CH7 Clash
Directly following CH6, Calton's Gorge
Spike
The gorge was up in flames. It was not a wildfire out of control, but when lives are on the line, it doesn't matter. Spike was a mile out and about six hundred and fifty-two feet above the streets. Spike had come to know physics, rates, and estimates over time. He calculated that at his current speed, he was only fifteen seconds away, but fifteen seconds could be the difference between life and death for an innocent. Gotta put on the gas he thought as he increased his rate of speed. The faster he flew, the more wind resistance and less control he had in his flight pattern, which was one of his limitations that he constantly pushed. Within moments, he approached the outer edge of the gorge and took in the scene. The fire was slightly larger than a football field, there was a news crew covering the story, and a fire engine pulling up. In a spurt of speed, Spike propelled himself into the fire's grasp in search of survivors.
Clark
Almost there Clark thought as he approached the scene of the disaster. He took a brief sweep of the scenery to find Spike or anybody in immediate danger. He could not locate Spike, but the news crew caught his eye. Last thing I need is to get caught on film. He then put his superspeed into ignition as started sprinting into the flames. Everything seemed so slow and unusual to Clark, but he had gotten used to this over time. As he ran up to the flames, he continually looked around for anybody in the area, but saw nobody. He quickly entered into the flames, making sure not to slow down and allow his clothes to catch flame. If anybody's in danger right now, their probably near the flames. Clark had been in emergency situations countless times and knew that he should check the scene of immediate danger first, and help the others in less danger later. His super breath could have wiped out a large portion of the flames in a puff, but anybody else who was unfortunate enough to get caught in his breath probably would not make it. This left him to running around and finding anybody who needed help. The first person that he noticed was a middle-aged man in hiking gear. Clark assumed that he was hiking and got caught up in this mess. The man was already surrounded by flames, but that was just a minor complication for Clark. With a light breath on one wall of the flames, they disappeared leaving an escape route for the man. "Hey!!! Over here!" Clark yelled waving his hands. The man turned around to see the fire out just enough to escape. Clark noticed the man's shock at the sudden disappearance of the flame, but the man appeared to be more relieved than curious. Clark pointed to the nearest escape route from the gorge and yelled, "Go that way," over the roaring flame. "There's a way out over there!" he yelled in assurance.
"What about you?" the man asked.
"I'll be fine, don't worry." The man nodded, not knowing why Clark was electing to stay. He then went into a sprint to get out of the gorge. Clark turned around to search for anybody else in trouble. With a simple bit of concentration, Clark activated his X-ray vision, which penetrated the flames as if they were not there. As he swept the area, he noticed a female skeleton structure in the distance. She was a child. Clark instantly blurred through the ravine till he reached her. She was lying on the ground in a lifeless posture. Despite this appearance, Clark picked her up and carried her for to a nearby tree away from the fire. He listened in sharply to her and picked up a faint "thump." She was alive! Must have passed out from the flames. He picked her up and began the jaunt to safety. As the streets slowly came into view, Clark felt an uncommon sensation in his legs, pain. He never got tired from running or working which meant one thing, kryptonite.
Clark looked down and noticed the typical green glow of a meteor rock. As Clark realized what was happening, he fell to his knees. As he fell he released the unidentified girl onto a soft patch of dirt. He hit the ground with painful force that he was unaccustomed too. How could I be so reckless? Clark recalled that Calton's Gorge was known for its meteor rock load and had even respawned Dawn Stiles as a meteor freak once. Clark grasped at the dirt with his weak hands, trying to get a hold and pull himself away, but to no avail. There was nothing to grip, and Clark could feel the heat of the fire nearing. Despite his unfortunate state of being, the last thought of his before he passed into unconsciousness was a simple request to nobody, Please let her live.
Spike
Spike reached the fire instantaneously, but found nobody in the area. High above the flames, he had a clear view of everything. A news helicopter came overhead, causing Spike to take cover under a tree. Can't let anybody see my gifts. Luthor will be all over me. He kept looking around, both looking for somebody who needed his help and hoping that there was nobody. While searching, he thought he saw a line of flame disappear in a gust of wind, revealing a man and Clark. Looks like he's got that under control. Convinced that this area was now clear, Spike flew over to the far end of the fire on the other side of the gorge. After reaching the end of the fire, he heard a shriek for help from in the flames. He followed the voice to find a woman, seemingly in her thirties, yelling out for help. The next moment, Spike was behind her in the encompassing flame. The fire had not yet reached either of them, but there was no way out and it was getting closer. "Let me help you!" Spike ordered to her.
