Chapter 4: Pike's Farewell
Clark stares at the paper, not saying anything.
"Take a look at the front page of next week's Torch." Chloe says holding the paper up.
"What? Chloe, I know you ran out of news...but you shouldn't just make the news up." Pete says.
"I didn't make it up, I got an anonymous phone call yesterday around five that told me that a kid, attending this school isn't the least bit...normal." Chloe says.
"Come on, Chloe...you don't actually believe what that person was saying...do you?" Clark asks.
"Well, it beats the vomit cleaner story, and this guy sounded serious." Chloe says.
"Let me see that..." Pete says as he snatches the paper and begins reading. "Sources tell the torch a Smallville student who's name has not yet been revealed is far from what we would call human. The eye witness says he was "faster than a speeding bullet" and stronger than anything he had ever seen. Could this boy be a potential threat to humanity?" Pete reads out loud.
"Alright, you can stop reading...I don't need to hear ridiculous fake news stories like that, I'm not in the mood." Clark says as he walks out of the room.
"What's got into, Clark?" Chloe asks.
"I don't know, but it looks like you might have another piece of information to add to the wall of weird." Pete replies. Clark Kent walks down the hallway in the direction of his first hour class; he passes Lana Lang...for once not noticing her. Lana sees him and walks over to him.
"Hey, Clark." Lana says.
"Oh, hey Lana. What's up?" Clark asks.
"I was just wondering if you had that History paper written yet." Lana asks.
"Oh...I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling to good last night and couldn't get it done. But don't worry, I'll write it and have it ready for tomorrow." Clark says.
"Thanks, Clark. So I didn't see you at the football game, were you there?" Lana asks.
"Yeah, I was...I meant to talk to you but things got a little crazy." Clark replies.
"Your telling me...that was just weird. Any idea how that happened?" Lana asks.
"Uh...no, maybe it was just one of those freak accidents or something." Clark says.
"Maybe..." Lana says as Whitney Fordman comes up behind Lana and puts his arm around her.
"Hey, Kent...trying to keep my girl away from me?" Whitney asks.
"Aw, be quiet Whitney...I actually tracked down Clark, had to talk to him about our History paper." Lana says.
"Right...you two are partners, that's...nice. So, Lana, we better get going to class...got my own things to talk to you about, in private." Whitney says as he pulls her away and kisses her.
"Bye, Clark...I'll see you later." Lana says.
"Yeah...bye, Lana."
"Later, Kent." Whitney says as he walks down the hallway with his arm around Lana. Clark watches them as they turn the corner, he hated seeing her with him...but there's nothing to do about it. She was with a star football player, practically a hero around this town. For now Clark can only dream of good times that have yet to be had with her.
After school Clark runs home, still unsure about telling his parents that Edward Pike now knows his secret. Clark's mother, Martha, is outside gardening, while his father, Jonathan Kent, is just coming out of the barn heading towards him. "Hey, son, how was school?" Jonathan asks.
"Oh, it was alright, dad." Clark says. Martha Kent comes around the corner of the house and stands next to Jonathan. "Hey...I have to tell you two something, and it's kind of important." Clark says.
"What is it, Clark?" Martha Kent asks.
"I had a run in with Edward Pike yesterday. I tried to stop him, but somehow he ended up absorbing some of my...gifts." Clark says.
"What are you talking about? Absorbed them?" Jonathan asks.
"Well...Pike can do that, if he touches a brick wall he becomes just like it...strong, resistant to bullets. I know it sounds odd but it's the truth, he knows my secret now...and worse than that he's fast and strong like I am. There's no telling what he'll do...and, I don't know when but he's going to come back for another helping." Clark says.
"Woah...woah, this guy took some of your special talents just by touching you, and he's going to do it again sometime?" Martha asks.
"Sometime soon, mom. I don't know what he's planning but when he gets them again it's going to be something really bad." Clark says.
"He won't get them again, we can call the police...set him up or something and then they can take him away." Jonathan says.
"No dad, he's stronger than them...he took on twenty of them and he came out the winner. I have to face him myself..." Clark says.
"You know that's too dangerous, son...I saw the way you looked when you came home yesterday. He did that to you didn't he?" Martha asks.
