[THE KRYPTONIAN'S LITTLE BROTHER]
by McLanche
DISCLAIMER!
I do NOT own Smallville, Superman, or any of the canon characters, nor am I profiting from this history in any way. This piece is purely for entertainment only. I do own the mysterious boy and the plot, only.
[EPISODE 01 - THE MYSTERIOUS ONE]
Cold. That was the first thing he felt. Maybe it was what brought him back from the darkness of unconsciousness. Or maybe it was the throbbing pain in his chest. His eyes opened slowly, and they hurt as well. He looked around, confused, and saw he was surrounded by some kind of green stuff, like sticks with green delicate platforms sticking out of it, swaying with the wind and the rain. Analyzing his surrounds made no difference. He didn't knew where he was. He didn't knew who he was. He didn't understand anything. He got up slowly, his legs trembling and trying to support him, even if only barely. His chest was hurting to the point of making him sick. With some effort, he managed some steps. It was raining, with dark clouds in the sky. Different from the green things around him, he knew what water was. The water falling from the sky was the rain. At least something was familiar so far.
He walked for some time, the gray ragged clothes he was wearing already drenched by the rain, with the green "things", for the lack of a better word, rubbing uncomfortably in his body. He could hear some noise ahead. It was a kind of rumbling, that sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't say what it was. He could say that he was walking towards it, for sure, though. But he didn't knew if he would be able to reach it.
His torso was as bad as before, and the nausea was getting worse. He was also felling dizzy and his vision was blurring terribly. The rain and the wind weren't making it any easier, as the cold almost made him shake. He fought the urges of throwing up or passing out, heroically. He got out of the field of green sticks that surrounded him, looking around. He was standing on a firm and solid gray colored ground. The rain was falling harder, making hard to see or hear, but he could tell the noise from before was getting real close. He looked at the direction and saw something big and red, with lights on it, close to him and heading his way very fast. He looked at it, scared, but he didn't have the strength to dodge it, so he raised his hands as if that could protect him from the incoming threat.
Chloe Sullivan always took pride in being a cautious driver. She always drove respecting the speed limits, the pedestrians, and every traffic law she knew. She even took extra caution when it was raining this bad. Unfortunately even people this cautious could make mistakes from time to time and these little events could turn to be critical moments which could prevent accidents. But well, everyone was allowed to take their attention off the road to change CD's, at some point.
She really needed some music to help her clear her head. Preferably some that could cheer her up. Things were really messed up for her after discovering about Clark's abilities, and then learn that he wasn't meteor infected but actually an alien who came to Earth during the meteor shower. Not that it would change the way she felt about him, but it was a lot to process, anyway. She didn't really cared about it, because Clark Kent was Clark Kent, with or without powers, alien or not, and he was the man she loved since high school and up to date, but even then she felt like if she thought too much about it, her head would split open. Not to mention that thinking of her unrequited love for him was a good way to have a headache. And music could stop her from thinking too hard, as she'd been doing since she left Metropolis this afternoon.
That's why she decided to change the CD's.
It happened too fast. She took the case from the passenger's seat, maintaining the wheel of her New Beetle straight, by pressing her left leg against it. She looked to the road and it was clear. Her eyes rolled back to the radio, and the blonde inserted the CD on the device, shifting the tracks while the CD loaded. Seconds later, Angus Young started the initial riff of Back in Black. Nothing like classic rock to elevate her mood in a gloomy-looking afternoon such as that. Her eyes shifted back to the road, and someone suddenly was standing in the way of her car. By pure instinct, her left foot hurried to the brake. The tires screamed, protesting against the friction being forced upon them, doing it's best to stop it's movement. But even if her speed wasn't that high, the wet road got in the way of the breaking attempt, and the person in front of her did no effort to avoid it.
Unable to do anything else, Chloe closed her eyes, gripping the wheel tightly and letting out a cry as she ran over the person. With a loud noise, the car came to a abrupt halt, as if hitting a wall. Chloe felt the shock, and the pressure the seat belt put in her shoulder, hurting it. After some seconds trying to overcome the soft dizziness, the blonde opened her eyes, ready to jump off the car and run to the victim of her distraction. She gasped out of surprise as she saw he standing right where he was before, apparently unharmed by the accident. The girl got out of the car in a hurry, and immediately felt the rain pouring over her, not caring about it.
"Are you alright?!" - she asked, as she walked over to the person. He was standing, his hands in the hood of the car, as if lifted to protect himself. The hood was bent and twisted in strange ways rugged around his hands, but the damage in the car was minimal. But that didn't crossed her mind, as she was worried about the boy. She spoke again, and as always when she got nervous, the words came out in a fast sentence - "Jesus, I'm so sorry. I was distracted for a second there and then you appeared out of nowhere! I tried to break, but..." - she trailed off her blabbering, seeing his reaction.
