Chapter 10 – Convergence
Metropolis
April 26, 2019
Aldus Landvatter had once been the evening shift commander of the security team at Luthor Mansion, guarding Tess Mercer whom he later learned was born Lutessa Luthor. He had not met Lex Luthor until the day he found Tess dead in the corporate office of the old Luthorcorp, now rebranded as Lexcorp. In addition to a dying Tess, he found a dazed and confused Lex Luthor and took matters into his own hands.
Not exactly sure why, he spirited Lex from the office. Once he secured Lex in his security sedan, he accessed the building's security office. He found it vacant; apparently a result of the 'end of the world' event unfolding outside the building. He erased all security recordings over the last hour and then anonymously called the police to report a crazed, knife-wielding intruder that had entered the elevators of the Luthorcorp building. He hung up the phone and raced to the underground garage where a semi-conscious Lex Luthor sat in a black sedan with blacked-out privacy windows. He slowly pulled out of the underground garage and departed without notice of the crowds that clogged the streets.
The responding police eventually found Tess dead in her office; victim of an unidentified assailant. The proximity of an alien planet to Earth had disrupted many systems that day and the Luthorcorp security system was simply deemed to be one of them. Tess Mercer's death had been one of many that day as people across the world gave way to panic born of apocalyptic predictions. Like so many others that day, Tess Mercer's murder would never be classified as a closed case but it nevertheless would be filed away in cabinets where other unsolvable cases resided.
When Lex recovered his bearings, Landvatter explained that he had discovered him disoriented in the proximity of a woman that had recently been stabbed to death and given Lex's condition, felt that extricating him from the scene to prevent unwarranted suspicion was the best course of action. Lex surmised that Landvatter knew more than he was telling but the man could intricately weave a story of half-truths so convincing that it was impossible to dispute; a trait Lex admired and immediately offered him a job as chief of his personal security detail. Over the next seven years, Aldus Landvatter became Lex's most trusted 'handyman'. No job was too big, too small or too dirty to entrust to Aldus Landvatter. Lex decided that no man was more discreet or undemanding as Landvatter.
Over the next seven years, Landvatter hand-picked a small cadre of men whose levels of discretion and unflinching obedience nearly equaled his own. When Lex was elected President and assigned a permanent Secret Service team, Landvatter and his team were relegated to a shadow force that carried out any of Lex's initiatives that required audacity, discretion and plausible deniability.
Landvatter had recently created and planted complex doctored financial records that convincingly implicated Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Nedders in a scheme to accept money from corporations whose cases were being heard before the high court in return for an opinion favorable to them. Although the connection between bogus deposits and Nedders' bogus financial accounts was byzantine, it was just the sort of complex, sophisticated scheme that a normal citizen would expect someone of a Supreme Court Justice's position employing. Lex Luthor confronted Nedders with the doctored records by in private and was given a choice to resign or be exposed to the humiliation of a public trial. Nedders resigned to spare himself and the high court from the embarrassment.
As Landvatter dismantled the complex web of connections, he traced the large sums of money back to their sources and found the sources tied to Morgan Edge: media mogul, owner of WGBS, and reputed head of Intergang. Although he uttered nothing of his discoveries, the link between Luthor, Edge and Intergang was extremely troubling. Landvatter had always fancied himself a specialist and wanted no connection to organized crime; particularly Intergang. He had always justified his distasteful work as necessary to protect the interests of the country; himself an instrument of the Chief Executive of the United States.
He hung up the phone and leapt into action, assembling his team and briefing them on the mission: to impersonate federal agents serving a search warrant on a medical research facility operated by Dr. Emil Hamilton, suspected of conducting illicit human cloning experiments. "We will seize all evidentiary specimens as part of the operation," he told his agents. "In particular, we need to seize all blood and bodily fluid specimens stored at the facility. Once secured, all samples will be immediately transported to Cadmus Labs for testing. We begin at 8:30 AM sharp."
Clark smiled when he met Lois and Lara in the exquisitely furnished lobby of the Plaza Uptown Metropolis. It was 8:26 AM and members of the Vice President's Secret Service team were spread out within the lobby. The agent in charge of the Vice Presidential security team greeted the Kents and advised them that Vice President and Mrs. Ross had just arrived in the hotel moments before and had asked that the agent-in-charge escort them to the Presidential Suite.
