Fixing Up A Car Turned Girl (backdated)

[clockwork_doc]

After meeting up with Clark in the Nexus, Doc's been getting things ready for him to come over and help him and Marty with the repairs on Dee's car form. He's been putting this off for far too long, thanks to some anxieties about what exactly Dee feels, and whether it's even right for him to do anything to her. Dee's assured him about fifty million times that she feels no pain, though, and she really wants to be fixed. And having Marty around now makes things rather easier than before. End result -- he's finally ready to get Dee back to full functioning condition -- or, at least, as close as they can get.

Finally, three days after Clark appeared, everything's set up. Tools and parts are in orderly piles in the parking lot, as are Dee, Marty, and Doc. "We all set, Doc?" Marty asks, looking around.

"I believe we are," Doc says, going over his mental checklist. "Dee? Anything missing that you can see?"

"Nope!" Dee bounces happily on her heels. This is gonna be fun! "Go ahead and call, Dad!"

"Okay!" Doc goes ahead and sends a text message to Clark's PINpoint: Clark -- it's me, Doc. We're all ready to get to work if you are. Let me know if you're in a position to come over.

Comments

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

He nods with a smile. "Yeah. Victor Allen, also known as Doc." The irony does not escape him here, and he gives a slightly apologetic glance at this Doc. "She's been doing the hero thing for years now, actually. And her husband, who is also a hundred percent ordinary human."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Doc laughs a little. "So she's got either the same name as our Victor or the same name as me. That's something you wouldn't expect even out of the Nexus."

"That's pretty cool," Marty says, though he looks slightly puzzled. "Though -- Victor? Not Victoria?" Dee adds her own questioning honk.

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Clark shrugs, and pulls out another component of the flying circuits, turning it over in his hands to see how bad the damage is. "It's her name. Sometimes she goes by Vic, though. If that helps make things less confusing."

His pupils contract as he stares at the circuit, almost like a bionic eye might, examining it on a microscopic level. Then a short burst of pinpoint-accurate heat vision to solder a few connections, and he slots it back in.

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

"Just wondering -- you don't see many women going by Victor," Marty says with a shrug.

Doc watches as Clark does his heat vision thing. "Now that I could see being useful," he says approvingly. "Make certain repairs a lot easier."

"Hey, don't you still have the ability to fix just about anything with pocket lint?" Marty notes.

"Only very temporarily, and only if I really concentrate. Trust me, that's the better power." Pause. "Once you get past the awkward phase."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"I can also make popcorn and toast," he agrees with a grin, and he's actually not joking. Heat vision toast is the best toast. "One of the nice things about superpowers is you don't need to save them for the big serious stuff, you know? I was putting up fences by hand by the time I was fourteen, and it only took so long because Dad thought I might somehow put a nail through my hand when I pushed them in. I also have absolutely no need for potholders or oven mitts."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

"Lucky," Marty says. "I guess I could put on a really good concert if I wanted."

"So long as I don't make myself upset, I don't have to suffer any bad weather I don't want to," Doc adds with a smile of his own. "And what Fae-granted powers I retain are actually perfect for more mundane utilities. Marty just mentioned I can fix anything temporarily with whatever's on hand. I can also break something in a minor way with just a touch, or cause something to run perfectly for a short time. Both take a bit to actually get working, though -- they were severely weakened when I got my weather powers. I used to be able to manipulate metal too, but that was completely removed by the Rift."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Clark thinks about that for a minute while he continues to work. "So what you're saying is you're magical MacGyver," he says, raising an eyebrow teasingly.

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Dee does a little series of honks, apparently also amused. "Pretty much," Doc allows. "Though I'd like to reiterate that the repairs from the first power don't last very long -- a day at most. Same with the Blessing of Perfection -- though if you really want one, Dee, I'll give it to you once we're done," he says. Dee beeps in a currently noncommittal way.

"From what I've heard, he was always like that, even before that bastard Andrew took everything up a notch," Marty comments, leaning against the DeeLorean. "Doc's just good."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"Gotcha," he nods. "I was kind of wondering why you couldn't fix all the damage that way. That makes sense."

"Always? So you were born with these powers?" It's a relevant topic, with him.

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

"Trust me, I'd love to," Doc says, finally getting to the place he needs to be. He lightly brushes his fingers over it, feeling a little odd. He knows he has to do this, knows Dee wants him to do this, but still. . . .

