Chapter 24 – Cattivo's Plot
Cattivo was again sitting at his control panel in the Antarian royal palace. He had just placed a 'call' through to Khivar from Earth. Nicolas didn't seem very happy when Cattivo had intercepted the call and Cattivo wasn't looking forward to Khivar's expected blow-up when the communication between the two was complete.
Cattivo seemed to also be Khivar's punching bag and he was getting tired of it. He was aware of the existence of both sets of 'Royal Four' mixed breeds on Earth and in fact was working as one of Ankaa's spies in the Antarian palace. Originally, he was His Royal Highness Leonas personal royal protector, but upon his death, he removed himself from the program and took this position as the security officer for the Whirlwind Galaxy. On the night the original 'Royal Four' were murdered, he pledged his alliance to Ankaa and stayed in the palace and acted as her eyes and ears. He hadn't seen Her Majesty since that fateful night, but knew she was in hiding, which met there was still hope to rectify the situation and banish Khivar to the Phantom Zone, a place they sent their worst prisoners. But, if Cattivo had his way and the opportunity presented itself, he would send him there sooner.
Cattivo also liked to create different methods of transportation throughout the galaxy. It was his concept that was used in the development of the Granolith, one piece of information Khivar would never know about. In fact, Cattivo noticed that a Granolith had been activated on Asterie just recently meaning Serena, the Keeper of the Granolith was involved, which meant a plan was in motion. This was yet another piece of information that would go unnoticed by Khivar. Then all of a sudden the doors to his security office opened up and in barged Khivar ranting and raving.
"…if a person wants something done, they've gotta do it themselves. I should have never sent Nicholas to Earth. He's 'misplaced' a member of the 'Royal Four' again! I can't believe that Queen wanttabe is causing me this much aggravation."
Cattivo tried to keep his mouth shut, waiting to see why Khivar decided to grace him with his presence, until he mentioned Tess, the name the Queen went by on Earth. The two of them had gotten close during her visit at the palace and it was Cattivo that helped her to escape that day with her baby.
"So, you were able to locate Tess" Cattivo said, alarmed that Nicholas may have caught her.
"Not Tess, she's dead. She blew up or something. No I was talking about her dupe Ava. Nicholas found her in Roswell and then lost her again."
Cattivo thought to himself, 'hopefully this wasn't true. Maybe Tess was able to escape using the portal I gave her, but where did she go if that was the case?' He would have to look back in his personal journals to see what kind of activity may have occurred unbeknownst to him.
Khivar continued, "You haven't noticed any uses of a Granolith on Earth lately, have you?"
Actually, there had been a lot of activity with a Granolith, but again Khivar wasn't going to get wind of this little piece of information. "No sir, there hasn't been any activity with a Granolith since Tess returned to Antar and wasn't that the only one sent to Earth?"
Cattivo knew there was a second Granolith sent to Earth, on Ankaa's orders, but he wasn't aware if Khivar knew this.
"I'm not sure, but Nicholas is convinced that there has to be another one. He may be just desperate to get back here and out of the human skin he's been living in, but I say let him dry up and die. He's no use to me anymore" Khivar stated, and then turned towards Cattivo, "I need to get to Earth, immediately! Were you ever able to repair that transportation portal I used the last time?"
'You mean the one you pulverized the last time, because Vilandra turned you down?' thought Cattivo. He hadn't repaired that particular portal, it still remained in pieces in a storage unit, but then Cattivo's face lit up. This would be the perfect opportunity to use his new portal device, giving Khivar a one-way ticket to the Phantom Zone.
"Sir, that particular unit has not been repaired," Cattivo started and then noticing Khivar's irritation on his face continued, "but I do have another mode of transportation that I have been working on which is an improvement over the other one that you can use. It'll just take me a few moments to program it, which would give you enough time to gather whatever belongings you will need for your trip."
"So be it. I will return soon. Have the portal ready" and Khivar left. Cattivo couldn't help himself, a wide grin spread across his face.
