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"Clark? You called and told me to be here at 2, so here I am." Pete called, walking into the Kawatche caves. He carried a bowling ball bag with him.
"Over here, Pete." Clark called back.
"What's he doing here?" Pete gestured to Lex.
"Learning, Pete, learning. Clark figures it'll be easier if both of us are able to fully back him up when he tells the girls. And what are you doing with that thing?"
"Whatever, man. You know I still don't agree with you telling him, right? Let him chalk up Metropolis to whatever his twisted mind wants to. And because Clark really wants to tell you, this is to aid your learning. What I don't know is, why have me here? You can tell him yourself, you know, it's not like you've lost the power of speech."
"In case I forget anything. To me, this is old news, but to you and Lex, it's not." Clark answered.
"Well, if you're determined to do this, we should start with this." Pete said, taking out the bowling ball, and hefting it. He smiled, and wound up, and then, with all his strength, threw it into Clark. The ball cracked in half and fell to the ground.
"What the was that?" Lex yelled, running to make sure Clark wasn't hurt.
"Invincibility." Pete said, picking up the two halves of the bowling ball and putting them back into the bag. Pete then picked out a rubber ball from his backpack and held it up.
"Pull!" Clark yelled, getting what Pete wanted to do. Pete tossed it into the air, and Clark focussed, and twin beams of heat shot out of his eyes, and the ball was incinerated.
"Heat vision. Cute trick. How'd you get that one?" Lex asked.
"Um. . .well. . ."
"He was all sexed up, Clarky here was hot on your wife." Pete threw Clark to the sharks.
"HELEN caused your heat vision?"
"Desiree Atkins did. Thanks, Pete. So, I guess I gotta tell this one. I was in biology class, and we were watching a sex ed film. . .and I was watching her, and. . .suddenly I felt a pain in my head, and as I was watching the screen, it burst into flames."
"It appears you can control it now, how did that happen?"
"I practiced on a scarecrow. I thought about. . .you know, and I learned to control it."
"Good thing, I'd imagine." Lex said dryly.
"Funny guy." Clark answered, turning red.
"I think I see why you like him, Clark. That was good, Lex. We hardly make Clark blush like that!"
"It's apparently what I'm here for." Lex smiled slightly.
"Hey Clark, I need a coffee. How about the Starbucks in Metropolis?" Pete said.
"Three coffees, coming up." Clark said, zipping out of the cave after Pete handed him a $20.
"So. . ." Lex didn't know how to talk to Pete.
"Look, it's no surprise to learn I don't like your family, Lex. But I'm beginning to see you are different compared to Lionel. I'm still not crazy about you, but you handled Clark when he was in Metropolis, and that wasn't easy. So I'm willing to give you a chance. How's that?"
"Probably the best I can hope for. OK, Pete. Semi-apology accepted." At that moment, Clark returned with 3 steaming cups of coffee.
"I couldn't come back full speed because of the cup holder, guys." Clark said, offering a cup to Lex and taking one himself.
"It took you a minute and you're telling me that's not full speed?" Lex said incredulously.
"Nope, not full speed."
"All that's left is x-ray vision." Pete said.
"How're we going to do that?" Clark wondered.
"Pete, go run into the woods. Hide behind a dense bush or something. Clark and I will come looking in . . . 3 minutes. Hey, Clark, wanna run between here and Metropolis 5 times?" Lex smiled.
"Yeah, you're here strictly for comic relief." Pete said, walking out of the caves.
"So you're seriously an alien?" Lex asked.
"Yeah, Lex, I am. I hope. . .I hope you understand why I kept this from you for so long."
"Because of my father."
"That, and because I didn't even know until you decided to offroad your car into my body. I was so upset that I survived, Lex. I went home, and shoved my arm into a wood chipper, and later that night. . .they showed me the spaceship."
"For what it's worth, Clark, I'm sorry you had to go through that all alone." Lex laid an arm on Clark's shoulder.
"Yeah, well, what doesn't kill you and all that jazz, huh?"
"Clark, the point is, you're not alone anymore. Pete and I are here for you. And soon, so will Lana and Chloe. You don't have to keep secrets anymore, not from your friends."
"That'll take some getting used to, Lex."
"Well, times up, lets do this." Lex said. Clark and Lex walked out of the caves and Clark stared intently into the woods, and began walking through, picking his way, until he came across a natural cave made out of brush.
"Pete, come on out." Clark said. Pete soon crawled out.
"Well, that's pretty impressive, Clark." Lex said, turning and leading the way back into the caves.
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Lex awoke on the cold, hard floor, to find Jimmy sitting in one of his chairs, looking at him.
"That looked like a pretty intense dream."
"I am an intense dreamer." Lex covered, not giving anything away.
"Theres water, mouthwash and food over there, if you're hungry. I hope I left enough."
"Thanks, Jimmy." Lex gargled, spit, took a drink of water, and then ate the rest of the food, except for a piece of raisin bread.
"Allergic to raisin, Jimmy. You want?"
"Sure. . ." Jimmy took it and devoured it in two bites.
Daily Planet
"So I guess Jimmy decided a nightlife visit in Granville was more important then getting his ass back here with those pictures. Figures, kids." Perry was grumbling as Clark walking into the newsroom.
"Whoa, wait a second, Jimmy didn't come back last night?"
"No, he didn't! And he didn't email us anything. I told Greta that hiring kids would get this paper into trouble, but no, she wouldn't listen. All I am is an editor in chief. I don't have any real power!"
"Clark, could you come in here for a minute, please?" Lois called from his office. Clark eyed Perry. Perry waved him away.
"Go ahead, why should you follow orders when no one else around here wants to?"
"Self-sacrifical scenes never work on me, chief." Clark grinned at Perry, as he turned into his office. He was met by a perky Lois, who laid one on him as soon as he got into the door.
"Mmm. . .Lois, what are you doing?"
"Stealing some make out time with my boyfriend. What does it look like?" Lois asked, starting to nibble on Clark's neck. Not that he could tell.
"Heh, Lois. Quit it. We're in the Daily Planet, in my office. Where anyone could walk in." Clark did kiss her back, nevertheless.
"C'mon Clark, where's your sense of adventure, your walk on the wild side spirit?" this was definitely the Chloe side of Lois, as she kissed Clark deeper and deeper.
"OK, Chloe. You wanna play? Lets play!" Clark grabbed Chloe around the waist and pinned her against the wall. Chloe grinned and ducked under his arm and ran over to the desk.
"Chloe, come here. . ." Clark playfully strode to her, and spun her around, so he was on his back, on the desk, and she lay on top of him. They proceeded to kiss fiercely. Clark rolled off the desk, making sure to land with Chloe on top. As they resumed kissing, it started getting a little beyond PG, when the door opened. Perry glanced down at them.
