Chapter 2

Clark walked up the stairs after grabbing his book with his key to the fortress in it. John was waiting at the top of the loft.

" Clark, whatever this was, I believe it has everything to do with what Jor-El warned you of," John said watching Clark pace back and forth. " It was made on Krypton by Zod and Faora and sent to earth."

Clark stopped, " when was it sent to earth?"

" I don't have all the details, without my powers I'm just as useful as any other Detective."

" So, why'd you bring me all the way back here, you could've told me this at the Daily Planet," Clark's voice was beginning to rise.

" Not the part about Chloe's Brainiac infection."

The rage in Clark's body language began to mellow. " What about it, Jor-El, he removed it."

" Brainiac, was looking for whatever Zod sent here, and I believe he may have found whatever he was looking for." John's certainty gave Clark a chill.

" What do you mean, I stopped him from erasing Chloe's memories."

" Clark, you realize he only erased select memories," John watched Clark pace again. " Not to mention the fact that the thing that took Chloe last night let her go. Where did you say they found her?"

" Unconscious, in the middle of route 40." They looked at each other. " Kind of a weird since the Kuwachi Caves about a mile away from there."

A silence struck them, Clark paced a while, trying to figure out the truth behind Brainiac's plan.

Clark abruptly stopped pacing, he looked out over the farm. Something caught his mind.

Clark turned back to face John, " Davis! Davis was the only one she remembered."

John nodded at Clark's realization, " And that's odd since they just met."

" But nothing happened, he brought her back to me and Jimmy."

John started to think, " Maybe there's more to it Kal-El, never underestimate Brainiac." He sounded more like a mentor than a helper now.

" What, a trap?" Clark was thinking harder, what would Brainiac want to do. " We know he wants me dead, but what would he do, to help this thing do that." Clark paced, then stopped.

John thought of something too, " You said Jor-El healed Chloe,"

Clark looked at John, " He knew I would bring her to the fortress to heal her. He sent me the crystal as Chloe, sent me to the Phantom Zone to release Faora, and erased Chloe's memory knowing I would bring her there."

" His only entrance to the fortress," John said.

Clark opened the book and grabbed the key, " I want you to follow Davis' every move."

" First I'll find Chloe, where is she?"

" She's in Star City with Lois, Jimmy came out of surgery a couple of hours ago." Clark looked at him, " Without your powers, it'll take you all day to get there."

" I'll mange."

"Clark Kent!" A distant voice could be heard. " Detective Matt Cage," he said coming up the stairs. " Well, I see they grow'em big in Kansas."

Detective Cage looked at John and gave him a slit grin.

" I better be going," John began to walk off, Clark looked at him a little perplexed. " I'll contact you later Clark. Matt." He gave Matt a nod and walked off.

" John," he looked at Clark, Clark looked back. Matt looked at him as if he had known him his whole life. " Clark, I need to know everything you know about the monster that attacked you."

" How do you know Detective Jones didn't just ask me this?"

Matt smiled, " Come on Clark don't sass me, we both know he wasn't here to ask questions." Clark looked at him.

" Listen," Clark walked down the stairs. " I'm busy, I can't talk right now."

" Hey maybe I can help." He started following Clark out of the barn.

Clark stepped inside the house. " Truly I don't have time for this."

" Listen Clark, I just want to know what you know."

" I don't know that much."

" You've been around freaky stuff all your life, you've fought freaky stuff all your life, and your telling me one bony monster comes to town, and Clark Kent is oblivious." Matt said.

Clark stopped in the living room and looked back at him. " You don't know anything about me."

They looked at each other for a moment. Matt went into his pocket and started pulling a piece of paper out, he seemed to struggle at first, there was a large hump in the pocket, he yakked the paper, a green rock dropped to the floor, as it hit the ground it started to glow. Clark's expression changed, a sudden pain shot through his body, he felt like he was on fire, Clark took a step back trying not to draw attention to himself. Matt bent down, grabbed the rock and put it back in his pocket.

Clark's body felt cold now, the pain was gone, and he started to breath a little easier. Matt unfolded his piece of paper and he looked at Clark.

" Are you alright Clark?" Matt asked him, Clark nodded.

" I'm fine."

Matt raised the paper to Clark, " Do you know what this is?" Clark looked at it, the symbol for Doom drawn on the paper. Clark looked at Matt.

" I've never seen anything like that in my life." Clark was worried, who is this guy, he thought to himself.

The front door opened, " Thank you so much Lana, I can't wait to surprise Clark."

Martha Kent and Lana Lang stepped inside next to the staircase.

" Mom!" Clark walked over to her, embraced her with a couple of years of lost love.

He released her, " Dang it Clark, I wanted to surprise you."

" This is surprise enough," he said smiling.

" Who's your friend," she said looking at Matt.

" I was just leaving," Matt said stepping towards the door. " I'll keep in touch Clark. Mrs. Kent. Lana." He left towards the driveway. He drove his car off onto the street and headed for Metropolis. As he passed down the road, a car sat on a dirt road. With a man inside, he lifted a phone to his ear.

" He just left," the man said. " You want me to follow him," a 'no' could be heard over the phone, the name 'Lana' could be heard next. " As you wish Miss Mercer." He hung up the phone.

" Sorry I missed the wedding," Martha said still smiling at her son.

" I hate to say this but, I glad you missed it," Clark said looking from Martha to Lana.

" Clark, what happen," Martha asked. " When I called Chloe everything was fine."

" We were attacked by something," Clark went into his pocket and pull out the key. " What ever it was, it's stronger than me."

" You're going to see Jor-El." Martha said with worry in her voice. Clark nodded.

" I'll go see Chloe," Lana said as she and Clark started leaving.

" Lana, remember Chloe doesn't know my secret anymore, so don't mention anything about the fortress or Brainiac." Lana nodded, " and what ever you do keep Davis Bloome away from Chloe." Clark turned and was gone in a flash.