Ghost From the Past

Folc4evernaday | Rated: M | Chapter 11

EPRAD control room was filled with technicians zeroing in on Nightfall, discussing the possible effects Earth would suffer when the asteroid came into the Earth's atmosphere, "We're talking about a complete destruction of life as we know it. This asteroid is bigger than the one that destroyed the dinosaurs…."

Another technician opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he did a double take on the screen, seeing a man in red and blue with what looked like a scuba tank on his back flying toward the asteroid. "Hey, Bill…."

"I mean, this is something that everyone talks about…history in the making…I guess we'll finally get to see what it was like for the dinosaurs…"

"Bill!"

"What?" Bill looked at the other technician irritated.

"Look!"

They both looked at the screen in awe as they watched the man in red and blue begin to spin in space, heading foot first toward the asteroid. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"A guy in tights and a cape trying to drill his feet into the asteroid?" Bill asked. "Yep, I see it. But I don't believe it…."

Alarms began blaring over and over as the intercom announced, "This is EPRAD Ground Control. We are thirty-six hours from impact of 'Nightfall.' What is the trajectory?"

They looked at the screen again and another voice announced, "This is EPRAD Ground Control. We are now fifty-four hours from impact of 'Nightfall.' What is the trajectory?"

"Um, what did they just say?" Bill asked.

"Mission trackers reporting an anomaly. Switching to backup computers for corroboration." The intercom announced, "Roger confirmation. Asteroid velocity and density is decreasing…."

"The asteroid seems to be reversing its course and…..losing its density…." Bill responded in his radio headset.

"Roger, what is the cause of this anomaly?"

Bill looked at Ted for a moment and laughed, "A guy in tights and a red cape with a scuba tank on his back…." They stared at the screen in awe as they watched the asteroid disappear into a fiery explosion as the mysterious man in red and blue struck the asteroid, disappearing from the screen. "No one is gonna believe the report on this…."

The force of the contact he made with the asteroid caused the air tank to explode. He couldn't breathe. He could feel his body weakening as he fell toward Earth. Everything around him felt like it was on fire.

Five Years Ago…

Clark parked the truck and helped Lois out as they walked toward the pond on the Kent farm. He took a deep breath and sighed, Lois looked at him carefully, "Are you sure you're okay? You really don't look that great…" She placed a hand on his chest and he let out a shallow breath, "Clark, what's going on?"

He nodded, lowering his head to look at the ground for a moment. He needed to tell her. He couldn't take the lies anymore. Even though he was weak and had no powers right now didn't mean they wouldn't return. He had to tell her. "Lois, there's something I need to tell you…something I've been meaning to tell you but I just haven't found a way…."

"What is it?" Lois asked curiously.

A loud crash from the barn caught both their attention. What if someone had found that meteorite? His dad had said he was going to destroy it…. The spaceship. His dad. What if they found it? He did his best to cover the fear that he knew was written all over his face and handed the keys to Lois before whispering, "Go to the house and call Rachel…."

"But Clark…" She began to argue when another loud bang was heard inside the barn.

"Now!" he hollered as he headed toward the barn, not bothering to look behind him anymore. There was no sign of his mom or dad anywhere. He couldn't seem to squash the sick feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong.

As he approached the barn, he silently cursed his luck for not having his powers anymore. He stood in the shadows, watching as several men in government uniforms tied his parents up. His mother was tied up along with his father. In the corner, he recognized Wayne, his missing neighbor, badly beaten and gagged. "No…" He murmured to himself.

"Who are you? What do you want?" his mother asked.

"I'm Agent Jason Trask with Bureau 39, a top-secret government agency intent on protecting Earth from any alien invasion…." He smiled as he tightened the ropes, pulling out a lighter from his pocket, "If this doesn't go well just remember, you give your lives for your country…Where is he?"

"Go to hell!" his dad spat back. Trask looked like he was about to strike his dad. Clark tensed up, ready to pounce if needed to help his parents. Trask nodded to the remaining agents in the room and they left. Clark flattened himself against the wall, staying out of the line of vision as he continued to listen and watch the scene before him unfold. Trask, who was taunting them remained alone in the barn with his parents and Wayne. If he could overpower him somehow maybe he could stop him before the other agents got back….or at least long enough for his parents and Wayne to get out of here.

