"Prototype" Chapter 3: Burning Wreckage
It appears Harvey Trench has stopped at an old abandoned building, one looking like it's about to collapse. Several police are at the scene, the new units are arriving and Chloe is approaching. She drives up to the back of the building, instead of the front where most police are grouping. She parks on the side of the street not far from the building and gets out. Whitney gets out as well and goes after her as she quickly walks to the building before the police can try and stop her. "Chloe! You have to stop…I know you think you need to be here now but this is too dangerous! You don't want to get caught up in this, the police could start shooting and…" Whitney starts, but Chloe cuts him off.
"Be quiet, Whitney!" Chloe says as she reaches a side door and opens it slowly. "Just stay here or go back and find your little Barbie doll we left behind." Chloe walks inside, taking out her digital camera again. Whitney looks around and sighs, then goes in after her.
It's very dark inside; the place has been eaten away by termites and old age. Cobwebs are everywhere and rats can be heard and seen all over. The only light is from the few dusty windows that shine light in. "Just what are you planning on doing in here, Chloe? Getting yourself blown up like those cop's cars?" Whitney asks.
"I just need to find out what he's doing and what he's going to do…I'll get a job at the Planet no prob if I can do that." Chloe replies.
"That's what this is about? Chloe come on…you would of probably got the job anyway, let's just get out of here before we're caught in the middle of a hail of gunfire." Whitney says as Chloe walks up a creaky old staircase.
"I think you deserve a thank you somewhere between the hail of gunfire remark. Just keep quiet, I'm getting some good shots." Chloe says, continuing up the stairs. Whitney keeps following her, and after climbing four flights of stairs they find the level Harvey Trench is laying low in. "Get down behind those crates." Chloe says quietly. The two kneel behind a few large wooden crates in a large, almost empty room. Harvey Trench and the Z13 stand about 10 yards in front of them towards the end of the room, going through the thousands of dollars he stole from the bank. Chloe takes shot after shot of Harvey with her camera; Whitney tries to stay calm.
Down below, Clark and Lana are finally arriving at the scene. The police hold them back as still even more squad cars arrive. "Please…sir, our friends are in that building!" Lana tells the police officer.
"What? There are kids in there?!" The officer says surprised. He turns around and gets on his radio. "Chief we have two minors in the building, I would advise not to open fire."
"Two minors in the building?!" The police chief replies through the radio. "Alright…" He starts, getting off the radio. "Everyone! Hold your fire! We have two kids inside the building! Do not fire your weapon!" He shouts through the loudspeaker.
Back inside the empty room Harvey immediately takes notice to what the chief just said. "Oh crap…" Whitney says quietly.
"I think maybe now is the time to leave…" Chloe starts, slowly moving towards the door.
"Definitely…" Whitney replies very quietly.
"Kids?" Harvey says to himself. He quickly turns around and stands by the door, blocking the exit. Chloe and Whitney slowly look up at him, very scared. Outside, a black car pulls up to the building behind the police. The backdoors open and out step Lex and Lionel Luthor. They quickly move up to where Clark and Lana are standing demanding to know what is going on.
"What's happened to the Z13?! Does that fool Harvey Trench still have it?!" Lionel asks an officer loudly. The chief of police quickly walks towards the Luthors to clue them in.
"Sir, the man who stole your property is inside, still…wearing it." The chief tells Lionel.
"That bastard! I want to go in there and…" Lionel starts, very angry.
"Sorry, Mr. Luthor, I can't allow that. You'll have to remain out here or better yet, just go back home. There's no telling what might happen here, it could be very dangerous." The police chief says. Lionel goes on to yell at the officer, while Lex walks over by Clark and Lana to talk about what's happening.
"Clark, Lana…what are you two doing here?" Lex asks.
"We came here for Chloe, she got a job interview for the Daily Planet." Clark replies.
"Where's Chloe now?" Lex asks.
"Inside…along with Whitney." Lana says. Lex looks back up at the building; a large blast knocks out part of the wall from the inside. Harvey walks into the view through the hole in the wall, holding Chloe up in one hand and Whitney in the other.
"Let them go, Harvey! You don't want to get yourself into any more trouble!" The police chief orders through the loudspeaker. Harvey looks at the two then speaks.
"These two…for Lex Luthor!" He shouts. The police chief puts down the microphone and looks back at Lex, he begins to walk forward but Lionel stops him.
"What are you doing Lex? He'll kill you." Lionel tells him.
"Don't worry, dad…I can take care of it." Lex replies. "Officer…tell him to let them go, I'm coming up." The police chief looks at him for a moment then nods his head.
