Chapter 29

"Warehouse 51"

"Hey, Mrs. Kent," Pete greeted as he answered the telephone.

"Yes, I'm fine. How are you?"

"That's great," Pete laughed.

"Is Clark home, or is he out with Lois?"

"With Linda? Who's Linda?"

"Clark's cousin? From Krypton?"

"That's awesome. He actually has a family member from his home."

"Thanks, Mrs. Kent."

"Hey, Clark," Pete said hearing Clark's voice on the phone.

"Yeah everything is fine."

"Your mom told me about your cousin. Clark it's awesome. I can't wait to meet her."

"The real reason I called is because I wanted to let you know that Superman hasn't been seen in a while. People are wondering where he is. Especially the media. I read one headline that said 'Superman Abandon's The People Who Love Him Most'."

"I know. You've been gone two days and the world is looking to the skies for a hero."

"How long does it take you to fly from Metropolis from Smallville?"

"Maybe you should put an appearance in tonight."

"What do you mean, 'you don't know if you can'?"

"What?!"

"You're sleeping with Lois? What do you mean?"

"Oh. That makes sense. You're just sharing a bed. You scared me for a minute there, man."

"Look, don't worry about it, man. If you can't make it to Metropolis, you can't make it. Protecting your identity is important."

"Well, Clark from that comment I take it Superman will be in Metropolis tonight," Pete said. The door opened and Chloe and Jimmy entered the apartment.

"Hey, Pete," Chloe greeted.

"Yeah, Chloe and Jimmy just got in," Pete said as more of a warning then conversation.

"So how old is this cousin of yours?"

"Too young for me," Pete laughed. "Man, I'm happy with my girl."

"Is that Clark?" Chloe asked. Pete nodded his head to her.

"Just turned seventeen. Wow, my girlfriend is eighteen, so hopefully her and your cousin will click and become friends. It would be great for my girlfriend to have a friend close to her age, I'm sure it would be good for your cousin too."

"Okay. Bye," Pete hung up the phone.

"Clark found Linda?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah," Pete said.

"Who's Linda?" Jimmy asked.

"Clark's cousin," Pete and Chloe answered.


Clark hung up the phone and raked his fingers back through his hair.

"What's wrong?" Martha asked as she entered the kitchen.

"The people of Metropolis are looking to the skies for Superman. I need to go, but..."

"You're afraid Lois will find out about you." Martha said as Clark nodded his head. "How long do you think you'd be?" Martha asked.

"All I really need to do is make a couple of appearances and I can fly pretty fast."

"Then go now. I'll cover for you here."

"Are you sure?"

"Go now and go fast. If the girls ask where you are I'll say I sent you into town on an errand. Of course Linda will probably know where you are."

"Thanks mom. You're the best," Clark kissed his mother's forehead and super sped upstairs to change his clothes then he super sped out of the house and flew off to Metropolis.


"I have no idea why I said for us to come here," Lana said as people stared and whispered.

"Because you need to talk," Ted reminded.

"This is wrong."

"You're afraid Lex will find out."

"Maybe."

"He won't know anything you tell me."

"Oddly enough I believe you."

"I'm a trustworthy guy," Ted smiled. Lana looked around uneasily. "You can talk. It's more than obvious that you need to."

"Fine I'll talk. I'm jealous of Lois Lane. Are you happy?"

"No. Keep going."

"Seeing the way Clark looks at her, like she can't do anything wrong, like he'd do anything for her, like there's nobody else in the room but her, it makes me jealous. Clark and I were once a couple, he never looked at me like that, and neither does Lex."

"You're questioning your relationship with Lex."

"I guess I am. I love him and I know he does love me, but is it the same kind of love Clark and Lois share? I want to look at Lex the way Lois looks at Clark and I want Lex to look at me the same way Clark looks a t Lois. Is it wrong of me to long for that?"

"No, not at all. You want what every woman wants. A man who loves you and doesn't care if the world sees it. Unfortunately that's a rare thing to find. Men are afraid to show their emotions. I know. Lex Luthor is a public figure and he has to hide things from the press. He's afraid to let his emotions show in case his enemies, and he has a lot, try to use them against him. He forgets sometimes that you love him and you won't take advantage of him. You're the one person he can trust the most, he shouldn't hide things from you."

"That makes sense."

