Night had fallen by the time Superman and Linda had returned to Smallville. As the cousins descended, their eyes fell on a familiar Chevy parked near the red truck. They landed softly on the gravel drive, and Superman quickly changed into his civilian clothes before the two of them headed toward the house. They were halfway there when Martha poked her head out the kitchen door.
"I thought I heard a familiar sound," she said, smiling. "How did everything go?"
"It went well," Linda replied. "Mom, when did Jimmy get here?"
"A couple of hours ago," Martha answered. "He left after work, then came here and helped your father with the chores. Your father's insides, but Jimmy said he'd hang out in the loft until you got back. Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes." She headed back in the house, the door gently banging shut.
"How did Jimmy know to come out here?" Linda asked, smiling slightly as she folded her arms, glancing at her cousin suspiciously.
"I...might have had Chloe mention you were having a rough time," Clark said, "and suggested he come for dinner-and the two of you could catch up on things." He tried looking innocent, but Linda saw the glimmer in his eyes.
"Thank you," she replied sincerely.
Clark grinned. "Go. I'll get you guys when dinner's ready." He headed toward the house as Linda made her way to the barn. She entered the building and quickly climbed the stairs to the loft.
Jimmy was lounging on the couch, wrestling playfully with Krypto, who yipped and squirmed, licking his face. Linda leaned against a nearby post, watching them with amusement as she crossed her arms. A few moments passed before Krypto looked over and spotted Linda; he barked and scampered over to her, jumping up and trying to lick her face.
"Hey, boy," Linda chuckled as she rubbed his head. She glanced over as Jimmy stood up and walked over and Krypto scampered down the stairs. "Hi."
"Hey," Jimmy said. "So, Clark said you had a rough time with Houdini this morning."
"'Tough' doesn't even begin to describe it," Linda replied. She tilted her head slightly. "What do you think?"
"Well, between what I know about your talent and your temper," Jimmy said, grinning, "I want to see those drawings."
"Really?" Linda asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Jimmy replied. "I mean, the guy lied to you, and now when the truth comes out, he doesn't even tell you everything he does know." He shrugged. "You've had more self-control dealing with him than I would."
"Just barely," Linda mumbled, her smile fading. "I seriously came close to losing it this morning."
Jimmy looked sympathetic. "So, how was the trip with Clark?"
"Not bad," Linda admitted. "It was nice to go somewhere and let loose without causing damage or hurting someone…."
"But?"
Linda shrugged. "I just kinda wish there was something a little closer to home, you know? I mean, actually getting there and back isn't the issue, but…," she sighed, trying to find the right words, "I don't know. It's like, ever since Spring Break, things have been...different. I feel different."
"Well, you are different," Jimmy replied, grinning. Linda raised an eyebrow, and Jimmy looked apologetic. "Sorry." He sighed. "Is there anything you wanna talk about?"
"Actually," Linda said slowly as she stood straighter, "there is something I'd like to finish talking about with you." Jimmy looked confused. "Do you remember the discussion we started last month when Clark interrupted us?"
Jimmy stared at her blankly, but after a few seconds his eyes slowly widened. "Oh, uh...that."
"Oh, hey, if you don't want to talk about it," Linda said quickly, looking embarrassed "that's fine. We haven't talked about it in weeks, so I guess I shouldn't expect us to just pick up where we left off like it was yesterday. In fact, we can just forget it ever happened. I'm sure you've probably forgotten everything I said anyway, so I guess it was stupid to even bring it up."
"Linda, it's fine," Jimmy reassured her. "I mean, yeah, I know we haven't really talked about it, but...I have been thinking about it."
"Really?" Linda asked. Jimmy nodded. "And?"
Jimmy took a deep breath and gently held her hands. "And I think you were right about us avoiding the obvious."
"And what do you think we should do about it?" Linda asked softly.
Jimmy shrugged. "I was thinking we should pick up where we left off," he suggested. He didn't wait for Linda to respond as he leaned in close to her. Their lips were about to brush when they heard Krypto barking loudly down below. Linda and Jimmy quickly pulled apart, startled, and they looked at each other for a second before hurrying down the stairs. They saw Krypto standing alert, growling softly as he faced Jonathan's workbench.
Linda lowered her glasses and focused hard on the bench. The bench dissolved until she could see right though the bench to the five skeletons huddled behind it. "We're not alone," she said softly to Jimmy. Jimmy's expression didn't falter, but he quickly grabbed the nearest object-a pitchfork-and held it defensively, tensing. Linda glanced at it, then looked up at Jimmy with an amused expression.
