Part 46: Tea Time in Smallville

Chloe and Lana after the long night of brainstorming Clark's secret hadn't got a lot of sleep. The good thing about staying up half the night to brainstorm was they were both too tired to dream about the incredible conclusion the Smallville three musketeers had reached regarding Clark Kent's secret. At the crack of dawn the two girls were dragged out of a dreamless sleep by an alarm clock which signaled they had only a few minutes to get ready before heading up to the roof of Lex's building to meet their ride to Smallville on the helicopter pad.

The helicopter trip to Smallville had been mercifully uneventful and both of them dozed most of the way. It was two very disheveled girls that stepped onto the green pasture scattering the surprised cows as the Lex Corp helicopter touched down in the open field across the road from the Potter Farm.

After a couple of quick showers and a wholesome country breakfast with Nell they left to go to the small wooden framed church that served the protestant faithful of Smallville. The Kents came into the church a few minutes late and Lana and Chloe both gave Clark's parents a wave when they caught their eye. The two girls were answered by a cherry pair of smiles from Martha and Jonathan.

Lana couldn't help but be amazed that this happy but ordinary couple had raised and protected a space alien child on a farm in the middle of Kansas without ever divulging such a secret to anyone. The Kents really were the most incredible of parents.

After Church finished Chloe chatted with the Kents outside in the bright sunlight while Lana after a quick hello excused herself to find Betty Fordman to set up the after church tea social. Ten minutes later Chloe was driving Nell's truck while Lana took in the smalltown scenery of white picket fences and pick up baseball vacant lots. They didn't say much to each other in the short ride over to Betty Fordman's even though it was the first time they had been alone together since they woke up in the huge guest rooms of Lex's Metropolis penthouse apartment.

Soon they arrived and their truck stopped in front of the small white framed house with the large backyard that was the home of Betty Fordman.

As Lana stepped out of the truck Chloe asked her, "Now you are sure you don't want me to go in with you?"

Lana gave her a weak smile. "No I think considering the topic a one on one conversation will be best to draw Mrs. Fordman out. She always did like me and trusts me so solo is what the situation calls for. I don't know how long I will be but give me at least an hour before checking in on my cell phone."

Lana gave Chloe a weak smile, "Any advice on how to ask someone if her son is in outer space with a local farm boy that happens to be a space alien?"

Chloe with a smirk said, "No, even Chloe Sullivan doesn't know how to kick start that interview. Good luck Lana and remember she loves you like a daughter so use that; we really need complete and independent collaboration otherwise we have nothing but a wild goose story."

Lana just nodded and in a few moments disappeared into the Fordman house.

For Chloe after more than an hour even the Norman Rockwell painting view that was Smallville stretching out before her over the hood of the truck was getting a little stale. Besides Chloe only had eyes for the figures of Lana Lang and Betty Fordman seated together in front room in the quant white framed house.

From Chloe's vantage point it appeared that after the usual initial pleasantries for the last three quarters of an hour Lana and Betty Fordman had been involved in an intense conversation. Chloe knew that Lana was getting to the crux of the topic de jour since Betty Fordman had been regularly bursting into tears to be followed a few moments later by Lana Lang doing the same. It looked to Chloe that the two of them had done more crying than talking for the last half hour.

Just when Chloe thought she couldn't stand it anymore the front door of the Fordman house opened and Lana Lang with Betty Fordman stepped onto the front porch. Lana and Mrs. Fordman hugged in a warm embrace. They finally broke apart and Lana gave Mrs. Fordman a quick goodbye kiss on the cheek and started to walk toward the truck. Mrs. Fordman saw Chloe waiting in the truck and when they made eye contract gave Chloe a friendly wave as she again wiped her eyes.

It was a red eyed Lana Lang that opened the door to the truck and climbed inside the cab.

Chloe couldn't wait another second, "So what did she say Lana?"

Lana hung her head and when she looked up Chloe thought she would once again burst into tears. Lana with a long world weary sigh answered, "We were right Chloe; it's all true and the truth is horrible. I still can't really believe it." Lana made a vague gesture pointing up, "Up there is where they are; they both are; both Clark and Whitney. The two of them are fighting in a war. A horrible war that is even more dangerous and terrible than the wars here on earth."

Chloe's hands with white knuckles gripped the steering wheel of the truck as she whispered, "Wow, it is real. It really happened. It's all true. My God, what are we ever going to do now?"

