"Go By"

///chapter thirteen///




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Chapter 13/part 1


*


Smallville, Kansas.

Population 11,001.

At least that’s what the sign read as their car flew by. The name fit the community perfectly, but Chloe didn’t remember it being quite this small. There weren’t as may cars as she remembered on the county road leading into town and even fewer houses dotting the vacant fields.

After the historic twister strikes of 2001, Smallville and its infrastructure was torn apart. Chloe remembered the last days she spent there, carnage thrown about, shards of glass and timber wrecking everything. Nothing resembled what it used to be.

Main street, Reeves dam and Smallville High had all been renovated and rebuilt; the community taking strides in redeveloping its home back to its prime, optimistic for a silver age of Lowell County’s smallest town.

It would have been a golden age, those years following, if the largest employer in the county hadn’t abandoned it.

Luthor Corp’s fertilizer plant withstood catastrophic damages from the storm and remained closed for months. CEOs and Luthor spokespersons all rambled the same mantra, that the plant would open again, jobs replenished, livings improved by the seal of Mr. Luthor himself.

But, the plant never did reopen.

After Lionel Luthor’s death, his only heir abandoned his confinement from the mysterious mansion in the hills, and ordered a complete demolition of every Luthor interest in the county.

Acres of where the plant used to be were leveled, now grown over with tall grass and weed, a quiet footprint of what used to be.

The Luthor mansion, a place that always reminded Chloe of a Satis House, was also demolished under the order of Lex, perhaps in spite of his father, and burned to the ground until nothing remained except for black ash and earth.

Those little houses that used to dot the fields were fewer and far between, all of them previously owned by Luthor and leased out to its abandoned workers. Thousands that depended on a pay check stamped by the dead Luthor were turned away by the younger, distant heir, so they left in hopes to rebuild their lives without Smallville. It was what plant employee Gabe Sullivan had done for his family. And it’s how Chloe remembered leaving.

But as she returned, she realized that all of how she remembered that small town had changed.

Previous sites that Luthor reserved for future construction were reclaimed by lush green, tangled vines and weeds, effulgent in the bold sunlight that was often lost in the fog of larger cities. The fields seemed healthier now that nature was allowed to roam free without outside influence. Or was the brilliant green hue influenced by something else?

Chloe wondered how many meteor rocks were still hidden among those fields.

Wildflowers spilled through farm lands that were left unkept for what looked like years; their bright pedals stirring in the same wind that teased strands of golden hair drifting in front of her eyes. Chloe surveyed the landscape pensively, recounting those parts of town that she could only revisit in memory.

Jimmy drove them farther into Lowell County. Each mile farther from where they‘d came and each mile closer to where they were headed.

It was the journey that inspired more confidence in what they were accomplishing, the elusive story Chloe had chased for years becoming more clear with every mile marker.

They were looking for a girl named Alicia Baker. A girl who had escaped from Belle Reeve Sanitarium weeks ago, and to which Chloe believed, fled not to far from home. Jimmy and Chloe were driving to
Smallville to look for Alicia, any clue to the key person who might shed light on the crimes Luthor committed against the meteor infected.

They were looking for answers in those grown over fields of straw.
Answers that were buried there along with the abandoned rubble of the fertilizer plant and the skeletons of Luthor interests. Chloe was sure she’d find answers in Smallville, the origin of the meteor showers and the home of meteor infected. But, she wasn’t just looking for Alicia Baker.

Chloe was also looking for Clark Kent.

After breaking into Luthor’s secret and equally strange warehouse, Clark had disappeared, or so it had seemed. The mysterious copy boy had stopped showing up for work, and strangely, without any word or reason. Two days passed in Clark’s absence before a new copy boy was hired, the flux of the newspaper never missing a step in its waltz of headlines and deadlines.

For years, Chloe had adapted to that routine. The one that consisted of Clark lurking somewhere on the fringe, somewhere in the back of her mind, somewhere in the corner of her eye. And for years she had ignored it in the thought that he might have been a figment, an obsession, a stupid infatuation. But now that he truly wasn’t there, she kept looking out for him, searching, and imagining that he was just beyond that far corner where she had glimpsed him once before.

It only made it more of a fixation, a constant, sort of mania that she’d see him this time, or that next time she looked around the corner.

But he wasn’t there, not anymore.

In fact, there wasn’t any sign or word of him, as if he had dropped right out of the world. The only traces of Clark she could find were that of her research, which were only fuel to the fire that led here.

Papers fluttered in her lap with each breeze escaping through the car window. They were print outs of Jimmy’s photos documenting their night inside the warehouse. Scours of photos, illustrating the strangest symbols and glyphs, all of them remaining elusive to Chloe. She had lent them to one of Oliver Queen’s personal physicist and researcher, Dr. Emile Hamilton. He deciphered the intricate mathematics and formulas that were scribbled down in Dr. Virgil Swann’s earlier days, bridging the gap that Dr. Swann left behind.

Hamilton explained that the journals were estimated trajectories, or rather, predicted projections of astrological bodies entering an atmosphere, much like the meteor shower Smallville had experienced fifteen years before.

These formulas were typical of a astrological physicist like Swann, except these journal entries were dated twenty years before the meteors had ever touched down. And even stranger, abbreviated notations where Swann predicted a second meteor shower, even larger than the first.

That aside, there were the other mysteries stored in that warehouse.

The piles of junked vehicles, planes, trains and structures, all arranged in a similar fashion one would a very large chess table, each piece crucial to the master mind’s game.

Fundamentally, it was simple correlating Lex’s collectables. The serial number from the train engine ran back to a decommissioned Metropolis unit that had experienced brake failure during its route through the city. The report stated the engine was traveling 120 mph, the rails shuddering from the velocity, the cabins rocking back and forth, bound to derail. That is, before it inexplicably came to a slow and steady stop, arriving just at its location, not a minute too soon. Passengers recounted seeing a red, or blue blur smudging their windows; the train conductor unable to explain the large indentions to the front of the engine, never coming in collision with anything but hope and faith those minutes of impending disaster.

The story was the same for all the registration numbers collected. All of them involved in some sort of incident that always ended the same way. A red and blue blur, and another day saved. Every time.

Every, except one.

Lex’s Porsche didn’t share the same mysterious hero. In fact, Chloe remembered that day Lex drove over off the bridge like it was yesterday, which surprised her when she realized it had been years ago.

That day, there was no red or blue blur.


There was only Clark.


"We’re almost there."

Chloe stirred in her seat, still swimming in those elusive reds and blues that arrested her thoughts, clashing with the miles of green blurring by her. "Wow, Jimmy. I didn’t know the drive could be cut in half. Used to take me three hours at least." She laughed a little and added a smile.

"Yeah well," Jimmy shrugged and hid a grin, "let’s just say I took all the short cuts."

Chloe smiled, frowning invisibly, a vague semblance of dejavu passing through her. She’d felt this strange sensation all morning but labeled it as sentimentality before. Only now, the feeling felt more surreal as if her return to this small forgotten town was inevitable. It felt like road back was waiting for her.

That thought fizzled away once a yellow blur smeared by her periphery. She turned her head, craning to see behind them and just as if the fate had read her mind, she heard a pop, Jimmy slam on the breaks, they stopping in their tracks.

"Looks like we got a flat."

The car flopped along to a stop on the dirt road, the sun hitting the hood with a white and blinding light. There were no other cars around, and it was another few miles until they reached Main St.

Jimmy stepped out and went around to the trunk, leaving Chloe alone to dither in her thoughts once more.




Red.




Blue.




Clark.





A blur.







The pieces.



Together, they aligned so perfectly it scared the sense out of her.
Why was it so simple to see now? Why did it take so long for her to just flip the pieces she’d held in her hands for years? It was obvious.
It was right there in her face.





It was Clark.





It was all Clark.




The car shook after Jimmy slammed the trunk, a slur of irregular cussing coming from the back of the car. Chloe folded up her papers and jumped out to join her photographer who leaned against the side.

"Guess what? This is Lois’ flat from the other night." He poked at the dud in the trunk and then gave it a half hearted kick. "It’s worthless.
All we have are two flat tires and four miles of road until we hit a gas station."

She closed her eyes and held her head. "Damn, that’s right, I switched it out with Lois' after I promised I’d replace hers." She shook her head and looked at him sheepishly, "I must have forgotten to get this one repaired."

Jimmy blinked, "Yeah, you’ve been distracted all week."

Her face turned guilty, but Jimmy encouraged her with a smile, lifting the oversized rubber donut from its bay. Whatever was sidetracking
Chloe lately, Jimmy knew it had to be beyond the usual story chasing. She was quiet lately, pensive.

"It’s ok, we just need to find a tire shop." He said as he wobbled it out. "And since neither one of us have AAA, it looks like we’re walking." He started off, and then turned around when he didn’t hear her footsteps behind him. She was walking in the opposite direction, staring at a yellow house sitting way off in the distance. "Chloe?"

When she didn’t answer, Jimmy stopped, and stood, patiently watching as strands of golden hair moved with the slight breeze and how it came to rest among her slight shoulders. She’d been distant for days, and he knew her mind was way off in the clouds this time.
Somewhere drifting over the rich blue sky over where that yellow house sat next to a barn. It was picturesque country scene, and
Jimmy tried imagining her growing up there along the dirt roads, with the sunshine and the cows. It was different world entirely from where they’d grown up together, so isolated and far away from Metropolis, the city that lived in the sky. So opposite of here. Here, everything was low to the ground and quiet. Humble. It was hard to believe such a town experienced a catastrophic meteor shower. That a town so small could have harbored so much tragedy.

"Jimmy," she turned to him finally, a mysterious smile capturing him entirely, " I think I know where we can find help."


*
Only this place had never changed.

The yellow farm house was just as bright as she remembered, it sitting next to the large red barn that she had visited often in her childhood. Time hadn’t touched the Kent Farm, not the shady oak, nor the wooden fence, not even the pair of trucks sitting in the drive way. One blue, and one red.

