"Just for the record I hate these suits we look like complete idiots."
"You think this is bad Vi, you should have seen what I was wearing in Paris last week."
The two enter the lab in lead lined hazard suits. This certainly wasn't part of the job when Vi signed up to be a slayer. Vi grabbed the meteor rock.
Clark spoke into his communicator. "Cyborg we have the dangerous cargo. Where is the Manhunter?"
Victor answered the call. "He's still busy wiping the knowledge out of Dr. Ivo's head."
Jonn Jones blurred into the lab. He is the only person that could do what needed to be done which is why Clark called him.
"He's done." Victor answered.
"We know he's here." Vi replied.
Clark gives him the rock and Jonn takes to the sky. When Cyborg tells them he's at safe range Clark and Vi ditch their hazard suits.
Vi messed with her red hair freeing it from hat hair. "That was fun. So people here are safe now right."
Clark got his helmet off Vi glared at him since he didn't even sweat. "Yeah there shouldn't be any more people dying from green veins."
Vi nodded she lost a friend from the plague that struck a Chicago city block ends up it was a sick twisted field test by Luthorcorp for something called hybrid meteor. Not that you'd be able to prove it. "So how did a rock kill so many people?"
Clark looked at her. "The rock was altered originally the rock can only kill me and Kara. However Lex had the idea that if the rock can be changed to poison humans it can take down armies in seconds."
Vi was in shock the new atomic bomb was something that could have fit in the palm of your hand. "So why isn't your friend dead?"
Clark just shrugs. "Because he's a Martian."
Vi just looks at him. "Fine don't tell me."
Cyborg interrupted the conversation. "Superboy, Ultraviolet you got 2 minutes before that cave is your grave."
Clark swept Vi up in his arms and made a break for daylight.
Once outside Clark is working with Victor loading up a helicopter after Vi left with her girls.
"So how is AC doing with Laura Lee I think?" Clark asked. AC is the one member of the league he hasn't seen since LA. He only knows AC has a girl friend because he visits Hawaii and Tess told him.
Victor just smiled. "Lori Lemaris and they're going to break up soon."
Clark loaded up a box and looked at Victor. "Remind me to never go to you when I need to be cheered up."
Victor just shrugged. "I tell it as it is Kent. Aquaman has barely noticed her all last week he's more obsessed with her cousin Mera. So now can I ask you something?"
"Shoot"
Victor shrugged knowing Clark was the only person he could talk to on this. "Do you think its right what Buffy does I mean technically most of these girls are child soldiers."
Clark shrugged truth be told he's not comfortable with it but he knows it has to be done. "These girls have to be trained to defend themselves especially since in the last 6 months demons stopped being their only problem."
Victor nodded seeing Clark's logic. "But they're so young."
Clark shrugs. "Bart and Virgil are younger than half of them."
Victor nodded. "They're all so young maybe we should start a group for them. Put them on easier things until they can plant their feet."
Clark was in thought finishing up loading the helicopter. "Young Justice?"
Victor laughed. "No Justice is Oliver's thing But I'll think of something. So you want a lift back to Scotland?"
Clark just smiled. "Faster and more fuel efficient if I just." Clark puts his arms up.
Victor nods. "Gotcha give the little Summers my regards."
Clark is coming up on HQ trying to figure out what to do now. Since he had a mission today Buffy gave him the day off from training. He's flying close to home when a patriotic blur of red white and blue rapidly approaches him and puts his T shirt over his head. Clark is struggling with his shirt for a minute and finally gets it back around his waist. He looks up and Clark just glares at his cousin.
Kara is just lying down in mid air hand under her jaw for support. "I think I found the Blur's third weakness." Kara sees the glare Clark's giving her. "Uh Oh."
Before long a red white and blue blur is being chased by a black red and blue blur. In reality this is a test and Kara is just having some fun at her cousin's expense. Buffy set it up so she can see how fast they can go when they fly. Buffy is watching as Kara easily breaks the sound barrier and Clark follows behind. The scoobies watch in awe as the numbers keep going up.
"Whoa" Xander says at the speed they're going.
Willow looks on growing a face for concern. "Buffy we're done."
Buffy was confused "What why?" Clark isn't even sweating.