The woman turned around, in shock to see anybody else next to her. "My daughter's out there!" she yelled. "I can't leave her!" she shrieked in terror of what might happen to her daughter.
"I'll get your daughter," Spike promised. "But you have to come with me first." Spike held out his hand to offer her his help. She looked back, presumably worried about her daughter, and then took his hand. Spike reached around her waist, in what would have been inappropriate in any other situation, and lifted her off the ground effortlessly. She gasped in shock and amazement of what he did. The flames were nearly upon them as Spike took a running start toward the flame. The woman screamed in belief that he was running them both to their doom. As he reached the fire, he took a stride, a short step, and a leap. This leap would have been impossible for any normal human being, but no rational person would reach the conclusion that it was metahuman. Spike, with the woman in his arms, surpassed the flames in a single bounded and hit the ground with a thud. As he put the woman down, they both continued to run away from the fire. They soon reached a safe point.
The woman leaned over and panted as she pointed back at the fire, "We need to save my daughter," she insisted in a desperate tone.
"All right, I'll go get her. You need to go though." She stared at him for a moment. Spike was able to recognize when a person goes into shock and this was one of those moments. "If you stay here or go back in, your daughter won't have a mom when I get her out." This impacted the woman greatly, finally sinking in that she would have trust this stranger to get her daughter back safely.
"Please, help her," she begged as she turned around to run for the streets.
When the woman was out of sight, Spike turned around and took a leap back to where they came from. This leap did not end though. He continued to soar over the fire until he noticed a guy in a red jacket and a small girl collapsed on the ground. The flames were mere feet away from both of them, and would lead to a very grim death for both of them. As Spike took off towards them, he pondered, What's wrong with him? I saw him take a bullet and he's hurt by a little heat. But this meant nothing at the moment, both of these people were in danger and their lives were in Spikes hands. The flames began to sizzle Clark's jacket and envelope him, when Spike appeared from the sky and grabbed both of the people in distress. With his abilities on, it was simple to carry two people across the gorge. Screw the cameras and press, they need help. With this in mind, Spike flew out to the edge of the ravine and landed softly. Clark began breath heavily and move as they reached earth. Spike stopped and put Clark down. "You all right man?" he asked.
"Yeah," Clark said as he got up in a dizzy manner. "I don't know what happened," Clark lied.
"Whatever it was, you're lucky I saved your sorry -"
"Where's the girl," Clark interrupted. Spike could tell that Clark was still recovering and probably couldn't see well. The girl was Spike's arms.
"She's fine," Spike assured showing Clark the girl. "She could use a doctor though." With that, he walked onto the streets over to the ambulance. "I need a doctor!" he yelled. An on-sight medic came over and took the girl. "She's all right, but she's having trouble breathing." The press noticed the commotion and came over to find out more about the new hero. Spike looked around and saw Clark walking around in the background, making sure to avoid most of the people. Questions started flying at Spike faster than he could hear, but he ushered them all away saying, "Please, no questions or interviews. Please." One of the cops on the sight caught Spike's situation and came over to him.
"Why don't you come over here?" He gestured towards the yellow-taped area. "The press cannot go in there." Spike accepted the cop's generosity as he walked over to the yellow tape and underneath it. He went over and sat down behind a patrol car, out of the range of the press. The press followed, but the cop stood in front of them saying, "You heard him, he said no questions." With that the cop walked away and back to Spike. He held out a hand of congratulations. "You did a brave thing today sir, thank you."
Spike accepted the hand shake and responded, "Thanks. And the names Kyle, Kyle Harper."
Lex, Luthor's Limo, Quarter mile away from Spike and the press
Lex was unhappy. He had just returned from a difficult day at the office, LuthorCorp's board was starting to ask questions about what secret project their funds had been going to, and he was still dealing with what the pregnancy that he had faked upon Lana. Some people consider him the face of evil without remorse or emotion for anybody but himself, and his recent actions could justify that belief. Despite what he had done or was going to do, he justified that the sorrow that he feels for doing them makes him the victim. Some things have to be done with a tear in your eye he thought to himself. His phone rang.
"Sir. We have the target," the voice said in a fearful, yet proud tone.
"You seem awfully pleased about today's events," Lex commented cynical tone. He was far from pleased with what had happened today.
"No sir. I'm just reporting in that the target is no longer a danger and is in the process of being brought back to 33.1 facility Beta." This man was fearful. The secrecy and future of the 33.1 project had been put in jeopardy today and there would be reprimands.
"Al l that this subject could do was generate a little heat and he not only got out, but he started a fire as a cry for help. I get the feeling that I can't trust you with the tougher freaks." Incompetent. Why couldn't I have been given the ability to duplicate myself instead of that psycho Ian?