"Kent, huh?" Jimmy read from the mailbox, and shrugged off the heavy tire from his tired shoulders. He soaked up the sweat from his forehead with the back of his sleeve, looking at his blonde friend skeptically. Jimmy knew full well that it was more than a coincidence that their path had led there. All of the Chloe’s research had circled around that guy, Clark, and it was becoming obvious that his best friend had a preoccupation with the guy.

"Cars are here, maybe someone’s home." Jimmy said, climbing up the stairs to lean on the post. Chloe knocked on the door, once, twice and then waited.

And waited.

"Or not." Jimmy wiped his sweaty brow and knocked on the door.
"Hello?"

"Mr. Kent? Mrs. Kent?" Chloe shouted through the mesh screen door and then stepped back. She waited a moment, and then called again.
"Clark?"

"Chloe, I don’t think anyone’s home."

She sighed and crossed over the porch, not giving up. "Looks that way."

Jimmy watched her march off the porch, making a b-line for the red barn next to it. "What are you doing?" He followed her.

"The Kents might have a extra tire lying around in the barn." She said this as if it made perfectly sense to her, and went right into the open bay doors, none of the structure being locked from prying eyes. The barn was cool and shady, such a oasis for a hot day that it was. But Chloe wasn’t here to rest in the shade.

She was on a mission. Jimmy watched her march up the winding staircase that led to a upper level. He looked up at her, "Chloe, what do you think you’re doing?"

"Looking for a spare."

"Up there?" Jimmy blinked. "Don’t you think they might keep their spare tires with their trucks which are down here and out there?" He pointed towards the house.

She didn’t answer, only scanning the musty loft and the familiar contents that she’d sadly forgotten about. Clark’s little hangout hadn’t changed much, and there was still that old beaten up couch that sat by itself. The telescope was right by the window, as always.

There were yearbooks on a desk in the corner, and she picked one up, fingering it until a dried white flower fell to the wooden boards, it pressed within the pages. She bent down and picked it up gingerly, the memory on the tip of her recollection…

"Chloe." Jimmy was at the top of the steps now. "What are we doing? I thought we were supposed to be looking for Alicia."

"We are." She fumbled with the fragile flower and placed it back inside the book.

"No, we’re not." Jimmy took the book from her hands and placed it back on the desk. "You’re snooping in a barn, looking through high school year books."

She drew him a stiff look.

Jimmy breathed, and stepped back. "Chlo, now’s not the time to be going down memory lane, okay?"

"I’m not!" She crossed over to another stack of books, "Jimmy, this is Clark’s old house. There's bound to be information here about him or where he's been. I’m trying to figure out why Clark stopped showing up for work after that night, I mean aren’t you interested?"

He looked around and shrugged, "Well, I mean, the guy got shot. I figured he probably called it quits." Chloe broke open the dog-earred pages and started skimming. "Plus, I thought the guy creeped you out. I thought you said he was working for Lex?"

"He might be." Chloe turned several pages, frowning, "Or maybe not. I don’t know." She shook her head.

Jimmy sighed, picking up a book of his own. "Geeze, are these all about astronomy?" He turned it over. "Foreword by Doctor Virgil Swann. Isn’t that---?"

"Yes, it is." Chloe looked up at Jimmy, the understanding between them finally caught up. Virgil Swann was the same physicist that they'd found libraries of research of in Lex's warehouse."Everything that involves finding Alicia means finding out more about Clark. And considering Clark's just as interested in astrophysics as Lex is, I consider it a lead. It’s the only connection I have from Lex to Alicia."

Jimmy nodded, pulling out his pocket camera. "Alright, I’ll start over here."

Chloe nodded, and returned to the desk and opened a drawer. There was a grey metal box just inside. Waiting to be opened.

She opened it. A meteor rock.

A meteor rock?

Barking. There was a dog barking outside. Chloe frowned. She didn't remember Clark having a dog.

She ran to the open loft window, finding a third car in the driveway now. "Someone's here."

"Yeah, no kidding." Jimmy shuffled the scattered books but into place and joined her at the window. "C'mon, let's get out of here, before they find us snopping in their stuff." He whispered with urgency, also tugging on her cuff with equal urgency.

"Wait."

"Wait?" He cried within a whisper. "Chloe, they could be coming up here with pitchforks and shotguns--"

She turned to him then, squinting. "Jimmy, we're in Kansas, not some backwoods, medieval village. Besides, this is the Kent's were
talking about." She peered over the window again and smiled.
"Martha Kent to be exact."

*
"Shhhh, Shelby. Quiet! What’s gotten into you, huh?" Martha spoke, curling her fingers into the dog’s coat. The woman that Chloe remembered so fondly looked just the same as she last left , only her lustrous red hair might have had a few grey strands here and there. A rambunctious red haired dog was at her heels, jumping and talking as she removed grocery bags from the passenger seat, her arms already full with so many. Shleby growled when Chloe and
Jimmy peaked out from the barn door, their feet crunching the gravel, catching Martha’s attention. "Oh."

"Hi!" Chloe smiled brightly, waving awkwardly as she approached.
"Mrs. Kent, so good to see you."

"Chloe Ann Sullivan? Is that you?" Martha squinted, setting the bags down.

Chloe smiled again. Once she was arms length away, she was taken aback when Martha wrapped hers around, and squeezed enthusiastically. "Oh!"

It took a good minute for Martha to finish hugging her properly, and a few minutes after that to really let go. Her voice was muffled next to Chloe's ear, buried within her long hair and suit jacket.

Martha Kent exclaimed how much Chloe had grown, and how wonderful she'd grown up to be, how much she hardly recognized her, but in a funny way, stayed just the same as she remember the little spunky girl that used to come over on Saturdays to call for her son.

The older woman stroked a strand of long blonde hair away from her face, and Chloe placed her hand ontop of hers, smiling shyly, "I’m sorry to drop in on you like this, but our car had a flat--"

"Oh, please don’t apologize! Don’t you remember how welcome you are to our home? Please, come in." Martha handed her a brown paper grocery bag, and Chloe bent her head in to smell.

Blueberries.

It wasn’t until she turned around that she realized Jimmy was standing patiently, waiting to be introduced.

Chloe smiled, waving him over. "Oh, um, Mrs. Kent I'd like you to meet Jimmy Olsen."

Martha nodded in approval, smiled warmly. "James, nice to meet you."

James, Chloe smirked, but noticed that Jimmy seemed to like it. He held out his hand, and smiled.

"You too, Mrs. Kent."

She batted away his hand, and pulled him in for a hug, and laughed when she felt him stiffen in response. "There, now. What’s this about car trouble?"

Jimmy smiled and explained, "Our spare tire was, um," he surreptitiously spied at Chloe, "well it turned out to be just as useless as the flat, and we need to repair it."

Martha studied the lame tire laying on drive. "Don’t tell me you dragged that heavy thing? Just how far away are you broken down?"

He smiled crookedly and spied Chloe from the side. "Just a few miles down the road."

Martha’s eyes widened, "You must be exhausted. Come in, I have iced tea and I can make you some lunch." She grabbed Jimmy by one elbow and Chloe by the other.

"Actually," Chloe slowed and turned, "I was hoping I could talk to Clark. Is he home?"

Martha slowed and patted Shelby who had calmed down and sniffed the two visitors carefully. Martha’s expression seemed equally careful when she spoke. "Clark’s not home right now."

"He isn’t?" Chloe frowned, "Isn’t that his truck?" She looked at the red one.

Martha stood between them and it, almost defensively. "Well, yes. But you know Clark doesn’t always drive."

Chloe stared a little longer at Martha and the red paint of the truck bed. She looked at the blue one. "Is Mr. Kent home?"

Jimmy and Chloe both watched the genial expression drop from Martha’s laugh lines. She looked, sad. "Clark didn’t tell you." She smiled despite the anguish in her eyes. "Jonathan passed away. Two years ago."

Chloe’s lips parted, shocked. "Uh, I… I’m so sorry. I had no idea."

Martha’s smile reappeared and said with understanding, "Well if Clark didn’t tell you, how could you know?"

She nodded, but the raw embarrassment and guilt still crept up to her cheeks. "I’m so sorry." Her voice dripped with empathy. She reached out and hugged Martha again, this time, thoroughly. Chloe’s mother had died, a long time ago, but she still felt a part of her missing. In fact, Martha Kent was as close of a mother figure that Chloe had ever had. Realizing this, Chloe hugged tighter, not wanting to let go.

"It’s ok, sweetie." Martha’s lines appeared happily again as she pulled back and planted a kiss on the younger woman’s temple.

"Mrs. Kent, I really need to talk to Clark." Chloe studied her eyes closely, "He quit work, and he didn’t give any resignation." Chloe sighed heavily, trying to edit her thoughts. "The other day, Clark followed me and Jimmy into some trouble--"

"Trouble?" Martha stared back.

"Not big trouble, just a little trouble. Anyways, I’m worried. Is Clark here, is he with you?"

"Chloe, what kind of trouble are you in?" Martha shook her by the elbows.

"We’re not the ones in trouble," Chloe spoke, " it’s Clark. He’s somehow gotten tied up with Lex Luthor--"

"Luthor?" Martha’s voice raised. Her syllables were indignant and heavy. "My son doesn’t go anywhere near the Luthors. Never."

"Ok," Chloe’s voice cooed, "But I just need to talk to him. I’m worried something might happen to him."

Martha blinked. "Happen, like what? What will happen?"

"I--" Chloe sighed, "I just need to talk to him. Please, do you know where he is?"

"No." Martha shook her head, and said sadly, "You know, I always asked my son about you, Chloe. I always thought..." She smiled, and then shook her head, "Well nevermind what I always thought.
Anyways, when Clark told me he'd actually seen you in the city, it
took me weeks to drag out of him where exactly. He didn't tell me you both worked together until much later. My son just doesn't tell me these things anymore."

Chloe frowned, looking up into Martha's sad eyes. "Do you know where he might be?"