Lois was dressed in a smart grey business suit and striking fuchsia silk blouse that she had purchased just before learning that she was pregnant with Lara. "You look great, Lois," Clark said, taking Lara from her. "I don't remember ever seeing you in that before."
"Thanks Honey," she replied. "I haven't worn it before but it's been hanging in the closet for nearly nine months. It's the best I could do on short notice," she added.
He winked. "You did well; short notice agrees with you." They rode silently in the elevator as Clark gently stroked Lara's cheek and nose. She stared at him and looked ready to smile as he brushed a lock of her thick hair away from her forehead.
Pete and Lana were waiting for them as the elevator doors opened. Lana and Pete hugged Lois and Pete shook Clark's hand before they descended upon Lara. They fawned over her and Lana waved her hands furiously, motioning that she wanted to hold the youngest member of the Kent family. Pete looked at Lana with Lara then turned to Clark and smiled. "You really know how to put the pressure on, Clark," he said and clapped his friend on the back. "Let's go into the suite where we can relax. We can't stay very long; I already had to rearrange my schedule for the day," he added, "but President Luthor thought we should visit. He asked that I pass along his congratulations to you both."
Lois snorted. "Sure he did!"
Pete donned a fake smile. "Actually, he said that just as I was leaving his office with his Secret Service detail who escorted us all the way from the White House to Metropolis." He looked at Clark hoping that his friend somehow understood the subtle message he was conveying. Clark said nothing but caught the inference and realized that the visit was orchestrated by Lex but could conclude little more.
"This was sure a pleasant surprise," Lois remarked as they sat in the luxurious suite with Agents Taylor and Wise standing within fifteen feet of them at all times. "I wish I had known you were coming sooner. I would have asked Chloe to join us. I know she would have loved to see her old roommate again, Lana."
"It was as much a surprise to us and it is to you," Pete announced. "It's not at all unpleasant and it's not as though we hadn't discussed visiting you sometime soon," he began and then stalled.
"But Pete and I were pulled away from our schedules on the urging of the President," Lana continued. "I was still in my nightgown when I got the call," she said with a smile.
"That makes two of us," Lois said with a chuckle. "And this was all President Luthor's idea?" Pete nodded. "Well," she began, "I guess I'll have to reconsider some of the barbs I send his way after such an act of kindness."
The odd disclosures by Lana and Pete had not been lost on Lois or Clark. They both knew exactly what the Rosses were implying and needed no more hints. Over the next three hours, the four adults reconnected over stories of growing up in Smallville, all the while hovering over Lara. At first, Pete seemed distracted but as the visit wore on he became more relaxed. "She's beautiful, Lois," Pete declared. "She looks just like you!" He turned to Clark. "I think owning a shotgun is bound to be in your future, Clark." They all laughed at the inside joke that never seemed all that funny to Agents Wise and Taylor.
As the meeting drew to a close, Pete looked at his watch, stood and was immediately joined by Lana. "Clark, Lois; we have to be going," he announced. "But I hope that you'll visit us at the residence. We'd love to have you join us for brunch some weekend."
"We're free most every weekend," Lois blurted out, imagining the stories she may glean from such a meeting. "Just let us know," she added.
"Well make sure that when you come, you bring Lara. We'd love to see her as well," Lana added.
They exchanged hugs and handshakes before Lois, Clark and Lara were escorted from the suite to the lobby by Pete's agent-in-charge. They exited the lobby of the opulent hotel where Lois' vehicle had been parked by the valet. Clark put Lara in her car seat while Lois moved to the passenger side. He climbed in behind the wheel and drove away. "That was really nice," Lois commented as Clark scanned the car for listening devices.
Finding none, he agreed and added, "And a bit strange. What do you think Luthor was up to?"
"I'm not sure but the President never dispatches his security team with the Vice President. It seemed to me," she opined, "that he wanted those two agents to keep an eye or ear on Pete or you; maybe both of you. But I'm not sure why."
Nodding, he said, "We'll find out sooner or later. Whatever his plan was, I'm not sure it turned out the way he wanted it to," Clark added as he drove his two favorite ladies home.