"Yeah...after he absorbs them I feel terrible, worse feeling I have ever felt. But...there's more." Clark says.
"More? How much more?" Jonathan asks.
"He called Chloe yesterday and told her that there is a "Super-Boy" in Smallville High...who is faster than a speeding bullet. She has it printed as the front page of next week's edition of the Torch. My name isn't mentioned in it...Pike didn't tell her that part, but I think he might if I don't agree to surrender my abilities to him again. I don't know what to do." Clark says.
"Clark, if people find out about you they'll send scientists and government officials...they'll test you and then soon enough you'll be a lab rat. I won't let that happen, Clark." Jonathan says.
"So, you want me to just hand over my powers to him? I can't do that...this guy isn't messing around, he has nothing to lose, dad." Clark says.
"Clark...if your secret gets out..." Jonathan starts.
"I know dad, I think about that a lot...amongst other things. I don't know for sure what I'm going to do, but I promise Pike won't tell anyone...and he won't try and hurt anyone else. I'm not going to let him get away with what he's doing. I'll be back soon, I hope...I have to find him." Clark says as he starts to walk away.
"Clark..." Martha Kent starts.
"I have to find him, mom. I have to." Clark says. Martha nods her head and he zooms off towards Pike's farm. Jonathan puts his arm around Clark's worried mother.
"Everything is going to be alright, this is what Clark was put here to do. I know that now more than ever." Jonathan says.
Clark is once again at Pike's farm after arriving in a flash...literally. He checks himself, so far...no Pike. Clark stays clear of the field full of meteor rocks, going inside instead of staying out and waiting for Pike to show up. He looks around the very old house, it's interior is a mess...there is no furniture except for some nearly broken wooden chairs and a small table in the corner. The kitchen is a bigger mess, Clark doesn't even want to go near it. Instead, he walks up stairs next to the kitchen. Some break as he walks up them, he gets the feeling the place could collapse at any moment. He takes that chance and walks down a small hallway upstairs. He turns to the left and sees a bathroom, almost as bad as the kitchen. To the right is a bedroom, with a very uncomfortable looking bed, a dresser and a nightstand in it. He looks out the window at the far end of the room, then he looks at the nightstand. He slides opens the top drawer and finds a very old looking black
binder. He takes it out and sits on the bed, he opens the binder and looks through it. It is filled with articles about the Luthor family and Luthor Corp. In the back are letters, all from Pike's father. Clark doesn't read them, even if Pike is a madman that doesn't seem right. Pictures of the Luthor family are in the middle, they all have red X marks on the faces. "Don't you have any sense, boy?! You don't enter a man's house without being invited!" Pike yells as he stands in the doorway watching Clark read is personal things. Clark immediately throws the binder down to the bed and stands up. "You know I'm actually glad to see you, kid...I've lost my speed and my strength that I acquired from you. And the strength from the rock I just got just isn't cutting it. So, kid...how about we shake hands and then no one will know anything you don't want them to." Pike says as he extends his arm, motioning for Clark to shake his hand and let him take his powers once again.
"No, Pike...I'm not going to do that. You have to stop this, I know you've had a hard life..." Clark starts, but is cut off by an angry Pike.
"You don't know the meaning of hard! You're just some punk kid that's had it way to good all his life! I never had any fun in my life, now that I am I won't let it stop!" Pike yells.
"Fun?! Hurting and plotting against defenseless people is fun? That's it, Pike...if you want leech off my gifts again...just try it. Come on...try it!" Clark says with an angry tone. Pike smiles and picks up the large wooden dresser he stands next to. He lifts it over his head and throws it at Clark, it sends Clark through the window...landing on the ground with the dresser crashing on top of him. Clark gets up and looks up at the window, which it and part of the wall has been destroyed. Clark gets on the defense...knowing Pike could be anywhere, he hated that feeling. He gets closer to the house and looks around both corners...still no sign of him. Then, in a split second Pike breaks through the wall of the house, which Clark is standing right next to and tackles him. He pins Clark to the ground and raises his hand over him.
"It's time, kid...and this time, I'm not leaving anything for you!" Pike says as he pushes his hand down towards Clark's neck...but Pike was not quick enough, Clark throws Pike through the air and watches him land behind him.
"You're not strong enough, Pike! Give it up!" Clark yells over to him. Pike gets up and begins walking closer to Clark.