The boy looked at her, and seemed startled, trying to take a step as he crossed his arms in front of him, but instead he tumbled back, falling on his butt. For some reason, the confusion in his eyes told her he could not understand what she was talking. He was a teenager, fifteen tops. His shoulder length light brown hair was a mess. It was drenched, but as well dirty and messy. His face was delicate, soft but was dirty as well, as if he had never taken a bath. His eyes were the lightest blue she had ever seen, but it seemed kind of unfocused. She could tell that he was skinny, through the ragged clothes he was wearing.
He was equally surprised with everything, but noticed when someone, appearing to be the same species as his, approached him after leaving the red kind of thing he could assimilate with a transportation of some sort, talking to him in a language he didn't knew. He could tell she was trying to communicate with him, but nothing she said made sense to him. He was shocked that he somehow stopped the red vehicle with his hands, what was surprising to him not only due to his actual health condition but for the concept of being stronger than it. He looked at the blonde that kept getting closer.
"And how did you stopped my car with your hands?" - she asked out loud, clearly for herself, as she crouched near to him. Even if he didn't looked hurt from the accident, looking closely, he didn't seemed healthy at all - "You don't look so fine. I think I should drive you to a hospital..." - She trailed off, as her eyes suddenly moved to his shoulder. Through a big hole in his shirt she had a nice view of the right side of his thin upper torso. His shoulder bore a scar of a symbol she knew. Clark had shown it to her. It was a Kryptonian symbol. A stretched pentagon with a two circles inside, one smaller above a larger one, shaped like a number eight. That made the young woman reconsider.
"Or maybe not..." - She looked again in his light blue eyes.
He didn't respond. His mouth opened, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't had the strength. And even if he had, he would just say that he didn't understood anything she just said. Instead responding, he leaned to his right, slowly, as if he was putting all his effort in avoiding it, his eyes closing. He couldn't stay awake anymore. He was scared of the world around him, of not knowing anything, and didn't want to lose his consciousness, but the pain and dizziness reached it's peak. But before he passed out, he felt the other person hold him, and try to pull him up. Semi-conscious, he tried his best to help her lift him, even without knowing what she intended.
Chloe managed, with the boy's help, to get him to the car. She help him in the passenger's seat, after she tossed her CD case to the back seat. She closed the door, and got back to the driver's seat, trying the ignition. The car's engine started right away. She sighed in relief, and continued her way to Smallville. The boy closed his eyes as soon as the car started its movement, and passed out. Chloe turned the music off, and took her cell phone, dialing Clark's number. He answered right after the first ring.
"Clark? Yeah, it's me... You won't believe what just happened..." - she said, as the car made its way through the road, heading to Smallville.
"So... Do you think he is a Kryptonian?" - Chloe asked, looking at the boy laying in the bed of one spare room in her apartment. She dried him with an old towel, and then tookoff his shirt, covering him with a blanket, to warm him up a little. His nude chest showed the scar like symbol on his right shoulder, as well as a big bruise in the middle and left part of his torso, that judging by the purple tone, was filled with blood.
"The symbol in his shoulder certainly is." - answered Clark Kent, also staring at the boy. - "The fact that he stopped your car with his hands points towards that. But if he were Kryptonian, he shouldn't be wounded."
"I guess..." - said the blond, frowning. - "But his injury did not came from the accident. At least, I don't think it did. Could it be that he got wounded without powers, and his powers got back before the accident?"
"When I get hurt without my powers, my body regenerates instantly as soon as I get them back." - Clark explained. - "It should be the same for him, if he really were Kryptonian."
She nodded, understanding the point. It was hard to make accurate deductions about something she still didn't knew completely.
"He can be a meteor infected boy." - she said, her arms crossed by her chest.
"It could fit his condition, but not the symbol." - he retorted. - "Did he said anything before passing out?" - it was his time to ask.
"Nothing. I think he would, but didn't had the strength to." - she said, as she left the room, followed by her friend. She entered the kitchen and took two cups, filling them with hot, black coffee, just finished by the coffee machine. She took one, and Clark the other. - "But by the look in his face, I don't think he understood me."
"He was probably too dizzy to understand your words."
"Could be. I don't know." - she answered him, and they both made their way to the couch in the living room. - "What should we do with him? I mean, if he is like you, we can't take him to a hospital, even if he is injured."
"Can you take care of him for a while?" - he asked sipping his coffee.
"Sure. What you're planning?" - she drank as well.