"You just need to find a way to get Lex to let his guard down and confide in you. Then you'll feel more confident in your relationship."

"Are you a therapist?"

"No, but I wanted to be one when I went to University."

"You would have been great."

"Just because I understand the criminal mind of Lex Luthor doesn't make me a good therapist. It takes a lot more."

"Yeah, like helping people sort through their thoughts and feelings and listening. That's exactly what you've been doing for me," Lana pointed out.

"I guess."


Lex hung up the phone.

"That was quick," Otis commented.

"Lana wasn't home," Lex responded.

"Where is she?" Otis questioned.

"Zander said he doesn't know where she is. She left some time ago with Ted."

"The guy you spent to be her 'bodyguard'?"

"Yes, Otis."

"Maybe she's gone to the 'Kent Farm'."

"No, no. She would have told Zander or someone where she was going so they could let me know."

"Maybe Ted kidnaped her," Otis joked.

"Ted knows better than that," lex responded seriously

"Are you sure?"

"Ted knows that if anything happened to Lana while under his supervision I'd have him killed."

"Killed?" Otis laughed nervously. " You're joking right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lex asked. "If anyone hurts Lana they're as good as dead."

The phone began to ring. "Lana?" Lex snatched up the phone.

"That sounds desperate," Otis mumbled.

"Oh, hi," Lex said.

"Tonight?" He asked confused.

"Warehouse 51, on pier 12." Lex repeated.

"That's fine." Lex said.

"Yes tonight is the best night to take care of this."

"You needn't worry about Superman, he seems to have disappeared," Lex said while Otis watched him.

"Okay. 10:00."

"I'll see you then," Lex hung up the phone. "Otis we have some business to take care of tonight."

"We? I'm off duty now boss. Looks like you'll have to do this one on your own because I'm going home."

"No, you're coming with me, unless you want to be unemployed and unable to find a job anywhere else."

"Tonight is fine," Otis smiled.


Clark circled over Metropolis for a third time listening for the sound of someone in need of his help. "Of course when I come to Metropolis to protect the city nothing happens," Clark mumbled to himself. Suddenly Clark heard a gunshot and a scream. He took off as fast as he could in the direction that the sounds had come from. Once he knew exactly where it had come from he let himself fall from the sky landing on his feet in the middle of the 'Suicide Slums'. Not surprising to hear screams coming from this part of the city, Clark thought as he hit the ground. He looked over the area for the person who had been crying out until his eyes stopped on a woman laying on the ground in a pool of blood. There was no need to check if she was alive, he knew already she was dead because he couldn't hear her heartbeat. He listened and heard the person who had shot her speed away in a car in the distance. Knowing instantly what he had to do he leapt into the air and flew after the car. Clark wondered who the people might be and why they would shoot the woman. Clark already assumed it was a gang but he had to be sure.

The car stopped outside a warehouse. Clark landed on the roof and watched as four men got out and went inside. He noticed a Porsche parked behind some crates like someone didn't want it to be seen. He glanced around the roof for a way in spotting a latch to the far left of the roof. He ran over and pulled open the latch. He leapt down through and landed on a platform above the ground. He snuck along the platform stopping in the shadows above a group of about fifteen people.

"Our supply is out," a man with short black hair said.

"We need more, if you want this to work," another man said.

"You'll get more," familiar voice responded.

"When? When will we get more? When it's convienient for you?" The first man asked.

"What do you need us for anyway?" Asked a third man.

"The only way I can find out the effects this stuff has on people is by testing it out on others and finding out the effects, but since I don't have the approval of the board I have to depend on you to give it to people and study the effects," the familiar voice replied.

"Fine we just need more of it now," a new voice spoke. "We already got problems, some photojournalist Jimmy Olsen's been chasing us around and seeing what we do, we sent him a warning, but that doesn't mean he'll stay out of our path."

"He better if he knows what's good for him and that little blonde girlfriend of his," said the second man.

"If he gets in your way again just kill him," the voice said.

"How many people do you want us to kill? We already had to shoot another woman tonight who was threatening to go to the police."

"Good thinking," the voice responded again. Clark's curiosity took over, he stepped forward and saw Lex below with a group of drug dealers, and... The clumsy guy from the airport? Was he helping Lex or was he with the drug dealers? More than likely Lex. "Otis, pass me the briefcase," Lex demanded the short, fat, brown haired man, interrupting Clark's thoughts.

