Chapter 24 [Half an Hour Later]

Halls remained largely empty throughout Smallville High at that hour. Custodians' Mops offered one last shine to Floors. Rags imparted Shine to Bathrooms. Sol sparkled off of Waiting Lockers. Friday's Energy waited to send Week out in style.

Of course, some couldn't wait to get that process started…

[Torch]

Chloe paced about Office Area. Sleep eluded her. Much as with Lana, her mind doggy-paddled through Revelations' Torrent. Clark Kent, best friend and not so secret Unrequited Heart's Desire, disrupted Expectations' norms. Oh sure, Plaid remained Shirts of Choice. Chores remained Primary Objective. Lana…well…remained Heart's Desire. Abilities though….

Capabilities blew her mind to say the least….

Numb Mind and Stilled Tongue gazed upon the Wall of Weird. Brain tried to use previous finding as next Baseline. Every Deformed Creature or Enhanced Metahuman tried to stand up to her mind's image….

All failed… Comparison failed between Single Ability or Defining Features and a Multi-Tasking Super Boy. Strength, Heat Vision, Speed and Flight. Saves coming upon Saves. Abilities and a Freaking Ninja to Boot? The greatest story ever and she couldn't write it? Why did it have to be about Clark?

Why?

He looks so normal! She turned away from the Wall. Despite Temptation's Siren Call, she would not be the Iceberg to Clark's Titanic. She stumbled back over toward Desktop. Hand stabbed out for Tankard. Caffeine's Refreshing Hit lent her strength in Crisis' Struggle. She shook her head. Clark took those two bullets right in the chest! She rubbed Bleary Red Eyes. Great. Two tests today and I couldn't sleep! I…I…how did he move so fast? How did he light that candle? What else does he have? Her eyes widened. Does he have x-ray vision? She grasped her jacket close. She narrowed her eyes. He'd better not… She rolled her eyes. How do you think he found Lana and me underground? OF COURSE HE DOES! SO HELP ME, FARM BOY! She put her forehead against Desk's metal surface.

"Who would've suspected all of that? What a problem." An Asian man slipped from Shadow itself into view. He wore a blue gi with white trim. A kitana lay sheathed in Hilt across his back. Malice sparked in Sol's early light. Sarcasm and Cruelty sparked in his eyes. Snigger slapped at her ears. "Pride and Lack of Restraint do blind one to the truth, Miss Sullivan."

Chloe slowly picked her head up. Eyes looked over Intruder. "You're Miranda's stepfather! What…What are you doing here?" Panic swept Lethargy's Clouds away from Senses. She all but jumped from her seat. She grabbed for her phone.

Impatience burned in his eyes. "Who will you call with that? I leave town for three days. Miranda plots against me with her freakish powers!" He drew Kitana from its sheath. "I wouldn't."

She bit her lip. "You aren't me." She dialed a number. "Miranda's a metahuman too? She's never said anything." She slowly raised the phone to her ear. Her eyes looked for another exit route. We're in the basement! There's no way out!

"Hello?" Clark answered.

"Clark, I'm sorry. It's Chloe! You know about Miranda's stepdad? He's here! Somehow, he knows about last night! He's got a really big sword! And…"Chloe looked right at Arighatto.

"Mr. Arighatto's there? Chloe, you've got to get out of there! Dad warned me about him!" Clark retorted.

"HOW, CLARK? HE'S BLOCKING THE DOOR! IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN WALK THROUGH WALLS!" Chloe bellowed into the phone.

No, Boy. She can't. Neither can you. I wonder who is faster? Your ALIEN physiology or my reflexes? Shall we find out? Arighatto snapped Telepathic Challenge at Clark. He narrowed his eyes. His hand stabbed out into Passage and pulled.

Pete slipped away. "How'd you get in here?"

"PETE, GET AWAY FROM HERE! GET HELP!" Chloe pointed toward the outer doors. "CLARK!" She called into her phone.

