EXT. FIELD HILL - MORNING
Clark approaches the portal, squinting his eyes against the powerfully bright blue light. Stepping close to the swirling flames, Clark tentatively reaches out with his hand. As if drawn to him, several dancing wisps whirlpool their way out of the very center of the portal and up his outstretched arm. He tries pulling away but, as if alive, the portal's flames reach out for him, swallowing him up before extinguishing, leaving no trace of itself, or Clark, behind.
EXT. THE WOODS - DAY
A thick layer of black storm clouds and dense tree cover blocks out the sun's rays as a cloaked figure runs desperately through the forest. With added determination in each successive stride, the cloaked stranger remains resolved to an impassioned purpose, weaving their way between the trees, rocks, and rotted out stumps.
A bolt of lightning crashes down in the distance and, not a rolling thunder, but a resounding roar explodes from the skies, distracting the stranger for a reflexive second of fear, long enough to miss the short pile of leaves directly in their path. With a breathless "Uumph", the stranger hits the ground, their foot caught against an oddly solid instrument hidden beneath the fallen foliage.
The hood rolls back from the stranger's cloak as the mystery person picks herself up from the dirtied forest floor. Lana looks back at her foot, a pained expression across her face. Crawling back, she dusts away the leaves to inspect the hidden obstacle that so abruptly halted her pace, a memorial golden Ankh - a looped cross - embedded into the ground at its hilt. Etched across the center, a name; Inza.
After paying brief respect, Lana picks herself up off her knees, coming to her feet. Stepping around the Ankh, she lifts her open hands above her head, the loose sleeves of the cloak bundling up around her shoulders.
LANA
Katanna Cah'nayla!
As the first droplets of rain begin to fall, so does the forest dissolve away in front of her, like paint off a canvas. Before long, the trees and rocks are but a memory, replaced by a monumental stone tower that reaches straight up and through the roof of the clouds, disappearing into the sky. Yet, this tower is a strange one indeed, without door, nor window, nor openings of any kind.
Pounding rain floods the ground from the skies above as Lana slaps her hands against the stone tower wall.
LANA
Mystic! You have to let me inside! I must speak with you!
She waits for an answer. Another thunderous BOOM is all she gets in reply.
LANA
::angry:: Mys.!
A bright white light, in the shape of an Ankh, opens up in the side of the stone wall and swallows Lana whole.
INT. SALEM TOWER - CHAMBERS
Lana falls into the dark chambers through a bright hole in an otherwise darkened wall.
LANA .tic!
The light shrinks down to nothingness behind her as she lets out a surprised yelp. Regaining her composure, Lana inspects the layout of the "room" around her which, rather plainly, consists wholly of a celestial marble floor, a single blue candle in the center providing all of the room's illumination, and circular steps at the far side. At the top of the steps can be seen the outline of a man, seated in an elaborate golden throne, most of his body, including his face, shrouded behind an all consuming shadow.
DOCTOR FATE There is no need to yell, young one.
Fate speaks in a calm, serene-tempered, voice. His words are deliberate and carefully chosen, each one given their own precise pronunciation.
DOCTOR FATE I am old. I am not deaf.
Lana walks across the marble floor, keeping on the near side of the blue candle so as to allow its flame to illuminate her fiery glare.
LANA
He has found the portal.
DOCTOR FATE Yes, I know.
LANA
But he is not ready. They trusted you. I trusted you. You promised you would protect the portal with your magic.
DOCTOR FATE
And so I did. but destiny is a power that even Fate dare not tempt. I told you, if it was his destiny to find the gate, he would find it. There was little I could do to stop him.
LANA
Then you failed. and we will all die because of it!
From behind shadow, Fate lifts his hand to her.
DOCTOR FATE
Patience. Patience, young one. He has but his foot in the door. It is not enough to merely enter the tunnel. There is only darkness there. He must also find his way out, to the other side, and to do that he must go through me. He must see his way through Fate's illusion. He may be the Superman. but this is my realm.
Out of the shadows, he stands. He steps out into the blue light, or more accurately hovers, his feet never actually touching the ground. A yellow cape falls gracefully over his shoulders and the blue flame of the single candle reflects majestically against the sovereign shine of his golden helm.
DOCTOR FATE
. And the Doctor is in.