Martha studied her closely, and then very carefully let go. "To be honest," she nodded and looked at Chloe with dark eyes, "I haven’t seen my son since--"

"Since breakfast."

All three of them turned around, Martha looking equally surprised as
the rest of them.

"Clark!" She launched herself into her son’s arms, dropping her groceries everywhere. Shelby danced and sang at their feet, greeting Clark as if he hadn’t been home for weeks.

Chloe studied the dark haired man with dark rimmed glasses. He wasn’t wearing his rumpled suit she was accustomed to seeing him at the Planet, nor was he wearing the red and blue getup she remembered from childhood. Clark was wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, nothing ever more modest and unassuming.

It was a good disguise, Chloe thought, now that she had a lead onto Clark’s real story.

"Mom," he smiled shyly and spoke to Martha with his shielded eyes,
"I know I said I'd be out in the fields all day," he covertly winked, "but I heard Shelby barking and came back right away."

Martha nodded to this, and patted her son’s sturdy chest. "I’m glad you came back." She smiled. "Anyways, we have company."

Clark was already focused on the tiny blonde. "I know."

Jimmy shook Clark’s hand as he smiled politely. "Hi, Jimmy. Nice to see you."

"Likewise, C.K." Jimmy grinned. "How’s the shoulder?"

He blinked before it finally snapped. "Oh, right. Yeah, it’s healing. Almost good as new." He looked at Martha before she could ask, and she nodded as an understanding.

Clark gave his perfunctory smile, and then settled back at the unusually quiet blonde standing alone. She looked different, he thought. Her expression somewhere between accusatory and curiosity. "Hi." He said, unsure if he should step towards her or just let her come to him. He decided she should make all the moves, just incase.

"Hi." She said back, not moving.

Martha cleared her throat, and handed Jimmy a bag of groceries. "Well, how about you help me with these and we’ll get some iced tea ready."

Jimmy took his cue and followed Martha inside, Shelby rounding the back, which left Clark and Chloe alone. Clark leaning against the truck and Chloe across from him.

"So, what brings you to back here?"

"Clark," she went straight for her line of questioning, "I need to know how you got inside that facility. Why you were there?"

He lowered his eyes. "I was following a story, like you."

She narrowed hers. "Really? Which story?"

"The same as yours. You were looking for Alicia Baker, so…" he shrugged, making leeway into his alibi, "I thought I could help. I thought you could use an extra set of eyes."

"Or four, right?" she quipped at his awkward glasses, but showed no smile. She knew he was hiding something, and this time, she wasn’t going to let him squeak by with his good looks. "Clark, I know you’re not telling me the truth. And if you were, you would have come to me
if you wanted to team up. But instead, you’ve been skirting around, following us, and I want to know why. And why you’ve stopped since that night." She stepped closer, searching his eyes that he hid behind dark frames. "Why can’t I trust you?"

He looked up, "I thought you said you did trust me."

"I'm not so sure I can. Can I?"

He frowned, looking at her deeper. "Chloe, it’s me."

She shook her head slowly. "I’m not sure I know who that is anymore."

"Chloe, I’m.." He sighed, looking back at the yellow house, back to the yellow strands of her hair, then to her eyes. "I’m the same person you knew back in high school. I haven’t changed."

She looked him up and down, her expression softening. "I know." She shook her head as an apology. "I know that. I just, for some reason, actually, for every reason I know I shouldn’t trust you. But, I can’t help it." She smiled nervously. "I just have this feeling inside that I’m should." Her voice trailed off at the last bit, the knot in her stomach not able to decide if it wanted to melt or grow tighter.

She watched hin breathe a sigh of relief, pushing up his glasses that had slipped down his nose.

"Where have you been? Hiding out here all this time?" She looked to the calm fields and the way it shook with the breeze. Clark's dark hair rustled too against his forehead, and it brought her attention to his eyes, too blue and honest to be real.

"No, I..." He shrugged his large shoulders. "I didn't think you needed--" He caught himself, "I mean, I didn't think the Planet needed me."

Chloe frowned at this. "The Planet always needs you, Clark."

The words echoed between them.

They found themselves tangled in a dreamy look before it was Chloe who cleared the air.

"I was worried," she continued, closing the distance between them, "when you stopped showing up at work, I thought you might’ve been captured by Luthor."

"Why would you think Luthor would be interested in me?"
She stared. "Clark," she stepped closer, "Lex has been collecting the meteor infected. He has been for years."

"You think I’m meteor infected?"

"Clark. That warehouse was practically a shrine of your work. Lex has collected every single shred of evidence against Metropolis’ Blur--"

"What does that have anything to do with me?"

Chloe blinked, eyes staring hard. "Please don’t tell me you’re still trying to cover this up. Lex’s Porsche was in there, Clark. You can’t tell me the Blur did that too. You were the only one there that day."

His eyes squeezed shut. "Chloe I’m not meteor infected."

"Clark, I want to trust you but you have to start telling me the truth."

"Chloe, I am telling you the truth."

"No, Clark! You’re not!" She said, storming off. "You’ve been absolutely secretive, which I can understand. I know being meteor infected isn’t exactly something you want to wear on your sleeve, but considering what I did to your shoulder, I thought that maybe that secret between us would’ve opened a few more doors of trust."

"What you did?" Clark looked at his shoulder, then to her. "Chloe, I can’t explain what happened. It could’ve been the meteor dust, like I said."

"We both know that isn’t true."

"Well I don’t know how else to explain it."

She stared at him, confused that they were going around in circles. Didn't she just say...

"I’m not asking you to explain anything, Clark. All I’m asking you is to stop hiding, and listen to me. You and I are more alike than you think. We’re on the same team here. Maybe we should stop trying to work blind, and start sharing information here. I’m willing to do that, are you?"

"That’s all I want."

Chloe blinked. "Good. Then it’s settled." She held out her hand.

He took it, and shook it.

She awkwardly retracted it from his, trying not to think of the way his thick fingers encompassed her wrist so easily, like they belonged there. She brushed her bangs away from her eyes. "So, if we’re going to start working together I guess you can give us a ride."

It sounded more like a question than a statement, but Clark was still trying to catch up to what he'd just agreed to. But he watched as she smiled at him in this adorable way, and he knew that whatever she had in mind, he was just going to have to trust her.

Clark smiled in his easy going way and opened the truck door for her to hop in.


*

Jimmy, Chloe and Clark all squeezed inside the cab as the truck drove by the even smaller parts of town. Clark took what it looked like the back roads, tall corn fields blotting out the horizon on either side of them. Chloe sat in the middle, legs straddling the gear shift somewhat unlady like, but there wasn’t much room considering Clark took up half the cab. His kept re adjusting his leg with every press of the clutch, brushing her left thigh with every pull of the stick shift.
Clark, of course, apologized for every single time, blushing profusely.
It was around the fifth gear when Chloe explained to him that he didn't have to apologize for changing gear.

There was something to say for the way Clark’s arms moved. His forearms were incredibly thick, and all muscle, his fist gripping the stick shift so tight that his knuckles turned white. Was he nervous? Chloe watched him, his eyes never moving from the road. She thought she saw them dart over to hers, but it was so quick she could hardly tell behind those glasses he wore.

He changed gear again, his muscles flexing every so slightly beneath the golden skin and thin layer of fine dark hair. Her eyes traveled up his wrist, to his thick forearm, just admiring the weight of it. Just his forearm was as thick as her leg, and she made comparisons as his arm rested above her thigh. There was something delicious about the size of Clark’s body.

She clamped her eyes shut, and hid the heat from her cheeks with her hands, rubbing her face to take her mind off of Clark and everything she shouldn't be thinking about right now. She realized that Clark had dodged her questioning again. He was good at that. Why was he still hiding? How could he let her expose herself to him and say nothing?

She spied him from the corner of her eye, wondering how she would ever get the man to crack.

But he looked solid. Like his chest...

And her mind wandered again, she catching it quickly before she submerged in anymore foolish fantasies.

She turned behind her and smiled at Shelby hanging out in the truck bed, leaning over the side, catching the wind in his ears as he used the tire they thrown back there as a stepping stool.

The ride was quiet except for the jingling of keys dangling in the ignition. Chloe kept watching them, sway to and fro with every bump the truck came along. Particularly, she watched two keys, the small gold ones hidden amongst the others. Those keys once belonged to her.


"The keys to the Torch… you kept them all this time?" She peered at Clark to her left.

A small smile escaped him, and he nodded.


Chloe thought a moment, wondering if the old Clark she knew was still under the there somewhere. "Your mom told me about your dad. I’m so sorry Clark."

He nodded again, stoic as always. It was then that Chloe realized how far apart they had grown. They were close once, but obviously all of that friendship was buried way in the past.

"My mom went back practicing law." Clark said, breaking the silence.
"She works inside Metropolis four days a week. It keeps her happy, although, I think she does it because the farm reminds her of dad too much."

Chloe nodded. "What kind of law?"

Clark, for once, smiled fully. "She’s an adoption lawyer. She helps families come together, placing children in good homes."

Chloe smiled. "That sounds perfect for her."

"It is."

And Chloe nodded, smiling as she thought off of that. The Kent's were as generous and welcoming as any family Chloe knew. She wondered if Clark's parents knew about his abilities, and if they understood. Jonathan and Martha Kent seemed like the type that would. And she knew from experience that parents, well in this case her father, had a difficult time understanding the complexities of meteor infected. He always looked at her differently that day. It was the driving force that made them distant.

But then she remembered that Clark was adopted, making her realize the irony in that. Did Clark's real parents know about his secret? Is that why they gave him away?

She mentally noted to research that later.

*

They arrived at the motor shop where Clark carried the tire to the mechanic to repair. The guy told them it would be a few minutes, so
Jimmy and Clark hung out by the garage bay doors while Chloe leaned against the truck across from them. It felt awkward being at a mechanic shop, since Chloe never once changed her oil or did any maintenance to her car. Maybe that's why it's been making that funny clunking noise...

She squinched her brows thinking about it, and looked up to find Clark watching her. But he turned away just as quickly, cheeks blushing furiously.