"I'll go the Fortress of Solitude, and ask Jor-El about him." - he answered, looking at her - "Then, I think I'll need to buy him some clothes, before the town's stores close by the day."
Chloe nodded, blowing her drink, making the steam twist and contort as if complaining against her action. She looked at it distracted, as she agreed with him, thinking.
"Why do you think Jor-El would know him?"
"He knows a lot. As far as I know he can even be the one behind it." - answered Clark. - "I know he can give abilities to other people, if he think it's convenient..."
"Why would he do it to him?" - asked the blond, intrigued.
"I don't think it's his doing. I'm just making my point. Jor-El knows a lot about almost everything. Maybe he can give some answers" - he paused a moment to take another sip from his coffee and then continued. - "Do you think you're gonna be alright, alone with him?" - he asked as he put the empty cup on the table. - "I mean, he's injured but he is still strong, judging by what he did with your car."
"Oh, it's alright, Clark." - she answered, with a bright smile - "I don't think he's aggressive or anything."
"Alright. I'll be back as fast as I can. I trust your judgment, but I rather be here when he wakes up..." - he said.
"Well, knowing how fast you can be, I don't think that's a problem." - she said, still smiling. Clark gave her a light smile, at the comment. It was still strange to talk about his abilities with someone other then his parents.
"See you later Chloe." - he said, and sped out of the room, so fast she couldn't even see the blur. The wind from his movement blown her hair all over her face and shoulders, and she closed her eyes to protect them. Faster then the blink of an eye, he simply disappeared.
"See you Clark." - She said to the now empty room, a faint smile playing in her lips. Those incredible abilities made Clark even more appealing than normal.
She then leaned behind in the couch, looking for comfort, the cup still in her hands. The heavy rain tapped the window constantly, filling the room with its soft sound. It had passed a little more than one hour since the accident. She parked in front of the Talon, and Clark was already there, waiting for her as they planned over the phone. He carried the boy upstairs, where she dried him and put him to bed, after covering the bed with plastic towels they used to cover tables at the Talon.
Finishing her coffee, the blond decided to take a shower and relax a little. Clark was fast, probably was already at the Fortress, but even he had to talk in normal speed and that meant it would take some time for him to come back. After washing the two cups, she went to the bathroom and took a shower without hurry. After the bath, already dressed, she walk to room the boy was.
She got there and looked at him. He was still asleep, apparently he didn't move at all while sleeping, still in the same position as when they put him in bed. But the bruise was smaller, as if healing at a fast pace. She got closer, curious, observing. It could be seen by the naked eye. Little by little, the bruise was regenerating, his skin returning to normal as if spreading itself over the wounded tissue. It was hardly "instantly", like Clark said it happened with him, but probably would be completely healed in the next hours. Totally inhuman. Maybe Kryptonian. Could be something else. She understood too little of the subject to be able to jump at conclusions. She would have to wait for Clark, hoping that he could bring some answers.
Back in Metropolis, in an old warehouse by the docks, four man prepared themselves for a work. A contracted job that seemed way underrated for they abilities. All of them were big shots in they area of expertise, expensive contractors that generally only accepted topnotch services. The job of the night wasn't what they usually did. The normal contracts they accepted were mostly for stealing first class art works, industrial secrets and eventually killing someone. But working to steal something they didn't knew what it was, made all of them uneasy. They couldn't complain though. The employer was paying almost triple their usual price. And this meant that whatever was they were about to get, it was priceless, and the employer wanted it took care by the best contractors in town. Them.
The only catch was who they had to deal with. They didn't knew what to steal, but they did knew from who they would be stealing and where to get it.
"Let's review the plan. The convoy will leave Luthorcorp exactly at 0300h and follow the 4th Avenue until Jeffrey Street." - said the muscular man, short spiked blonde hair and brown hard eyes. His tone was cold and devoid of emotion. - "Then it will take a left turn and follow Jeffrey Street until the 7th avenue, heading for the airport." - his finger traced the route on the map laid in the table before them.
"You're sure that's the route it will take, Nickels?" - asked one of the others, the youngest of them.
"This information was given to us by the employer, meathead. Of course its accurate." - Said the third, the oldest of the four. He had a strong British accent.
"How can you be so sure?" - asked the young man again. - "We've ran into some pretty fucked up shit in the past, relying in garbage the employers dug from the target. How can we know this crap is hot?"
"He said he's got a spy inside Luthorcorp." - it was Nickels who answered - "And judging by the price they're paying us, he really want whatever is in it and probably double checked the information. Now, can we continue?"
The fourth member, quiet so far, made a circular gesture with his left hand, clearly meaning, "go on".