Marty notices and goes around to pat his shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just -- getting used to the idea," he says. Taking a deep breath, he gets back to work. "No," he says in response to Clark's question. "Got them as a result of being brought to Arcadia. I think what Marty meant is that I've always had a reputation as a tinkerer."

"One who could do some pretty crazy stuff," Marty nods.

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Clark pauses in a moment, in concern, but not wanting to interfere unless he's needed. Marty and Doc know each other a lot better than he does, after all, and he wouldn't want to intrude.

"Ah." It reminds him a lot of meteor freaks back home, where their powers usually refer back to part of their personality, or hobbies, or some other aspect of themselves. But this was something that was done to Doc on purpose, sort of, so he won't bring up bad memories if he can get around it. "I know you're not the exact same as your... movie selves, but did you ever build that crazy Rube Goldberg dog food thing?" If anyone understands what it feels like to feel completely separate from your so-called "canon" self, it's Clark.

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Doc shakes his head with a sigh. "No. Not that I didn't have ideas for something like it, but. . . ." He sighs again, this time causing a little breeze to stir up. "A lot of what you see at the beginning of the first movie is stuff I never got around to doing. I was still teaching college when Andrew got me. It was 1965 the last time I saw Hill Valley."

"1983 when I got caught," Marty nods. "I guess I'm the one who's closer to -- movie-me." He shakes his head. "Does that ever not get awkward to think about?"

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Well, so much for not stirring up bad memories. The problem with talking to people sometimes is that everyone has hidden land mines, dark areas that you might step into unwittingly, and sometimes it's impossible to tell where they are until you've already put your foot into it. Clark's getting better at it, but he's on a roll today, it seems.

"Speaking as someone who's apparently supposed to become the prolific superhero ever? No, not really." He frowns a little. "I'm working on trying to think of myself as Kal-El, though. Not... instead of Clark, but kind of... you know. It is my name."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Sorry Clark, but these guys are just bundles of issues. Marty's better at hiding it than Doc, usually, but he's got his share of landmines. But hey, everybody's like that in some way or another.

"I know a bit of how you feel," Doc says. "Someone recognized me in the Nexus once. Actually wanted my autograph. I explained I wasn't the same Doc Brown as in the movies, but. . . ." He shifts awkwardly before getting back to his work. "It was both rather flattering and a little embarrassing."

"Yeah, but Clark's got comics and movies -- two different universes," Marty points out. "So he's got twice the weirdness following him." He frowns at Clark. "Uh -- actually, I don't know. I mean, I know Kal-El is your Kryptonian name, but I don't get how it relates to -- you mean, like focusing on that instead of Superman? 'Cause I think you're all Kal-El. Don't quote me on that, though."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

He looks a little appalled at the autograph thing. "God, I know exactly what you mean. I actually had someone disappointed that I know how to drive a tractor, because apparently that isn't Superman-ly of me."

"Actually, it's three," he says, very very reluctantly. "There's a television show, apparently." But he's in agreement on how annoying it is to constantly be compared to people who aren't really you. "Well, before when I've gone by that name, it's had kind of the whole... world-conquering alien overlord thing attached to it. Like if I called myself that, it meant I was being a true Kryptonian and not caring about humanity. But it's what Jor-El calls me, and so did the Disciples of Zod, and I just... should probably get used to hearing it. It doesn't mean I'm leaving my human name behind. Just accepting more of myself. It's a work in progress, kind of."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Both Marty and Doc give him a funny look for that one. "Not Supermanly -- I'm pretty sure you were raised on a farm no matter what version the person knows," Marty says slowly. "Sheesh, people. I'm glad I haven't met anyone who's a fan of the movie yet." Don't give your mun ideas, Marty.

"Now I have this horrible urge to go and see if our movies have any alternate continuities of that nature," Doc says. "A trilogy as successful as I've heard BTTF is, there has to be some sort of spinoff." (Setting up a future Marty post? The mun has nooo idea what you're talking about.)

"Oooh, I get it," Marty nods. "Sort of -- reclaiming it from the whole 'conqueror of the world' thing."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"That's what I thought," he agrees. "And you can hardly fault me for knowing how to drive a tractor or milk cows or put up a pasture in that sort of situation."

"There could be. When April and I had our first movie date, we found out her world's version of a film differed from the one I knew. Different actors, for one. And not all franchises exist in all universes. I haven't run into very many people who know about Warrior Angel, myself."

