Clark walked down with the rest of the X-Men to the lower levels. He sees a big circular room and the blackbird they traveled to Smallville in. He sees them walk into the hallway and they come to a stop close to the bottom.
Clark taps Chloe on the shoulder. "OK you've been here 6 months longer then me what is a danger room session?"
Chloe just smiled as she realizes Clark has no idea what is about to happen. But since it's his first time she'll at least warn him what he's up against. "You remember those scenes from the terminator set in the future."
Clark nodded not seeing the point.
Chloe just nods and smiles. "Yeah it's going to be a lot like that."
Clark just swallowed deep.
Kurt just patted him on the back. "Velcome to hell my friend."
Clark heard Logan's voice over the PA. "OK it's real easy all you have to do is stay alive for 10 minutes."
Gambit just glared up at where he knows Logan is. Who the hell put the sadist in charge of the danger room today?
Chloe just sighed she likes having Rogue's powers but the last time they did this she had bruises on her for a week even with her abilities. She smiles as an idea comes to her head and she pats Clark on the back of the shoulder. She's going to have to remember to do this more often. She won't have to catch her breath for a minute like when she mimics Rogue's.
"Totem, Shadowcat you two are up first." Logan ordered.
Clark just looked at Chloe as she got ready. "Totem?"
Chloe just shrugged. "My power is the power of the last person I touch so my body is pretty much a totem for any power."
Clark watched as the two girls enter the room and it quickly turns into a post apocalyptic New York. Kitty and Chloe both stay alert. Clark listens on as he hears a giant footstep approaching the two. Kitty went and hid behind a car as Chloe floated straight up. Clark watched as a gigantic blue and purple machine approached them that was as big as a building. The machine raised his hand up and shot Chloe out of the sky easy enough with a pink laser.
Chloe fell to the floor in pain. What was that? She has seen Clark withstand more then that. Unless…Clark's alien nature makes his powers too complex to copy so she still has Rogue's...perfect. She sees Shadowcat run out and jump through its leg short circuiting it. She flies back into the sky and punches the Sentinel to the ground ripping its arms and legs off.
Shadowcat grabs her by the arm and walks through and into a building as two more approach. Clark watches as the two make their way through the false neighborhood scrambling through and taking Sentinels apart in rapid stealth strikes of Kitty getting their legs and Chloe ripping off limbs being careful to avoid being hit. Kitty and Chloe smile as they make it to the 8 minute mark and this is where Logan is usually an ass and sends something to bruise them.
Chloe sees Kitty on the ground and joins her wondering what Logan is up to. She sees an Australian man with blonde hair with a flame thrower on his back and an evil grin on his face. Following him is a blue woman with red hair, yellow eyes and a white dress.
Kitty just turned to Rogue. "I'll take Pyro you got Mystique."
Chloe just shrugged works for her. "OK"
Chloe approached Mystique and she transformed into a blond haired man with wings and took to the sky. Chloe just smiled remembering him from archives as Angel this should be good. Chloe takes off after her.
Kitty has been reduced to playing keep away with Pyro as she sends wave after wave of fire after her. Pyro goes to where he last saw Kitty run off to and sees nothing. Kitty sneaks up above from the ground behind him and rips the fuel lines out and hits Pyro with a jump kick to the face knocking the pyrokinetic out.
Chloe dodged an aerial attack by Mystique as she flew higher into the sky. Chloe went after her and her eyes lit up in horror as Mystique changed shape into a very fat man in a black leotard.
"Not the Blob" Chloe pleaded as he smashed into her.
Chloe had to do something quick as ground was quickly approaching. An idea came to her head when she remembered this was Mystique not the genuine article. Chloe punched hard and knocked the faux Blob into the air. Chloe flew ahead of him and came down with a kick to his stomach knocking him out and reverting him back to Mystique. Chloe flies down and catches her before she hits the floor and gently drops her as the city disappears and they are back in the danger room.
"Half pint not bad." Logan said before turning to Chloe. "What happened at the beginning blondie?"
"I thought I had Clark's powers I was wrong." Chloe answered honestly.
Logan just looked at her. "Expect the unexpected Sullivan."
