Clark soon found himself lying on the floor in the middle of an empty
room, his parents on either side of him, 64 galaxies away from the place he
called home. He could barely move. The room was pitch black, except for the
faint purple glow surrounding the three of them. The room was lined with
what looked like to Clark, purple meteor rock. He opened his eyes and
looked over at his father. Jor-El was out cold. "Lara..." he whispered
blindly into the darkness.
"I'm here KAL-EL..." she whispered with all the strength she had left.
"Lara, what's all that purple stuff?" still whispering.
"Purple Kryptonite." Neither of them had the strength to talk.
"What does it do?"
"It makes us drowsy. Very weak, only not in a painful way, as does green Kryptonite."
"Can it still eventually kill us?"
"It can do worse, it could keep us asleep, a dreamless sleep, even long after the time we should have passed. You could just stay in nothingness forever. KAL-EL you cannot go to sleep."
"But I want to so much."
"I know KAL-EL, but if you fall asleep, they could easily kill any one of us, and if they decide to kill me or Jor-El, we will still have our souls, but you will be wiped from existence. If they kill anyone it has to be you. Don't sleep KAL-EL."
"I don't think they brought us here to torture and kill us, or they would have done so already, they must have some sort of ulterior motive."
"You may be right." Clark gasped for breath. "Lara I have got to sleep."
"KAL-EL no. Their mercy won't save you. Weakness is the enemy. You have to endure the pain, it will strengthen you. You have to stay awake."
"Can't you?"
"KAL-EL, you are the only thing that is even keeping me awake." A gentle purple mist began to enter the room. Clark suddenly found it considerably harder the keep his eyes open, and soon impossible. Yet he was still awake. "Jor-El has already suspected that Fernom has a plan in progress... to rid us of our home, destroy our species. This, convinces me he is right. KAL-EL, are you still awake?"
"Barely, Lara I can't last any longer."
"KAL-EL please, I don't want to lose you." If Clark could have smiled at her, he would have.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you."
"I love you too." He slowly drifted off to sleep. Lara cried silently for a short while before she too, fell unconscious.
Pete stood alone in shock for a few moments before coming to his senses. He turned and began to run towards his car. He didn't think much about what he was doing, he just drove to the Kent's as fast as the speed limit would let him. He was going so fast as he arrived he nearly crashed into the barn. He stumbled out of the car and made his way towards the door. He knocked. "Pete! What a surprise, why aren't you in school?"
"School was canceled for the rest of the day."
"Oh, well where's Clark?"
"Is Mr. Kent home, there's something I need to tell both of you." Pete said still breathing heavily. Martha nodded her head and invited him in. As she went to go get Jonathon out on the farm somewhere she began to worry and wonder. Why had Pete deliberately unanswered her question as to Clark's whereabouts? What could have happened to him? A sweaty, muddy, and confused Jonathon followed his wife inside.
"What do you need to tell us Pete?"
"Maybe you should sit down." Now Martha got really nervous. A million knots began to form in her stomach. "The truth is, I don't know where Clark is, I haven't even seen him until he...left."
"Left? For where? And what do you mean you haven't seen him? We saw him get onto the bus with you this morning."
"That wasn't Clark."
"Wasn't Clark?" Jonathon asked. He stood up. "Who was it then?"
"Actually, it was Jor-El, at age seventeen. Clark's been on Krypton all morning, and just a few minutes ago, him and his parents just got abducted by some eleven-foot freak with a sword!" Pete yelled in anger at the last part. He sat back down, panting. Martha gasped and put her hand over her heart. Jonathon put his arm around his wife.
"But how did they end up switching places?"
"Jor-El apparently had some sort of time and space traveling thingy."
"Well why didn't you tell us sooner?" Martha asked. Looking like she was about to cry.
"Clark didn't want us to. Because he was afraid of what you'd do to him. Because, the younger Jor-El hasn't technically done anything yet, well except switch places with him in the first place. Which I doubt would have kept the giant...whatever he was from capturing him. So at least now he's not alone."
"I just hope he's alive."
"He has to be, I can feel it."
Clark's eyes sprung open, he was still in a dark atmosphere, but he was in a different room. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, or lack of light, he realized the room they were in was surrounded by bars. A cell. Clark meekly looked around. He noticed Lara in the corner of the cell, crying over a dark figure, Clark realized was Jor-El. He walked up and put his hand on her shoulder. "Oh KAL-EL you're up!" She flung herself onto him and continued to sob uncontrollably.
"Lara what happened?" she sniveled, any pointed weakly at Jor-El. Who was still asleep.
"He hasn't woken up, which he should've a long time ago."
