"Prototype" Chapter 2: The Big Bang
After three hours of driving and a couple pit stops, the four finally make it to Metropolis. Chloe gets out first and looks up at the building; a big smile crosses her face. The other three get out as well. "Here we are, Chloe." Clark says. "You nervous?"
"Of course not. I'm a professional, Clark, don't forget." Chloe replies, walking towards the Daily Planet's doors. The other four stand on the sidewalk looking around. Clark puts his hands in his pockets and takes in the air. He looks as Whitney puts his arm around Lana. Ready to meet with Perry White, Chloe walks forward. "Wish me luck you guys." She says as she opens the door and walks in. Clark looks around some more at Metropolis, people cram the sidewalks and streets, and cars are everywhere.
"I'm guessing Chloe will be a while, so let's go get something to eat at one of these restaurants, Lana." Whitney says, his arm still wrapped around her.
"Alright…I am kind of hungry. You coming, Clark?" Lana asks, looking back at him.
"Uh…no, I think I'll just see the sights a bit, I'm not very hungry. Have fun, though…" Clark says.
"Ok, Clark…we'll meet up with you a little later." Lana says, still looking at him. Whitney takes his arm off of her and holds her hand. Clark watches them, suddenly wishing he would have told her how he felt that day on the windmill. He turns around and walks in the opposite direction, his hands still in his pockets. Clark walks a couple blocks, dodging the busy people passing him. Ahead he can hear the calls for help of a woman…just a few yards ahead in an alley. Clark looks down the alley and sees the woman being robbed by a thug in black clothes, he's grabbing her arm and holding a gun to her face. Clark begins to walk away at first, knowing he shouldn't get involved…but something inside forces him to go back and help.
"Let her go!" Clark yells after running back into the alley.
"What? Who the hell are you?" The mugger asks, turning the gun to Clark. He fires three shots, Clark thinks fast and grabs a trashcan lid of the trashcan next to him and deflects the bullets, they spark and fly straight through it. Then he spins 180 degrees and throws the lid directly at the mugger's face…sending him a few feet backwards and knocking him out cold. (Author's Note: This would be one of those cool special effects moments.) Clark confronts the woman.
"Are you alright?" Clark asks.
"Why…yes, I am…thank you, young man." She replies. Clark leaves the scene quickly; the woman picks up the trashcan lid and sees the bullet holes in it. She gets a very perplexed look on her face, wondering who it was that just saved her life.
Meanwhile, at the Daily Planet…Chloe Sullivan walks into Perry White's office after a long elevator ride up. The office is large inside, Perry sits behind his desk in his big comfortable chair talking on the phone. He puts his finger up, signaling to Chloe it will be only a minute. She sits down in one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk. She makes her self comfortable and sets her bag on the other chair. "Yeah, Chuck…shouldn't be a problem, alright, bye then." Perry says, hanging up the phone. "So, you're the Chloe Sullivan I've heard about."
"Yes, Mr. White…and I'd just like to say how happy I am to be meeting with you right now." Chloe replies.
"Oh, it's my pleasure, dear. Now I've read some of your work for the Smallville Torch, and I was impressed that such a young girl like yourself could write so well." Perry says.
"Thank you, sir, I work very hard." Chloe says.
"Over the years I've grown an eye for spotting good journalistic integrity, and I see it in your work, Ms. Sullivan." Perry tells her.
"Really? I mean…thank you, Mr. White, I brought a few editions of the Torch that I consider to be my best work." Chloe says, opening her bag and taking out the papers.
"Hmm…" Perry starts, taking the newspapers and looking over them. "See, I like the way you wrote this one about the spoiled meat being served in the cafeteria. You have a writing style that really impresses me." Perry says. Chloe tries not to smile, but a big grin forces it's way onto her face.
Down below, a few blocks away, Whitney and Lana are still walking down the sidewalk, thinking about places to grab a bite to eat. "What about Chinese?" Whitney asks.
"Hmm…no, how about we just grab some hamburgers?" Lana asks.
"Come on, Lana…we're in the big city. I want to take my girl to a nice restaurant." Whitney says.
"Well, "your girl" is happy with eating cheeseburgers and French fries." Lana says, the two laugh a bit and keep walking.
"So, Lana…I've been meaning to ask. You and Clark are just friends, right? Because I know he's been…" Whitney starts, but Lana interrupts.
"Whitney…me and Clark are…just friends, like you said. That's all…honest. Now, about those burgers…" Lana starts.
"Because I see the way he looks at you and the way he acts around you. And…and I see the way you look at him, Lana." Whitney says.