Lana reached over and touched Chloe's arm. "First of all you are going to ease up on the steering wheel death grip." Chloe immediately let go, "Sorry about that."

"Forget it Chloe; I don't even know what I am feeling now. All I do know is we need to call Lex and let him know. After that I really need a few minutes to think about this and take it in so let's not talk now but instead drive out to Chandler's field. I'll tell Lex to meet us there and then I will fill you both in at once on everything Betty Fordman knows including the details regarding the war that Clark and Whitney are fighting and the rest of it. I just can't talk about it right now."

Chloe agreed, "Sure that sounds like a good idea besides I don't want to be driving when you tell this story. I will probably wrap the truck around a tree or at the very least wipe out a few mailboxes. So call Lex about the Chandler's field rendezvous and then relax until we get there."

Lana dialed Lex on her cell phone and a second after making the connection Lex picked up. "Hi Lex, it's me. I just spoke with her. We were right. It's all true. We are just going to go out to Chandler's field so can you meet us there? Great, see you soon. Bye."

The two girls settled into an introspective silence for the ten minute drive out to Chandler's field. The Chloe pulled Nell's truck up to the old windmill and they got out stepping onto the green pasture of Chandler's field.

Lana broke the silence, "There are a lot of memories out here. A lot of good memories."

Chloe answered, "Yea and some not so good. I remember being buried alive a few yards away from where we are standing." Chloe gestured with her right hand, "Right over there; by a deputy sheriff that wanted to trick Smallville into believing he was a hero. As fate would have it instead of dying out here in the cold ground Smallville's true hero Clark Kent rescued me."

Chloe opened a brown shopping bag and took out a six pack of Singha lager. She took one for herself and handed another to Lana.

"Thanks Chloe," Lana opened her Singha beer and took a quick sip. She then took a look at the label. "This is Thai beer isn't it?" Lana smiled at Chloe, "Quite the exotic brew for drinking in a field in the Kansas countryside while sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck."

"Not as exotic as Smallville's own teenage hero." Chloe looked sideways at Lana as she continued, "It's just so unbelievable that our favorite farm boy makes this beer from the other side of the world seem as domestic as a can of cream corn."

Lana felt the swirl of emotions and try as she might she couldn't focus on a single one. "Chloe, by the end of our brainstorming session last night I was so surprised to finally learn the secret of Clark Kent that I didn't know what to think and was too tired to know what to feel. Now here stilling on the tailgate of a truck in Chandler's field drinking beer I still don't know what I am feeling. Part of me is relieved to finally know the secret and the other part still can't believe it."

A tear appeared at the corner of Lana's eye and with an absent mind she brushed it away. "What are we going to do Chloe? Our best friend from Smallville High is a freaking space alien. How do we deal with that? What are we supposed to do now?"

Chloe reached into her jacket pocket and surprised even herself by producing a pack of French cigarettes. She had found then in the truck and guessed that Nell had a little habit that she didn't want to share with the twins and Lana. "I really don't know Lana. My brain is numb and I feel as confused as you sound. Here in the bright sunlight of the Kansas afternoon the whole experience of today and last night feels like a dream. I met a space alien in grade eight. I still don't know how could such a thing be true?"

Chloe lit up a thin cigarette and took a long drag.

Lana finally noticed what Chloe was doing.

"What's with that Chloe? You don't smoke."

"I just found out my farm boy friend is a space alien so today I am going to smoke."

Lana thought about it for a second and considering the situation Chloe's logic made sense. Lana reached out. "Give me that," Lana took a drag and immediately started to cough, "Smoking sucks."

"So do you Lana, in fact you suck farm boys from outer space."

Lana handed Chloe back her cigarette. "You are just not going to let that go are you?"

Chloe took an introspective look at the burning cigarette and after snubbing it out flicked the butt into the bed of the truck. "I guess I shouldn't tease you. After all I can't believe my first kiss was with a space alien."

"Well I can't believe I gave a birthday blow job to a space alien. And in his loft in a barn in Kansas of all places."

Chloe gave Lana a sideways smile, "Ok you win that beats mine. Congratulations on the wall of weird gold metal."

Lana shook her head, "Actually when I think about it I am only taking home the silver metal. Aunt Nell shagged a space alien in the same loft so the wall of weird gold metal goes to her."