She looked at the crystals arrayed in the receptacles next to the console. She tried sliding several different ones into the center port on the console before Jor-El's voice echoed in the large icy chamber. Welcome Kal-El.
"It is not Kal-El," Elle said. "My name is Lara Ella Kent. I am the daughter of Kal-El and his wife, Lois Lane."
There was a brief delay in a response. Finally a response was received. It is improbable that you are Kal-El's offspring. It is Earth year 2019 and you have only existed for 18 days.
"I am from the year 2042, Jor-El and I come to speak to you about a matter of the utmost importance."
At 8:30 AM on the dot, Lanvatter's team entered the nondescript offices of Dr. Emil Hamilton. Two of his men entered Emil's large private office while the rest of the team fanned out to scour the numerous small offices within the suite. "What is the meaning of this?" Emil angrily demanded, rising from behind his desk.
"Doctor Hamilton," one of the men said, "we have a warrant issued by the Department of Justice to search this facility and seize all evidence of suspected illegal cloning." He shoved the document at Emil for his view.
"Cloning?" Emil replied with a look of shock and surprise. "I conduct research on plaque-destroying medications," he protested. "If it's cloning you're looking for, try Cadmus Labs!"
"That's not what the Justice Department believes, Doctor. Cadmus is government-funded and we have full overview of their activities. I am requesting your cooperation, Doctor, to minimize disruption to your operations and expedite the completion of our search. With your help, we can be out of here within an hour."
"I'm calling my attorney," Emil replied.
"Feel free, Doctor. But I can tell you that we'll continue the search with or without your consent and your lawyer will not be able to obtain a federal injunction before we complete our job. If you cooperate, you can help us prevent any unnecessary damage or disruption of your work."
Emil put down his telephone and stared dejectedly at the agents. "What do you need from me, gentlemen?"
The senior agent moved past him and stared closely at an anatomy illustration on the wall. He turned back to Emil. "Access to your special laboratory beyond this wall," he replied.
Blinking in quick consecution, he donned a quizzical look. "What are you talking about?"
"Your palm print, Doctor," the agent replied matter-of-factly. "Please facilitate our entry; otherwise we will be forced to close the facility down until access can be gained through brute force measures."
Reluctantly, Emil consented to the demand and the wall slid, revealing two steel double doors just beyond the opening. "Please continue, Doctor."
Emil opened the two steel vault doors revealing a sophisticated emergency and operating room with adjoining private recovery rooms. Beyond the large room was a glass window revealing a small lab. The senior agent proceeded directly to the lab and opened a cooling unit revealing two test tubes containing blood. Both were marked in codes. He withdrew the metal rack in which the tubes were placed.
"This is where I obtain my specimens and do my work," Emil offered to the junior agent. "It's protected like this because of competitors and need for secrecy. There is no illegal activity going on in this facility," he reiterated.
"Seems like a lot of security for blood research, Dr. Hamilton," the younger man replied.
Emil swiveled on his heel. "Can you imagine the profit that could be made on a successful pharmaceutical that safely dissolves arterial plaque? My research is drawing close and my competitors would like nothing more than to obtain my results," he parried.
"Are these the extent of your specimens, Doctor?" the senior agent asked, holding the rack up and then handing them to the younger agent. Emil stared at the rack of only two blood samples and it appeared that his face dropped.
He paused. "Yes, those are all of the ones that have proven most responsive to the medication," Emil answered reluctantly.
"I hope you're not lying to me Doctor," the agent said. He looked at the younger agent. "Take those to the vehicle. And be careful with them," he added. "I'm going take a quick sweep back here just to keep the Doctor honest." The younger agent nodded, pivoted on his heel and left. "Walk with me Doctor."
The younger agent headed out through Emil's office and down the short hallway. He entered the constricted lobby of the building and headed for the outer doors. One of the team members had positioned himself at the doorway to prevent employees from entering while holding the door for other team members carrying boxes of records and blood samples out of the building. A small crowd of employees and onlookers had formed around the entrance, causing congestion on the sidewalk.
