Previously on Lois & Clark:

Clark slowly opened the door leading to the kitchen. He and Lois silently entered as Clark listened carefully to the sound which had called him from their bedroom. Unable to believe their eyes, he and Lois gazed at the small bundle which lie in the bassinet that Martha and Jonathan had given them only days earlier. It was a baby wrapped in a dark blue blanket with the Superman emblem placed gently upon it. It was identical to the one Martha had shown Clark for the first time only four years earlier, the one that they had found him wrapped in while still inside the spaceship that had brought him to Earth as a baby.

Still in shock, Clark suddenly noticed the note which was tucked away in the bassinet beside the small baby. "Lois and Clark, this child belongs to you," Clark read aloud in an astonished voice. Lois looked up at Clark with excitement and disbelief in her eyes as she carefully lifted the giggling baby.

Jonathan, Martha, Sam, and Ellen came rushing down the stairs. Hearing them, Clark darted out of the kitchen and into the living room. "Son, is everything alright?" "Is everything okay?" "We saw the lights." "Lois?" Everyone was talking at once. "Um...yeah,...everyone, everything is...absolutely fine. Um...Mom and Dad...and, uh...Mom and Dad, we have something to tell you." Clark said as Lois stepped out of the dining room holding the tiny baby in her arms. Everyone looked at one another filled with joy and surprise.

Episode 5-1

"Invasion of the Baby Snatchers"

written by Joyce Scott

"What on Earth?!" Martha exclaimed, as she ran up to Lois. "Oh my God! Is this what everyone knew besides me? Lois, when did you...?" Ellen inquired. Then, answering her own question, continued, "Wait, I haven't been away that long!" "Trust me, we are just as surprised as you are!" Lois said, staring lovingly at the small child in her arms. "Well, where did he come from, son?" Jonathan asked. "We, uh, heard something outside and uh, found him on the doorstep," Clark replied hesitantly. "Wait a minute," Clark said as he dashed back into the dining room. He quickly grabbed the note and hid the shield under the bassinet. "Here," he said as he handed the note to his mother. Everyone crowded around to see it. "Oh, how terrible! Who could possibly abandon such an adorable little baby?!" Martha questioned as she carefully took the baby from Lois. "Well, it's late. Why don't you all go back to bed. Lois and I will take care of the baby and we'll figure all of this out in the morning." Clark suggested and everyone reluctantly agreed.

Once everyone had gone upstairs, Clark went back into the dining room and picked up the bassinet. Then he and Lois quietly took the baby upstairs to their bedroom. They carefully tucked the baby into the bassinet and headed to bed themselves, though neither of them got much sleep that night.

Early the next morning, Clark got up and went to get diapers and formula for the baby. By the time he had returned, Jr. had already awoken the entire household. Jonathan was in the kitchen making everyone breakfast, while Lois was in the living room, surrounded by two very anxious grandmothers, who were all trying to quite the screaming baby. Clark went straight to the kitchen and with the Jonathan's help, successfully made a bottle of formula which instantly quieted the baby.

After everyone had had breakfast and the baby had gone back to sleep, Clark suggested that the new grandparents go into town to do some baby shopping. Reluctant to leave their new grandchild, they put up a good fight, but eventually they agreed.

In the meantime, Lois called in sick to work for both of them, careful not to reveal the true nature of their absence. Since the baby was still sound asleep, Lois and Clark settled down to find out the true origin of their new found son. But before they could come up with any leads, they heard a loud knocking on the door. Clark quickly answered it, and to their astonishment, in the doorway stood H.G. Wells.

"Mr. Wells, what are you doing here?" Lois questioned. "Where's the child?" cried H.G. Wells. "He's upstairs, asleep. Why?" Clark replied. "Oh, thank goodness! I am so glad he got here alright! I know you must be wondering where he came from," after a quick look at their expressions, he continued, "Yes. Well, do you remember what I have told you about Utopia?" "Yes. It's, supposedly, this perfect city of the future where there are no crimes or hardships," Clark replied. "Yes, and it was created by you two and your descendants. Well, in order to keep peace, they have, well, a sort of monarchy. The leader is always an heir in your lineage." "Yes, but what does this have to do with the baby," Lois questioned, obviously confused. "Yes. Well, this baby is the last heir to the throne of Utopia. It seems that Tempus has become tired of destroying other times and dimensions and has come back to destroy his own. He has murdered King Jerome and his wife who are little Lane's parents. Charles, the baby's caretaker, brought him here in hope of saving him from the same fate and hopefully someday coming back to save Utopia from Tempus. But at the time, he didn't know that, by then, it'll be to late. Tempus does not mean to rule Utopia, he means to destroy it...forever. Please, Superman, you must come to Utopia. You must destroy Tempus once and for all. Or all that you and Lois have lived for and will live for shall be destroyed. And Lois, you must stay behind and care for Prince Lane. If anything were to happen to him, then even if Tempus is stopped, Utopia can never again be the place of peace and happiness that it was meant be. Will you do it, Superman?" "Do I have a choice?" Clark replied, "Lois, will you take care of Lane while we're gone?" "Of course I will. Just be careful," Lois replied as she leaned over to kiss Clark goodbye. "We must hurry. The time machine is in the alley." Clark followed H.G. Wells out the door. Lois waved a simple goodbye as the man she loved, again, rushed out the door to save a world that she may never see. Well, he came back safe last time, and he will this time. And until then, I have a job to do, Lois thought as she went upstairs to feed her son, for now anyway.

