MERCY
*Lana and Chloe's dorm room*
It had been two weeks since Clark and Lana broke up. Chloe didn't understand it then and doesn't now. Lana has never given her a clear reason why she did it or at least one Chloe had believed. At first, Chloe was just upset at how Lana could break Clark's heart and then go to Lex. However, being a reporter that she was, she thought something didn't add up. That there was something she was missing in all of this. So, she spent the next couple of weeks studying Lana closely and had come to some conclusions, which she planned on sharing with Lana very shortly.
Lana got up from her chair after finishing a conversation on the phone. "I'm going out." Lana told Chloe, grabbing her car keys.
"Where are you going?" Chloe wanted to know.
"To see Lex." Lana replied.
"Why?" Chloe immediately asked.
"Because he's my boyfriend Chloe. Do I need another reason?" Lana firmly said.
"Oh, right, boyfriend. Even though you're still in love with someone else." Chloe said and turned back to her books.
"What are you talking about?" Lana said, walking up to Chloe.
"I'm talking about your necklace." Chloe pointed to it, under Lana's sweatshirt. Which Lana had made a habit of wearing not to give anything away.
"What about it?" Lana asked.
"It's only the present Clark gave you for Christmas. Why would you wear it if you didn't love him? In fact, why would you wear it if you moved on, like you claim?" Chloe questioned Lana.
"It's none of your business." Lana sternly told her.
"You're right, it isn't my business. It's yours and Clark's business." Chloe paused and stood up out of her chair. "Please Lana, stop this and tell me what's going on here. I know when you're being less than truthful and I know you still love him. Don't do this anymore, not to him and not to yourself." Chloe pleaded as Lana looked sadly into her eyes.
"I have to go." Lana turned and walked out. Chloe dejectedly watched her go. Then grabbed her keys and hurried out the door.
*Kent House*
Clark walked downstairs, still trying to find himself. He knew what he had to do, but he really didn't know if he could do it. If he could defeat Fine by himself, not without her. Then there was the Lionel problem, which he still didn't tell his mom about. Martha then walked in from the living room. 'Now is as good a time as any.' Clark thought.
"Hey honey." Martha said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"There's something we need to talk about." Clark said, in a worried tone.
"Okay, what is it?" Martha asked, catching onto Clark's tone.
"He knows." Clark whispered.
"Who knows?" Martha replied confused.
"Lionel knows my secret." Clark told her and Martha looked away sadly.
"It's my fault." Martha said, looking back to Clark.
"What?" Clark didn't understand how it could be her fault.
"A month ago, I got a letter telling me that if I didn't give up a million dollars your secret would be exposed. There was a tape and Lionel found out it. He promised to take care of it and i let him." Martha said, putting her face in her hands.
"It's okay mom, you didn't know." Clark tried to reassured her.
"But I should have known. If your father was here, he would have." Martha told him.
"I miss him too mom, but he isn't here and we have to deal with this by ourself." Clark explained and Martha nodded.
"You're right and don't worry, I can handle Lionel." Martha said, getting up and grabbing her brief case.
"Love you mom." Clark smiled and Martha smiled back.
"Love you too honey." Martha said and then left.
*Lionel's Limo*
Lionel is talking on his cell phone as his Limo drives. "That is unacceptable, I don't pay you for effort. I pay you for results." Lionel told the person. "I know you have a family, but we don't make money by keeping workers out of pity. Now get the job done or look for another job." Lionel hangs up his cell phone and then suddenly the Limo stops, right on train tracks. Lionel looks confused as he see's the driver window go up and his tv go on.
"Hello Lionel." A man on the tv said. The man has a mask on.
"Alex! Alex!" Lionel shouts, trying to get his driver's attention.
"Alex won't be returning." The man said.
"Where is he? What did you do to him?" Lionel asked.
"That's not important Lionel. What is important is saving yourself from the train that is about to cross these tracks." The man explained, Lionel noticed all the doors were locked.
"How do I get out of here?" Lionel wanted to know.
"Playing a simple game of hang man." The man replied and a picture came on the screen, two words were shown. "You have five chances Lionel, solve the word and you're free, get your guesses wrong, then you die."