"Way to go, Clark, this room looks like. . .well, you've been doing what you're doing for hours. Clean this mess up and report to my office, NOW!" Clark got up and sheepishly grinned.
"I'm not apologizing, chief." Lois grinned from the ground.
"No, I didn't think you would." Perry winked at her and walked out. Clark started straightening up the office, and with Lois's help, the office looked normal, or as normal as it would get, in no time. Clark pulled Lois to him and kissed her one last time.
"Never let it be said Clark Kent doesn't have a adventurous streak in him."
"Never let it be said red kryptonite wouldn't help that streak." Lois shot back. Clark just smiled at her.
"No red kryptonite, Chloe. You know what that does."
"I could live with that. But, anyway, we'd better go see what Perry wants before he has an aneurysm." Clark grinned and held the door open for Lois. Clark followed her, and they marched into Perry's office.
"We're not sorry for what you interrupted, Perry." Lois said, confidently.
"No, and that's not why I called you in here. Lois, I want you to go to Granville and find Olsen, and drag his ass back here, so I can verbally kill him. Clark, I need you to pull double duty today. Luthorcorp is hosting a dinner with reporters at the Hilton, at 6 o'clock, I need you to go get some pictures. As well as get some questions in. Go to it, people."
"Sometimes, I'd swear to you, we're the only two reporters who work here, Lois." Clark said, as he walked out of Perry's office.
"Tell me about it. And I've got it worse."
"There is no way I'm letting you go to Granville, Chloe. You pretend you went, tell Perry you couldn't find Jimmy, and go do something. I'll be at this lunch, and back before you know it. I can get the scoop from someone inside Luthorcorp."
"You sure that'll work, Clark? Perry's nickname. . ."
"It'll work, Lois. Even if it doesn't, at least you won't be in harms way. Trust me. Go have a nice day, come back at half past 4 or so, and tell Perry you looked for hours, but didn't find him." Clark said, looking at his watch.
"It's only 1, Clark. We've got hours."
"Well, then, I can go home for a bit, see if Lex called or anything. You be careful, Lois."
"Careful?" Lois asked coyly.
"I'm not stupid, Lois. You're going to Granville, despite my request to the contrary. So please be careful. I don't need to figure out a way to rescue three people. Two is more then sufficent."
"I'm not going, Clark. Look what happened when Lex didn't listen to you. I'm not going down that path."
"Thank you." Clark answered, walking into the elevator, holding it open for Lois.
"So where do you suggest I go?" Lois asked once the doors shut.
"Anywhere but Granville. I could take you to the farm, and you could spend an hour or so there before coming back here."
"OK, the farm it is." As they got off the elevator, Clark and Lois walked into an ally, where Clark spun into Superman, gathered her into his arms, and took off for the farm. Upon arrival, Clark headed for the loft, while Chloe went inside the house.
"Chloe! Hi, where's Clark?" Martha said, as she worked over the stove.
"He said he really needs to think, so he's in the loft. What are you making, Mrs. Kent?"
"Pizza. Johnathan asked for it, so I'm taking a shot. I don't suppose you want to help?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm not the best in the kitchen." Martha smiled and turned back to the oven, and Chloe headed into the living room, to watch some TV. As she looked out the window, she could see a faint outline in the loft, pacing back and forth, occasionally slapping his head.
"Come on, Clark. Think. Theres got to be something you're overlooking here." Clark was mumbling to himself as he paced the loft floor.
"You're going to wear a hole in that floor, son. What's bothering you?"
"Nothing, Dad. Just Lex's damned stubborn streak. I bet he didn't call last night, did he?"
"Nope, nothing. Son, don't worry, Lex is probably fine."
"Then where is he?"
"I don't know, son. But you said it yourself, he's an adult now, Clark. He has to be able to take care of himself, make his own decisions. Do you remember when we forbade you to tell anyone your secret? After a while, you made your own decision to tell your friends. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn't stop you, because, hard as it was to admit, you were becoming your own man. With your own rules. Lex has to be allowed to fail, to make mistakes, and to learn from them. Remember, son, with Lionel, he never learned from his mistakes, they were just shoved under that famous Luthor rug, and buried with money."
"So that excuses his behavior? Dad, he's 30 years old, he should be smarter than that."
"I agree Clark, but he's obviously not. And considering that he never liked listening to anyone, anyway, is it a surprise he didn't listen to you?"
"No, not really." Clark had to smile, despite it all.
"Well, then." Johnathan smiled back.
"I've got a Luthorcorp press conference to cover that starts in. . .about a half hour. I think Mom's making pizza for lunch. That has got to be your choice."
"Yes, son, it was. What do you say we go and grab some before Chloe and Mom finish it all?"
"Sure." Clark zipped downstairs, and into the house. Johnathan raised an eyebrow, and followed at a more leisurely pace. Clark was just savoring his first slice as Johnathan walked into the house.
"Mom said you get three slices with the works, just like you ordered. One beer, and that is it."
"Well, that's more then I've gotten in a while, I'll take it. Hey, son, KSU is playing Oregon in the Sugar Bowl if you want to come watch. It'll help clear your head."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Give me a couple of hours of peace, maybe come up with some new good ideas." Clark took his plate into the living room. Father and son sat next to each other on the couch, their feet going up on the table, their plates in their laps, and Clark had a can of Coke, while Johnathan had a can of beer.
Lionel's warehouse
"It appears there is a . . . unexpected bonus, sir. In addition to getting your son, Ray also captured Jimmy Olsen, a friend of Clark Kent, and Clark is a friend of Superman, which means Jimmy may know what we are after." Sal reported. Lionel turned to look at him, and sighed. He was so tired of this inept idiot standing in front of him, but Lionel needed him. That was the only thing keeping Sal alive. Lionel needed him.
"Instruct Ray to find out anything he can about Superman, and who he truly is." Lionel said.
"Sir, when are we going to make our move on Luthorcorp?"
"As soon as Ray signals he is ready with the clone. Which, he's told me, will be a good week to two weeks after Lex is taken. Patience, Sal, patience. Our time will come." Sal nodded, and departed.
"But whether you're standing with me when that time comes, that is another matter altogether." Lionel whispered to himself.
"One thing is for sure, Dad. I will be standing with you." A voice spoke, from the shadows.
"I didn't think you'd get my message in time." Lionel answered.
"And miss this? This will make me the richest person in the world, and you right along with me. Don't worry, Dad, I won't double cross you again."
"I always knew, in the end, we would be the ones emerging victorious."
"Imagine that. You trusted me, Dad. I bet you can't say that you trusted anyone, often, can you?"
