Chapter 4 [An hour later
[Kent Farm
Lana finished changing Ryan and making sure he was settled. Having done so, she watched him sleep soundly with a smile on her face.
You are doing quite well with him, Jor-El complimented while appearing at her side.
["Thanks. I'm trying to balance everything. I know Clark worries about doing more," she replied while tucking the blanket around Ryan.
Kal-El is being Kal-El, Lana. He worries about everything. Still I appreciate his desire to be more watchful than he has been in the past. That will be vital.
She eyed her father-in-law's spirit knowingly. ["Jor-El, is there something we need to know about?"
Your friend, Alexander Luthor, has an item in his possession which needs guarding. Kal-El knows what it is. An ancient evil rises to take the item, Jor-El advised.
["Another one?" she asked exasperatedly. ["Can't we have some peace?"
That, unfortunately, is not your role, Lana. The item bears some Kryptonian power. We must watch it carefully. With that, Jor-El vanished.
Terrific. Another crisis brewing—as if we don't have enough to worry about! She checked Ryan one last time before heading into the next room where Clark was lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. She slid into bed. "Ryan's set and happy."
"That's good," he agreed. "Felt Jor-El there. I suppose we passed inspection for tonight?"
"Jor-El's okay with how things are going so far, Clark," she replied before snuggling closely to him. "How did your visit with Lex go this afternoon?"
"He's okay. Chloe talked him into a bigger donation for the flower show. Mom and Mrs. Dubois are both going to benefit from it," he reported. "Leave it to Chloe huh?"
"Our friends do keep an eye on us, don't they?" she supposed.
Noting his wife's scrunched eyebrows, he asked, "Lana, what's wrong?"
"Jor-El told me about something that Lex has. The item has Kryptonian ties?" she revealed.
Clark nodded. "Yeah. It's a jade iguana statuette on loan from Japan for the National Museum in Denver. Lex showed it to me this afternoon. It was weird. It was almost like it was on a telepathic link with me."
"Jor-El must have sensed it through you. Maybe that would explain the buzzing in my head this afternoon too." She shook her head. "We need to keep an eye on that thing, Clark."
"On top of everything else? Lana, that's an hour run each way. Can we afford to be away?"
"We really don't have a choice, Clark. We can help each other with Ryan. I'm sure Mom and Dad will understand," she indicated.
"That reminds me," he told her. "I'd like to help out more with Ryan. I know I've been helping too much outside and you've been running yourself ragged between the Talon and here."
"You're a big help in more ways than you know, Clark," she reassured him. "Still, maybe you could check on him in the middle of the day? That way, he'd have both of us and that would spare Mom a little."
He nodded and kissed her. "I can do that. Thanks."
"You're welcome. See? You've got the instincts, Clark. Just go with them," she noted while adding a kiss for emphasis.
At that moment, they heard the telltale telepathic cry.
"Speaking of which, I'll take a turn," Clark agreed while getting up and heading for their son's room.
At least he wants to contribute. She reclined back into bed and waited just in case he needed help.
[Dubois Apartment
As with Clark, Dave and April sat in their front room with their twins soothing them to sleep and making sure they were content.
"Did everything go okay in Dodge?" she wondered, knowing from his overly serious expression that something had happened.
"The students don't know a good thing when they have it. Other than Pete, Alicia and Samantha, they didn't do that well on the last paper or test," he sighed. "I've offered all sorts of help but they won't take it." He felt the white lion card in his pocket but wasn't about to tell her about that. "A student blew me off tonight. I waited an hour before coming back here." He bounced Colin gently in his arms. "I wasn't going to keep my family waiting any longer."
"And we appreciate it," she told him warmly while rocking Peggy gently. "Lex agreed to sponsor me and Martha in the flower show next month."
"Well that's great! I know you're looking forward to that. You know you're up against it where she's concerned," he mentioned.
"I'll rise to the challenge somehow, Dave," she assured him. "Meantime, you are going to take Angie and Cassie, right?"
"Are you kidding? It's going to be our special day together. As if I'd miss a day with them like that," he protested mildly. Then he felt Miranda's presence downstairs. "I'm going to check on Miri. Be right back." He placed Colin back in the crib and then kissed his wife's cheek before heading toward the door.
After he left, she shook her head. What's eating you, Dave? What aren't you telling me?
[Talon
Meantime, Miranda had come out of the back room where she had done the drop of the day's receipts into the safe and checked the books in preparation for the next day's meeting with Lex. I wish Lana weren't so split between here and Ryan. She sighed, realizing how selfish that sounded but knew they could've used more help after she left. I really need to talk to Lex about getting more help for here.