"I don't play games." Lione told him.
"Today you do, now i suggest you hurry up." The man told him.
"O." Lionel said and O appeared as one of the letters. "I." A head appeared. "H." A body appeared. "L." An arm appeared and Lionel heard the sound of the train. "W." Another arm appeared.
"Come on Lionel, it's something you taught me." The man said and Lionel finally understood.
"E." It appeard as one of the words. "M." It appeared as well and the train was getting closer. "No Mercy. No Mercy!" Lionel said and the word appeared. The doors then unlocked and Lionel escaped before the train destroyed his limo.
*An hour later, Lex's mansion*
Lex is sitting at his desk, awaiting Lana, when Lionel storms in. "Why did you do it Lex?" Lionel asked. Lex looked at up him confused.
"Do what dad?" Lex questioned him.
"Kill my driver and try to kill me." Lione wanted to know.
"Kill you and your driver? Why would I do that?" Lex wanted to know.
"With our history I wouldn't put it pass you." Lionel said. Lex smiled and walked to him, putting his hand on Lionel's shoulder.
"Dad, you're the CEO at LuthorCorp, you make me money. I wouldn't do anything to put that in danger. Sure, you've tried to take LuthorCorp back and tried to kill me. But you're still my dad and I wouldn't kill you, you're too valuable." Lex explained and Lionel nodded his head in shock, because he knew Lex was right.
*Lex's Mansion*
Lana walks in as Lex is sitting down in a chair playing chess. "Take a seat." Lex motioned to the seat in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Lana asked him.
"Playing chess. It's a very interesting game. The winner of the game is always the one with the best strategy, the best game plan to win. It's about positioning your pieces in the correct spots and then preparing to attack." Lex paused to look up at Lana. "What do you do think is the most important piece?" Lex said, staring at Lana.
"I have no clue." Lana replied.
"The queen." Lex then paused. "See the key to winning is taking out the king and the most important thing to the king, is the queen means everything to the king. Without the queen, the king becomes an easy target." Lex explained, obviously with a hidden meaning.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Lana said, catching on.
"Why would it mean anything, besides some insight on chess?" Lex wanted to know.
"Because everything you say has a hidden meaning Lex. I've known you long enough to have picked up on that." Lana told him.
"And I suppose you think that has something to do with you and Clark, right?" Lex asked.
"Sure sounds like it." Lana said, her arms folded.
"Maybe it does, but it shouldn't matter. You're with me now and Clark is of little interest to me." Lex continues to speak as Chloe walks quietly in the hallway. She hears Lex talking and assume Lana's in there, so she goes as close as he can to the door, listening to what he's saying. "As much as you might feel dislike toward me Lana. I, on the other hand feel love for you. So no, I would not hurt Clark, as long as you keep up your end of the deal." Lex explained, Chloe looked confused.
"What deal?" Chloe whispered to herself.
"I would never break our deal. I love Clark more than life itself and I would never allow you to reveal his secret. I will protect Clark's secret with my life." Lana said, glaring at Lex.
"Oh my God." Chloe whispered in shock. 'Now it all made sense. The way she had been acting, the necklace, the seemingly unhappiness that had hovered over her.' Chloe thought, fighting the urge to run in there and kill Lex. Lex's phone rings and he see's that it is Fine.
"I'm sorry Lana, we'll have to continue our chess lesson late. You can see yourself out." Lex said and Lana gladly got up. Chloe heard her coming and quickly made her way out as well.
*Lionel's office in LuthorCorp*
One of Lionel's security men are checking for devices in Lionel's office. Lionel is watching him very closely as he does. "Make sure there is nothing here. If there is and you don't find it. The next job you have will be as a hotdog vendor." Lionel told him as the man continued.
"Nothing here." His security man told him.
"Good, now I must get to work." Lionel said, the man nodded and left. Lionel went to his desk and opened his laptop, when the lights went out.
"A hotdog vendor? Same old Lionel, always demanding perfection and threatening his workers jobs." A man, who was the same from the limo said.
"Which is why I've become successful. I challenge my workers, face to face. Speaking of which, why don't you come out and face me, man to man." Lionel challenges him, while grabbing his gun.