"That's terrible, do you know why?"
"Overexposure most likely. And all the traveling he has done, has made him more weak and vulnerable then you and I."
"He'll wake up Lara."
"How can you possibly be sure. And if he dies, I lose both of you!" A light shone into their eyes. Someone was approaching them.
"Do you really wish to waste time on such incriminates King Selly?" one of the figure's assistants asked.
"Just a moment." The figure replied. King Selly stepped into their cold, unwelcome looking cage. Lara and Clark didn't bother to notice. King Selly could see they were upset. He knelt down next to them to see what they were so unhappy about.
"Unless you propose to help us, I suggest you just leave us alone!" He continued to study Jor-El. Lara sighed. He obviously was going to do whatever he pleased. He stood up then, making Clark and Lara very angry, kicked Jor-El.
"Oh, this is quite amusing." He laughed. "I think I'll do it again, and again, and again!" The dead elephant, squashed alligator crossover looking King Selly began to repeatedly kick Jor-El some more. Clark stood up.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own ugly species!" King Selly abruptly turned to him. He pushed him down upon the floor with such force, he made a dent. He leaned in real close to his face.
"I'll do whatever I want with my, puny, prisoners." Clark winced in pain. King Selly fingered the green Kryptonite necklace that hung around him. "Oh that's right, you're Kyptonian aren't you? Don't you like my necklace? Isn't it ravishing?" Clark didn't dare rebel with a response. He just glared. King Selly gave a scoff. He turned and strode from the room without another word. Lara rushed over to him.
"Oh KAL-EL, are you ok?"
"I'm fine Lara." Clark said with a confident, yet reassuring voice.
"Lara, doesn't Jor-El still have that oracle thing." Clark said, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Yes" Lara whispered back. "But only he can make it work, and if we try...we can't afford for it to break again."
"I sure hope he wakes up soon." Lara sighed. "Me too KAL-EL. Me too." Clark rolled up his sleeve, and looked at his watch. It was 4:00 in the afternoon. Not exactly time to hit the hay. What were they supposed to do?
"Lara, there's got to be something we can do to wake Jor-El up. Maybe if we talk to him." Clark walked over to Jor-El. "Come back Jor-El, it's me and Lara. We need you come back to us." Clark whispered into his ear. Lara joined him. "Come back to us Jor-El we need you. Come back."
Jor-El was very much awake. I'm here Lara. I'm here KAL-EL. Please. I'm awake, but I can't move! Help me free me!' He called out in his mind. But they couldn't hear him. They couldn't feel what he felt. Or they would have also felt love, especially when KAL-EL stood up for me like that. I don't think he likes me very much in the future.'
After about an hour, their voices were becoming sore. Clark and Lara slumped up against the wall. They weren't making very much progress. Lara began to cry again, and this time, Clark cried too.
Speaking of crying...Martha Kent was crying as well. All she could think was that Clark was never coming back. She could only think of the worst. Jonathon was the first to break the silence. "Pete how did you contact Clark before?"
"Jor-El did, he had some sort of communication thing."
"That's it, we'll use Jor-El!" Martha said. Not a ray of hope in her voice.
RSMSAN: (Really short mid-story Authors Note) This is the middle of the fourth season. The Kent's had somehow figured out how to talk to Jor-El and Lara (our time) like when Jor-El tried to make Clark take over Earth. At least when they feel like it. NBTTS:(Now back to the story)
Jonathon went into the bedroom and pulled something out from under his mattress. It was the piece of Kryptonian metal they had shown Clark when they told him about how he was adopted. He brought it back downstairs. "Jor- El, Lara, we need to talk." Jonathon spoke firmly and clearly to the little slab of metal. "This is really serious." It began to glow. Jor-El's voice filled the room.
"Do you need something?"
"Jor-el, Clark's been kidnapped, and..."
"What!?"
"AND...you and Lara were too."
"Lara!" Jor-El called. They could hear a soft whispering. Then a very loud scream.
"Who were we kidnapped by?"
"The overlord of the Galaxy...crap uh...Fernom I think." Pete recalled.
"They're the ones who blew up our planet in the first place." Lara said softly.
"Is there anyway we can see what's going on?"
"No, but we can see what has already happened." A hazy visual picture began to form in front of them. They all watched, Martha gasped when they were kidnapped...they continued to watch.
Clark's battery in his watch had died, and he hadn't eaten anything in forever. Not that he needed it. He lay, bored out of his mind next to Lara, on the stone floor. Jor-El could so not be asleep. Who sleeps without moving for hours? Even Clark couldn't do that. Even if he was awake. Jor-El stirred. But only enough. Clark shook Lara, who had fallen asleep. "I think Jor-El moved." That woke her up. They watched him. He moved a little again. His eyes slowly flickered open. He tried to prop himself up, but failed.