Giles went on to explain. "Because of the sonic booms from how fast they're going will tear HQ apart."
Buffy nodded and hit a button. "Kara that's enough."
Xander took a breath and looks to the others. "So how fast do you think they can go?"
Willow was in thought. "I think both of them if they wanted to could move fast enough to stop Earth's rotation and spin the planet backwards."
Xander nodded. "Cool turn back time."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "That's just dumb. It would not reverse time it would just screw everything up. Having the sun switch spots and all."
Kara stops at Buffy's orders and when Clark gets close she just slams him to the ground. Kara flies down. "You didn't really think that one through did you?"
Clark just smiles. "I was just having fun. I don't get to see you that often."
Kara just nods. "Am I really in LA that much?"
Clark just put his hands up. "You're making a life for yourself. I get that."
Kara just smiled. "So how are your travels going?"
"Couldn't be better" Clark said without hesitation. Save for being Batman he was enjoying seeing the world.
Kara just nodded Kal El was growing these past six months and it showed. "How about your training?"
"Hurts like Crazy I don't have slayer healing like you do with the rock." Clark answered.
Kara just smiled. "I see Buffy train you everyday Kal I meant your other training. You're not blowing it off are you?"
Clark nodded his head no. "But I'm thinking about it."
Kara was shocked at this. "Kal El"
Clark stood fierce not backing. "No Kara, he is impossible he keeps saying that my job is to save people but when I do that he's mad because I do it with backup. Not to mention he isn't even a he it's just a dismembered voice in the arctic."
Kara just put her hands on his shoulders. "He loved you. The real Jor El you and Lara were all that mattered to him."
"Yeah you can tell that by him refusing to get in the phantom zone and Lara refusing to leave his side."
Kara doesn't know what to say. She always wondered why Jor El never put himself in the phantom zone. "Kal are you OK."
"Just kind of reaching my limit with the machine pointing out how flawed I am."
Kara decides to just speak her piece. "Kal, I don't think that the fortress is as bad as you make it sound. I mean it pushes you to do your best just like any father would want from his son. Has it ever occurred to you that the fortress is just trying to push you to soar higher than any of us? Be earth's ultimate champion."
Clark looked at her. "Sounds like it should be your destiny. You're stronger after all."
Kara just smiled. "Yeah but I don't have the heart the blur does. You didn't think I'd notice how he keeps showing up wherever you and Dawn go. I may be stronger but I don't have the heart that you do I'm just Kara Zor El. I can't be Clark Kent, Kal El and earth's champion like you do."
Clark just smiled. "Alright I'll keep up with the fortress."
Kara just smiled. "See no biggie. Just hang in there OK."
Clark nodded and the two kryptonians decided to spend the rest of the morning sparring to Buffy's chagrin as it usually means something is getting destroyed.
Clark went up to his and Dawn's room and found Dawn reading through Dr. Swann's journal. She'd been curious about Krypton so Clark gave her the journal and everything he had on the legend of Naman. Dawn saw Clark enter and just waved. Dawn was grateful for the books but she hates the fact that Clark is holding out on her. There's an entire library in the arctic but Clark won't let her in the fortress.
Clark looks at her head deep in the book he gave her. "Read anything interesting."
Dawn put the book down. "Bits and pieces"
Clark just nods having already read each of them no less than 25 times. "It's your choice where are we going today?"
Dawn just smiled. "The fort-"
"Except there." Clark quickly added.
Dawn just glared at him. Why was he so stubborn on this? "Clark come on Chloe told me she has been there before so what's the big deal?"
Clark knew that was coming even gone from his life for 6 months Chloe can still complicate things. "She was saving my life there's a difference."
Dawn was trying to control her temper they had this fight before last time Xander asked Clark and Dawn not to let it get to the point where they were calling each other little green boy and little green blob again. "What is so bad about that place? Are you shamed to show me to Jor El?"
Clark was breathing deep to calm down. "It would be the other way around. I'm afraid of what Jor El will do if he sees you. That thing has so far turned a smug linguist into a crazed maniac and kidnapped a girl, destroyed her life, stripped her of her humanity and then disintegrated her when it was done with her. I'm sorry Dawn but I won't take you there."
