Chapter 5
At the Caves:The After
Clark is in 'The After' it's complete black except for a swirling light of red, blue and yellow. In fact he starts to see multiple swirls all around him. Clark finally remembers what has gone on while he was with Jor-El. He saw his birth parents, their home, their friends and the past. He saw that they were rulers. He saw the wars, famines, and he saw weapons. He began to see the weapons disappear, the wars stopped, the famines stopped. The planet had been at peace for thousands of years, only to die violently. Their atmosphere had been compromised. They tried to repair the damage that their Sun and ancestors had done, but it was too late. His father was a scientist and a prime minister. He was sad to lose his home, but he would not leave it. All of them stayed, but one small infant son, Kal-El. He saw the planet as it exploded around him and his ship.
Clark recovers his senses and quotes the message in the ship.
"On this third planet from the star, Sol. You will be a god among men. They are a flawed race; rule them with strength, my son. That is where your greatness lies."
"He wants me to conquer the planet." Clark says to Lara.
"Is that what you think? I don't hear that in the message." Lara says. "I wanted to talk to you myself first. Then we will both talk to Jor-El." Lara's swirl start to take form, she appears before Clark as she once was. She is blonde, with green eyes and she is petite, not tall and nothing like the images of his father he has seen. "I hear that you can help this planet. That may be the mother in me, but that's what I hear."
"How? I mean you have a form?" Clark says confused
"I can in 'The After', but only here." Lara answers and a room appears, it similar to Clark's loft. "Your parents are very proud of you, as am I. Please come sit and let's talk. I'm sorry it too me so long to come, but you see I am here now. And I have something for you." Lara produces a small crystal its blue, then red, then yellow. "The blue is strength, the red is life, the yellow is heart, these are the colors of your family and this shape is the crest." Clark holds it in his hand.
Lara stops and looks at all the lights swirling around. "They are happy to see that you made it, they call your name, can you hear them as well." Lara asks turning to Clark.
"Yes, but Kal-El isn't my name. Clark is." He answers.
"To them you are the last king, you are Kal-El. You are hope." She says smiling.
"Are they? I mean are they Kryptonians?" Clark asks sighing. I'm no king.
"They are you ancestors, this is they place we rest. Since Jor-El has not come to rest. It will be awhile for him to come, and he is stubborn. You already know that, don't you?" She chuckles and smiles.
Clark smiles as well. "Do you know what has gone on while I've been here? How can you reach my mother, you spoke to her?" Clark asks
"She was in such pain, that's the first call a mother can hear. I knew where you were and I knew that you would be safe but had to reach you. I knew that she needed your strength, not just the physical, but the emotional as well. I know some of it, and I have known everything since I felt your mother grieving. I felt her loss too, she didn't know you were safe." Lara answers and sighs. "I didn't want you to see Jor-El as a monster. He thought since you had no knowledge of your people the old ways would work. I'm sorry." Lara puts her hand on Clark's face the son she didn't raise. Clark reaches up to touch it.
"Did you help my dad?" Clark asks remembering that warmth.
"Their bodies are very fragile, but he was so determined to have you be free. And yes, I corrected what had happened with your help. I wish Jor-El hadn't done that. He was simply trying to see if you would sacrifice yourself for your father. And you did. I think it surprised him." Lara stops and lets Clark process.
"How do you know about that?" Clark asks
"I know because I have been with you now. We share emotions. I will always be around for you to talk to when you can't talk to anyone else. I hope you talk to me because you want to not because you are alone. I hope you continue to talk to your parents, the same way. I could never talk with my parents about things."
"Like telepathy?" Clark asks shocked. "They are great, they listen and hear what I say, I'm sorry you couldn't have had that too.
"No, I cannot read thoughts I sense emotions and then the thoughts come." Lara smiles. "You think I am a mind reader. No, that would be your parents, not me. It's okay I only miss being able to talk to you the way they do. And most children and parents don't really talk. You are by far something unique."
"Does he want me to conquer the Earth?" Clark asks
"Yes" a loud masculine voice answers. Jor-El has come. "So is that answer enough."