"Oh Jor-El, you're ok!!!!!!!!!" Lara cried out in joy and relief. Jor- El, who didn't have enough energy to talk, grunted in pain as she flung her arms around him. Clark smiled and joined them. Jor-El finally sat up, and began to talk again. Or whisper rather.
"Shhh. Listen." There was someone speaking, right outside their door.
"King Selly, these Kryptonians are an advanced race, right?"
"Yes, that's why I captured them, they're worth a lot."
"Well, what if they think of a plan to escape? They are smart."
"What are you getting at?"
"I don't know, but I think we should do something."
"I got it. We'll split them up, you know, separate cells. I mean, if they're together, they are an advanced race. They could think of someway to escape. I'm glad I thought of it." He looked over at his assistant. "Why didn't you think of it? That's what I'm paying you for." His assistant sighed.
"You don't pay me." The door began to open.
"Jor-El quick! Where's the oracle? We've got to get out of here!" Clark said, becoming serious again.
"I still have it, but it's not recharged, it could malfunction." Jor- El was beginning to regain his voice.
"Jor-El, didn't you hear him! This may be our only chance! We have to risk it." Lara said. King Selly stepped inside and saw them all standing in the middle of the cage, holding hands.
"What the heck..." and they were gone.
They had finally seen enough. Just enough to know they weren't imprisoned anymore. "How can we see this?" Pete asked, curious.
"It's happening to us while we were younger, even if it's right now. After it happens, it becomes our memories. We are showing you our memory of what happened." Jor-El said. "Wait, what's this..." They turned their attention back to the kids.
Jor-El, Lara, and Clark tumbled onto a dusty, rugged soil. None of them could recognize where they were. "It looks like we're on some sort of deserted astroid."
"I think we are." Clark replied, kicking a rock. It rolled off the edge of the surface.
"Let's just get out of here, this place is freaking me out." Lara said, holding onto both of them.
"We can't, the oracle suffered some extreme damage. It going to take a while to recharge itself, and even then it still may not work correctly. It will never be quite completely fixed." Jor-El said, I sad expression on his face.
"So that means..."
"We're stuck."
AN: Hey, sorry it took so long to update, been busy. Hope u like this chapter. I had fun writing it, and somehow, this story is going in a whole different direction. I won't tell you how but, the plot thickens!
"I'm here KAL-EL..." she whispered with all the strength she had left.
"Lara, what's all that purple stuff?" still whispering.
"Purple Kryptonite." Neither of them had the strength to talk.
"What does it do?"
"It makes us drowsy. Very weak, only not in a painful way, as does green Kryptonite."
"Can it still eventually kill us?"
"It can do worse, it could keep us asleep, a dreamless sleep, even long after the time we should have passed. You could just stay in nothingness forever. KAL-EL you cannot go to sleep."
"But I want to so much."
"I know KAL-EL, but if you fall asleep, they could easily kill any one of us, and if they decide to kill me or Jor-El, we will still have our souls, but you will be wiped from existence. If they kill anyone it has to be you. Don't sleep KAL-EL."
"I don't think they brought us here to torture and kill us, or they would have done so already, they must have some sort of ulterior motive."
"You may be right." Clark gasped for breath. "Lara I have got to sleep."
"KAL-EL no. Their mercy won't save you. Weakness is the enemy. You have to endure the pain, it will strengthen you. You have to stay awake."
"Can't you?"
"KAL-EL, you are the only thing that is even keeping me awake." A gentle purple mist began to enter the room. Clark suddenly found it considerably harder the keep his eyes open, and soon impossible. Yet he was still awake. "Jor-El has already suspected that Fernom has a plan in progress... to rid us of our home, destroy our species. This, convinces me he is right. KAL-EL, are you still awake?"
"Barely, Lara I can't last any longer."
"KAL-EL please, I don't want to lose you." If Clark could have smiled at her, he would have.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"I love you."
"I love you too." He slowly drifted off to sleep. Lara cried silently for a short while before she too, fell unconscious.
Pete stood alone in shock for a few moments before coming to his senses. He turned and began to run towards his car. He didn't think much about what he was doing, he just drove to the Kent's as fast as the speed limit would let him. He was going so fast as he arrived he nearly crashed into the barn. He stumbled out of the car and made his way towards the door. He knocked. "Pete! What a surprise, why aren't you in school?"
"School was canceled for the rest of the day."
"Oh, well where's Clark?"
