David J. Duncan
Chapter 2
After the farm truck had dropped her back at the house, Lana placed her bags in her room and flopped on her bed. For a long while, she lay there, staring at the ceiling and wondering what to do next. You're not going to solve anything by lying here. You might as well head for town. Maybe working on that piece will help you think. Rifling through her papers, she found the notes from her conversation with Emma di Lauro and Adam concerning Alicia
Fallone. Folding them carefully into her purse, she headed down the stairs and into town.
****
The Talon hopped with activity as the after school crowd from Smallville High washed down their frustrations with cappuccinos,
frappuccinos, and mochas. Miranda, the head waitress, scurried about, trying to keep the equipment clean and stay ahead of the customers' pace.
Lana sat in the corner, reviewing her notes and planning the piece for The Torch. I'm glad that Mutant X was so forthcoming on Alicia. This piece, even without the references to her gifts, them, or the GSA, will make a real difference.
"Hey, Lana!" Chloe greeted. "When did you get back?"
"A couple of hours ago. As soon as Clark and his dad dropped me off, I had the urge to satisfy the caffeine urge. What can I say?" Lana replied, sipping on her drink, albeit a bit too moodily than she had intended.
Okay. What's going on here? Something's definitely up. "Did you guys get that unique experience that promised?"
Lana nodded. Oh yeah, if you count the stay at Genomex. C'mon, Lana, that's not exactly fair and you know it. Still, I wonder how many other people have the experience that we had? "They put on a great package. We went to class and met a lot of really neat people. In fact, I'm working on a piece right now related to the trip. But, it's a surprise, okay?"
Chloe frowned. She knows how much I hate surprises. Grrrr. "Come on, can't you give me a hint?"
"Well...it's about an influential person that Clark and I encountered on our trip. Let's leave it at that, okay?"
The editor in chief leaned over and looked her friend in the eye. Now I know something's bothering her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I guess."
"You guess? Come on is it about Clark? What is it? Is he okay?"
"He's fine. It's just...well...it's complicated," she sighed and took a gulp from her drink.
"Clark and complicated. Hmmm.... now there are two words I never thought I'd hear in the same sentence," Chloe supposed with an air of sarcasm. "What happened out there, Lana?"
"I...I can't right now. Look, Chloe, I appreciate the attempt to talk to me, but I need to be alone right now. Okay? I'm sorry," Lana stated, the tears starting to glisten in her eyes as she got up and walked out of the restaurant.
What the heck happened out there? Okay, Clark, I want some answers.... With that, she got up and headed for her car.
****
[Two hours earlier]
Jonathan pulled the truck up to the house and looked around at the place. Everything still looks the same but something's changed. "Why don't you put your stuff in the house and then, we need to talk."
Clark nodded nervously and quietly got out of the cab, grabbed his bags out of the back and headed straight for his room whizzing past his mother in the process twice without so much as a hello.
"What's with him?" Martha asked exasperated.
"I don't know," her husband remarked. "But I think the three of us need to talk." Looking toward the barn, he urged, "Let's get to the bottom of this."
The couple followed their son's path outside and up to the barn's loft. Once there, they saw him staring out the open door toward the west and Lana's home. A serious look was firmly drawn out on his face as he wrestled with the issues raging inside of his head. "What should I tell Mom and Dad?" he muttered.
"How about not worrying about it and just do it, Son," Jonathan indicated, trying to allow a smile onto his face.
"What is it, Clark? It's not like you to just race by me and not say hello or anything," she added. "Was the trip that bad?"
He shook his head. "No, Mom, and I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind."
"That's obvious. You want to share it with us?" his father inquired.
"Sure. We had a great time and all. It's a gorgeous campus and has everything we could want. The people are really friendly and everything. It's just..." Clark started but stopped short, pacing about the loft.
"Just what, Clark?" she queried. By now, she was really getting worried. "What was that phone call about? And where were you calling from anyhow?"
"That's what I'm talking about. Dad, you always said that there would be those people who we'd have to deal with outside of here. Lana and I ran into one such group first hand. They were after Professor Dubois and his wife. They grabbed her, Lana, and this other scientist type. The group did something to Professor Dubois which made him go nuts." He hesitated a minute before continuing, "He's different too."
"Different?" Jonathan wondered, getting antsy.
"He has these powers...he can pick up on things and people. Anyhow, back to what happened. Just when things were getting crazy, these other guys show up and get us out of there. I called you from their place. After that...well...we went and got Lana and the others out," Clark continued, brooding from having to reveal that information.
