Lex skilfully dodged the lethal swoop of his opponents weapon, bending awkwardly only to repay the compliment with his own sword. The fight was only in play but Lex felt strangely powerful in his crisp white uniform, though on the inside it was a different story, sweat was breaking on his well toned body, and though he was physically fit he had to call it a day signalling to his identically dressed opponent.

"Thanks for that Jono, same time next week?"

" Sure Lex see you then," Jono left the gym removing his head gear as he went.

Lex reached down for his water bottle, he drank deeply to replenish the lost water during the duel. One of the perks to having an extremely rich father being able to endure such physical activity at your own leisure, about the only thing that Lex found enjoyable now that his father had come to stay. He began to remove his fencing wear as he headed for his room, vaguely thinking of a hot shower to ease his now tired and aching muscles. He made his way up the elaborate staircase that his legs by now had become used to enduring, he had often thought that there was no need for all this, a simple flat would tend to all his needs and perhaps a smaller place would keep his power driven father from dropping in for long stretches of time.

It was now gone midday and someone had been in to make his bed and draw the curtains. Lex dumped his uniform on a chair by the window and made his way to his shower room.

Half and hour later Clarke was who he found standing in the drawing room gazing at the perfectly placed volumes of books on the immense shelves, he was so taken, as he always was whenever in Lex's mansion that he hadn't notice him enter the room.

" Clarke, how's the family?" Clarke spun around to face Lex who was smiling at his tall dark haired friend.

" Lex, Hi the maid let me in, I hope you don't mind,"

" Not at all, how can I help you?" Lex wondered over to the pool table, picked up a cue and started shooting balls randomly into pockets, " Fancy a game?"

" Uh no thanks I cant stay long I just wanted to ask you if you'll be able to come to Lana's surprise party next week."

" Ah of course, the party of the year," Lex grinned up at his friend, "anything for Lana ay Clarke." Clarke blushed at these playful words from his friend, everyone who knew Clarke well understood how he had always felt about Lana Lang, he gave a shy smile,

" So you'll be there?" Lex went back to pocketing balls,

" Of course I'll be there, wouldn't miss my most beautiful business partners birthday bash would I?"

" Great, well you know where it is the Talon seven o'clock next Tuesday."

" I'll be there. Clarke you want to meet up for a coffee later? You can tell me all about your plans for big surprise party." Clarke gave a shy smile at his friends playful attitude,

" Yeah sounds good, I'll see you later."

" You want me to pick you up, its no trouble," Clark suddenly looked uncomfortable, Lex knew only to well that the Kent parents had a distinct disliking for him and the prospect of him picking up their son in his flash car would without a doubt cause a great amount of aggravation to them.

"No that's ok Lex, I'll meet you there, about seven?"

" Seven it is, see you later Clark."

Three hours later Lex rolled up in front of the Talon in his jaguar. As he was locking the car he heard a deep sharp scream from the alley beside the Talon. Curious, Lex took a few steps into the alley, " Hello? Is any one there." It was dark and the only light came from the streetlights on the sidewalk, Lex called out again a little louder. Still staring intently into the darkness in front of him, " Hello??" almost as soon as the words had left his mouth, Lex felt something swish past him, he spun wildly around, behind him stood a rugged familiar character just visible in the street light. It took Lex a few long seconds to realise who he was staring at and even then it seemed impossible, it was, or so it seemed to be the man who had brandished a gun at him back at his fathers party, the man who was dead! this had to be a trick of the light after all it was quite dark, but then Lex noticed something that made his stomach turn, the man in front of him was wearing a bracelet with a roughly cut green-black rock in the middle, it shined slightly in the dim light around them, it was him!

" Lex Luthor we meet again." Lex recognised with a large amount of dislike the deep unnerving voice.

" Who are you? what are you?" Lex felt his voice shaking slightly and immediately pulled himself together.

" Awwwww did Little Lex think I was dead? Did you trust Daddy when he said he'd taken care of everything? Not as smart as some people think is he, getting his men to chuck me off a bridge into a canal………..original" he gave a cold laugh " But I'm not ready to die, not until you get what you deserve."

Lex backed slowly away he felt sick, " Don't walk away from me Lex, we havnt had a chance to talk," as he spoke he zoomed at top speed towards Lex, just had he had done in the office last week, Lex turned and tried to run but before he even took a step he felt and extremely powerful hand close around his neck, he choked gasping for air, the rugged man tightened his grip showing no mercy. Lex felt his vision blur and he strained to focus on his opponents face, he could just gather the immense look of pleasure that was spread across his profile, " how does it feel Lex, to be the powerless one, its your turn to suffer Lex!"

His words and expression fuelled an anger that was steadily rising from the pit of Lex's stomach taking over all fear. He used this to try and fight back, swinging his arms madly only just catching the mans face causing him to laugh hollowly at Lex's pitiful attempt to hurt him. Lex on his last ounce of energy felt himself about to pass out…………………………… suddenly without warning Lex gulped down cold clean and very welcome air, the mans grip lessened and then disappeared completely. Lex fell to the ground panting as if he has just ran all the way from his mansion, as his vision and all other senses flowed back he became aware of another person on the alley……..some one was fighting off the rugged man, and putting up quite a fight………..it was Clarke! Lex watched from the ground as Clarke dealt blow upon blow on to the stranger, but only to be thrown full pelt against the wall, Clarke fell to the ground, Lex caught a look of his expression, he looked terrible and as if he was about to be sick, shaking uncontrollably Clarke tried to get back up but it seemed to Lex that some invisible force was holding him down.

The rugged man raised his arm above Clarke, Lex looked up at his powerful fist and the bracelet shimmering in the light………………

" Hey who's down there?" a bright light from a police car filled the alley. Lex squinted against the light, relief swept over him he looked round back to where the man had been standing but all that was there was Clarke unconscious in a heap on the ground.