Outside a non-descript facility in the Canadian plain a lone figure crouched in the freshly fallen snow. The wind whipped around him trying to take the breath from him. Why couldn't it be somewhere warm? He thought to himself. The Caribbean would be nice. All those girls dressed in their bikinis. A cold gust of wind slapped him out of the pleasant thought. But, no. I have to sit out here freezing my butt off. He glanced upward. The sun wasn't even out. Gray clouds hung in the sky, threatening a fresh snowfall. I'm going to insist the next location we check out is warmer.
Bart snapped out of his thoughts as the radio came to life.
"Everything's good to go, Impulse. The security system has been deactivated."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Bart scanned the building and grounds one more time. He'd only spotted one guard pacing the perimeter fence. "Shouldn't there be more security than this?"
"How much security do you think a supposed car parts factory should have?" Cyborg's answer snapped back.
"I'm just saying something seems off about this. It just seems like Luthor would have more security than this."
"Go on and check it," Oliver's voice crackled over the communicator, stopping the discussion. . "If there is a problem just let us know."
"Fine."
"You get electrocuted one time and see how anxious you are to go in somewhere like this first." Bart mumbled to himself. He blurred inside the building. "I'm inside."
"Good. What do you see?" Oliver asked.
"Nothing." Bart threw his hands up in the air. "There's nothing here at all. There's no computer, people, nothing."
Oliver blew out a frustrated sigh. From his vantage point he could watch the facility's lone sentry continuing his rounds, apparently unaware of the infiltration. "Okay. Meet back at the rendezvous point."
A pair of eyes silently watched the red hooded figure from a hidden room. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cell phone pressing a few buttons on it. "You were right, sir. They're here."
A voice came across the line. "Are you following procedure?"
"Yes, Sir. Just monitoring, no contact."
"Good, these wild goose chases should keep them busy for a while." A smile threatened to creep across Luthor's face as he ended the call.
A few minutes later everyone was back at their predetermined destination.
"So, what gives?" Bart asked the question first. This is the fourth place we've been that has been cleaned out."
"There was nothing in there at all?" Oliver asked asked, hoping that there might have been a clue to the recent exodus. His intel had assured him there had been activity at the plant just a few days ago. He had received information that there had been activity at the plant just a few days before.
"Man, that place was wiped clean." Bart said said, shaking his head.
Oliver punched a nearby tree in frustration; a dusting a snow fell on his jacket. "What is Lex up to? I know he wouldn't just abandon these plants." The statement was made almost to himself.
"So, what do we do now?"
"We go back and regroup and see if we can figure out what Lex is up to."
"Okay, sounds like a plan to me." Bart said. "Hey," he added, trying to lighten the mood. "Can we stop on the way and get some Mexican. I'm starving."
then trying to lighten the mood added. "Hey, can we stop on the way and get some Mexican. I'm starving."
Victor turned and looked at his friend. "Man, you're always starving."
"Hey, I use up a lot of energy." Bart said defending himself.
Oliver just shook his head at them as they walked away. He knew that Bart was just trying to lighten the mood but he couldn't help but feel completely frustrated. He could not stand for Lex to have the upperhand.
Broots and Ms. Parker strode down one of the numerous hallways inside the labyrinth of sublevels that made up the Centre.
Ms. Parker had tuned out Broots' ramblings a hallway ago, but hadn't bothered to let him know. This was her attempt at trying to be less abrasive, but she was just about to tell him to zip it or she would do it for him. He was trying to tell her about the latest report he had been working on but got stuck on the technical stuff that she didn't care about. What she saw next surprised her so that she stopped dead in her tracks; throwing out an arm, which the distracted Broots promptly ran into.
"Umpf" Broots muttered. "What'd you do that for?"
Parker didn't answer; she just stared down the intersecting hallway at the bald figure that had just crossed their path. "Stay here," she hissed to the tech and walked commandingly toward the visitor.
"Lex Luthor." Ms. Parker said the name with disdain. "I'm surprised to see you here. You actually took time out from taking over small towns to come out here and visit us." "
"Ah, Ms. Parker." Lex turned, acknowledging her with an equal amount of disdain. "It's so nice to finally get to meet you. I've heard so many great things about you. How is the search for Jarod going, anyway?"
"That is none of your business." Ms. Parker stated before a hint of a smile appeared on her face. "If you wanted to get in good here, why didn't you catch the boy genius when he was right underneath your nose back where you come from?"
"Not my fish to fry." He looked squarely at her when he spoke. "I've got bigger ones to deal with."
Ms. Parker took a step forward coming right up to Lex's face. "I want you to know, if you double cross me or my father I will hunt you down."
"You should know that I don't respond well to threats."
Ms. Parker drew herself up a step. "That's why I don't make them."
Lex stared at her icily for a moment as if dairing her to act before turned back and continued on his way.
Ms. Parker stood still until his figure was absorbed by the shadows down the hall. Broots had appeared beside her. He has to either being going to see Raines or my father, she thought to herself. I know I'm not going to find out what is going on from either of them.
"I don't like this. I want you to figure out exactly why he's here and what he is up to."
A/N: This story is the culmination of my Smallville / Pretender crossover trilogy. If this is the first story in the series you have read and you would like to go back and start at the beginning the first story was Passing Through, the second one is Captive.
The stories do kinda build on themselves but they are also three separate entities. You should be able to read this one without being confused if you have not read the previous two.