"You know it's funny...when I absorbed some of your skills, I also absorbed some of your thoughts. I know more than you think I do about you...I know a pretty young lady that you have a thing for...and your parents, now...you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them, would you?" Pike says with a smile. Clark stares at him in anger, he's never seen such a sick man in his life. "Shake my hand, boy...I've managed to get away from you every other time, and if you don't shake it...I think I can get away from you again, and then I'll hunt down your friends and family, and..." Pike starts to go on, but Clark cuts him off.
"I'll shake your hand, Pike! But I'll find you...and when I do I won't hold anything back!" Clark yells. Pike smiles and walks further towards Clark, who stands still. Pike gets up to him and extends his hand. Clark looks at it, takes a deep breath and shakes it. Pike holds on to it tight, sucking the life out of Clark. Clark is in pain, more pain then before...he drops to his knees and tries to make him let go, but Pike does not let up. He feels the incredible power again, and refuses to let go. Clark blacks out after Pike finally releases him. Pike looks down at Clark; he still sees a use for him in the future...so he zooms off in a flash far away from the unconscious Clark Kent.
"Clark, Clark are you alright?" Clark could hear the voice in his head. He had no idea where he was, what time it was or who was talking to him. He still lay on the ground of the Pike field, two hours after Pike had taken his powers for the second time. He begins to open his eyes, everything is blurry for a few moments and then the faces of Chloe and Pete come into view. "Clark...Clark wake up." Chloe says as her and Pete stand over him.
"Ah...what's going on, I feel...ah." Clark says...dazed and confused.
"You're on Pike's farm, Clark. Me and Chloe got here to see if we could find any clues about Pike, then we found you." Pete says as he and Chloe help Clark up to his feet.
"What happened here, Clark?" Chloe asks still holding on to him with Pete.
"I...I came here, looking for Pike...he knocked me out and got away." Clark says as the memories of the past couple of hours come back to him and he feels like his usual self again.
"I did some digging, it seems that Luthor Corp was interested in chemical development of new fertilizers long before the fertilizer plant was ever built. Looks like they needed to test their experimental products by getting a few farmers of Smallville to agree to let them use their fields. Pike's field was tested on, it destroyed everything that grew there and they lost all their money. Edward Pike's father couldn't handle the pressure of having to support a family and when he found out Luthor Corp had a loophole in the agreement that said they didn't have to pay him a dime for the destruction of the field...it was all too much." Chloe says.
"He killed himself?" Clark asks.
"Yeah...so I think I know who Pike's next target is." Chloe says.
"The Luthor Family...I thought so, he had a ton of articles and pictures about them. I've got to get to Lex's before it's too late." Clark says as he once again starts to walk off.
"Not this time, Clark...you're not going to get away from us like that again." Pete says.
"Sorry guys, this could be way to dangerous for you two." Clark says.
"What's that suppose to mean? Clark, if you're trying to be the hero again you could be hurt even worse than today." Pete says.
"Face it, Kent...you can't go without us, we won't let you." Chloe says.
"Fine guys, I give in...you can come along, but just wait here a second...I have to grab something inside." Clark says as he walks around to the side of the house. A loud sound of a sudden burst of speed is heard, Chloe and Pete look at each other and then run around the house and discover Clark Kent is long gone.
"Now how the..." Pete starts.
Lex Luthor sits in his study reading one of the last chapters of a book. Night is beginning to approach; he puts down the book and looks out the large window. Everything is silent, like usual. Lex senses something isn't...right, he can't see anyone through the window but as he turns back around Pike stands next to the door. "Ahh! Jesus, how did you get in here?!" Lex asks.
"Wasn't difficult." Pike replies.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?! If you don't mind me asking." Lex says.
"You're Lex Luthor." Pike says.
"Yes, that's my name...now if you would please get out of my home before I call the authorities." Lex replies.
"You won't be doing that, Luthor. Because, within the next five minutes you'll be dead, nothing but a memory...a bad memory." Pike says.
"No...you don't want to kill me. Obviously by saying that you really don't know who I am and what will be done to you if you do." Lex says.
