The morning shine of the sunrise hit differently and felt stranger than it did before. A realization of the light crossing the clouds in the morning. Dwelling on its differences from others facing it was strange, but one feeling Clark Kent was trapped in. That normal wasn't ever the same the last few days.

The mornings were a strange adjustment to the usual activities of his life. Clark had his morning breakfast with his family in the kitchen as well as the final leftover chores for the farm. Martha and Jonathan had gained some reassurance about what had happened with Clark in the tunnels. He didn't say everything, but at this point, Brainiac was included in their conversation. The Kent family was concerned about this matter, but Clark got the feeling their main worries were directed at what had happened to Victoria Klingman.

The real Victoria was one who Clark never met, but his parents knew minimally. She had been a history teacher long before Clark lived in Smallville. Though sometime after Clark's arrival on Earth, she was gone and impersonated by the alien known as J'onn J'onzz. Even with this precious revelation, the looming danger Brainiac created was Clark's larger priority. What he was planning under the tunnels, nearly achieving the goal of killing Clark and J'onn, and even what he did to Ray Jensen.

Brainiac's danger did haunt Clark, but he tried not to let it get to him too far as he got ready for school. His parents saw through his feelings on the matter, but it was a step-by-step process to help him through what happened. He left the house in less of a hurry. His arrival was made at the same time as the other kids on the bus. The Kents exchanged an apprehensive wave back to Clark as he left.

Clark took things slowly on his first day back. The acclimation became easier with his classmates like Kenny there to have lifted his spirits before class. Clark gave off the effect that everything was fine, but even with his usual classes helping him adjust, nothing changed the dread that remained in Smallville from Brainiac's threats.

A more recent familiarity did enter however when Clark was ready for history. Victoria Klingman, or as Clark knew by that moment on, J'onn J'onzz. The alien shapeshifter of Mars secretly was protecting him. Though this alien being did take the place of the real Victoria Klingman. A mystery that Clark's parents were still apprehensive of. Clark was distrustful of it too, but J'onn being the one who watched out for his safety had Clark trust the fellow alien being far more. Still getting used to their mutual extraterrestrial nature being a factor, however.

Class started as Clark expected. J'onn was still as he was before when giving his lessons. As if revealing himself as Victoria hardly startled him compared to Clark. Lex tried correcting J'onn during class on his own home research on the conflict of international dig sites but was immediately shut down. Clearly proving that even with Clark knowing that J'onn wasn't even from Earth, he still knew his history in the years he's been on the same planet Clark landed on.

Even after a somewhat fun class in history, followed by a shrug to Lex after getting some looks, Clark decided to go check on Ray. Still, Clark had a bit of time before his next class in the fourth period. Plus Jensen always signed off on their work together with the school board as his mentor. Going down the usual hallway, Clark saw the narrow office exactly where it usually was located at the end of the hall.

Raymond's office, in contrast to J'onn's immaculate classroom, was decayed. Plants wilting down to nothing and notes scattered around the place. It practically drowned the older files that lay below them. It looked as abandoned as it was before Raymond took the job at Smallville High. Laid as bare, nothing truly changed from the last time Clark visited aside from the decayed plants within. A factor that was odd given the use of this room standing with nature as his priority as a reporter.

The small office was utterly devoid of life until one of the slightly larger piles of papers and notes rose up, revealing Raymond Jensen inside. Jensen looked as tired as ever, but this was his normal to Clark at least.

Ray was often overworked in his goals, but this was a whole other level of exhaustion that seemed to have impaired him. He was very pale. This fatigued state was slightly different from what Clark found when the two reunited in the tunnels below them. His veins even lightly shone in a dark purple under his partially rolled sleeves. The teacher noticed as Clark showed his concern for Jensen's condition.

"Clark. I, uh, didn't see you there." Jensen stated in a tired, but surprised state. He had still been adjusting his eyes from seemingly sleeping on the floor for the past while then. Clark did slightly lean against the doorway of the office when the strange husk of Jensen approached from his pile. He was glad to see Ray back, but Clark wondered in what state it was that he found him.