"There's a burger place right over there, Whitney, let's go…I'm starving." Lana says, ignoring Whitney, not wanting to talk about it.
"Lana! Do you…do you have feelings for Clark?" Whitney asks. Lana's eyes dart about in different directions; she opens her mouth to speak but doesn't get anything out when a loud explosion is heard down the street. Both Lana and Whitney, along with almost everyone on the street turn their attention to the explosion.
"The Metropolis First National Bank…is it being robbed or…" Lana is cut off by more explosions, the two run towards it to find out what's going on.
Back in Perry White's office. "Holy hell, what was that?!" Perry asks, jumping out of his chair to look out the window, Chloe does the same.
"Jeeze…it's the bank!" Chloe yells, quickly taking out her digital camera to capture some of the action from her bird's-eye view.
"What's causing all those explosions?" Perry asks, not being able to look away.
"I don't know…I've got to get down there though." Chloe says.
"I think you're safer up here, girl…you see what's going on down there?!" Perry asks.
"That good journalistic integrity is kicking in, Mr. White, I have to go." Chloe says as she darts out of the room. Perry watches her leave then looks back at the bank and the several small and large explosions occurring there. People begin to flood out of the bank, terrified.
Clark Kent has too noticed the explosions on the bank and the frightened people. He watches them running, and the cars speeding away…but he moves towards it. Only a couple minutes later Clark, Chloe, Lana and Whitney have all met by Chloe's car near the bank. "What's going on?!" Whitney yells. Nobody says anything because nobody knows for sure, they just keep their eyes on the action at the bank, Chloe continues to take pictures.
The police show up only a few moments later. Several squad cars fly down the road and stop by the bank, surrounding it. "I think this is about to get bad real fast…," Lana says. The police arm themselves and kneel behind their cars and doors for protection, they know someone is inside. They prepare themselves as the seconds pass, then…finally something appears to be coming out of the thick smoke and flames.
"It's…its Harvey Trench, it has to be with that suit on." Chloe says after the figure takes the form of a man in the Z13 carrying a large bag full of cash.
"Who?" Whitney asks, confused.
"Yeah…that's him." Clark says.
"Harvey Trench!" The police chief yells through the loudspeaker. "We know it's you! Put your hands behind your head and get on the ground…NOW!" Harvey stands strong, the Z13 surging with power. He puts out his hand, electricity surrounds the Z13…slowly, a ball of energy forms in his palm. The police are stunned, as is everyone in the area watching. Harvey raises his arm up high and throws the orb in an area full of squad cars. Like twenty grenades going off, when the orb hits the ground the cars explode and the police retreat. Harvey throws more in different areas. The police pull back and open fire…but the bullets seem to have no effect.
"Do you see that?! We have to get out of here right now, come on Lana…get in the car, let's go!" Whitney urges. The police continue to fire round after round at Harvey, but it's no use.
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" The police chief orders. Harvey then jumps at least twenty feet into the air on top of a building adjacent to the bank. He throws another orb at the police, causing another large explosion, then runs away…jumping from building to building. The police, only having a few squad cars left, begin to pursue him. The police chief gets on the radio, "we need more units out here! Suspect is heading west…that suit he's wearing…we, we can't stop him! He's destroyed most of our vehicles! I've never seen anything like it! More units…NOW!" With that he gets into one of the intact cars and goes after Harvey.
"Come on guys! Get in the car!" Whitney yells, getting into the front seat. Chloe takes a few more pictures.
"I can't miss this…" She says. Chloe runs into the driver's seat and takes off down the road, leaving Lana and Clark there alone.
"Chloe! Wait! Stop!" Clark yells, but she keeps going behind the police.
"Sullivan! You're crazy! Turn around right now, we have to go back and get Lana!" Whitney tells her.
"Forgetting Clark?" Chloe asks.
"Yeah, yeah…Kent, we have to go back for him too." Whitney replies.
"Sorry, Whitney…as much as I would have liked to leave you back there as well I've got a story to catch. You'll just have to tag along. Unless you want to jump out right now, I can give you a push." Chloe says.
"Holy…Chloe you're gonna get us killed! Go back!" Whitney pleads.
"I thought you were the tough-guy, Whitney? Stop your whining and hold on, I've got to go a little faster…" Chloe says, slamming down on the acceleration. Whitney's eyes widen and he buckles his seatbelt as quickly as possible.
"She just left us here?!" Lana says.
"Chloe's first priority at times like this is usually the story…friends come later. Come on, Lana, we've got to go after them." Clark says as the two run off.
