Clark saw something in Lionel's eyes that screamed out not to trust him. If he wanted to end this, if he ever was to stand on his own he needed to get Lionel away from his parents before his Dad made a deal. He was done with being protected. He had spent so much time afraid of people taking him away, that he would be found out. He had stood by and watched this man intimidate friends, family, and the town. What was quite evident now to him was that as strong and noble as Jonathan was, Lionel only respected power. Power was the one thing Clark had more than anyone else on the planet and it was time to make a difference, time to be a man.
"Oh no, you don't!" Clark snarled at Lionel
Before Jonathan could reply they were gone.
A mile away Clark stopped. He had gone into Clark time and disarmed the guards, tied them up and carried Lionel away in the blink of and eye.
As he set Lionel down he stood towering over the older man. "You will not be dealing with them anymore. You Mr. Luthor are in way over your head."
Lionel looked up at Clark and wanted to strike back and hurt him. When his fist met with Clark's stomach he felt the bones in his hand break, and Clark did not flinch.
"What are you!?" Lionel asked through clenched teeth.
"Lionel, what I am now is not what's important. What is important is that you understand that if you ever cause trouble for anyone in Smallville again, I WILL find you." Clark said with his face inches away from Lionel's.
Lionel looked into Clark's eyes and saw them glow red as said this. "The thing you do not understand Clark I that I will be dead in months unless I get that key. Nothing you can say or do will deter me from what I need to do. You can not intimidate a dead man!" Lionel shouted back at Clark.
Clark felt a waiver of doubt. For all Lionel's faults he could not stand by and watch anyone die, but how could the key save him? "You're lying!" Clark yelled
Smelling weakness Lionel persisted "You could save my life Clark, help me open the cave I know you know how..."