Party Crasher (Super Lana 50)

DJ Dubois

November-December 2015

Rating: T (Teen)

Notes Part 1: I can't believe we're actually at 50 installments! Woo hoo! Not bad for something I thought was going to be a one-shot back in 2003! You don't say no to the Clana…nope…not done….

Notes Part 2: The characters from Smallville belong to DC and the CW. The character "Zoom" is from the Flash which also belongs to DC and the CW. All other characters are mine and fictitious.

Introduction [Cowache Caves]

Jor-El, Last Guiding Spirit of Krypton, records….

As seen in earlier accounts, connections between our realm and other dimensions reap mostly beneficial fruits. Our counterparts from the adjacent "Duboisverse" have helped us in so many ways. The Althanorian priestesses guide Heloise in their craft as the latter prepares to head her own order on our world.

Of course not all connections are as good to us. We have dealt with the demonic sorcerers from other realms in addition to Kara's return during the "Unholy Quintet" near catastrophe. One should avoid dealing with villains unnecessarily.

My Children seek an excuse to get away from an engagement. Somehow though I don't think this is what they wanted….

We are about to learn more about our multiverse. More than we ever imagined…..

Chapter 1 [Three months following the events in "Identity"]

As was the case during the early fall season, harvest remained pretty much on everyone's mind. Hay dried in stacks and rolls on patches of prairie. Wheat demanded threshing. In turn winter wheat needed sowing. Vegetables and fruits stood ripe for picking.

Preparations for winter, it seemed, were well underway…..

[Jefferson City, KS—Ralston's Orchard]

Clark wiped his brow while hefting another basket into the back of his truck. Despite the day's overcast skies, he welcomed a bit of the air's autumnal briskness. He smiled while eyeing the baskets brimming with apples and pears. He could imagine what Martha would do with those sweet and tart fruits…

…the thought of pies and preserves made his mouth water….

"Hey, Clark, you still with us on Earth, Son?" Jonathan queried while walking up beside him. He rubbed his son's shoulder warmly.

Clark stirred himself from his reverie. "Hmm? Sorry, Dad, I was just thinking about this stuff. Can't wait to see what Mom does with it. I get daydreaming over it."

The elder Kent chuckled knowingly. "Trust in your mother's pies and preserves, Clark. I don't blame you one bit." He inspected the baskets before slamming the tailgate shut. "That should be everything." He saw Mr. Ralston ambling toward them. "We can settle with Mr. Ralston. Then we can get back to Smallville in time maybe to give Lana and Ryan a ride home?"

The thought of his gorgeous wife prompted a grin on the Kryptonian's face. "Can't wait to see her reaction to this! She wants to work with Mom on a new cobbler recipe."

"A new twist never does hurt," Mr. Ralston surmised proudly. "Jonathan and Clark, you got what you needed, right?"

"We sure did, Owen. Thanks. How's the wife?" Jonathan replied as they shook hands.

"The missus is great. Thank you. I trust that Martha and Lana are doing great?" the owner queried. He glanced skittishly toward the side of his barn.

Clark looked at Mr. Ralston curiously. Empathetically he felt vibes of discomfort and anxiety coming from their host. Now what's going on? "Are you okay, Sir?"

Now what? Jonathan noted the discomfort as well. "Owen, sorry but is everything all right?"

"It's okay, Jonathan. Really…Just some stuff to deal with." Mr. Ralston glanced again at his barn. "Trouble with doing this is sometimes…we need to deal with people we don't want to. Anyhow it'll be $120.00 for the baskets and maybe one of Martha's pies when I get to town?"

Jonathan nodded and counted out six twenty dollar bills. "Tell Meredith we will expect you both. Martha sends her best. Lana's with my grandson, Ryan."

"Grandson? Congratulations! Clark, I'll bet he's a handful," Mr. Ralston expressed while trying to cover up the feeling.

Jonathan and Clark exchanged curious looks before the latter picked up on something familiar. "What the?" He rushed toward the barn.

"Clark! Wait! I don't want trouble!" Mr. Ralston urged pointedly.

"It's okay, Owen, we can help," Jonathan insisted as they followed Clark toward the barn.

Clark rounded the corner and entered the public area of the barn. Bins of apples lined the wooden walls. An old cash register sat in the corner with just a bit of dust on its wooden table. A few bottles of cider sat mostly untouched by the door. "Hello?"

Dave turned curiously and considered his younger friend. "Clark? What's wrong?" He glanced around the area and then returned to where he was inspecting a basket of Macintosh apples. "Is there something going on?"

"The way Mr. Ralston was anxious, I thought he had a rowdy customer in here and…." Clark stopped his rebuttal abruptly after putting two and two together. He recalled how a couple of years earlier, the proprietor had expressed his uneasiness around the history professor. He also remembered how Lana was angered by the older man's reaction to their friend. "Did the Protector…umm…?"

Dave chortled cynically. "No but I can feel he's ticked off by the response." He considered the apples and shook his head. "It's a shame because they're great apples." He turned toward the younger man and shrugged. "I don't want to upset the owner. I'll just have to find a way to get them somewhere else. See you back at the Talon." He started from the barn and toward his Subaru waiting across the dirt parking lot.