She was just about to smile when she felt her cell phone vibrate inside her pocket, and she pulled it out, flipped it open.

Text message, from Jimmy.

She looked over to find him standing mischeiviously over by the bay door, sneaking his eyes over. She frowned and opened the message.






He likes u.






She blushed heavily, but this partly from irritation. The other part was a strange thrill of excitement. It scared her that she recognized the feeling so quickly, inwardly she accepted it, but outwardly but she was going to deny as long as possible.





What r u talking about?





Jimmy’s phone went off, and he quickly silenced it. Typing back.






He luvvs u…　




Chloe typed furiously.






Jimmy, shut up.　





Jimmy typed.





You like him too.　





Chloe didn’t reply , choosing to ignore the mischeivious grin from her friend, standing there, chuckling to himself. She wasn't going to continue with these childish games... But the more she thought about it, it might've been more incriminating to say nothing.

She sneaked a look at Jimmy, and found him practically bursting with insight.

She huffed, and slung her purse over her shoulder announcing to everyone that she was going across the street for coffee. Both men peered at her with a raised brow, but only Jimmy smiled wryly as she crossed.

They watched her disappear through the coffee shop's glass doors,
Jimmy studying the unorthadox egyptian decoration. It looked like it used to be a movie theater back in the day.

He looked at Clark who had hardly said a word since they'd gotten into town. He was a quiet guy, Jimmy thought. But he was going to try his best to change that.

In a total guy move, Jimmy walked over to the coke machine down at the convience store next door and offered to treat. That was before Clark appeared infront of him, reminding Jimmy that he bought coffee last time.

Clark scooted him out of the way, and injected some change inside the red oversized box until two glass bottles spilled out with a clink.

Jimmy used the edge of the coin dispenser to pop his top, and then took a delicious cold swig from the bottle, only stopping to watch Clark absently twist his bottle top off with his two fingers. Strong guy.

Jimmy rocked onto his toes and back down again. "Ya know, Chloe never did give me the whole story on you two. Did you guys…"

Clark turned to Jimmy, sipping from his bottle, a question mark on his face.

Jimmy smirked. "You know… you know?"

Clark cleared his throat, blushing invisibly. "Not really, no."
"Huh." Jimmy blinked, still speculating. "Why not?"

Clark thought a moment. "Chloe wanted to be friends."

Jimmy made a sound between a snort and a laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing," said Jimmy, scratching the wry stubble from his chin.

Clark crossed his arms. "What about you?"

"Me?" Jimmy’s eyes smiled. "Oh, you mean me and Chlo. Well, we met in during our internship at the Planet one summer. She had just moved to Metropolis." Jimmy smiled, distantly observing people across the street, and then to the bluish-green tint of the glass from his bottle. "I remember she was sitting at her computer, crying."

Clark looked at Jimmy from the side. "Why was she crying?"

He shrugged, frowning off to the distance, remembering. "I wasn’t ever really sure. I knew it had something to do about being homesick. I mean, its hard starting over, making new friends. But I could tell she wasn’t the type of girl to cry over just anything. She looked, heartbroken." He blinked and then leaned back against the coke machine. "Anyways, I thought she needed a friend."

Clark nodded. "You’re a good friend to Chloe."

"I’m her best friend, it’s what I do." Jimmy laughed, punching Clark playfully on the shoulder. He laughed a few more seconds before he cleared his throat and said more seriously, "You know, it took me a long time to realize what it was that made Chloe so sad. And now I know, it was you."


Clark frowned, unsure what Jimmy meant by this. But he knew by the way the other man studied him carefully, it was a warning. He weighed the honesty in the other man's eyes with his and resolved to hiding beheath his dark bangs. "You love her."

Jimmy thought a moment, watching the other man carefully. "I do love her. But Chloe and I are just friends. We work best that way. Besides," Jimmy leaned against the humming machine again, "I have my eye out for her cousin." He winked, and then took a drink of his Coke.

Clark nodded. "Lois."

Jimmy spewed out soda from his nose and mouth, coughing and hacking and Clark had to use all but his super speed to dodge out of the way. It looked painful, but Jimmy laughed through it with grace.

Once Jimmy had calmed down from laughing uncontrollably, wiping tears from his eyes, he patted Clark on the shoulder. "Whew, good one C.K." He laughed again at his inside joke. "Lois. Hahaha!"

Clark was confused, so Jimmy filled in. "No, Chloe’s other cousin-- Lucy."

Clark made an ‘oh’ shape and then nodded along. Who knew there were so many girls in Chloe’s family. Speaking of which, Clark turned across the street where they last saw her disappear to.

Jimmy clued into this too, "Where's our girl now?"

"I don’t know." Clark frowned and then turned towards the shop’s bay doors. "Wait, where’s the truck?"





.





////part 2////





.









The story Clark extracted from the mechanic was that a pretty blonde had taken the truck a while ago, didn't say a word, just got in the truck and left. Jimmy came back from the coffee shop across the street and relayed a similar story. Only, Jimmy recovered the purse and phone that Chloe left behind.

There was a twitch in Clark's jaw.

Emotions, he usually didn't have those anymore, just a blunted affect that he brushed away once the circumstances were neatly back in its place. There was simplicity in this order, a life where you could look upon matters objectively and fair.

It was what Jor-El had drilled so forcefully into Clark's understanding. For the last son of Krypton, there wasn't any room for human error. Therefore the root of error, emotion, must also be eradicated.

But Clark discovered that human emotion wasn't something that could be deactivated like programming. It was complex and rich, and unfortunately, complicated and stubborn like an alien infestation of his mind. Jor-El always seemed to under estimate the difficulties Clark would run into when he sanitized his being, trying to detach his human self from the pure Kryptonian son that came to this world.

Clark created a new paradigm in which he could work. He could find objectivity if he chose to look at the world through a distant spy glass, small and contained, the problems within itself relative and solvable. Like one would hold a rubix cube in their palm, Clark could concentrate on solutions in relativity, look upon it as an object and then create with the logic his father had taught him. It was a system of meditation, a regiment taught to deal with his high volume, stressful life.Clark's job of protecting
Earth gave him no vacation days, no sick days, and no eleventh hour relief. He was always there, always planning, always filing away the stress that accumilated up high in the back of his mind. It was cloudy there, and loud, all of his questions and uncertainties demanding resolve and answers.

And not a day went by that Clark didn't make a uncertain decision that sometimes meant a casualty, or a loss. These a red tick mark across Clark's conscious, a dark reminder that he was always one mistake away from failing his destiny. There wasn't room for error.

So Clark kept things simple. He kept focused and once he found error, he minimized them, made them obsolete. Like a program that debugged its system. It was functional and productive, calm and steady. It helped being mild mannered and placid towards the world.

Except, there was this one twitch he had in his muscled jaw.

The one kink to all his systematic approach to life.

Her.

Despite all his internal revolutions to erase her from his mind, he couldn't. He somehow felt connected, attached to the woman, Chloe Sullivan. His path so tangled within hers he sometimes wondered if he was progressing in the right direction, only to find out he'd been turned the wrong way.

He had been turned around, and flipped over, his whole world coming to a crashing halt that one last night he saw her. He'd screwed up, twice. Risked everything, his secret, his life, her life and her friends. He was careless and stupid. And it only reminded him exactly how far off his path he'd become.

So he had kept his distance from Chloe for the last weeks. Chloe didn't need him following her like a secret service. Clark was only getting in the way, becoming a redundant, unnecessary figure in her life. And Oliver Queen was right. Clark wasn't charged to be her gate keeper. She could do want every she wanted.

Chloe had her own life. She didn't need him.

He drilled this into his mind, over and over until he almost believed it.

Almost.

The stubborn muscle twitched again, and this time Clark acknowledged it.

"I thought she said we were working as a team?" He faced Jimmy, imagining it was her head instead of his so he could interrogate it. "Wouldn't that mean cluing us in when she decides to take off without notice? Not to mention hijack my truck." Clark looked around a second time. Where was the dog?

"I'm sure Chloe had a reason." Jimmy searched through Chloe’s phone, looking for any clue to where she’d gone. And while he did that, Clark took the liberty of rifling through her purse.

And then he found them.



*


"C'mon!" Chloe jerked the stick shift into fourth, speeding along. The truck didn't want to run as smoothly as it did for Clark. Something was wrong with the clutch. Or, more possibly, something was wrong with the way she was handling the clutch. Lois had only showed her how to drive stick once or twice.

But the old red pick up shuddered down the dirt road, one fair headed driver and one red headed dog as its passenger. Shelby whined at Chloe's side, elicting a rub behind his ears for comfort.

"It's okay, boy." Chloe cooed, eyes glued to the road. "We're not lost, yet."

She was. Chloe hadn't been down these roads for years. And the way the weeds grew over the tire ways didn't help her. But she couldn't stop now.

Chloe had fallen down a rabbit hole.

She hadn't meant to. All she wanted was a hot cup of coffee before she Jimmy and
Clark made the long awkward trip back to their broken down car. But between ordering an extra shot of whip cream and sugar, she was struck.

It was Alicia Baker.

Chloe saw Alicia Baker.

She looked the same as her pictures. Pretty, youthful, and innocent. A self possessed posture and focused brown eyes. And she didn't have an entourage of psychiatric personnel swarming her. She was walking down the street as if it were any other Saturday.

Chloe, perplexed, stepped out from the coffee shop, side stepping her way down the side walk. She followed Alicia down the street where she got into a car that was waiting for her. A black Ferrari.

She couldn't believe it.

Before Chloe could even spin around, the Ferrari sped off, leaving Chloe in a cloud of confusion.

She had to call Jimmy.

Chloe reached for her phone, momentarily confused why it wasn't in her purse that she also didn't have on her. But she didn't have time for these things.

Chloe ran back to the mechanic shop, seeing Clark's red truck by the bay doors right where they'd left it. But Jimmy and Clark weren't where she'd left them. She didn't see them anywhere.