Dawn let it sink in Clark said that thing was a bastard but she had no idea. "Oh, I didn't really know."
"That's because I didn't tell you and I'm sorry about that." Clark responded.
Dawn was in thought she really wanted to change the subject. "There's this exhibit in Egypt I want to see."
Clark just nodded and Dawn wrapped her arms around him and they were off.
Clark and Dawn arrive in Egypt and listen to the guy as he talks about the Egyptian prince. Dawn was kind of upset that it wasn't much of an exhibit but at least Clark air doesn't cost anything. The two walk out what a boring tour maybe they can stop an isolated island have some fun on the beach. The tour guide looks at the two walking and wraps his hand in one quick gesture.
Dawn feels short of breath. She falls to the floor and is wrapped in bandages. Clark tries to rip the bandages but no go they're magic. Clark hears the tour guide smirk seeing him trying to free Dawn. In a blur he goes over to the apparent warlock and grabs him by the throat. First rule of Willow's magic defense you can't chant if you can't breathe.
"What have you done?" Clark demanded.
The tour guide smiled. "Nothing that can't be undone Mr. Kent but only by me."
Clark squeezed a little tighter. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"The names Jarek and I want a witch."
Clark just looked at him. This guy is an idiot. He slams him into the wall not letting go. "You're not getting her."
Jarek just looked at him he's clueless. "If I wanted her. I wouldn't have mummified her. By the way it's pretty cruel to hold a man up here so long."
Clark just slammed him into the wall again. "Men don't have 4 lungs and 2 livers."
Jarek was kind of surprised how did the meathead know that. "Well I am a man on my father's side of the family anyway."
"What do you want then?" Clark asked.
Jarek smiled. "I sense power. That's how I know what you are a demon just like me and what she is. She means very little to me what I want is the other witch I smell on her. "
Clark realizes Jarek wants Willow. "I don't know where she is."
"Then I suggest you find her." Jarek says coldly.
Clark pulls out his phone and calls someone. Clark simply waits and in a couple minutes Kara shows up. She looks around the room and wonders. "OK Kal El what is this about exactly?"
Clark throws Jarek into the wall finally releasing him. "Watch him he goes near the mummy or tries to leave rip his arms off."
Kara was confused. "I thought we don't kill people."
"He's half demon." Clark responds before flying out.
Back at HQ Clark is explaining the situation. Willow is ready to give her life for Dawn's sake in heartbeat but no one else is. Buffy is currently rubbing her head trying fight off a migraine.
Buffy was pacing and ranting. "How could she be so reckless of all the things to do she goes to Egypt…on a Tuesday it was screaming for something like this to happen." She turns and points to Clark. "And you why would you let her choose on a Tuesday of all days to go to Egypt AKA Mummyland."
Clark shrugged his shoulders in defense. "I had fortress lag I thought it was Monday."
Giles comes in with a book. "I'm afraid this is far more serious than we thought. Clark is this the demon."
Clark looks him over short black hair weird little fuzz under his chin. "Yeah that's him."
Xander looked at it. "Be kind G-man start talking. What are we up against?"
Giles was cleaning his glasses. "That is a demonic half breed known as Jarek. Jarek was a very powerful sorcerer his enemies bound him as a sort of mystical mummy. He was supposed to stay that way for eternity but he was released by an evil witch, Terra. Ironic enough the two actually fell in love with each other. However even throughout the ages Jarek still had powerful enemies, they killed Terra and Jarek was guilt ridden. He sacrificed every power he had except mummification and power sensing to bind Terra's soul to him looking for a witch to serve as Terra's new vessel."
Xander instantly shot up. "But he has a witch. He has Dawn."
Giles was cleaning his glasses. "He has tried it on regular witches through the ages it doesn't work for long until they die. That is why I believe he wants Willow."
Willow nodded. "Stronger witch better chance at life."
Buffy turned to Willow. "We're not handing you over to him."
"It's not your choice." Willow responded.
Clark and Willow flew back to Egypt. Clark looked at Jarek with smoldering hatred. He can't believe this is happening. Jarek looked at the two with a smile in his eyes. People are so easy to manipulate when you know what they want.
"So let's get this show on the road." Jarek said with a smile.
Clark looked at him with glowing red eyes.