Somewhere in Metropolis
Fine had just closed the door to Chloe and Zan's cell, hanging the piece of Kryptonite on the doorknob, when Zan questioned, "What was that green thing?"
"A meteor rock Clark and I refer to as Kryptonite. We figure it's what remains of his home planet and since you're part Kryptonian, it looks like it affects you the same way it affects Clark. He's allergic to the rock. Makes him go all weak and if he's exposed to it too long, could eventually kill him" informed Chloe.
"If it affects Kryptonians this way, why doesn't it affect Fine?" Zan questioned.
"Maybe because he's not Kryptonian, just made by them" offered Chloe. Then looking through her purse she found a deck of card. "So, do you want to play a game of Gin Rummy?"
"Sure why not" Zan said. Halfway through their game, he felt somebody's presence in his head. "Chloe, I think someone is trying to get in touch with us. I'm going to lie down for a moment and see what's going on."
"What are you talking about?" Chloe asked, as Zan lay down on the cot. "I think Isabel is trying to dreamwalk me."
"Oh" Chloe said, sitting on the floor with her back to the wall, looking towards Zan. 'Being around aliens has definitely made her life interesting' she thought.
LuthorCorp
Clark was still standing by the window in Lionel's office as Lionel was at his wet bar pouring himself another drink when Max, Liz, Michael, Isabel and Lois came through the door.
Clark turned his attention towards the group and said, "Aw, good. Now we can put our resources together and locate…" then he noticed her. Lois was standing behind the group and had moved her way into Clark's line of sight. "Lois?"
"Hey ya Smallville" Lois said walking up to Clark and walking around him looking at her friend…differently.
"What are you doing here?" Clark asked Lois but looking towards Max for some answers.
Reaching up and feeling through his head, Clark looked at her, bewildered, "What are you doing?"
"I was just checking to see if you have any antennas" Max and the group couldn't help themselves and let out a slight giggle.
Clark wasn't impressed and stated, "Would someone please let me in on the joke."
"Let's just say you've got a lot of explaining to do Smallville, but in the meantime shall we work on getting back Chloe and Zan?" Lois stated.
"Lois is right" Max said and turning and addressing Clark he continued, "She's been inducted into the 'Club' and I'll talk to you later about the circumstances revolving her revelations later, but right now I think we need to concentrate on locating Chloe and Zan."
Clark walked closer to Max and whispered, "She knows everything?" Max nodded. Clark felt totally uneasy with the situation, but relented. "Okay. Your right, we need to locate them. Usually Chloe helps me out in these circumstances since she can hack into any computer system, but Fine seems to be able to place himself in more than one place at one time, according to Lionel's informants. Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Isabel pulled out the slate Mira had given her and said, "I can try to dreamwalk them and see if they can give me any information."
"That's a good idea Iz" Max said.
Isabel sat on the black leather couch and waved her hand over the slate, envisioning Zan's face. The slate changed into a whirlwind of marbleized gray matter and then Zan's face materialized. Isabel placed her finger on Zan's face and entered into the dream plane.
On the Dream Plane
"Isabel, is that you?" questioned Zan. Then he saw Isabel's figure materialize and walk up next to him.
"Yes Zan, it's me. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Well, I was at the school waiting for Clark, when he showed up and brought me to what I thought was where we were going to meet for our evening lessons, but he stuck me in a cell with Chloe."
"Is it a shapeshifter?" Isabel asked.
"No. His name is Milton Fine. It seems like he came shapeshift into whomever or whatever he wants too. Ask Clark about him, I'm sure he knows more about him." Isabel nodded.
"What about Chloe? How did she end up there?"
"She was trick into going to this place, near a deli and Fine injected something into her which knocked her out. I actually was able to heal her." Zan said excitedly.
"I'm very proud of you" Isabel said. "Do you know where you're being held?"
"No, but it looks like we're in a basement of some kind. Our cell is all concrete and damp and since I was supersped to this location, I wasn't able to pick up on where I was being taken. Chloe's cell phone isn't able to pick up a reception here either" Zan said.