"Is Mr. Kent home, there's something I need to tell both of you." Pete said still breathing heavily. Martha nodded her head and invited him in. As she went to go get Jonathon out on the farm somewhere she began to worry and wonder. Why had Pete deliberately unanswered her question as to Clark's whereabouts? What could have happened to him? A sweaty, muddy, and confused Jonathon followed his wife inside.
"What do you need to tell us Pete?"
"Maybe you should sit down." Now Martha got really nervous. A million knots began to form in her stomach. "The truth is, I don't know where Clark is, I haven't even seen him until he...left."
"Left? For where? And what do you mean you haven't seen him? We saw him get onto the bus with you this morning."
"That wasn't Clark."
"Wasn't Clark?" Jonathon asked. He stood up. "Who was it then?"
"Actually, it was Jor-El, at age seventeen. Clark's been on Krypton all morning, and just a few minutes ago, him and his parents just got abducted by some eleven-foot freak with a sword!" Pete yelled in anger at the last part. He sat back down, panting. Martha gasped and put her hand over her heart. Jonathon put his arm around his wife.
"But how did they end up switching places?"
"Jor-El apparently had some sort of time and space traveling thingy."
"Well why didn't you tell us sooner?" Martha asked. Looking like she was about to cry.
"Clark didn't want us to. Because he was afraid of what you'd do to him. Because, the younger Jor-El hasn't technically done anything yet, well except switch places with him in the first place. Which I doubt would have kept the giant...whatever he was from capturing him. So at least now he's not alone."
"I just hope he's alive."
"He has to be, I can feel it."
Clark's eyes sprung open, he was still in a dark atmosphere, but he was in a different room. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, or lack of light, he realized the room they were in was surrounded by bars. A cell. Clark meekly looked around. He noticed Lara in the corner of the cell, crying over a dark figure, Clark realized was Jor-El. He walked up and put his hand on her shoulder. "Oh KAL-EL you're up!" She flung herself onto him and continued to sob uncontrollably.
"Lara what happened?" she sniveled, any pointed weakly at Jor-El. Who was still asleep.
"He hasn't woken up, which he should've a long time ago."
"That's terrible, do you know why?"
"Overexposure most likely. And all the traveling he has done, has made him more weak and vulnerable then you and I."
"He'll wake up Lara."
"How can you possibly be sure. And if he dies, I lose both of you!" A light shone into their eyes. Someone was approaching them.
"Do you really wish to waste time on such incriminates King Selly?" one of the figure's assistants asked.
"Just a moment." The figure replied. King Selly stepped into their cold, unwelcome looking cage. Lara and Clark didn't bother to notice. King Selly could see they were upset. He knelt down next to them to see what they were so unhappy about.
"Unless you propose to help us, I suggest you just leave us alone!" He continued to study Jor-El. Lara sighed. He obviously was going to do whatever he pleased. He stood up then, making Clark and Lara very angry, kicked Jor-El.
"Oh, this is quite amusing." He laughed. "I think I'll do it again, and again, and again!" The dead elephant, squashed alligator crossover looking King Selly began to repeatedly kick Jor-El some more. Clark stood up.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own ugly species!" King Selly abruptly turned to him. He pushed him down upon the floor with such force, he made a dent. He leaned in real close to his face.
"I'll do whatever I want with my, puny, prisoners." Clark winced in pain. King Selly fingered the green Kryptonite necklace that hung around him. "Oh that's right, you're Kyptonian aren't you? Don't you like my necklace? Isn't it ravishing?" Clark didn't dare rebel with a response. He just glared. King Selly gave a scoff. He turned and strode from the room without another word. Lara rushed over to him.
"Oh KAL-EL, are you ok?"
"I'm fine Lara." Clark said with a confident, yet reassuring voice.
"Lara, doesn't Jor-El still have that oracle thing." Clark said, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Yes" Lara whispered back. "But only he can make it work, and if we try...we can't afford for it to break again."
"I sure hope he wakes up soon." Lara sighed. "Me too KAL-EL. Me too." Clark rolled up his sleeve, and looked at his watch. It was 4:00 in the afternoon. Not exactly time to hit the hay. What were they supposed to do?
"Lara, there's got to be something we can do to wake Jor-El up. Maybe if we talk to him." Clark walked over to Jor-El. "Come back Jor-El, it's me and Lara. We need you come back to us." Clark whispered into his ear. Lara joined him. "Come back to us Jor-El we need you. Come back."
Jor-El was very much awake. I'm here Lara. I'm here KAL-EL. Please. I'm awake, but I can't move! Help me free me!' He called out in his mind. But they couldn't hear him. They couldn't feel what he felt. Or they would have also felt love, especially when KAL-EL stood up for me like that. I don't think he likes me very much in the future.'
