Reborn

"So will it work?" Chloe asks Jor-El.

"It will, but you need to understand, you will not survive the process. Chloe Sullivan will cease to exist." he explains.

"That's ok. Saving Clark is what is important. Let's get started, we don't have much time." Chloe answers stepping into the crystal chamber that then slides closed.

Jor-El activates the controls. Despite being a computer generated entity there is still enough of a memory of the man he is based on to feel sadness at what Chloe is going through in that chamber. Her screams melt even his artificial heart. His son is lucky to have such friends. Her sacrifice reassures him he made the right choice sending Kal-El to Earth.

Chloe's mind is shattered between pain beyond description, and a flood of alien memories. She doesn't mind though. It is the only way to save Clark. She pays this price willingly. Dying isn't anything like she expected.

When the crystal chamber opens once more, Chloe Sullivan is no more. Chlo-El, who is combination of Chloe Sullivan and Kara Zor-El, is all that is left. Her body still bares some resemblance to Chloe's, but it has been enhanced and strengthened. The small fame of Chloe' Sullivan has been replaced by a well muscled more athletic frame (similar to Galatia from Justice League, not as busty as Power Girl). Struggling to crystallize her new self, she staggers as she steps out of the chamber.

"Please there is not much time. You must enter here for the next phase." Jor-El implores.

Nodding her consent, she enters another chamber. This one Jor-El rises to the top of the fortress. Once in place, he focuses other crystals on the fortress's roof directing intense sunlight into the chamber. At first the intensity of the sunlight is overwhelming. It nearly destroys her fragile new mind, but then her Kryptonian DNA starts tapping the sunlight's power. Energy courses through her, healing her mind as it empowers her body. By the time this chamber opens, she can barely contain all the power within her. It takes considerable restraint to go to through the final stage. Donning the armor seems to take an eternity as her instincts are screaming at her to join the fight, but there is enough of Chloe left to council patience. She needs the armor to avoid falling as Clark did. With this armor Zod will not be able to rob her of her new powers the way he did Clark. At long last the crystal laced armor is sealed and she blasts off toward Metropolis praying she will be in time. Jor-El continues to offer advice and tactics to her as she flies.

"At long last, kneel son of Jor-El. Kneel and acknowledge Zod as your master." Zod gloats.

Looking over at a terrified Lois still struggling against the two Kryptonian's holding her, Clark reluctantly kneels down. He doubts Zod will keep his word and spare Lois, but he has to grasp the slim chance that Zod will. Even with his powers, Clark could never hope to defeat all of Zod's soldiers in time to save Lois. He knows if he even tried, Zod would kill Lois in an instant.

Zod is reveling in his long awaited moment of glory. The long ago betrayal of his best friend Jor-El will finally be avenged. He hasn't decided how long to let Kal-El live, but that doesn't matter. It is a simple matter to end Clark's life when he tires of tormenting Clark. As for the feisty human female Lois, he plans on sparing her. His men will enjoy her immensely and her fate will further demonstrate how completely Kal-El has failed. Besides they will need to breed with these humans if they are to restore Kandor here on Earth. There simply aren't enough females among his troops. He is drawn out of his revelry by a sonic boom and then his precious solar tower explodes into a thousand pieces. In seconds, the red sun reverts to its normal yellow state.

Seeing his chance Clark leaps up now easily throwing Zod's soldier's out of his way. While still not at full strength the punch he throws into Zod's ribs breaks several as it lifts Zod off his feet. Before Zod hits the rooftop, Clark grabs him by his uniform holding him high in the air. So many have died because of Zod, Clark can see no other choice but to end his life. He draws back his fist for a killing blow.

"Go on, son of Jor-El! Claim your birthright! Kill me! Take your revenge! If you don't, I promise your world and all those you love will burn." Zod taunts while spitting blood into Clark's face.

Lois feels the grip of her captors loosen as soon as the sun changes colors. She is certain she caught a glimpse of something rushing the tower just before it blew up. "He's back!" she mentally shouts. Seizing her chance she pushes off one of her captures and they are both surprised when the guy falls backward. A moment ago, she couldn't budge that guy's hand much less the rest of him. Realizing she now has a chance, she throws a vicious kick into her other capture's groin. He drops like a stone cradling his wounded groin. Angry and not sure how long she has, she then kicks the guy she knocked over in the head. He goes down like a puppet with its string cut. The goon holding his jewels, she punches in the face until he too collapses. Shaking her fist she turns to Clark. She is horrified to see Clark about to kill Zod.

At Zod's taunt, Clark lowers his fist and drops Zod back onto the roof. "You're right Zod. My fathers taught me there is always another way. Perhaps some time in the Phantom Zone will help you see the error of your ways." He turns to check on Lois and is glad to see she is all right. Her reassuring smile tells him she not only agrees with his decision to spare Zod but is proud of him for it.

Anxious to catch another glimpse of her hero The Blur, she goes to the roof top's edge and looks out. Signs of The Blur are everywhere. Clumps of Zod's men are restrained by lamp posts or downed power cables or just plain knocked out. Without their powers, the few The Blur hasn't dealt with are being overwhelmed by Metropolis' citizens led by a familiar green clad avenger. She doesn't know what kept him, but she is glad he showed up to save them from the physco squad. When Zod showed off the Blur's ruined shirt she feared the worst. "He must've needed time to recover or find the tower's weakness." she thinks. Turning to see how Clark is, she sees him grinning his stupid, but oh so enduring farm boy smile at her. She can't help but smile back. She couldn't have blamed Clark for killing Zod. Lord knows she herself is tempted but for some reason Clark killing seems fundamentally wrong.