"I don't think you understand your predicament, Mr. Kent," Trask laughed, "We came to Smallville in search of a meteorite….a meteorite we believe to be the key to an alien threat…and a meteorite we found in your possession. From what our scientists have told us this meteorite came to Earth at the exact same time your son was born…." He grinned, "If I were a betting man I'd say that's more than a coincidence….Now, I'm not going to ask again, where is your son?"

"You stay the hell away from my son!" his mom spat.

Her retort was met with a blow to the head as Trask stood with his back to the doorway. Unable to stifle the anger he felt inside himself, Clark lunged, on top of Trask, intent on making him pay for raising a hand to his mother. "NOOO!"

Trask was strong. Clark did his best to meet each blow with one of his own. He would not let him win. He couldn't. He continued to avoid blow after blow as Trask advanced toward him. How had he ended up outside? It didn't matter. Hopefully, his parents and Wayne would be able to make it out….

He fell into the pond with Trask, struggling to fight him off. He could feel his weakened body trying to give up but he fought through it, grabbing him by the collar and striking him again and again until he was up against the old oak tree, wading in the pond as he continued to fight.

A hard metal object pressed up against his side. Trask had a gun. Clark couldn't let him use it. He saw the glint in Trask's eyes and his eyes widened when he realized what he was trying to do. He struggled with him, knowing it was a lost cause. He heard a resounding pop and felt a piercing pain in his chest.

"Clark!" the sound of Lois' cry reached his ears.

"Lois…" he managed to whisper softly as darkness overtook him.

Present Day…

Lois sat on the bench by the gazebo, staring at the water with a faraway look on her face. Martha walked up behind her cautiously, "Mind if I sit?"

Lois turned to look at her and shrugged, "Sure,"

"How are you holding up?" Martha asked, noticing where Lois' line of vision was focused. It was the place where Clark had been shot five years ago.

"I'll be fine," Lois said with a weak smile. "It's just a lot to take in over just a few days,"

"I know," Martha hugged her.

"I don't know how to do this," Lois said softly.

"Do what?" Martha asked.

"Assuming he even gets his memory back…." Lois' voice began to crack, "How do I even face him? How do I tell him?"

Realizing what Lois was referring to Martha sighed, "Is that why you didn't want to say goodbye?"

"I can't….The more he remembers the more guilty I feel for not telling him. I mean, I don't know how to tell him…"

Martha sighed, "Why don't we just take this one step at a time? We'll work with him about his memory then we'll take it one thing at a time. Five years is a lot to catch up on,"

"I only had him for sixteen weeks," Lois cried, "but Clark never got to…."

Martha hugged her tightly as the tears fell even harder. "You'll get through this,"

Five Years Ago…

Clark groggily began to come to. The room he was in looked like a hospital room of sorts. He could feel his body was restrained. He heard voices around him but couldn't make out what they were saying. There was a familiar green glow coming from across the room. It wasn't close enough that it was painful but it was enough to make sure he was uncomfortable.

The men around him seemed to realize he was awake and surrounded him. One of the men he recognized as Trask. The other he recognized as Agent Thompson. The other man he didn't recognize at all but he suspected he was in charge.

"I see you're back in the land of the living, Mr. Kent," Trask said with a smug grin, "Maybe we can try this again…"

"I'm going to make you a deal, trusting that your stay in Metropolis has put some sense in your head. Give up the alien and I'll let you live," Trask said, leaning over the table to stare Clark down.

Clark stared at him nervously, uncertain what he was talking about. He seemed to be out of his mind, thinking there was some invasion coming. The other men with him seemed just as delirious. "What makes you think I could do that if I wanted to?"

He slammed the large metal box his father had had in the barn on the table and said, "This came to Smallville around the time you were born. There has to be a connection. Tell me and I'll let you live."

Clark did his best to cover his nervousness, "There's nothing to tell. I'm learning all this for the first time right now."

Trask slammed the palm of his hand on the table angrily, "I'm trying to save humanity from an

alien invader, Mr. Kent!"

Clark did his best to portray a calm he didn't feel, "You have no proof of that."

Trask looked back at him calmly and Clark shifted nervously in his seat, "There's another possibility."

"What's that?" Clark asked.

