I apologize that it has been so long since my last update. I have no real excuse other than life and other stories getting in the way. But I will be updating on a more consistent basis from here on out.

Green Hal37: Indeed it was. Hmm, maybe he'd make a good Lex in the DCEU.

Guest: Honestly, Cavill's motivation was so horridly written I couldn't tell you what it was in the first place. He has the potential to make a good Superman but he needs better writers and a director that actually understands Superman.

The Daily Planet

Morning

Chloe was at her desk, working on her next article. She was so focused on typing that she didn't hear someone walk up behind her.

"How's my favorite reporter?" Chloe almost jumped at the sound of the voice.

"Jimmy, you scared me!" she exclaimed and Jimmy Olsen laughed.

"Sorry Bright Eyes," Jimmy apologized once he'd stopped laughing.

"It's okay. When did you get back into town?" Chloe inquired.

"Just now. Dropped my latest photos off with the chief, was heading out to get some breakfast. Wanna come with? As friends, of course," Jimmy added quickly, casing Chloe to smile.

"Jimmy, it's fine. We've been over for six months; you don't have to be so awkward around me. And I can't, I have to get this article done by noon," Chloe apologized as she returned to writing. "Maybe another time."

"Yeah, yeah sure," Jimmy said, trying not to let his disappointment show before he remembered something. "Oh, I ran into an old friend of yours. Lana Lang I think was her name?"

Chloe's hands paused mid typing for a fraction of a second. Someone who didn't know her as well as Jimmy wouldn't have caught the brief freeze, but he had. After a few moments, Chloe responded.

"Lana is not my friend. Not anymore," Chloe said in a clipped voice, not looking away from her computer.

Belle Reeve

Same time

"Thank you for coming Mr. Luthor," a doctor said as he led Lex down the hall.

"You said there had been a change in my father's condition?" Lex asked and the doctor nodded.

"We're really not sure how to explain it. As you know, your father was admitted here two years ago in some kind of psychosis, carving strange symbols into whatever surface he could find, going off on incoherent rants about someone he called Kal-El. He seemed to have no understanding of his surroundings or even know who he was," the doctor pointed out.

"I remember, I'm the one who had him admitted," Lex reminded the doctor.

"Well, that was until yesterday. There was...a development," the doctor said. "As I said, I'm not quite sure how to explain it."

"Explain what?" Lex asked, beginning to get confused.

Lex got his answer as they stopped in front of the two way mirror of his father's rom. Lionel, rather than a strait jacket, was wearing the uniform the other inmates of Belle Reeve were wearing. A tray of food was in front of Lionel and he was eating it, seeming to have no issue with the less than fine quality of his food.

"It's quite remarkable really. Yesterday morning, the orderlies came in and he was, well, for lack of a better word, sane. And, quite frankly, for a man with Lionel Luthor's reputation, it was rather peculiar how at ease he's been. I expected demands of confusion and threats. But he was…polite. Answered all our questions, he's been content to just let us go about our process," the doctor said, showing how alarming this turn of events was.

Lex was only half listening, looking at his father eating his meal in silence. He had long accepted that his father would never awaken from whatever psychosis his mind was trapped in. And now here he was, perfectly fine. As if sensing Lex's gaze, Lionel looked up from his food, seeming to meet Lex's eyes and smiled.

Lex hated not knowing things. Even more so when they had to do with his father.

"I wish I had the answers you wanted Lex," Lionel said as he and Lex sat across from each other at the visitor's center. "The last thing I remember, I had tracked Genevieve Teague down, hoping she had one of the stones. I was holding it and the next thing I remember is waking up in my room here. I'm told that I've been here for two years."

"When the room service went to clean Genevieve's room, they found you, carving symbols from the cave into the floor with a butter knife, muttering about someone called Kal-El," Lex pointed out and Lionel chuckled.

"I believe you may be looking for logic in the ramblings of a madman Lex. Whatever happened, I'm just grateful to finally be myself again," Lionel told him.