Chlo-El zips through Metropolis taking out the small groups of Zod's soldiers scattered through out the city. Without their powers it only takes her a few seconds to wrap them all up. Now that Zod's men have been subdued she searches for something to hold them all until she can speak with Clark about what to do with them. Jor-El made it clear their fate would be in Kal-El's hands. Finding a giant shipping container at the docks, she goes back through the city collecting Zod's troops. She sees Oliver stand victorious with some citizens over a group of Zod's troops. Chloe's memories surface at the sight of him. A mixture of pride, happiness he is alive, and love nearly overwhelm Chlo-El. Realizing she isn't ready to face Oliver yet she avoids that group and swoops back to the Daily Planet.

Landing on the Daily Planet's roof she addresses Kal-El in Kryptonian "Kal-El Zod's forces have been defeated. I have them confined in a shipping container over there. What's their fate?"

Clark looks up at the new comer clad in simmer crystal armor which hides her identity but not the fact she is female. She must be Kryptonian to do what she does but she doesn't sound like Kara. "Perhaps Jor-El found more survivors?" he wonders. She definitely sounds Kryptonian but also somehow familiar. "Phantom Zone." Clark answers. Before he can ask who she is, she darts off dragging Zod with her. He sees her head North with the shipping container. "She must be headed for the Fortress."

A week ago if you had told Lois that a person could fly she would have laughed in your face but after Zod's demonstrations, she is just glad this flying chick is on their side. "Does the Blur have a girlfriend? Has he always been a she? Is that why she didn't want to meet? No he can't be a she. I felt him. This is someone else." Lois struggles to figure out. When their rescuer flies off she refocuses on Clark. "What was it she said to you? That wasn't English. Also, what did she mean by calling you Kal-El? That's what that Zod character called you. Spill Clark." she demands.

"Not now Lois." Clark says forcefully. He has to get to the Fortress so he can find out what happened. Jor-El will be able to tell him how many people died this time because of his failure. "I tried father. I really tried, but I couldn't save him from himself." Clark silently tells his dead father.

Surprised by the harshness in Clark's tone, Lois actually backs off. "Smallville must really be hurting to snap at me like that." Taking a different tact, she walks over and tries to wrap him in her arms. For a moment he lets her but then pulls away. "Lois you need to tell the authorities its all over." he instructs her.

"What about you?" she asks.

"I have to go but I promise I'll explain when I get back. I'm sorry Lois. It's the best I can do right now." he explains while running his hand tenderly along her cheek.

"Fine but you owe me." she quips hoping her smile will lighten the moment and hating when his hand is withdrawn. His lightest touch sends shivers down her spine which she stubbornly refuses to call anything other than misplaced sexual frustration.

He just nods as he strides over the stairwell and heads down. His mind is swirling with all that has happened. Hoping to beat his visitor to the Fortress, Clark races to the caves to use the key.

Even before Clark is completely out of sight, Lois is flipping open her phone. Hitting a well worn speed dial number she says "Perry have I got the story of the year for you."

Clark is just entering the caves when he gets Oliver's call. "Clark have you seen her?" he implores.

"Lois is fine Oliver." he answers.

"Not Lois, Chloe. She isn't at Watchtower and hasn't responded to any of my messages. With the whole Zod thing, we have been limiting communications. It's possible she is just laying low and hasn't heard Zod has been taken down, but it doesn't feel right. I think something happened to her." Oliver says.

"I know one place she might have gone to hide. I'm on my way there as we speak. I will call you once I check, ok." Clark answers as pieces start to fall into place. "Of course Chloe knows about the Fortress. She must have gone there to get help from Jor-El. I wonder where they found another Kryptonian. Maybe she is a Phantom Zone refugee?" Clark wonders as he teleports to the Fortress.

"Chloe? Jor-El!" he calls as he enters. The woman in the crystal armor is already here and just shutting down the phantom zone portal as he approaches. She has removed her helmet but isn't facing him. Clark is confused as he was sure he would've beaten her here using the caves.

"Chloe isn't here anymore Kal, I mean, Clark." the woman says as she slowly turns around.

Clark stares at her for a minute. She looks incredibly familiar but he can't place her. "What do you mean? Did she head back to Metropolis already?" he asks, as a bad feeling creeps up his spine.

"No. She is dead Clark. She sacrificed herself for you. She left this for you." the woman answers as she hands him a faintly glowing crystal. The woman then zips off at super speed. Clark could see tears on the woman's cheeks and suspects Chloe's death is somehow responsible for her being here.

Nervously he inserts the crystal in the reading device on the console. Chloe's image appears before him. She is wiping tears away from her eyes as the recording starts. "Clark. I know this hard but it is ok. I made this choice. Its not yours or anyone's except Zod's fault. I can't say I'm thrilled about dying but it is the only way to save everyone. To save you. I hope you understand and can forgive me. It'll be hard on her. She will need your help to adjust. Please don't hate her. She wasn't given a choice in any of this. (pausing to wipe fresh tears) Please explain as much as you can to Lois. On that note, you really should tell her how you feel. As for the guys, just tell them I went down fighting the good fight. I made a crystal for Oliver that will hopefully help him understand and please don't let Oliver blame himself for this. I love you Clark." Clark slumps onto the ice as the reality that Chloe is gone hits him. He doesn't understand exactly how but he fears she made a similar deal he did to save Lana. "Oh Chloe." he sobs. All the things he should have done flash through his mind but the cold reality that he is too late cuts him deeply.