COUNTERPART

A/N: I had an idea for this story back in 2009. I had started and posted some of it, and then deleted (maybe not completely from other places I posted it on)/stopped writing the whole thing because I was not happy with my writing, and it didn't feel right. I decided to start re-writing this story again because I have come up with a new angle that works better, and also because I am missing Smallville terribly.

If this story sounds familiar to some, that is because the premise is semi-the-same, but I am changing some of the features/characters. There really is no timeline for this story. However, Lex is alive/never been cloned/MIA /doesn't know Clark is the Blur, Tess is good, Chloe still has her meteor powers, and Lois knows Clark's secret.

Anyway…thanks for reading.

SYNOPSIS: A scientist is on the verge of building a portal that will allow him to constantly view a red sky that is seen when the sun rises. However, unbeknownst to him, Lex makes a couple of modifications to the device. Meanwhile, a 'meteor-freak' attack causes devastation amongst the citizens of Metropolis and Smallville, starting an all out war to keep the humans safe from the meta-humans. Chloe, suspecting foul play about the device being built, brings Oliver and Tess along with her to investigate. Unknown to them, Clark and Lois are also tasked to write about the device for the Daily Planet. A freak accident causes the five of them to face their counterparts in an alternate reality, with no way to get back home.


CHAPTER ONE

THE aging man carefully balanced two thermoses of coffee in one hand, and three rolls of schematics in the other, while ascending the narrow flight of stairs that lead to his sanctuary. His sanctuary was not as magnificent as he made it sound out to be, but it had four very large windows where he was able to see the sun rise every morning. As a man of science, he was fascinated and perplexed by the beauty of how the sun, when positioned at the right moment, would light up the sky in a fiery red.

He smiled to himself as he remembered the first time he saw the red sky. He was a boy, no younger than five—or six, and for some reason, even though he was a heavy sleeper, was awoken. Through the cracks in his blinds he saw a red sky. Oh, how magnificent it was. He had never seen anything like that before, and for a minute he thought he was on a different planet. From that moment on, he became transfixed with that red sky. He would awake before every sunrise just to see it again for a split second. He spent his youth and adult years studying astronomy, physics—anything to do with space—to feed his obsession to see the red sky permanently, but sadly it was just an illusion.

Until now, anyway.

He unrolled the three schematics, carefully placing them on the large desk. Each schematic had drawings of machine parts and series of complex numbers to go along with them. He had finally found a way to build the red sky he loved so dearly, so he could spend his retiring days gazing at its beauty whenever he wanted—whenever anybody wanted. All he really needed was money, competent people to help him, and a large enough place to put his device so he and others could view it.

His attention turned to the light knocking on the door. Someone had become interested in his ideas, and he proposed they meet before sunrise so he could show them the true purpose of his life's work. He ran down the stairs, giddy taking over him. He tried to contain his excitement as he opened the door.

"Dr. James Ryerson," The bald man said, as James moved out of the way to allow him in.

"Mr. Luthor," He replied. "You're just in time."

He led him up the narrow stairs while thanking him for meeting him so early in the morning.

"Can I pour you a cup of coffee?"

"I'm good," Lex replied as he curiously looked down at the schematics. He always considered himself to be brilliant, but even he couldn't make sense of these drawings. He turned back to face Dr. Ryerson, who was looking out the window. The sun was starting to come up.

"It has to be at the right spot," He said. "Otherwise you won't see it."

"I must admit I was an early riser. But never this early," Lex replied.

The Doctor turned to Lex and smiled. "You are missing out."

They waited in silence as the sun had begun to slowly rise over the horizon. Then, just as he said, the sky was graced with a fiery red that even Lex would admit was beautiful.

"It doesn't last long enough," The Doctor said sadly.

"So that's what all this is for?" Lex asked while pointing to the schematics. The Doctor nodded his head.

"Tell me what this machine is supposed to do," Lex probed, to which the Doctor gladly explained.

It was essentially a machine that would be built to transcend both time and space; a portal of continuousness that would relay a feed of a consistent red sky, and people would be able to look at it from one spot.

Lex knew this man was a genius, but the complexity of his designs and what he was doing it for seemed trivial for just a red sky. He wouldn't agree to a project like this just to appease an old man. He saw untapped potential in this machine, and had his own use, as well as bigger intentions for this device. But he needed Dr. Ryerson, as he was the only one capable of understanding how to build it.

"What do you say, Mr. Luthor? Will you give an old guy a chance?"

Lex smiled. "I'll contact you sometime tomorrow to get you in touch with your new team." He extended his hand; James shook it.


