"We can't keep having our work interrupted by these hooligans" Lionel spoke while staring out of his window at the corporate office. "If we can't complete our mission then the traveler will win." He turned to the man in room. "Find me a larger facility." The man standing in the office paled.

"And Lex,Sir?" he spoke softly.

"Well, keep an eye on him," he spoke no expression on hi face. The man nodded and left the room. Lionel sat down at his desk pulling a journal out of his top drawer. He opened it to the rabbit eared page and smirked. In it was a list of sorts, he smiled as he made some notes and then shut the book back up and put it away. He then pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Martha Kent. "Darling it's me. Care to have lunch today?"

------

Chloe was exhausted. She had a busy and exciting day. She was finally living her dream. She had stayed much later then her friend Andre, who was her usual escort to her car. She packed up her purse and grabbed a small armful of files. She went to the elevator and pressed the down arrow. Her mind still rolling over the stories she had to work on.

-----

He had been researching late into the evening when he heard the heart beat that had been driving him mad. He broke in his new equipment room and suited up. He followed the rhythm to the Daily Planet. He sat atop the building crouched on the edge of the roof; waiting and watching. He smiled as he saw her exit the building. He followed her steps to the parking garage and then looked through the building walls as she made it to her car.

He heard another cry for help, only blocks away. Seeing she was at her car, he turned and ran to where the other cry was coming from.

Chloe entered her car and put her key in the ignition only to hear it, Click, Click "Crap!" she shouted. She pulled out her phone and went to dial for Clark when her phone beeped and then it too died. Chloe just shook her head, grabbed her stuff locked her car and headed back to the Planet. She changed her mind about going back into the office. There was a CoffeeShop just a few blocks away, she could get some sustenance while she waited for someone to come and help her.

Chloe was lost in her own thoughts when she realized her foot falls weren't the only ones on the street. She picked up her pace as did the ones behind her. She broke into a run as did the ones behind her. Her heart racing she turned just to try and get away. She ducked into an empty lot, she ran until she saw her exit was blocked by a rather large chain link fence. She slowed as she approached the fence and turned, out of breath from running and her throat was dry from fear. She made turned to see two rather large man stalking toward her.

"What 'ave we hear?" he asked. Chloe gasped.

"Please don't hurt me," she whispered.

"This won't hurt a bit, as long as you don't fight us." One of the men spoke. Chloe pushed herself as far into the fence as she could go.

"Please, help," she whispered.

The other cry for help that Oliver heard turned out to be pretty simple. But it did drag him away from where Chloe was. When he was done he was back on the rooftops. He closed his eyes to concentrate on locating her heart beat. He had expected it to be calm and soothing, as always. He didn't expect the rapid staccato he knew to be fear or the soft, "Please help me."

His blood was set to boiling. He began running across the roof line, leaping two at a time, his heart was in this throat. He kept berating himself about what a fine mate he was, not claiming her, and guaranteeing her safety. He promised on all the he was that if he found her unharmed than he would surely amend that error. He made it to the rooftop above the lot and then down behind the men, faster than a blink. They were so into the stalking of his mate, they never heard him.

He was filled with rage, he reached out with his power and pulled one of the guys away from her and unceremoniously put him into the dumpster. The other man turned to see the tall and leather clad figure pointing a strung arrow directly at his heart.

"Try picking on someone your own size." He spoke, the anger pouring from his voice, and the distorter he used making it sound even more deadly.

"Dumb ass, who brings an arrow to a gun fight?" he asked as he pulled a pistol out of the waist band of his pants and with out any warning he fired 3 rounds. Chloe screamed, closed her eyes, and dropped to the ground.

Ollie made short order of handling the other man. He knocked him out and tied him up and also tossed him into the dumpster. He turned to see the frightened Chloe on the ground arms wrapped around herself crying and it broke his heart. He moved toward her slowly and knelt beside her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked. She gasped to see the leather clad man, again. She couldn't speak she only shook her head. He seemed to sigh in relief. He moved closer yet and scooped her and her stuff up. Sirens were rapidly approaching. He couldn't reach for his bow with the tie lines. He looked down at her and smiled. "Hold on tight." He spoke. He then vertical leaped onto the rooftops. Chloe gasped as they landed. He set her down and they watched over the edge as the police came. Her hero pulled her back further into the shadows.

"How did you, where did you?" she stammered. His body being so close to her was flustering her. He smiled in pure male satisfaction. He reached a gloved finger to cover her lips.

"Shh, the important thing is you're safe." He spoke. "Come, let's get you to your car."

"How?" she asked.

"Not the time for questions," he spoke scooping her up. He had ample opportunity to use the tie arrows, but she had already experienced his power why hide from her now. He smirked again as it was time to show off. In a half dozen leaps she was again near the parking garage. He looked into the building and saw that the woman she had met in Smallville, Lois Lane, was there. "I have to go." He spoke setting her down. She turned to him.