"Okay Lionel." The man said. Lionel got up and started looking around, when he got hit from behind. The man with the mask, stood over a fallen Lionel.
*Unknown Area*
Lionel woke up to find himself in sort of a cage. He could feel the heat underneath him as got up, also noticing a long pole with two buckets on each end. Lastly, he turned his head up and saw a TV screen. Then suddenly the mask man appeared on the TV screen. "Funny, how you pay so much for security, yet in the end the whacko who's coming after you is still able to kidnap you." The man said.
"Am I here to play another game of hang man?" Lionel asked in sarcasm.
"No, but we will be playing games." The man replied and then began again. "See the pole with the two buckets?" He asked.
"Yes." Lionel replied.
"Well, to escape this room you're going to need to place the pole on the bolder in behind you." The man explained.
"What's the catch?" Lionel asked instinctively knowing there was one.
"The catch is, not falling into the fire below you as you try to place the pole on the holder. The buckets are filled with gasoline oil, so I guess you can imagine what might happen if you drop some in the fire below you. Oh and one more thing, there's a time limit. Let's hope for your sake you do better than your limo driver." The man explained, then the screen went blank and the floor in front of Lionel began to slowly open. Lionel quickly put the pole on his bench, stepping slowly onto each step. Finally making it on the last one, carefully inching to the edge as he tried to place the pole on it's holder. Finally he was able to do so, making the floor stop opening and also opening a door.
*Kent House*
Clark is sitting on the couch watching TV, when the phone rings. He walked to the counter and picked it up. "Hello?" Clark said.
"Yes, I was wondering if I could speak to Senator Kent." The man on the other end asked.
"I'm sorry, she went to a meeting." Clark replied.
"Well, if you're talking about the meeting she had today with me at noon, then she never showed up." The man informed Clark.
"What do you mean she never showed up?" Clark asked, now filled with concern.
"I've been waiting at her office for over three hours now and she never came." The man said as Clark face now turned to anger.
"Ok, thank you." Clark said, then hung up the phone before superspeeding away.
*Daily Planet*
Chloe sat her desk, trying to wrap her around what was going on. 'I can't believe she would do that.' Was Chloe's first thought, then it turned to. 'Wow, Lana is so brave, I can't begin to understand how much courage it would have taken me to do that.' Then, of course she asked herself the usual question. 'What am I going to do? Should I tell Clark? Or wait to talk to Lana?' That last thought was interrupted by Clark walking in and up to her desk. "Hey Clark." Chloe said, putting on a smile.
"Hey…." Clark replied, obvious by the look on his face that he came her for an important reason.
"Is something wrong?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, my mom didn't show up for any of her meetings today." Clark informed Chloe.
"Maybe she just forgot or decided to take a day off." Chloe threw out there, knowing it would be immediately shot down.
"Chloe, my mom doesn't miss appointments and considering the conversation we had today, I'm not going to take any chances." Clark sternly told her.
"What conversation?" Chloe questioned him and Clark then remembered that he failed to Chloe that Lionel knew his secret.
"Well…" Clark paused looking away before turning back to Chloe. "I told her that Lionel knew my secret." Clark confessed as Chloe looked at him in shock, putting her hand over her mouth.
"How long has known?" Chloe wondered.
"I don't know, all I know is that when I was injected with that hallucination drug at Met U my dad came to me and told me that Lionel knew. For how long, I really don't know, but I imagine he's known for a while now." Clark explained.
"You know, I yearn for the days when there was actually some good news to give to each other." Chloe sighed.
"Me too." Clark replied with a sad look.
"So the obvious question is what are you going to do? Or maybe even more obvious of a question, what does he want?" Chloe asked with her hands on her hip.
"I don't know, but I don't think we can afford another enemy. I feel like the walls are closing in, that my enemies are surrounding around me and everyone I love." Clark said with obvious concern in his eyes for the situation they were in.
"You know Clark, considering how bad things seem to be right now. I think we should consider letting Jor-el help us." Chloe suggested, trying to get a gauge on Clark's reaction.
