Chapter 5 - Discoveries

"Lex, what are you doing here?"

Clark hurried up the steps, making a vain attempt to block the ship from his friend's sight. He reached the top and stood, staring into Lex's eyes.

Suddenly, a crazy fear shot through Clark. Lex was livid. His eyes burned. There was more than a hint of madness there.

"You lied to me Clark," Lex hissed, "I always knew there was something about you. My accident... All those times you seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Why did you lie to me Clark?"

"Lex, I..."

"You obviously had no problem sharing with my old friend Ring here," he inclined his head towards Tyler, "You're the closest thing I've had to a real friend my whole life," said Lex, bitterly, "I'm beginning to think that was a lie too."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode off. Clark turned back to Tyler, dumbfounded. Clark felt numb. His thoughts were racing and he had to fight to suppress the blind panic that threatened to engulf him.

The image of Lex's eyes traced in his mind, he recalled the terror he'd felt. Never, never, had Clark felt that in his life.

"What the hell do we do now?" he asked.

Tyler shrugged, "No idea. But this is not good Clark."

"I know that!"

"Lex can be a real good friend," said Tyler, "But if there's one thing I've learned from over a decade of knowing him, its that Lex Luthor looks out for Lex Luthor."

"But he's my best friend, he wouldn't..."

"Yes he would!" Tyler stated with finality, "For one reason."

"Care to enlighten me on that?"

"He's not in control of this. Lex always has to be in control, and this one is right out of left field for him. Plus, there's the fact that you're friends and you never confided in him."

"Damn!"

"We've got to find him," said Tyler.

-----

Lex Luthor peered through his windshield and watched Clark and Tyler drive away. As soon as they were lost from sight, he eased his car out of the cornfield where he'd concealed it and back onto the road.

The sun was falling rapidly in the west and he kept his headlights off as he pulled into the Kent driveway. He made his way out back until he was parked outside the barn. He knew the Kents were still in the house, so he had to hurry.

Once inside, he whipped away the tarp and for the first time got a good look at Clark's big secret. It was a conical craft, with fins extending out the side and drawing forward to a knife edge. It was maybe five - six - feet in length, obviously designed to carry a toddler or an infant instead of a full-grown man. The exterior was a type of hardened shell that gleamed like onyx.

Lex was blown away. He knew instantly it was alien. There was not a doubt in his mind. And it had borne a being to earth. Traversing the cosmos to deliver a single occupant. And Lex now knew with certainty who that occupant had been.

Clark Kent. His best friend.

A blinding rage threatened to overwhelm him when he thought about Clark. He'd always known there was something different, something special about the self-titled small town farmboy.

His mind flashed back to his very first encounter with the youth he would later befriend. Lex had been driving over Old Mill Bridge in his old Porsche, fiddling with his cellphone. He never noticed the roll of barbed wire that fell of the back of the truck in front of him until he hit it at 60 miles an hour.

Clark had always maintained that he was standing on the bridge and had seen Lex's car go through the metal barrier on the side of the bridge and fall in the river. Thereafter he dove in and pulled Lex out. Setting them both on the road to a curious friendship.

Now Lex knew the real truth. Clark was sitting on the barrier, and Lex had detonated into him at racing speed. Taking Clark along for the short ride into the river. Clark had then ripped the roof off the Porsche, pulling Lex out and saving his life.

Lex let out a long, drawn out sigh. What he'd said to Clark earlier was true. Clark Kent was as close to being a true friend as Lex had ever known. But the very thought of Clark holding back something this monumental filled him with bitterness.

And he'd shown it to Tyler. Tyler Ring was also real close to being a true friend. They'd been through a lot of wild times together in Metropolis. But Tyler was never a confidant. Nobody was.

Lex gritted his teeth.

Nobody played Lex Luthor for a fool!

-----

Tyler had trouble focusing. As he drove through the streets of town toward the Luthor Manor he found himself distracted.

As soon as Lex had revealed himself as a possible threat, he'd been overcome with a confusing emotion – a powerful instinct to protect Clark Kent at all costs. Much the same as a parent's protective feelings for their child, or a child for a favourite pet.

He felt this for a boy he'd known for two days. And Tyler was certain that if it came down to it, he'd take out the man who'd been his friend for a decade.

He was having real trouble finding the source of all this and retreated into himself. Clark noticed the faraway look on his face and asked:

"What are you thinking?"

Tyler dismissed the question with a shake of his head and carried on driving. Clark sighed, sank deeper into his seat, and resigned himself to analysing his own thoughts.

For years now, Clark had known this day would eventually come. How, why and who, were irrelevant – He'd always known that someone, somewhere would uncover the truth of his heritage. Now that day was upon him, and he didn't have the faintest idea what to do about it.

Would Lex go public with this? Would he seek to use it against Clark, or his family? Lex desired power. Clark was certain of that much. How far would he go to get it?

