a side table from which he retrieved a small packet. “Here is some of the residue from the Star Sapphires I gave Lois for our wedding. Those are the source of her powers. We need to have these pieces analyzed. Since you’re the head of the Geology and Metallurgy lab at S. T. A. R. Labs, I figured you would have the facilities to do just that. The jeweler that cut and polished the gems said that they were a never before seen variety. You’ve seen them; in fact Lois has the earrings and ring on now. See, they have a double star. We need to know what this stone is and where it came from.”
“I’ll get on it right away.”
“There’s another thing.” Clark got up and went to the secret compartment. He picked up the laser and opened the case. “Here is what caused Lois to acquire my powers. This is actually a laser, not a video cam. Watch this.” Clark went over and doused the lights. When he did the red crystal in the laser chamber began to glow. At the same time Lois’ earrings and ring began to glow brighter and brighter. “Wow, we hadn’t noticed that before! Lois, look at your ring!”
“Wow, I can feel my strength increasing! I don’t have the full set on and I don’t usually feel this strong with just these pieces. What’s happening?”
“It’s like the Sapphires are reacting to the red crystal!”
“We’re going to need to test this out. If your smaller gems can be supercharged by the red crystal you may not have to carry around the whole set all the time. You might be able to get away with just a few and the red crystal. Pete, we need this checked out. Can you do it for us?”
“You can count on me. I’ll start tomorrow. Can I have one of the smaller ‘energized’ jewels as well as the residue and the red crystal?”
“Sure, her you go.” Lois handed him one of the smaller gems from a concealed pocket.
“Here’s what happened, we were at the White Orchid Ball …“ Clark went on to tell the entire story.
“Wow, that’s some story. From what you’re saying it looks like you could be right. It looks like the gems are acting like a storage battery for your powers and imparting them to Lois. I’d like to try something. Could you put the jewelry on Lana and see if she gets powers?”
Lois said, “Sure! Lana, let’s get you decked out. Come on up to our room.”
Lana and Lois disappeared upstairs.
“You know Pete, if this works there may be no keeping her down. She may want a set for herself!”
“You think?”
They both started laughing.
A few minutes later the girls came downstairs.
“Okay Lana, let’s see what you can do. Let’s try something simple. Try picking up that living room chair.”
Lana moved over behind the indicated chair and bending down tried to lift it, without any success.
“How about this. The first power Lois had was superhearing. See if you can hear my heartbeat.”
Lana got a look of extreme concentration on her face and held it for several minutes. Finally she relaxed and said, “Nope, nothing.”
Lois said, “Here let me touch the gems.” She did and immediately she had her full powers back. “I hear you heartbeat as well as everyone else’s. I guess that means that I’m the only one the jewels will work with.”
Lana said, “It’s just as well. I don’t think I would want the responsibility that goes along with having those powers anyhow. Clark, I was a fool. All that time I tried to make you deny your powers, I was trying to deny what you were. Now that you have come out into the open with it and I can see how much good you’re doing and can do in the future, I want to just kick myself. What I was doing was almost criminal. I’m glad you found Lois and I’m glad you opened my eyes, not just to that but to Pete as well. Thanks.”
While she had been speaking Lana had been divesting herself of the jewels and giving them back to Lois.
“Lana, I’m just happy that things have worked out.”
Lois said, “Lana, you want to go for that ride I promised you?
“I’d love to.”
Lois spun into her uniform which elicited a ‘Wow” from both Lana and Pete. She held out her hand to Lana and grasping it led her to the back door.
When they returned Lana was flushed with excitement. “I’ve never in my life imagined it could be like that. Clark, all those times you offered to take me flying and I turned you down! What was I thinking? It was wonderful.”
Lois said, “Lana, there will be times that we go out to Smallville. Maybe you and Pete would like to come with us occasionally.”
“Could we? That would be wonderful!”
“You guys could stay in the guestroom at the farm.”
Pete answered for the both of them “We’d love to guys, thanks.”
Lois spun back into her casual clothes and grabbed Lana and led her back into the dining room. She and Clark cleared the table at superspeed so that the girls could have it for paperwork while they planned the wedding. Pete and Clark went into the living room to catch what was left of the Metropolis Metros / Philadelphia Phillies game.
comments go here To be continued in Chapter 45 – Herb Shows Up