Chloe laughed, "Story of my life when it comes to the Lang women. Chloe Sullivan with only a kiss from a space alien loses again to not just one but two Lang women to end up with the bronze." Chloe paused for a second, "Lana I have to ask you this before Lex gets here. I mean; what was Clark like on his birthday?"

Lana's eye brows raised and she flushed a little at Chloe's question. "What do you mean?"

Chloe sounded a little embarrassed, "I don't know. I mean, like did he give you any warning?"

"That's a silly question Chloe; after all this is Clark Kent we are taking about." Lana gave a little inward smile at the memory. "Of course he was a gentleman and said he was cumming but of course that didn't mean he let go of the back of my head."

Lana with a sheepish cum drunk grin said, "After all he was really into his birthday."

"Nice!"

"I didn't mind. It was his birthday so I was going for the intimacy of swallowing." Lana reflected on the memory, "Actually I should say trying to swallow. It might taste good and I've had a fetish for raspberry anything ever since but the truth is space aliens deliver a lot of semen."

Chloe giggled, "I wonder if that is in the handbook on the care and feeding of space aliens?" Chloe paused and then asked, "You know something Lana?"

"What?"

"Only a total dumb ass would ever think you are a fairy princess."

"Clark did."

"Ok, only an alien dumb ass."

Lana smiled, "I guess as far as you are concerned I finally outlived that cover of Time magazine."

"Hey princess as far as Chloe Sullivan is concerned you out lived that fairy princess label in grade eight the day I noticed Clark Kent making moony eyes at you. My label for you after that was cheerleader skank but of course now it's replaced with space alien's skank."

"Thanks……in a very disturbing way."

Chloe sighed as she looked across Chandler's field from the tailgate of the truck. "Here we are joking about it yet I still can't believe it."

Lana thought for a second, "You know what I can't believe? I spent all that time with Jason screwing my dumb ass while all I wanted was to have Clark Kent's babies." Lana got a wistful look on her face, "Dam I wanted him to knock me up. Its not very honorable but if he got me pregnant even if he didn't love me I knew with his child I would have Clark Kent as part of my life forever."

Chloe gave Lana a funny look, "I hate to break it to you but being a space alien do you think Clark can even have children with an earth girl." Chloe chuckled, "Even a real easy earth girl."

Lana answered, "Hey I didn't know Clark's secret then and besides finding out you blew a space alien on his birthday changes a girl." Lana looked up and focused on the Kansas sky stretching out before them to infinity and said, "I would just like to thank you universe for screwing with me like your bitch."

"Laaaaana!" Chloe exclaimed as she gave Lana a poke in the side. "Don't call yourself that?"

"Chloe I didn't say I was a bitch as much as say the universe is treating me like its bitch."

"Oh right Lana that makes it a normal thing to say." Chloe looked over at the dirt road, "I wonder what is taking Lex so long?"

As if he just got the cue to enter the scene Lex's silver Porsche appeared and in a few minutes he turned off the main road taking the dirt path that lead up to the windmill in Chandler's field. Lex pulled up beside Nell's truck and stepped out to walk over to where the two girls were sitting on the tailgate of the truck.

Lex didn't waste any time. "Hi girls, I trust the meeting with Betty Fordman was memorable."

Chloe answered, "Yes, even if I spent it waiting outside in the truck. It took over an hour but Betty Fordman confirmed to Lana all of last nights suspicions."

"Incredible"

Chloe agreed, "You can say that again."

Lex addressed Lana directly, "Was Betty Fordman able to tell you any details like where is Clark? Is he coming back? Where he is from? What is the story about this war?"

Lana with a weak smile said, "Yes except for the crying she talked non stop for over an hour. I think it was therapeutic in a way for her to have someone to talk to other than just the Kents." Lana slid off the truck's tailgate standing up and then gestured to Lex, "Sit down Lex and I will tell the whole conversation to the two of you."

Lex went over and sat down next to Chloe while Lana Lang paced back and forth in front of them. Neither of them interrupted Lana as she recounted the story that Betty Fordman told her. Betty Fordman confirmed their brainstorming session's conclusions about the mystery that was Clark Kent. Clark as a toddler had been in a space ship that had crashed near Smallville. The Kents found him and after calling in a favor from Lionel Luther to fake the paperwork had adopted and raised Clark Kent as their own. Clark had had incredible powers as a child and developed more as he grew up. All this power was why Clark Kent never was allowed to attend playgroups or birthday parties.