Clark sighed. He knew that the answers to these, and other questions, would elude him until he spoke to Lex.

If they could find him.

-----

They pulled up in front of the Luthor Manor and parked.

"His car's not here." said Tyler.

Clark looked at the garage. The doors were shut. He squinted slightly, engaging his x-ray vision. Then he turned to Tyler and shook his head.

"The Ferrari's here, but the Porsche is missing," he said.

"How do you know that?"

A look of obvious puzzlement crossed Tyler's features and he too, turned and squinted at the garage. Suddenly, a blue haze ripped over his vision and a section of the wall seemed to just melt away. Shapes showed up sharp, in stark contrast as if bathed in ultraviolet light.

Tyler blinked and jerked back in shock.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, "That was intense."

Clark grinned at him, "I guess you do have all my abilities."

"Anything else I should prepare myself for, huh?" Tyler couldn't keep the sarcasm from his voice, "The ability to talk to insects maybe. Growing hair in uncomfortable places at every full moon..."

Clark shook his head and chuckled, "No. One time though, I woke up and found myself floating."

"Defying gravity," said Tyler, nodding his head, "Good one."

"Where do you think he's gone?" asked Clark.

Tyler shrugged, "Dunno. Tell you what, maybe we should just let him sleep on it. Its getting late and we can't be running around town all night looking for him."

Clark opened his mouth to protest but Tyler cut him off.

"It'll be a perfectly safe option," Tyler assured him, "Lex is not the type to share information easily. He'll sit on this, trust me."

Clark nodded in agreement, praying that Tyler was right. But he couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.

-----

The console lay dormant. Lex rubbed a hand over his bald dome. He studied its surface. Ran his hand, almost lovingly, along the fin. Then he saw it.

A depression, the size of a man's palm, on the surface of the fin. It was shaped like an octagon. Lex felt his heart almost stop. Within seconds he was in his car, on his way home.

-----

Clark closed the door of the Viper and leaned on the open window to talk to Tyler.

"Are you absolutely sure Lex won't tell anyone about this?"

"Positive," Tyler replied, "Lex is the type of guy who likes to know he's in command of a situation. He's got information that could be useful to him in future. I seriously doubt he'll be sharing it anytime soon."

Clark nodded in resignation.

"Alright Tyler, I'll take your word for it," he said, "But be here early tomorrow, we still need to talk to him."

"Will do Clark," Tyler confirmed.

He flashed Clark a reassuring smile and drove off. Clark turned and immediately made his way across the yard away from the barn toward the storm cellar. He'd just laid a hand on the handle when a familiar voice called him back.

"Clark, is that you? I've been waiting for you."

Clark turned. Lana Lang stood at the window of his loft, looking down at him. A single blade cast by the lingering sunset in front of her lit her loveliness. Despite the anxiety of his current dilemma, Clark felt pure joy ripple through him when he saw her.

"Lana, what are you doing here?" he strode across to the barn, then up the steps to the loft.

"I needed to talk to you," she explained, "I heard about what happened with Whitney."

"Oh," said Clark, averting his eyes, "Sorry about that. It was stupid."

"Don't apologise," she told him, "I know how condescending Whitney can be. And, sometimes he seems to have it in for you."

"Its okay," said Clark, "I can handle it."

"I know you can," said Lana, "I don't know what he has against you Clark."

Clark said nothing, just stared at her. Lana cleared her throat and went to stand by the window. Clark stood a pace behind, watching the waning light cast around her hair.

"What did he say to you Clark?"

Clark shrugged, "I don't know, something about tossing pigs on a farm."

She turned to him, and her eyes were earnest.

"So he didn't tell you that you'd have a chance with me if you were quarterback?"

At first, Clark could not reply. His breath quickened and he struggled against the urge to lay his soul bare to her right there.

"He... might have said something like that," he stammered.

"What did he mean by it?"

"I guess... he thinks that..." he paused, "He thinks I'm in love with you."

Lana stepped closer. Clark caught a whiff of her shampoo. It was intoxicating.

"Are you in love with me Clark?"

His heart leapt, and he felt a little sick. His mind wrestled with his desires. She was the girl of all his dreams. But he knew, he knew he didn't want it to be like this.

"Lana, he's still your boyfriend," he said, "And no matter what I think about the guy... I know he loves you."

Lana sighed and looked down, a single tear slid down her cheek, "You didn't answer my question Clark."

She stepped away and headed for the steps. She stopped before descending and looked back at him.

"Clark?"

"Yes, Lana?"

"You know what the difference is between you and Whitney?"

Clark shook his head, "No. What?"

"Whitney took his shot."

With those words, she left.

Clark leaned against the window, and watched her walk across the yard, the darkness closing in around her. He glanced down at his telescope. He sometimes used this to watch her as she sat on her porch. Sometimes she read. Sometimes she just sat there, adrift in thoughts all her own. Funny, he thought, how its all so easy from a mile away.