"But who are you? Will I see you again?" she asked trying to see past the hood that shadowed his face and she could only see his shades.

"Yes." Is all he responded.

"How do I get down from here?" she asked as he backed away.

"Turn around and hang on." Chloe wanted to argue and protest but she could no longer see him in the shadows.

Ollie closed his eyes and lifted her gently with his telekinesis and set her down on the ground outside the building. Chloe gasped, her hero was a Meta. He had to be. She bolted into the garage and toward the elevator to meet Lois.

Oliver watched to make sure she got there safely. Satisfied she was alright; he turned and ran back toward the Clock Tower.

--

While on his way back he was again distracted by the cries for help. Thus starting the busiest night of his life, it was nearly 3 in the morning when he made it back to the clock Tower. He was sure the police would be baffled by the criminal's gift wrapped and left at the front door of the station. He yawned and stretched and changed to sweats to grab a least a few hours of sleep before he had to head into the office. He crawled into bed and immediately drifted off to sleep.

He was back on Krypton only as an adult. The planet had survived sort of. The people were gone. The buildings were abandoned. He walked through his Uncles home and there was no one home. He exited the building and started walking down the street.

"Hello?" he shouted. He tried reaching out with his special hearing but it was gone. He felt like he had cotton in his ears. He wandered around for what seemed like hours, calling for anyone and getting no response.

He made his way to his uncle's lab and searched the building floor by floor. As he reached the bottom level he heard what was the equivalent of a tornado, in the last room. He opened it and the room was the Daily Planet. Chloe was at her desk. She smiled when she saw him enter. The floor then cracked and the tornadic sound was amplified as the floor split open behind her and a blackness was sucking everything out of the room.

"Tao!" she screamed as she tried to move. The blackness was a huge vacuum and she didn't get far. She was suddenly holding onto the floor and being pulled into the darkness.

"No!" he shouted and tried to move to save her, but he was frozen.

"Tao, heeellpppp!" she screamed. He couldn't move an inch. "Don't you love me? Help me, save meeeeeeee." She shouted and then the darkness sucked her in….

Oliver woke up sharply. He sat bolt right up, panting, and trying to catch his breath. He ran his fingers through his hair as he was trying to figure out the dream. He looked at his clock and it had only been an hour. He decided to get up, sleeping was proving futile. He rubbed where his chain rested on his chest, the charm was warm and irritating to his skin which was odd. In all the years he'd worn it, it had never irritated him.

He held it in his hand to put a barrier between his skin and an image of his Uncle was projected.

"You frustrate me, nephew." Jor El spoke. Oliver sat with his eyes open staring at the hologram.

"And a fine hello to you." He spoke still agitated from his dream.

"Danger is coming, have you found my son?"

"He eludes me, Uncle.

"Not good enough." Jor El's image faltered. "The danger isn't upon you yet, but he needs time to except his destiny and train. If you wait much longer he won't have enough time."

"And you think I'm what? Sitting on my hands waiting for him to come to me? No!" Tao hissed angered at the accusation of his been apathetic.

"You need to look closer, look deeper." his Uncle hinted.

"Fantastic! Could you be any more vague?"

"There's an old earth saying, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." He spoke and then his image faded.

"Great!" Oliver spoke, a nightmare and then a lecture from his Uncle. This day didn't start well at all.

Tao got up and went to shower and dress, all the while thinking the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It was like a litany in his head. He needed to solve the conundrum. He sat back at his desk and went over his files of all things Smallville and he didn't use his special speed.

An hour later he was staring at the short stack of files remaining. On the top of the stack was Alexander Luthor's file. Oliver just shook his head and moved that file to the side. He then came across Clark Kent's, he opened the folder to glance at the picture in it and it was as if the world shifted. He wasn't at all sure why he didn't see it before, could he have been that distracted by his mate? He shook his head; there was the proof, an undeniable likeness to Jor El in his younger days.

Tao let a long row of Kryptonian curse words roll of his tongue. He had found his cousin; in fact he met his cousin, now he just needed to convince him that he had a destiny to accept.

He stood and adjusted his tie. Victor came in with a small stack of files. He studied his friend whose facial expression was entirely unreadable.

"What's up with you?" he asked.

"I think I found my cousin?" he spoke.

"Really? Cool, now what?"

"That's a really good question, I need confirmation." He spoke pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"How do you plan on doing that?" he asked.

"I think I need to test him." He spoke.

"Interesting. Before we get any further on that, Mitchell's was found today."

"Where?"

"Floating in Hobbs Bay; media is having a field day with this." Oliver just shook his head.

"Get the coroners report sealed and call my HR attorney. If he was into drugs, his family loses the death benefit. His mother is a good woman." He spoke.