Luckily, Martha and Jonathan were the first set of parents back from baby shopping. Lois quickly relayed the story that H.G. Wells had told her and Clark. When Sam and Ellen returned, they told them that Clark had gone out on a really hot story. They spent the rest of the afternoon trying on new baby clothes and putting together a makeshift nursery.

The next morning, as the one before, Lane woke everyone up considerably earlier than they were used to. But, as before, all it took was a good breakfast to make him perfectly content.

By now, Lois was really beginning to worry about Clark, so Martha and Jonathan spent all of their time and energy trying to keep her busy. They spent the day shopping for more baby clothes and toys and then they came back home and played with baby some more. Lois knew that they were trying really hard and she tried to keep up a good front, but she just had a really bad feeling.

Then, that night while everyone was sleeping, Lois stole away into Lane's nursery. She just sat there, staring at the tiny little baby. She thought about how helpless he was, almost as helpless as she felt. She thought about how much had been put on the shoulders of this little baby. She dosed off into a dream about what Utopia was like and about what her little Lane would be like as a king. Then she drifted into another dream about what it would be like for her and Clark to keep Lane in Metropolis and raise him as their own. But suddenly she was wrenched from this wonderful dream by the sound of rocks hitting the window of the nursery. She wiped her eyes and walked over to the window. As she peered down at the alley below, she saw H.G. Wells standing beside his time machine. He gestured for her to meet him at the door. She quickly ran down the stairs and opened the door. "Mr. Wells, where's Clark?!" she cried worriedly. "That's why I'm here, my dear. Clark has been injured. You must come with me immediately. And bring the prince." Lois ran back inside. She went straight for her bedroom and threw on some clothes. Then she hurriedly wrote a note to Martha and Jonathan explaining what had happened. She tucked it under their door and ran into the nursery. H.G. Wells had already wrapped the baby in a blanket and he quickly handed him over to Lois. They both hurried down the stairs, out the door, and into the time machine.

It was only seconds before they arrived in what Lois knew was Utopia. It looked like they were in an alley behind a small, odd-looking building. "We must hurry, and don't let the baby be seen," H.G. Wells warned Lois. She followed him around to the front of the building and then inside. Lois looked around. There was Clark, laying on a small cot...unconscious. She ran over to him. His eyelids flickered and opened. He looked up, weakly, at his beloved wife. "Oh, Clark! What happened?" Lois cried. "Oh, we had know way of knowing that he would have weapons of Kryptonite!" H.G. Wells pleaded. "What! Kryptonite?! You got him into this mess, you have to do something!" she cried. "Lois, we've tried everything. There's nothing more to do. I just wanted to tell you that I love you and you have to take care of little Lane. Without Superman, Utopia is doomed. Please take care of him. He's a part of both of us," Clark whispered weakly, "and take me back to Metropolis. I want to be buried there. It was my true home, because you were there. All my life I never felt like I fit in, but with you... And Lois, after I'm gone, you don't have to keep my secret anymore. I don't want to die with a lie still hanging over my head. And, I just want you to know how much, I...love...you..." "Clark! NO!!!" Lois screamed as Clark's eyes flickered and shut forever. Lois fainted from shock and Lane began to cry.

H.G. Wells leaned over and lifted little Lane from Lois's arms as two men walked into the small room. One lifted the body of Superman and the other Lois. The trio proceeded out to the time machine. Lois began to stir as the time machine was activated.

Lois looked over at Clark's lifeless body and began to cry again. "Lois, you have to be strong. Now, take the baby," H.G. Wells said as he began to drag the corpse from the time machine and onto the ground. He lay him beside the wall of their house. "Now, Lois. You must go inside and tell Clark's parents what has happened. You must all be strong and help each other. Be strong for Lane. Now, I must go." H.G. Wells climbed back up in the time machine and left. Lois numbly walked into the house with the baby in her arms. Martha and Jonathan were sitting on the couch when she walked in. Once they saw her face, they ran up to her. "What happened, where's Clark?" Martha cried. Lois walked past them and sat down on the couch. She looked as if she were in a trance. Ellen walked over and took the baby from her. "He's in the alley. They killed him." "Oh Jonathan, No!" Martha cried. Jonathan took a deep breath and told Sam to come with him, that he'd need his help. Martha, who was crying by now, asked Ellen to help her as she went upstairs. About ten minutes later, Jonathan and Sam walked in carrying Clark's body. Jonathan had tears in his eyes. Martha and Ellen had come down and Martha had her arms around Ellen because she couldn't bear to look at her beloved son. Lois hadn't moved. Sam took Clark in his arms and carried him upstairs to the room that Martha and Ellen had prepared. No one said anything. Martha was trying to arouse Lois from the state of shock that she was in. But she was still crying herself. Jonathan took Sam and Ellen into the kitchen and told them Clark's secret. They were shocked, and very upset. Ellen stayed in the kitchen to make everyone some coffee. Sam walked back out with Jonathan and carried Lois to her room.