"I'm thinking we don't have much of a choice either. I just don't want to go to him, because I know this is what he wants." Clark said, looking defeated.
"Listen, I know what he's done hasn't been right. But he is your biological father and a part of me believes that he truly loves you. Maybe all of this has just been one big test to get you ready for what's coming. I don't know Clark, I just…we need help." Chloe said throwing her hands up as Clark looked on, knowing she's right.
"I know, I know….." Clark gave in and began again. "I'll think about it after we find out where my mom is." Clark said and Chloe nodded.
"Do you think Lionel did something to her?" Chloe asked.
"For some reason I get the feeling he didn't. Lionel's always had a thing for my mom and besides that, if he did take her, we would have known by now." Clark told her.
"You're probably right, so where does that leave us?" Chloe wanted to know.
"Well, I'm going to go talk to him." Clark replied.
"But I thought you said you didn't think he took her?" Chloe said with confusion.
"I did, but Lionel being Lionel, he always knows something." Clark said, turning to walk away. When Chloe suddenly remembered Lana.
"Clark!" Chloe yelled out and he turned around.
"Yeah?" Clark said and then Chloe thought she better talk to Lana before she did anything.
"Be careful." Chloe told him and he gave a little smile.
"I will." Clark then turned around and left as Chloe sighed.
*LutherCorp*
Lionel's office is empty, with security tape around the door entrance to keep people out. Only Lex stands inside looking around, as if he's looking for some sort of hint or just thinking. Clark then walks in under the tape and Lex turns to him. "Clark, what are you doing here?" Lex questioned him.
"I'm looking for your dad. I need to talk to him." Clark informed him.
"About what?" Lex wanted to know, Clark stared at Lex for a second, deciding if he should tell him.
"I wanted to ask him if he saw my mom today." Clark said with concern in his eyes.
"Your mom isn't by any chance missing, is she?" Lex asked and Clark looked at him curiously.
"Why would you ask that?" Clark wanted to know.
"Because so is my dad." Lex told him.
"Do you think someone took them both?" Clark questioned Lex.
"I wouldn't doubt it, but the question is who." Lex said, pacing around the room.
"Should I even bother asking who want to do this to your dad or should we just skip to the part where I ask when the last time someone saw your father was?" Clark sighed.
"The last time he was seen was in his office earlier today. He brought in his people to check for bugs, but they couldn't find anything and no one saw anyone come in or out of the office besides him." Lex explained.
"Doesn't your dad have cameras in here?" Clark said, looking around.
"No, my dad wanted one place where he could just think and do deals, without cameras." Lex said.
"Also makes it easier to do illegal deals." Clark muttered.
"That's true, but we can put him on trail some other time." Lex said and Clark nodded, remembering the bigger task at hand.
"Mind if I look around?" Clark asked Lex.
"Be my guest, I've always known Clark Kent to be quite the blood hound." Lex said with a grin which Clark ignored and began to look around with his x-ray vision. Eventually Clark comes across a statue and saw a device in it.
"I think I found something." Clark said walking up to the statue. "Was this statue always chipped?" He asked Lex as Lex walked up to the statue.
"No, my dad would never let anyone touch this statue, it's priceless to him." Lex said looking up at Clark and Clark gave him a look. Then Lex picked up the statue and threw it to the ground. When the statue broke their was a device laying on the floor.
"Someone was watching him." Clark pointed out, staring at the device.
"Or watching his movements, this device gives off some type of signal." Lex explained.
"I need to get this to Chloe, so she can help us find our parents." Clark told him sternly.
"If she can help, then go." Lex said and Clark began to walk away. "Wait." Lex said, Clark turned to Lex and Lex threw him his keys. "Take my car, it's faster." Clark nodded and walked away. Lex's face is filled with mixed emotion.
*Unknown Area*
Lionel walked through the door to see Martha being kept in a giant glass container. "Martha! Martha!" Lionel yelled hurrying to her and banging on the glass. Martha tried to talk, but it was of no avail. Lionel then looked around to see the mystery man on a T.V. monitor. "LET HER GO, she isn't involved in this." Lionel shouted with anger.
"Of course she is. Everyone involved with you and your ways is involved in this. Haven't you understood that yet?" The man asked him.