The words were meant to be reassuring, but to Lex's ears they just sound patronizing. Lex clenched his pants legs tightly before reigning himself in. He had learned at an early age that lashing out at his father never accomplished anything. If he wanted answers, he would need to play the long game.

"You know what, it doesn't matter," Lex said instead. "I have my dad back. So I'll sign whatever paperwork they need me to in order to get you out of here and then we'll have a steak lunch back at the mansion."

Metropolis

Afternoon

"So how's work at the Inquisitor?" Chloe asked as she and Lois sat down to lunch at a café.

"Interesting, as usual. My boss is having me look into some Robin Hood wannabe in Star City. They're calling him the Green Archer," Lois said, her voice giving away what she thought of that.

"That is a terrible nickname," Chloe agreed.

"Yeah. If it were me, I'd call him the Green Arrow," Lois said.

"Honestly Lo, why are you wasting your time with the Inquisitor? Just say the word, I can get you an interview with the chief," Chloe told her.

"As much as I'd love to work with Perry White, I don't wanna get by in life because of who my family is, I wanna make my own way in the world," Lois said in a tone that left no room for argument.

"Okay, I get it. Just know if you ever change your mind, the offer is always open," Chloe assured Lois.

"I know. And I love you for it, but I'm fine," Lois said and there was a comfortable silence between them for a moment. "Speaking of the Daily Planet how is work?"

"Same old same old, I just handed in my latest article on Lex Luthor's latest military project," Chloe said and Lois rolled her eyes.

"Great, more of Luthor Jr's 'humanitarian work'," Lois put quotations around those last two words.

"Well, at least you didn't have to write it," Chloe said disgruntled before deciding to change topics. "Speaking of Smallville, Jimmy told me he ran into Lana today."

"Lana, as in Lana Lang?" Lois said in surprise and Chloe nodded. "Considering what happened last time you two saw each other, I'm surprised she had the courage to show her face again."

"It's not like I have ownership of Metropolis and Smallville. There's no law that says she can't come here," Chloe pointed out.

Even so, she admitted that Lois had a point. After their last conversation, Chloe had not expected Lana to ever step foot in the same state after graduation. They had not left things on good terms.

Smallville sheriff station, two years ago

Night

Chloe sat in a chair, a blanket around her as Lois held her, the bruises from Jason's hand around her throat clearly visible. Mr. and Mrs. Kent were talking to the sheriff, giving their statements.

The cover story the Kents and Chloe had come up with was that Jason had broken into the farm, using a gun, to threaten the three of them. He forced Chloe to tie up the Kent and then threatened to shoot Chloe, believing they had access to some imaginary stones. As his grip on sanity began to slip, Jason choked Chloe but Jonathan then broken free, tackling Jason and getting him away from Chloe. During the struggle, Jason had broken his arm by banging it on a wooden pillar that shattered. Jonathan had managed to grab the gun from Jason and struck him with the barrel, knocking him out. Jason's claims that Clark had been there and had some kind of powers only made him look crazier, especially since Jonathan, Martha and Chloe all denied this claim.

"You okay cuz?" Lois asked gently.

"As okay as I can be when you survive a psycho trying to kill you," Chloe attempted to joke but it sounded shaky even to her own ears.

"Chloe?"

The cousins looked up to see Lana staring there, looking horrified as she saw the bruises on Chloe's neck.

"I heard there was an attack on the Kent Farm. Who did that to you?" Lana asked in shock.

"That would be your loving boyfriend," Lois said, her voice cold as Lana looked taken back.

"Jason? No, he wouldn't, couldn't," Lana stammered in disbelief.

"Yes Lana, he could and he did," Chloe asked, suddenly filled with anger. "And you led him right to us."

"What? What are you talking about?" Lana asked in confusion.

"Between his crazy ramblings, Jason mentioned that you filled him in on us. You basically set him loose on me and Clark," Chloe said angrily.

"I didn't know he would go after you," Lana tried to defend herself.

