A/N: This story can be considered an adventure for Season 5. It's a season that we unfortunately didn't get on television after a legal lien forced the show's cancelation. I make many references to different characters and events from seasons 2-4. Enjoy!
The Adventures of Superboy
Who wants to be a Super-Billionaire?
Chapter 1
Lana Lang finished applying sunscreen to her arms and legs and rested on a lounge chair alongside Shuster University's Olympic-sized swimming pool. It was a beautiful and very hot Saturday afternoon. She'd convinced Clark Kent to accompany her and they used special entry passes they'd received upon graduation. Lana raised her sunglasses and groaned. Clark was late as always, and might as well have been dressed for a winter's day. He placed a basket down then attempted to get comfortable on a lounge chair, but not before it closed up on him twice. He finally opened it and plopped down while Lana laughed.
"You'd think the chair was eating you alive! Clark, seriously? Athletic socks, a Hawaiian shirt, and khaki pants? Tell me you have swimming trunks on?"
"Umm, no, why?"
Lana sighed and rolled over. "Never mind. I'm talking to the guy who wears chinos and long-sleeved plaids in ninety degree weather. Would you mind getting my back, please?"
"Sure." Clark grinned slyly. He grabbed the sunscreen and adjusted his glasses, flipping up shaded lenses. He gazed across the sparkling pool. The sprays of water from other swimmers felt wonderful. He took a deep breath and dribbled lotion onto his palm, then carefully massaged it into her skin.
"You know, Lana, I'm not in the mood to swim today. I'll just watch."
"That's what you always do. You never participate. You know how to swim, it can't be that…ohh, Clark, when did you get a masseuse license? That feels great." Lana closed her eyes. There was something very familiar about Clark's firm, but tender touch and this wasn't the first time she'd sensed it. His roving fingers almost put her in a stupor.
Clark realized he wasn't only making sure she didn't sunburn. He moved up to her shoulders. "I feel tension, is something wrong?"
"Hopefully not today, Clark. But there's always something going on, isn't there?" Lana said.
"Who knew Florida could be so exciting?"
"Yeah. I guess it's because of Superboy. He attracts dangerous aliens and all sorts of weirdos."
Clark chuckled. "That's true…there we go, I just loosened that knot."
"You sure did! How come you never told me you give perfect massages? I've wasted money going to the spa!" She kidded.
Clark wrapped his hands around her shoulder blades and rubbed his thumbs lightly against her neck. His x-ray vision allowed him to see which of her muscles needed the most relief.
"You never asked me for a massage, Lana. I'll give you an hourly discount. And sure, I know how to swim; I'm just not up to it. You wanted the company. It was nice to get out of Capital City for a change."
"It'd be nice to see you out of those clothes for a change too." Lana murmured. "Ahh, that's perfect. Thanks, Clark."
Clark lowered his hands and she returned to sunbathing. "I don't understand it…hmm…maybe." Lana observed other men around the pool.
"What was that?" Clark pretended not to hear. He knew where her thoughts went. She always tried to learn Superboy's identity and became more suspicious as the years wore on.
Lana stared at him with a cautious smile. "Nothing, Clark…thanks for bringing lunch, that's sweet of you."
"Sure, I packed all the essentials."
He gazed deeply at the woman he loved. Lana looked exceptionally beautiful. She'd pinned her flaming red curls up in a loose bun. She wore a modest blue bikini that accentuated her well-toned curves and complimented her dazzling eyes and porcelain skin. He wanted more than anything to have a fun-filled day swimming and playing volleyball, even taking a few dives off the high board…but he couldn't risk the exposure.
Clark Kent the nerd wasn't supposed to have the chiseled, muscular physique Superboy possessed. For him, going to a gym and lifting weights was akin to picking up a balloon. Superboy needed real challenges. He made agreements with the Capital City junkyard, and they allowed him to come once a week to toss and compact cars. The demolition and construction crews loved when he offered to swing the wrecking ball sometimes too. He didn't even break a sweat, but the activity gave him a sense of a work out.
He tried to cover up at all times, hopefully without looking too strange. Every day Clark walked a fine line. Lana was much closer to the truth that he was Superboy. The thought of her knowing both frightened and excited him, but he had to be prepared for the consequences. Namely, her fiery temper.
As Clark ate his salad and sandwich, Lana's attention was drawn toward commotion at the science building a few yards away. She leaped from her chair and Clark almost dropped the food.