Two by two the X-men all did the exercise until there was no one left but Clark and Laura.
Laura just pointed at Clark's clothes. "You might want to get changed." Clothes have a tendency to get ruined in the danger room.
Clark spun in a tornado and emerged in his superman outfit. "Will this do?" Clark saw Laura and well is very happy that his heat vision is under control as she's in a black top along with black pants with an X on her belt and black boots.
Everyone else has made it upstairs to the danger room. In most cases it was just curiosity of what Clark could do considering he knocked out Juggernaut. Scott and the other teachers needed to see what Clark could do as it was their job to know each student and what he or she is capable of.
Clark watched as the sentinels approached and just stood there as they come close. Clark drifted into the sky while Laura hitched a ride to the roof. Clark X rayed the machines seeing nothing but machinery no pilots no nothing. Laura jumped from the roof claws drawn stabbing a sentinel in the back and sliding down like a firefighter would calmly slide down the pole. Clark chose the much less subtle approach of flying through their heads turning himself into a living missile.
Chloe gets a devilish smile as an idea comes to mind and she turns to Logan. "Do you mind if I?"
Logan just moves aside and lets her work he figures if there is anyone that knows the cracks in wonderboy's powers it's her.
Clark just watches as the Sentinels blasts hit him to no effect and he uses controlled heat vision to slice their heads off. He sees a new sentinel getting ready to blast him and just stands there. The sentinel fires an energy blast but unlike most that are red this one is green. Clark quickly moves aside realizing what it is and smashes into the Sentinel's skull wondering how they found out about kryptonite.
Clark and Laura stand side by side at the five minute mark. After a while the Sentinels stopped Clark guesses Logan is trying to come up with something for him to fight. Clark watches as two people show up one is in a red and black bodysuit twin katanas and guns. Clark looked at the big guy following him. He had purple skin a Mohawk with red and black tights dressed similar to Clark.
Kurt just looked in shock and Chloe could tell.
"Ah think Logan has finally snapped." Rogue quipped.
Logan just snarled. "We need to see what the kid can really do in a fight."
Bobby was just looking on. "Yeah but Gladiator why not just have Jean go Dark Phoenix on him."
Chloe whispered in Kurt's ear. "Who's the purple guy?"
"Gladiator vone of the strongest beings ve have ever fought." Kurt said. "The only person that has ever knocked out Juggernaut until today."
Laura popped her claws and the holographic Deadpool pointed at her. "Oh my god…it's an estrogen powered, mammary gland-ed monthly cycled mini Logan. As if Wolverine wasn't scary enough."
Laura scowled and in one quick move cut Deadpool's pointing arm off. Deadpool looked up at Logan and pointed with his other arm. "You pushed the wrong button." In one swift move Laura cut his head off and Deadpool disappeared.
Logan watched and waited he smiles seeing Laura sniff around she knows Deadpool wouldn't be that easy to kill the building breaks apart as a large feral man breaks through. He looks like Bigfoot in a trench coat.
Laura just popped her claws back out and growled. "Creed"
Laura pounced on him as her claws enter his stomach.
Meanwhile Clark is floating in the air waiting for Gladiator to make his move. The Shiar warrior flies up and the two collide neither moving an inch. Clark gets the upper hand and breaks free hitting Gladiator with a hard punch knocking him down. Clark flew down and tackled him to the floor.
Laura was struggling with Sabertooth. If the real one considers Wolverine a runt she wonders what it will think of her. Sabertooth stabbed her in the stomach and turned the tables on her pinning her to the wall. Sabertooth growls at her until he's hit by a beam of fire and knocked aside. Laura looks up at Clark and shouts. "Hey, behind you."
Clark is grabbed from behind by Gladiator who gets him into a chokehold. Clark has never been attacked by anything so powerful before that wasn't Kryptonian. Clark struggles to break free until his eyes turn red and he burns Gladiator's arm causing the replicate to release him. Clark grabbed Gladiator and threw him down on top of Sabertooth and the city disappeared returning to the danger room.