The mechanic winked at her as she climbed into the truck with uncertainty. Shelby was in the cab and looked at her with a tilt, one ear propped on end.

"Don't look at me like that." Chloe looked at Shelby, then turned the ignition, thanking Clark for leaving the keys behind. Sometimes people were too trusting. "I'm just borrowing it."

Shelby barked, once, twice.

"Of course I know how to drive it." Chloe blinked, wobbling the stick into reverse. "We haven't properly met have we?"

The dog raised a brow and whined.

"Name's Sullivan." She smiled, despite her stuggle with the clutch. "Now hang on. We've got a story to chase."

The truck took off with a rough start, chasing down the clouds of dirt the Ferrari had left behind.

*

Soon, the red truck caught up with the black car, keeping behind it for a quarter mile until the open road ended at a wooded field. Chloe parked the truck a ways behind, watching as Alicia got out of the passenger side, her long, long blonde hair shining in the distance.

Then the driver door opened.

"Lex." A whisper escaped Chloe's lips. She shushed Shelby, patting his coat. They both watched as the man in a stark black business suit escort the young woman into the woods. They disappeared.

Chloe let out a frustrated sigh. She needed to call Jimmy, Clark, somebody. But she couldn't leave Alicia with Lex Luthor.

She turned to the dog, and studied his deep brown eyes.

"Go get Jimmy and Clark." She said, half serious, half desperate. Shocked when the dog leapt up from the open passenger window and sprinted back down the road. Chloe blinked before climbing out of the truck herself, wondering if the Kent's had originally named him Lassie.

Chloe jogged down to where Lex's car was parked. A black Ferrari out here in the middle of the woods looked suspcious enough. The black matte body like a foreign creature among the green beauty and sunlight. The car reflected no light. Absorbing any energy whatsoever.

Chloe frowned, and pursued forward, brushing leaning branches away from her face as she came to them. There wasn’t a pathway here, everything grown over and hidden.
It would’ve been entirely too easy to become lost if she wandered too far.

Trees and matted vine crossed overhead, and for a moment, she questioned if she was even in Kansas anymore. Sunlight hardly penetrated through the thick leafy growth that had overtaken the canopy, every step growing dimmer and dimmer.

Finally, she spotted Lex's bobbing crown through the brush. She crouched down and waited, watching as the black suit pulled away vines from an opening in a large rock face. He pulled Alicia forward, and the both of them disappeared again, this time, through its black mouth.

*

Clark's thick hand plunged inside Chloe's purse, fisting several papers and maps that looked suspiciously identical to those he had owned.

Excerpts of Swann’s journals.

A small voice rose in Clark's chest, something like affirmation that both scared and thrilled him at the same time.

He looked up to examine Jimmy's expression. What did he know? Did he understand the symbols? Where they came from?

His answer was no, since the red head frowned together with Clark. But it wasn't enough of a relief. Clark needed to know exactly how far Chloe and Jimmy were into his secret before he went any further.

Clark kept his cards close, "Jimmy, what are these?"

The shorter man shrugged, explaining that he and Chloe had researched into what they'd found that night. Lex Luthor stashing away the most peculiar collection of astrophysics research and meteor rock. Chloe had done most of the research herself, leaving the mathematical equations Swann scribbled into the journal margins up to a Dr. Hamilton who worked for certain industrialist, Oliver Queen.

Clark felt his jaw tighten again. It figured Oliver would have helped Chloe, and helped keep Clark in the dark. But then again, since Clark kept Oliver in the dark about his secret, he really couldn't blame him. That was the trouble with keeping secrets.

Clark flipped through the pages, Jimmy interjecting between paragraphs as Clark skimmed.

"They’re predictions." Jimmy pointed to a complex equations blotted out in blurry ink, "Made through star alignment and sun phases. Like how astrologers predict the weather and love lives. Except, this is for real. This Swann guy was serious, he even docmented how he received transmissions from space."

"Really." Clark felt another twitch.

"Yeah, for instance, he predicted the first meteor shower in Smallville." Jimmy studied how Clark and how didn't seem surprised, just careful.

"Yeah, like a modern Nostradamus." Jimmy smiled eyeing Clark again. "The only twist is that he predicts a second meteorshower to hit within the very same corn field. Same row too, probably." He laughed, sticking his hands in his pockets. "And they say lightning never strikes twice."

This time Clark did look surprised.

So was Jimmy when Clark pushed Chloe's purse back into his arms, and pushed him aside. "Wait, where are you going?"

"To find Chloe." He said over his shoulder, marching away.

"Well, wait up!" Jimmy slung the bag over his shoulder next to his own and sprinted to keep up. "Don't even try to ditch me, C.K. Not after pledging with Chloe about teamwork."

Clark turned to him with an annoyed look. "Teamwork? Chloe's known about these journals for weeks and yet I barely come to find out."

"Wait a minute." Jimmy stepped infront of Clark, effectively blocking his path. Jimmy wasn't the smallest of guys, he was fairly average height, average build. But standing next to Clark dwarfed him like a PeterBilt dwarfed a Tercel.

"Clark, you were the one that disappeared after that night. Maybe if you would have stuck around long enough, we could have clued you in."

Another twitch in Clark's jaw, this time it kept him from saying something he shouldn't. Instead he said, "Look, I got the impression I wasn't needed, so I left. I was only
getting in the way."

"Bull."

Clark blinked, so Jimmy only continued. "That's total bull. You got scared because Chloe and I were getting closer to finding out who you really are."

Slowly the color drained out of Clark's face. He hid this by pushing up his glasses.
"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do you know how hard it's been for Chloe to trust you? She thought you were
working for Lex Luthor of all people."

Jimmy stuck his finger in Clark's chest.

"I had to put my own trust out there for you, Clark. I convinced Chloe to take a chance, to give a little trust in you in order to figure out what you were hiding. We let you in. Even after you sneaked around and followed us. Even after you were in trouble and sick. Even after you were shot. Chloe didn't once leave you behind, even when I wanted to.

But here we are. I'm literally handing you all the intel that we have, and in return, you give me a blank face and the cold shoulder. What's the deal?"

"Listen, Jimmy. I'm not working for Lex Luthor. Never have been." Clark took a deep breath, placing his hands on the other guy's shoulders, gently. "I know you have no reason to trust me, Jimmy. I don't expect you to. But right now, I need you to take my word."


*


Chloe stopped at the black opening, touching the red dusty surface, sizing it between her thumb and forefinger. She remembered this place now.

It was the caves.

She took one last look at the greenery behind her and then a deep breath. And went it.

Chloe couldn’t count how many times she’d wandered around in some dark, twisted, jagged place because her curiosity had dragged her to it. You’d think a girl would get used to it, pitch black, but she never did. Her heart still raced every time her foot slipped, and she kept her cursing to a low whisper every time she ran her head into a jutted rock. After a few turns inside the cave, she felt an opening give way, and she remembered where she was. She’d been in this part of the caves before. This was the place that--

A white light. Not from a flashlight but from...

Lex. She saw him now.

It was a strong column of light, emitting from a rock formation in one of the smaller caverns. Lex was standing with his back to her, Alicia across from him, eyes placid and heavy. Chloe wondered what was stopping her from using her abilities to get away.

The slim black form with the shiny pale head bent over the flattened rock formation and spread his hands like a magician would over his card trick. In his hands were peculiar, shiny objects, all of them a different color.

He would pick each one up and study it like a fine jeweler, and then place it back as if it had a special resting place in the cave. Everytime he did this, the column of light would change color, influenced by Lex's manicuring. He studied it, entranced like a moth.

"Why am I here?"

Chloe's heart skipped, wondering if her thoughts had jumped from her mouth. But no, it was Alicia that spoke.

Lex looked up from the light and smiled. "You're here because you're special."

Chloe blinked, scooting closer. Now she could ses Alicia's eyes clearer. They were glazed over, like she wasn't really there.

Lex reached over and touched her cheek, "Don't worry. You wont feel a thing." His other hand pulled out a small tranquilzer gun, its catridge glowing neon green in the dark caves. He stuck her with the muzzle, and there was a sharp hiss of air escaping it.

Alicia fell over, faint. Lex caught her between his arms, laying her out on the flattened rock. He leaned over her, the white light shining on both of them.

"Where are we going?" Alicia whispered, lips trembling.

He held a gloved finger to his lips and smiled. "Shhhhh. Our secret."

Their voices echoed in that cave, travelling back to where Chloe was hiding. She crouched down lower, crawling to get closer without being detected too soon.

Lex began to move several objects around the formation, and the light grew red, and angry. There was a sound, a rumble that spoke from beneath the floor. Chloe froze on all fours, staring at omnious light that filled the space.

He delicately placed a last crystal inside the center of the light, and frowned when nothing happened. "Why isn't it working?" He placed it again, and growled.

The cave responded, angrily, the walls threatening to move as the floor shook.
The light was crimson now. Deep, and vibrant. Violent. And loud.

Whatever was subduing Alicia was wearing off, and stirred against the flat rock, her eyes opening and resting on Chloe.

Chloe froze, her hands empty and innocent.

Lex turned, seething.

Chloe's heart leapt. "Alicia, run!"

But she didn't, movements languid and slow. Chloe shuffled her feet as Lex stormed towards her, the glowing tranquilzer gun aimed.

The cave shook.

"Frankly, I'm surprised." Lex spat, eyes blazen with the crimson light. "Not that you followed me here. But that you've come alone."

Chloe backed into the wall, a glowing blue illustration over her shoulder. She glanced at it as it vibrated and changed. The cave drawing over Lex's shoulder grew brighter too.

He watched her eyes grow curious and wide, so he smiled. "Isn't it magnificent? This is the epicenter!" His voice echoed.

"Of what?" Hers trailed after his.

Lex grinned dangerously. "You still haven't figured it out."

"Let Alicia go." Chloes arms searched behind her. Eyes darting to the glowing green catridge, then back to his, bloodshot.

"She's special, Chloe. I can't let her go." He drew closer.