"Perhaps the alien has taken over your mind, infused you with its power," Trask said, fingering the metal box with a sinister expression.

If he opened that box…No, he had to call his bluff. He couldn't reveal himself. "Nobody's infused me with power and nobody's taken over my mind."

The box opened and he felt his body begin to go numb as he slumped forward, "Are you certain of that, Mr. Kent?" he heard Trask say before he drifted to unconsciousness.

Present Day – One Week Ago…

"Trask!" Thompson roared angrily as he headed to the underground shelter where Trask had what was left of Bureau 39.

"Well, this is a surprise," Trask said coolly.

"The Bureau is being shut down." Thompson slammed an order in Trask's face. "Everything you have on Smallville needs to be destroyed. No evidence of Bureau 39…"

"But…." Trask began.

"You've diverted from the mission time and time again," Thompson warned. "I warned you what would happen…."

"I know the alien is ….."

"I don't care!" Thompson sneered.

"You've diverted from the mission time and time again…"

The voice echoed from the hallway and he looked around, seeing no sign of the guards that normally manned the room.

"Your team has been dismissed. You have twenty-four hours…"

He looked around the room and saw the green glow. He had to get out of here before he tried to use it on him again. The torture.

"You have produced no results. He can't kill…He can't be used as a weapon…"

He could feel the strength that had left him slowly coming back…

He would wait for his chance. When the man came back to try and do his experiments he would escape. The door opened and he saw him enter the dark room. "Where is everyone?" he sneered. "Thompson!" He growled, pulling his keys out of his pocket.

He narrowed his eyes as he watched the door open. Any moment now…

Shots rang out around him as he overpowered the man and was able to keep the green glow away from himself as he destroyed the room. He would escape this time. He had to get out of here. He had to escape. He had to find…

Present Day…

It hurt. He could feel the heat from the explosion around him. He felt like he was gagging as he entered the Earth's atmosphere, desperately trying to take in the Oxygen he'd been deprived. Images from the past seven years rushed through his mind as he soared down to Earth.

"Whoa! Sorry!"

"Uh, sorry…"

"It's okay…Typical for me….barreling in without looking where I'm going…Uh, hi, Lois Lane,"

"Clark Kent."

"Clark, you're being careful, aren't you?"

"Girl? Was she pretty?"

"Mom…"

"She was, wasn't she?"

"Chicken."

"Excuse me? I am not."

"Yes, you are. You are so afraid you might actually have a good time. No one's going to make you do something you don't want to do. Just live a little. Cut loose and have some fun. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Where are we going?"

"To dance…"

"You know, usually people ask one another if they want to…"

"Finally speechless…"

"Get your …..hands off of her…now!"

"Kent…we were just playing around…"

"You better pray to God she's all right…"

"You know me…jumping in without looking…"

"Lois, this is not your fault,"

"What if someone had seen you? How would you have explained…You can not afford to lose your temper like that…"

"You could easily lose control and slip up and then…Metropolis isn't the Outback, you know. People in the city are always looking to make a quick buck. If they find out about you, they'll put you in a laboratory, and …"

" … 'dissect me like a frog.' I know, Dad. Believe me, I'm trying my best to be like everybody else here, but I didn't know what else to do…"

"…I could have killed them if I wanted to…and believe me, I was tempted to…but I didn't."

"I'm not most guys,"

You're really something. I guess that's why I love you…"

"I love you too,"

"Great, what's your big plan when he discovers us in here…which he will…"

"Take off your shirt,"

"What? Lo-is…What are you doing?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Sorry, I sprung that on you. We needed a distraction and that…"

"…was definitely a distraction...It worked."

"Yeah, I guess we should…talk…"

"…or not."

"..or not…"

"Is this a dream?"

"Not unless we're having the same one…"

"Stop,"

"What?"

"Something's wrong…"

"You mean other than us being late?...Clark, stop it. This isn't funny…"

"Lois, I think we need to get out of here…"

"What the …?"

"Get Down!"

"Are you CRAZY? What are you DOING? Trying to get yourself KILLED?"

"Clark, what are you doing? This isn't funny! Clark, stop it! I'm serious, stop it!"

"Extra towel, yah? "Oops…Sorry…"

"I'm sorry I heard…"

"Just get off of me!"

"I should have given you a warning. I'm sorry."

