Title: Precipice
Author: Annie M
Series: Smallville
Rating: M
Codes: Lois, Clark, Lex, Oliver Queen, and others
Part: Multiple
Date: 3rd August 2008
Summary: Clark and Lois look to the future in this AU take on the events post "Arctic," and beyond. Lex Luthor returns to Metropolis, after years out of the public spotlight, and a hero goes missing.
Notes: Incorporated into this story are the odd (minor) spoiler snippets for season 8, which I have twisted for my own purposes.
Special thanks go to my excellent beta reader for this story, sarawolfe.
As I'm English all spellings used here are British.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. No infringement intended to DC or Warner Bros etc.
(c) Annie M, 3rd August 2008.
Precipice by Annie M
Chapter One
Circling the ruins of Kal-El's fortress from the air J'onn J'onzz, former Manhunter from Mars scanned the surface debris. Sensing life beneath the shattered tons of crystal and ice he dove towards the ground, tunnelling under and through the fortress' remains by using his own version of Kal-El's heat-vision.
J'onn knew he should have been keeping a closer watch on Kal-El, especially since the incident with the Phantom and Kara Zor-El's sudden appearance all those months ago. Instead of following those instincts, he'd left, foolishly allowing Lionel Luthor, Jor-El's emissary and Kal-El's own stubborn independence to thwart his better judgement. And now Lionel Luthor was dead and Kara Zor-El, wherever she was, was beyond his ability to track and Kal-El …
He slipped his arms under the young Kryptonian's, and lifted the slack but not lifeless body up and away from the wrecked fortress.
"Go … back …" Kal-El's voice was weak, but J'onn understood the request perfectly.
J'onn flew clear of the fortress before setting Kal-El's injured body down on the snow packed ground. "We can't go back," J'onn explained, taking in Kal-El's barely conscious state. "It's not safe for us here right now. I need to get you to safety."
"Lex … Lex… is back there … help him," Kal-El urged through every constricted breath.
"No. He tried to kill you, I can feel it," J'onn seethed.
His ability as a galactic Manhunter was forged not just on his physical agility and strength, or even his ability to alter his physical appearance, but also on his telepathic capabilities.
J'onn was able to read the mind of almost any being with no difficulties, and given a few seconds to concentrate he could read their subconscious minds as well. And J'onn had read the hatred and twisted anguish in Lex Luthor's thoughts. Lex didn't just want Kal-El dead; he wanted him to suffer.
"Doesn't matter," Kal-El whispered between each ragged breath. "We can't … just leave him … to die!"
J'onn shook his head, "He's a danger to you, Kal-El."
"Please."
J'onn hesitated for several moments inwardly debating the influence of Kal-El's human upbringing and the values instilled in him by the Kent's. The compassion he could show, even now, for a man J'onn knew would remain a danger to Kal-El for as long as they both lived. He shook his head sadly; sometimes he missed the brutal simplicity of a planet like Krypton's idea of justice; where an expedient end could justify the means.
But in remembering Kryptonian justice he also recalled that not all the great Houses of Krypton were in favour of such notions of justice, the House of El among them. Nor could J'onn escape the promise he'd made to Kal-El's father, Jor-El, years before, to: "Protect the boy and respect the man he will become."
Despite his many misgivings J'onn would never break a promise to such an old comrade, even if it went against his own principles.
Squeezing Kal-El's hand in assurance J'onn re-affirmed his promise to an old friend. "All right."
-8-
Jimmy Olsen attempted to massage the insistent pain in his temples away with his trembling fingers. He could barely watch as Lois paced up an down the length of her apartment, cell phone clutched desperately to her ear as she placed one determined call after another in search of her cousin and roommate.
"Someone in your offices has to know where she is?" Lois bellowed, her indignation rising with each frustrating call. "C, for Christmas, H, for hammer, L, for laundry, O, for omega, and E, for exit-- Chloe. Sullivan. Do you need me to spell that for you as well?" There was a short pause in the conversation before Lois muttered a curse, and then-- "S, for sugar, U, for uniform …"
From the moment those men from the Department of Domestic Security had shown up--three hours before to arrest Chloe-- Jimmy had found no peace in keeping still. With Chloe's screams for Clark still ringing in his ears, he'd jumped in his car and raced away from the small coffee shop, and scene of Chloe's arrest, to break every speed limit he'd dared in getting to the Kent farm.
He really didn't know what he expected Clark to do, once he told him of Chloe's arrest, Lex's involvement and his own behaviour, but Clark, upon hearing Jimmy's summary, had told him he'd handle it, and for Jimmy to go home and wait.
How in the hell was he supposed to go home and wait?
Europe and The United States were living in a new age of fear and suspicion since the events of 9/11. In this climate, Chloe's computer hacking abilities could be seen as a genuine threat to National Security, and skills that might have been applauded a decade before were now in serious jeopardy of handing Chloe a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay.
What the hell did Chloe think Clark could do anyway? Had he secretly been studying for a law degree while they all thought he was tending the farm?
Despite his belated reservations Jimmy had done what he'd been asked and got back on the road. He drove mindlessly for more than an hour, barely paying attention to road signs or speed limits before he realised he had no idea where he was.
His brain was fried.
Pulling his car off the highway and stopping Jimmy hit the steering wheel in frustration and anger. He had to do something!
He did; he called Lois Lane.
Lois had called it quits for the night at the Daily Planet and was on her way up the stairs to her apartment above the Talon, when she'd taken the call from him. Jimmy had babbled incoherently for about thirty seconds before Lois was able to calm him down enough to understand the words, "Chloe" and "arrested."
Less than an hour later Olsen pulled his second-hand, powder blue, Volvo 240 into the alley adjacent to the coffee shop and rushed up the fire-escape entrance to the cousins' first floor home.
An hour after that and Lois was still getting nowhere in trying to establish where Chloe had been taken. Jimmy watched in awe as Lois took charge of the situation, immediately contacting the local Sheriff's office in Smallville, and then the four FBI field offices dotted around the State of Kansas, but at every turn she was given the run-around:
"She's not in our database, Ma'am."
"Try the field office in Topeka, we have no record of a Chloe Sullivan in custody here."
"Even if this person is your cousin, as you stated, we still couldn't authorise the release of information pertaining to an on-going federal investigation, Ma'am. Have a nice evening, now."
Lois cut her latest call to the so-called authorities and threw her phone down against her couch cushions in disgust. "Everyone's denying responsibility!" she raged, her pacing quickening with her agitation. "This is crazy. I can't get anyone to confirm or deny that they have her! And you know there's no address or even a contact number for the DDS, right?"
"They can't just do this … can they?" Jimmy offered weakly. It felt like there was a hose attached to his insides and it was slowly sucking the life out of him, one pint at a time.
Oh, God, Chloe, he thought miserably. What have I done?
"That son-of-a-bitch is going to' pay," Lois muttered from the other side of the room.
Jimmy slumped into an armchair and asked helplessly, "What are we going to do?"
Lois stopped pacing and turned to look at him.
Feeling her stare, Jimmy brought his head up and met her gaze. Lois' jaw was raised defiantly and her lips were set tightly together, almost snarling. Her eyes, hardened with anger and the threat of tears, had a far-off look to them as if she were gazing inward and her hands were fisted tightly against her hips.
It was a look that Jimmy had never seen on Lois before--she looked ready to kill.
Grabbing her abandoned cell phone from the couch, Lois placed another call.
"Ollie, its Lois. I need a huge favour."
... to be continued ...
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