Chapter 2

(Lana and Chloe quietly observe the paintings in the Kawatchi caves.  Each has a flashlight loosely clutched in their hand.  Chloe walks up to the painting of Numan grasping the wrist of an unknown figure.  She studies it, lightly running her fingers over the cool rock face.  Lana comes up behind her and looks at it as well, perplexed.)

Chloe: "I've never seen this one before..."

Lana: "Neither have I."

(Before they have a chance to discuss it further, the ground begins violently shaking.  The caves suddenly become pitch black as their flashlights go out and an ambient light is snuffed out by an unknown source.  After several seconds a mysterious light fills them again.  Glowing symbols dance along the cave walls in loosely interwoven circles.  Lana and Chloe watch, entranced.  A low rumble sounds from all of the walls as three thin beams of energy shoot from crevices and join in the middle.  A large orb like shape forms where they collide.  The energy beams cease as the orb abruptly rockets out of the caves.  A low echoing voice speaks.)

Bodiless Voice: "Leave this place, humans.  The confrontation is about to begin."

Chloe (Speaking under her breath): "What?"

Bodiless Voice: "Leave!"

(Frightened, Chloe and Lana begin running over to the entrance.  Before they get even close to it, they are thrown off their feet by a fierce explosion of rock and dirt from above.  Covering their faces, they huddle against a wall.  When the dust settles, they look up.  A single light shines into the caves and a dark figure slowly descends in it.  It stops several feet off of the ground, facing away from Chloe and Lana.  The symbols congregate opposite it.)

Bodiless Voice: "Kal-El, what are you doing?"

Figure: "Destroying you, Jor-El."

Lana (Visibly shaken): "Clark?"

(The dark figure does not turn, only hovers where it is.  It shakes in fury and clenches its fists.)

Jor-El: "I would not advise that."

Clark: "I'm afraid you don't have any say in the matter."

(In one fluid motion, Clark springs forward at the wall.  The symbols flare up in anticipation.  A torrent of sound and light physically slams Chloe and Lana into the wall behind them.  It holds them there for several seconds before quickly fading and dropping them to the ground.  Lana gasps for breath as she weakly crawls over to Chloe.  The cave walls no longer glow.  Clark is nowhere to be seen.)

Lana (Her voice trembling slightly): "Clark?"

(The ground begins to shake and slabs of rock begin falling from above.  Chloe lays sprawled where she fell moments ago, unconscious.  Grabbing her arms, Lana half drags, half carries her towards freedom.  In a great roar, the entrance collapses in front of them and traps them in complete darkness.  Dust settles on them as the fierce cave-in temporarily ceases.  Lana kneels beside Chloe, holding her in her arms and staring into the darkness surrounding them.  She coughs as she inhales the dust choked air.)

Lana (Shuddering): "Clark, where are you?  We need you..."

(Once again, the ground begins to rumble.  Lana looks up and perceives an enormous boulder separating itself from the ceiling high above them.  She can hear it falling through empty space, hear it getting closer.  She can imagine it crushing hers, and Chloe's, bones, leaving them a mangled wreck trapped far below the Earth.  Tears of fury come to her eyes.)

Lana (Crying out): "NO!"