"Let the two kids go, Harvey! Lex Luthor is coming to talk to you!" The chief of police says through the loudspeaker. "Alright, Mr. Luthor…try to keep in front of that hole he just made in the wall so we can get a good shot if we feel you are in danger." Lex nods and walks through the crowd of police. He gets to the front door and looks back, then walks in carefully. Clark and Lana watch as he goes in, then they notice Lionel, who looks to be the most worried.
Inside the room Harvey tosses Chloe and Whitney at the wall about ten feet away. Whitney hits his head hard and blacks out. Chloe rubs her sore neck and checks on Whitney. "Oh man…come on, jock-boy…wake up!" Chloe tells him, but he remains unconscious. Lex makes his way up the stairs, and before long he's in the room, standing next to the door and looking over at Harvey. His attention then turns to Whitney and Chloe.
"Harvey…what did you do?" Lex asks.
"Oh, I see now you have time to talk to me…" Harvey starts.
"Harvey that suit doesn't belong to you, your really shouldn't of taken it." Lex says, walking forward.
"Now who's in charge…Mr. Luthor?" Harvey asks as Lex continues to walk forward. He doesn't reply. "I asked you a question, Mr. Luthor." Harvey says as Lex gets closer. Harvey grabs him by the neck and lifts him a few feet in the air. "Who's in charge now, Mr. Luthor?!" Lex remains silent for a few moments, trying to loosen the grip, but then reaches into his pocket.
"Still me." Lex says as he pushes a red button on a small black devise. The Z13 begins to shock Harvey very painfully, causing him to drop Lex next to the large hole in the wall. Lex pushes the button again, sending another large shock through the Z13 and Harvey; he yells out in pain. "You really shouldn't have stolen anything from the Luthor family, Harvey. Now you must pay the price." Lex says, pushing the button again.
"Aaahhh! Please…stop…" Harvey pleads.
"Hmm…alright, Harvey, for now I'll stop. I hear prison's not so bad these days you know…" Lex starts, but is cut off when Harvey kicks the small black devise out of his hand, then gives him a big kick to the stomach…sending him flying out of the hole in the wall. He lands in the hands of several police officers that caught him; they help him up to check to see if he's all right. Lex holds his stomach in pain and looks up at where he just fell. Lionel quickly makes his way over to him to check his condition.
Harvey gets to his feet slowly, still hurting. He is extremely angry and begins to form another one of the energy orbs in his palm; Chloe looks at him, very scared. "Sorry kid…" Harvey says just before throwing the orb at the far wall, causing a big explosion and a large fire to start. Harvey gets out of there with his bag of cash, leaving Chloe and Whitney behind in the blazing inferno.
"Oh no…Chloe and Whitney are still in there!" Clark says as he watches the fire spread. The chief of police signals the fire department to try and put out the flames, they take out their hoses as fast as possible and water begins to spray into the building.
"Whitney! Wake up! Now! We have to get out!" Chloe screams at him, shaking him roughly. He finally comes to, very dazed and confused. She helps him to his feet and they try to look for an exit. "We have to get through this boarded window…there's a steel staircase on the side of the building we can use to get down!" Chloe yells as the flames get closer. The scene has turned to mayhem, firefighters are trying to put out the blaze while police are unsure about what to do, some begin to leave in the direction Harvey ran…other's wait for further instruction from the police chief who is yelling out various things.
"I gotta get them out…they don't have much time." Clark says, heading towards the side of the building.
"Clark! Wait, it's too dangerous!" Lana yells, going after him. Clark climbs the steel stairs on the side of the burning building quickly. He makes it to the boarded window and tells Chloe and Whitney to get back. Lana waits near the bottom of them. Clark kicks through the boards with ease. Chloe gets out with Whitney, helping him control his balance.
"Come on!" Clark yells as they scramble down the stairs. The three get far enough away, but Lana trips and falls to the ground only a few yards from the building. She starts to get up but when she turns her head she screams out as the building begins to collapse right next to her. "Lana!" Clark yells. He has no choice but to use his superspeed to save her as the rubble begins to crumple only inches above her.
When Lana opens her eyes she finds herself far away from the wreckage with Clark holding her close. "What…what…how?" Lana starts, confused as she looks at the burning building that stood there only moments before.
"Are you alright, Lana?" Clark asks, looking into her eyes. Chloe turns around and sees Clark and Lana; she squints her eyes and looks back at Whitney, who is still rubbing his head, then back at Clark and Lana…completely confused. "I have to go, Lana…I know where he's going." Clark says, helping her up and loosening his grip on her. "I need you to go check on Chloe and Whitney, I'll be back soon." Clark says. Lana nods her head and looks over and Chloe and Whitney, when she looks back at Clark he's no longer there.