"You know as well as I do, son, that trust is never handed out blindly, not even to family. Trust must be earned, and you've earned it. Every test I put you through, you passed with flying colors. Now, we can stand together, and reign next to each other."
Granville
"So, Lex, did you decide to co-operate with me? Or are you still stubbornly refusing to give me the information I want?" Ray asked, walking into the cell.
"Of course I haven't decided to co-operate with you. What makes you think I'd have changed my mind in one night? I will never co-operate with you!" Lex said.
"Let this be a lesson, then, Lex. I WILL get what I want, at any cost!" Ray charged into the room, and pulling out a gun, pistol-whipped Lex over the head, knocking him out.
"How about you, Olsen?" Ray asked. Jimmy just shook his head.
"You'll learn, Olsen, you can't keep secrets from me. I will know everything you know, and you will beg for death! The consequences of not listening to me will be harsh, and extremely severe! Let that be a warning to you." Ray walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
"Lex? Lex. . ." Jimmy lightly slapped Lex's face, but Lex was out of it.
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"Well, here goes nothing." Lex said, trying to soothe his friend's nerves.
"Easy for you to say! You've never had to tell anyone you're a superpowered alien!" Clark shot back.
"No, no I haven't. But I've shared my fair share of secrets, Clark. You need to relax. They're your friends, they'll take it just fine. Don't worry." Lex said.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Lex is right. Chloe and Lana are your friends, they'll totally understand, Clark." Pete said.
"They'll get why it was necessary to keep it a secret, Clark." Lex, this time.
"OK, guys, all right. You can stop with the double team! I swore I was going to tell them, and I will!"
"Clark?" Chloe called, as she and Lana walked into the barn.
"Oh god. It's not too late to tell them I changed my mind. Come up with an excuse." Clark whispered to himself. Lex rolled his eyes.
"We're up here, girls." Lex called out. Clark glared at him.
"You're not chickening out this time, Clark. Trust me, you'll feel much better once you tell them. And you'll find you really wanted to."
"Well, Clark, we're here. What excuse do you have planned to get out of it this time?" Chloe said, as the girls reached the loft.
"N. . .n. . .no excuses, Chloe. You and Lana are getting the whole truth. Even if it kills me." Lex again, rolled his eyes at that statement. Pete started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Lana asked.
"You'll see." Pete shook his head and kept in his laughter.
"So, anyway, Clark. Back to your telling us everything. And you do mean everything. We're waiting." Chloe said, effectively ending the lighthearted moment.
"Uh. . .I'm not really sure where to begin here." Clark said.
"Try the beginning. That's usually a good plan." Chloe said.
"Trouble is, I don't know where the beginning is."
"Then how about explaining how you save all of us without getting a scratch on you?" Lana asked.
"I'm invunerable to pain. Almost nothing on Earth can hurt me."
"Almost nothing?" Chloe asked.
"Meteor rock is my only weakness."
"Why?" Lana asked.
"Again, I don't know. All I know is, exposed to it long enough, it could kill me."
"So that explains all your saves? You can't be hurt?" Lana asked.
"No, that can't be it. How did you get from the Spring Formal to Lana during those tornadoes." Chloe reminded her.
"Super speed. I can run extremely fast."
"Sure, Clark. Now you're making stuff up. If you can run so fast, get me. . .a coffee, from the Talon." Chloe spoke up. Clark zipped off. Chloe turned in all directions, looking for where Clark had hidden himself.
"And make it. . ." she started, still thinking he was in the loft.
"Triple expresso?" Clark said, handing her a cup.
"How. . ." Chloe began, but then she realized.
"You have super speed!" she exclaimed. Clark nodded.
"Anything else?" Lana asked. Lex whistled, and Clark turned, and shot two beams of heat at the baseball bat Lex was holding over his head.
"Heat vision." Chloe stated. Clark nodded.
"And x-ray vision." Clark said.
"That. . ." Chloe started. Clark was looking at the side of the barn.
"Dad's coming." Clark said.
"Sure, Clark. Whatever you say."
"Hey, Clark? We have chips and soda inside once you're done out here." Johnathan called from the barn doors.
"Sure, Clark. How do I know you didn't set all this up?" Chloe asked. Clark shrugged.
"Do you see those flowers over there?" Clark pointed out of the window. Lana focussed the telescope, and nodded.
"Keep watching." Clark zipped out of the window, landed on the ground, and sped over to the flowers, picked them, and zipped back into the barn.
"For the prettiest girls I know." Clark grinned as he presented Chloe and Lana with half the clump each.
"Awww, Clark, that's sweet." Chloe smiled at him. Lana favored him with a small grin, as well. Clark smiled at them, in return.
"How do you have these powers, Clark?" Chloe asked. Clark took a deep breath. This was the part he was dreading the most.
"I'm not exactly from around here. I was born on a planet called Krypton, approximately in 1986, Earth time. My birth name is Kal-El. I arrived on Earth during the meteor shower." Clark sped through the explanation.
"The. . .meteor shower? My parents? YOU KILLED MY PARENTS!" Lana yelled. Clark stumbled backwards a step, as if kryptonite was around him.
"No. . .no, Lana. I didn't. I didn't mean for anything like that to happen." Clark took a step closer to Lana, as the shock wore off. Lana ran downstairs. Clark started following her, but she ran back up, and held out a piece of kryptonite to him.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU FREAK! I wish you'd never come here! I WISH YOU WOULD DIE! Just stay the hell away from me! YOU MURDERED my parents! I HATE you! I wish you would have died on that pathetic planet of yours! I hope you do die, Clark." Lana was screaming, and Clark was slumped over, on the stairs, looking like someone was ripping his heart out. Lana came even closer.
"Maybe you can feel the pain, Clark. The pain that I felt that day! That was the worst day of my life!" Lana reared back, and punched Clark across the face, dropped the kryptonite on Clark, and ran out of the barn, crying and screaming. Lex ran down, grabbed the kryptonite off Clark, and threw it at Lana. Then he ran after her.
"LEX! Where are you going?" Chloe yelled.
"I'm going to go kill that btch! How the hell does she have the right to do that!"
"No. . ." Clark gasped out.
"NO? Clark. . .she just ripped out your heart. How can you not want to kill her?" Lex asked.
"She. . .just let her go, Lex. Give her time to cope with what I just told her." Lex turned around and favored Clark with a rare geniune smile. Chloe was hugging him as tight as she possibly could.
"Clark, I want you to know, I don't feel that way. You're still my friend, Clark, no matter what. I swear it." She said. Clark patted her hand.
"I echo that, Clark. This doesn't change anything between us. We're still friends." Lex said.
"You know we're brothers, Clark. As long as I live." Pete said.
"I'll talk to her tonight, Clark, get her to see reason. Can I kill her if I have to?" Chloe said, trying to get Clark to smile. He didn't.