Three Days Later

Over two thousand people stood around the single grave in the Metropolis Cemetery. Perry had written a special article in the Daily Planet, the day before, explaining everything about Superman. His secret identity, his death, and his child. Everyone had wanted to be at the funeral, but the police had started to turn people away once the crowd began to flow over into the street. At the front of the crowd stood Martha and Jonathan Kent and Sam and Ellen Lane. And with them stood Lois who held tightly to little baby Lane. Even the baby, who couldn't possibly know what was going on, seemed sad and had already had several crying spells.

Once the funeral was over and their beloved hero was buried, everyone turned and went sadly back to their own lives. But a hopeless cloud had been cast over everything. Superman had been the world's only true symbol of hope...and now he was gone.

Lois quietly followed the group back to the car. She was still in a state of shock which she only came out of to tend to her baby. Perry had insisted that she take at least six months off and maybe go with the Kents back to Smallville. Martha and Jonathan were eager to comply and insisted that they leave right after the funeral.

Once in Smallville, Jonathan and Martha tended to the unpacking. Lois got Lane settled down for a nap and then fell into an exhausted sleep herself.

For almost a week, she remained like this. The only times that she wasn't asleep was when she was taking care of Lane or when Martha and Jonathan forced her to do something.

Then one morning, Martha walked into Lois's room. She hadn't heard Lane cry that morning and she just wanted to make sure that everything was okay. But when she looked in Lane's crib, it was empty. And Lois was laying on her bed in a very unusual position. After a closer inspection, she discovered that there was blood coming from a small cut on Lois's head.

"Jonathan!" she screamed. Jonathan came running into the room. Martha was already shaking Lois and talking to her in an attempt to wake her. Finally, she began to come to and almost immediately, she began to scream for her baby, "They took him! We have to get im back! He's all I have left!" Jonathan came back with an ice pack for Lois's head. "Okay sweetie, just calm down. Now, who took Lane?" Martha asked gently. "Tempus!" Lois continued screaming, "Tempus, and two other men! I have to find H.G. Wells!"

As if on cue, they heard a commotion outside. Jonathan ran to the window only to see H.G. Wells and his time machine right outside. Jonathan ran to door to let him in. "Where's Prince Lane?" he cried. "They've got him! Tempus took him!" Lois screamed. "Oh my, I'm too late, just as I feared. Ms. Lane, you must come with me and we must hurry. I fear that we haven't much time." Lois stood up unsteadily, but quickly regained her composure and hurried outside to the time machine.

They soon arrived back in Utopia. They were in the same alley as before. H.G. Wells handed Lois some clothes and instructed her to go inside the building and change. He said that it would make her less conspicuous. When she came out, H.G. Wells led her down the streets of Utopia. It was no longer the city of peace and happiness which she had envisioned in her dreams. Now, it had become a vile and dreadful place. The citizens were all scared to death and many were constantly running for their lives. Tempus's men lined the streets. Each armed with some form of semi- or fully- automatic weapon from one time period or another.

Up ahead Lois could see what appeared to be a castle. H.G. Wells led the way up to the castle wall. He walked around it a little ways until he found what he was looking for. It was a loose stone. He gave it a good kick and it fell right through to the other side. It left an opening plenty large enough for each of them to crawl through. Once inside, however, they were bombarded with several very unexpected guests, Tempus's guards. The guards forced them up stairway after stairway until they were before Tempus himself. "Why Ms. Lane and oh, Herb! How nice of you to visit!" "Why are you doing this Tempus?!" Lois cried, "You've already killed my husband. Are you going to kill me and my child now too?!" "No! Of course not. I would never hurt an innocent little baby. I'm going to raise him as my own son and he'll be just as evil as I am and have as much fun as I do! But, as for the two of you, well, duh!" The guards hoisted Lois and H.G. Wells to their feet. They carried them to the castle's dungeon and threw them into a cell.

"What are we going to do?" Lois cried. "Oh, don't worry, my dear. We'll get out of this," H.G. Wells assured her as he tried to jimmy the lock. Finally, the door popped open and the two snuck quietly out of the cell.

They made their way up countless flights of stairs and down countless halls until finally, they heard a baby cry. H.G. Wells grabbed Lois just before she went running into the room. "You mustn't let them know where we are. Don't worry. We will get him back. He quietly walked over to the door and peeked in. There was only one guard in the room and he was at a loss trying to quiet the screaming child. Eventually, he gave up and went to find someone who would know what to do. Lois and H.G. Wells hid in an adjacent hallway until the guard was gone. Then Lois quickly hurried into the room and grabbed her son. Instantly little Lane quit crying. But as she turned around, she felt something sharp in her back. The guard had returned and now he had a gun in her back. Tempus was there also and he walked over and took the baby away. "What are you going to do to us, Tempus?" H.G. Wells asked. "Well, duh! I'm going to kill you. Shoot her!" A loud BANG!!! rang throughout the castle as the gun went off. Lois let out a little shriek as she slowly fell to the floor.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .