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Present Day…

After a long and undisturbed sleep Lois Lane began to wake only to find herself in the strangers of situations. As he eyes fluttered open she realized she was in her car, which seemed to be driving on its own while going nowhere but forward. There was nothing around, no road, no tress, no seaside, no other cars, not even Metropolis. It was very cold, something else she realized when she could see her breathe forming in front of her and feeling the sudden chilling sensation. It wasn’t until she finally looked out her window that she made the startling discovery: she was in the air while traveling over what looked like Antarctica.

“Enjoy your rest, Lois?” a familiar voice said to her from almost nowhere. “Sorry I didn’t warn you about the cold but I didn’t want to disturb you.”

After hearing that voice it all started to come back to her. Lois remembered how recent events had caused Metropolis’ new hero, Superman, to face a lot of public backlash for his actions. It was worse when at the start of his reveal she was one of the many who supported him. But oddly enough while at work she received a notice from Superman himself saying he had an idea that would help both of them. Where it came from she didn’t know, only chalking it up to another of the Man of Steel’s incredible abilities he displayed. The last thing she recalled was flying outside of Metropolis before being picked up by Superman himself, telling her they had a long trip ahead of them.

As she settled a little bit Lois replied “Had I known you’d be taking me all the way out here I’d have at least packed some pants.”

A little chuckle escaped Superman while still carrying her and her car while saying “Don’t worry, Lois. We’re almost there. And trust me, it’s a lot warmer where we’re going.”

Lois did her best to bundle and keep herself warm, even to turning on the car’s heater, while asking “So where are we going? Some secret meeting place of yours?”

“I like to think of is as more of a…fortress.” He answered before pointing out “And here we are.”

She looked forward to finally see Superman’s “fortress” as he called it. To her confusion it was just a large formation of ice, almost like a mountain. There wasn’t anything special to it, no grand design or otherworldly architecture like she expected when speaking of Superman’s home.

“Well I guess it’s….cozy.” she commented while sounding underwhelmed.

“I admit it could use a women’s touch.” He quipped upon hearing her before finally starting to land.

Superman led her to a large indention in the face of the mountain, like a small doorway. It provided enough space for him to bring the car down and still have room for Lois to get out of the car. She took a moment to take in the amazing sight of being all the way out in the middle of the Antarctic before turning to Superman, still shaking like a leaf.

Upon seeing her Superman quickly removed his cape and said “Here. This should help.”

At first Lois tried to retort by saying that a she’d need more than a cape to keep warm in this weather however she was surprised when it was finally wrapped around her. Surprisingly it was warm like an electric blanket. It kept her warm enough to stop her shaking and feel like she was wearing an invisible heavy-duty jacket.

“How…?” she asked, finally looking to Superman.

“The cape’s material helps concentrate sunlight. Just like the rest of my suit.” He explained. “Would you believe it used to be my blanket?”

“Talk about being nostalgic.” She commented before asking “So how do we get in?”

“The old fashioned way.” He smiled before pulling out a golden key from his pocket.

She looked both aghast and happily surprised as she replied “Really? I half expected you to just push the door open with one hand. Or a secret super knock or something. You mean all you need is that key?”

He only responded with a smirk before putting on the ground at her feet and saying “Not so easy when you try.”

He indicated for Lois to try and pick it up, something she seemed assured could be done without effort. Upon trying to lift it through she could not even budge it off the ground. It even came to her using two hands and yet nothing happened.

As Superman casually picked it up with ease he explained “I carved this out of white dwarf star matter. It’s practically half a million tons. So even if I do lose it I know no one’s going to take it.”

Lois gave an impressed look while adding “Better hope that never falls out of your pocket while flying. Hate to see what it’d do if it landed on someone’s head.” With that Superman revealed a keyhole, which he used to unlock the door, while Lois added “You really did put a lot of effort into this place.”

As the door began to open Superman shrugged “Well it is best when you need a private place to relax.”

Lois took a step back as the door into the Fortress revealed itself. The wall of ice in front of her parted into two pieces before revealing a mechanical hallway hidden inside. Superman offered a hand to help escort her in, something Lois agreed to almost without hesitation. Only a moment passed before they finally reached the interior of the Fortress where Lois was astounded by what she saw.