"No, Chloe. I don't want anyone to hurt her. She's been through enough, as it is." Clark answered.
"Clark, she used kryptonite to hold you at bay, and socked you. She doesn't have any right to do that!" Lex yelled. He noticed how Chloe still was hanging on to Clark, or maybe, the other way around. Clark looked like a drowning man, hanging on for dear life, to a life preserver. Lex made a mental note to talk with Chloe later. He didn't want to see her hurt, either.
"That doesn't make her a horrible person. She. . .was shocked, Lex. And hurt." Clark answered.
"I still maintain she used kryptonite on you, punched your face, and then ran out of here. She doesn't care, Clark."
"I agree with Lex, Clark. There is no viable defense for what that btch did to you!" Chloe snarled.
"Give it a rest! Name calling isn't going to solve anything!" Clark snapped. Both Lex and Chloe nodded.
"Yeah, I guess not. So. . .Clark, what, um, what do you want to do now?" Lex stammered, for once, he was at a loss of words, a loss of anything, really. His best friend had just been emotionally crushed. He didn't quite know what to do.
"First thing, I'm going to demonstrate my super strength for you guys." Clark finally smiled, as he got up and held Chloe in his hands. He walked up to the loft. Chloe started whining, of course.
"That's not funny, Clark! You'd better take that back, right now! Or. . .or. . .I'll tell your mommy on you!" Clark just smiled down at her, and she could swear she felt herself melting.
"Clark, I really am sorry for what happened. If only I hadn't pushed so hard, then you wouldn't have told them. This is. . .this is my fault, Clark." Lex said, looking anywhere but at Clark.
"No, Lex, this isn't. I would've told them, anyway. I mean, being Kal in Metropolis, I could do whatever I wanted to, without worrying about my secret. And I loved that feeling. And you saw my Dad, he didn't want me to tell them, either, but I still did. I was going to, whether you backed me up or not. Don't worry about it. She'll come around." Clark still had a bit of a haunted look on his face, which would take more then a joke and friends to cure.
"Clark? Son, are you up there?" Johnathan called.
"Y. . .yeah." Clark answered.
"I saw Lana leave, did everyone else go, as well?"
"No, Mr. Kent, we're still here. Lana. . .she didn't exactly take the news as well as she could've." Chloe answered, an edge to her voice.
"How exactly did she take it, then?" Johnathan asked, coming into view. He saw the dried blood on his sons face, and looked in horror at Chloe, then Lex, then Pete.
"What. . .how?" he stammered.
"Lana delivered a right cross to his cheek." Lex said flatly, but anyone could hear the icy undercurrent in his voice.
"And what was your reaction to that?" Johnathan asked everyone.
"First, I got the kryptonite off Clark. I think you should hide it somewhere else, by the way. Then I threw it at Lana, and I was about to really give a piece of my mind to her, but Clark stopped me."
"No one was going to make her change her mind. She hates me, she thinks I killed her parents."
"Clark, son, no, no one thinks you did that. You were only a baby when you left Krypton. What exactly did she say?" Lex repeated everything, an emotionless look on his face as he did so. Once he finished, Johnathan looked like he could go murder Lana himself.
"Clark doesn't want her hurt, Mr. Kent." Pete said.
"Give her some space, Dad. Let her cool off, and then we'll see how she reacts."
"Son, she. . .she hit you where she knew it would hurt. How can you not be mad or upset?"
"Maybe someone did a good job of raising me." Clark smiled at his Dad. Despite everything going on, Johnathan smiled upon hearing those words.
"Well. . .uh, why don't you guys come on into the house? Our offer of chips and soda still stands." Johnathan didn't know quite how to respond.
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"Lex?" Jimmy once again brought Lex out of his reverie.
"Yes, Jimmy?" Lex got up and rubbed his head slowly.
"He hit you pretty hard. It's not a surprise you were out for so long. How do you feel?"
"I feel like I got hit on the head, how did you expect me to feel?" Jimmy laughed at that.
"I meant. . .oh nevermind. Any plans?"
"On escaping? Not really. I wouldn't want to touch that kryptonite goup on those bars, that's for sure."
"So we just sit here? That's not a very good plan."
"Sometimes, waiting is the best game. Allow your advesary to make a mistake, and then seize it."
Kent Farm
"Let him sleep, Johnathan. You don't know how long he's been worrying about everyone. Chloe, then Lex. He needs a little break, every now and then." Martha said, eyeing Johnathan standing over the sleeping form of their son.
"Yeah, but he's been sleeping for over an hour now. He needs to get back to work."
"I know, Johnathan. Maybe you should let him rest for another half hour." Their conversation went all for naught, however, as Clark groaned and opened his eyes.
"Afternoon, sleepyhead." Johnathan grinned at him.
"Oh my god! What time is it? I need to go!"
"It is. . .half past 4. Do you have time for coffee?"
"Yeah, I guess I do." Clark said. Once he finished the coffee, he sped out of the house, and off to his apartment, to get ready for the dinner. Once he had picked out a nice tuxedo and tie, he laid them out on his bed. Then he headed back to the Planet, to see if any messages had come in for him.
"Well, now we definitely know Lex and Jimmy have been kidnapped, they're not just missing." Lois said, walking into Clark's office and throwing a letter onto his desk. Clark picked it up and read it.
"I have the Olsen boy and your precious Luthor. If you want to see either of them alive again, tell Superman to meet me at the proposed Luthorcorp site in Granville at midnight. Don't try and trick us, we will be watching him. Tell him to not use any of his powers, or we'll kill the Olsen kid."
"Clark..."
"I need to think, Lois."
"Anything to bounce off me?"
"Well, this letter confirms that Jimmy and Lex have been kidnapped, as you said. It also gives us a location where they're being held. Assuming Lex hasn't spilled anything, and I doubt he has, Superman can go down there without much peril."
"What about Jimmy?"
"I'm not sure, Lois. I need to talk to Dad, he'll know what to do, he always dispenses good advice." Clark got up and walked out of his office.
"Clark, could I see you for a moment, please?" Perry called. Clark sighed and changed direction, heading for Perry's office.
"Yeah, chief?"
"I just wanted to tell you I reassigned someone to the Luthorcorp dinner meeting. I have something...private to talk to you about, Clark. Can I drop by the apartment tonight?" Clark sighed in relief at having been reassigned off the dinner meeting which he wouldn't have made, anyway, but tensed up at Perry's request.
"Tonight's not a good night, boss. You see...I'm..."
"It won't take that long, at least, I hope it won't. It's important, Clark."
"All right, Perry. Around 9?"
"Perfect, see you then." Clark turned and ran out of the building. A few seconds later, he was home, having run the whole way.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Hey Clark. Perfect timing, son. Could you give me a hand with this?" Johnathan motioned to the tractor.