"Lana, what is it?"
"Clark, something happened at the lab, I see an ambulance and police cars!"
Clark scanned the area with his x-ray vision and listened in. Someone had broken into Dr. Winger's lab and shot him with a silencer, but he thankfully survived. A blonde woman was seen fleeing the building with a black device in her hands. Clark cursed himself for not catching it, he'd been so absorbed in Lana's massage.
"Oh no! The inter-dimensional portal!" Clark rushed to the gate with Lana behind him.
"The portal? That thing is huge!"
"The hand-held version, Lana."
"But they moved it all to a hidden Government facility. How do you know? Clark, where are you going?"
"To see what happened…uh…wait here, eat lunch, I'll be right back!"
"But Clark, I want to…"
Clark disappeared into the crowd of onlookers. Lana stomped back to the deck; she couldn't leave all their stuff behind. The pool area cleared out. Superboy flew into view and kept the crowds at bay while he spoke to the police. Lana noticed a short woman in a flashy white and gold swimsuit cut through the pool area. She clutched a large beach bag. The platinum hair peeking from under her kerchief could only belong to one person.
Lana broke into a run. "Darla! I knew it! Stop right there!"
Darla gasped, and her poor choice in heeled-sandals slowed her down.
"Dammit, Lex! Why'd you make me do this?" She screeched. "Stay away, red!"
Lana couldn't allow Lex Luthor's girlfriend to escape. She'd stolen the hand-held inter-dimensional portal device. The memory of being kidnapped by Darla and held for ransom in a walk-in freezer attacked Lana. Darla had demand that Superboy go into the main portal and rescue Lex from another dimension. It humbled Lana afterward when Superboy said there were billions of dimensions in the universe similar to their own. Superboy found Lex that night with little time left to spare and Lana survived.
Lana acted fast. She took a running leap and slammed Darla into the pool. Both women screamed and fought and the beach bag sank to the bottom.
"Get off me, red! I can't swim! Ouch! My hair!"
"Good! I'll drown you before you take it!"
"You're really askin' for it, red! Lex'll get you and Superboy will find you in pieces all over the Everglades!"
"Shut up, Darla! I'm warning you!"
Lana knocked Darla in the cheek and pushed her off. Darla choked and flapped her arms. She called out for Lex to help, but the maniacal genius was nowhere to be seen. Lana ignored her and dove to the bottom of the pool. She gripped the device and a blue charge of energy burst out and stunned her.
Superboy was about to fly off when he heard the women screaming. He flew over the pool and saw the energy cloak Lana underwater.
"No! No! Lana! Stop!"
Superboy dove in, hoping to make the portal trip with her, but she was nowhere to be found. On his way to the surface, he grabbed the terrified Darla and brought her to safety. Darla stumbled to her feet, choking up water. Gratitude washed over her and she even smiled at him. Despite all the evils she and Lex committed, Superboy always saved their lives. This time however, he glared at her, his eyes filled with pure anger.
"Hey, hey, hey, big boy! Don't blame me! Your girlfriend attacked first! No one told her to dive for it, so if she's lost in space, it's her fault!"
Superboy grasped her waist. "I know exactly whose fault it is! When I find him, he's going straight to the chair!"
"That's what you always say and it never works!" Darla laughed snidely. "Lex will always outsmart you, Superbuffoon."
"Oh yeah? Well, I'll just have to settle for less."
"What? What are ya doing? Put me down! Put me down!" Darla screamed as Superboy flew her to the police. "Help! Police! He's abusing me!"
"Officers, arrest this woman, she shot Dr. Winger and stole the portal device. She's working for Luthor, but he's not around."
The officers gladly handcuffed Darla and she spat at Superboy. "You'll never get away with this, little boy blue! Lex will come for me, he'll get me out."
Superboy laughed. "You're crazy if you think that. Especially after his last stunt threatening the world with nuclear destruction! You of all people should know he doesn't care about anyone but himself and his sister Lena. He's a wanted man. If the authorities lay eyes on him he'll serve his death sentence with no pardons. Looks like you're stuck, Darla."
"No! LEX! Where are you? Get me outta here! LEX!"
Superboy flew up as Darla kicked at him. He didn't have any more time to waste dealing with the trashy crime queen. Dr. Winger was still unconscious. Superboy had to get to the Government facility and use the portal to find Lana, before she was lost forever.