She swallowed, eyes wide. "What is that?"

He tilted the gun, smiling. "A little something I've created to help control the infected."

Her eyes engaged his. "What makes you think it will work on me?"

He sneered, the red light clouding between them, the moment of silence drawing her short, shallow breaths of panic. When Lex finally spoke, it wasn't a question.



"What makes you think it's a secret."




*

Jimmy saw it first.


An auroral, white light in the west. A beam shooting straight into the sky.

Clark turned around.


Jimmy squinted, walking towards it. "I know Chloe said Smallville was the land of weird, but tell me strobes of light don't commonlly appear out of nowhere."


He didn't hear Clark beside him with one of his gruff responses. In fact, he didn't even hear Clark leave. Jimmy looked up and down Main street, finding that Clark wasn't anywhere at all.


"I can't believe he ditched me!" Actually, he could. Jimmy only sighed, deciding to work solo from now on.


Jimmy took out his digital camera and snapped a photo of the white light, frowning when it changed colors. "Man, Chloe's going to be so pissed when she finds out she's missing this."


He took another photo, and then another, smiling when he found his rhythm. The crowd was gathering on the street. Someone was pointing up at the sky, not at the beam of light but at the sun.


Jimmy did a double take. That wasn't the sun. The sun was still in the east. How was there another--


The small disc of lightwas getting larger, rounder. It wasn't a sun, it was a ball of fire.
Jimmy shot the whole sky, refusing to lower his camera until somehow knocked it out of his hands.


Bodies started pushing Jimmy out of the way, and he stood there, staring, until someone screamed,



"Meteor!"



*



The words echoed between them.


What makes you think it's a secret.


So, he knew.


Chloe stopped breathing completely.


Lex stalked closer, his fingers tracing her cheek. "I've had years to develop it. Years testing with its subject." His eyes smiled strangely. "It wont hurt."


The tranquilizer went to her throat.


That's when she spat, hitting him in the eye. Her arm came around, rock in hand, and across his bald skull. Hard.

He went to the ground, blood mixing with the crimson light that flooded the cave.

Chloe kicked the tranquiler away, racing to Alicia. She didn't get far until Lex caught her ankle, tripping her to her knees.

Lex crawled after the glowing green gun, kicking Chloe before she could stand.

He stood over her now, gun recovered and at her throat once more. His chest heaved harder, and rougher. A large vein pulsing on his temple.

"You're coming with us."

A sharp pain. She felt it. Like a angry wasp attacking her again and again. Lex was a nasty liar, it did hurt. Like hell.

Her throat constricted, and she couldn't scream. Her eyes watered and she blinked away a tear when he gathered her hair in her fist and dragged her to the rocky altar where Alicia was sprawled.

Lex whispered in her ear, not to move, so she didn't. She couldn't.

Chloe couldn't feel the pain anymore, just a soothing weight against her limbs. She felt, relaxed.

Wait, that couldn't be right.

Chloe blinked repeatedly, trying to shake the spell.

Lex smiled down, brushing his lips against hers. "Good girl." His blood dripped from the back of his head down to her cheek. It felt warm as it trickled down to her throat.

Her eyes locked on his, scared to what would happen next. Everything was red, everything was wrong. The earth was shaking, and she was paralyzed in a black hole with a Lex Luthor looming over her, his blood staining her skin.

She closed her eyes, willing her fingers to move. For anything to move, but the spell was deep.

She felt the tremors shake her bones, shaking up any courage she had left.

She heard screaming, it was Lex.

Chloe opened her eyes, Alicia standing over his body. A rock in her hand.

She dropped it, and slumped over towards Chloe.

"C'mon." Alicia reached for Chloe's hand and pulled her up.

Chloe cupped her hands over the other girl's cheek, wanting so much to cry. But there wasn't time for that.

They both looked at the exit where Lex was crawling to his feet. This time he drew a different gun. This time, it had no glowing liquid.

Solid hollow point rounds. There was a scraping sound as Lex dragged himself up, the pistol's barrel across the ground.

"How are we going to get out of here?" Chloe whimpered, feeling her legs begin to function again.

Alicia turned away from Lex and towards her, a confident smile appearing. She spread her fingers around Chloe's wrist. There was a tingling sensation, one that spread from the origin and all around her body.

She was confused, the mixing sensations from the tranquilizer clashing with whatever was happening to her now. The cave was angry, disturbed, and yet, Alicia leaned over her with the smallest, kind smle.

It made Chloe smile.

There was a percussion, a shot. But that didn't matter, since the sound fell away like a distant dream.

Chloe looked up to Alicia, discovering the darkness of the caves falling away to light, and their bodies weightless

and gone.







.




////part 3////




.





*

An explosion.

Gun fire bounced through the tight, interlocked rock walls, echoing within the wide chamber and out to the cave mouth where Clark stood, chest taut with apprension, fear.

Immediately his thought was of Chloe. It was his worst fear, letting her out of his sights, and her getting hurt. After all this time of protecting her, he could't fail her now. Especially since he'd found out her investigations had turned up into Swann's journals, making her directly involved with his life once again. It was his responsibility if she were to get hurt in the process, only lending more guilt since he had given up his firm surveillance for the past weeks.

He had sped there.

Found his red truck parked outside the paths to the caves, smashing his fist against the top when he spotted Lex's black car further up the path. He accepted this quickly, somehow Lex's prescence not surprising him at this point.

Because everything had led to here. Everything coming to a head, to this point.

The caves.

Light emitting from its roof and into the sky. It made more sense now. A beacon, a calling, his destiny.

And now that Clark had arrived, Chloe was gone. Echoes of her heartbeat only reverberating in Clark's ears, the ringing of gun fire violating the comfort of her waning presence.

In her place, Clark found Lex. Arm extended. Hand fisting a large gun. Shooting.

At nothing.

Clark frowned and approached Lex cautiously, counting eleven shots fired in all before he stopped his madness and the slur of profanities that fell from his mouth.

Lex stood with his back towards Clark, a column of light fixed on his pale skin. It was red, influencing his flesh in a way that didn't appear human anymore, but that of a demon.

"Lex."

The pale face spun around, gun raised.

There was second between them, and in it, the two men reuniting for the first time since they'd last seen eachother many years ago.

That second over, Clark watched as the recognition faded from Lex's eyes, and turned sour.

"Where is she, Lex?" Clark screamed over the vibrations of the cave.

Something wasn't right, the caves never acting this way before. Crimson and angry. This was a place of introspection and calm. Whatever Lex had done, Clark knew it didn't belong. It felt wrong.

He circled Lex's position, revealing the stone table upon which Kryptonian symbols glowed, rotated. There the light was strongest.

"Once upon a time, there were four families." Lex's voice echoed, his eyes dropping from Clark and back to the symbols. He stood on the far side of the altar, hunched over, eyes drawn up and glazed. "Four of the world's most powerful allies. They controlled the world, everything. From politics, to trade, to culture and the advancement of science. Everything."

Clark frowned, unsure where Lex was leading to. He looked to the symbols, the sequence changing with every flicker of light. The characters alternating and shifting, so fast that Clark could barely read them.

But then, it clicked.

His eyes widened.

"They were so powerful," Lex continued, hunched over the doomed script, "that they began to wonder if and when their reign might crumble. What could ever be more powerful than them, they who controlled everything?"

Lex leaned over, eyes narrowed. "They wondered if there could ever be one above them? Something that would come down from the heavens and reign, as immortals."

He fists dug into the glowing altar, eyes following fingers as they traced the symbols there. "It was this thought that scared them. Something foreign, alien, something that could come here and take away everything from man, everything that they had sweat, bled and died for."

Clark circled him again, darting his eyes out into the crevasses, recesses of the cave walls. Chloe wasn't there. Clark felt both relieved and wary for this. Especially when he saw blood on Lex's collar.

"Where is she, Lex?" Clark repeated, impatience wearing through his calm demeanor.

But the words fell deaf on the other man's ear. Instead, he continued, his voice rising.

"These four powers created Veritas. A secret society sworn to protect the world from its unknown enemy. Ensuring that there would be nothing more powerful than those who swore to protect it."

Clark narrowed his eyes, raising his hand to wave between them. "How do you know all this?"

Lex's eyes evened. "I know all your secrets, Kal-El."

Clark stopped circling.

There was a strange smile on Lex's lips, like child who dared to speak the most obscene slur, a devilish grin which drew from a deep well of delight and wonder.
Clark stood there, solid. "What do you want?"

"Affirmation." He raised his gun.

Bullets flew, but Clark didn't move. He looked straight into the eyes of the man he once called a friend, now a stranger, bathed in the crimson alien light.

The rounds hit Clark's chest like heavy raindrops, flattening and sliding off to the ground. They didn't pierce further than the thin layer of cotton of his shirt, the skin underneath left untouched.

Clark didn't hide this, since Lex no longer hid what he knew. The man grinned, a strange and creepy shape that exposed all of his sharp teeth. His eyes were full, frightening.

The gun fired until there was a repeating click. Lex smiled, sweat populating his face, a satisfaction gleaming there. Like he had finally proven something.

And Clark just stood there, bullet holes burning through the white fabric of his shirt.
There was nowhere left to hide, no more lies to hide behind.

And Lex knew it.

"There isn't a single detail left out from the journals that Virgil Swann kept. Journals that my father pryed from his cold, stiff hands after he was dead."

Anger flooded Clark's eyes. "Lionel killed Swann?"

Lex's eyes wandered over the symbols of the cave, only stopping to float over to the fierce blue wells in Clark's. "It was the only thing stopping my father from holding the future of mankind. Of course he killed him."

Clark grimaced. "And I suppose you would have done the same."

"No," Lex blinked, oddly unemotional, "I killed Lionel Luthor for the simple fact that I could. My father was arrogant, ignorant, and only wanted power for himself. He had killed many men to get as far as he did, only to never realize that without men underneath him, there would be no need for power. Nothing left to conquer. "

Clark stared, disgusted. "How could you kill your own father?"