"Just thought I would check in with you, Mr. Jensen. After what we both saw, It just seemed odd I heard you came back to school." Clark cautiously advised. While being a student, he did still want to voice his worries. Especially with his teacher's current anorexic state. "Maybe rest like you said, take notes at home… " Clark trailed on. Though Ray quickly caught on to what he was implying. Taking charge of disputing it.

"No-no, please. I'm fine, Clark. Really, the best thing for me is to get right back on what I found down there in those tunnels. What does Lionel really use them for? The leads were promising today. There are just some final pieces which… " Jensen defended and trailed himself. Murmuring close to the corner of the room at this point of his speech. "Which we need to find. W-we'll find what Lionel is hiding an-and stop him."

"We will figure this out, I promise. But you can't do this in your current state. Mr. Jensen, when was the last time you ate? Or got any kind of real sleep?" Clark asked in his concern. His worry increased when he saw his boss talking to himself in some kind of manner, but he wasn't sure if that was just stress or actual delusions. He stepped forward slightly to see Jensen's eyes being weary and even partially bloodshot. His half-lidded eyes covered up Jensen's weariness, but it was still a frightening sight from a man previously so full of life.

"Trust me, Clark. I'm fine. We just need to find out what that… thing is, and how Lionel controls it. Whatever device he's controlling, it can't be good." Jensen redirected the conversation. Looking away from Clark and to his scattered pages and notes for some kind of answer. Hoping in the random stacking order was some kind of clue he missed from his findings.

"I don't think whatever that was is working for Lionel." Clark corrected. Clearly grabbing the bait Jensen set to take things off the topic of his health. "Since you've been gone, there was clearly more gathered by something down there. This isn't the actions of a billionaire hurting Smallville's locals. This is far worse." The Kent boy further explained what had happened in Jensen's absence. Sparing details that he was not ready to divulge yet. The secret of his alien lineage was still a mystery to himself. Although Brainiac claimed to know more about Clark than even his parents, it wasn't enough that required Jensen to be in the loop to solve this.

Jensen nodded in acknowledgement. Having realized Clark knew some more above ground and below since Ray was trapped. Giving a weak smile of pride to the boy. "Even if it's not all Lionel's machinations, there very clearly is a danger Luthor brings to the table. A threat to both this town and us directly," Jensen wanted to bring what he could to the table in turn. Including his full revenge for whatever Lionel's ally did in trapping him down there. He still wasn't sure how he did, but he would find out the truth before long. "And this machine down there? It was moving equipment. The drones watch Lionel's own forklifts and workers as its eyes and ears, and some kind of constant stream of lights head for the center tunnel. It practically is screaming out that it is helping Lionel." Raymond explained in detail what he saw while down there. Exchanging the gaps of information Clark possibly didn't have. An estimation Ray ended up being correct to Clark's surprise.

"We'll both look into it, for sure. This is a big deal, but what happened to you is still-" Clark tried voicing his sympathies. Being the voice of reason until he was cut off by Jensen. His usual calm collected demeanor ended in a subtle adjustment of his neck. His eyes fully opened in his snapped-back reaction to Clark's reasonings.

"Nothing that happened to us is the priority anymore!" Jensen moved away from Clark in an angered motion. Pushing him away much to Kent's shock. Ray's eyes moved far more feral. It was not clear what mindset he was in, but Clark saw it as completely unlike his friend. The gritting in Jensen's teeth and the sharp movements he made were practically as quick as Clark's own. These motions all showed changes that were both mental as well as physical within him. Even the discoloration seemed far less like one of starvation, stress, or even just the lack of sleep. Jensen was gone for days, not weeks. And although that kind of stress would cripple one facing a similar fate, Jensen had faced a lot in his life as a reporter. This latest incident proved far more traumatic in many respects.

Clark's reaction landed something on Jensen however. His reaction was far more regretful. Shifting to a shaking motion of apprehension in his moment of anger. Ray even retreated more into a timid state of fear about himself.