"That's not what you said to me?" Lara snaps. "You said his destiny was written. As ours was ending."
"They are a flawed race, rule them with strength my son." Clark again quotes the message.
"Yes, indeed they are." Jor-EL comments. "They are manipulative, deceitful, and murderous."
"Not all of them." Clark answers. He is gaining courage and strength.
"Lara. Why bring him here?" Jor-El asks and he already knows the answer.
"You know that answer, you can't affect this environment, and none of your toys work here." Lara snaps angrily
"He can't keep me against my will." Clark turns to Lara.
"I know you found my journal, and I am sure you know about Louise." Jor-El answers.
"This is about Louise?" Lara looks at him and shakes her head. "I should be offended, but I'm not."
"You know about her?" Clark asks
"Yes. Jor-El told his father lost his journal. Even I knew the truth. Jor- El is not much of a liar." Lara smiles. "And he could never tell a joke either. Lack of a sense of humor, his whole family suffered from that disorder."
"Enough Lara, Kal-El was not done with the journey. He has to come back." Jor-El demands.
"No, you had time. He must make his own choices now." Lara answers and then continues talking to Clark. "There will be hard choices ahead and that's why I am not completely furious with him. His testing of you will help you throughout your life. But you make your own destiny, and you are Kal-El and Clark Kent, you will be hope for both sets parents. And we will be with you always." Lara stops. Clark's eyes have grown wide. He realizes something he hadn't thought of, ever.
"You sent the message about my arrival." Clark shakes in shock. "I thought it was Jor-El."
"Yes, you have a good friend in Dr Swann, but like all things trust is earned both ways." Lara finishes.
"You sent a message?" Jor-El questions.
"Yes, I did. You weren't going to send my baby away from me without it." Lara snaps.
"Stubborn." Jor-El declares.
"Right back at you." Lara snaps and smiles.
"How did you, never mind the emotion thing right?" Clark is answering his own question.
"You will have tough decisions ahead, I cannot promise that Jor-El will stay out of it. I do know I trust you and the knowledge you now carry. You see the Native Americans had traditions similar to our old ways, that's why contact with them wasn't difficult. That's why we didn't have to hide from them. They had rituals and beliefs that were similar, although they tended to see us as part of their lore and even 'gods'." Lara finishes. "We will always be able to talk Kal-El, sorry, Clark. It's time for you to go home and to your parents. Remember it's those you love and who love you that make you who you are and who you will be. I will never be able to repay the Kents' for the wonderful job they have done and will continue to do."
The bright light is back and Clark stands in the cave. "At least I have my clothes this time." He walks out of the cave.
It's really all about Louise. He really did love her. He is angry about what happened and the way things came to be. Lara sent that message. I can't believe that. Its dark outside and Clark looks at his watch. I'll bet they are panicking about now. He speeds home. There's a car he doesn't know. Who is here at this hour? He goes inside to see the man, the one from the day he got back.
"Hello, Clark. I really do need to talk to you." Jack Davis pulls out his FBI badge and ID.
Jack fills Clark in on the upcoming trial and the witnesses that are staying at the Luthor manor. He also tells Clark to Continue to be careful. Since he is back on the radar, Lionel may try something again. They all think I disappeared because of Lionel and my dad being hurt was Lionel. Jor- el and Lionel do have something in common; their sons hate them. Clark finishes the thought.
"I will have some security around. They are my people and don't worry." Jack finishes and hand photos of the men coming. "You see anyone else or someone you don't know. Get out of sight and hit this." Jack has each member of the family an electronic pager; it looks like a key chain.
"Dr Swann said his daughter was coming, is she here?" Clark just wants to know if his suspicions about Janine are right.
"No, Clair is actually my adopted daughter. She's 18 and headstrong. She is taking care of a friend right now. But yes she will be here for the trial." Jack answers, not wanting to think about what could happen over the next two weeks.
"Sorry, I didn't know." Clark says now I have offended him in a similar way Jor-El offends me.