Willow looked at the scene and chanted. "What has risen from sleep must once again slumber deep."
At Willow's words Clark and Kara hit the floor in heap unconscious and she turns to Jarek. "Free Dawn, let me say goodbye to her first."
Jarek just nodded. "If anything else I am a man of compassion." He waves his hand and the mummy reverts back to Dawn.
Dawn gets up and looks at Willow and sees what's going on. "No you can't."
"Dawnie I have to." Willow said.
Dawn broke into tears and Willow hugged her.
"I love you." Dawn said.
"I love you too Dawnie always." Willow answered before turning to Jarek. "So where do you want me."
Jarek pointed at a spot and Willow laid down. Dawn went to Clark and Kara trying to shake them awake wondering what Willow hit them with. Jarek came in with another mummy and laid it next to Willow.
"Wait!" Dawn shouted. "She's been like a second mother to me. Can I hold her hands to the end?"
Jarek just nodded it didn't matter to him since he was getting his Terra back. Dawn walked over and held Willow's hands. Jarek started chanting as green energy went from the mummy to Willow. When the transfer stopped Dawn let go and spat on Jarek as she walked past him. Terra opened her eyes and saw Jarek.
Jarek just smiled. "Welcome back beloved."
Terra just smiled. Then she hit him with a fireball sending him across the room revealing she was still Willow.
Jarek got up confused. "How I've used that spell for millennia?" He turned to Dawn "You!"
Dawn just smiled showing her wrists that had Clark and Kara's bracelets on them. "Nth a girl's best friend."
They played him from the beginning the 'sleep' spell was to keep the powerful sorcerer's focus off Clark and Kara who merely took a dive after Willow told them to in a whisper. The goodbye scene was Willow telepathically telling Dawn exactly what to do. When Dawn tried to 'wake up' Clark and Kara she took their bracelets.
With Dawn hanging on to her the Nth Metal forced Terra's soul into the afterlife. She was a little surprised and touched when Dawn said she thought of her as a mother but to be fair Willow thought of Dawn as a daughter and poor Jarek is about to find that out the hard way.
Willow's eyes turn black and she sticks her hand out. "Capture"
Jarek is held in an invisible vice grip. "This won't hold me forever. And with Terra gone my full powers are back which means I'm unkillable again."
Willow just looked at him. "It will hold you long enough. And this is really going to hurt if you can't be killed. Purgo is malum ex nostrum medius Sparsum him per vicis quod tractus. Permissum is nick Haud magis futurus."
Clark heard enough to know whatever spell Willow did was scattering this guy throughout time and space. Ouch! Jarek screamed as his body broke apart molecule by molecule eventually he was gone.
Later on that night everyone is back at HQ. Dawn can't believe how many jokes she has had to endure about being a mummy. Leah, Rowena, Satsu, Lois, Kara, hell even Xander took a couple shots at her. Where does he get off taking shots at her about mummies of all things? I mean yeah she got turned into a mummy. However she did not try to go steady with one. Dawn looked over and saw Clark enter the room.
"If you're here to make a joke so help me."
Clark put his hands up in defense. "Lois stole all mine?"
Dawn just laughed. "Thanks for being supportive."
Dawn notices Clark staring at his dad's watch. "Are you waiting from something?"
"Just another 20 seconds." Clark said.
20 seconds later and it was 12 AM Wednesday. Clark went into the closet and pulled out clothes that would keep Dawn warm. Dawn just smiles a midnight date they haven't done this for a couple weeks now. Dawn gets changed and Clark stays in his traditional red and blue he never really feels the cold. In a minute Dawn is dressed and hops into Clark's arms ready to go.
Clark flies her to the arctic and they land. Dawn looks around at this place its beautiful all theses crystals she wonders if Buffy saw something similar to this when she went to heaven. She looks around sees crystals like the one in her bracelet when she was giant Dawn. It quickly sinks in that Clark took her to the fortress.
Dawn turned to him. "I thought you were afraid to take me to his place."
"I still am." Clark says without hesitation. "But you said you wanted to go."
Dawn just nodded which means if Jor El does anything Clark will have them out in a second.
"Can I talk to Jor El?" Dawn asked.
