Chapter 10 [Later that Afternoon]

After rushing back from Metropolis and a pit stop at the Luthor Mansion, Clark led Lana to the Caves. With the engagement, they had one more step to take. Even though they had Martha's approval, there was one more step they needed to take.

"Clark, we have a lot to do. I like touring these caves as much as anyone. Why are we here?" she wondered. She looked at the craggy stone walls and the paintings.

"The last step before we do anything else, Lana," he informed her. "You need to know the rest about me."

"Clark, I know what I need to. You're being from Krypton is okay with me. We'll deal with Bloome and keep an eye on everything else. What else is there?" she supposed.

"A lot more. A while lot more," he replied before they headed down the passage to the central cavern. All around them, the pictographs told their familiar story. "These are mine. Well…ours now." He extended his hands to encompass the area. "This is the whole of our culture. Kryptonian culture."

She looked around the area. "I thought the Indians did these paintings."

"They did some of them. My ancestors were here doing the paintings." Seeing the incredulous look in her eyes, he added, "Isobel killed at least one of them back in France. Why would that be such a surprise?"

She grimaced and studied the water sign on the adjacent wall. It reminded her of the first ill fated escape attempt from her overall responsibilities. How she'd gone to Paris in search of her life's purpose and ran into the Teagues' web of intrigue. How Isobel possessed her and nearly destroyed everything.

"Lana, Isobel can't hurt us. She's gone," Clark assured her.

"Is she? What if she takes control again? What if I compromise you? What if….?" She peppered him with her doubts.

"Lana."

"Clark, take this seriously."

He hugged her. "I am. We can overcome this. We'll face these things together. We need though to take it some place else." He produced the octagonal disk.

"That was Lex's!" she realized.

"Lex and Lionel stole it from me. It is a lot more than just a keepsake." He turned to the left and motioned toward where the hidden chamber was. As he stepped toward it, the wall opened.

"Clark! What? How did you know that was there?" she queried.

"My father…my real father left it here for me," Clark insisted.

"Clark, you said your father died back on Krypton. How?" she wondered as they walked into the chamber. "This is amazing!"

"This is only the start of it," he noted while sticking the disk in the slot on the stone table.

A bright light filled the chamber teleporting them to the Fortress.

"Where are we now?" she asked incredulously while looking around at the ice formations. "First we're surrounded by stone and now by ice?"

"Remember when everyone was chasing after the three elements?" he queried. Getting a nod from her, he continued, "I put them together to get a diamond crystal. The crystal made this place. It contains the repository of Kryptonian knowledge." Kara?

["Kal-El, are you at the Fortress? I will be there soon myself. Jor-El says there's something of great importance,"] his cousin replied.

["It is. Lana's here too. It's a family matter,"] he noted.

["Lana's not family, Kal-El. What are you doing? I'll be right there,"] Kara concluded before signing off.

"Great. Now she's mad too," Clark groused.

"Who's mad? Clark?" Lana wondered. "What's going on?"

He was talking to one of us.

She blinked her eyes. "Who just said that?"

"That was my father," Clark indicated.

"But he's dead!" she protested.

My body is dead. I am here. Jor-El's spirit appeared in front of them. I am Jor-El. Perhaps a change in appearance might make you more comfortable? He made himself tangible and in the form of his previous Earthly incarnation.

"Joe? You're the Drifter?" she realized. "You knew my aunt!"

"Aunt? I do not understand," Joe replied.

"Louise McCallum, Jor-El. You knew Louise," Clark clarified.

Joe eyed Lana and admired the resemblance. "You look so much like her. My Louise."

Lana pursed her lips. "I've been told we were almost twins. I'm sorry about what happened to her, Joe."

"I am glad it did not happen again," Joe indicated. "I am glad Lochlan's descendant did not succeed. Kal-El was careless on two occasions. The first time cost him his abilities. I had to take them so he wouldn't endanger everything. Luthor would have controlled him. The second time concerned the radioactive device which endangered you both. You must be more careful, both of you."

"They can both be impulsive," Kara agreed while landing in their midst. "But this time it is serious."

Jor-El reverted to his spirit form. We do have a bigger issue. The one you call Davis Bloome. He must be dealt with. You three are key to that effort. He considered Clark and Lana. You both need to be more. Much more.

"Much more? We can deal with a lot of things," Lana surmised.

"He means that Clark has to embrace his full heritage," Kara indicated. "And what did you mean by a 'family matter'? Lana is here."