Everyone came and genuinely complimented Clark except Logan. Logan was hoping Clark would try an elbow to the ribs or a headbutt some physical way to break free but he depends on his powers just like in Smallville which got him a knife in the back. He's going to have to find a way to train him to fight.
Charles came down with Beast and Storm. "Your powers are impressive Clark at the very least you can control them. So have you made a decision about what we talked about?"
Clark just looked at him. "I will in a minute." He turns to the others. "I'm not a mutant although it's probably obvious considering everything I can do."
Jean just took a spot next to Logan it wasn't surprising considering what he could do.
Clark just took a breath and waited for the fallout. "I'm from a planet called Krypton."
Clark stood there and waited. Laura and Chloe didn't do anything since they already knew. Clark had to admit he saw this playing out hundreds of different ways. But definitely not the way it was playing now. Students were exchanging $20 bills with Gambit some not getting them back some getting more then they gave. Did they have a pool about what he was?
Kurt just smiled despite losing $20. "You could have just told us zhat. The Professor is pretty much married to vone."
Clark was shocked when he got a couple questions about his real name and his planet but that was it. Clark talks with Hank about setting up a physical real soon so that if Clark should ever get sick Hank would have something to fall back on to help heal him. Clark agreed to do it tomorrow.
Clark was getting the little he had into his room. They put him in with Gambit. Clark didn't care who they put him with he doubts he'll be spending all that much time here anyway except for sleep. He packs up the last of his stuff and walks for the door. He opens it and sees Rogue.
Clark just smiled at her. "Hi."
Rogue just smiled. "Can Ah come in?"
Clark just nodded. "Sure" he stepped aside and Rogue came in and saw his half it's like he's been here for weeks.
"How did ya get unpacked so fast?" Rogue asked.
Clark just shrugged innocently. "I can move pretty fast when I want to."
Rogue just smiled. "Hopefully not too fast sugah." She pushes him against the wall and before he could react Rogue has a grip around his neck and has taken his lips to hers. The stay that way for a minute and break apart. Rogue just frowns. "Now that's just not right. Ah finally find someone ah can touch and it's like kissing mah brother."
Clark just stood there trying to figure out what just happened.
Rogue just smiled seeing his face. "Sorry about that. Mah powers make my life complicated."
Clark just stared at her. "Controlling you strength can be difficult."
"That's not mah actual power." Rogue replied leaving the room. "When Ah touch someone Ah drain their life force human or mutant and ah usually can't control it. Thanks for the kiss sugah."
Clark just smiled weird girl but she's nice. Clark got out of his room and went for the steps.
"Chere kissed you didn't she?"
Clark turned around and saw Gambit. "Yes"
"De two of you?"
"No"
Clark swears he sees Gambit smile a little but lets it be. He has too much on his plate right now. Clark looks down around and sees everyone going along with their lives. Bobby just using his ice breath to cool off Kitty's soda and no one even bats an eye. "Never thought I'd see a place like this."
Gambit just nodded. "We like to call it home."
"So do you have a real name everyone I've seen either calls you Cajun or Gambit?" Clark asked.
Gambit just smiled and offered his hand. "De name is Remy Lebeau."
Clark just shakes his hand Clark Kent.
Remy just watches Clark leave. In a way he's jealous. He got to kiss her. Remy just walks down and saw Rogue talking with Jean, Storm, and Emma. He often wonders how she can be who she is with her powers. He sees her strength and it's a lot more then she can bench press because of what Mystique tricked her into doing and that's what makes him love that woman.
Laura was outside working on her motorcycle. She's used to isolation and quarantine and hasn't really adjusted to the big group in the mansion yet. She sees Clark sneaking out as he floats above the sky. He's low enough to take his time almost that he's enjoying just floating about. Laura got on her bike and decided to follow him and see what he's up to.
"You let me out of this web head or I'm going to sue the tights off…" Eddie Brock was webbed up effortlessly.
Spider-Man just dangled him off a telephone pole. "Sorry Brock but I won't let you destroy a good man for your career."