Clark just shrugged. "You can talk just don't expect it to talk back."
Dawn collected her thoughts and started she's seen how Clark has come home from his last couple visits here. She's his girlfriend does he really think it went right past her. "Mr…El I 'm here to talk about your son, Clark. Kal-El. Look, I know as a parent, you had to make the hardest decision ever to save your son and send him here alone. When my Mom was died, that was it. I will never get to hold her again and I'll never talk to her again. God the last thing I said to her was spin again really fast this time. But you...you can still be there for Clark...I mean, Kal-El. Your son needs a father who believes in him. I-I wish knowing that I loved him was enough. But He can't fully hear it with the ghost of your disappointment haunting him and continually haunting him. You are stopping him from fulfilling his potential. He's an amazing man. He's a hero."
Dawn looks around Clark just gives her an I told you so look. Dawn just shrugs. "Really? Nothing? You know, you may not care about anybody else but yourself, but Clark does. And you're not 1/10 the Kryptonian he is. Clark's right the worst thing that ever happened in his life was finding out about you."
The fortress activated and Dawn was lifted into the air. In a blur Clark moved and got her out. Dawn looked in Clark's eyes and has never seen him this angry before. Clark walks over to the console and pushes a crystal in.
Dawn looks over. "Clark what are you doing?"
"The fortress is a whole bunch of crystals powered by one big crystal. I pull the big one and it dies."
Dawn noticed the fortress flickering on and off. "Clark"
Clark stopped what he was doing. As he watched the fortress eventually 2 people showed up an older man wearing his shield and a blond woman whom he knows is Lara so he's guessing the other one is Jor El.
Lara started off. "My son, I only had the joy for knowing you a few weeks. I wish I could be with you always to guide you and protect you."
Dawn watches as Clark tries to touch the two but they are just illusions.
"We don't have much time." Jor El warned.
Lara breathed and continued. "My dearest Kal-El, our love will always be with you. I can already see you carry within you your father's independent spirit."
Jor El took a turn to speak. "But more importantly, your mother's never-ending bravery and her compassionate heart."
Lara sobbed at what was about to come and continued. "Your father tells me the new world you're journeying to, Earth, is full of complicated beings capable of great emotion. My wish is for you to live a full and wonderful life, but I need you to know, you were born of a great love. And your brilliant father has devised a way for you to carry on that love without us."
Jor El started explaining. "The ship I designed to carry you to your destiny can only hold one Kryptonian…one who has so much potential…so unlike your father.
"No." Lara whispered as she kissed him.
Jor El looked sad accepting his fate. "Your mother and I cannot come with you. To do so would burden your innocent soul with our frailties and failures. But you have within you the best of both of us. And I am sending you all of my knowledge and none of my ego or regrets. They will die with me here on Krypton. Whatever trials I put you through know this, I will never lose faith in you."
Lara whispers to Jor El. "Quickly, before it's too late." She turns back to what Clark assumes is a camera. "We may not have been able to save our planet..."
Jor El finishes for her seeing she's too upset. "But we are confident you will become Earth's greatest savior. And never doubt that, just as you're a part of us, we will always be a part of you. Farewell, my son."
The image faded leaving Clark alone with Dawn. Dawn just walked over and hugged him.
"All this time they were just testing me and they didn't want to weigh me down. That's why they stayed on Krypton." Clark said.
Dawn just nodded. "They loved you and they believe in you just as much as I do."
At this the fortress started to come to life. "Kal El, my son."
"Jor El"
The fortress continued. "I know some of the things I have done are of a cruel nature but it had to be done. It is my job to train you to be earth's ultimate savior."
Dawn just shrugged. "So what do you have against us?"
"Kal El must be able to stand on his own when the time comes for him to face the ultimate weapon."
Dawn was taken back by that. "Why can't we help?"
"Doomsday was designed as the ultimate weapon. Its power is far beyond Kal El or Kara. Despite how much damage it does it will always revert to its primary mission if given the chance."
"What's that?" Clark asked.
"To exterminate you my son, if you allow your human allies to stand at your side when that day comes they will be annihilated."
Clark looks around as the fortress goes down. "This whole time Jor El never hated you guys he was just a big softie who knew."