"Sure, Dad. Don't you think it would be easier to just get a new one?" Clark bent over and grunting, lifted the tractor up on the block.
"All four sides, son. And yes, getting a new one would be easier, but we just don't have the money for it."
"Sure you do. I've been saving $800 a month for a few years, for you guys. It's in Smallville Savings & Loans under your name." Clark had the tractor up on the blocks in no time flat.
"Clark, I don't intend to become a burden to my own son."
"If you can't depend on family, who can you depend on?"
"You're telling me that you have saved up $9600 a year for...three years, for us, and you haven't ever needed that money?"
"Four years, and no, I always intended that money to be yours. It's not like I need it, I make more then enough."
"Just how much money are we talking about, here, Clark?"
"Why don't we discuss this inside, Dad. After we finish with the tractor. I've also got a problem I need your help with. Maybe two."
"I just need to change the fan belt, and drain the oil. It won't take me that long. You can go inside, I'll be in soon." True to his word, Johnathan came inside a short while later, and after washing his hands, he sat down at the table, with Martha and Clark.
"So, first, about this...money, son. How much exactly do you make?"
"I make about 8 a month, Dad. 96 a year. So I'm not denting much giving you guys this money. I could double it easily, and still not dent much."
"But that's your money, Clark." Martha said, putting her hand on his.
"Yes, it is. And I want you to have it."
"Are you saving up for your needs, son?"
"Yeah, I am. I put 30 of every month into the bank. I give you guys 10, and the other 60 is used for me. So I'm doing all right. I could buy you guys everything you need, but Dad wouldn't let me, right?"
"Well...how about just Christmas and birthdays, son? And don't go overboard!"
"OK, dad."
"And now, what are your problems, Clark?" Martha asked.
"One, I think Perry knows something is up with me. He's going to be coming over to the apartment tonight and talk with me."
"Clark..." Johnathan started.
"I don't think it's anything I've really slipped up on now, but you guys know he was here during junior year. When that massive solar flare played havoc with my powers. He saw me doing alot of stuff. That, combined with my quick exits, and the fact I have a, as Lex calls it, hero complex, and he thinks I'm Superman, probably."
"You're going to deny it, right?" Martha asked. Clark shook his head.
"I think it might help to have Perry in on this. He'll certainly be a bit more understanding about things. And I trust him."
"Well, just to make sure, would you invite him to dinner, instead of meeting at your apartment?" Johnathan asked.
"I can't. That's my second problem. Lex went and got himself kidnapped in Granville. And what's worse, Perry involved Jimmy, and now he's been kidnapped, too. So I gotta get both of them out."
"You be careful, son. I don't know how, but make sure there's no kryptonite around. Save your friends, Clark."
"If only Lex wasn't such a stubborn..."
"I recall several people saying that about a certain mild-mannered farmboy turned reporter." Martha grinned.
"Maybe. But that's different because of who I am. I could, for the most part, afford to be stubborn. I just get the feeling that my friends think they can go do stupid things because I'll swoop in and rescue them."
"Maybe so, son. But you also can't turn your back on them, despite their flaws."
"Yeah, well, it feels like their taking advantage of me. They know I'll save them, so they feel like they can take more chances."
"Maybe you should talk to them, Clark. Tell them how you feel."
"Maybe I will. I should, in fact. Thanks, Mom, thanks, Dad. I knew I could count on you for help." Clark got up and hugged both of them.
"Just don't come on too strong, Clark. They are your friends. I'm sure they've just gotten used to you saving them from themselves." Martha dispensed a last bit of advice before Clark smiled once, and sped out of the house, heading for his apartment and the meeting with Perry.
"What do you think, Martha?"
"I think having two journalists in on this secret really scares me, Johnathan. They're two of the best ones to have as friends, but still..."
"We lucked out with Chloe, Martha. We'll just have to hope for the best with Perry. We'll have him for dinner sometime soon, and see how he feels about this."
"I have a good feeling about Perry, I think we can trust him. He's certainly come a long way from when we saw him here, that's for sure."
Clark, meanwhile, supersped back to the Planet, and checked his watch. Quarter of 9, if he walked to his apartment, he should get there by 9. He started off down the street, whistling a bit.
"I hope you told Superman to meet my boss in Granville, Kent. I'd sure hate for anything to happen to that sweet Olsen boy or your billionaire friend." A voice floated out of the shadows. Clark snarled, and as quick as a flash, he had the voice's owner slammed against a wall.
"I don't think you know what you're dealing with here, so why don't you and I have a little talk? If you want to live to breath tomorrow, tell me who you work for." Clark let out a little bit of Kal, knowing he needed results.
"I've been threatened by the best of them, Kent. Why the hell would you intimidate me?"
"Lets just say that you don't know who you're up against, got it?" Clark twisted the guys shirt, and sneered a bit more.
"You're playing in the big ocean now, Kent, not the little leagues. Intimidation tactics don't work on me."
"Then lets try fear." Clark reached into his pocket, grinning madly.
"I suggest you tell me what I want to know before my hand clears my pocket again. Or you may end up dead."
"Nice bluff, Kent, you're no killer."
"You want to take that chance? One...Two..." Clark smiled tightly, not giving away anything.
"OK, OK! I swear, I'll tell. It's Ray Dinsmore! He's behind the whole thing!"
"And who's Ray working for? C'mon, someone must have the Benjamin's."
"I don't know!"
"Wrong answer." Clark slammed the guy into the wall once, making him see stars.
"Luthor! It's Lionel Luthor! Somehow, he's alive, please, you gotta believe me."
"I saw them put Lionel Luthor into the ground, you piece of scum. You're lying." Clark lifted the guy up and prepared to slam him again.
"NO! I SWEAR! It's Lionel!" Clark abruptly dropped the guy heavily.
"You're lucky I believe you. Tell the guy you work for to meet me at the Luthor manor in Smallville in 2 hours with a bag full of cash, or I call the cops. And don't think of warning him, I'll know your every move, but you'll never see me. I could be anywhere, the guy selling you the nice piece here, the magazine peddler, the hot dog vender. I'll be like fleas on a dog, there, whether you want me or not. You get it?" Clark sneered as he twisted the guy some more.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Luthor manor with a bag of cash!" As Clark let him go, he quickly ran off. Clark smiled evilly.
"No, I'm playing in the majors. And I know how to." Clark resumed his walk to his apartment, whistling and smiling. Clark walked up the 10 flights of stairs and unlocked his door.
"I didn't think you'd mind if I waited inside, Clark." Perry said, getting up from the couch. Clark looked warily at him, before descending the two steps into his living room.