Who is this guy? "Clark, I really want you to stay away from there," Jonathan asserted.
"Dad!" Clark argued. "You said that it could happen anywhere, right?"
"Right. But, I don't want you exposed to danger needlessly," his father countered.
"Dad, at least I can work with others like myself there," the younger man argued. "There are other kids with special gifts who are going to be coming on campus. I can learn how to use my powers and live in society at the same time."
"That's what I'm talking about," the farmer protested. "I don't want you sticking your neck out."
"So, I'm supposed to hide in this loft and let the world roll by me! Is that it?" Clark exclaimed. "I have a chance to make a difference! Lana still dealing with all of this after..."
His parents stared dumbfounded at him. "After what?" they chorused.
"After I saved her life. During the rescue, she fell from a balcony. I wasn't going to let her die. I couldn't. Somehow, I flew to save her. I flew. I've never done that before. Then, I covered her as the goons started shooting at us."
"And she knows?" Martha asked.
Clark nodded silently.
"How's she taking it?" Jonathan asked.
"Oh, pretty well. Considering that I've been holding back on everyone all of these years. Considering that it was the debris from my home planet that killed her parents," he sulked moodily, holding his head in his hands.
"Clark, you know we had to do it. We're sorry about making you do that, but, Son, we're concerned about protecting you," his father stated.
"Give her some time, Clark," his mother added. "Meantime, let's invite her over for dinner tomorrow, and we can talk about this, okay? Clark, I have to tell you, we were concerned about you and Lana after the situation at the hospital down there."
"I know. That's why I called as soon as I could. Did you let Nell know we were okay?"
"Yes we did. She was frantic, but we got her calmed down. Clark, did anyone else find out?"
"Professor Dubois sensed what I was when we got off the plane. The people that helped us know too, but they assured me that they'll keep quiet. That's it," he explained. "Dad, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why would somebody's father try to kill his own son?" Clark wondered fearfully. "His father sent those guys after him because he was different!"
Jonathan and Martha looked at each other yet again. Why does this sound familiar?
"Clark," his mother soothed. "Not all parents and children get along so well as we do."
"Some don't treasure their children if they are different than what they want," his father stated.
"Is that how you feel...about me? I know you want me to stay, but..." Clark worried, consumed by doubts. "I love both of you."
"And we love you," Martha assured him. "When you came into our lives, we didn't know what to expect, but we didn't care."
"You're a gift to us, Clark. Never forget that," Jonathan affirmed, rubbing him on the shoulder. "We just want you to be safe."
"I know, guys. Thanks." He smiled. "Now, I just need to figure out what to say to Lana."
At that moment, Chloe's car pulled into view from the main road.
"Chloe's here for some reason. I guess we'll need to continue this discussion later," Clark noticed. As he got up to leave, he turned and hugged his parents. "Thanks."
The couple looked at each other. Some things could be solved by talking after all....
****
Clark walked out of the barn to see his friend get out of her car with a determined look on her face. Uh oh. The manure's about to hit the fan.
"Clark, what did you do to her?" Chloe demanded.
"Uh, hi, Chloe. Nice to see you too," he replied.
"Don't give me that, Mister Kent. What happened out in Arizona? What happened to her?"
"This is about Lana, right?" he asked although he knew it was.
"Damn straight it is! Did you know she's really upset right now? Something happened and I want to know what it is."
Figures. "Chloe, I hate to be like this, but I'm still working through it myself."
Her eyes went wide. "You didn't hurt her, did you? I...I can't believe it! You did!"
"Chloe, stop it! Okay, stop it. No, I didn't hurt her," he declared. "That's all I can tell you for right now! Okay?" Despite his strength, he was shaking, thinking about how hurt Lana was over all of this stuff.
At that moment, his parents came out of the barn and shot her a disbelieving stare.
The reporter sighed. Man, I blew it. Here I thought he had taken advantage of her or something worse. Obviously, Farm Boy here is just as upset as she is. I'll give him his space for now, but I will find out. "Do you want to talk, Clark? I'm sorry about the third degree there."
"It's okay and I appreciate the offer. However, I do need some space and time, okay?" he requested.
"Sure, Clark. And again, I'm sorry," she concluded, walking dejectedly back to the car and driving off.
He looked at his parents and shook his head. All he wanted was to be alone right now. Accordingly, he streaked off across the field to be alone, leaving the others to wonder how they would deal with this situation.