Dawn just smiled. "Yeah, you want to go home it's been a long day."
Clark just nodded. They both head out. Dawn reaches for the costume Clark's mom made for him and he just groans. "No!"
"So are you and Jor El OK?" Dawn asked.
Clark thought about it and answered. "Yeah, I think we finally understand each other."
Back in Metropolis Amy is on her way to see Nuntia. These past six months have been quiet and peaceful. Mainly because they've done nothing but build their army. With help from corrupt Senator Burke they got military personnel for the dark hearts. Amy wasn't a fan of the senator though. Greedy, grabby pig especially when it came to her ass. Which unfortunately for Burke didn't go past Nuntia's notice. Once they got 10 quality soldiers Nuntia splattered him all over his office to Amy's enjoyment. Luthor helped fund the cloning process turning 10 soldiers into hundreds between science and magic. As of last week half of them have been put through the dark heart project becoming soulless cyborgs dedicated to Nuntia and no one else. Nuntia also started work on the pillars. Amy doesn't know what they do but Nuntia told Luthor once setup they can be used to teleport an army anywhere on earth giving them a direct advantage in wars against the vigilantes.
Amy walked into Nuntia's office and started running through her day. "Ok you got a meeting with Luthor at 1 o' clock he wants an update on the pillars. At 3…holy goddess of hell!"
Amy is stunned into silence as a great big red bird is floating over Nuntia.
Nuntia eyes look like they're on fire. "Kcab ti gnirb uoy dnammoc I ruoh siht ni koot erif ruoy thgil eht erotser dna dnim ym ni tegrat eht dnif uoy dnammoc I tirips xinoehp taerg."
The bird took off for parts unknown and Nuntia breathed a sigh of relief after six long months she can finally make her move and stay off the Leigion's radar. "So what do I have at 3?"
"You have to get your nails done." Amy said flatly.
Nuntia smiled. "Cancel everything after my meeting with Luthor."
Amy just nodded she wasn't turning her down. "Ok where are you going?"
"LA"
In Las Vegas a bloody Spike and Illyria stood atop a pile of very dead demons. Spike looks at Illyria whom is in serene calm not wasting a breath and not a scratch on her. Spike thinks he however would be gasping for air after a tussle like that. You know if he could breathe.
Spike turned to Illyria. "Did you even break a sweat blue?"
Illyria just looked at the pile. "They were ineffective weaklings. Disappointing at best."
Spike looked up. "Yeah today I saved 20 people killed 50 demons the only word I feel is-" Spike looks up and is frozen in fear. "Big red bloody bird of death"
Illyria looks up and knocks Spike aside. This better be a good challenge after the disappointing demons. Instead of a fight however the bird goes through Illyria turning from red fire into white energy surrounding her body. Illyria turns back to normal and goes into a fetal position before taking on Fred's form. Spike got up and saw it and rushed right over.
Spike was trying to look at her face. "Blue what is it?"
Illyria was sitting there ranting in madness. "The memories, the blood, and so many people" She turns to Spike. "Lukewarm just above room temperature."
Spike was in an utter state of confusion. "Smurfette I have no idea what you're talking about you have to be more clear pet."
Fred's form went back to Illyria whom quickly grabbed Spike by the throat and hoisted him up. "This was not in the power of the wolf ram and hart or your tree witch. What have you done to me?"
Spike looked at her. "The bird wasn't us what's happening to you."
Illyria put him down and again took Fred's form and started crying. "These aren't mine. Everything its done its not me and I shouldn't have to carry it."
Spike looked at her. "Yeah you shouldn't have to carry it. Carry what exactly."
"Handsome man, take me to handsome man he saves me from the monsters."
Spike was in thought he heard that somewhere before. Handsome man saves me from the monsters. Angel he thinks he's heard it from Angel but when and then it hits him. He heard it in their board meeting right after Fred died it was the first thing she ever said to him. But everything that was Fred died when Illyria was resurrected. Spike realizes the best thing to do is to maybe take her to handsome man. Spike scoops up Illyria and puts her in the car. He can make it to the Hyperion before sunrise if he floors it.
Author's notes
Thanks for the reviews
Don't know how Clark vs. the fortress became the focus of the chapter.
Next Stop: A return to LA.