"Oh...I know who you are. I've been keeping close watch on you...your father, grandfather...your entire family. Your grandfather killed my father...then he killed my mother, she became sick out of grief and sadness. The Luthor Family ruined my life, and now I am going to end yours." Pike says. Lex pauses for a moment and then quickly picks up the phone and begins to dial...but Pike zooms in front of him before he has a chance to call anyone. Pike knocks the phone out of his hands and grabs him by the neck, pulling him over the desk. He holds Lex up by the neck, choking him. Lex tries to fight, and make Pike release him, but it's no use. "Too bad you won't get a chance to say goodbye to daddy, but don't worry...I'll tell him for you when I see him very soon." Pike says as he continues to choke Lex. Lex Luthor tries desperately to make him stop, his air is almost completely gone. Clark Kent flies through the door of the study in a flash. He watches Pike choke Lex, knowing he
has to stop it now.
"Let him go, Pike!" Clark yells. Pike turns around, somewhat not surprised Clark showed up. Pike throws Lex across the room making him hit his head against the wall, knocking him out cold.
"Oh...well look who it is. I tell you boy; you got guts like I haven't seen in any other man. I suggest you turn right back around and leave, let me finish what I started." Pike warns.
"I'm not going anywhere..." Clark says as he zooms right next to Pike. The two stare into each other's eyes. Pike grabs Clark's jacket and tries to throw him out of the window, but Clark grabs a hold of Pike's and the two both go crashing through it. Chloe and Pete come into the room and see the broken window and Lex in the corner, not moving. They rush over to him to see if he's alright. Outside, Clark and Pike roll down a steep section of roofing and then fall off it, down a steep hill behind the mansion. They roll down the forest ground crashing through thin trees and bushes. The two keep rolling and pass a sign that reads, "Whiskey Creek Ahead". They reach level ground and begin to get up...but soon buckle down in pain. Meteor rocks lay all over the grass and behind some of the trees, Clark...and now Pike are hurting from them. Pike looks down at his hand...it turns green and veiny.
"What's...going...on?!" Pike asks.
"You take my strengths...and you take my weaknesses..." Clark replies. Pike looks at him...now regretting he ever took Clark's powers, he knew it had to be too good to be true. Clark begins to fight the power that the meteor rocks have over him...he struggles to stand, and then does. He shakes...his whole body hurting...he walks over to Pike, who has never felt this level of pain. "Come...on...get up...Pike..." Pike begins to stand...his legs tremble, he can't believe what's going on. Pike stands up...the two once again stare at each other until Clark finds the strength to walk away from the area. Clark begins to feel his strength returning as he gets away from the rocks. He sees the creek ahead and keeps going forward towards it. Pike follows behind him, still hurting and pushing himself to get far away. Pike has lost Clark's gifts...getting away from the rocks he can feel that. Clark has been weakened, but he doesn't let it show.
"I...I'm not strong anymore, I need another...fix. Please, it hurt's when I don't get your strength...nothing else will make me as strong as you, nothing else helps me." Pike begs.
"No, Pike...it's over now." Clark replies. Pike looks at him; there is no more hate or anger on his face...only sadness. His head turns towards the running water of the creek.
"I could go for a swim..." Pike calmly says as he moves towards the water.
"Edward..." Clark stops himself...he can't think of anything to say. He feels sorry for the old man, he no longer is angry at him. Pike stands next to the creek, he looks back at Clark and then takes a step into the water. The water level is up to his waist...he runs his bare hands through it. Clark watches in horror as Pike "melts" into the water, which he has absorbed. Pike has become part of the water, and he now runs with it down stream. Clark watches the peaceful waters flow, he looks down and in his mind says a goodbye to Edward Pike, the man who had no life...and tried so hard to have one it killed him.
Back at the farm ten minutes later, Clark has reassured his parents that he is alright and that everything's going to be ok. Chloe and Pete helped Lex, who tells them he can't remember any of the events that occurred with Pike. Clark goes up to his room and lays his jacket on his bed and walks over to his computer. He sits down at it and opens a typing program. He keys the words, "Westward Expansion in the 1800's. History, Hour 5. By Clark Kent and Lana Lang." He looks at the two names and smiles, then he continues to type as the sun goes down and the stars come out. Another peaceful, normal night in the town of Smallville, Kansas.