"No, of course not, that's what the key I gave you is for. What can I do for you?" Clark said, not bothering to try evasion. He was going to come clean, if confronted with the truth.
"That, that's not easy, Clark. I have...so much to say, but yet, I almost don't want you to answer it."
"Well, I suggest you hurry. I have an appointment in an hour and a half." Perry took a deep breath, this was it. Time to make a fool of himself.
"Are you Superman?"
"Yes."
"I knew I would make a fool. . .WHAT?"
"I said yes. I am Superman." Clark sighed, falling onto the couch.
"B. . .but. . .how? When?"
"Look, you obviously know you can't tell anyone, right?"
"What kind of idiot do you take me for? Of course I know that."
"My parents want you over to the farm for dinner. It's sort of an initiation type thing, to make sure they trust you. Not that I don't, but I trust them, too. They've been there for me, after all."
"I'm glad they were there for you, Clark. Thank whoever managed it, that you weren't found by Lionel Luthor or someone unscrupulous like that."
"We need to hurry this up, I have an appointment with someone at 9, and I can't be late." Clark smiled.
"Business to take care of?"
"Yes. I need to pull Lex and Jimmy out of danger. Thanks, by the way, for sending Jimmy into trouble."
"No problem at all. More people for you to rescue." Perry smiled lopsidedly at him, letting Clark know he'd gotten the message.
"Theres not much else to say, is there, Clark? I just want to tell you, I'll keep your secret. I swear. No one will find out from me. I can't treat you much different from now on, but if you ever need to. . .take care of anything, let me know."
"Thank you, Perry."
"Anytime. Now, I need to get going. Thank you for trusting me, Clark. I'll get in touch with your parents and set up a dinner date. Goodnight, Clark. Be cafeful doing whatever it is you're doing tonight."
"Thanks, and I will. Goodnight, Perry." Clark shut and locked the door behind Perry, and then sat back down on his couch.
Granville
"Where are you taking him! LEX!" Jimmy yelled.
"You'll find out, soon enough, kid." Garrett snarled, slamming the door shut behind him. He dragged Lex into Ray's office.
"You gonna tell us what we want to know?" Ray asked.
"Depends on what it is." Lex answered, not giving anything away by his facial expression.
"Why don't we start with...what is Superman's weakness?"
"I'll never tell you anything, Dinsmore."
"Oh, you'll tell, Lex, and willingly, too. Do it, boys." Ray said, watching with glee as Garrett and Steve starting using Lex as a human punching bag. Several cuts opened up all over Lex's body, and Ray took enormous pleasure in that.
"You're going to pay for this." Lex grit his teeth. Never show your enemies you've been hurt, that was what Lex had always been taught. And he would be damned if he was going to show weakness in front of Ray.
"Well, well, well, Mr. Luthor. Not looking so well, are you?" Ray asked, laughing as Garrett delievered another punch to Lex's midsection.
"Whatever you're planning, you'll never get away with it. I'll see you dead for this, Ray." Lex groaned out.
"I think not, Lex. You might not break, but your young friend certainly will. Take him back to the cell, and bring the kid." As Lex was hauled back to his prison, his only thought was of Jimmy, and he hoped the kid was up to withstanding this. As he was roughly thrown into the empty cell, his last thought was of Jimmy, and where he was, and why he wasn't in the cell. Lex slumped over, unconscious.
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"I have to go deal with this, myself, guys. You heard Chloe, this monster is much much worse then your average krypto-freak." Clark said, grabbing his red coat and shrugging it on. Lex put a hand out to stop his best friend.
"You also heard Chloe say this monster was GLOWING green. I don't need to remind you what that means, do I, Clark? You can't possibly go up against this freak. He'll render you helpless before you get within 50 feet of him."
"No one else has even the slighest chance of success, Lex. I have to be the one who does this. He's already killed 20, wounded dozens more. My own father is in the hospital, we don't know if he'll survive."
"That's what this is about, then? Revenge for your father, Clark? You can't afford to make a mistake, not like this, not in this situation. You've got to think this through, Clark. I agree, you're the only one who has a chance to defeat this freak, but not if you go rushing down there, eyes blazing. You need to think this thing through." Lex said.
"Way to go, Lex, you sound just like Mr. Kent." Chloe said. Lex turned to Chloe, for a second. Clark took that opportunity to superspeed out of the house, before anyone noticed.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Chloe. Now, Clark..."
"He's gone, Lex."
"Dammit! Stubborn just like his old man. Pete, you and I need to come up with a plan to rescue Clark. Cause he's going to need rescuing."
"Why the hell should I help you, Luthor? Why don't I just go myself?"
"THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS, PETER! YOUR BEST FRIEND IS BASICALLY COMMITTING SUICIDE, THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS WORK WITH LEX AND SAVE CLARK!" Chloe turned on Pete, her hand inadvertantly clenching into a fist. Pete glanced at Chloe, and suddenly, he chose to listen to Lex, rather then face Chloe's wrath.
"I...I'm sorry. Lex, what's your idea?"
"I don't exactly have one, that's why we need to brainstorm."
"Well, if we assume that Clark won't be any condition to battle this monster, and he's probably being thrown around town, we'll need a divert and rescue." Chloe said.
"And a fast way to get back here." Pete put in.
"The Porsche is the fastest non-Kryptonian thing we have at the moment." Lex smiled, in spite of himself.
"So we go down there, racing a Porsche in, and one of us...gives ourselves up for Clark?" Lana asked, face ashen.
"I'm afraid so. There doesn't seem to be any alternative." Pete said.
"I'll do it." Chloe said.
"No, I will." Pete volunteered.
"No, it won't be any of you. I am going to do it. Clark will need you guys here, and maybe this will prove, once and for all, that some Luthors are different."
"Lex, getting yourself killed won't prove anything!" Pete yelled.
"Pete, you've known him the longest, you've all known him longer then I have. Besides, I don't intend to die. Luthor's are survivors. And that's what I intend to do. Besides, haven't you always wanted to drive the Porsche?" Lex let out a lopsided grin.
"You guys are talking like we're not coming." Chloe said, pointing to Lana and herself.
"That is exactly how we're talking, Chloe." Pete said.
"Oh no, you don't. Of all the chauvinistic...egotistical!" Chloe spat out, rising to her feet.
"Ms. Sullivan, if one of us is captured, it is not chauvinism, but a matter of biology, which dictates that we will be able to handle the pain longer then you will." Lex said.
"Besides, we'll need someone to come up with a backup plan, and who better then Chloe Sullivan?" Pete tried smoothing over Lex's answer.
"Smooth, Pete, real smooth." Chloe said, staring daggers in Lex's direction. Lex, having faced off against his father multiple times, was nonplussed by the look. He did, however, feel somewhat bad for being so blunt.