Feeling lower than he ever had in his life, Clark left the barn and headed up to bed. There, he drifted off into a troubled sleep.

-----

Lex strode into his study, swinging open the doors with a flourish. He went immediately to his desk, and lifted the octagonal disk he mounted there off its fibreglass stand. He lifted it to his eyes, revolving it slowly in his fingers. The words of Dr. Hamilton, the scientist who'd found it, came back to Lex.

"We've analysed the composition of the disk. There is nothing like this alloy found anywhere on Earth."

Lex held the disk in the palm of his hand. Like the ship, the metal seemed to gleam. Lex shook his head. To think, he'd had the key to the mystery of Clark Kent sitting on his desk all along. It was enough to drive a man to drink. He stepped over to the wet bar and poured himself a bourbon. Nursing his drink, Lex reclined on a couch and settled down to wait.

-----

Tyler cruised down Main Street. He'd put on a brave front for Clark's benefit, but on the inside he was terrified.

Lex Luthor's pure single- mindedness made him a very dangerous man in this situation. Tyler knew that they would have to convince Lex that it would be in his best interest to keep the truth about Clark to himself. He also knew that that would be easier said than done.

As he drove past the Talon, he noticed Chloe's car parked by the curb. He debated whether he should stop or not, and decided to pull over. Inside, he found Chloe at a table, her laptop open in front of her.

"Does the intrepid reporter never stop?" he asked as he slid in opposite her.

"Stop?" Chloe sounded shocked, "There's no such thing."

"Ah," said Tyler, "So you just keep going and going? Don't you have anything to distract you?"

"Not really."

"Well, we'll have to rectify that."

She grinned, "Are you always so blatantly flirtatious?"

"I haven't flirted with you yet," he said, "When I do, you'll know it."

"Ooh, promises, promises."

"So we still on for tomorrow night?"

"Last time I checked."

"Great, I need a good party right about now."

"Tough day?"

"The worst," he said, "How does that song go? 'Mama always told me there'd be days like these...'"

Chloe reached across the table and held his hand, "You really miss her, don't you? Your mom."

"Like a drowning man misses oxygen."

"I know its tough Tyler," she said, "But you've got friends here now. We all want to help, all you have to do is let us."

"You are helping," he told her.

They sat in silence for a while, a comfortable silence, and Tyler felt the tension of the day ebb from him. He took the opportunity to really look at Chloe Sullivan.

Her hair was short and wild, her eyes hazel, and she had a smile that lit up worlds. He'd never admit it, but Tyler had been blown away the minute he laid eyes on her. And Tyler didn't know why.

Yes, he was the Wildchild, in more ways than one.

His whole life he'd been drawn like a magnet to two things, dangerous situations and dangerous women.

Chloe wasn't part of the latter group in the conventional sense. He sensed she knew how to have fun but wouldn't parachute from a plane with him. Yet, the weakness that overcame him when he was near her, despite knowing her for only a few days – that was dangerous.

Dare he break the cycle?

Stop being the Wildchild?

Maybe it was time.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

"I'm thinking that this could be a start."

"A start to what?"

"To dinner, a movie, a concert," he squeezed her hand, "A walk, a sunset, a smile. Whatever you want."

"You're right," she smiled right back, "It's a start."

-----

Lex crept through the yard of the Kent farm. He'd parked his car a little way down the road and made his way in on foot. It was long past midnight and the Kents were all in bed.

Clutching the key in his pocket, he slipped down the steps into the storm cellar. The capsule was exactly as he'd left it. As soon as he entered the room, the disk began to vibrate in his hand, letting off a low whining noise.

Almost nervously, he raised it and held it out toward the lock. He hesitated.

Did he really want to do this?

Yes, Clark had betrayed him. But was that a reason to betray him right back? Was this worth giving up the one true friendship in his life? Lex sighed, and hung his head.

No, it wasn't.

He was about to retract his hand and leave, when the key shot from his grasp and embedded itself in the lock. As if by magic, the craft switched on.

A low, droning noise filled the room and all along the dome on top, streaks of light rippled as the craft opened with a series of sibilant hisses. It rose up off the ground, and swung to face him.

Lex backed away.

"What have I done?"

He could almost feel the energy build inside the craft. The droning noise got louder, and before he could move, a jet of green lightning blasted from the ship, striking him dead in the centre of his chest.

It lifted Lex clear off the ground. He screamed. The light seemed to pass right through him. A strange presence bled into his body, assaulting his cells, corrupting them. The pain was beyond belief.

Clark's face flashed in Lex's mind. One thought bounded inside his head.

"Clark! I'm so sorry!"

Just before the world went dark, Lex heard a deep, rumbling voice reverberate inside his skull:

"You are mine!"