It appears Harvey Trench has stopped at an old abandoned building, one looking like it's about to collapse. Several police are at the scene, the new units are arriving and Chloe is approaching. She drives up to the back of the building, instead of the front where most police are grouping. She parks on the side of the street not far from the building and gets out. Whitney gets out as well and goes after her as she quickly walks to the building before the police can try and stop her. "Chloe! You have to stop…I know you think you need to be here now but this is too dangerous! You don't want to get caught up in this, the police could start shooting and…" Whitney starts, but Chloe cuts him off.
"Be quiet, Whitney!" Chloe says as she reaches a side door and opens it slowly. "Just stay here or go back and find your little Barbie doll we left behind." Chloe walks inside, taking out her digital camera again. Whitney looks around and sighs, then goes in after her.
It's very dark inside; the place has been eaten away by termites and old age. Cobwebs are everywhere and rats can be heard and seen all over. The only light is from the few dusty windows that shine light in. "Just what are you planning on doing in here, Chloe? Getting yourself blown up like those cop's cars?" Whitney asks.
"I just need to find out what he's doing and what he's going to do…I'll get a job at the Planet no prob if I can do that." Chloe replies.
"That's what this is about? Chloe come on…you would of probably got the job anyway, let's just get out of here before we're caught in the middle of a hail of gunfire." Whitney says as Chloe walks up a creaky old staircase.
"I think you deserve a thank you somewhere between the hail of gunfire remark. Just keep quiet, I'm getting some good shots." Chloe says, continuing up the stairs. Whitney keeps following her, and after climbing four flights of stairs they find the level Harvey Trench is laying low in. "Get down behind those crates." Chloe says quietly. The two kneel behind a few large wooden crates in a large, almost empty room. Harvey Trench and the Z13 stand about 10 yards in front of them towards the end of the room, going through the thousands of dollars he stole from the bank. Chloe takes shot after shot of Harvey with her camera; Whitney tries to stay calm.
Down below, Clark and Lana are finally arriving at the scene. The police hold them back as still even more squad cars arrive. "Please…sir, our friends are in that building!" Lana tells the police officer.
"What? There are kids in there?!" The officer says surprised. He turns around and gets on his radio. "Chief we have two minors in the building, I would advise not to open fire."
"Two minors in the building?!" The police chief replies through the radio. "Alright…" He starts, getting off the radio. "Everyone! Hold your fire! We have two kids inside the building! Do not fire your weapon!" He shouts through the loudspeaker.
Back inside the empty room Harvey immediately takes notice to what the chief just said. "Oh crap…" Whitney says quietly.
"I think maybe now is the time to leave…" Chloe starts, slowly moving towards the door.
"Definitely…" Whitney replies very quietly.
"Kids?" Harvey says to himself. He quickly turns around and stands by the door, blocking the exit. Chloe and Whitney slowly look up at him, very scared. Outside, a black car pulls up to the building behind the police. The backdoors open and out step Lex and Lionel Luthor. They quickly move up to where Clark and Lana are standing demanding to know what is going on.
"What's happened to the Z13?! Does that fool Harvey Trench still have it?!" Lionel asks an officer loudly. The chief of police quickly walks towards the Luthors to clue them in.
"Sir, the man who stole your property is inside, still…wearing it." The chief tells Lionel.
"That bastard! I want to go in there and…" Lionel starts, very angry.
"Sorry, Mr. Luthor, I can't allow that. You'll have to remain out here or better yet, just go back home. There's no telling what might happen here, it could be very dangerous." The police chief says. Lionel goes on to yell at the officer, while Lex walks over by Clark and Lana to talk about what's happening.
"Clark, Lana…what are you two doing here?" Lex asks.
"We came here for Chloe, she got a job interview for the Daily Planet." Clark replies.
"Where's Chloe now?" Lex asks.
"Inside…along with Whitney." Lana says. Lex looks back up at the building; a large blast knocks out part of the wall from the inside. Harvey walks into the view through the hole in the wall, holding Chloe up in one hand and Whitney in the other.
"Let them go, Harvey! You don't want to get yourself into any more trouble!" The police chief orders through the loudspeaker. Harvey looks at the two then speaks.
"These two…for Lex Luthor!" He shouts. The police chief puts down the microphone and looks back at Lex, he begins to walk forward but Lionel stops him.
"What are you doing Lex? He'll kill you." Lionel tells him.
"Don't worry, dad…I can take care of it." Lex replies. "Officer…tell him to let them go, I'm coming up." The police chief looks at him for a moment then nods his head.