"There's another thing Aunt Isabel" this was the first time it dawned on Isabel that Zan was truly her nephew.
"What is it Zan?"
"We tried to escape and I was even able to open the door, but Fine showed up with this green rock, which Chloe calls Kryptonite, which made me feel really sick. Make sure to tell Clark, because I understand this rock will make him sick too."
"I will. Are you two okay, for the time being?" Isabel asked concerned.
"Yeah, I was beating Chloe at a game of cards" Zan grinned.
"Well, we're working on getting you two back. If you can think of anything or need to talk, I think you might have the ability to dreamwalk too, so try and contact me, okay." Zan agreed and then said, "Let the Chambers and dad know I'm okay and I can't wait to be back with them."
"I will. Be careful and take care," Isabel said as she left the dream plane.
Back in the Luthor office Isabel came out of her trance and related her findings to the group.
Lois was looking on. This 'alien business' was all brand new to her and she wasn't quite sure what to expect. What stood before her was totally different than what she had pictured in her mind as aliens, and Clark Kent was among them!
"So, what do we do now, Maxwell" Michael asked.
"I don't know. Isabel wasn't able to get a location on them, but at least we are sure who's behind this" Max said sighing.
"Clark, what do you know about this Fine person?" Michael asked, turning towards Clark.
Clark was observing Lois' reaction to the things that were being said and happening in Lionel's office and was still uncomfortable around her, even if she had being inducted into their 'club' unbeknownst to him. Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he turned towards the group and related everything he knew of Milton Fine.
"Do you think he may be holding them in 'Warehouse 15' where Lex kept the black spacecraft?" Lionel suggested. "Or possibly in the same lab that Lex was holding those deadly viruses he was procuring, trying to create a vaccine."
"Well, it's a start" Clark said, "I'll go check it out" and then he looked over at Lois and disappeared.
Warehouse 15
Clark had previously checked out the lab where Lex was collecting the viruses, but couldn't locate Chloe, Zan or Fine, so he moved his way to Warehouse 15. There were still remnants from previous explosion, which left behind a skeleton for a building. Scanning the building with his x-ray vision, he did notice there were two heat signatures in the lower levels of the building. Chloe and Zan, Clark thought to himself. He didn't see any sign of Fine, but as he got closer to the entrance of the warehouse, he began to get weak. Kryptonite. Clark moved away from the entrance, regrouped and when he felt all his abilities were back to their full potential, he sped away back to LuthorCorp.
Back at LuthorCorp
He hadn't been gone longer than five minutes, which Lois noted, but here Clark was telling the group that Chloe and Zan were locked up somewhere in Warehouse 15.
"I've been to Warehouse 15," Lois said as everyone turned and looked at her. "Chloe and I did some investigating and I kept the guard busy while she went inside. She said she didn't find anything, but that wasn't true was it?" Lois said as everyone felt the hurt in her voice.
"No Lois, that wasn't true. Inside that warehouse was where Lex had kept the black spacecraft that came down in the second meteor shower. The ship is basically an extension of Milton Fine, or more accurately Fine was the ship" informed Clark.
"Now that we know where they are and seeing that Fine has it protected with Kryptonite, what's the plan of extracting Chloe and Zan?" Michael asked.
"Is anybody still standing guard, since the explosion?" Liz asked.
"No, not in that particular warehouse" Lionel said, "but the adjoining properties are owned by LuthorCorp too and have guards on duty."
"So, we could basically get in with no trouble" Isabel stated. "Well, I suggest we go in and clear the way of all these green rocks that affect both Clark and Zan, since Clark can't get in and Zan can't get out without making them sick."
"So, we go in and collect these rocks, what do we do with them?" Liz asked.
"They need to be contained in a lead container," informed Clark.
"Well, if you provide me with the lead, I'll make your container" Michael said.
