Title: The Virus

Author: NickyJean

Summary: Something from Chloe's past comes back to "shock" her. It's a Chlex story. They may not get totally together but there are definite bonding issues.

Disclaimer: I can't believe I almost forgot to say I don't own anything…how rude of me…

A/N: I hope this chapter isn't too harsh. But I was finally able to get my Mutant of the Week in here.

Chapter 7

Tom slowly opened his eyes. Darkness still surrounded him but a loud hum echoed in the room. He raised his head with slight pain coursing through it. Then he went to test his limbs and found them less cooperative. He looked down and there was just enough light in the room that he noted the ropes that secured him safely to the chair. He moved back and forth trying to loosen the ropes but only succeeded in scraping the chair on the floor.

Voice: Ah, so you finally decided to join us. How pleasant.

Tom looked at the shadowy figure as it came closer. The first thing he noticed was the shoulder length hair. Then the dark clothing, a long coat and boots. A flash caught Tom's eye and he noticed the menacing knife that was gently clutched in the man's hand. The figure came into full view thanks to the small window allowing the light from outside in. The best he could assume was that he was in a basement of some kind.

The darkness didn't last as the attacker changed direction and walked to the wall. A click was followed quickly by the illumination of the room. The overhead fluoresce lights flickered slightly before deciding to maintain the lit position.

Across from him was a self-made desk, a three by five piece of plywood supported by two short pillars of concrete blocks. On top was a high tech lap top with I-cam, mic, and speakers.

His memory slowly returned: someone grabbing him, a needle, darkness, and something about money. Everything surrounding him started to make sense.

Tom: Virus.

Virus: Wow that didn't take long. But then again I knew I wasn't dealing an idiot. The first two, now they were idiots. [Tom renewed his struggle] The girl though, she was pretty hot, until I slit her throat.

Tom: You bastard. I'm going to kill you.

Virus: I believe that's my line. No stealing the show. So do you want to know my plan or should I just get started. After all, I'll understand if you're not much for small talk.

Tom: Why are you doing this? It's been years…

Virus: I'd say that revenge is a dish best served cold but that's not it at all. See, while it's been years for you, it was just last month for me. You see you don't go pissing off powerful men who own corporations by stealing their money and then having the stupidity to get traced. You see those accounts you led the FBI to, that was about only half of what was really going on. There are more companies then just those in the U.S. I was a global enterprise until you self-righteous hacks stumbled on to me. I spent the last three and a half years running from corporate hit men. Do you know that these men cannot be bought off? I tried everything. Then I was able to kill one myself and I took his identity. I became him and he became my corpse. Now I finally have the time I need to start my games all over again. You see before you a man with a mission: To destroy everyone that took my money. That would be you.

[Virus went to his computer and turned it on. The camera light glowed red and he turned the screen to face Tom. Tom saw himself on the screen and didn't know what exactly to expect.

Tom: How'd you find me. I was pretty good at covering my tracks.

Virus: Techno wise yeah, there wasn't a trace. But I learned a lot from my contract killer friends. Hiding from them involved more then just covering purchases with your debit card. I learned how to track people in the real world. Kind of like a hunter. I followed you, by car, by foot. I saw you show up at the Luthor mansion. I even saw you meet up with that cute little pixie. What was her name, oh yeah, Chloe Sullivan.

Tom: You stay away from her.

Virus: Again, not very threatening with you tied down and me the one with the knife. Now I did find it interesting that you went to that school and actually risked getting caught online to help her with that little identity job. So I checked her out. She was in on it too, wasn't she?

Tom: She was a kid, a groupie. She couldn't have handled what we were doing. We only let her hang out with us because she was a good coffee girl. She wasn't even allowed to touch our computers back then.

Virus: [He knelt down in front of Tom, keeping a safe distance just in case he tried something.] You are oh so full of it. Here let me show you something.

Virus went to the computer and tapped on a few keys. There on a split screen was John. A much older version of John tied to a chair, much like Tom was now. John looked battered and bruised. Blood flowed in streaks from his chest and arms. Tom knew they were knife wounds, but he refused to show fear.

On the computer screen:

Virus' Voice on screen: Who was with you?

John: [sounding defeated] No one. It was just me.

Virus: [he slid the knife down his skin again and pierced the flesh. A fresh line of blood flowed down his body mixing with the other trails] If I have to ask this one more time I'm going to go find Judy and that little baby boy of yours and make them my pin cushion.

John: Tom Collins

Virus: Keep going. [This time he just drove the knife into a non vital part of his body and John screamed in angony.]

John: Sarah Floyd, but I swear that's it. It was only the three of us.

Virus: Now, I know you're lying and it's very brave of you and all but I'm really bored now. [He changed weapons. The cleaver of chose flashed on screen as the Virus struggled with his victim. Grabbing John's pinky finger he took aim and drove the weapon home. The finger fell unnaturally to the floor and John's screams were mixed with sobs.

John: Chloe Sullivan, but please she's just a kid. She didn't know what she was doing.

Virus: Thank you. [In mock gratitude he made John's end quick and drew the knife across his throat, blood seeping from the wound.]