PERRY White stormed into the Daily Planet bullpen, his face red with anger, as he held up a copy of the Inquisitor for everyone to see. Since Lex Luthor had relinquished control and ownership of the Daily Planet, it had taken some time for the newspaper company to get back on its feet after their credibility had been attacked. Although sales were starting to increase again, there really had been nothing to report except for the odd story of the mysterious 'Blur.' The last big headline they had was about Lex stepping down, and that had been more of a relief for the reporters working in the Planet than for the citizens of Metropolis.

"Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this picture?" Perry hollered so loudly that caused almost everyone to stiffen up.

After what seemed like an eternity of dead silence, a voice from the back of the room said, "Yeah. You're holding a copy of the Inquisitor."

Clark shifted in his chair to see Lois walking toward Perry with a cup of coffee in her hand. She was the only woman he knew that could go head-to-head with Perry and be completely unfazed.

Perry gave an exasperated sigh. "No, Lane. That is not what is wrong with this picture. What is wrong is that the Inquisitor is beating us in sales by 10%."

Lois was now in Perry's face. "As someone who worked for the Inquisitor"—she grabbed paper from his hand, glanced at it while slightly smirking—"it's not that much of an accomplishment, considering their headlines are hogwash."

Clark watched as Lois threw the paper into the garbage. If anyone could comment on the Inquisitor, it was Lois, who had stated from past experience that they were less concerned with the quality of writing, and more concerned with the gossip.

Perry frowned before he focused his attention on the other employees gawking at the two of them. "Get us back to number one people, otherwise you won't be reporters anymore." With that, he stormed back into his office and slammed it shut.

Lois made her way back to her desk, as others slowly started to get back to work.

"You know, Lois," Clark began to say, as Lois sat down in her chair, "I think you are the only person here that could do that to White, and not get fired."

Lois laughed. "Me and Perry have an understanding."

Clark raised an eyebrow as he asked, "And what would that be?"

"I get the job done, Smallville. It's in my blood."


OLIVER stepped off the elevator of the Watchtower to see Tess Mercer sitting by the computers. She didn't even turn around to greet him, only waving a hand to acknowledge his presence.

"Nice to see you too, Tess," Oliver said as he made his way closer to her. He noticed she was watching a feed of what looked like Central City.

"Impulse is responding to a situation," Tess said before Oliver could ask. "He's got it under control. Cyborg and Black Canary are in Keystone assessing the damage."

"Gotcha," Oliver said as he looked around. "Where is Chloe?"

"She is at the Isis Foundation," Tess answered, and she could tell by Oliver's expression that he was surprised. After all, Chloe hadn't really been active in the Foundation for quite some time. "I think she needed to do more to help people."

Oliver nodded his head. It was a good organization, helping meteor-infected people come to terms with what had happened to them. However, sometimes he felt that Chloe still hadn't come to terms with hers, but it was a thought he kept to himself.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Tess asked, which caused Oliver to smile.

"Actually there is. I have a proposition for you."

"For me?" Tess asked incredulously.

"You are a smart woman, and you know the ins-and-outs of the business world like no other."

"Thank you?"

Oliver laughed. "What I meant to say is, running Queens Industry has been kind of a challenge considering I'm, well, engaged in other nightly activities. So, I was wondering if you would like a job at Queen Industries as vice-president?"

Tess was taken aback, considering not too long ago, her and everyone else were sworn enemies and not at all friends. She was actually speechless.

"You don't have to come up with an answer right now," Oliver said. "But I could really use your help. And since LexCorp wasn't run into the ground while Lionel and Lex were MIA, I think you are the perfect candidate."

"You are willing to trust a Luthor?"

"Maybe not two years ago," Oliver said. "But you've changed Tess. You're not like them. Clark is a strong believer in redemption. He saw the good in you, and now we all see it."

Tess quickly turned away, feeling her face flush. Clark had saved her from herself, and he gave her a chance to redeem herself—and she did, because deep down she really wanted to. She had never had friends, but The League, Clark, Chloe, Lois, and Oliver had become her closest set of friends. Something she had longed for her whole life.


THE counseling session for the afternoon was coming to a close. There had been a lot of familiar and new faces at the Isis Foundation that made Chloe realize that starting this venture up again had been a good idea. In particular, there were three new members that sat with each other, and didn't say much other than their names. In the middle was Yuri. He was tall, and very built, with short dark hair and even darker eyes. To his right was Josh. He was average height and build with short blonde hair and blue eyes. To Yuri's left was Kyle. He was the complete opposite of the two of them. He was thin and lanky, and had long brown hair that covered most of his face. They never stated what their meteor ability was, but that wasn't very common to do so.

"Thanks for coming," Chloe said as she started to wrap up the session. "It's always important to remember that while you think you are alone with what you are dealing with, you never really are."