The youngest agent on the team was quickly heading back into the building when he spotted a striking brunette in a long black leather coat traversing the crowd. They made eye contact and the young agent was captivated by her deep blue eyes, flawless complexion and rich, full lips. The beautiful brunette smiled at him in return. He moved inside, staring at the stunning young woman as she continued past and without realizing it, barreled directly into the agent carrying the rack of blood samples taken from the secret lab beyond Doctor Hamilton's office. They collided with such force that it sent the rack spiraling out of the agent's hand and the two test tubes of blood hurling toward the granite floor.
"Watch where you're going!" the agent at the door warned just as they collided.
The tubes of blood shattered on impact with the floor. For an instant, the three men stared at the spattered blood and glass fragments on the highly polished floor. "Oh my God!" the agent cried out. "You idiot!" He glared at the youngest man, distraught at the site and enraged at the younger man's carelessness. The agent at the door moved inside and shut the door to the street. "Stay here and don't let anyone in or out," the young agent told the two other team members. "I have to tell the boss and see what he wants to do."
And what matter is so important that you would risk the future of mankind? Jor-El queried. Your presence in this temporal moment threatens your existence far greater than you could ever imagine, my child. It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history and your presence here is unwise.
"I am not here to change human history and I fully understand the risk I take in being here," she proclaimed. "Jor-El, it is you who will soon have interfered with human history and your actions will have devastating consequences on mankind and your son in particular." She paused. "The effect any change will have on my future is inconsequential to those that you will cause if you do not reconsider the choices you will propose to my mother this very evening. Your intention to prevent further procreation between my mother and father leads to Kal-El's despair and eventual abandonment of humanity. He will no longer be the example to mankind; to be the beacon of hope you envisioned. Instead he will become despondent and unwilling to continue the mission you've given him by sending him to Earth."
And how have you deduced that it is the result of my actions, Lara El?
"My name is Lara Ella Kent, Jor-El. I am the only child of Kal-El and I am your only grandchild. I have seen firsthand the consequences of the ultimatum you intend to give my mother; I have lived it my entire life. While it is not precisely clear why, what is undeniable is the result. Your son, my father, will prematurely lose his wife and her death will cause him to lose his faith in mankind. With it," she added, "he'll lose his desire to serve humanity and to be a beacon of hope for anyone. This is not speculation or conjecture, Jor-El; it is fact!"
There was no sound for some time as the words spoken by Elle resonated with Jor-El. Finally, he spoke. I did not send my son to Earth for the purpose of regenerating the Kryptonian race. Earth provided a sanctuary where Kal-El could not only live safely and anonymously among humans but to serve as their protector and as an example to mankind in hopes that it will follow his example. The mutation of your mother's DNA will enable her to exist centuries longer than a normal human and centuries of opportunities for additional offspring that can be influenced by human emotions. Lara, that undeniable truth creates an unacceptable probability of a child with advanced powers that is governed by emotions rather than reason. A single being with those powers would introduce a threat so great that it could undo all the progress that your father can make. It is my intention is to prevent that from happening.
"And yet I am here to tell you that will not happen," Elle countered. "All that you hoped for will come to pass if you do not interfere with my parents' life. The world becomes that place but only when my father has my mother by his side. Without her, he will not succeed in the task you have given him."
And you know this how?
"From your son of the future's visit to my mother on the night of my birth," she replied. "In nearly 650 years from now, mankind will have been transformed by his example but only if he has his mate by his side. Tonight they will visit you, Jor-El. Tonight you will choose to either trust your son and his wife or you will interfere and alter the course of human history by altering my mother's ability to bear more children."
My child, Jor-El began. A future can change in many unforeseen ways. It is rarely a single event in human history that produces such a profound and lasting change. To believe solely that preventing further procreation of hybrid children changes the fate of mankind is folly.
"And yet I stand before you telling you that it does," she replied forcefully.
And yet you cannot explain why, he boomed. You cannot tell me how preventing a supremely dominant subspecies of beings introduced into your world would not adversely affect it when all historical and scientific evidence of the entire universe points to the exact opposite.
"I hope to convince you to have faith in your son and his wife, Jor-El," Elle replied. "The same faith that you placed in him when sending him to Earth I am imploring you to place in him now. Your son is the product of his upbringing and your guidance. I am simply asking you to disregard all that you've known and allow the future to unfold without your influence for it is your influence that truly affects the future."