"I'm the one you want." Lionel told him.
"No, Lionel, I don't want you, I want justice for you and everyone around him. That includes you, now stop wasting your time begging for her life and get her out of there before the water fills up." The man informs Lionel as water begins to fill the container.
"What do I need to do?" Lionel wanted to know.
"Solve the puzzle." The man said pointing to the puzzle. Lionel looked at the puzzle, confused at first. He had no wonder, but Martha did, she would give him hand signals. Soon he would start to get some right, but the water kept amounting and amounting. He was coming very close, but the water had reached the top. Martha was now under water, Lionel began to press, but he put the words together and shouted out the answer. The glass broke and Martha fell to the ground.
"Martha, are you alright?" Lionel asked with concern. Martha caught her breath and nodded.
"Do you know who this is?" Martha questioned him.
"No, I don't. I'm sorry to say that it could be a number of people." Lionel confessed.
"How did we get out of here?" Was Martha's next question.
"Interesting question Mrs. Senator." The man on the screen appeared again. "There's only one test left. Much like the many test Lionel would put his own son through, during the years of his life to toughen him up. Imagine that, willing to destroy your own son, until he becomes the man you are." The man explained as Lionel turned to Martha with remorse.
"Lionel….." Martha said, somewhat sadly at the look on his face.
"He's right Martha. I have turned my own into the person I am or was. There's nothing worse than looking into the eyes of your son and seeing the monster you created. Just like my father did to me." Lionel told her.
"You can talk to Lex, maybe you can help him." Martha encouraged him.
"I'm no Jonathon Kent, I don't have it in me. Even if I could, he's no Clark and wouldn't understand. We're Luthers and nothing can change that." Lionel said with conviction in his face.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you two should know that the floor is about to be electrocuted and to move in the chamber in front of you for your finally test." The man told them as Martha and Lionel hurried into the chamber. "Good job, now here's your chance to escape." Two guns appear out of the wall on holsters. "The first person to kill the other will get to leave." The man announced. Martha looked on in horror as Lionel had a knowing look.
"I didn't expect to leave here alive." Lionel said, taking his gun as Martha continued to look in horror at Lionel.
"Lionel, please don't do this. Let us out of here." Martha shouted.
"He has to pay for his crime. I lost everything because of his games." The man said.
"Is that what you want? " Lionel asked and began again. "Fine, it is my fault and I'm the one who's going to have face that the rest of my life.
"That's all I wanted to hear." The man proclaimed. Suddenly, they both felt a gust of wind and Clark was standing in front of the chamber.
"Clark." Martha said, almost knowing.
"Let's get you out of here." Clark rips apart the caged fence.
*Chloe and Lana's Dorm room*
"Your welcome, you know I love always helping….I'm glad their okay…..Yeah, I might need to talk to you later…..See ya super farm boy." Chloe hang up her cell, when Lana walked through the door. Chloe walked up to Lana. "Lana…." She began, not knowing what to say.
"Yes." She responded, turning to Chloe. Then Chloe suddenly brings her into a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry, I should have known. I'm sorry for everything I said and just everything in general." Chloe confessed as Lana was in shock.
"What are you talking about?" Lana questioned her.
"I was at Lex's and I heard him talk about the deal you two made. Lana, I can't begin to say how much I admire your courage and strength." Chloe said as Lana, face grimaced at the thought of Lex and the deal she made.
"Chloe…I…." Lana didn't know what to say.
"It's okay, but we have to tell Clark." Chloe said, but Lana shook her head furiously.
"No, we can't tell Clark, this my decision and my choice." Lana explained, breaking away from Chloe's hug and walking to the window.
"Lana, you can't do this by yourself. This is dangers, what if he tries to hurt you." Chloe questioned her.
"I don't care what he does to me. This isn't about me this is about Clark and his future." Lana responded, still staring out the window.
"But Lana…." Chloe began before Lana stopped her.
"No butts Chloe, you have to promise me you won't tell him. I mean really promise me." Lana said with emphasis as she turned to Chloe.
"You can't ask me to promise you something like that." Chloe said, becoming emotional and Lana approached Chloe.