Clark approaches the portal, squinting his eyes against the powerfully bright blue light. Stepping close to the swirling flames, Clark tentatively reaches out with his hand. As if drawn to him, several dancing wisps whirlpool their way out of the very center of the portal and up his outstretched arm. He tries pulling away but, as if alive, the portal's flames reach out for him, swallowing him up before extinguishing, leaving no trace of itself, or Clark, behind.
EXT. THE WOODS - DAY
A thick layer of black storm clouds and dense tree cover blocks out the sun's rays as a cloaked figure runs desperately through the forest. With added determination in each successive stride, the cloaked stranger remains resolved to an impassioned purpose, weaving their way between the trees, rocks, and rotted out stumps.
A bolt of lightning crashes down in the distance and, not a rolling thunder, but a resounding roar explodes from the skies, distracting the stranger for a reflexive second of fear, long enough to miss the short pile of leaves directly in their path. With a breathless "Uumph", the stranger hits the ground, their foot caught against an oddly solid instrument hidden beneath the fallen foliage.
The hood rolls back from the stranger's cloak as the mystery person picks herself up from the dirtied forest floor. Lana looks back at her foot, a pained expression across her face. Crawling back, she dusts away the leaves to inspect the hidden obstacle that so abruptly halted her pace, a memorial golden Ankh - a looped cross - embedded into the ground at its hilt. Etched across the center, a name; Inza.
After paying brief respect, Lana picks herself up off her knees, coming to her feet. Stepping around the Ankh, she lifts her open hands above her head, the loose sleeves of the cloak bundling up around her shoulders.
LANA
Katanna Cah'nayla!
As the first droplets of rain begin to fall, so does the forest dissolve away in front of her, like paint off a canvas. Before long, the trees and rocks are but a memory, replaced by a monumental stone tower that reaches straight up and through the roof of the clouds, disappearing into the sky. Yet, this tower is a strange one indeed, without door, nor window, nor openings of any kind.
Pounding rain floods the ground from the skies above as Lana slaps her hands against the stone tower wall.
LANA
Mystic! You have to let me inside! I must speak with you!
She waits for an answer. Another thunderous BOOM is all she gets in reply.
LANA
::angry:: Mys.!
A bright white light, in the shape of an Ankh, opens up in the side of the stone wall and swallows Lana whole.
INT. SALEM TOWER - CHAMBERS
Lana falls into the dark chambers through a bright hole in an otherwise darkened wall.
LANA .tic!
The light shrinks down to nothingness behind her as she lets out a surprised yelp. Regaining her composure, Lana inspects the layout of the "room" around her which, rather plainly, consists wholly of a celestial marble floor, a single blue candle in the center providing all of the room's illumination, and circular steps at the far side. At the top of the steps can be seen the outline of a man, seated in an elaborate golden throne, most of his body, including his face, shrouded behind an all consuming shadow.
DOCTOR FATE There is no need to yell, young one.
Fate speaks in a calm, serene-tempered, voice. His words are deliberate and carefully chosen, each one given their own precise pronunciation.
DOCTOR FATE I am old. I am not deaf.
Lana walks across the marble floor, keeping on the near side of the blue candle so as to allow its flame to illuminate her fiery glare.
LANA
He has found the portal.
DOCTOR FATE Yes, I know.
LANA
But he is not ready. They trusted you. I trusted you. You promised you would protect the portal with your magic.
DOCTOR FATE
And so I did. but destiny is a power that even Fate dare not tempt. I told you, if it was his destiny to find the gate, he would find it. There was little I could do to stop him.
LANA
Then you failed. and we will all die because of it!
From behind shadow, Fate lifts his hand to her.
DOCTOR FATE
Patience. Patience, young one. He has but his foot in the door. It is not enough to merely enter the tunnel. There is only darkness there. He must also find his way out, to the other side, and to do that he must go through me. He must see his way through Fate's illusion. He may be the Superman. but this is my realm.
Out of the shadows, he stands. He steps out into the blue light, or more accurately hovers, his feet never actually touching the ground. A yellow cape falls gracefully over his shoulders and the blue flame of the single candle reflects majestically against the sovereign shine of his golden helm.
DOCTOR FATE
. And the Doctor is in.