"The longer we talk, the longer the freak has to injure Clark." Chloe said at last.
"We need a plan to do this right, Chloe. If both of us get captured, then we won't be doing Clark, or anyone else, any good." Pete said.
"So far, we have, race the Porsche to whereever Clark is, which, by the way, we don't know, and we don't have the advantage of superspeeding around town, looking for him. Not much of a plan, if you ask me." Chloe shot back.
"From what the injured have been saying, the freak hangs out by Hobb's Pond."
"Near Caldure Woods?" Chloe asked.
"Yes. That's where we'll start our search, and then branch east."
"What happens when we find Clark?" Pete asked.
"I get out first, Pete. Then I'll distract the monster, lead it away from Clark, you pull the Porsche up as close as you can to Clark, drag him into the back seat. High tail it back here. If I'm lucky, I'll make my way back here, as well. Chloe, you and Lana need to get any medical supplies the Kents have, and prepare for the worst. Clark's told us he can heal pretty quickly, but even his body might need some of our help." Lex said. Lana nodded, and Chloe bit her lip.
"Lex, what if some of the met...kryptonite got into his bloodstream?"
"I'm not sure, Chloe. Make him drink lots of water, to dilute the kryptonite? I really don't know. But that would be my best guess. Lots of water. And any blood that comes out of his body, wipe it up with a towel, and then burn the towel. We don't need anyone getting a hold of Clark's blood, and putting it to bad uses. Or, for that matter, any uses."
"So we get the Porsche, find Clark, I drive him back, we treat him, and what exactly do we do about you?"
"I'll be fine, Pete. We need to focus on Clark."
"If you say so, Lex. Girls, get the medical supplies together. Lets do this." Pete and Lex walked out of the house, together, striding towards the Porsche.
"Be careful! Please!" Chloe yelled out. Lex turned.
"We will, Ms. Sullivan. Get everything together here." With that, Lex got into the car, and Pete slipped behind the wheel.
"You sure you want to do this, Lex?" Pete asked, putting the car in gear and roaring towards Caldure Woods.
"Yes, I am. You're better equipped to dealing with Clark injured then I am." The rest of the 10 minute trip was completed in silence. They got to Hobb's Pond, and stared at the scene in front of them, in awe-struck silence. Boulders lay strewn about, trees uprooted, and in the midst of the destruction, lay Clark, beaten and bloodied. The freak picked Clark up, and threw him into a boulder. Clark's head snapped back, and he lay motionless, on the ground.
"GO, Pete!" Lex yelled, and the car zoomed forward. Lex got out of the car, and waved his arms.
"Hey, you overgrown son of a bich! Why don't you feast on me! Let's go, you presumptious bastrd!" Lex moved even closer, and picking up a decent sized boulder, he threw it at the creature. The creature roared, and, tossing Clark away, turned to Lex.
"I believe you, Lex. You're nothing like your father." Pete whispered, but somehow, Lex heard it. He picked up another boulder, hefting it, and then took aim and fired at the creatures head. As the creature ran for him, he took off towards Hobb's Pond, the freak hot on his heels. He risked a glance back at Pete, and saw him struggling to get Clark into the back seat. He then raced deeper into the woods, zig zagging a crazy path through, hoping to ditch the monster. However, the freak just went through the trees as if they were brush. The chase went on for well over two hours, and Lex was beginning to run out of steam. He stumbled forward, panting.
"Self-sacrifical death, what a fitting end to my life." Lex thought, as he turned left. Behind him, the creature suddenly roared in pain. Turning, he saw a glowing red rock. Lex smiled a very dark, evil smile at the weakness he'd just discovered.
"So, you don't like that, huh!" Lex said, reenergized. He picked up one of the decent sized red rocks, and walked toward the creature, who retreated. Lex dove on top of the creature, and drove a sharpened point of the rock into the creatures stomach, twisting it in. The creature roared again, and grunting, picked Lex up and tossed him aside. However, weakened, the creature's throw wasn't as painful as it could've been. The creature then ran off, probably to its home, to heal. Lex, panting, picked up another of the good sized red rocks, and started the trek back to the Kent farm. On his way, another hour later, a red truck passed him, and then slowed.
"LEX!" Johnathan yelled at him, stopping the truck. Lex felt overjoyed at seeing Mr. Kent up and about, and at seeing the truck. He wasn't sure he could've made it on foot back to the farm.
"Mr. Kent? How are you feeling?" Lex climbed into the back of the truck, heaving a sigh of relief.
"I'm OK, Lex. What happened to you? And why do you have a piece of red kryptonite?"
"Long story. Clark's been injured, Pete, Lana and Chloe are taking care of him. I...I did what I had to do. I found the creature's weakness!" Upon hearing that his son was injured, Johnathan didn't waste another second and got back into the truck, driving off to the farm. When the truck reached the farm, Lex jumped out, and ran into the house.
"LEX! NO! GET BACK!" Johnathan yelled. Martha ran after Lex, trying to catch him, but Lex hadn't heard Johnathan's yelling.
"I found the weakness! It's red kryptonite" Lex yelled in jubilation, holding it up. Clark, who was sitting at the kitchen table, turned and smiled.
"LEX! RUN! Get that out of here!" Pete yelled from the living room. It was far too late, with an evil grin, Kal was back.
"And that's good for you, Lex. But, I don't think it's going to matter." He grabbed it from Lex's hands, broke off a little chunk, and put it into his shirt pocket.
"Lex! Get that away from him!" Johnathan yelled. Clark walked outside, and as Johnathan tried to stop him, he shoved his father away from him, and continued on to the barn.
"Oh Chloe, darling...come here..." Lex heard the smirk in Clark's voice, and he wondered what the hell was going on.
"I'll get the kryptonite, dear." Martha said, racing inside.
"What...what's going on?" Lex asked.
"I'll tell you later, Lex." Johnathan said, waiting impatiently. As soon as Martha returned with the lead box, Johnathan took it and ran into the barn. Lex ran right after him, and once again, he quickly put two and two together. It was probably the three hours Lex had been running, and hiding, that had dulled his mind so much that he didn't put this together sooner. The red kryptonite must've been what his friend was on in Metropolis. That must've been why Clark was acting so...bad. No wonder Johnathan was terrified, if Clark in Metropolis was any indication, red kryptonite could be more dangerous then green. As he got to the barn door, he saw Clark making out with Chloe. Johnathan ran in, and practically dove onto Clark, making certain he didn't get any chance to react. Clark looked surprised, and turned his head to his father.
"Dad..." Clark panted.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MR. KENT?" Chloe asked, witnessing her friend's father holding the only material capable of killing said friend.