After three hours of driving and a couple pit stops, the four finally make it to Metropolis. Chloe gets out first and looks up at the building; a big smile crosses her face. The other three get out as well. "Here we are, Chloe." Clark says. "You nervous?"
"Of course not. I'm a professional, Clark, don't forget." Chloe replies, walking towards the Daily Planet's doors. The other four stand on the sidewalk looking around. Clark puts his hands in his pockets and takes in the air. He looks as Whitney puts his arm around Lana. Ready to meet with Perry White, Chloe walks forward. "Wish me luck you guys." She says as she opens the door and walks in. Clark looks around some more at Metropolis, people cram the sidewalks and streets, and cars are everywhere.
"I'm guessing Chloe will be a while, so let's go get something to eat at one of these restaurants, Lana." Whitney says, his arm still wrapped around her.
"Alright…I am kind of hungry. You coming, Clark?" Lana asks, looking back at him.
"Uh…no, I think I'll just see the sights a bit, I'm not very hungry. Have fun, though…" Clark says.
"Ok, Clark…we'll meet up with you a little later." Lana says, still looking at him. Whitney takes his arm off of her and holds her hand. Clark watches them, suddenly wishing he would have told her how he felt that day on the windmill. He turns around and walks in the opposite direction, his hands still in his pockets. Clark walks a couple blocks, dodging the busy people passing him. Ahead he can hear the calls for help of a woman…just a few yards ahead in an alley. Clark looks down the alley and sees the woman being robbed by a thug in black clothes, he's grabbing her arm and holding a gun to her face. Clark begins to walk away at first, knowing he shouldn't get involved…but something inside forces him to go back and help.
"Let her go!" Clark yells after running back into the alley.
"What? Who the hell are you?" The mugger asks, turning the gun to Clark. He fires three shots, Clark thinks fast and grabs a trashcan lid of the trashcan next to him and deflects the bullets, they spark and fly straight through it. Then he spins 180 degrees and throws the lid directly at the mugger's face…sending him a few feet backwards and knocking him out cold. (Author's Note: This would be one of those cool special effects moments.) Clark confronts the woman.
"Are you alright?" Clark asks.
"Why…yes, I am…thank you, young man." She replies. Clark leaves the scene quickly; the woman picks up the trashcan lid and sees the bullet holes in it. She gets a very perplexed look on her face, wondering who it was that just saved her life.
Meanwhile, at the Daily Planet…Chloe Sullivan walks into Perry White's office after a long elevator ride up. The office is large inside, Perry sits behind his desk in his big comfortable chair talking on the phone. He puts his finger up, signaling to Chloe it will be only a minute. She sits down in one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk. She makes her self comfortable and sets her bag on the other chair. "Yeah, Chuck…shouldn't be a problem, alright, bye then." Perry says, hanging up the phone. "So, you're the Chloe Sullivan I've heard about."
"Yes, Mr. White…and I'd just like to say how happy I am to be meeting with you right now." Chloe replies.
"Oh, it's my pleasure, dear. Now I've read some of your work for the Smallville Torch, and I was impressed that such a young girl like yourself could write so well." Perry says.
"Thank you, sir, I work very hard." Chloe says.
"Over the years I've grown an eye for spotting good journalistic integrity, and I see it in your work, Ms. Sullivan." Perry tells her.
"Really? I mean…thank you, Mr. White, I brought a few editions of the Torch that I consider to be my best work." Chloe says, opening her bag and taking out the papers.
"Hmm…" Perry starts, taking the newspapers and looking over them. "See, I like the way you wrote this one about the spoiled meat being served in the cafeteria. You have a writing style that really impresses me." Perry says. Chloe tries not to smile, but a big grin forces it's way onto her face.
Down below, a few blocks away, Whitney and Lana are still walking down the sidewalk, thinking about places to grab a bite to eat. "What about Chinese?" Whitney asks.
"Hmm…no, how about we just grab some hamburgers?" Lana asks.
"Come on, Lana…we're in the big city. I want to take my girl to a nice restaurant." Whitney says.
"Well, "your girl" is happy with eating cheeseburgers and French fries." Lana says, the two laugh a bit and keep walking.
"So, Lana…I've been meaning to ask. You and Clark are just friends, right? Because I know he's been…" Whitney starts, but Lana interrupts.
"Whitney…me and Clark are…just friends, like you said. That's all…honest. Now, about those burgers…" Lana starts.
"Because I see the way he looks at you and the way he acts around you. And…and I see the way you look at him, Lana." Whitney says.