She rubbed her head, feeling yet another headache rip through her skull. For the past week, she'd been dealing with them. Strangely, they appeared at that point since she hadn't had one in five years. Can it be him trying to contact me?
At that moment, she heard a voice call to her. Miri Chan?
"Master?" she replied while looking around. Hearing nothing else, she tried to understand why she was going through that stuff at that point. Hearing a creak on the staircase, she wheeled around to see her uncle descending the stairs. "Oh. Uncle Dave. Sorry, you startled me."
He quirked his eyebrow at her. "Are you okay, Miri?"
"Sure. You know me. I'm tough as nails," she deadpanned.
"You've been dealing with migranes though. I've felt them through our link," he indicated. "You should let Lana know you need a break once in a while."
"She's got enough to deal with," she declined.
"Either you do or I'll go to Lex," he informed her firmly; his tone set in a decisive way.
She rolled her eyes, knowing he would do exactly that. "Fine. I'll take it easier."
"Take a seat, Miri-Ma," he insisted while pointing to the booth. "I need to ask you something. Is there anyone who would be trying to contact you telepathically other than the Kryptonian connection, me or your Aunt Karen?"
"Why do you ask?" she queried.
"I've been feeling the vibes and I just felt it upstairs. Then you called out to some 'master' guy just now. It's topping off a weird night for the Protector and me," he explained. "Is there something I should know about?"
"Not that I can think of. Why?" she asked. "Uncle Dave, sorry but I'm not really in the mood to be playing twenty questions right now. What happened tonight?"
"Fair enough. After class, I had a visitor tonight in my office. Keep this between us, all right?" he indicated. "He warned me about some Asian group called the Ming T 'sai. He said that Lex's display item was in danger from them."
"The Ming T 'sai? Uncle Dave, you need to let the agents know immediately!" she insisted.
"You know of them then?" he supposed while folding his arms across his chest.
"They're only the biggest Asian crime cartel. Arighatto had dealings with them. Why are you asking me about them now?" she queried. "Who showed up at your office?"
"Ever hear of a man named Martin Kogimoto? He gave me this and asked me to ask you about it," he continued while producing the lion card and setting it on the table in front of her.
She nodded, remembering the older student from her training in Japan. "He and I were at the boarding school together in Japan." Even with a cursory glance, she recognized the symbol. "This is the Ming T 'sai's calling card all right. I'll say it again. You need to warn Lex and the agents."
He nodded while taking out his cell phone and dialing Lex's number.
"Lex Luthor," Lex answered.
"Lex, it's Dave Dubois. Are Steve and Garth there?" Dave wondered.
"They'll be here in twenty minutes. Why?" the billionaire replied.
"You've got a major crime cartel targeting an iguana statuette in your safe, Lex. I had a visitor at my office earlier today warning me about them. Miranda just confirmed the icon on the calling card," the medievalist told him.
"I'll definitely let them know. Are you and Miranda okay?"
"I'm pissed that the guy played kiss and tell with me. Apparently, this cartel's headed by some guy only I supposedly know about and have danced with in the past. That really limits the list," Dave recounted.
"Yeah to like ten million. Okay, I'll let the agents know. Anything else?" Lex inquired.
"One more thing. Lex, Miranda's been working herself too hard here," Dave reported.
"Uncle Dave!" she protested.
"I know," Lex agreed. "I'm trying to get more waitresses."
"Please see to it. I don't want her keeling over because she's too stubborn to quit," he requested.
"Like a certain someone we both know? Sounds like a genetic issue," Lex cracked.
"You're really funny, Lex. I'm just making sure that Lana and everyone else has coverage. I'll ask Alicia if she wants a permanent job when I see her in class on Friday," Dave retorted.
"That's a good idea. I'll see what we can find around here. Thanks for the warning. I'll pass the word to Jasmine. Maybe her international connections can dig something up. Any chance that Little Brother can keep an eye on things?" Lex supposed.
"Try telling him not to. Okay. Thanks again. Talk to you soon," Dave concluded before hanging up. "Okay. He knows."
"This group's like a bigger version of the Black Hand, Uncle Dave. I hope that Uncle Garth can be ready for them," Miranda informed him.
"He and Steve had better be. Meantime, Miri, I'd appreciate it if you took better care of yourself, all right? I know it may seem all draconian on my part but I care about you," he advised firmly.
"I know. A girl's gotta have her cheering section, right?" She rubbed his shoulder. "How about we go let Auntie April know everything's okay so she doesn't worry either."
"Touché," he conceded as they got up and headed back toward the stairs.