"I'm going to kiss you. Are you going to stop me?... They'll go away with time…"

"You can't just grab me like that…being here again…and being grabbed like that….just brings it all back."

"Clark! You're gonna flood the bathroom!"

"Clark! I thought..."

"I'm fine. I...saw the wave fold over like that and...I just kinda stopped running...Nice touch, kneeing Lex Luthor like that. Great first impression."

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just…You're always saving me…"

"Someone's got to…"

"Mom, this is …Lois,"

"Hi... It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Kent,"

"Martha, please,"

"Martha,"

"Such a waste of time,"

"We're still parked outside where peering eyes can see us. When we're at home maybe I'll lose the bra…"

"Promise? Whose home?"

"Is that your fantasy, Mr. Kent? Me with no bra?"

"No, you on my bed in my football jersey…nothing on underneath…"

"Football jersey, huh? Maybe if you're good, we'll try it out sometime…"

"What?"

"Nothing….just realizing how much I love you…You're gorgeous, intelligent, sexy, and I couldn't imagine my life without you, Lois Lane,"

"I love you too, Clark Kent, and I pray you never have to find that out,"

"I don't fit in. I have to control myself all the time and never use my powers because I might jeopardize my chance at a normal life…"

"Whatever that means…"

"Just being human like you and mom. Living…working…having a family…"

"We don't know if that's possible and you can't risk anyone finding out about you….If they knew….you could end up in some laboratory where they would…."

"…dissect me like a frog...I know, but I can't hide forever and I can't keep lying to Lois…"

"You're not lying. You're just omitting certain facts,"

"It feels like I'm lying to her. I want to be able to share everything with her…not just this…but me, Clark Kent…the man that can fly…bend steel over his head…and loves everything about her."

"It's just too risky, son, you've only known each other less than a year…"

"But…I love her,"

"I know you do, son. Just give it time."

"Do you think there'll ever be a time where I can use my powers for good and still be …me, Clark Kent?"

"I don't know, but if anyone can find a way, you can,"

"Everyone disguises everything…nobody really knows anyone because everyone knows once you reveal yourself…once you open yourself up…they wind up using it against you…"

"But marriage is about sharing everything you have, even when you don't feel like it."

"So's divorce, ask my mother."

"Lois, not everyone has that kind of relationship."

"You mean where they wind up hating one another…In my head, I know everyone doesn't end up like they did, but…..I don't know…"

"Invisible or fly?"

"Fly,"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think it'd be great to be able to fly in the sky…touch the clouds…the stars…."

"That does sound wonderful,"

"I'm gonna get us out of here. Just give me a minute,"

"I hope you can understand, a man in my position. I wouldn't want to be misinterpreted and I have had on or two bad experiences with the media…"

"But not with me," Lois argued.

"Why don't we make it dinner…but just you,"

"Mind if I cut in?"

"Not at all,"

"I don't like that guy,"

"I think I might have just grabbed the biggest interview of the decade!"

"Do you realize it has been exactly a year today since we first met?"

"Really? A year?"

"Yes, a year ago today I was staring at these enormous gates, contemplating my future in Metropolis. then Then you crashed into my life…"

"I wouldn't say crash ….exactly….bumped…maybe glided…"

"I love you so much Lois. I …I can't imagine my life without you in it."

"…and I love you. I've never known anyone like you…I really…love you…You know that?"

"Yeah, I know…I….just…I don't know. I imagine the world ….the future….I can't imagine any of it without you there…standing with me."

"Marry me,"

"Yes…"

"Tell me what you want…"

"You,"

"I think you learned a lot more about me than I learned about you,"

"Yeah, I'll bet,"

"I think we've both only scratched the surface,"

"Unbelievable, I don't believe this guy,"

"Not exactly the point of an interview,"

"That's my girl. Put him in his place,"

"That's it. You are in charge of all cooking from now on,"

"What? You're never cooking?"

"It's not something you want me to do, trust me,"

"I'll teach you."

"He spent the whole time trying to evade my questions while trying to hit on me. Needless to say, there won't be a follow-up,"

"I'm sorry, Lois, I know you wanted that exclusive,"

"It is what it is. But there was something very odd about him. Every time I asked him about his parents or the first company he took over his eyes did a little dance. Almost like there was something more going on. May be worth looking into,"

"Definitely,"

"I wanted this to be perfect...I love you,"

"I love you, too."