The End
This Fanfiction Copyright 2001 Rich Wheeler
Clark stares at the paper, not saying anything.
"Take a look at the front page of next week's Torch." Chloe says holding the paper up.
"What? Chloe, I know you ran out of news...but you shouldn't just make the news up." Pete says.
"I didn't make it up, I got an anonymous phone call yesterday around five that told me that a kid, attending this school isn't the least bit...normal." Chloe says.
"Come on, Chloe...you don't actually believe what that person was saying...do you?" Clark asks.
"Well, it beats the vomit cleaner story, and this guy sounded serious." Chloe says.
"Let me see that..." Pete says as he snatches the paper and begins reading. "Sources tell the torch a Smallville student who's name has not yet been revealed is far from what we would call human. The eye witness says he was "faster than a speeding bullet" and stronger than anything he had ever seen. Could this boy be a potential threat to humanity?" Pete reads out loud.
"Alright, you can stop reading...I don't need to hear ridiculous fake news stories like that, I'm not in the mood." Clark says as he walks out of the room.
"What's got into, Clark?" Chloe asks.
"I don't know, but it looks like you might have another piece of information to add to the wall of weird." Pete replies. Clark Kent walks down the hallway in the direction of his first hour class; he passes Lana Lang...for once not noticing her. Lana sees him and walks over to him.
"Hey, Clark." Lana says.
"Oh, hey Lana. What's up?" Clark asks.
"I was just wondering if you had that History paper written yet." Lana asks.
"Oh...I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling to good last night and couldn't get it done. But don't worry, I'll write it and have it ready for tomorrow." Clark says.
"Thanks, Clark. So I didn't see you at the football game, were you there?" Lana asks.
"Yeah, I was...I meant to talk to you but things got a little crazy." Clark replies.
"Your telling me...that was just weird. Any idea how that happened?" Lana asks.
"Uh...no, maybe it was just one of those freak accidents or something." Clark says.
"Maybe..." Lana says as Whitney Fordman comes up behind Lana and puts his arm around her.
"Hey, Kent...trying to keep my girl away from me?" Whitney asks.
"Aw, be quiet Whitney...I actually tracked down Clark, had to talk to him about our History paper." Lana says.
"Right...you two are partners, that's...nice. So, Lana, we better get going to class...got my own things to talk to you about, in private." Whitney says as he pulls her away and kisses her.
"Bye, Clark...I'll see you later." Lana says.
"Yeah...bye, Lana."
"Later, Kent." Whitney says as he walks down the hallway with his arm around Lana. Clark watches them as they turn the corner, he hated seeing her with him...but there's nothing to do about it. She was with a star football player, practically a hero around this town. For now Clark can only dream of good times that have yet to be had with her.
After school Clark runs home, still unsure about telling his parents that Edward Pike now knows his secret. Clark's mother, Martha, is outside gardening, while his father, Jonathan Kent, is just coming out of the barn heading towards him. "Hey, son, how was school?" Jonathan asks.
"Oh, it was alright, dad." Clark says. Martha Kent comes around the corner of the house and stands next to Jonathan. "Hey...I have to tell you two something, and it's kind of important." Clark says.
"What is it, Clark?" Martha Kent asks.
"I had a run in with Edward Pike yesterday. I tried to stop him, but somehow he ended up absorbing some of my...gifts." Clark says.
"What are you talking about? Absorbed them?" Jonathan asks.
"Well...Pike can do that, if he touches a brick wall he becomes just like it...strong, resistant to bullets. I know it sounds odd but it's the truth, he knows my secret now...and worse than that he's fast and strong like I am. There's no telling what he'll do...and, I don't know when but he's going to come back for another helping." Clark says.
"Woah...woah, this guy took some of your special talents just by touching you, and he's going to do it again sometime?" Martha asks.
"Sometime soon, mom. I don't know what he's planning but when he gets them again it's going to be something really bad." Clark says.
"He won't get them again, we can call the police...set him up or something and then they can take him away." Jonathan says.
"No dad, he's stronger than them...he took on twenty of them and he came out the winner. I have to face him myself..." Clark says.
"You know that's too dangerous, son...I saw the way you looked when you came home yesterday. He did that to you didn't he?" Martha asks.
"Yeah...after he absorbs them I feel terrible, worse feeling I have ever felt. But...there's more." Clark says.