"Okay" Clark disappeared and returned with some lead scrap metal he picked up at a local scrap yard and laid them on the floor of Lionel's office. Michael walked over and gathered up the pieces and laid his hands on them reforming them into a lead box. Both Lionel and Lois looked on, awestruck. "Will that work?" Michael asked.
Lionel walked over to his vault and opened it, pulling out a pure Kryptonite bar from a lead-lined box. A few years back some kids were refining Kryptonite into its purest form and made these bright green bars. Clark thought Lionel's stash had since been destroyed and was shocked to see he was still in possession of this deadly item. As Lionel took the bar and walked towards the lead box Michael had just made, Clark began to feel the effects of the Kryptonite, as his knees weakened and he collapsed to the floor. "Get it into the box" Clark stammered, as Lionel placed the bar in the box and Michael shut the lid on it. Soon, Clark was feeling himself again.
"I think that'll work" Clark said and then looking towards Lionel, "and please warn me the next time you plan on bringing out some refined Green-K. Speaking of which, why do you even have it?"
"I thought it might come in some use some day, in case your brethren decide to pay us another visit" explained Lionel.
"Well, I think that'll work" Clark said looking down at the lead box. "I'll step out into the hall, while you place this piece back in the vault," Clark said, working his way to the hallway.
Lois continued to observe from her little corner. She had never seen Clark look that sick before and it scared her a little. Clark was really vulnerable.
Michael opened up the lid and gave Lionel the piece of Kryptonite and Lionel returned it to the lead-line box in the vault and secured the door. Clark returned to the office and then Michael asked, "So we get rid of the rocks then what?"
The group sat down and formulated their plan. After awhile, everything was mapped out and they each got up from their positions and proceeded to carry out their plan. Soon they would have Chloe and Zan back with them.
Back on Antar
Cattivo went directly to his personal quarters and retrieved the portal device he had been developing and brought it back to his security office and manually set it to transport Khivar to the Phantom Zone. Soon, the doors to his office opened and Khivar walked in with his bags and said,
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes sir, here is the portal device I was talking about. All you need to do is turn it to this position, which activates it and then to come back you turn it to this position and it'll bring you back to the royal palace" informed Cattivo.
"Very well, while I'm gone I placed you in charge, as my second-in-command" Khivar stated.
"Yes sir. Now if you're ready, all you need to do is turn the dial. May the moons of Antar look over you" Cattivo said.
"As with you" Khivar said and then he turned the dial into the position Cattivo had stated and soon he disappeared, as the portal device dropped to the floor.
Cattivo picked up the device and pocketed it and smiled. 'Good Riddance' Cattivo thought as he began to write a letter to King Larek telling him what had just transpired. 'Soon the 'Royal Four' will be back and our planets will be unified again' Cattivo thought, signing his letter and sending for a messenger.
Phantom Zone
Lycus noticed something falling from the desert sky and landing just outside his cave. 'Another Zoner' he thought. Not really wanting to go out into the sandstorm, but curious of who the new prisoner was, Lycus got up and wrapped his skeleton body up and braved the sandstorm It took him awhile to reach the body, going against the wind, but he leaned down over the body and rolled it over. After inspecting the new prisoner's face, recognition spread across Lycus' face.
"Hey Chimarus, come here" Lycus stated, "Look what I found!"
Chimarus wanted to remain in the comforts of his cave instead of going out into the sandstorm, "can't it wait, Lycus?"
"No, get over here!"
"Fine, but it better be important" Chimarus wrapped himself up and made his way out to Lycus. "What?"
Lycus pointed down at the body lying in the desert sand that happened to be fully corporeal and resemble non other than Khivar. "It can't be! Can it?" Chimarus asked, but he knew the answer.
They pulled the body into their cave and sat back and looked at him. It was King Khivar, and if he was here than their chances of getting off this barren wasteland was now in the hands of Zod.
TBC...
I would love to hear what you think of my story so far and if there is anything you would like to see, please send me a note and I'll see what I can do :) Karin