Peter just sighed after he 'arrived' in Texas Harry had a private jet take them home. Most people get a homecoming. What does Peter get…his biology teacher transforms into a lizard? Thankfully Mrs. Connors had an antidote to her husband's condition. Peter got the cure in him and the Lizard reverted to Curt Connors. Eddie Brock had a picture of the transformation that will never see the light of day now. Peter just smiled in relief but he feels like he's forgetting some…oh no.
Spider-Man turned to Connors. "Doc what time is it?"
"8:15" Mrs. Connors answered.
Spider-Man pouted under his mask. "Oh no I'm already 15 minutes late. She's going to kill me." Spider-man webbed the wall and started swinging through the city at full speed.
Billy turned to his mother. "Where's Spider-Man going so fast?"
Mrs. Connors just smiled thinking back recognizing that fear from her now husband;s voice. "He's late for a date."
Billy just winced. "Ew, and besides she can't be mad at him he's Spider-Man."
Peter swung down in the alley and emerges sans costume in black t shirt and jeans. He looks through the crowd and is desperately trying to find her. He sees her walking to her car. "Hey I'm sorry I was running kind of late."
The blond haired girl didn't stop and opened the door fighting off the temptation to stay. "8:05 is a little late. 8:10 is late 8:15 is really late. 8:30 without as much as a phone call is you forgetting."
Peter just looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry I meant to be here but there was an incident. I had to stop and…"
The blond turns her head revealing that it's Chloe. "Then why weren't you here Pete. I waited for you for half an hour. I even called to cancel it but you said it was fine because you were already in New York. Every time we've tried this there's always an incident. I mean just tell me is it Mary Jane. Do you still want to be with her?"
Peter shakes his head no. "It's not MJ it's just I'm a photographer I have to take pictures as the action happens you know that."
Chloe nodded her head. "Yes I know that. But how hard is it to get on the phone and say Chloe I'm taking pictures and I'm going to be really late."
Peter frowned that's what he should have done in the first place and he's done it before and she doesn't mind she knows times are tough and he's helping his aunt with the bills. "I'm sorry Chloe."
Chloe just nodded but she's in too bad of a mood to enjoy tonight now. "I know, I know, can you just promise me you'll be there for the Hammeroid presentation at the Stark Expo."
Peter just nodded it was Chloe's first chance at a real story since she started at the Bugle2 months ago. "And miss your big moment not a chance."
Chloe just nodded sadly she'll bring a camera just in case. "You better not."
Peter walked Chloe to her car and that was it. Looking back Peter is just kicking himself he actually likes Chloe and is the first girl he's liked since Mary Jane. He doesn't ever forget their dates he never could. It's just Spider-Man has to show up at the worst possible times. He often wishes he could just retire from the mask but you know great power great responsibility. Yeah try telling that to Tony Stark. Peter goes to the alley and changes back into Spider-man maybe a patrol will do him some good.
Spider-Man makes it to the roof and is greeted by a middle aged man in a suit.
"Spider-Man I'm agent Coulsen of SHIELD."
Spider-Man just looked at him. "Sorry pal I don't do meet and greets."
Spider-Man just jumped into the air.
Coulsen just reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone and dialed a number. "OK wait for it."
Spider- Man swung high and Coulsen gave the order. "Fire."
Spider-man was doused with a grayish substance resembling play doh and stuck to the wall. Peter tries to break free but he can't. "OK if anyone asks about this. I webbed myself."
Laura was driving down the streets not letting Clark out of her sight. Clark comes to a stop and lands on a roof three blocks away. Laura stops at the corner and looks up wondering what exactly Clark is up to with the sneak away. She climbs up the fire escape and makes it to the roof. She gets there and sees Clark…drawing on a piece of paper.
Laura just frowns well that's a quarter tank of gas she's not getting back he couldn't have done this in his room. Laura is set to drop down but she sees the paper starting to glow. Clark just sits there arms across his chest waiting. Whoever this guy is he's no kryptonian.
A bright red blur shows up on the roof reverting to a dark skinned man with red glowing eyes. "It is nice to meet you face to face Kal El."
Clark just nodded. "It's nice to finally meet you Jonn Jones."
Jonn just looked at him stoic. "You of course realize that we are not alone."
Clark just nodded. "A friend of mine has been following me since I left home. I know."