"More? How much more?" Jonathan asks.
"He called Chloe yesterday and told her that there is a "Super-Boy" in Smallville High...who is faster than a speeding bullet. She has it printed as the front page of next week's edition of the Torch. My name isn't mentioned in it...Pike didn't tell her that part, but I think he might if I don't agree to surrender my abilities to him again. I don't know what to do." Clark says.
"Clark, if people find out about you they'll send scientists and government officials...they'll test you and then soon enough you'll be a lab rat. I won't let that happen, Clark." Jonathan says.
"So, you want me to just hand over my powers to him? I can't do that...this guy isn't messing around, he has nothing to lose, dad." Clark says.
"Clark...if your secret gets out..." Jonathan starts.
"I know dad, I think about that a lot...amongst other things. I don't know for sure what I'm going to do, but I promise Pike won't tell anyone...and he won't try and hurt anyone else. I'm not going to let him get away with what he's doing. I'll be back soon, I hope...I have to find him." Clark says as he starts to walk away.
"Clark..." Martha Kent starts.
"I have to find him, mom. I have to." Clark says. Martha nods her head and he zooms off towards Pike's farm. Jonathan puts his arm around Clark's worried mother.
"Everything is going to be alright, this is what Clark was put here to do. I know that now more than ever." Jonathan says.
Clark is once again at Pike's farm after arriving in a flash...literally. He checks himself, so far...no Pike. Clark stays clear of the field full of meteor rocks, going inside instead of staying out and waiting for Pike to show up. He looks around the very old house, it's interior is a mess...there is no furniture except for some nearly broken wooden chairs and a small table in the corner. The kitchen is a bigger mess, Clark doesn't even want to go near it. Instead, he walks up stairs next to the kitchen. Some break as he walks up them, he gets the feeling the place could collapse at any moment. He takes that chance and walks down a small hallway upstairs. He turns to the left and sees a bathroom, almost as bad as the kitchen. To the right is a bedroom, with a very uncomfortable looking bed, a dresser and a nightstand in it. He looks out the window at the far end of the room, then he looks at the nightstand. He slides opens the top drawer and finds a very old looking black
binder. He takes it out and sits on the bed, he opens the binder and looks through it. It is filled with articles about the Luthor family and Luthor Corp. In the back are letters, all from Pike's father. Clark doesn't read them, even if Pike is a madman that doesn't seem right. Pictures of the Luthor family are in the middle, they all have red X marks on the faces. "Don't you have any sense, boy?! You don't enter a man's house without being invited!" Pike yells as he stands in the doorway watching Clark read is personal things. Clark immediately throws the binder down to the bed and stands up. "You know I'm actually glad to see you, kid...I've lost my speed and my strength that I acquired from you. And the strength from the rock I just got just isn't cutting it. So, kid...how about we shake hands and then no one will know anything you don't want them to." Pike says as he extends his arm, motioning for Clark to shake his hand and let him take his powers once again.
"No, Pike...I'm not going to do that. You have to stop this, I know you've had a hard life..." Clark starts, but is cut off by an angry Pike.
"You don't know the meaning of hard! You're just some punk kid that's had it way to good all his life! I never had any fun in my life, now that I am I won't let it stop!" Pike yells.
"Fun?! Hurting and plotting against defenseless people is fun? That's it, Pike...if you want leech off my gifts again...just try it. Come on...try it!" Clark says with an angry tone. Pike smiles and picks up the large wooden dresser he stands next to. He lifts it over his head and throws it at Clark, it sends Clark through the window...landing on the ground with the dresser crashing on top of him. Clark gets up and looks up at the window, which it and part of the wall has been destroyed. Clark gets on the defense...knowing Pike could be anywhere, he hated that feeling. He gets closer to the house and looks around both corners...still no sign of him. Then, in a split second Pike breaks through the wall of the house, which Clark is standing right next to and tackles him. He pins Clark to the ground and raises his hand over him.
"It's time, kid...and this time, I'm not leaving anything for you!" Pike says as he pushes his hand down towards Clark's neck...but Pike was not quick enough, Clark throws Pike through the air and watches him land behind him.
"You're not strong enough, Pike! Give it up!" Clark yells over to him. Pike gets up and begins walking closer to Clark.