My child, it is not my intent to interfere; only to prevent calamity. There has never been an instance in the history of all the known galaxies where a dominant subspecies has ever favorably altered the civilization into which it was introduced. I remain highly skeptical that humans would be any different than the other civilizations across the universe. He paused and then continued. And if I choose to remain unconvinced?
"Jor-El, when I leave this place I will travel back to my present place in the future and I will know the consequences of your decision. I have provided you facts that should be compelling but if you choose to remain unconvinced and the future remains unchanged, then I will return," Elle threatened, "and when I do, I will remove the crystals from here, take them with me to the future and prevent you from ever interfering in this matter."
Again there was a long delay as Jor-El processed the information. Doing so, he replied, would rob your father of his only source of counsel in matters not known to mankind. Doing that could have disastrous consequences as well, my child. Doing that could threaten mankind's entire existence to include your own.
She nodded. "I have faith in my father and my mother, Jor-El," Elle replied. "I urge you to do the same."
After what seemed an incredibly long pause, Jor-El spoke. You make me proud, Lara Ella Kent, he said in a gentle tone. You possess the courage of your convictions and the willingness to sacrifice your own future to promote a future that I hoped might exist one day for mankind. News of this future validates my decision made so long ago to send your father to Earth. He paused and then continued. I will give consideration to the information you have provided and choose when the time comes.
Landvatter's face flushed when his senior team member informed him of the mishap at the door to the building. "Damnit! That was the blood we were looking for," he growled. "Recover as much of it as you can," he ordered, "Bring it to me immediately and get out of there!" He barked and disconnected from the call. He contemplated his next move while he ran his hands through his hair. After a brief delay, he set his jaw and called Lex. "Sir," he began as the call was connected. "We have recovered all the available blood from the special laboratory as you asked and it is in the process of being brought here. Sir, there were only two blood samples from the special lab."
"I did not expect more than that, Mr. Landvatter," Lex replied coolly.
"Very good, Sir. My men should be finishing up within the next ten minutes."
"And there was no outside interference during your operation?" Lex inquired. He had fully expected Superman or some other member of the Justice League to make an appearance.
"No, Sir. My team gave no opportunity for Doctor Hamilton to make a phone call."
I caught a break, he thought. Lex checked his watch and smiled. The entire operation lasted less than an hour. "Very well done then, Mr. Landvatter. Keep me posted when the initial analysis of the blood is completed."
At 12:10 PM, Emil contacted Clark at the Daily Planet via the special JL communicator that Oliver had issued to all members. He described what had transpired that morning at the clinic while Clark and Lois spent time with Pete and Lana.
"It sounds like everything worked out as you planned it, Emil," Clark replied. "We really appreciate you doing this for her. After the incident with Doctor Walker, I think this may go a long way to keeping her off Lex's radar."
"We certainly hope so," he replied.
"We?"
"Yes we - me and my alter ego; Mr. Myles," Emil answered wryly.
It was 7 PM and Lois had finished feeding Lara her bottle. "I think we should take Lara up to the Fortress," Lois suggested. "I'd like to hear what Jor-El has to say about her," she added with a wry smile.
"You just want to hear him say he was wrong," Clark countered.
She nodded. "Okay; there's a lot of truth in that statement, Smallville. I think he deserves to know that I'm not some two-timing tramp."
"Lois!" he admonished. "He offered blue Kryptonite as an explanation."
"And left any other explanation up to you," she added. "In other words, if you weren't under the influence of blue K, 'you're wife's been stepping out on you Kal-El'," she said in a baritone parody.
He smiled and shook his head. "Well, I suppose he didn't leave me with many other explanations, did he?" She arched one eyebrow and cocked her head. "I guess we should take Lara though," he agreed. "Jor-El did want me to bring a blood sample so he could determine the percentage of Kryptonian heritage she has. That will give us an idea of what to expect as she grows up. I asked Emil to draw a sample just after she was delivered."
"Good thinking," Lois responded.
"After analyzing your blood, he informed me that it would beneficial that he speak to you about the analysis results. He didn't indicate that there was any urgency but as long as we're up there, maybe that would be the time to speak to him."