"David? What's going on?" Jonathan queried as he and Ralston reached the barn.

"Hi, Jonathan. I was just looking at some apples for April and the kids before I leave on my conference trip. Nothing here that I need," Dave stated pointedly while casting a firm look at the owner. He spasmed noticeably while grinding his teeth. Feeling Mr. Ralston's reaction, he hissed, "Quit it! Okay? I'm leaving already!"

"What? I didn't say anything! He's going weird again!" the owner protested.

Jonathan stared at the owner in consternation. "Owen, he's extremely sensitive to fear and distrust. That's not called for. He's only here to shop for apples as Clark and I are."

"He's welcome to shop here." Mr. Ralston cleared his throat indignantly. "Not my fault that he's…."

"He's what?" Clark interjected.

Jonathan felt his anger flaring up. Despite his friendship with the other man, he locked eyes with him. "Go on and finish it, Owen. Answer Clark's question."

"Jonathan, please. Just buy your apples. I don't want Martha to be disappointed. I owe her that much," Dave pleaded not wanting trouble between the others. "I don't want trouble!"

"You're not the one starting trouble, Professor. It's okay," Clark soothed.

Jonathan assessed the situation. On the one hand, he had a great friendship with the owner for many years. However he'd also seen prejudice toward Dave over his situation and despite the latter's efforts to fit in….

…prejudice that could one day potentially affect Clark, Lana and Ryan as well….

"Now wait! Don't go making a mess and putting words in my mouth, Mr. Dubois!" Mr. Ralston protested.

"Who's putting words in whose mouth, Sir?" Clark countered purposefully. He saw his Dad shaking him off but ran right through that particular stop sign. "You've had these issues with him since he came back with his family. A couple of years ago when you asked Lana and me to bring his apples to him, you were trying to avoid having him around here. Yet you want his money? Is that it?"

Jonathan bristled further. "Is that true, Owen?"

Mr. Ralston rolled his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm…not comfortable with him and that thing around here. He has a right to shop but…."

"Forget it. I know where I'm not welcome. I won't expose my family to this crap, Sir. Honestly!" Dave declined angrily. By now, his head was completely numb. He squeezed his eyes shut so that the others wouldn't see them glowing as the angry tide swept him under once more.

"Stoopid! Ah ain't done NOTHIN' ta ya'll!" the Protector snapped viciously. "Like Big Bro said, Ah'm leavin'!" He spat angrily on the dirt. Then he disappeared in an ebon flash from the scene.

"That man's trouble. I know he means well but…." Mr. Ralston noted while trying to tone down his remarks.

"He's not trouble, Owen, unless he's provoked like you just did. Clark, I need your help please," Jonathan disagreed while storming back toward the truck.

"Sure thing, Dad," Clark agreed getting the farmer's gist. He somehow resisted using his super speed in the process. His own sense of indignation burned in his gut.

Clark, what's going on? Lana wondered over their link. I felt the Professor change. Do you need my help or the Legion's?

Nope. Remember Mr. Ralston's feelings toward the Professor? They came to a head just now. Nothing happened other than words exchanged. The Protector came out and disappeared, Clark assured her. I don't want these apples now. I'm sorry but I tired of it. He doesn't deserve this!

Then don't get them. We can get them anywhere remember? Mom will understand, she insisted.

Right. See you in a bit. Tell Ryan I'm thinking of him. Love you, Clark concluded.

We love you too.

Clark sighed as he met his father by the truck again. "It's too bad."

"Tell me about it." Jonathan opened his tailgate again. One by one, he and Clark unloaded the baskets and left them on the ground a safe distance from the vehicle.

"Jonathan, what's going on?" the owner demanded. "We've already finished the sale."

"Owen, I want my money back. You can have your apples. They're great but I won't support your attitude toward David. I thought you were a better man than that." Jonathan finished emptying the back and slammed the tailgate shut. He held his hand out. "I'm sorry but that's final."

Mr. Ralston shook his head while curling his lip angrily. "I'm sorry too." He counted the money back into the other's hand. "You can protect that freak all you want!"

Clark stiffened but said nothing. He turned before he blew his top and did something to reveal himself.

Jonathan clenched his fist but held on to his self-control. "Good bye, Owen." He reached into his pocket and looked at his keychain. "Glad that I insisted he leave us with a spare key. Mind following me home in his car?"

Although he didn't like driving with the manual steering wheel, Clark agreed, "Sure, Dad. Be happy to." He took the key from his father and headed toward the lemon colored hatchback. After starting the motor, he allowed it to idle for a minute.

Jonathan climbed into the cab of his truck. Without another word, he started his vehicle and drove away in a cloud of dust toward the state road just beyond the driveway. As he headed down the road, the indignation radiated off of himself. "When will it stop?" He looked in his side mirror to see the Subaru following at a safe distance.

Maybe the world would support such things but not on the Kents' dime. That was for sure…..