"Quite easily." Lex shrugged. "He begged the entire time. It was pathetic."

Clark followed with his eyes as the man circled the altar again, a nasty gash on the back of his pale crown. Clark knew that someone had given him that mark. His thoughts rose to Chloe.

"I only discovered the journals after I incinerated my father's glorified mansion into dust." Lex licked his cracked lips, "Like a rat's nest, he hid everything of value within its brittle walls. He thought by imprisoning me there I wouldn't have thought to look right under my nose. He was right."

His wound wept of blood so he sent his hand there. It returned, stained.

Clark's mind wandered back to what he remembered of the brilliant older man confined to a wheelchair. Virgil Swann had been nothing but generous and giving to Clark. Educating him with hope and inspiration. He was his greatest mentor, beside Jonathan Kent and the remnants of his biological father, Jor-El.

If Swann knew about a second meteor shower, why didn't he warn him? Or the entire world for that matter?

Clark shook his head. He couldn't think that Swann would have deceived him all this time. But what if Lex was right? If Swann was part of this Veritas society, then it changed everything.

Clark stared at the other man. "If you've known all this time, why hesitate to destroy me?"

Lex looked at him flatly. "I never wanted to kill you, Clark." Strange that Lex reverted back to his human name.

"Don't you see? I've protected you for years. I'm not my father nor am I a member of Veritas. I hoped that you and I would save this world together."

Clark watched,unsure of the man's next move.

Lex's attention wandered over to the glowing blue outlines of the cave drawings. One in particular. Of Naman and Sageeth.

Clark's eyes flicked there. It was the one he studied most over the years.

"I waited and wanted to trust you, Clark." Lex said, his eyes refocusing on strong angle of Clark's face. "But after observing, studying the fragments of life that trailed down with you. I realized something very important."

Clark steadied.

"You can't trust something that wont die." Lex's fists curled. "Your people are like an infernal roach that will outlive us all, if I let you."

Lex shook his head. "And I can't let that happen."

Something that wont die? Clark frowned. He almost sympathized with the other man.
Lex was trying to ensure the human race's survival. Wasn't that what his own father had wanted, for their Kryptonian race to survive a drowning world?

In a way, Lex had a valid point.

Clark eyed the chamber, flooded with light, insight.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm destroying it." Lex surveyed the cave, "All of it."

Clark swallowed, realizing now that light that around them was significant. The cave, and all of its knowledge, was dying.

It was then that Clark's survival instincts, every inch of his being wanting so much to save his heritage, was relit and afire.

The twitch in Clark's jaw reappeared. "It isn't your's to destroy. This doesn't belong to you!"

Clark rushed forward, attempting to stop the cycling of characters that Lex had commenced.

But as he drew closer, his legs failed him. He fell to the ground.

"And this world,"Lex snarled, triumphantly, "doesn't belong to you."

Clark gurgled on trapped spit in his throat, his muscles constricting there. "Lex, please. My father sent me here to help!"

"For the son of a superior race, you really are just an average adversary." Lex snorted, kicking his face as Clark lolled on the ground.

Clark's glasses went flying.

"Flimsy disguises, thin lies! You thought I wouldn't find out about your secret? And now, after all these years, you really thought I wouldn't know about your weakness?"

Lex pulled out the tranquilzer gun, neon, and green, glowing and battling against the red light. "Kryptonite. Radioactive pieces of your home world that turns out to be very toxic to you."

Lex towered over Clark's writhing form, placing a boot against his thick neck, stamped down, until veins bursted from the flesh.

"Kryptonite," Lex spoke, "or meteor rock as it is commonly called, is rather harmless to humans in small doses. Infact, most people have come in contact with it in some point of their lives, hardly ever noticing its small, slivers of influence."

Lex bent down, "But then there are those few humans who develop side affects from it. Infected by it. And their genetics changed, mutated into something thats so beyond normal human limits that it often carries a fatal shelf life."

He bent down lower, to whisper in Clark's ear. "You've poisoned them, Kal-El."

Clark shut his eyes, Lex's boot crushing down harder.

"And I wonder how severely this will poison you?" Lex placed the muzzle against his flesh. "I wonder if its enough to kill you?"

Clark screamed once the needle penetrate through his skin, its toxin infiltrating his body.

It felt like his blood had been drained, replaced with green searing acid. Burning through his veins, and spreading to his tissue underneath. He wanted to scream, vomit and sob all at once. Instead, a whimper was all that was able to escape his lips.

The surroundings became dim, and dizzy. Clark unable to make his eyes focus on the man above him.

Lex smiled, "She would have been useful to take with me. Once I open the portal, Alicia would have been my only way back once I destroyed any future semblance,
function or function of Kryptonian relic."

Lex paused. "I suppose I'll die there, now."

Clark shuddered, his body shutting down.

"A small sacrifice for mankind." Lex frowned, "But I'll take you with me. Krypton's last son, dead at my feet."

Despite the pain and agony inside him, Clark felt oddly, relieved. Maybe Lex was right? Maybe destiny brought him here only to die, and to let Lex do it himself. Clark had brought tradgedy to so many, ruined so many lives. Perhaps it was a gift for all that burden to be bled away. For him and every curse his father had sent with him to be removed from existence, permanently.

"And after we die, every meteor infected human will die with us."

Clark's eyes shot open with pure will. "You can't.." His words were lost, speech gone.
Killing the infected wasn't justice, it was, murder.

"There are four stones." Lex said, voice omnious, "One given to each corner that formed Veritas. Together, they will destroy this disease that you've brought upon my people. I'll finally be able to destory you."

Clark closed his eyes again, consciousness losing him.

But then he heard it. Lex's voice over the quaking of the cave walls, an angry scream, of displeasure and cursing.

Lex spun around, eyes searching.

There were three stones glowing on the altar, only...



One was missing.



"That b*tch."


*

Chloe opened her eyes.

There was wheat hovering over them, her hand absently brushing the feathery fronds away. Her eyes were pointed up into the sky. It was blue. So very blue.

But it wasn't any match for the color of the crystal she held in her hands, her eyes skittering over its efulgent surface.

It was truly blue. Glowing, and beautiful. More beautiful than any saphire, or earthly gem for that matter.

She held it gingerly in her hands, the cool surface electrifying her senses. It felt alive, if that were possible.

Alicia was stirring in the grass next to her, and Chloe realized then they were safe.
Somewhere far away from the caves and Lex, in a field. And possibly not anywhere near Kansas.

Chloe crawled over to her, the side affects from the serum Lex injected her with still weighing her down. "Are you ok?"

Alicia opened her eyes. "Yeah. I am now."

Chloe smiled, "You used your meteor power, didn't you?"

The girl looked back, and nodded slowly.

"I'm glad," Chloe smiled, "Otherwise I think we would have been dead."

Alicia tried to smile back, but winced, falling backward. Chloe caught her head before
it hit, cradling it in her arms.

It was then that Chloe saw the pool of red inside of Alicia's jacket.

"I guess I didn't get us out fast enough." She smiled, blood trickling past her lips.

Chloe frowned, a deep crease between dark brows. "You did great." She hushed her, brushing the girl's bangs away from her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm going to take care of you ok?"

"No, please." Alicia begged, "If you take me to a hospital they'll just find me again."
She whispered, a tear escaping. "Just let me die. I don't ever want to go back."

Chloe bent down, shaking her head. "Alicia, you're safe, ok? I can save you."

The girl shook her head. "I'm dying, I can feel it."

Chloe wrapped her hands around Alicia's face, "No you're not. I wont let you."

Alicia looked up at her, confusion wrapped around desperation.

Chloe stripped off the girl's jacket, and placed her palm over the wound. It was hot, angry, blood rushing through her fingers with every panicked heart beat.

Chloe gazed down at the Alicia, the color drained from her cheeks, pale and stark.

"Listen to me," Chloe whispered, "when you wake up, I'll be asleep. I may not wake up right away, or for a long while."

Alicia stared up at her with every last whim of energy she had left.

"But when you do wake up, you'll be healed." Chloe smiled. "And I want you to get as far away from here as possible, understand? Use your abilities to hide, forever."

Wheat stalks swayed around them.

"I remember you."

Chloe blinked, looking into the other's brown eyes.

"We used to go to school together." Alicia whispered, lashes fluttering.
Chloe smiled, a warm light emanating from her palm that held fast against Alicia's wound.

"I only remember because you used to write about us," Alicia whimpered, "you used to write about meteor freaks."

She flinched, only a little. Chloe focused her brows together, concentrating her power despite her wavering strength.

It was the one mistake that Chloe hated most about her past. A mistake that she'd used to build her entire future.

"I hated you." Alicia whispered, eyes beyond more than honesty.

Chloe felt a stab of guilt, a single tear splashing down on Alicia's cheek. Her eyes closed on themselves, trying to capture the down fall that threatened.

Chloe had worked through bone and sinew to atone for what she had done. All those stories she'd written, exposing those who had been afflicted by the meteors. It was a small seed planted long ago that had only grown deep roots in her conscious, blooming a dark cloud that had hovered over her.

"But I forgive you now."

Chloe opened her eyes, several more tears following.

Alicia looked upon her, brown eyes open, wide open.



"You're one of us."


Alicia's eyes closed.


It was then that something changed in Chloe forever. Alicia's forgiveness an expected force that was enough to lift the weight that Chloe hadn't known was over her shoulders.

Her mind broke free, feeling overcoming logic as her limbs worked on their own. The warm glow expanded around their bodies until it enveloped them completely.

It was quiet that moment when Chloe collapsed, conscious light and lifted.

A bright, white light radiating like sunlight in the middle of a wheat field, miles away from anything or anyone to witness it at all.




*

He couldn't believe he was witnessing this. Out of all the places, of all the streets.

Jimmy Olsen was staring down the sky as it fell down around him.

Several meteors flew past, buzzing Main St. and its buildings only to crash a few blocks away.

The street was madness, cars and bodies flying everywhere to evacuate.