She frowned. "He didn't say, 'Bring her to me so I can apologize for the last seven months of implying that she's a slut'?" Lois replied with an impish grin.
He unsuccessfully tried to suppress a smile. "Let me run and get that sample from the clinic and I'll be right back."
Clark dashed to Emil's office and opened the special credenza that Bruce had built to store his medical records. Within the safe was the tube of blood that Emil had drawn from Lara at Clark's request. He grabbed it, closed the safe and credenza and headed back home where Lois was waiting with a bundled up Lara.
"You hold, Lara," he said as they walked onto the terrace. "And I'll hold you," he concluded. He picked her up and launched them straight up gaining speed and altitude into the darkening sky, high enough to escape notice from below. He then banked into a wide arc and headed north to the Fortress.
He flew quickly until they left the metropolitan area and then slowed to take a more leisurely speed. Even at the slower speed, they arrived at the Fortress in less than an hour.
Clark provided Jor-El Lara's blood sample to analyze while Lois wandered into the Fortress bedroom and laid with her daughter. After some time, Clark appeared and informed her that Jor-El wanted to speak with her.
"Lois Kent, we must speak," Jor-El said. "It is imperative that I inform you of my findings after analyzing your blood specimen. These are matters of great importance not only to you but to your relationship with Kal-El and your daughter, Lara, as well."
"You are referring to our part-human, part-Kryptonian daughter?" Lois replied.
"Yes. Inasmuch as I had no basis upon which I could logically conceive propagation between humans and Kryptonians, I found no reason to believe that your child was anything but human. It is simply not possible."
"Yet she's sleeping in a chamber not far from here," Lois replied.
"That is correct. However, that does not change the fact that humans and Kryptonians cannot propagate. The fact is, Lois Kent; you are no longer purely human. You have become a hybrid being.
"The mutation of your DNA and making you capable of propagation with a Kryptonian was not a natural phenomenon. Nor was it my intention at the time to leave you susceptible to such mutation."
"Your intention?" Lois asked.
"Yes. Many Earth years ago, you confronted me questioning the love I have for my son and my faith in him. There had been two others of your species who had similarly voiced such sentiments in this chamber, Lois Kent. Your admonishment of my actions forced me to examine you. I found that unlike the others, your feelings for my son and your intentions were pure, unwavering and unambiguous. The inner strength I found in you was the strength of conviction that my son's destiny could best be filled with you to give him the companionship and support that he needed to fulfill the purpose for which I sent him.
"Upon realizing that, I irradiated you. My intent was to merely slow the destructive processes of the human body; doubling your lifespan so that my son could keep a companion longer than the normal human existence. But by doing so, I put into motion certain changes in your biological composition that I had not foreseen. It enabled the mutation of your DNA by that of Kal-El's. Once mutated, you became biologically compatible for propagation."
"So thirteen years ago, you suspended me in a beam of light and that's the reason I got pregnant?" Lois clarified.
"Correct. The unintended consequence of extending your lifespan was the weakening of the natural physical barriers that prevent DNA mutation."
"So will we be able to conceive more children?"
"Yes, and that is the reason I speak to you and you alone, Lois Kent. A subspecies of beings with superior powers have been introduced into civilizations across the galaxy throughout time. In every case where those exceptional beings were introduced, calamity ensued."
"I'd like to consider my child and any other children we may have as special kids; not exceptional beings, Jor-El, and certainly not a subspecies," she replied tersely.
"It is not my intention to speak in terms you find derogatory," Jor-El replied. "In scientific terms, your child is a hybrid being and therefore a subspecies of the human race. She is exceptional and special, Lois Kent. I am confident that she will grow to become no less significant than her parents and selflessly contribute to civilization thanks to your influence. As a singular being, she will be alone. Just as Kal-El's mother and I feared for him, your daughter could face that feeling of loneliness and separation without peer or sibling to alleviate the feeling of isolation. Even having parents will not fully resolve that inner conflict that Kal-El faced so many years ago."
Lois listened intently, trying to glean the point of Jor-El's counsel. "What is it you're trying to tell me Jor-El; to go forth and propagate?"