"You know it's funny...when I absorbed some of your skills, I also absorbed some of your thoughts. I know more than you think I do about you...I know a pretty young lady that you have a thing for...and your parents, now...you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them, would you?" Pike says with a smile. Clark stares at him in anger, he's never seen such a sick man in his life. "Shake my hand, boy...I've managed to get away from you every other time, and if you don't shake it...I think I can get away from you again, and then I'll hunt down your friends and family, and..." Pike starts to go on, but Clark cuts him off.
"I'll shake your hand, Pike! But I'll find you...and when I do I won't hold anything back!" Clark yells. Pike smiles and walks further towards Clark, who stands still. Pike gets up to him and extends his hand. Clark looks at it, takes a deep breath and shakes it. Pike holds on to it tight, sucking the life out of Clark. Clark is in pain, more pain then before...he drops to his knees and tries to make him let go, but Pike does not let up. He feels the incredible power again, and refuses to let go. Clark blacks out after Pike finally releases him. Pike looks down at Clark; he still sees a use for him in the future...so he zooms off in a flash far away from the unconscious Clark Kent.
"Clark, Clark are you alright?" Clark could hear the voice in his head. He had no idea where he was, what time it was or who was talking to him. He still lay on the ground of the Pike field, two hours after Pike had taken his powers for the second time. He begins to open his eyes, everything is blurry for a few moments and then the faces of Chloe and Pete come into view. "Clark...Clark wake up." Chloe says as her and Pete stand over him.
"Ah...what's going on, I feel...ah." Clark says...dazed and confused.
"You're on Pike's farm, Clark. Me and Chloe got here to see if we could find any clues about Pike, then we found you." Pete says as he and Chloe help Clark up to his feet.
"What happened here, Clark?" Chloe asks still holding on to him with Pete.
"I...I came here, looking for Pike...he knocked me out and got away." Clark says as the memories of the past couple of hours come back to him and he feels like his usual self again.
"I did some digging, it seems that Luthor Corp was interested in chemical development of new fertilizers long before the fertilizer plant was ever built. Looks like they needed to test their experimental products by getting a few farmers of Smallville to agree to let them use their fields. Pike's field was tested on, it destroyed everything that grew there and they lost all their money. Edward Pike's father couldn't handle the pressure of having to support a family and when he found out Luthor Corp had a loophole in the agreement that said they didn't have to pay him a dime for the destruction of the field...it was all too much." Chloe says.
"He killed himself?" Clark asks.
"Yeah...so I think I know who Pike's next target is." Chloe says.
"The Luthor Family...I thought so, he had a ton of articles and pictures about them. I've got to get to Lex's before it's too late." Clark says as he once again starts to walk off.
"Not this time, Clark...you're not going to get away from us like that again." Pete says.
"Sorry guys, this could be way to dangerous for you two." Clark says.
"What's that suppose to mean? Clark, if you're trying to be the hero again you could be hurt even worse than today." Pete says.
"Face it, Kent...you can't go without us, we won't let you." Chloe says.
"Fine guys, I give in...you can come along, but just wait here a second...I have to grab something inside." Clark says as he walks around to the side of the house. A loud sound of a sudden burst of speed is heard, Chloe and Pete look at each other and then run around the house and discover Clark Kent is long gone.
"Now how the..." Pete starts.
Lex Luthor sits in his study reading one of the last chapters of a book. Night is beginning to approach; he puts down the book and looks out the large window. Everything is silent, like usual. Lex senses something isn't...right, he can't see anyone through the window but as he turns back around Pike stands next to the door. "Ahh! Jesus, how did you get in here?!" Lex asks.
"Wasn't difficult." Pike replies.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?! If you don't mind me asking." Lex says.
"You're Lex Luthor." Pike says.
"Yes, that's my name...now if you would please get out of my home before I call the authorities." Lex replies.
"You won't be doing that, Luthor. Because, within the next five minutes you'll be dead, nothing but a memory...a bad memory." Pike says.
"No...you don't want to kill me. Obviously by saying that you really don't know who I am and what will be done to you if you do." Lex says.