"There's a burger place right over there, Whitney, let's go…I'm starving." Lana says, ignoring Whitney, not wanting to talk about it.
"Lana! Do you…do you have feelings for Clark?" Whitney asks. Lana's eyes dart about in different directions; she opens her mouth to speak but doesn't get anything out when a loud explosion is heard down the street. Both Lana and Whitney, along with almost everyone on the street turn their attention to the explosion.
"The Metropolis First National Bank…is it being robbed or…" Lana is cut off by more explosions, the two run towards it to find out what's going on.
Back in Perry White's office. "Holy hell, what was that?!" Perry asks, jumping out of his chair to look out the window, Chloe does the same.
"Jeeze…it's the bank!" Chloe yells, quickly taking out her digital camera to capture some of the action from her bird's-eye view.
"What's causing all those explosions?" Perry asks, not being able to look away.
"I don't know…I've got to get down there though." Chloe says.
"I think you're safer up here, girl…you see what's going on down there?!" Perry asks.
"That good journalistic integrity is kicking in, Mr. White, I have to go." Chloe says as she darts out of the room. Perry watches her leave then looks back at the bank and the several small and large explosions occurring there. People begin to flood out of the bank, terrified.
Clark Kent has too noticed the explosions on the bank and the frightened people. He watches them running, and the cars speeding away…but he moves towards it. Only a couple minutes later Clark, Chloe, Lana and Whitney have all met by Chloe's car near the bank. "What's going on?!" Whitney yells. Nobody says anything because nobody knows for sure, they just keep their eyes on the action at the bank, Chloe continues to take pictures.
The police show up only a few moments later. Several squad cars fly down the road and stop by the bank, surrounding it. "I think this is about to get bad real fast…," Lana says. The police arm themselves and kneel behind their cars and doors for protection, they know someone is inside. They prepare themselves as the seconds pass, then…finally something appears to be coming out of the thick smoke and flames.
"It's…its Harvey Trench, it has to be with that suit on." Chloe says after the figure takes the form of a man in the Z13 carrying a large bag full of cash.
"Who?" Whitney asks, confused.
"Yeah…that's him." Clark says.
"Harvey Trench!" The police chief yells through the loudspeaker. "We know it's you! Put your hands behind your head and get on the ground…NOW!" Harvey stands strong, the Z13 surging with power. He puts out his hand, electricity surrounds the Z13…slowly, a ball of energy forms in his palm. The police are stunned, as is everyone in the area watching. Harvey raises his arm up high and throws the orb in an area full of squad cars. Like twenty grenades going off, when the orb hits the ground the cars explode and the police retreat. Harvey throws more in different areas. The police pull back and open fire…but the bullets seem to have no effect.
"Do you see that?! We have to get out of here right now, come on Lana…get in the car, let's go!" Whitney urges. The police continue to fire round after round at Harvey, but it's no use.
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" The police chief orders. Harvey then jumps at least twenty feet into the air on top of a building adjacent to the bank. He throws another orb at the police, causing another large explosion, then runs away…jumping from building to building. The police, only having a few squad cars left, begin to pursue him. The police chief gets on the radio, "we need more units out here! Suspect is heading west…that suit he's wearing…we, we can't stop him! He's destroyed most of our vehicles! I've never seen anything like it! More units…NOW!" With that he gets into one of the intact cars and goes after Harvey.
"Come on guys! Get in the car!" Whitney yells, getting into the front seat. Chloe takes a few more pictures.
"I can't miss this…" She says. Chloe runs into the driver's seat and takes off down the road, leaving Lana and Clark there alone.
"Chloe! Wait! Stop!" Clark yells, but she keeps going behind the police.
"Sullivan! You're crazy! Turn around right now, we have to go back and get Lana!" Whitney tells her.
"Forgetting Clark?" Chloe asks.
"Yeah, yeah…Kent, we have to go back for him too." Whitney replies.
"Sorry, Whitney…as much as I would have liked to leave you back there as well I've got a story to catch. You'll just have to tag along. Unless you want to jump out right now, I can give you a push." Chloe says.
"Holy…Chloe you're gonna get us killed! Go back!" Whitney pleads.
"I thought you were the tough-guy, Whitney? Stop your whining and hold on, I've got to go a little faster…" Chloe says, slamming down on the acceleration. Whitney's eyes widen and he buckles his seatbelt as quickly as possible.
"She just left us here?!" Lana says.
"Chloe's first priority at times like this is usually the story…friends come later. Come on, Lana, we've got to go after them." Clark says as the two run off.