"I know technically we're already engaged, but I wanted to do this right…I'm not sure if I'm supposed to get down on one knee, but…"

"Oh, my God…Clark...Is that for me?"

"Yes...Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful,"

"You're beautiful. Lois, I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I love you, Clark Kent, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

"What is it?"

"It's the ship we found you in,"

"What?"

"Your mom and I didn't want people who'd shoot you into space to get their hands on you. We figured even if you were a Russian you were only a Russian baby…"

"Is that what you think I am? A Russian experiment?"

"Son, we don't care if you're a Russian, or a martian. You know that. Anyway, your mom wanted the ship destroyed because she was afraid of those men coming back and trying to take you. We figured that the spaceship had to be destroyed so nobody'd ever have any evidence on how you got here…I planned to burn it, but I couldn't…I never told your mother. Didn't want to worry her..."

"So, this…"

"Is everything we found you in…"

"That doesn't make any sense. Why go to all this trouble for a rock?"

"Because the preliminary report said it was some kind of meteorite. Wayne was scared when the feds showed up so he gave it to me for safekeeping. I figured since it was found a few miles from where we found you it could be related…"

"I'm Agent George Thompson. Field Liaison for the EPA."

"That feels good,"

"I aim to please,"

"Yes, you do...Nope, remember what happened last time? We're here to work. There'll be time for that later."

"I hope so,"

"Clark…Focus!"

"I am…"

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes,"

"Congratulations you two…Whatever you want…it's on the house!"

"Do you want to dance?"

"I figured we'd get married. Enjoy a very long honeymoon phase. Get a couple of Kerths…."

"Pulitzer."

"…and a Pulitzer. Then start practicing."

"I don't think practice is something that's required in that department."

"That's just part of the fun."

"Lois, there's something I need to tell you…something I've been meaning to tell you but I just haven't found a way….."

"What is it?"

"Go to the house and call Rachel…."

"But Clark…"

"Now!"

"What's happening? Clark!"

"I'm Agent Jason Trask with Bureau 39, a top-secret government agency intent on protecting Earth from any alien invasion...If this doesn't go well just remember, you give your lives for your country…Where is he?"

"Clark!"

"Lois..."

"Do you think this will work?"

"Showing up in boots and a cape offering EPRAD a way to stop the asteroid hours before it's set to impact Earth and destroy life as we know it? It's worth a shot,"

"Where's Lois?"

"She, uh…You've got to understand…. these past five years have been hard on her…. between that and finding out about your…gifts…."

"She doesn't want to say goodbye…."

"It's not that she doesn't want to…. she can't…You have no idea what she's been through…. just like she has no idea what you've been through…"

"Perhaps the alien has taken over your mind, infused you with its power,"

'Lois,' his mind cried out as he felt the air fill his lungs. He looked around and noticed a good bit of the suit had burned. He'd have to get his mom's help to fix it. He looked around and noticed he was near the Kent farm and headed toward the familiar farmhouse.

Perry White stared at the screen in shock, uncertain of what he'd just seen. A man ….a FLYING man had been captured on the satellite feed from EPRAD pushing the Nightfall asteroid away from Earth's orbit. The fears that had filled his mind since they had announced the possibility of Earth's existence being wiped out a few days ago subsided and he could feel the tension leave his body in a way he wasn't used to…tears. He turned back to his office, closing the door behind him as he blocked out the cheering around him.

He sunk into his chair, wiping the tears from his eyes as he fought for some control over his emotions. It had been over a week now since he'd seen Alice. She had gone upstate to visit Jerry and ended up stuck, unable to get a flight out. He reached for the phone, praying for a connection. The phone rang three times when he heard the familiar voice on the other end, "Alice, honey?" He couldn't hold the tears back anymore.

MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA IN SPACE!

The headline for the Metro Gazette read.

CIEST MANIFIQUE!

The headline for the Paris Bulletin read.

ALIEN INVASION ON EARTH!

The headline for the Daily STAR read.

I'M HAVING THE SPACEMAN'S BABY!

The headline for the National Inquisitor read.

MIRACLE SAVE! SUPER MAN SAVES EARTH!

The headline for the Daily Planet read.

TBC...