"On it!" Vic spoke already on the phone. Oliver was staring out the window of the tower thinking about how to test Kal El. He smiled, his idea was pure brilliance. There in only one guy on the planet suited to really help him. He turned to Vic who was finishing on the phone. "The record will be sealed with threat of legal action if not and HR is working on the death benefits…and why are you smiling?'

"Find Bart, he's going to be perfect for what I need to do." He turned and went to get his brief case and head out to the office.

--

Chloe had a very busy day in the office. There were tons of reports on the Green Arrow. She had the articles from Star City pulled up on her screen and there was no mention of special abilities. Chloe read and re read the articles. Huh, she thought. She needed to talk to Clark. She hadn't met any other Meta's that could leap tall buildings in a single bound.

--

"You sure he won't kill me amigo?" Bart spoke looking over the list of 3 tasks.

"I promise I won't let it happen." Ollie spoke.

"I won't go to jail?"

"You're robbing me, no you won't go to jail?" he smiled.

"Aaalriggght?" he really didn't sound convinced.

"Bart." Oliver's voice shed the humor and his Kryptonian side came to the surface. "think of it this way, you could be helping to save this entire planet. If he truly is my cousin than we need him to face the destruction that I predict is coming" he spoke. Bart nodded and disappeared.

--

"Hello?" Lana spoke answering her cell phone while sitting at her vanity putting her face on.

"Hey, I'm running a little late, sorry." Lex spoke as his limo pulled up the family corporate office.

"Ohh, that's alright, really." she spoke disappointed.

"No, its not but this matter couldn't wait, I feel like a heel since I promised you a special night."

"Well you can make it up to me after the special surprise?" she spoke sweetly.

"I just may have to do that." Lex smiled as he slipped on his leather gloves. "I'll call you when I'm on my way."

"I'll be waiting."

"I hope so." He smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too Lex." She spoke and the call ended. Lex made sure the silencer was secure on his gun then shoved it into his pocket and exited the car.

--

Lionel Luthor was a man who is single minded in purpose and with out mercy or forgiveness. He wouldn't have gotten to where he is with out having those personality flaws. He was sitting in his office going over all the signs and clues he had discovered that the traveler was on the planet. His office door opened and he looked up and smirked.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of YOUR company?" He shook his head and closed the book he was going through.

"I thought it was about time you and I had a chat."

"I really have nothing to say to you. You stole my son from me and have been parading around like him, is that about right? Zod?" Lionel spoke.

Lex smirked. "You think you're so smart don't you human." Lex hissed.

"No, just very, very observant. It took you awhile to figure out which hand to write with, how to dress, and most certainly how to charm the ladies." Lionel stood and walked around his desk to the wet bar to poor himself a drink. "I really can't figure the fascination with Lana Lang?" he asked. "Unless of course it's merely to get under the skin of Clark Kent, but that's a human motive."

"Huh, and I thought you were a pathetic old man. You know about Kal El then don't you?" Lionel's face showed no expression.

"Still keeping that poker face; good move. To bad you can't keep your heart rate down." He spoke tapping his left ear. "You just betrayed yourself."

"So what, you're here to exchange witty banter? To thump your perceived superior chest?" Lionel spoke sipping his scotch.

"No, nothing so mundane." Zod spoke pulling the gun from his jacket. "I'm here to simply end your life. If you're gone, no one will know that I'm not who I claim to be."

"Don't bet on that." Lionel smiled smugly. "For all your superiority you're going to kill me with a gun? So not impressed." He spoke, turning his back to the man in an act of defiance.

"It may be mundane, and mortal, but it is effective." Zod spoke. "Just a few things you should know before you take, what is that euphemism? Oh yeah a dirt nap?" he spoke and came up to Lionel and put the gun in his back. "Veritas is dead. The only one hunting travelers is me. You loose Lionel. You lost your son, your millions, and ohh yeah, you won't be dead, that's so sloppy. You'll lose your mind. Did you know that a shot to a specific region of your head, and your memories are gone?" whispered. Lionel turned in a start and came face to silencer. He showed no fear he only smiled smugly.

"Just like Lex, you really should have considered all the contingencies." He spoke. Zod knew, sensed he did something. He was so enraged that he pistol whipped Lionel in the head. Lionel slumped to the floor. In a flash the cameras were disabled and the book of Lionel's was tucked into "Lex's" belt. He stood at the doorway and stared at the man on the floor. He was going to leave, he should have left, "Oh well, what the hell…."

"9-1-1, what's the nature of your emergency."

"Yeah, oh god!….Help….help me!…"

"Sir I need you to calm down!"

"Someone broke in to Luthor Corp. …oh god he's bleeding!!….."

"Sir is someone hurt?"

"It's my Father Lionel, and he's been shot…"