Virus tapped on the computer and the image faded leaving only the image of Tom tied to a chair. Tom was pale now and his brave front almost gone. He knew he was going to die but he didn't know when or how painfully it was going to be.

Virus: So who was it that actually transferred my funds?

Tom: I did.

Virus [he sliced Tom's chest with his blade.] You see my profile on you said you wouldn't have given a damn about me stealing the money. You were too into the causes to care about anything else around you and you would have chalked it up to the company deserving it. Now who actually did it?

Tom: Sarah, she was the bleeding heart. She thought the company would shut down a plant to make up the loss.

Virus: [He punched Tom in the face effectively braking his nose. Red crimson flooded down his face and he spit out the blood that had entered his mouth] Sarah's experience was not of that caliber. So you have one more chance then I just don't care about the answer and I cut you up for fun.

Tom: Well, then I guess that leaves John. [Virus backhanded him and both the chair and Tom fell to the floor.]

Virus: You are so chivalrous, really. I already know the girl did it. Sarah admitted it as I was [pausing with a smirk] well, having my way with her.

[Tom noticed that the wooden chair gave some because of the impact. He took a chance as Virus came to return him to the upright position. He kicked out and Virus fell dropping his knife. Tom was able to grasp it. With his hands tied to his thighs (probably so Virus could cut his hands like he did John's) he was able to make quick work of the ropes even with Virus already advancing on him.

Virus punched him but the damage was already done. Tom staggered back but he was free from the chair. He bent down and drove into Virus and used his own speed to slam them both into the wall. The Virus' head connected with the wall stunning him. As much as Tom wanted to just kill him where he was, he had seen too many movies to know that he was to weaken to really take him in a fight and the knife was nowhere in sight.

He wasted no time racing for the door and up the stairs. He was never so happy to smell fresh air or see the night sky in his life. He made quick work of taking in his surroundings. He was at the Smallville power plant and he looked quickly for a place to hide. Several power conduits were in the area all rather large and worth a shot. He didn't have much time to decide as heard foot falls behind him.

~*~

The Virus shook his head trying to regain his senses as his prey made the escape up the stairs. He rose unsteadily but finally he recovered enough to race up the stairs after Tom. At the archway he stood for a moment to see if he could sense where the guy ran off too. Realizing he had no weapon, Virus scanned the area quickly finding a large rock. Clobbering was a bit barbaric but it would work for right now.

Now he stalked the area. Thinking as if he were in Tom's position. It took him only a moment to deduce the places where Tom would have been able to hide. As he approached the area most likely area first, he saw the prone body lying face down. He moved cautiously forward, expecting it to be a trick. He was right on top of Tom when Tom's foot kicked out. The impact shoved Virus into the electrified wires. Virus was immediately electrocuted. Sparks flew in all directions and Tom covered his eyes to prevent them from burning him. After what seemed like forever, the body collapsed to the ground and the large greenish rock rolled from its grasp.

Tom stood for a moment stunned at what he just did. He hadn't meant to kill anyone. Only to get away. Fear gripped him as he realized he just committed murder. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the body. His hand went to his mouth to hold in the shock. He stepped forward, his eyes burning. He took another step, running his hand through his hair.

Then he saw it. The body, it twitched. Then it moved a real move. Not to be confused with a muscle spasm that the other movement could have been mistaken for. Tom rushed forward and dropped to his knees by his captor. He was so glad for a moment that he hadn't been turned into a murder he didn't notice the flicks of green sparks that raced over Virus' arm.

The Virus moaned slightly and started to shift his position.

Tom: You shouldn't be moving. You were almost killed. How are you feeling?

Virus: [His eyes flashed open. Green glittering in their orbs. His hand shot up to Tom's throat and electricity coursed from one body to the next.] Actually, I'm feeling great.

[Tom quaked as the current entered his body burning his organs from the inside out. Finally, Tom's movement stopped and the lifeless body dropped to the ground. Virus stood up and just looked down at the corpse he created with wonder. Then a smile of pure evil spread across his face.]

Virus: Come to think of it, I haven't felt this good in years.

[He returned to his lair and sat before his computer, disregarding the mess that was made during the struggle. As his hands neared the keyboard he felt a jolt. It wasn't at all painful. It was more of a pleasant feeling. Then as his fingers actually made contact the computer screen flashed. A green glow appeared to radiate from him and before he could actually type the command the computer seemed to read his mind as the LutherCorp icon floated in the middle of the screen.

Virus: Now this, this is interesting. [Images flashed on the screen faster then most people were able to register what they were seeing. But not him. He felt connected. It was almost as if his thoughts were being transmitted and received as fast as the computer itself and it all made sense to him. It fitted perfectly in his mind and there was no confusion in what he was seeing or doing.]

Virus: Yes, this is going to be very interesting. [Before him appeared the LuthorCorp e-mail account of one Gabriel Sullivan.]

A/N: I just wanted you all to know that like scifichick774, I really liked Tom but the guy was toast as soon as I created him. That's the problem with making cool characters that say and do everything you've ever wanted to do yourself. Not to mention it was inevitable for his passing. He knew too much and that will be explained later.