"You saw how he was growing more and more obsessed with these stones Lana. You're not stupid, what did you think was gonna happen?" Chloe demanded.

"It's not the first time you've sent a psycho after someone innocent either, is it?" Lois sneered and Lana looked confused. "You and Jason suck the entire town on Alicia. I've been all over the world as an army brat, thought I'd seen the worst hatred imaginable. But what you did to that girl…it takes the cake."

"Alicia had tried to kill me before!" Lana argued.

"And a year ago, you tried to kill me," Chloe said coolly and Lana looked like she had been slapped. "And after what we did to Clark when those witches took us over, you of all people should understand what we do when we aren't in our right minds."

"That's hardly the same thing Chloe. And if I recall it, you are just as guilty as me, I didn't see you championing for Alicia,' Lana shot back.

"You're right," Chloe acknowledged. "I am just as guilty as the rest of you for crucifying Alicia without any evidence. I'll regret that forever. But at least I'm willing to admit it. At least I'm willing to take responsibility for the pain I've caused. When will you take responsibility for what you've done? Did you even go to see Clark after Alicia died?"

Lana didn't answer but the truth was written all over her face. Chloe simply looked at Lana with a face full of disgust, the illusion that Lana was still the girl she had shared a room with now shattered.

"Not sure why you even have to ask. Since I set foot in this town, all I've seen her do is treat you and Clark like crap. You don't care about anyone or anything but yourself Lana. So why don't you get out of here, you're not welcome here," Lois said angrily.

Lana stood there for a moment, waiting for Chloe to say anything. But Chloe just stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to leave. So, after a moment, she turned around and walked away, leaving the station without a look backwards.

Metropolis

Now

"Chloe?" Lois asked, breaking Chloe out of her thoughts.

"Right, sorry," Chloe apologized. "What were you saying?"

"This talk of Lana and Lex…makes me think of Smallville. Not the town," Lois clarified and Chloe smiled sadly.

"I know. I think of him every say. I miss him," Chloe admitted sadly.

"Me to. But he hasn't come back or tied to contact anyone in two years. I don't think we'll ever see Clark again," Lois admitted, seeming sad by the prospect.

Luthor Mansion

Night

In the guest room, Lionel was getting ready for bed. He was buttoning up his night shirt when he felt a breeze behind him. He smiled, knowing who it was.

"I knew I'd see you soon," Lionel said as he turned around.

Clark Kent stood before him, but it was no longer Clark Kent. Gone was the red and blue plaid. Clark stood dressed from head to toe in black. He had on black pants with matching black shoes. A black trench coat covered a black t-shirt that had the house of El symbol on it. And his face was expressionless, his eyes cold.

"It's good to see you son," Lionel greeted warmly.

"You're not my father," Clark said coolly.

"No, but I am his Emissary. Which you obviously know, otherwise you wouldn't be here," Lionel noted.

"Jor-El told me to seek you out if I ever needed wisdom. He said that my training at the fortress was over. The remainder of my training was to be done out in earth," Clark said and Lionel nodded.

"You feel it to, don't you?" Lionel said knowingly and Clark nodded.

"Something's coming. My father sent me out into the world because it's going to need protecting," Clark said.

"Yes. And I fear you may be the only one capable of protecting it," Lionel said grimly.

So, it's been two years since the events of the previous chapter. Since we're dealing with a more emotionally detached Clark here, it felt like a pretty natural direction for the story of him undergoing his training with Jor-El. Over the next few chapters, we'll get little tidbits of information on what's been happening with the other characters and how they got to where they are now.

Not entirely proud of the flashback scene, but I hope you guys enjoyed it.

And honestly, what Chloe and Lois said to Lana is how I view her character. The first two seasons she was good, she also wasn't so bad in the third aside from a few moments here and there. But onwards, she just becomes completely self-obsessed and focused on what her needs are above those of the people around her. Even when she's trying to help her friends, her actions have as much self-interest as they do kindness. And as the show progresses, she just gets worse and worse but no one ever calls her out because the writers absolve her of all guilt.