An entire expansive chamber was found inside with what looked like several robots working on the plating around it to keep from the ice. Looking up Lois could see how tall it was, enough to fit a 30 story building at least. The robots were human-like in deign but all had red capes and symbols on their chests near identical to Superman’s; Lois thinking of them as “Superman Robots”. A source of light came from above, something Lois realized was artificial thanks to lights attached. While most of was the same the one key feature that stood out was a statue depicting a man and woman holding up a planet in their arms.

“This is….incredible…” Lois spoke aloud while still amazed. After a moment she realized “It’s so much warmer in here than outside.”

“Artificial heating.” Superman both answered and explained as Lois gave his cape back to him. “The plating’s a special design so it equals out the temperature both in here and outside. Helps so that my house doesn’t wind up melting all around me.”

While Lois still admired the sight she suddenly saw as something approached. One of the robots, much different from the others, floated towards the two at the entrance. It was golden with two arms, no legs, a sort of hovering-skirt on its bottom, and a head with a visor-like eyesight.

[Welcome back, Kal-El.] the robot said to Superman. [I’m pleased to see you’ve returned. And with a guest.]

“Good to be back, Kelex.” He replied before introducing “Lois, this is Kelex. He’s been my friend and guardian over this place ever since I started working on it. Kelex, this is Lois Lane.”

[Greetings, Lois Lane.] he floated up to address her. [I hope you enjoy your stay. If you require anything feel free to ask.]

“Uh…thanks.” Lois replied while poking Kelex to see he was indeed real. “Unbelievable. I didn’t even think this sort of stuff could be real. It’s like out of a sci-fi movie or something. How did you make all this?”

Superman gave her a concerned look before answering “Well that’s part of why I brought you here, Lois.” This seemed to take her attention away from everything else and back to him as he continued “You wanted the interview of a lifetime, right? So what if I told you you’d be interviewing someone who’s…not from around here?”

As the idea of what he meant came to light in her mind Lois’s eyes went wide before she finally answered “I’d say…tell me everything. And don’t leave out a single detail.”

Within the following hour or so Superman invited Lois deeper into his “Fortress of Solitude”, as she would later call it. He brought her to a homier chamber with a view to the outside and a dining room-like quality to the design and furniture. Kelex and the Superman Robots provided them with food, Lois surprised they were able to make simple things like hamburgers and more extravagant dishes like lobster or expensive desserts.

During this time Superman explained his history and how he was in fact not born from Earth. Lois listened to him explain how he came from a planet called Krypton before it was destroyed shortly after he was born. He told of his father, the scientist Jor-El, and his mother, the military lieutenant, Lara Lor-Van, saved him by sending him to Earth to survive. Kelex had been sent as well, the family’s personal robotic servant and keeper of Krypton’s knowledge and history. It was through him that Superman eventually learned who he really was.

After hearing his long story Lois surmised “So your father, the guy that giant statue in the main hall looks like, sent you to Earth? Any particular reason?”

“My father was a brilliant scientist who theorized that Earth’s sun had a different type of radiation compared to Krypton’s. Which, given our physiology, results in an odd effect that alters the base strands of…” He stopped when it was clear Lois was getting lost in his scientific explanation, to which he gave an embarrassed chuckle and finished “Simply put: the yellow sun is what gives me my powers.”

With an intrigued hum she wrote this down on her note pad, where she’d been taking notes, before commenting “You’re solar powered hero. Huh. Never would have thought.” He only smiled at her before she asked “So aside from flying around and stopping falling planes what else can you do exactly?”

“A few things.” He smirked. “My abilities range from super hearing, a ‘heat vision’ ray, and even x-ray vision.”

“X-Ray, huh?” she asked with an intrigued tone. “So you see through anything? Does that mean if I asked you could tell me what color underwear I had on?”

Superman’s cheeks went red as he answered “Well I…wouldn’t exactly want do to that. Even with permission, Lois.” When she asked why he answered “Well I’d prefer to just find out the old fashioned way and start by getting to know you instead. Or if you wore some sort of lead lined lingerie.” He gave an awkward clearing of his throat before explaining “That was a joke, actually. I just can’t see through lead.”

Lois smiled at this, if a little devious intent in her look, before writing more notes down and saying “Well between this and the key thing you seemed to be born and raised on the ‘old fashioned’ sort of ways. They teach you that stuff on Krypton?”