"I understand sir. This is the last time, it won't happen again."
"It better not. I hear the freaks are really becoming hateful of you. It'd be a shame if their leashes were cut with a certain incompetent nearby." Lex closed his phone, without a concern for whatever excuse he may have had. The divider in the limo went down just enough for Lex to see his driver. "How much longer?" Lex asked his driver.
"We're pulling up now sir," the driver responded pulling over to the side of the road.
Lex looked out the window and saw a pair of fire engines and a few patrol vehicles. He got out of the limo, half-expecting the press to come swarming towards him as they usually did. They were too concerned with the fire and the rescue efforts. Lex slowly walked over towards the patrol vehicles as one of the policeman turned around towards Lex.
"Mr. Luthor. What brings you here?" the policeman asked.
"I have a plant a couple miles down the road and I'm checking to see if there's any need for an alarm." Lex did have a plant down the road, but that was not why he was here.
"Well, don't worry sir. The fire has been contained and everybody got out alive," the officer answered enthusiastically.
Thank goodness Lex thought. "Any idea what caused it?" he asked in an attempt to find out how much was truly known.
"No. But it was probably some kids or a campfire left unattended."
"You're sure nobody was hurt or caught in the fire?" Lex looked into the gorge and saw mostly red and orange just consuming it.
"Certain. A girl was almost caught in it, but a brave man went in their and saved her." The officer pointed towards a patrol car with an opened door. There was a young male sitting in the open door with his back to Lex and the officer.
"I'd like to thank him personally if you don't mind."
"Sure-"
Spike and Lex
"Hey Kyle!" Spike turned his head slightly, not looking directly at the officer, but acknowledging him. "Somebody would like to thank you." Spike got up and walked over towards the officer, but did not take his eyes off of the firefighters dousing the flames in the ravine. Maybe I should train to be a firefighter one day Spike thought to himself. When he reached the officer he turned his head towards him and stopped. He stared blankly into the eyes of the man who wanted to thank him. Lex stared back at Spike, just as shocked and, for the first time in a while, at a loss of what to do. What the hell is he here for Spike asked himself internally.
What are the odds of this Lex also asked himself. He put out his hand, not only to pretend to show an act of courtesy, but to push Spike's temper. "Well Kyle, we're all lucky that you were here. I'd like to thank you." Lex was loving this. Spike's greatest enemy right in front of him and there was nothing he could do. Lex's hand was still out there, hanging.
Son of a – "It's no big deal Mister Luthor," Spike responded, followed by him putting accepting the gesture. At this moment, officer was called away by his partner, but there were still several spectator policeman walking by. "It's awfully kind of you to come all the way out here to help," Spike stated monotonously and without sincerity in his words. As Lex attempted to pull his hand away from the shake, Spike would not have it. He activated his ability and targeted Lex's hand. Usually when he lifts something, he concentrates harder to keep it from becoming unstable, but this time he let his abilities go uninhibited. Lex's hand's internals began to become weightless and heavier in continued succession, resulting in massive inflammation, burning, and mostly pain.
"Ahhh," Lex muttered, trying to conceal his pain as his hand felt like it was going to explode. He kept up his façade smile to not attract attention, while used his other hand pry his burning hand away from Spike's. After a few seconds of extreme pain and an exponentially difficult to hold smile, Lex's hand was removed from the wrath of Spike. Lex panted softly trying to gain his composure as he massaged his injured hand. He looked around and assumed that nobody had observed what had happened. Spike had not smiled or moved during this entire encounter, and showed no sign of anger or pleasure. Lex continued to massage his hand as he became frustrated at his current situation. They were in a stalemate, Lex was unable to assault Spike due to the press and police in the vicinity, and, unbeknownst to Lex, Clark was still there somewhere and would not allow Spike to attack Lex. Lex had had enough of this though and was ready to push back. "I'm sure your parents are very proud of you." He said coldly and without authenticity. He knew that this would crush Spike, and his response supported that.
----. Spike's mind was blank. He had no idea what to do or think. At the same time, his mind was racing. Should he reach over and wring out his scrawny little neck and face the wrath of Clark, should he be strong and not show any sign of distraught, or should he wait for the right moment to enact revenge. The last option seemed the most sensible, but the first was the most appealing. I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill was the only thing running through his mind and he stared perplexedly into his arch-nemesis' eyes. He didn't even hear Lex's farewell as he began walking away. All he did was stand there limply, with his eye following Lex until he had gotten into his limo and started pulling away.