"Chloe, dig around in his pockets, find that red rock, and get all that crap out of here." Chloe did that, and she took both pieces of red kryptonite, and ran outside. Clark quickly returned to normal.
"Dad...did I...hurt you when I shoved you?"
"No, son. Didn't you tell them about red kryptonite?"
"Obviously not, Dad. I didn't want to think about that stuff anymore."
"I think it's time for the whole truth, Clark." Pete said from Clark's loft.
"You're still keeping secrets, Clark?" Chloe asked, as she returned.
"Just that one. It's called red kryptonite. It's personality altering, basically. It brings out all the negative stuff. How did you put it, Lex? My dark side?"
"Yeah. Clark likes to steal from ATMs and whore around Metropolis under red kryptonite." Lex said.
"Not exactly. That, as I told you, was a long story."
"Was this red kryptonite induced making out?" Chloe asked, butting into Lex and Clark's conversation.
"No, Chloe, I swear. Since...some people can't handle the truth, and certain others can, my priorities have changed." Clark smiled in Chloe's direction.
"Well, that's just great, Clark. How could you say something like that?" Lana asked, tears slipping from her eyes.
"I'll tell you how, Lana. Just as easily as you blamed him for your parents death, just as easily as you told him you wished he never arrived on Earth. Just as easily as when you used green kryptonite to keep him away from you while you ran away. Just as easily...well, you get the picture, shall I continue?" Chloe snarled as she advanced on Lana.
"You need to get over yourself, Lana. The world doesn't, nor will it ever, revolve around you! Wake up and realize Clark's here for a reason none of us, not even him, fully comprehend yet." Lex added.
"Fine!" Lana ran out of the barn, crying.
"Overkill much?" Pete asked, racing out after her.
"Guys, I agree with your sentiments, but you went after her too hard." Johnathan said, looking in turn at Chloe, and then Lex.
"Lana lives in a bubble, Mr. Kent, and she needs to wake up and see the world. People sugar coating things for her only serves to hinder her, not help." Lex said, putting an arm on Clark.
"I'm fine, Lex."
"No, Clark, you're not. You're still a stubborn idiot, same as always. Lana was the girl you crushed on for years, and she rejected you in the worst imaginable way possible." Chloe answered, smiling sadly at him.
"At least you're here, Chlo." Clark smiled sweetly at her.
"That's just it, Clark. I'll always be here to pick up the pieces, put you back together, just in time for you to run back into Lana's arms." Chloe replied, her voice shaking. Clark didn't have anything to say to that, he knew it was true. Had been true. Clark was going to change that, Chloe deserved a chance with him. Clark reached out and pulled her into a hug.
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"Lex...snap out of it, c'mon. Lex!" Jimmy frantically said, lightly tugging on Lex's arms. Lex groggily came to, and put a hand on Jimmy's arm, to show he was OK.
"That was a much longer blackout then normal, Lex." Jimmy said. Meaning, 'you cant explain that one away with a pressure headache'
"I'm OK, Jimmy. Just a side effect of a experimental therapy I'm enrolled in. Are you OK? Did they hurt you?"
"No, they just warned me that if I kept refusing to tell about Superman and his weaknesses, then I'd get tortured. The same as you." Jimmy started looking over Lex for injuries.
"I won't let that happen, Jimmy. And neither will Superman."
"I hope not, because you don't look too good. Who is Superman, by the way?"
"No way, Jimmy. Look at what's happening, and all these people are assuming is that we know Superman's weakness. Imagine what would happen if people thought we knew who Superman actually was. And no, I don't know him. I'm just assuming that he'll show up because we're in trouble."
"Yeah, I guess I can see your point."
Luthor Manor, 10pm
Clark approached the mansion, switching between x-ray vision and regular vision, before sneaking up on one of the many gunmen. Obviously not the leader, Clark didn't waste any time, he just conked him on the head, and moved on to the next one. Once they were all taken care of, he supersped back to the driveway, and walked normally toward the building. As he came into view, the leader rose up, and then blinked.
"Where did he. . ." he started to say outloud, when Clark appeared behind him and grabbed him in a choke hold.
"Tell me where Lex is, NOW!"
"G. . .Gra. . .Granville!" the guy managed to choke out.
"Where in Granville? It's a pretty big city."
"The proposed Luthorcorp headquarters. I don't know exactly where!"
"Who do you work for?"
"Lionel Luthor."
"Goodnight." Clark threw him onto the ground, instantly knocking him out. Then he ran back to his apartment, to plan out his rescue.
Granville
"I changed my mind. I grow tired of waiting." Ray announced as he walked into the captives rooms.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Lex asked, almost bored.
"It's time to find out what happens when I don't get what I want, Luthor!" Ray exclaimed, as Garrett and Steve grabbed Lex and Jimmy, and pulled them along.
"Where are you taking us?" Lex asked.
"Some people would call it a medieval torture chamber, but I tend to think it's very state of the art. All paid for by your dear father." Ray answered, smirking. The two were thrown into the room, and then strapped onto metal beds, which had wires running off of them.
"You can't be serious! This is Draconian!" Lex yelled.
"Yeah, ain't it grand? Once again, I ask, tell me who Superman is, what his weakness is, and how do I kill him?"
"Don't you ever come up with new questions?" Jimmy asked. He had resigned himself to dying, so he might as well go out with a bang. Lex laughed.
"That was good, Jimmy. Very funny. I don't think my father programmed Ray to answer that, though."
"Enough of this! We shall see how long you continue to resist!" Ray threw the switch, and volts of electricity flowed into Lex and Jimmy, who screamed in pain. Their bodies jerked in the straps, which prevented them from escaping the horrible torture. After a minute, he stopped it, and again asked his questions. Jimmy and Lex said nothing, so he threw the switch again, for 90 seconds, this time. This stop and go continued for well over an hour, with both Lex and Jimmy screaming until nothing more escaped their mouths, each breath shallower then the last, and their bodies continuing to jerk on the tables. With all that abuse, both prisoners bodies just couldn't take it anymore. Ray stopped the torture one more time, and took both pulses, which were non-existent.
"Oh well. Not like we needed them, anyway." Ray smirked, evilly. He and his two henchmen left the bodies, and headed back for his office.
Clark came zooming into the building a few minutes later, and zipped into the torture room, having used his x-ray vision to see the three men leaving. He stared in horror at the metal beds, the wires, and the electroshock button. He x-rayed both Jimmy, and Lex, and saw neither's heart beating, neithers blood pumping.
"No. . .NOOOOOOOOOOO!" He yelled. He was too late. They were dead.
A/N: See you in a month ;) Give me time to recharge. Nice cliffy, eh? LOL. This should get you guys reviewing. Reviews are like air, so lemme breathe (as said by the popular FC). Next update: 9/8/05