He thinks about that for a moment. "That's sort of it. It's a little weird, but being human actually made me want to be Kryptonian more. I've spent years denying who I am and pretending I'm human, even to those who're in on my secret. I've still been thinking of myself as human, but I'm not. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I need to come to terms with who and what I really am. And part of that is my name. I'm the last of my people and it's time I started honoring that part of me."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

"Precisely," Doc agrees, installing what he needs to install. He pauses again, but a reassuring rumble from Dee gets him moving once more. "Besides, who's to judge what's Supermanly and what isn't? Especially with three canons to choose from?"

"And all the craziness in the comics," Marty nods. "Never heard of Warrior Angel either, sorry. Is it any good?"

Both Doc and Marty nod. "Nothing wrong with that," Doc says. "Personal identity can be a tough thing to get a handle on, but it's always better to know who you really are." An issue near and dear to Doc's heart.

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yeah. Warrior Angel is huge in my world. Kind of like my world's version of... me, I guess." Which is still kind of embarrassing to think about.

"Speaking as someone who's had amnesia twice, I totally agree." It's a teensy bit of a joke, although it's still true. "I don't think I'm quite ready to put my family symbol on my chest or anything though. Seems a bit pretentious... which my people kinda were, granted."

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

"What, with the cape and -- well, if he's Warrior Angel, I'd guess he'd have wings," Marty corrects himself. "But man, that's a little weird."

"Twice?! The once was quite enough for me," Doc says, looking rather stunned. "And yes, I've picked that up from what you've said. I don't think even Jor-El can force you into doing that if you don't want to."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"No, no wings, you were right the first time. Big red cape, kinda flashy... oh, and bald. Lex was a big fan."

Clark nods. "Once when I was brainwashed by Jor-El, and once when I got zapped by a meteor freak with the power to take memories. It kind of backfired and instead of taking a few minutes it wiped out everything." He looks hella uncomfortable when Doc mentions he doesn't think Jor-El could force him to wear the symbol. "Um, technically he already has once."

[museicalmarty.livejournal.com]

"A guy named Warrior Angel should have wings," is Marty's opinion. "And maybe armor."

"Once when you were -- what?" Doc stares at Clark for a long moment, wind startling to swirl up around them. "Why are you even--"

"Doc," Marty says, seeing the beginnings of a potential storm.

Doc forces himself to calm down a little. Sorry, Clark, you just managed to hit one of his major hot buttons. "Sorry," he says, turning back to his work. "I just -- he did that to you, and -- what? How?"

"Guessing it has something to do with the time he screwed with your head," Marty says, though he doesn't look any happier about it than Doc does.

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Clark doesn't want to make Doc upset, or make anyone upset. "The thing about Jor-El... he may sound like my father and act like my father, but he's still a computer. Someone programmed him. And I'm guessing it was in a hurry, before the planet exploded. He can be a bit glitchy, and it doesn't make what he does okay but it does explain some of it."

He shakes his head. "No, this was actually before that. He wanted me to abandon my human life and go on some big Kryptonian quest, and since I was still under the impression his goal was for me to conquer, I said no. So he burned the symbol into my chest." He traces it out, where the scar was, and it's kind of horrifyingly large (http://redirectingat.com/?id=12593X700933&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.wikia.com%2Fsmallville%2Fimages%2Fe%2Fe6%2FSmallville-301-05.jpg&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fsmallville.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FMark_of_El).

[clockwork-doc.livejournal.com]

Making Doc upset is a bad idea, yes, since "upset" can equal "hurricane" or "tornado" with him. "I know," he says quietly. "I said as much before, didn't I? I just. . .it's a bit of a sensitive issue with me. I wish it wasn't, trust me." Stupid Arcadia ruining everything. . . .

Doc and Marty stare. "That's not glitchy, that's psychotic," Marty says.

"I don't know if it can be truly psychotic if it's an AI--" Doc starts.

"It so can! Haven't you ever heard of HAL?"

"Who?" Doc's surprisingly modern pop-culture knowledge apparently still has a hole or two.

"2001: A Space Odyssey? Wait, maybe that came out later than Andrew got you -- it was in the 60s sometime. Crazy computer starts killing astronauts."

[kalel-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

"I'm only handling this as well as I am because it was a few years ago, and I've had some help since. And Jor-El and I have come to an... understanding." Which isn't really the sort of father-son relationship that would be ideal, mind you, but it's something. "It was about a year before I found the Nexus, anyway. It was kind of disturbing for a while, seeing versions of me who wore it proudly by choice when I didn't have that."