Finally Lana knew why even growing up beside each other as neighbors why the Kents were always polite but so reserved and reclusive. They lived in fear that someone would see Clark do something and they would lose their child to a government lab.

Then Clark grew into his teens he started to do the incredible rescues using his amazing powers. They never tried to stop Clark from saving people but the Kents had been scared to death that Clark using his powers so often in public would finally make a mistake and someone would figure out that there was some much more to Clark Kent than meets the eye.

Chloe and Lex finally knew why the Kents had been so unforgiving when it came to their individual investigations into the origins and activities of Clark Kent. The simple fact was the Kents lived every day with the fear that someone was going to someday appear and take their child away from them.

For a long time Lionel Luther, Lex, Chloe and even Virgil Swan had been the focus of that fear. Then the day that they had feared came; the Kent's nightmare of losing their son came true. It was however not from the expected investigation by the government or powerful men like Lionel Luther but from a completely unexpected area. The area turned out to not be the government or scientists but from outer space. One of Clark Kent's own relatives came looking for his nephew that was marooned on a planet he called Smallville. The blood relative was a warrior from a destroyed planet called Krypton.

The Kents couldn't even blame Thor-el for any of it. In taking their son away from Smallville and even to war Thor-el had saved his life. Betty Fordman didn't know the details but she had confirmed to Lana that if Clark Kent would have stayed on earth in a few weeks or even days he would have died. She couldn't tell Lana how but she did say that Whitney himself confirmed to her that Lana Lang was the reason that Clark had to leave earth. Somehow she had the power to kill Clark so he had to leave for his own safety. The irony and the guilt that came with that information was indescribable for Lana Lang. She still didn't know how but it was true. She was the reason that Clark Kent had to leave Smallville.

Again Betty Fordman didn't know exactly how but she told Lana that she was still a threat to Clark Kent. Which is why on those rare occasions that Clark did get home to Smallville to visit he always had to avoid her at all costs.

Betty Fordman told Lana the details behind the rescue of Whitney from the North Korean Gulag by Clark, Puss'n'Boots and Chuut Ritt. As Lana Lang sat with a cup of tea in hand Betty Fordman casually explained how three space aliens in a space ship who happened to be visiting the Kents in Smallville rescued Whitney. Then in tears Betty Fordman recounted to Lana how her crippled son told her he was going to the stars to fight with Clark Kent. What Betty Fordman didn't tell Lana was that Whitney was aging ten years for every earth year. Even with space aliens and galactic war Mrs. Fordman thought that fact was just too much for her son's first love to handle.

In rare visits home in between battles Whitney had told his mother everything about the war. So Betty Fordman outlined in detail the war for the galaxy between the Weave and the Clove. Now even as Lana repeated the story of the destruction of Krypton, death of Clark's parents, the galaxy wide war between the Weave forces of light and the Clove forces of darkness she still couldn't believe it on an emotional level. Oh, Lana knew it was true intellectually. There was too much evidence and independent collaboration but even if her brain did her heart still couldn't accept the truth.

Finally the incredible story of the teenage hero of Smallville came to an end. No one knew what to feel let alone say.

Lana stopped pacing and looked up at the sky. "I just can't believe it. The love of my life and my first love are somewhere up there in freaking outer space fighting a war."

Chloe was just shaking her head from side to side while Lex just stared off into the distance.

Lana in a pleading voice asked, "What do we do now?"

Chloe stopped shaking her head and looked up. "The only thing I know Lana is the biggest story off all time is never going to be published."

"I know what to do," Lex said as the girls both looked at him in disbelief.

"Lana remember what Clark's uncle told you to do at the Talon? He said to do great things. He said that we should all go do great things because Clark sure was doing great things. That is the answer that we are looking for. I know everything we had learned in the last day is overwhelming. After all here we are talking about it while standing in a field in Smallville. The best thing I can think of to do is exactly what Clark's Uncle the space alien advised."

Chloe just had to ask, "Do great things? This guy has an actual space ship that he travels the stars with and the best advice he has is to do great things. What the hell does that mean?"

Lana knew, "Chloe it means do what Clark Kent would do?"