"The convoy will hit this intersection sometime between 0310h or 0320h." - Nickles index finger tapped twice in the intersection he mentioned - "Then, Eliah and Keane will close their path with the Hummer. I'll block the street behind them, and Randall will flank their left. Their right will be turned to the guardrail." - he explained, while running his finger across the map.
The other three nodded.
"Now, we know it's gonna be three cars. Two security escorts, and one armoured truck. Four security officers each escort, plus the driver and companion in the armoured car. It can have additional officers in the back of the truck. Keane and I will blow the two escorts as soon as they stop. The other's we will shoot as soon as they leave the armored vehicle."
"Then we take the armoured truck, and drive it until Route 11 where our own truck is parked. We move the package to our truck, and drive to the rendezvous point. We make the exchange and then we can come back home and celebrate with expensive drinks and naked girls."
"So, we're all set?" - asked Eliah, the youger one.
"Yeah. Let's get ready ladies." - replied Randall, with his british accent.
Clark got to the Fortress, seconds after leaving Chloe's apartment above the Talon. The crystal like building was dead and silent as always, until he entered, walking until the main crystals of the place. The cold didn't bother him. Not the temperature coldness anyway. But the cold that emanated from the Kryptonian-like building, was unnerving. It was too white and most of all, too devoid of life. Maybe because it remembered him of a place he would never know. A place he knew it didn't existed anymore.
"Jor-El, I need to speak to you." - He said, looking at the one big crystal in front of him.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the crystal glowed faintly, as if building the energy to shine bright, letting out a small humming. Suddenly the glow stabilized, and a voice sounded, as if the hole Fortress was answering his call.
"What do you seek, my son?" - came the voice, strong and calm. It seemed to come from everywhere around him. Almost as if reverberating from all the crystals at the same time.
"Knowledge. I found a boy this afternoon. He has a Kryptonian symbol in his shoulder. Do you know anything about it?" - Clark asked, looking at the glowing crystal as if someone was there.
"No. I'm not aware of the fact you're describing, my son." - replied the Kryptonian consciousness inhabiting the Fortress.
"He has shown to be stronger then a normal human, and probably more resilient then one as well." - continued Clark. - "But he's injured and do not seem to be invulnerable, like me. I considered the possibility of him being Kryptonian, even if it's remote."
"It's most unlikely that this stranger you have met is in fact Kryptonian." - replied Jor-El. - "But whatever he is, he may be a threat. His lineage must be discovered, as well as his intentions."
"That's the reason I'm here." - retorted the son.
"You'll need to expose the boy to your weakness, an observe his reaction, to verify his lineage." - the voice was paused and slow, almost reflective. - "If the results come inconclusive, then you shall bring him here."
Clark nodded.
"I'll be on my way then." - he said, and then returned to Smallville, faster than the human thought.
Chloe was again in the kitchen, preparing her dinner. She wasn't the cook type of girl, but she could manage a simple soup. Normally she would go downstairs at the Talon and grab a croissant, but making a soup, she would have something healthy to offer the boy, in case he woke up, and she also could invite Clark for dinner, what was always nice.
It had passed two hours since Clark left the apartment. He called once back from the Arctic, and said he would buy some clothes for the boy, and then return to the farm to pick up something they would need, explain things to his parents and then he would go to her place. Now, all she could do was wait for him. And cook.
She hoped he could gather something on the boy. Her imagination, one of her most prominent characteristics, was already creating thousands scenarios about the circumstances. That's what usually happened when her curiosity wasn't satisfied. Her mind kept creating possibilities about the unexplainable, over and over again. She was brought back from her thoughts when she heard one of the doors open. There were only two doors closed in the apartment. The entrance door, which was locked, and the room the boy was, which she closed on purpose so she would be aware if he tried to leave the room.
She walked back to the living room, in which the door to the two rooms were located. Looking at the door of his room, she could see it was half opened, and from the soft dark in the room two bright, scared and mostly of all, curious blue eyes, watched her attentively.
[CONTINUES...]
[AUTHOR´S NOTES]
(Please, Read)
Hello there!
This is my first attempt in a Smallville fan fiction, and my second attempt writing in English. So please, excuse some of my grammatical errors. I created this story thinking about Chloe. I am a huge fan of her character and I always thought she should be with Clark. But obviously, they had to make it canon and he couldn't be with her. So, instead of writing a fiction of he ending with her, I decided to create her own personal Superboy. He is younger then her because I like older woman, younger man relationships and because it turns the relationship more problematic, with taboos and such and consequentially more fun to work with.
I intend to lead the plot to a action-based comic style story, with the romance between all the characters developing slowly and hopefully in a believable and coherent pace.
Hope you all liked the first chapter, and ask you to review it with your opinions, critics and impressions.