An Experiment Gone Awry
When the smoke cleared, many bodies lay unconscious or dead. Coming to first, Clark looked around, assessed the situation as he was getting his bearings and dashed off.
Lex ran to where he saw Clark scramble and sighed. He got away. As he turned to retreat, he nearly stumbled onto—Clark! Lex took a double take, then a slow smile crossed his lips. The experiment Clark accidentally intercepted—worked!
Lex gave Clark a helping hand up. The only problem was, which one was he?
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It had been three weeks. Although Clark had failed in his mission to expose Lex, Jonathan was glad he was safe just the same. As the disappointed reporters left, Jonathan knew it would it harder to reach them again. In the meantime, Clark decided to pay Lana a visit.
"It's good seeing you again, Clark," Lana smiled happily upon seeing her childhood friend. There was a certain nostalgia that came with seeing Clark again. Then she came down to earth. "Dare I ask—have you met anyone?"
"I've got to be honest with you, Lana. I've been out with a few girls at the campus. All it's taught me is that I'm spoiled for you."
Lana smiled demurely at Clark's exposing his vulnerabilities to her. "Clark—you're so—"
"What?"
"I don't know, open, I guess. College has changed you."
"Matured me."
"Do you think you could be open about yourself? To me? You know."
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know, Lana. But not right now. It's a long story. Tell you what. How about getting together this Saturday and we can catch up."
"You mean it? That would be wonderful. And there's nothing you could say Clark that would ever turn me against you. I want you to know that."
They kissed.
"So, how's campus life? Like your classes?" Lana asked pleasantly.
"Actually I've been thinking of dropping out."
A look of consternation crossed Lana's face. "What? Why?"
"I've been thinking a lot about it. Why should I pursue a journalism degree when what I really want to do is join the Peace Corps."
Lex was overjoyed to discover he wound up with Evil Clark. The two developed camaraderie and became inseparable because of a common belief system that it's fair game to go after whatever your heart's desire as long as you get away with it. They sat in a darkened topless bar watching the show and conversing.
"Lex what do you want to do with your life? What're your goals, man? Clark asked conversationally.
"Oh, I don't know. World domination?"
Clark laughed. Then he saw Lex was serious. He dropped his smile.
"Clark, you're like the brother I never had," Lex brushed off the faux pax.
"What about Julian?" Clark reminded him.
"Oh, yeah. If my mother didn't get to him first, I would have killed the little runt myself." A smile formed on Lex's mouth. "You know what I'd like to do? I'd like to dig up my brother's bones and rattle them in front of my father. What I'd give to see the expression on the old man's face."
Evil Clark smiled. "Yeah. A real Kodak moment. Tell you what. How about you shake the bones and I'll stand by with a camera?"
Lex smiled. "Good idea. After all, these are the times of our lives."
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Saturday approached. Lana met up with Clark.
"I'm saving up for tickets to Tibet." Clark announced.
"Why ever do you want to go to Tibet?" Lana asked.
"To visit the Dali Lama."
"Whatever," Lana said shaking her head.
Clark looked over a dress that flattered Lana's figure. "Is that new? I've never seen you wear that before"
"Got it just for you, Clark," Lana beamed. "Do you like it?"
"Honestly, Lana, you should cover up. You dress like some kind of Jezebel."
Steamed, Lana boiled underneath, but took it uncharacteristically quietly. It's so rare she and Clark ever have a chance to be together and she didn't want to ruin it now.
"Is there something wrong?" Clark asked naively.
Then she exploded. "Clark, what has come over you! Do you have to make me feel dirty, too!"
"What do you mean? Is it something I said?"
"Forget it!
"I know something's bothering you." Clark persisted.
"No, just forget it. It's our first date in a long time. I don't want to fight."
Clark had been doing this a lot lately. The strange comments he'd make. The sudden philanthropic interests, the sanctimonious attitude, the almost simpleton demeanor.
Traffic came to a halt as they neared the Metropolis theater. They soon saw the source of congestion. There were long single file lines of teens waiting to see the movie they were going to and cars were backed up from the entrance. It was going to be hard to find parking.
"Wow, I didn't realize it'd be this crowded," Lana observed. "Clark, how about you park the car and I'll get the tickets? I'll meet you at the theater."
"Are you sure it's okay? I don't like the idea of just dropping you off."
"Thanks, I'll be alright. Besides, I don't think we have a choice if we want to get into the next show."
"Okay, let me give you some funds …"
In the meantime Clark and Lex were patronizing their favorite strip tease joint.
"Go, go, go!" Evil Clark goaded the current dancer. Lex laughed, enjoying Clark's boisterous enthusiasm. "You call that a strip tease? I'll show you how it's done!" With that Evil Clark ran up on the stage and started stripping himself. Lex had tears in his eyes with laughter.
Lana bought the tickets and held a place in line for her and Clark. The moviegoers from the last show were coming out and the line was moving up. Lana worriedly looked around. Where was Clark?
When Lana reached the head of the line, she turned away and started backtracking for Clark. As she walked in downtown Metropolis she recognized a familiar figure come out of a club.
"He had it easy this time. Next time I'll make him physically throw me out," Evil Clark was saying as he and Lex came out of the strip tease joint.
"I can't take you anywhere," Lex said. "Catch you later." The two parted and Clark ran right into Lana.
"Clark! What're you doing hanging around Lex? In a topless bar, no less! You know he's changed."
Evil Clark was taken aback, but soon took it in stride, impersonating his better half. "Oh chill, Lana. Some of us choose to be open-minded."
"Whatever," she said exasperatedly. "I got the tickets for Harry Potter. Come on, we can just make it," she urged him, putting her arm in his.
Clark balked and refused to budge. "No! I won't see Harry Potter!" he bristled.
"Wha—"
"He's a fake, Lana. He can't really do wizardry. There's no such thing as magic!"
"What's gotten into you, Clark? It's just a movie."
"Because he's a fraud! He's trying to pass himself off with superpowers and who does he think he's fooling? Everyone knows there's no such thing as magic!"
"Calm down."
"And I hate charlatans, even if they are fictional," Clark raved on. "He can't even fly by himself! He needs a friggin' broomstick!"
"Clark, I don't know WHAT'S gotten into you. YOU'RE the one who wanted to see Harry Potter. It's the only movie you'd see because it's G-rated!"