"Simply this: you will capable of bearing children for several centuries if you and Kal-El choose. As a family unit, you and Kal-El will provide the necessary guidance, companionship and values to make your special offspring assets to human civilization. But as your biological composition continues to evolve, Lois Kent, you will become more resistant to human contraceptive methods to include surgical ones. When the time comes that you and Kal-El decide that you no longer wish to produce children, I counsel you to return to the Fortress where I can permanently neutralize your ability to reproduce in a noninvasive and painless manner done simply with light."
Lois listened and finally understood his intent. She smiled. "I will discuss this with Clark, Jor-El. And when the time comes that together we make that decision, we will return for your assistance."
The light in the grand chamber increased, signaling the end of their conversation. Lois walked back to the bedroom and found Clark dozing next to Lara. She watched him in silence for a moment, capturing the moment in her mind forever. Lois smiled, awakened him and they all flew back home.
Epilogue
July 7, 2019
Metropolis
"Daily Planet; this is Clark Kent speaking," he said into the phone.
"Mr. Kent," the caller began, "my name is Aldus Landvatter. We met briefly nine years ago when I was the head of security for Tess Mercer at the old Luthor Mansion. I greatly admired Miss Mercer and I know that she implicitly trusted you so that's the reason for my call."
Clark could not picture Landvatter in his mind but listened to the man. It had been years since the name of Tess Mercer had been uttered in his presence and the fact that the man called intrigued him. "Go ahead Mr. Landvatter. How can I help you?"
"Mr. Kent; I've since been occasionally contracted by President Luthor to perform certain tasks for him;" he paused, "Tasks that I used to think were critical to protecting the citizens of the United States. Now I have my doubts and I'd like to provide you some information that I believe is important for you to know regarding certain affiliations that the President has with certain groups."
July 17, 2021
Smallville
Clark stood in the loft of the barn thinking about how complete his life had become. He had a beautiful, loving soul mate for the rest of the foreseeable future; together they made a family that would support him and one day follow in his footsteps, and he had a sense of purpose that he and Lois fully embraced.
He stared out at the fields thinking how little had changed just beyond the window and how so much had changed just inside it. Gone were all the doubts he once had; gone were the worries of an isolated life of giving and living solely on the knowledge that he had made a difference. He felt complete.
Footsteps on the wooden stairs behind him tore him away from his thoughts. "We spent a few years up here, didn't we?" Pete announced. He chuckled. "I think back to those days and how simpler life seemed." He clapped Clark on the back. "I want to thank you and Lois for the party," he said. "And great job with Luthor, Clark. It appears you and your source prevented the death of a Supreme Court justice and ended up putting Lex away for twenty years." He smiled genuinely at his friend. "Not bad for a farm boy from Smallville."
"I couldn't have done it without your help, Pete; you know that."
"All I did was provide the information you developed to the right people, Clark…"
"And you provided me your trust," Clark added.
"Sheesh! You've always had that," his friend reassured. Staring at one another for a few moments, Pete continued. "But what you haven't always had," he began, bent over and picked up a basketball from behind the old settee that was a fixture in the loft, "was a very good fifteen-foot jump shot," he chided.
"What?" Clark said. "Even on my worst day…"
"Which will officially be in the next five minutes," Pete interjected. "Let's go, Man," he said, jamming the ball into Clark's midsection. "You and me; one-on-one!" Clark grinned, grabbed the ball from Pete and headed down the steps. "I've got my Secret Service detail here just to keep it fair," he added, following his friend down the stairs to the floor of the barn.
They emerged into the warm Kansas afternoon sun. Clark spotted Lana and Lois talking on the porch. He bounced the basketball on the ground a couple times and Lois looked in his direction. "Oh…game on!" she hollered and Pete grinned. Lana struggled to stand and Lois helped her up. They walked to the end of the porch for a better view.
"You better go inside, Lois," Pete yelled. "You probably don't want to witness the smack-down I'm going to put on your man!"
"You're wrong about that, Mr. President," Lois called out in replied. She found Clark's eyes, cocked her head and smirked. "I'd love to see it!"
"Lana really looks happy being pregnant; she truly seems to be glowing," Clark remarked.