"Ok, if I was a space alien I would know what that means when a space alien says it but I am just a junior reporter at the Daily Planet, you are a junior prosecutor at the district attorney's office and Lex is a tycoon? We are all doing ok but are we doing great things as defined by a space alien with super powers?"

Lex cut off Chloe's rant, "Chloe it means exactly what Lana said, do what Clark Kent would do. Clark might be a space alien but he is a space alien we all know. Besides I have a plan or instead of a real plan more like a goal."

That got Lana and Chloe's attention and Lex outlined his idea. "We are going to go to Metropolis and do good things. They might not always be great but they will be good. I have a debt to repay. It's a debt incurred by my father when he unleashed Lucas on Metropolis."

A confused Chloe asked, "Lex, what do you mean?"

Lana asked, "I think I know," she turned to Lex, "I have heard rumors in the district attorney's office about Lucas Luther being a lot more than just a ruthless business tycoon. There is talk of links to organized crime."

Lex shook his head, "I wish that just links were the extent of Lucas's involvement in organized crime. The truth is that Lucas Luthor is not just linked to organized crime but he is organized crime in Metropolis. I have reason to believe that Lucas is not just cooperating with Inter Gang but maybe actually be running Inter Gang."

Lana had head the rumors and having met Lucas Luther it didn't surprise her like it did Chloe who looked like she could be knocked over with a feather. "That's impossible Lex; everyone knows Morgan Edge runs Inter Gang."

"I know it's hard to believe Chloe but Morgan Edge is just a front man. I didn't want to believe it myself but it's the truth." Lex stood up from the tailgate of the truck and started to pace. "I have tried for years to make up for what my family has done both here in Smallville and Metropolis. However it has never been this bad. Lucas has even out done my father. I don't know if it is guilt or I am simply desperately seeking redemption but I want to take down Inter Gang." Lex very obviously gave them each a pointed look, "But I can't do it alone."

"You don't have to Lex." Lana softly said. "I am in the district attorney's office covering the legal side. Chloe is at the Daily Planet hot on the press. Pete will join us from the Mayor's office handling the political angle." Lex finished for her, "I can provide money, power and pressure in the grey areas where you three can't afford to get involved. So what do you guys say?"

Chloe just had to ask, "So Lex how grey is the grey areas you are going to be involved in?"

Lex just smirked, "I don't think you really want to know. After all I am a Luthor but maybe it takes a Luthor to take down a Luthor." Lex smiled at Chloe, " I can provide financing for anything, feed Lana evidence to take members of Inter Gang to trial, leak to you stories to play the media angles and with Pete in the Mayor's office helping to keep the politicians from interfering it won't be easy but we do have a chance to do great things."

Lex turned to the both of them. "I am going to do it anyway. Try my best to take down Lucas and Inter Gang. What we discovered over the last day is too incredible to think about so instead let's go back to Metropolis and start something else; something else that is great."

After their meeting in Chandler's field that day the trio continued to speak about Clark Kent and his incredible secret but only to each other. Lana, Lex and Chloe would have long discussions about Clark and speculate if he would ever return to Smallville but always with each other and only in person. They never risked discussing Clark's secret over the phone or in emails. The trio never avoided the Kents, Ryan or Pete but simply through mutual consent chose to not speak to them about how they solved the mystery of Clark Kent.

Later that day Lana, Lex and Chloe left Chandler's field and returned to Metropolis in Lex's helicopter. The trio returned to Metropolis on a mission. Three Musketeers of Smallville soon with the addition of Pete became the Four Musketeers. Upon return to Metropolis they put their plan against Inter Gang into action. With Pete from the political side, Chloe from the media side, Lana from the legal side and Lex in the shadows providing money and coving the grey areas Inter Gang for the first time began to really suffer.

They were doing it. The four of them were doing the great things that Thor-el had told Lana to do in the Talon the day of the twins and Ryan's high school graduation. As they took the fight to Inter Gang Lucas Luther naturally started to strike back but the four Musketeers of Smallville stuck together and watched as best they could each other's backs. They ignored the danger as they continued to attack organized crime in Metropolis.

Little did the Four Musketeers know how much attention their vendetta against Inter Gang was attracting. Attention that means danger!

Mean while 15 million light years away from Metropolis…….

To be continued as Part 47: Once a Hero……or Captain Clark Kent & Ensign Aisha vs the Planetary Pirates!