Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for Sinclair.  I'm willing to share if you ask nicely and reference me.  I'm not making any money off of them, sad but true.  The WB has all rights to the other characters.  I'm just borrowing them and I'll return them when I'm done.  Well, except for Chloe Sullivan, I want to keep her for a while longer. Clark doesn't deserve her and he would probably dismiss her again.

            Shameless Begging: Please Read and Review.  This is my first story and I want to be sure people want me to continue it.

            Summary:  Clark learns that the greatest influences on us are the people who have already gone.  Their memories are the hardest standards to live up to.

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Mentor - Chapter 1

            The sun was setting behind Luthor Mansion, bringing another day to an end.  A steady breeze whipped across the premises with a chill hinting at an early winter in the offering.  Several security personnel walked around the manor.  After three years and too many break-ins and disturbances, Lex Luthor was not taking any chances.

            Inside the castle, Lex was playing pool.  Practicing a particularly difficult bank shot.  He had a need to refine his bank shot after last week's game with Clark.  A three-bank combo that Lex would have thought was impossible.  Yet Clark had pulled it off flawlessly.  Well, Lex would have a surprise for him this week.

            Lex hit the cue soundly with enough English on it to avoid the 8-ball off the bumper.  The cue deflected off the bumper and slammed into the 3.  The 3 hit the far bumper, but the English wasn't enough and it hit the 7 too straight.  The 7 still headed for the corner but bounced off the edge of the pocket.

            "I guess banks don't like you, Luthor" came a voice from the back of the room.

            Lex didn't show any of the surprise he felt at hearing that voice and said nonchalantly.  "That's why I'm rich.  If a bank doesn't like me, I buy it out."  Lex set his cue stick down and turned towards the voice.

            Standing at the mini-bar was a male, just a hair under 6 feet tall.  He had brownish hair with a goatee beard.  The man was in excellent shape with well-defined muscles.  Not bulging like Clark was continuing to develop, but the man definitely had some power in his body.

            Lex and the intruder locked stares and neither flinched for several moments.  "Sinclair." Lex said.  "Why is it I can't find one, just one, well-trained security guard in all of Kansas?"

            Sinclair stepped closer to Lex.  "You know that security guards don't stop me if I want to go somewhere."

            "Well," said Lex dryly, "Except the security at the Girls School in Massachusetts."

            Sinclair laughed at that, "That was an unfortunate incident.  I didn't know Wendy had a dog in her room.  Nor did I know it liked to sleep under the windowsill."

            "That, my friend, is what made the situation so memorable." Lex laughed as he shook Sinclair's hand.  "I don't think I ever saw you move so fast.  It was an incredible dive out of the second story window.  Fortunately that ivy filled hedge was there to break your fall."

            "At least I still had all of my clothes on.  I seem to remember a certain second year student, streaking across the Lacrosse grounds, with several overweight hall monitors chasing after him.  To this day, there are still legends about the Scarlet Streaker, told to incoming students."

            "Touché'." Lex replied.  "It's been a long time, Carter.  Can I fix you a drink?"  Lex went around to his mini-bar. 

            Carter Sinclair nodded.  "Unfortunately I don't drink as much as I used to.  Water is fine."

            "Going soft on me, Carter?"

            "No, I've just been doing extra training lately."

            "Training?  Have you decided to go pro?  I'm sure the Metropolis Sharks could use another Wide Receiver.  I can talk to the GM and arrange a workout for you.  Are you as fast as you used to be?"

            "No, I have no desire to play professional football.  I'm content to teach and instruct the kids coming up.  I'm in training to shame them into working harder.  Also I'm thinking about opening up the Martial Arts school."

            Lex took out two of his little blue bottles and handed one to Carter.  "It's a shame, you could be a star in the league.  Well, it's the Sharks loss." Lex shrugged his shoulders and went back over to the pool table.  "Can I interest you in a game?  I've gotten better since school."

            "Sure, I'm always willing to give you a few pointers on the fine game of Pool."

            Lex racked the balls as Carter chose a stick from Lex's collection.  "What brings you to Smallville?"

            Carter centered the cue ball as Lex removed the rack from the table.  "I got a coaching job with Smallville High School.  Pay's good and a couple of the kids have real potential."

            Carter sunk a ball off the break.  "Also the Head Coach is leaving in two years.  With enough time in, I may be able to get the head coaching job."

            "I'd wish you good luck, Carter, but I don't think you'll need it.  Now, what brings you too see me?"  Carter missed his next shot as Lex said that.

            "A couple of reasons, actually.  Primarily I wanted to catch up with you."  Sinclair replied as Lex sank the 13 in the side pocket.  "Second, I wanted to ask your advice on locations for the school."

            Lex nodded. "12, corner.  I'd be happy to help you find a location. As a matter of fact, I just bought out an older coffee house, the Beanery.  I'm sure we could make some kind of leasing arrangement." 

