Eleven.
The mike clicked in Lex and Jonathan's ear signaling them to come in. The glow from five computer monitors illuminated the left side of the room. To the right was a steel staircase leading up about six feet to a cat walk surrounding a large opaque box.
"There's no one here," Jonathan observed, looking around the room. He didn't notice three of the soldiers each pulling a fresh corpse to the far end of the dark room.
Lex whispered to Jacobs, "Is one of those Dr Kimball?" Lex pressed his lips together when Jacobs shook his head.
Jonathan's attention was caught by the box. He stared open mouthed. "Is my son in that?" voice rough, strained.
Lex blinked, looking to Jonathan. "It's a sensory deprivation chamber, Mr. Kent." he said quietly.
Jonathan headed up the steps to the mouth of the chamber. Lex and another soldier followed close behind. On the platform was another computer. The soldier went straight to it and began punching keys. Dim yellow lights in the ceiling kicked on as the top of the box slid open.
Lex covered his mouth with his hand to hold down the contents of his stomach. Jonathan gasped at the sight of his boy.
Clark was submerged in a clear gel-like solution. A regulator was in his mouth supplying oxygen to his lungs, nose plugs kept him from aspirating the goo, black VR goggles were held onto his head by a wide black band. He was dressed in a black body suit with wires and cables running throughout, connecting to panels on the sides of the tank.
Jonathan fell onto his belly reaching elbow deep into the tank lifting Clark's upper body. Supporting him with his right hand behind the boy's neck, Jonathan yanked the goggles off with his left, flinging them back into the tank. He wasted no time disposing of the regulator and nose plugs as well.
"Help me, damnit," he gruffed.
Lex kneeled, reaching in to disconnect the wires and cables leading into the suit. Heaving together they pulled Clark out onto the steel mesh platform.
Clark's eyes were open but unseeing. His head lolled back against his father's chest. He didn't move other than the shallow breaths that rattled in his chest.
With the gear off, Jonathan and Lex could see just how pale and sick Clark looked. Jonathan did a quick pat down of his limbs to check for any injuries. The only thing he found was a raw ring around his left wrist from a metal band with a green shimmer. Knowing what it was but holding tight to his composure, he unclasped the band and threw it toward the back of the room.
The soldier with them kneeled down, whispering, "Let's go." Pulling Clark across his shoulders, he stood to lead the way out down the stairs.
Lex stopped Jacobs at the door of the lab. Letting everyone else out, voice low, he said, "Leave someone here for the good doctor." Jacobs nodded his understanding and Lex exited the room.
The trip out was as uneventful as the trip in. Jonathan stayed as close to his son as possible, Lex not far behind.
Martha saw them jogging across the parking lot. She jumped out to open the sliding door of the van. Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks when she saw her son.
One soldier climbed into the driver's seat, Lex into the passenger. The Kent's where joined by another soldier in the cargo area. Dawn was breaking as the anonymous black van sped south toward McKinley Park.
The soldier, Simms, called up front, "Stop at a gas station. We need towels and water." Turning back to the Kents, "He has been in a constant temperature for two weeks. We need to get him clean and warm or he could get mighty sick." Together, they stripped Clark and wrapped him in a thick blanket.
At the pit stop the driver grabbed large bottles of water and shop towels. They washed off as much of the gelatinous goop as possible. Clark was still unresponsive but his blood shot eyes closed after he was bundled in a clean blanket and laid in his mother's lap.
Lex looked back at the exhausted but complete Kent family, Jonathan, reclining against the side of the van, arm around his wife behind the driver's seat; Martha leaning against him stroking their son's head pillowed in her lap. His emotions were on a roller coaster, pleased that the family was reunited but disgusted that his own meddling had caused them such pain. Things would be different between he and Clark now and it made him…sad.