"I'm- I'm sorry, Clark. I- " Ray tried explaining his strange behavior. His erratic actions of before were seemingly gone in his state of regret. "That's not me, I'm-" Jensen continued, being lost in thought. Or what little of it remained his own as he moved through the papers on the floor. Getting one or two stuck to his shoes. Really not being able to figure out how to actually explain his point when seeing how crazy it sounds to a teenager.

"I know. You… I need help." Clark acknowledged Ray's regrets, but his own apprehension about approaching had him back away as Jensen got closer. This wasn't what Clark really knew how to answer. There was no fix he had that could really help Ray. Especially with how lost Clark was himself.

"You're right, and I will. I just need to figure out what happened to me. Before I get any worse." Ray hinted with a sense of dread hidden within his voice. Clark couldn't figure out what he feared exactly, but it was something he couldn't let go of. Still, he did back away to a point where Raymond had a clear path out of his office. Maneuvering past his files on the floor and exiting out the doorway. All while Clark continued looking on. Nervous about what had been left behind in those tunnels.

He peered out into the hallways to see students moving to other classes, but no sign of Jensen. Almost like he vanished without a trace that he was even seen down the crowded halls by anyone. Even Lex, who was always curious about Clark and his friends, didn't seem to notice anything when he awaited Clark across from the doorway by his locker.

"Hello, Clark." Lex greeted. Still trying to project some confidence after being previously corrected in Ms. Klingman's class. He looked back to the lockers. Not to check for any danger in a place Lex found mundane, but just to make sure he closed it. He looked back to Clark, still wondering why he looked stressed in his reunion with a longtime friend. At least from the minimal gossip he had received on the matter. "What's the matter? Thought you were excited when Mr. Jensen was found. Now it seems less like gratitude for Klingman's actions and more… worry." Lex realized.

"It's fine," Clark informed. A bit sudden of being asked about it, Clark redirected. Whatever was going on with him made Raymond sound a bit crazed and confused, and while Lex was a bit of a social outcast as well, he didn't want the rest of Smallville to know about Jensen's distress so quickly. He knew how news spread fast in this town. "It's just an adjustment. Jensen is a stubborn reporter and I don't want him to push himself."

"Right," Lex agreed when it came to Kent's logic on this matter. Clark was still partially trying to hear what he could of Jensen's escape while they spoke, but so far heard nothing as he split his focus. "You're trying to help the best you can. After Milton. If I lost someone like that below my very feet, I wouldn't stop until I could stop another from facing that fate." Lex surmised. Clark found he was on point, but not wanting to be baited into thinking it was his sole responsibility. Given that his abilities were core to his loss that school day.

"Well, I had a reason, Lex. I was sick. I couldn't blame myself for Milton, but Jensen… " Clark trailed off. Still finding it could still be his fault. Lex examined Clark's sudden pause. "Jensen is still determined to find him." Clark muttered.

"What?" Lex asked. Clark realized he still pondered this factor out loud. "I need to find Ms. Klingman. She'll know where to find Ray." Clark declared. Beginning a slow jog back to her classroom. Figuring she was still there for what Clark was planning.

"How?" Lex asked as Clark was far away from earshot very soon enough. Clark however was thinking of the exact same question. He remembered what the martian was able to accomplish down in the tunnels. Being able to read the minds of the people around him was freaky, but exactly what Clark needed at this moment rather than his own abilities.

Clark looked back into Klingman's classroom. Where the mysterious enigma of J'onn J'onzz sat while examining stacks of material for his future classes. It was strange even in a class with everyone else, but here, it was even stranger to see who Victoria Klingman was back in this element. Even with the hesitancy in approaching in order to ask for J'onn's assistance, he already knew what Clark needed his aid on. Even without a search into the boy's mind.

"I need your help." Clark directly spoke. J'onn lifted himself up in order to bring the conversation to the back of the room and out of earshot. Showing a greatly determined guise in Victoria's old face. As well as concern for the boy under his guidance.

"Tell me everything."