            Lex sank the 12.

            "Nice shot. Lastly I wanted to see if you knew anything about Cadmus Labs."  Carter waited for Lex to aim up his next shot. As he shot Carter continued "I hear that your father owns it."

            At the mention of his father, Lex lost concentration and sunk the cue into the far corner.  "You did that on purpose." Lex said.

            Carter laughed.  "Yes I did. 1, side."

            "Why the interest in Cadmus?"

            Carter sank the 1 and got the 3 on a fortunate return.  "They were pioneers in the Medical Sciences a few years back and were doing some cutting edge research in biological manipulation.  I was curious if they were still working with it."

            Lex knew a lot about Cadmus Labs' medical and experimental work.  Up until his supposed death, last year, he had controlling interest in Cadmus.  However, Lionel Luthor quickly bought up the stock during Lex's unintentional absence from society. It was one of a number of clues that led Lex to suspect his father's influence to the plane accident.

            Lex wasn't sure how much Carter knew of the ownership situation.  He figured Carter had some knowledge.  Carter was very intelligent and always did his homework before making any moves.

            Lex was sure Carter was hiding things.  Carter always had several agendas running at once.  It was something Lex admired about the man.  If only Carter shown some interest in corporate fields.  What a formidable team the two of them would have made.  Luthor and Sinclair.  It would have been an alliance that even Lionel would have to be concerned with.

            "Fascinating work, you have to admit." Carter said.

            "Absolutely." Lex agreed coming out of his musings.  "Cadmus employs some of the best scientists in the world.  It also generates incredible financial revenues for my father.  Otherwise, he would have sold it years ago.

            "That still doesn't answer the question.  Why the interest?  I always pegged you as a Don't Mess with Nature kind of guy.  Natural medicines no chemicals to pollute the Body Temple."

            "5 side." Carter said.  "I do feel that natural medicines are very important.  However, I also believe in keeping an open mind.  That's the only way to grow as a person."

            The 5 fell, but so did the cue ball.

            "Nice growth." Lex quipped.  "Were you thinking of investing in Cadmus Labs?"

            "Maybe." Carter answered.  "It depends on where their research is heading, and what other projects they have."

            "9 Corner.  All of Cadmus' projects are public record. Some very theoretical concepts they may wish to develop a few years down the line.  Now would be a good time to get in, if you're looking over the long term, and not afraid of some risk."  The 9 went wide.

            "You know me, Lex.  What's life if you're not willing to take some risks?  Provided Cadmus isn't into anything illegal or shall we say...dubious."

            My father runs the place, there's always going to be some highly dubious projects going on, thought Lex.  "I have some contacts in Cadmus, I'll see if I can arrange a V.I.P. tour for you."

            "I knew I could count on you, Lex.  2 corner."

            "Of course," Lex replied as Carter sank the 2.  "So what have you been doing since our boarding school days?"

            "I took a tour of Asia and the Orient. Let's try the 5 again, side."

            "You've been in Asia for six years?  Nice tour."

            "It's a big place.  I was actually only there for three years.  The last three were spent finishing Graduate requirements for teaching and coaching.  Thus the Smallville High job."  The 5 ball dropped.

            Something didn't sound right about Carter's three years in Asia.   He knew of Carter's work in the Martial Arts, but a three-year tour didn't seem like him, somehow.  Lex would look into that later.

            "Seeing that you're going to be working for Smallville High, I wonder if you could do me a favor?  In return for the tour of Cadmus."

            "6 corner.  Sure, if I can.  What's the favor?" the 6 missed, but Lex was left behind the 8-ball.

            "There are a couple of kids there, seniors.  I was wondering if you could keep an eye on them for me."

            Carter tilted his head in surprise.  "A couple of kids?  Are they trouble-makers?"

            Lex laughed and almost scratched on the 8-ball.  "No, well not the guy.  He's more of a boy scout.  "Their names are Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan."

            "What's so special about these kids?"

            "Well, Chloe had some dealings with my father last year and got in way over her head.  She was doing a lot of research and dirt digging for him, which nearly got her killed.  As for Clark, well, he is a very unique person.  He's always around when strange happenings occur."

            "That's kind of cryptic.  Strange happenings?"

            "You live in Smallville, now.  Anything that you believe is normal, can been thrown out the window.  We had shape changers, telepaths, telekinetics and fire-breathing coaches.  You don't breath fire or blow things up, do you?"

            Carter laughed and replied sarcastically,  "Not fire, Lex.  However, I have been known to shoot lightning out of my hands and I enjoy flying through the night sky."

            Lex laughed as well, "You joke, but I'm serious.  Many odd things go on around here.  Chloe looks them up and Clark seems to always be fortunate enough to stop these freaks, but no one knows how."

            Carter lined up his final shot.  "It sounds like I'm going to have an interesting time in this quiet, Middle America town."