"Let the two kids go, Harvey! Lex Luthor is coming to talk to you!" The chief of police says through the loudspeaker. "Alright, Mr. Luthor…try to keep in front of that hole he just made in the wall so we can get a good shot if we feel you are in danger." Lex nods and walks through the crowd of police. He gets to the front door and looks back, then walks in carefully. Clark and Lana watch as he goes in, then they notice Lionel, who looks to be the most worried.
Inside the room Harvey tosses Chloe and Whitney at the wall about ten feet away. Whitney hits his head hard and blacks out. Chloe rubs her sore neck and checks on Whitney. "Oh man…come on, jock-boy…wake up!" Chloe tells him, but he remains unconscious. Lex makes his way up the stairs, and before long he's in the room, standing next to the door and looking over at Harvey. His attention then turns to Whitney and Chloe.
"Harvey…what did you do?" Lex asks.
"Oh, I see now you have time to talk to me…" Harvey starts.
"Harvey that suit doesn't belong to you, your really shouldn't of taken it." Lex says, walking forward.
"Now who's in charge…Mr. Luthor?" Harvey asks as Lex continues to walk forward. He doesn't reply. "I asked you a question, Mr. Luthor." Harvey says as Lex gets closer. Harvey grabs him by the neck and lifts him a few feet in the air. "Who's in charge now, Mr. Luthor?!" Lex remains silent for a few moments, trying to loosen the grip, but then reaches into his pocket.
"Still me." Lex says as he pushes a red button on a small black devise. The Z13 begins to shock Harvey very painfully, causing him to drop Lex next to the large hole in the wall. Lex pushes the button again, sending another large shock through the Z13 and Harvey; he yells out in pain. "You really shouldn't have stolen anything from the Luthor family, Harvey. Now you must pay the price." Lex says, pushing the button again.
"Aaahhh! Please…stop…" Harvey pleads.
"Hmm…alright, Harvey, for now I'll stop. I hear prison's not so bad these days you know…" Lex starts, but is cut off when Harvey kicks the small black devise out of his hand, then gives him a big kick to the stomach…sending him flying out of the hole in the wall. He lands in the hands of several police officers that caught him; they help him up to check to see if he's all right. Lex holds his stomach in pain and looks up at where he just fell. Lionel quickly makes his way over to him to check his condition.
Harvey gets to his feet slowly, still hurting. He is extremely angry and begins to form another one of the energy orbs in his palm; Chloe looks at him, very scared. "Sorry kid…" Harvey says just before throwing the orb at the far wall, causing a big explosion and a large fire to start. Harvey gets out of there with his bag of cash, leaving Chloe and Whitney behind in the blazing inferno.
"Oh no…Chloe and Whitney are still in there!" Clark says as he watches the fire spread. The chief of police signals the fire department to try and put out the flames, they take out their hoses as fast as possible and water begins to spray into the building.
"Whitney! Wake up! Now! We have to get out!" Chloe screams at him, shaking him roughly. He finally comes to, very dazed and confused. She helps him to his feet and they try to look for an exit. "We have to get through this boarded window…there's a steel staircase on the side of the building we can use to get down!" Chloe yells as the flames get closer. The scene has turned to mayhem, firefighters are trying to put out the blaze while police are unsure about what to do, some begin to leave in the direction Harvey ran…other's wait for further instruction from the police chief who is yelling out various things.
"I gotta get them out…they don't have much time." Clark says, heading towards the side of the building.
"Clark! Wait, it's too dangerous!" Lana yells, going after him. Clark climbs the steel stairs on the side of the burning building quickly. He makes it to the boarded window and tells Chloe and Whitney to get back. Lana waits near the bottom of them. Clark kicks through the boards with ease. Chloe gets out with Whitney, helping him control his balance.
"Come on!" Clark yells as they scramble down the stairs. The three get far enough away, but Lana trips and falls to the ground only a few yards from the building. She starts to get up but when she turns her head she screams out as the building begins to collapse right next to her. "Lana!" Clark yells. He has no choice but to use his superspeed to save her as the rubble begins to crumple only inches above her.
When Lana opens her eyes she finds herself far away from the wreckage with Clark holding her close. "What…what…how?" Lana starts, confused as she looks at the burning building that stood there only moments before.
"Are you alright, Lana?" Clark asks, looking into her eyes. Chloe turns around and sees Clark and Lana; she squints her eyes and looks back at Whitney, who is still rubbing his head, then back at Clark and Lana…completely confused. "I have to go, Lana…I know where he's going." Clark says, helping her up and loosening his grip on her. "I need you to go check on Chloe and Whitney, I'll be back soon." Clark says. Lana nods her head and looks over and Chloe and Whitney, when she looks back at Clark he's no longer there.