"I know what I'm asking you. Just listen to me, I love Clark more than anything in the world. I'm willing to sacrifice anything for that love, including myself. I know this may sound dumb, but I'm just a girl who grew up in Kansas and a photo on Time Magazine. I'm nothing more than that Chloe, Clark is going to save the world and the least I can do is make that happens. That's not going to happen if the world knows his secret and I'm not going to allow that. If that cost me my life, then so be it." Lana explained as Chloe looked up her sadly and admirably.
"Okay…" Chloe reluctantly agreed.
"Thanks and could you promise me one other thing?." Lana said and they hugged again.
"Sure." Chloe agreed again.
"Promise that you'll be there for him and you won't let him give up. That you'll help him get over me and on with his life?" Lana asked.
"I'll do my best." Chloe replied.
"I know you will, I know." Lana said as they hugged each other tightly.
*Clark's Loft*
Clark is standing in his loft, looking in the stars. Mostly thinking about how bad things are screwed up. "I never get someone with your abilities always stayed locked up in this loft." Lionel said as Clark turned around to see him standing there.
"Because there's a lot on ones mind with who possesses these abilities. For example, what they should do with someone they don't trust knowing their secret." Clark said, obviously talking about Lionel.
"Yes, well, you don't need to worry about that. You should know by now that if I wanted something I would have already called in the favor." Lionel explained and Clark still didn't look impressed.
"How long have you known?" Clark asked.
"Ever since I held the stone that turned me into Jor-el. It actually made me see the light, so to speak." Lionel told him.
"Yeah….." Clark responded.
"I know you can't trust me Clark, but I'm going to ask to you anyways. I think we can help each other." Lionel admitted.
"You have a son Lionel, if you want to help anyone, help him. As for my mother, I don't know what you want with her, but I'm warning you to tread carefully." Clark announced and walked past Lionel as Lionel watched him leave.
*Lex's mansion, an hour later*
Lex is on the phone when Lionel walked in, Lex saw Lionel and hung up the phone. "Dad, glad to see you're okay." Lex said, some what sincerely.
"Yes, I'm glad to be okay. Although, it would have been nice to find the person who was responsible for this." Lionel said and Lex nodded.
"Do you have clue who it was?" Lex wanted to know.
"No, I don't, but he made me realize my sins." Lionel confessed.
"Oh really." Lex said, some what surprised and not believing.
"And where I really screwed up most was with my own son." Lionel said, looking at Lex with a remorseful look. "I turned I tried being tough with you, because that was the only way I knew how. After Julian Died, I became unable to love and then your mom died. The woman I loved, who hated me, resented me for what I done. I was unable to be there for you, to help you and I just went the other way. I thought maybe if you toughened up, you would be able to change and become who I wasn't." Lionel emotional explained to Lex.
"Come on dad, we're Luthers. This is who we are, we want money and power. We seek knowledge and to become the best." Lex told his father with confidence.
"Yes, that's who I am, but it didn't have to be who you are." Lionel once again said and took Lex's face in his hand. "It should have been different." Lionel said, staring into Lex's eyes and then walked away, stopping at the door. Putting his on the wall to hold himself up, overcome with emotion. "I love you son." Lionel said before leaving as Lex stared in shock toward the door unable to move.
*The Caves*
Clark stood in the caves, key in hand, staring at the chamber. Kal-el…" Jor-el called. Kal-el…" He called again. Clark then super speeded away.
Looking for something ive never seen
Alone and im in between
The place that im from and
The place that im in
A city ive never been
I found a friend or should i say foe
Said just a few things you should know
We dont want you to see
We come and we go
Here today, gone tomorrow
Were only taking turns
Holding the world
Its how its always been
When youre older, you will understand
If I say who I know it just goes to show
You need me less than I need you
Take it from me
We dont give sympathy
You can trust me trust nobody
But I said you and me
We dont have honesty
The things we dont want to speak
Ill try to get out but I never will
Traffic is perfectly still
Were only taking turns
Holding this world
Its how its always been
When youre older you will understand
And again maybe you dont
And again maybe you wont
When youre older
You might understand
When youre older
You might understand