"I can't leave you, Chloe! I…." Pete hissed to himself. "I can't believe I gotta do this!" Disgust left Bad Taste in himself. Still, Desperate Times called for Desperate Measures." He backed into the passage way. "Come on, Uncle Fester! You better be there!" Phone Contacts brought Lex's number up.

Arighatto flung Pete's coat away. He slowly drew his blade. "Surely, Mr. Ross, you do not think I will let you?" Blade glowed Crimson in the semi-lit room. He swiped with Mystic Flame and Steel through Expanse.

Pete somehow evaded that Attack. "Come on! Come on!" He backed a few more steps down the hall. Fear's Sweat beaded on his skin.

"Pete? What's going on? Shouldn't you be in school?" Lex answered.

"Chloe and I are here, Lex! Listen! Miranda's stepdad just showed up here! Chloe called Clark! From what Mr. Kent told us, that's not cool! Hope you can get some help cuz I don't think Sheriff Ethan's going to help!" Pete watched Arighatto size him up.

"Pete, get Chloe and get out of there! Whatever you do, DO NOT get Clark involved! I'm getting help for you right now!" Lex rolled his eyes.

Arighatto rolled his eyes. "Go back to your orgies and drinking, Alexander. These children do not concern you! Perhaps I shall have to use them to…" Predatory Grin crossed his face. "Does he really think he can sneak up on me?"

Breeze billowed up empty hallway. Blur barreled down on Torch. He turned the corner into the room….

"NO! STOP!" Chloe and Pete pleaded.

Clark put on Personal Afterburners. Acceleration and Adrenaline moved him a tenth of a second faster than normal past Attacker's Burning Blade. He zipped to Chloe's side. Without stopping, he grabbed her. His speed propelled them toward the door.

Incredulity suspended Chloe's sense of belief. Clark had yanked her into his arms. Speed blurred everything around them. "Clark, what the Hell?"

Arighatto tracked the Kryptonian Blur's arc back

"Chloe, not now! Sorry but we got to get out…." Clark started to direct her. He barreled down on Arighatto and the door. Right now, a fight was the last thing he wanted. He slowed up.

Flaming Blade came down right in front of them. Blade gashed Tile Floor with Flame and Steel.

Clark sped right past Arighatto's flank. He had to get her out of the room. Even at Full Speed, he could size up Opposing Samurai. Magical Skill and a Flaming Blade? Are you kidding me? And this is the guy that kidnapped Miranda? What is his issue? We don't….

You inspire my daughter to REBEL! Arighatto retorted telepathically.

She's not your daughter! We know! Clark spat back over that same Link.

And telepathy now? You are a special one! Alas NOT SPECIAL ENOUGH! Focus enabled Arighatto to track Clark's aura even at that speed. Spark kicked up over his free hand's fingers. COME TO ME! COME!

Clark can use telepathy too? Chloe's eyes grew wider and wider still. Her heart beat like Jackhammer on Steroids. Thoughts sped around her mind. She didn't know what to do or say. She hung on for dear life.

Arighatto spat. Glow enveloped free hand. Fiery Burst jumped from it. "I have speed as well, ALIEN!"

Fire struck Clark right in the back. He screamed and skidded out of control. Chill threatened to stop even his heart. Pain cut through Skin, Nerve Endings and Spine. He struck Opposite Wall. "Chl…Chloe! Run…Get…out…." Shivers confounded him. "S…So…cold! I…"

"Now you see why Luthor and your father warned you, Mr. Kent." Arighatto stalked out into the hall. He raised his blade. "You're too dangerous to live! Let your death be a warning!"

"Clark, come on!" Chloe dove back into Samurai's line of attack. Instinct tried to move her feet.

"Ch…Chloe! RUN!" Clark hissed at her. Teeth chattered. Not even Sean Kelvin's icy hands made him this cold. Spasms ran through his body. Movement barely came to his arms or feet.

And he thought next day's detention was going to be bad?