He needed a car, any car. But none of them were stopping, not even when he flashed his press pass at their windows, pleadng for a ride.

Where Clark or Chloe were, Jimmy didn't know. All he knew was that his best friend was missing one of the hottest stories of their lifetime. Chloe had even left her purse and cellphone, something to which Jimmy knew wasn't like her at all. And then Clark had disappeared and from there, he didn't have a lot of time to think.

Because the sky was falling.

Jimmy spotted them.

Barlights alternating blue and red.

He fisted Chloe's purse and slung it over his shoulder, telling himself there was nothing more macho than dodging meteors with a gold designer bag over your shoulder. He hopped onto the police car's hood, sliding over its top to its passenger side.

The officer seated inside turned to him, radio blaring on her shoulder and console.
"What in the heck do you think you're doin'?"

Jimmy smiled brightly, and flashed his press pass like a badge, while glancing at the version prominently displayed on her brown uniform. "Name's James Olsen and I'm with the Daily Planet--"

"Sheriff Adams." the older woman cut him off rudely, "Now get the heck out!" she said, pushing his door open.

"Wait a minute!" Jimmy closed it again, braving with his charm. "Now, Sheriff, this is a story of a lifetime. You wouldn't want to miss a front page opportunity during the second meteor shower in one single town, now would you? This is history in the making!"

The sheriff stared at him, dumbfounded with his persistance, "Listen kid, there fire balls falling out of the sky and over Kansas and I don't have time for this crap. Now get out!"

"But you'll be on the front page!"

She pulled out her Colt.

"Okay!" Jimmy opened his door, one foot out. "Okay, I'm leaving!"

A black, firery mass flew above them.

"Oh my Lord..." Sheriff Adams craned her neck through the windshield, pulling her shoulder radio to her lips. "This is Unit 1. All units stay clear of Reeves Dam until I advise. Massive meteor seen heading that way."

Adams stared at Jimmy, who dispite his promise to exit the vehicle, still had one foot over both sides of the fence. Ready to jump either way.

"Oh, for goodness sakes." She flipped on the sirens.

Placing the car in reverse, one arm behind Jimmy's seat to lookbackwards as they pulled out into traffic.

"Listen, Short Cakes," they sped that way, "I have one rule. Don't touch my radio."

Jimmy shut his door while they rolled out, saluting, "Yes, M'am."

"And if I see one unflattering picture of me in your precious newspaper, I swear I'll march right through that fancy building of yours and strangle you with your camera strap."

Jimmy quirked a smile, keeping his comment to himself. "Sheriff, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."




*


"She must have taken it!" Lex raged, throwing his pistol wastefully at the cave wall.
Clark stretched his eyes over to the stones, or rather, the one that was missing. A small smile curled his lips, Clark unable to help himself.


Chloe


"I'll kill her."

Clark grit his teeth, still a lump of agony on the ground. "You wont touch her."

Lex turned, his eyes plotting. "Why is she so important to you?"

Clark quieted, his face contorting. "She's not."

"But she is, isn't she?" Lex knelt down. "Look at you, even Kryptonite wont kill you off.
The effects are wearing off already."

Clark grimaced, still feeling very much affected, but noticed that Lex had a point. He could speak now. Or maybe it was just extra will power that accomplished that.

"Well, nevermind." Lex said, up on his feet, circling Clark's body. "I shouldn't be so surprised. It didn't work for the other one."


Clark frowned.


The other one?


"Don't worry." Lex said, reaching for the stones, "I wont hurt her, Clark. You see, Chloe's important to me too."

Clark's eyes drew upward.


Lex smiled, "Second generation infected are the rarest form of life known to man."



*


When the police car made it to Reeves Dam, there wasn't very much left of it. Streams of black smoke rose in the sky in stark column, signifying the arrival of yet another disasterous meteor shower. The dam was dismantled, in shambles, thousands of gallons of water seeping from its crushed wall.

"Damn." Sheriff Adams slammed her door, keying up on the radio. "This is Unit 1. Someone get the traffic department out here, we need barricades up and down this area. The entire Lowell county's about to be one big lake!"
Jimmy joined her, camera flashing at an steady pace.

Several black heliocopters flew overhead.

"What in the world?" Adams ducked down, sheilding her eyes from the sun.

"I didn't know Smaville had their own sky units?" Jimmy said in awe.

"We don't!" Adams shouted back, reaching for her radio.

Just then a string of red light, as thin as a laser shot out from one of the craters and hit a chopper.

Both of them crouched down, watching as the large, black manufactured bird fell out of the sky and crashed with an explosion.

"Holy Heavens!" Adams keyed up on the radio, "Shots fired! Repeat, shots fired!We're under attack!"

Jimmy stared at the scene ahead, seeing three dark figures emerge from the smoke, smudges in the distance. "Um, Sheriff..."

"Shut it Olsen!" She turned to him, "What did I tell you about talking--" she stopped.

Jimmy swallowed, watching as the smudges blurred closer, until they were right on top of them.

There was a woman and a man, both wearing a strange collaboration of battle gear, black and matte from the sun's reflection. Their eyes were unnaturally green, and blazen. They spoke to eachother in an strange language, only turning to face the third figure.

The third figure, Jimmy couldn't distinguish what it was. It wasn't human.

He crawled backward, camera abandoned infront of him.

"Put your hands up!" The sheriff stood, gun drawn. "Don't you move a muscle or I swear, I'll blow you right back into that hole in the ground!"

The female smiled curiously, and stepped forward.

"I warned you." Adams gritted, shooting her once in the shoulder.

It bounced right off, ricochetting into the sun.

Adams frowned, and pulled the trigger again, only to have the gun snatched right out of her hands before she could even blink.

Watched as the female took the pistol in two hands, twisted it until it bowed, the metal completely bent in a mishapen form.

"Well that's a fancy trick."

"Sheriff, I think we should run." Jimmy said, inching away.

"I've never run from anything in my life." Adams said, staring into the woman's green eyes defiantly.

And then, Sheriff Nancy Adams spat in her face.

Green eyes glowered.

Another black heliocopter buzzed over them, and Jimmy watched as the male sped after it, tackling it as he soared into the sky.

The black, molten figure spoke something to the female and then disappeared like a ghost.

Jimmy blinked.

The female stepped forward.

"Olsen, I want you to make a run for the car, you got it?" Adams spoke to him from the side.

Jimmy blinked, "And leave you here with her?"

"My mobile radio's dead, and the only one left is the one in the car. Now move your butt and call for back up!"

Jimmy nodded, and turned on his heel. He ran for his life, diving all the way into the driver seat.

He fumbled around for the radio, knocking over Chloe's purse he had left inside. A small, lead box tumbled out from it.

Sheriff Adams went flying through the air with one slap of the woman's hand, Jimmy watching in horro as she landed in the grass with a thud.

Jimmy was next.

"Hello? Hello?" Jimmy keyed up on the radio, "This is James Olsen! We need help--"

The door was torn off.

Jimmy scrambled to the other side, kicking the lead box and contents in the process.

A rock flew from its confines, glowing, powerfully.

The female stumbled back.

Jimmy looked down, recognizing the small lead box. The same one they found back at the Kent farm. Chloe must have stuffed it in her bag.

He made the connection.
Jimmy fisted the meteor rock in his hand, waving it infront of him to wield off the female. His eyes lit up when she crumbled over to the ground.

"Never in my life," he said kissing it, "have I've ever been happier to have a pet rock."

Jimmy smiled down at it until he spied a white flowing figure climbing from the water.

It was a woman.

A stark naked, beautiful woman.

"Oh man," Jimmy stared, "weirdest, best day of my life."


*


Clark fisted his hands, trying to get to his feet.

Lex kicked him back down, and laughed.

Clark rolled again to his feet, coughing as he stood. "I can't let you do this."

"You can't stop me." Lex removed one of the Veritas stones, the crimson light shifting to violet.

There was a shadow behind him.

Clark squinted through the inky blots, staggering to his feet.


Lex removed another.


Phtalo Blue.

Then bright.

He removed the last stone.

Then the shadow was upon him.

Lex turned.

And staggered.

Clark watched as the black form captured Lex's temples, tight coils inserting through the flesh.

"Arrrrghhhhhhhh!!" Lex's body lifted into the air, feet dangling, the kryptonite cartridge shattering across the floor. It had no effect.

Lex's body shook and convulsed whlie the black form took shape, into a man.

It dropped Lex's lifeless body, heading for Clark.

"You are the son of Jor-El." It studied him, approval in its eyes. "I see the resemblance."

Clark looked from Lex's body on the ground, to the one shape shifting infront of him. "Who are you?"

It's face formed, plain and even. "I am the Brain Interactive Construct."

Clark swallowed, edges of the Kryptonite still lurking in his system. "Where did you come from?"

"The same place where you came from, Kal-El." It looked over the deep blue cave, and frowned. "There are fragments missing from the program. It is imperfect."

It turned, "Where is the last fragment?"




*



It was night.


The moon casting hazy indigo shadows across the quiet field.

And the wind had blown the wheat past her lashes over and over for hours, but she
still hadn't stirred.

Chloe's form was curled into a protective ball, her hair still golden in the moonlight, face pale and white.

Alicia had long woken up and gone, leaving hardly any traces of tracks or word. But still Chloe slumbered there, her heart no longer beating, still as the lips that refused to speak.

There was a stir among the stalks, not the wind. A woman.

Blonde, golden hair that matched the brilliance of the unconscious form on the ground.

This woman bent down, kneeling at Chloe's side.

Strange syllables fell from her lips, and she chanted them, whispering into Chloe's deaf ear.

Blue eyes roamed her face, searching. Studying.

They flashed when they hit the dull blue glass underneath a pocket.

The woman's fingers reached out, and touched there. A dawning realization waxing through her.

The wind moved again, this time, moving both figures with it.

Chloe cradled in her arms, lifting up higher and higher as they floated past the fields, and farther out of reach, leaving the field in a quiet hush. Chloe ever being hiden there a secret that only the wheat whispered.




.



chapter fourteen