Clark, right after he and Spike separated
As soon as the medic came to get the girl out of Spike's arms, Clark continued to walk around the vehicles and the crowd. He would usually speed away, but he wanted to make sure Spike was okay and he was still a little weak in the knees from the kryptonite. He found a crowd of spectators to hide in inconspicuously. Fortunately the press had not seen him and they focused on the fire and not the crowd of people watching. Clark watched as Spike was walked away by a police officer, presumably to thank him and check his vitals. For a few minutes Clark stood there and waited, but not for anything in particular. His chores would not take him very long, so he chose to stay and see what happens. After a few more minutes, everything's under control. I can leave Clark decided. Then he saw that infamous black limo show up, Lex. If those two encounter, this could be bad. Clark made his way closer to the front, making sure to stay out of view of the limousine. Lex stepped out in his usual controlling, and very suave manner. Clark could only imagine what he was doing here. He watched and listened in as Lex spoke to the officer, confirming that everything was fine. Then the dreaded came, Spike was called over. Clark walked to the back of the crowd this time, to have a more strategic position. He knew how much hatred there was between those two and he might have to intervene. Less people to run through is better. He could not see them any more, but he could hear every part of the conversation. He thought he heard Lex wince in pain, but until he had reason to believe that there was going to be an actual attack, he would stay put. "I'm sure your parents are very proud of you," Clark heard Lex say. That's it! Clark went around the crowd, ready to intercede at a second's notice, but Spike took it. He was surprised to see Spike not lash out. With that Lex turned and walked away while Spike stood there in anger and shock. As Lex's limo drove off, Clark saw Spike walk behind an ambulance, out of sight from everybody. Clark took a moment to look around for anybody with their eyes on him, and then he sped around the ambulance to meet up with Spike. Spike was leaning head-first on the vehicle with his head in his head buried in his arm. He was not crying, but he was obviously in sorrow. "Hey," Clark said to reveal his presence. Spike most likely knew he was there anyways, but it was polite. "I heard what he said, how you holding up?"
Spike did not move, but merely responded, "I'm sorry Clark," in a regretful and sincere manner.
"For what?" Clark asked.
"That I can't hold myself to your standards." He turned around towards Clark, who had no idea what he was talking about. "I'm sorry that I have to kill Lex-" Right as soon as he finished he disappeared in burst of speed down the street and around the turn in pursuit of the limo.
Oh my- Clark thought as he put his speed into ignition and pursued Spike. Clark was fast, but Spike had a head start and was closing in on the limo as Clark came up beside Spike, who was above the earth by ten feet. He must have underestimated my speed Clark thought as he took a leap into the air and grabbed a hold of Spike by the chest, dragging him down. Spike was in shock to see anybody able to keep up with him and was taken off guard as the two plummeted back to solid ground. To their right there was a mountain wall and to the left, Calton's Gorge. The limo had just turned another corner behind the mountain wall when the two collided, making it impossible for them to have seen the impact. The two hit the ground hard, but not enough to distract from the tussle. Spike, being the more experience combatant turned the tides and stopped their rolling with him on top holding Clark by his jacket. He followed up his maneuver with a hard right-handed blow to the face. With his disruptive and density altering abilities on, he was able to lower Clark's defenses where he made impact. Along with the great strength behind the punch, the impact on Clark's face was strong enough to make him feel it. Despite the brunt of the attack, Clark had taken far worse from a certain Kryptonian general and retaliated with a shove off. Spike was hurled threw the air but landed with ease, Clark assumed due to his inate ability to fly. He's not thinking straight Clark thought. He knew how that felt. He almost killed Lionel Luthor right before Dark Thursday because he thought that he had killed his dad. Clark needed a word of wisdom from Lionel to stop him from doing it, and that was all Spike needed now. Unfortunately, Spike was no push-over, even to Clark, like Lionel was, and it would take some force to make him listen. With this in mind, Clark sped over towards Spike before he could react and pushed him up against the mountain fall with massive force.
"Ahh-" Spike grunted as he hit. Clark was about to ask tell him to calm down when he saw the look in his eyes. It was the look of competition and the fight, Spike finally had a worthy challenge and he would not accept defeat. In a similar manner to Clark's previous attack, Spike grasped Clark's wrists, activating his abilities, and shoved Clark away into the street. Spike smiled as a trickle of blood fell from the side of his lip. Spike began a charge towards Clark in an aggressive form of combat unknown to Clark. As Spike came sprinting towards Clark with a fury built up over years of pain and suffering, the only thing that came into Clark's mind was, GAME ON.
Comments and reviews always appreciated.
