Chapter 3

Chloe was almost ready to start her first day at the Daily Planet. She was running back and forth, trying to remember where she put her keys. She was starting to panic thinking she was going to be late. She thought of calling Clark to come and X-ray the place before deciding against it. Maybe she shouldn't call him to come save the day on every little thing.

Speaking of the devil, she felt a gush of wind behind her. Chloe grinned, since he was here maybe he could help her after all. Turning around, she was stunned to see her cousin, Lois right there along with him. Her jaw dropped as her mind tried to catch up with what her eyes her seeing.

"Clark," she finally found her voice. "What uh, what's going on?"

"Hey Chloe," he said grinning. "I'm assuming you mean Lois being here. There...are some things we need to talk about."

Chloe looked over at Lois who just smiled and waved before turning back to Clark. "Clearly."

"Can it wait though, I'm running late and can't find my keys. I don't want to be late for my first day, but trust me, all three of us will be having this conversation."

Clark X-rayed the apartment for her keys, knowing how much the Daily Planet meant to Chloe. Seeing, no sign of her keys, he then turned to her purse. Smiling he said, "Choe, they're in your purse."

"What? I already checked my purse. If they were there I would be out the door already."

"Did you check the side pocket?"

Chloe unzipped the side of her purse. Low and behold, there were her keys. She pulled them out and looked up at Clark. "What? I thought I checked there."

"You must have missed it the first time."

"What's up with the glasses?" She asked, just noticing them.

"That is one of the things that we wanted to talk to you about." Lois spoke up for the first time.

"Okay but I'm already running late. We're going to have to talk about this later." Chloe could tell there was more going on that just Lois being let in on the Kent secret. She couldn't quite figure out what that was but she knew it was probably going to be a lengthy discussion.

"Yeah, have a good first day cuz," Lois said smiling.

"Let us know when you get off and we can have that talk." Clark told her.

"Right, I'll call you." Chloe opened the door and all three of them walked out into the hall. " I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a conversation."

"Better believe it," Lois said.

Chloe locked her door and left while Lois and Clark discussed what to do next. It was decided that Clark would go and meet with Milton Fine, aka Brainiac. He would stay as close to Fine as he could for the time being, to keep an eye on him. Lois meanwhile, would work on trying to get a job at the Inquisitor. It would be a place to start while trying to get into the Planet.

Clark went to attend his first day of class at Central Kansas University. He had originally enrolled here to continue helping his family on the farm. It was also where he met Milton Fine. When it was revealed that Fine had powers like him, he believed that Fine wanted to help him. He soon found out that it was all a trick to get him to open the phantom zone so Zod could take over his body.

"Mr, Kent," Fine said as Clark walked into class, late. "So glad you could join us."

"I'm sorry Professor Fine. Traffic was kinda bad, and I was a little late getting out the door this morning."

"Just try not to make this habit. Have a seat."

Clark sat down as Fine resumed his lecture. When class was over he went over to talk to the professor. "Sorry again for being late this morning. I didn't mean to disrupt class." He gave a small smile and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"No harm done Kent. As I said, don't let it become a habit. Tell me, is it true that you are friends with Lex Luthor?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"I always read up on my students. I find it helps to understand how best to teach them. I noticed that you and the young Luthor have a history."

"A complicated history. We're not as close as we used to be," Clark told him.

"I love history Mr. Kent. I believe that there is much it can teach us. Which is why I teach it to others. The Luthors are dangerous. It would be smart to stay away from them." Fine said while he was putting away his notes from class.

"Believe me, I know who Lex is. What's your interest in the Luthors, Professor Fine? If you don't mind me asking." Clark pulled his backpack up his shoulder.

"Men of ambition as great as the Luthors…" Fine closed his bag and looked up at Clark. "Can easily become tyrants. Power corrupts, and those who have it rarely want to give it up. If money is power, then the Luthors have plenty of it. Plenty of people have suffered because of the Luthors."

"Personal power trumps money or political power. If the people decide they've had enough, no amount of money can stop that. The will of a people who are united, are more powerful than any tyrant."

Fine gave Clark a smile at that. "Well said, Mr. Kent. I'll see you in class. And next time, don't be late."

"Yes sir, I won't" Clark told him as he turned to leave.

As he was leaving, his super hearing picked up a burning building in Metropolis. Taking off his glasses, Clark ducked into an empty room nearby. After changing into his trademark red coat and blue shirt, he sped off.

There were people trapped in the building. A crowd watched as the firefighters were trying to get to them. Before anyone knew what happened, the people trapped in the building were standing outside. Running back into the building, Clark used his super breath to put out the fire. In a matter of seconds, the flames were out and everyone was speechless.

A convenient store was being robbed by a masked man pointing a gun at the cashier. The young lady behind the counter was clearly terrified but was in the process of getting money out of the drawer. Suddenly, Clark appeared and grabbed the gun from the would-be thief. He tapped the guy on the forehead and knocked him out, the way he had once done to Pete. He sped out just as quickly as he had arrived.

A window cleaner was stuck on the side of a 30 story building. The man was starting to panic from the uncomfortable situation he found himself in. Anxiety had already set in and he only prayed someone would get to him soon. Suddenly, he found himself safely on the roof, not knowing how he ended up there. He turned to see a red and blue blur flying away into the sky.

Later, Clark walked into the back door of the farm where his parents were waiting. For a moment, no one said anything as Martha and Jonathan looked at each other then back to Clark.

"So, It's all over the news that some unexplainable rescues happened in Metropolis today." Jonathan finally said. "People are calling it a miracle."

"Until my suit is ready I tried not to show my face. At least not long enough for anyone to get a good look .The suit is a big reason why the disguise works. It tends to draw attention."

"I'm still working on that. What you did today was...amazing." Martha said as she walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Your mother is right son. Those people are safe thanks to you. We're proud of you."

"Thanks you two. I know how much you want to protect my secret. "Clark smiled at them. "But I have chance to help a lot of people and I can't let fear hold me back. It means a lot that you two support me."

"We always support you Clark," Jonathan said as he stood up and walked over to him. "We just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know dad."

That night in the barn, Lois walked up and greeted Clark. "So, it took some convincing. But if I can deliver a story worth printing, the editor said he would bring me on."

Clark smiled, "That's great Lois. Knowing you, you'll come up with something in no time."

"I already have." She said as she walked over to him. "Some mysterious rescues in Metropolis today. Seems like a story worth telling."

"Now I wonder how that might have happened," Clark said grinning.

"Yes, do tell," Chloe said as she walked up the steps to the loft.

"Hey Chloe, glad you came." Lois said.

"Well, we still need to have that little chat. Like about how Lois knows your secret all of sudden. Or the new look you seem to be sporting. Or maybe this mystery hero saving people out of nowhere. So, who wants to start?"