“Actually I can thank my ‘Earth parents’ for that.” He answered, which seemed to surprise Lois when she asked about them. “Well not like Kelex could just raise me on his own. I was found by a kindly couple and they took me in. Raised me. Helped me deal with my abilities. And taught me everything that’s kept me going through life. I…owe a lot to them. Actually my mother was the one who made my suit. With Kelex’s help of course.”

[I did suggest a more militaristic touch, Kal-El. Just for the record.] the robot commented as it hovered nearby.

Hearing that Lois gave a comforting smile while commenting “Well who’d have thought it. The Man of Steel actually has a few soft spots in his armor.”

“I may be invulnerable, Lois, but I never claimed to be impenetrable.”

Lois only seemed all the more subtlety exhilarated as she continued to give one question after another. It started so simple yet now the more she knew him the more she seemed comfortable around him.

Finally getting back on subject she asked “So with all your powers you just decided to start saving people with them? I mean not to sound ungrateful or nothing but I’m sure you’ve thought about what would happen if you went a little…well…”

“Power hungry?” he retorted. This confirmed for Lois to which he responded “Trust me, you and everyone else on Earth won’t ever have to worry about that. I may have extraordinary powers but I don’t claim to be anyone people should think of as important or special.”

With a little snort she replied “A little late for that I think.”

“What I mean, Lois, is that I’m not here to rule anyone. I only want to protect people. Keep them safe from major disasters and things regular law enforcement can’t handle. And from America’s history with unusual powered people I think we both know sooner or later it’ll happen.”

She shrugged “I don’t know. A lot of those guys died out when my dad was still a rookie in boot camp. I thought you were too busy chasing down those guys from Intergang. Hence why everyone was so scared of you especially after…well you know.”

With a more somber look he replied “Yes… I do.”

Seeing the look in his eyes made it clear the subject hurt him, prompting her to ask “If you don’t me asking… What did happen?”

With a deep sigh he eventually answered “It was something unavoidable. And I do mean unavoidable. With all my powers I couldn’t see everything going on around me. I’ll admit I was a little too focused on catching the gang’s leader, a man named Mannheim. Those other men, Jensen, Corben and Martin, were part of the heist that went on that night. Hard as it may sound they used some sort of advanced weaponry I wasn’t ready for. It didn’t kill me but it didn’t tickle either. I was so caught up in the moment I didn’t see it all happen so fast. All those men wound up getting seriously injured and Mannheim escaped. I did what I could to save those men but I don’t know if it was enough.” Another sigh as he said “Sometimes I think that what I do is never enough. I evert disaster where I can but even I can be everywhere at once. I can see anywhere in the world but sometimes I miss the smaller more important things. I have all this power and…sometimes I can’t save everyone from everything.”

The look on his face made Lois realize how deeply talking about it affected him. From the way it sounded it seemed Superman had a more personal pain on the inside when it came to realizing his major fault of not being able to save everyone. Perhaps it was something on a more personal level.

In order to comfort him as best she could Lois reached out, putting her hand over his as a comforting gesture. He looked up to her and smiled, making her smile back as a show that it was appreciated. After a few moments however Superman looked down, realizing Lois had been holding his hand for a little too long.

Seeing this herself she pulled back and tried to regain herself while asking “Uh so, uh, yeah. I mean so it was an accident. I believe that. Uh…um…Earlier you said the whole thing with the sun giving you powers was part of ‘our’ DNA. Does that means there’s other people like you around? I mean from Krypton.”

With a little shrug he answered “Well not as far as I know. But I do hope that maybe one day I’ll find them. Even Kelex has told me there’s a chance others managed to escape.”

[While the statistics are low there is a 4.6700% chance of probability.] the little robot commented.

“Really? You’re really the only one?” Lois asked. “What about some of the other ‘super heroes’ around the world? That guy who can run really fast in Central City? And that woman working with the government. I mean I really don’t think she’s actually an Amazon from some hidden island. Do you?”

“I really wouldn’t know. Haven’t met her myself. But I do know that if there were any other Kryptonian’s on Earth I’d have known by now. These others seem to have powers by whatever crazy means they got them. Still it is nice to know I’m not the only person trying to make a difference in the world.”

Lois nodded while writing more of this down in her notes before asking “I guess there’s just one more major question I have to ask: why?”

“Why…what?”

“Why all this? The interview. Telling me all about your powers and your history. Bringing me all the way out to your secret little sanctuary. Is this all part of whatever your big plan is?”