"Can't be too careful," Jimmy remarked, shrugging unapologetically. "Not all of us are bullet proof."
Linda couldn't argue with that logic as she turned back to the bench. "We know you're there," she said with a loud voice, "so you might as well come out."
"Ya ain't takin' us alive!" a male voice said.
"Scrapper, will you shut up?!" another male voice replied.
"Why don't you shut up?!"
"I'm not the one squealin' like a freakin' gangster!"
"That would be a first for you, motor mouth!"
"Will you both knock it off?" a third voice interjected.
As the arguing continued, Jimmy and Linda glanced at each other, amused. The voices sounded young, definitely not adults.
"Now what?" Jimmy asked as he lowered the pitchfork, keeping a tight grip on it.
Linda folded her arms, smirking. "I got this," she whispered. She cleared her throat loudly. "You guys might want to consider showing yourselves. We don't take too kindly to trespassers around here, especially my dog here-who also hasn't eaten since breakfast, and he's very hungry." There were a couple of yelps, then shuffling and voices, then Linda and Jimmy saw five pairs of hands slowly raise up from behind the bench, followed by five heads and bodies. "Come over here." Arms raised, they made their way slowly around the bench until Jimmy and Linda were able to see them clearly.
The first boy was short, with red hair sticking out from a dark green newsboys cap, an oversized sweater, pants, and shoes. The second boy, just as short as the first boy, had dark hair, big ears, brown eyes, and he was wearing a blue sweater, jeans, and black converse all-stars. The third boy had darker skin, brown eyes, black hair, and he wore jeans, green shirt, and black shoes. The fourth body wore a purple shirt, matching blazer over it, jeans, and black converse all-stars; he had dark hair and blue eyes. The fifth boy was taller than the others, but appeared to be the same age, with brown hair and eyes framed with glasses, gangly, wearing a three-piece suit and matching loafers. All of them eyed the dog with concern as Krypto growled.
"Now," Linda said sternly, "who are you? What are you doing here?" They appeared to be the same age as Jimmy and herself, but Linda had never seen them before. They certainly didn't look like any of the students at her Smallville High.
"We weren't doin' nothin'!" the first boy said. "We was just hidin'!"
"Hiding from what?" Jimmy asked, still gripping the pitchfork.
"Guys, he's lookin' at me like I'm a Triple Belly Flop," the third kid said as Krypto took a step toward him, growling.
"Krypto," Linda said, "that's enough. Down." Krypto's demeanor softened. "Go back to the house." The dog barked and ran out of the building. The boys looked relieved, then they remembered the two teenagers.
"So, you gonna answer my questions?" Linda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We, uh, we're new," the second boy answered casually. "We just moved here; started school this week."
Linda didn't need to telepathy to know they were lying. "Uh huh," she said unconvinced. "Well, seeing how I'm pretty familiar with the kids at my school, and you five would stick out like a sore thumb, why don't you try again?"
"You know, she's kinda hot when she's angry," the second boy whispered to his friends.
"I heard that," Linda replied, annoyed.
"I don't think our current predicament necessitates remarking about the physical attributes of our interrogator," the fifth boy retorted.
"You know, I think I've seen them before," Jimmy said slowly, peering at them. "You guys from Metropolis?"
"Not exactly," the third boy replied.
"Actually, more like under it," the second boy added.
"Gabby, shut it!" the red-head smacked him. He and the one named Gabby started wrestling with each other, while the other boys tried to pull them apart.
"Enough!" Linda shouted, and the boys froze, slowly looking over at her. "Now, if you guys are done acting like little children, why don't you tell us the truth? Who are you, what are you doing here, and what are you hiding from?"
"Probably from me."
Linda and Jimmy whirled around at the sound of the unfamiliar voice to see a large silhouette near the entrance. The figure came into the light, and their eyes widened a little. Standing before them was a man about six feet tall, with a muscular appearance, dressed in a black jumpsuit with a golden helmet and gauntlets, a black tactical belt that reminded Linda of Bruce's, and a side holster with a very advanced looking gun. He carried a large golden shield in his right hand and stared sternly at the teenagers.
"What the hell?" Jimmy whispered in shock. His expression looked to Linda like he had seen a ghost from the past. She faced the newcomer and squinted, changing her vision to penetrate his helmet, but she was met with no such luck. Lead lined, she thought to herself.
"Who the hell are you?" Linda demanded.