"Oh...I know who you are. I've been keeping close watch on you...your father, grandfather...your entire family. Your grandfather killed my father...then he killed my mother, she became sick out of grief and sadness. The Luthor Family ruined my life, and now I am going to end yours." Pike says. Lex pauses for a moment and then quickly picks up the phone and begins to dial...but Pike zooms in front of him before he has a chance to call anyone. Pike knocks the phone out of his hands and grabs him by the neck, pulling him over the desk. He holds Lex up by the neck, choking him. Lex tries to fight, and make Pike release him, but it's no use. "Too bad you won't get a chance to say goodbye to daddy, but don't worry...I'll tell him for you when I see him very soon." Pike says as he continues to choke Lex. Lex Luthor tries desperately to make him stop, his air is almost completely gone. Clark Kent flies through the door of the study in a flash. He watches Pike choke Lex, knowing he
has to stop it now.
"Let him go, Pike!" Clark yells. Pike turns around, somewhat not surprised Clark showed up. Pike throws Lex across the room making him hit his head against the wall, knocking him out cold.
"Oh...well look who it is. I tell you boy; you got guts like I haven't seen in any other man. I suggest you turn right back around and leave, let me finish what I started." Pike warns.
"I'm not going anywhere..." Clark says as he zooms right next to Pike. The two stare into each other's eyes. Pike grabs Clark's jacket and tries to throw him out of the window, but Clark grabs a hold of Pike's and the two both go crashing through it. Chloe and Pete come into the room and see the broken window and Lex in the corner, not moving. They rush over to him to see if he's alright. Outside, Clark and Pike roll down a steep section of roofing and then fall off it, down a steep hill behind the mansion. They roll down the forest ground crashing through thin trees and bushes. The two keep rolling and pass a sign that reads, "Whiskey Creek Ahead". They reach level ground and begin to get up...but soon buckle down in pain. Meteor rocks lay all over the grass and behind some of the trees, Clark...and now Pike are hurting from them. Pike looks down at his hand...it turns green and veiny.
"What's...going...on?!" Pike asks.
"You take my strengths...and you take my weaknesses..." Clark replies. Pike looks at him...now regretting he ever took Clark's powers, he knew it had to be too good to be true. Clark begins to fight the power that the meteor rocks have over him...he struggles to stand, and then does. He shakes...his whole body hurting...he walks over to Pike, who has never felt this level of pain. "Come...on...get up...Pike..." Pike begins to stand...his legs tremble, he can't believe what's going on. Pike stands up...the two once again stare at each other until Clark finds the strength to walk away from the area. Clark begins to feel his strength returning as he gets away from the rocks. He sees the creek ahead and keeps going forward towards it. Pike follows behind him, still hurting and pushing himself to get far away. Pike has lost Clark's gifts...getting away from the rocks he can feel that. Clark has been weakened, but he doesn't let it show.
"I...I'm not strong anymore, I need another...fix. Please, it hurt's when I don't get your strength...nothing else will make me as strong as you, nothing else helps me." Pike begs.
"No, Pike...it's over now." Clark replies. Pike looks at him; there is no more hate or anger on his face...only sadness. His head turns towards the running water of the creek.
"I could go for a swim..." Pike calmly says as he moves towards the water.
"Edward..." Clark stops himself...he can't think of anything to say. He feels sorry for the old man, he no longer is angry at him. Pike stands next to the creek, he looks back at Clark and then takes a step into the water. The water level is up to his waist...he runs his bare hands through it. Clark watches in horror as Pike "melts" into the water, which he has absorbed. Pike has become part of the water, and he now runs with it down stream. Clark watches the peaceful waters flow, he looks down and in his mind says a goodbye to Edward Pike, the man who had no life...and tried so hard to have one it killed him.
Back at the farm ten minutes later, Clark has reassured his parents that he is alright and that everything's going to be ok. Chloe and Pete helped Lex, who tells them he can't remember any of the events that occurred with Pike. Clark goes up to his room and lays his jacket on his bed and walks over to his computer. He sits down at it and opens a typing program. He keys the words, "Westward Expansion in the 1800's. History, Hour 5. By Clark Kent and Lana Lang." He looks at the two names and smiles, then he continues to type as the sun goes down and the stars come out. Another peaceful, normal night in the town of Smallville, Kansas.
The End
This Fanfiction Copyright 2001 Rich Wheeler