“Actually this is my plan.” He admitted. “After the incident I understand that people are a little afraid of me. I want to show them that they can trust me. So the best way would be for them to know me. Understand me. Know what I can do and why I do it. Hopefully that will help them see I’m not here to hurt anyone, just to help.”

Lois nodded, jotting down that last note, before saying “Okay. Guess it makes sense. But why me? You know I have a friend, Clark, who thinks you’re just a guy with a lot of crazy hidden gadgets. Like that crazy guy in Gotham. Why not bringing him up here and prove him wrong?”

“Well that’s the thing, Lois.” He began to explain. “As much as I need the world to trust me, I want to know there’s at least someone in the world I can trust. Someone who knows what to say and what not to say. Someone who’s not in it just for a quick buck or rise to fame. Someone who, well, who I know I can count on.”

“And you think that someone is me?”

“Well I wouldn’t bring you out in the middle of the Antarctic if I didn’t think so.” He smiled.

Hearing that made Lois smile with a little more compassion. She did question why he put so much faith in her and yet looking at him she didn’t seem to care. For a man from another world with so much power and abilities he still seemed so human underneath.

Kelex soon floated over and said [Kal-El, the Northern lights are visible if you’d like to view them.]

“Thank you, Kelex.” He replied, standing before offering to Lois “Want to see? It’s an amazing sight.”

Taking his hand she stood and replied “You sure do know how to impress a girl, don’t you?”

He smiled before bringing her towards one of the windows in the room. Looking out both of them could see the icy expanse of the Antarctic as a pure white while above, in the dark night, the beautiful aurora of the Northern Lights. Shades of green and violet mixed to meet and make a darker shade of red that stripped across the sky in a dazzling display.

“Wow…” Lois said while still staring out. “Beautiful.”

Superman looked at her and commented “Yes. Yes it is.”

*****

Within the week after returning from her little trip with Superman Lois had printed her headlining story: “Man of Steal, Man from Another World”. Not only did it sell but it broke nearly all sorts of records and viewings. Even on the Daily Planet’s website so many had flocked to read the exclusive interview she’d posted.

Everywhere from Chicago, San Francisco, Gotham, Star City, Florida and even way in Washington everyone now knew all they needed to about Superman. With some it was a light of hope and understanding about the superhero but for others it would be a means to use later in their agendas against the alien menace.

For Lois she didn’t care what people thought. After sitting and talking with him she knew all she needed to know that Superman was to be trusted. Even so much that while sitting in her office, daydreaming, she kept drawing pictures in her note pad. Most of them were of the “S” symbol on his chest.

“Lois? Are you alright?” she heard someone ask, snapping her back to reality.

She looked to see it was her co-worker and fellow reporter Clark Kent. The bumbling big boy from Kansas always carried himself in such a demeaning way. Hunched over, sloppy hair, his glasses always looking a little too big even for him. All that time growing up on the farm didn’t seem to climate him to the ways of the city, at least as Lois always saw it.

“Oh, hi, Clark.” She only responded to him before turning back to her doodling. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

“Well I know Perry gave you that nice bonus for the interview but, I mean, are you okay? You’ve been so odd ever since you came back from wherever it was Superman took you. I mean who knows what he could’ve done.”

“I can imagine.” She said to herself with a smirk. When Clark asked what she’d said she snapped “Nothing, Smallville. Look I think at this point you should at least admit I was right. Not only does he have actual powers but he’s a whole lot nicer than you think.”

“I guess. I mean I still don’t think he’s as cracked up as everyone thinks he is.”

“Oh Smallville, you’ve been hanging out in the Kansas Styx for way too long. It’s a bigger world than you might know and you’ve got to get with it.” She looked through her file cabinet before handing him a file and saying “Here. News about some new guy in Star City. Some sort of Robin Hood type. Maybe that’ll open your mind.”

“Uh, shouldn’t you be doing this one, Lois? I mean didn’t Perry give that assignment to you?”

“Would if I could but I’ve got to follow up on the new scope with Superman’s investigations into Intergang. You know, the real hero type stuff. Wouldn’t expect you to know too much about that.”

With that Lois gathered her things and walked away, leaving her note pad on the desk for Clark to see. With her back turned and walking off he smiled at her, seeing her apparent professional love for Superman wasn’t as professional as it seemed.

“I guess I wouldn’t, Lois.” He said to himself with a smirk. “I guess not.”