"Yes sir Mr. Luthor," Otis saluted.

"Now Otis!" Lex said impatiently. Otis passes Lex the briefcase as fast as he could, clearly fearing Lex.

"In here is more of what you're looking for, but it will cost you a lot more than last time," Lex explained.

"How much?" Asked a man.

"50 grand," Lex said.

"Aren't you a billionaire already?" Asked a different man.

"How do you think I became a billionaire? I had to make my money somewhere," replied Lex.

"How do we know that what you have in there is what we're looking for?"

"I'll prove it," Lex said beginning to open the briefcase.

"Party's over!" Clark said jumping down to the main floor.

"Superman?" Someone asked.

"That's right," Clark said. "It's time for you all to pay for what you've done and what you're doing to innocent people."

"I don't think so," a man said motioning for the others to get Clark. One man swung at Clark, but Clark ducked out of the way. As Clark ducked another man tried to punch Clark in the stomach but to no avail as when he hit Clark every bone in his hand shattered.

Clark heard the bones shatter. He watched the man fall to his knees crying in pain as he held his hand, then commented, "Well, that's definitely broken."

"You think?!" The man snapped.

"Shoot him!" The leader of the group shouted. One man instantly pulled his gun out and shot at Clark three times. Then the others got their guns out and shot.

"The bullets are just bouncing off him, boss."

"Keep shooting!" The boss yelled.

"He's like the man of steel!" One man yelled throwing his gun down in frustration.

"Bullets can't hurt me," Clark gave a mocking smile, suddenly he felt a surge of pain go through his head as he fell to his knees. He touched the back of his head to feel a warm substance trickling over his fingers. He brought his hand to his face and looked at it. It was covered in blood and not just anyone's blood, his blood. But how? He was losing his energy quickly and there was nothing he could do.

"Let's get out of here before he get's back up!" Someone yelled pulling the broken handed man to his feet and running.

"Wait," Clark said almost in a whisper as he fell to his stomach in pain. "Please," he pleaded as he watched the group run from the warehouse. Clark rolled over onto his back and looked up at Lex who was holding a piece of Kryptonite. Clark stared at the Kryptonite, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Lex.

"What, Superman? You like the meteor rock?" Lex asked holding it closer to Clark and watching more beads of sweat form on Clark's brow and more veins in his cheeks and forehead pop out.

"What do you want, Lex?" Clark choked out.

"You know my name? Why, Superman, I'm honored, taking time from your busy schedule to know the little guy, like me. But what I really want is to rule the world. Be more powerful than any man ever dreamed possible. With your help of course," Lex smiled evilly.

"Never!"

"I don't think you're in the position to refuse my offer, Superman. Especially considering the fact that I'm holding your weakness in my hands."

"I'd rather die then help you," Clark said through gritted teeth.

"That can be arranged."

"Arrange it then."

"Fine. Otis, more meteor rocks."

"Yes sir."

"Such a shame you had to be so stubborn, Superman. You and I could have ruled the world together, that's what I offered you but you turned it down. Now you'll die," Lex said as Otis placed Kryptonite around Clark and one piece on his chest. "It shouldn't take long now, Superman, you'll soon be dead," Lex laughed.

Clark laid on the floor bleeding, sweating and breathing heavily as he watched Lex and Otis leave, the he passes out.


"Aunt Martha, are you sure you only sent Clark on an errand? He's been gone for over an hour now," Linda commented.

"I know," Martha responded. "I'm beginning to get worried about him."

"Me too," Lois spoke up.

"Maybe he ran into someone he know's, like Lana," Linda suggested.

"No, I know something's wrong. I can feel it," Lois said.

"What do you mean, 'you can feel it'?" Linda asked worry in her voice now as she listened for Clark but couldn't hear him anywhere.

"It's hard to explain, I just feel like Clark's in danger. It feels like he's fading. Like he needs help but I can't get to him. Like he's slipping away from me and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I won't make it to him in time. He's dying..." Lois said tears welling up in her eyes.

"No." Linda said. "He can't die," She said holding on to the hope that no one had discovered Clark's secret and he was still safe. Where are you, Clark? She wondered. She listened for his heartbeat again, but heard nothing.