"She is family now," Clark clarified. "We're engaged."

"You're engaged?" Kara stared incredulously. "Clark, she's an Earther!"

"She and her family have had connections to us," Clark urged.

"Oh that's right. Remember the Countess Isobel? I heard about her right here," Kara mentioned. "They can't be trusted!"

"Yet Chloe and I saved you from Lex! Kara, I think I've proven my loyalty. Don't tell me your family has all loyal members either," Lana pointed out.

The Earth woman has a point, Kara. Your father, Zor-El, has issues similar to her ancestor. Both deserted their larger family roles lusting for power and control. We must face our responsibility now. This world and our heritage need us, Jor-El supported her point. Then he looked at Lana. Louise proved herself a worthy friend. I love her as much as I do Lara. I will not make the mistake my father made. Not any longer anyhow.

"What?" Kara demanded. "But Lara was your wife! How can you…?"

Louise taught me to love, Kara. This one has taught the same to Kal-El. I would not deny them as my father did me. Jor-El turned to the newly engaged couple. To defeat Doomsday and deny our enemies their triumph is our major aim here. Another is to insure the continuity of our house. His eyes glowed. Will you respect our culture as well as our own?

Lana looked to Clark. Getting a nod, she vowed, "We will."

Then it is time, Lana Lang. It is time for you to become one of us. Jor-El's eyes glowed bright red. Take each other's hands.

After they had done so, a shaft of yellow light shone down on the young couple.

It is time for the Joining!

At that point, they both felt a piece of each other flow away and then into the companion. It was much as they had experienced at the airport. Their love bonded them. They truly became one.

You now belong to one another. On Krypton, the rite of marriage is a symbiotic one. So it was with Lara and me. So it is now with you. I now complete your heritage. Jor-El's eyes shone blue now.

The light shifted in intensity and tone.

Clark and Lana floated into the air. They felt themselves burning and yet chilled at once. Their minds expanded. Energy flowed through their forms for several minutes.

And then all went quiet. They fell to the icy floor.

Lana stirred first. She felt different. The Prometheus suit sent occasional little static charges through her system every couple of seconds. She'd learned to deal and even ignore them. But the charges were no longer there. Even when she stood and flexed her arms, she felt none of the previous sensations.

But she felt even more powerful than before.

As well you should, Lana. You are now Kryptonian as well as Kal-El's consort. Project your thoughts to the rest of us, Jor-El revealed.

["You mean like this?"] Lana wondered.

["Exactly,"] Kara agreed.

["Lana, are you using telekinesis?"] Clark asked while getting to his feet.

You both are now Kryptonian. That is how we communicate. You must now trust in your abilities and heritage. Your complete heritage, Kal-El. Time is of the essence. You three must return to the place called Smallville. The threat is about to come to bear. I would urge you to eliminate the one known as Bloome.

["If we can split him then we can deal with the alter ego. That is the plan,"] Clark insisted.

Then you must do so quickly. Use the black kryptonite, my Son. Use your abilities to get there. There are faster ways than running, Jor-El urged.

["What?"] Lana asked.

Kara floated off the ground. ["Time for you two to spread your wings. Focus."]

["We can't!"] Clark doubted,

Lana took Clark's hands in her own and looked into his eyes. ["Yes we can if we believe. I've been exposed to a lot of strange things. But I've learned that through you, anything is possible. Let's trust."]

He felt warm. He felt a purpose in his fiancée's words. ["Let's do this. Together."]

["On three,"] Lana agreed as they flexed their legs. ["Three!"]

They focused and streaked off into the sky.

["They did it!"] Kara exclaimed.

Indeed. Now guide them back to the prairie. It is time to deal with Doomsday, Jor-El insisted.

["As you wish,"] Kara agreed before taking off after the others.

And so goes our greatest hope! Jor-El looked toward the south. May this combined light drown out the darkness.

****

"We're doing it! We're really flying!" Clark exclaimed. He looked down at the snow covered area beneath them.

"All we had to was believe!" Lana replied as she caught up to him. She gave him a kiss. "Some view."

"It's that all right!" he agreed.

"Glad to see you both like it," Kara presumed. "Follow me back to Smallville!" With that, she streaked off toward the south.

"After you," he told Lana.

"Why thank you, sir!" she accepted and streaked off in that direction.

He glanced back toward the Fortress one last time. Then he streaked off in the women's wake and toward the battle to come.