She’d find out more about Superman. She’d win that Pulitzer. Except…will you do it honestly? Will you enjoy it once you get it? Will you really earn it, or will you steal it? That mocking voice asked her.

“You know, Cat, you’re not one to talk,” Lois said evenly. “You look like someone poured you into your outfit and you forgot to say ‘when’. At least I wore more than a gownless evening strap to the last Planet event.”

Envelopes – all had been opened. So it’s OK if I look, Lucy thought. Lois certainly did. She’d heard the stories about it at dinner. Open envelopes were fair game, according to Lois. Actually, Lucy wasn’t even steaming the envelopes open. Lois had, according to her tales of “what you have to do to be a reporter”.

She’d make a great story. Her older sister would be proud of her.

Tomorrow morning. That’s the plan, thought Lucy. I’ll find Superman’s spaceship and make a great story out of it. Tomorrow I’ll start my award-winning career.

NORAD

Around lunchtime, she’d overheard Clark talking on the phone. “What? He’s there now? Really? Don’t let him leave.” From the excitement in his voice, she’d known that Clark had to have a Superman lead.

Lois swooped in for the kill. “Don’t. They’ll just re-write you.” She put on a persuasive tone. “My advice is, get back to the office and start typing. Look, you can have my cab. Go on.”

Clark got into the cab. He smiled at her, trustingly, innocently. “Lois, I appreciate this. I owe you one.”

She’d win that Pulitzer. Except…will you do it honestly? Will you enjoy it once you get it? Will you really earn it, or will you steal it? That mocking voice asked her.

“That tip got me started. And, all through my career, I’ve tried to pay that forward. Lois’s eyes widened in surprise, despite her best efforts to keep a poker face. She’d never known that about Cat. Of course, they hardly worked the same schedule. Cat was always slithering into the newsroom at one or two o’clock in the afternoon, after her late nights on the society beat. So why should she have known that about Cat? Lois asked herself. Maybe because you’ve worked in the same newsroom with her for eight years? her annoying inner voice replied. She was here when you were an intern just out of high school, and she’s been here since – have you ever really tried to get to know her?

“Now you be sure to take Lois’s advice and learn what she’ll teach you. She isn’t the best investigative reporter at the Planet for nothing.” Perry nodded firmly and headed to the coffee station.

Clark and Jimmy both wished Lucy “Congratulations” and drifted away after an awkward moment of silence between them and Lois. Lois looked over at Lucy – she was seated next to Cat’s desk, laughing at something Cat had said. It looked like she might take awhile. Lois smiled inwardly in satisfaction.

androphobe

Should be EPRAD. The show could not get permission to use ‘NORAD’ and so created EPRAD.

Since we aren't on TV, my opinion is that it is O.K. to use NORAD.

The show didn't really address this and lumped it all together by having generals order the Asgard rocket to hit the asteroid at EPRAD, but that isn't right.

What was it with Lucy, Lois thought. How does she attract people like this?