Jonn's eyes glowed red and thanks to Clark's training he knows what he's up to. "Erase her mind and I will light you on fire."
Jonn paled seeing Clark was serious. "As you wish Kal El. Shall we begin?"
Spider-Man hung upside down stuck to a wall this is embarrassing. He's a super hero; super heroes don't get stuck upside down.
Coulsen just looks at him. "If I cut you down you promise not to run off."
Spidey just nodded not seeing much of a choice. "Um sure why not?"
Coulsen throws a bottle of water and the substance weakens. Peter breaks free and stays on the wall.
Coulsen just looked at him the only reason he let Spider-man out is because he's a fan of the patriotic. He was ordered to try to recruit him but he sounds like he's just a kid. "I'm agent Coulsen of SHIELD. I need to talk to you about your partner on the plane."
Spidey just looked at him. "Oh I see how it is just because I'm a superhero I automatically know every other superhero. Heroist."
"So you know nothing about him?" Coulsen asked.
Spidey just shook his head no. "Said thanks shake his hand and that was it. I tried to start a Super Hero bowling night but we agreed that Iron Man would just drink all the beer."
Coulsen just pouted they need to know more about this guy. "Thank you for your cooperation Mr...Spiderman?"
Spider-Man just nodded and shot a line continuing his patrol. Now why couldn't that have happened before he could have told Chloe about this crazy government agency as a peace offering?
Clark was on the roof talking to Jonn. "So Jor El said you watched over Smallville in my absence. I'd like to thank you for that."
Jonn just nodded. "It was a beneficial experience to be around humans again. Also saving the town from a nuclear warhead was a challenge."
Clark could bet according to Jor El Martians have a deeply embedded fear of fire. "So any sightings of it while I've been gone."
Jonn just shakes his head. "Not even something that might one day resemble a lead."
Clark just frowned and looked out over the city. "6 months, we gave that thing six months. What the hell is it waiting for?"
Jonn just looked. "Well it is a super computer Kal El. We're not exactly going to outsmart it."
"Just figured it would have made its move by now." Clark replied.
Jonn just nodded. "He would have made his move in the time while you were away. I think the best thing to do is just live your life Kal El. If it hasn't made a move it is because it was waiting for one last thing."
Clark frowned realizing what it was waiting for. "Me"
"You may call on me if you ever need assistance. But for now I recommend you just wait for it to come to you."
Clark just nodded weakly he can't sleep in a mansion with other people if Brainiac can come in at any given time. "See ya around Jonn."
"Farewell Kal El." Jonn shifted into his Martian from and took off for the sky.
Clark floated down and came down to the alley and turned around. "So how much of that did you hear?"
Laura came out of the shadows. "All of it I think. From the sounds of the end of it I'd say you're leaving us."
Clark shrugged. "It's like a terminator with all my abilities. Not exactly someone you want to bring down on others."
Laura frowned she didn't really know what a terminator was. Bobby tried to get her to watch them with him. But he made a move before the movie even started and ended up in the infirmary with two stab wounds in his wondering arm. "You shouldn't. You should just stay with us."
"And bring that machine down on everyone there." Clark asked.
Laura looked at him wondering how someone with 6 months of training can be so dumb. "It's not going to kill you it would have tried to already. And it won't risk killing us because you won't do what it wants and it will lose leverage over you. The mansion is still the best place for you."
Clark couldn't see any faults in her logic despite how much he tried. "Still think I should tell them what they're getting into first."
"You should, all of it." Laura agreed getting on her motorcycle. "Now come on I'll tell you about Apocalypse on the way home."
Clark just looked at her confused she should know that he can fly.
"Next time you take a flight turn off your image inducer." Laura pleaded. "Unless you don't want to hide the fact that you're Superman."
Clark slapped himself in the face how could he forget that. Clark hopped on the back of the bike and wrapped his arms around Laura's waist. Laura just looked at where Clark's hands went and just kept her eyes on the road she should have put that seat on the back like Logan did for Kitty. With that the two super powered teens drove home.
Author's notes
Thanks for the reviews.
Up Next: Clark goes job hunting and maybe a return to Smallville