After about an hour, their voices were becoming sore. Clark and Lara slumped up against the wall. They weren't making very much progress. Lara began to cry again, and this time, Clark cried too.
Speaking of crying...Martha Kent was crying as well. All she could think was that Clark was never coming back. She could only think of the worst. Jonathon was the first to break the silence. "Pete how did you contact Clark before?"
"Jor-El did, he had some sort of communication thing."
"That's it, we'll use Jor-El!" Martha said. Not a ray of hope in her voice.
RSMSAN: (Really short mid-story Authors Note) This is the middle of the fourth season. The Kent's had somehow figured out how to talk to Jor-El and Lara (our time) like when Jor-El tried to make Clark take over Earth. At least when they feel like it. NBTTS:(Now back to the story)
Jonathon went into the bedroom and pulled something out from under his mattress. It was the piece of Kryptonian metal they had shown Clark when they told him about how he was adopted. He brought it back downstairs. "Jor- El, Lara, we need to talk." Jonathon spoke firmly and clearly to the little slab of metal. "This is really serious." It began to glow. Jor-El's voice filled the room.
"Do you need something?"
"Jor-el, Clark's been kidnapped, and..."
"What!?"
"AND...you and Lara were too."
"Lara!" Jor-El called. They could hear a soft whispering. Then a very loud scream.
"Who were we kidnapped by?"
"The overlord of the Galaxy...crap uh...Fernom I think." Pete recalled.
"They're the ones who blew up our planet in the first place." Lara said softly.
"Is there anyway we can see what's going on?"
"No, but we can see what has already happened." A hazy visual picture began to form in front of them. They all watched, Martha gasped when they were kidnapped...they continued to watch.
Clark's battery in his watch had died, and he hadn't eaten anything in forever. Not that he needed it. He lay, bored out of his mind next to Lara, on the stone floor. Jor-El could so not be asleep. Who sleeps without moving for hours? Even Clark couldn't do that. Even if he was awake. Jor-El stirred. But only enough. Clark shook Lara, who had fallen asleep. "I think Jor-El moved." That woke her up. They watched him. He moved a little again. His eyes slowly flickered open. He tried to prop himself up, but failed.
"Oh Jor-El, you're ok!!!!!!!!!" Lara cried out in joy and relief. Jor- El, who didn't have enough energy to talk, grunted in pain as she flung her arms around him. Clark smiled and joined them. Jor-El finally sat up, and began to talk again. Or whisper rather.
"Shhh. Listen." There was someone speaking, right outside their door.
"King Selly, these Kryptonians are an advanced race, right?"
"Yes, that's why I captured them, they're worth a lot."
"Well, what if they think of a plan to escape? They are smart."
"What are you getting at?"
"I don't know, but I think we should do something."
"I got it. We'll split them up, you know, separate cells. I mean, if they're together, they are an advanced race. They could think of someway to escape. I'm glad I thought of it." He looked over at his assistant. "Why didn't you think of it? That's what I'm paying you for." His assistant sighed.
"You don't pay me." The door began to open.
"Jor-El quick! Where's the oracle? We've got to get out of here!" Clark said, becoming serious again.
"I still have it, but it's not recharged, it could malfunction." Jor- El was beginning to regain his voice.
"Jor-El, didn't you hear him! This may be our only chance! We have to risk it." Lara said. King Selly stepped inside and saw them all standing in the middle of the cage, holding hands.
"What the heck..." and they were gone.
They had finally seen enough. Just enough to know they weren't imprisoned anymore. "How can we see this?" Pete asked, curious.
"It's happening to us while we were younger, even if it's right now. After it happens, it becomes our memories. We are showing you our memory of what happened." Jor-El said. "Wait, what's this..." They turned their attention back to the kids.
Jor-El, Lara, and Clark tumbled onto a dusty, rugged soil. None of them could recognize where they were. "It looks like we're on some sort of deserted astroid."
"I think we are." Clark replied, kicking a rock. It rolled off the edge of the surface.
"Let's just get out of here, this place is freaking me out." Lara said, holding onto both of them.
"We can't, the oracle suffered some extreme damage. It going to take a while to recharge itself, and even then it still may not work correctly. It will never be quite completely fixed." Jor-El said, I sad expression on his face.
"So that means..."
"We're stuck."
AN: Hey, sorry it took so long to update, been busy. Hope u like this chapter. I had fun writing it, and somehow, this story is going in a whole different direction. I won't tell you how but, the plot thickens!