"Someone who doesn't have to answer the demands of a teenage girl," the man remarked. He looked at the five boys. "You boys are in major trouble, so I suggest you get back to your quarters." His eyes narrowed. "Now." The five boys wordlessly scrambled around the workbench and hurried out of the barn. He turned around to leave, but Linda was suddenly standing in front of him, glaring. "Stay out of this, young lady. This is none of your business." He tried to brush past her, but she put a hand on his chest, stopping him.
"You made it my business when you came onto my property," Linda replied. "Now, you better tell me what's going on before I make you."
The man shrugged and hung his head. "Well, if you insist," he muttered. He swung his shield, hiding her hard. Linda was thrown backwards across the barn and slammed against the far side of the barn. She grunted as she hit the dirt floor.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Jimmy said as he charged the man with his pitchfork. The man swiftly dodged and grabbed the long farm tool, yanking it hard. The momentum sent Jimmy sailing into one of the empty stalls and landing on a pile of boxes. He groaned as he slowly sat up, rubbing his head.
Linda was stunned as she slowly stood up. She didn't think the man had any abilities-that he was just some guy in a costume-but it was clear she had underestimated this stranger. She looked over when she saw Jimmy getting tossed aside, and she narrowed her eyes. She wouldn't underestimate the newcomer anymore. She blurred over and grabbed the man by his arms, but he easily broke from her grip and tossed her aside; she hit the tractor, denting it, before crumpling to the floor. She groaned slightly-more out of frustration than pain-as she rolled over onto her hands and knees. She looked up as the stranger walked over.
"Maybe that will teach you not to rush into things, young lady."
"Maybe," Linda growled, fighting every urge to not keep her emotions in control. She didn't know who this guy was or why he wanted those kids, but she was starting to feel about him the same way she felt about Zachary-but she forced herself not to fry him on the spot. She slowly stood up, trying to figure out what she could do without revealing herself. "Maybe not."
"Look, contrary to popular belief," the man said, "I don't want to hurt you or your boyfriend."
"You have a funny way of showing that. You want my trust, you tell me who you are."
"No dice."
Linda assumed a fighting stance. "Then we have a problem." The man waved the shield like a bullfighter, taunting her. Linda charged him again, but she quickly dropped and slid under his legs like a running sliding into base. She quickly got to her feet and crouched low, spinning and using a leg to sweep his feet out from under him. The man shouted as he fell back, his shield knocked from his grip; it skittered out of reach under the tractor. She walked over and stood over him, arms folded, looking smug. "And he's not my boyfriend. Now, talk."
The man scowled at her from behind his helmet, then he swiftly reached for his holster and drew his gun, aiming it right at the young girl. Linda's eyes immediately widened as she raised her hands and backed up slightly. She wasn't worried about getting hurt, but she didn't need him finding out her secret if he fired that gun. She never took her eyes off the gun as the man got to his feet.
"The only problem anyone has," he said, "is the one you're about to have." Linda tensed, but before he could pull the trigger, a bunch of hay bales suddenly fell on the man, knocking him down and burying him in a flurry of hay. The teenage girl looked up and saw Jimmy standing in the rafters, holding the rope to the hay pulley. She gave a grateful smile as he let go of the rope and hurried down the stairs to her.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Linda replied. "You?"
"I might have a small bump on the head," Jimmy replied, shrugging. He noticed her worried expression and grinned. "I've had worse, remember?"
"Don't remind me," Linda replied. She nodded at the hay bales, impressed. "Good thinking, but you know we're gonna have to clean this up later."
"Hey, I'd rather spill the hay than spill the beans," Jimmy said knowingly, putting a hand on her shoulder. Linda smiled gratefully before the both of them glanced down. "So, good cop, bad cop?"
"Only if I get to be the bad cop," Linda replied as she knelt down and started digging through the hay. A metallic sound caught her attention, and she looked down to see two metal pellets rolling out from the pile of hay. Before either she or Jimmy could react, the pellets exploded, and a blinding light flipped the building. Linda and Jimmy immediately covered their eyes with their arms. They flailed around, but couldn't see or feel anything. They don't know how long it lasted, but it seemed like forever before the light finally faded. Both teenagers slowly opened their eyes and blinked as their eyes readjusted to the dim lighting. They saw the pile of strewn hay on the ground, but the man and his shield were both gone.
"Where the hell did he go?" Jimmy asked, tensing as he looked around.
Linda tilted her head, listening for any breathing or heartbeat, but there was neither. "He's gone," she said, frowning.
(End of Chapter 2)