"It's okay, Clark. I'm still getting use to the idea of her biological father myself. Virgil is a good man, so I am trying to give them space. Her mother was killed and she was only 8. Virgil is the only person who really knows Caitlin well enough to tell Clair about her." Jack finishes. I'm unloading my crap on a kid. I must be losing it. "My men are already out patrolling so don't worry too much, and try to sleep if you can." Jack gets up and shakes Jonathan's hand, then Clark's and then he extends his hand to Martha, she takes with both of hers. He leaves and get to his car, John is checking in the barn and they both nod their heads.
Jonathan looks outside and checks the doors. "Everything is locked up. I know I am not going to sleep. So Clark can you tell me where you were." He asks his son.
"I could use something to eat, and then we can talk." Clark notices his stomach growling, I can remember if I ate.
"That's a good idea." Martha answers. "He didn't eat lunch or dinner." Martha starts to cook some chicken and fresh green beans. She pours Clark a glass of milk. "Just so you don't drink out of the container." She smiles. He's home.
"Thanks, mom." Clark turns as Jonathan sits down. "You're okay?"
"I'm okay, that just worried me and now the FBI is back. I'm thinking about agent Loder." Jonathan says. The agent that Kara made disappear, what was being done about that?
"Remember, we will get through this together." Clark says sitting by his dad.
"You're right." Jonathan smiles and some of that weight is lifting.
Are you here Lara? Clark just thinks to himself.
"Yes, I'm here." She answers. Clark smiles.
Clark tells his parents what has gone on. He still has worries about Jor- El, but his biological mother seems to know and trust him. "She's the one who sent the message Dr Swann, interpreted. She also, trusts me to make my own decisions. Jor-El could still be a threat, I don't know. He wasn't happy about the whole Lara intervening." Clark finishes and has also cleaned his plate.
"There is another piece if you want it." Martha says.
"Yeah, I would." Clark smiles and it seems that some of the weight is lifting from all them. "She says its you who make me who I am. Something about the ones who love you makes you who you are and will be."
"She sounds like she's got a better understanding of us, than Jor-El." Martha answers him bringing the last piece of chicken to Clark.
"She has a sense of humor, like us. Jor-El does according to her doesn't, and neither did any of his family." Clark is amused by the thought.
"Maybe she's human, too." Jonathan speaks up for the first time, since Clark started talking.
Two weeks have passed
The courthouse is swarming with reporter, cameras, and onlookers. All you can see is an actually sea of people. The witnesses have been entered into the building through a private entrance. The law enforcement wants to avoid any confrontations until after the trial is over. The jury is being sequestered. All the prosecution's witnesses have testified but one, she starts her testimony today. Chloe paces nervously in the room. I can't do this. I can't. She hears a familiar voice, its Clark and he is talking to Clair.
"You are Clair, right." Clark approaches her.
"Yes, you must be Clark." She says calmly.
"Yeah, I'm Clark." He answers.
"Virgil didn't do you justice, you look older than he said." Clair says
"What did Indiana Jones say 'It's the miles not the years' that make you look older." Clark answers her smiling.
"It was hard looking at him, wasn't it?" Clair knows. Her stomach turns every time she sees a picture of Lionel Luthor.
"Yeah." Clark says quietly. He looks out at the sea of people outside. "They look like vultures. Waiting for the body to die."
"They are necessary evil, however. They provide a check and balance. If not for reporting, no one may have ever known what Lionel had done." Clair answers Clark.
"Just as there is evil there must be good." Clark says.
"Exactly." Clair turns and goes into the room with Chloe.
"Could I talk to him?" Chloe asks.
"After you testify, I promise. I won't let him get away." Clair hands her a bottle of water and a stress ball. "When the lawyers get to you, dig you fingernails into this."
"Okay." Chloe laughs.
There's a knock and Jack and the bailiff come in. "It's time. Are you ready?" Jack asks.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Chloe answers. They all walk together past Clark. He notices that it's Chloe. She turns her head and smiles. They all keep moving to the courtroom.
She's alive. She's alive. He just keeps repeating it over and over.