"Don't try to butter me up, Kent," Pete replied. "You're going down."
Chloe dragged a chair up behind Lois and invited Lana to sit. "Oh this will be interesting," she quipped, glancing at the two Secret Service agents watching from the shade beneath one of the large trees in front of the Kent farm.
llllllllllllllllllllllllll
May 25, 2042
Metropolis
Elle returned from the Fortress to the apartment. It was six-thirty in the evening and everything seemed different. The furniture had been replaced with more contemporary leather furniture. Gone were the trinkets, framed photos and awards that once graced the inside of the Kent apartment. She stood there for a moment before a large, handsome young man with black hair and a strong chin emerged from what was once her bedroom. "Tell me you haven't been spending the afternoon with Tim Drake again," he said annoyed. "Mom's on the warpath because Dad flew off about an hour ago and hasn't come back yet. She thought you were with him and I didn't tell her differently but I'm not getting in the middle of this one," he warned. Elle stared and a smile grew on her face.
"You might think it's funny now but when Mom comes through that door, you won't think so!" the boy admonished.
"Where's Father right now?"
"See?" he cried. "I knew you weren't with him! He's in Jacksonville, Florida where that bridge collapsed and all those cars were in danger of falling into the St. Johns River. Hello!" He ran his hands through his hair, smoothing back the thick black locks. "You better hurry and get changed before Mom…"
The front door to the apartment flew open and Elle saw Lois standing in the doorway. She was wearing a worn-out blue jeans, cowboy boots and a sleeveless plaid shirt. "You're not wearing that!" she roared. "This isn't a retro screening of 'The Matrix', Lara; it's a Monster Truck Rally. Get in your room and put on some jeans. For the love of Pete!" She glanced at the young man in the room. "Jonathan, you're ready aren't you?"
"Just about Mom," he replied. "I just have to put on my shoes."
She threw her hands up in the air. "Great Caesar's Ghost! Why do I have a family of kids that are faster than speeding bullets but can't ever seem to be on time for anything!" Clark appeared behind her and she swiveled around. "It's about time you got home, too."
"Relax Lois; we'll be there on time," he said, smiling. He wore jeans, boots and a flannel shirt. He held out his arms. "How do I look?"
She reached into his top pocket, pulled out his glasses and stuck them on his face. She cocked her head and winced. "Let me help you," she replied and tore the sleeves off his shirt. "There!" she proclaimed. "Better." She looked behind him. "Where's Little Bruce, now?" she complained.
"Right here," a teenaged voice called and blurred into view. "Just waiting on everyone else," he said as he listened to music through ear buds. "And please stop calling me 'Little' Bruce, Mom," he whined. "I'm fifteen years old."
Elle emerged from the bedroom that used to be her parents room wearing jeans, work boots and a Whitesnake t-shirt. "Is this better?" she asked.
"Much," Lois replied. "But you better not get anything on that t-shirt," she warned. Jonathan reappeared fully dressed. "Are we ready now?" she asked exasperated. "Let's go!"
Elle smiled. "Go ahead," she said. "I'll be right there; I just have to put something away." She blurred past Lois, Jonathan, Little Bruce and into the apartment across the hallway where her parents had apparently moved.
"Of course," Lois carped, rolling her eyes. She put her hand on Jonathan's back and gave him a gentle push out the door. "Move it soldier," she said. "Make sure you lock the door behind you," she reminded Elle.
Elle found her parents' room and opened the top drawer of her father's chest of drawers. She took a deep breath, pulled the Legion Ring from her finger, dropped it in the drawer and slammed it shut just as her head filled with flashes of new memories. For a moment she felt disoriented and dizzy as if her soul had left her body and had been replaced by another. She slumped to one knee, shaking her head to clear it.
"Lara?" her father called from the front door.
She took a deep breath and it cleared her head. She stood upright and felt different for some reason that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She realized that her head was filled with these horrible thoughts of her parents' death and abandonment. Maybe I shouldn't be spending so much time with Tim Drake, she thought. It's messing with my head.
"Lara; are you okay, Sweetheart?" he called with a genuine concern in his voice.
"Yes Daddy," she called back. "I'm fine; I'm coming."
End of Story