Chapter Eleven: Trying to Escape a Terrible Life
Author's note: This chapter will be in the same format as the last chapter, and will start right where I last left off.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Lois's point of view XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lois was glad to see Jason and Lex again. They were both looking at Clark, the way she had when she first saw him. She hated to think of what she was about to witness.
"Dr. Campbell, if you wouldn't mind holding up the pictures on the counter behind you." Dr. Swann asked.
Lois tried desperately to act naturally. She slowly turned around and saw the pictures he was referring to. She recognized them to be pictures of the symbols on the cave walls. There were several pictures blow up, zooming in on a few particular symbols.
Lois took the pictures and walked over to where Dr. Swann was.
"I would like you to hold them up so Kal-el can clearly see them, while I talk to him." He explained.
Lois turned to see the pictures Swann was referring to; she realized them to be of the cave walls. But there was something else…one of the symbols, she had seen it before, she just couldn't think of where.
Lois did as he requested; she looked at Clark. She didn't think she could bear participating in something that was going to cause him more pain.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Kal-el's point of view XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He figured Dr. Swann would be down to talk with him again; especially since the last several times Dr. Swann had come down, he had refused to give him what he wanted…Kal-el to interpret the only symbols that Dr. Swann hadn't already deciphered. Kal-el understood all of the symbols except for one. For some reason, Dr. Swann was unable to interpret the entire section that included the same symbol. Then all of a sudden one day it made sense. He knew what the symbol was, … it was a name; just like the symbol that had reappeared on his chest, the one that had surfaced when Jor-el had first contacted him. He was very curious, however, to remember to whom the name belonged to. Somewhere inside, he knew who she must be; the woman that he had been so strongly connected to recently. But he felt like she was someone that he knew from a previous life or something.
Now that he understood what the sentence represented, he didn't care what Dr. Swann did to him; he would never give up the information.
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"Dr. Campbell, if you wouldn't mind holding up the pictures on the counter behind you." Dr. Swann asked, obviously speaking to the new doctor. He watched her slowly do as she was asked.
"I would like you to hold them up so Kal-el can clearly see them, while I talk with him." Dr. Swann again faced him.
He looked over to the young doctor and the familiar pictures she was holding up.
"Now, I'm going to ask you one more time Kal-el. What do the symbols in the picture say?" Swann asked.
Kal-el debated on saying something or just staying silent.
"You are going to cooperate with me, I have been very patient with you. I know that you can read them; I watched your face as you suddenly recognized them several months ago when I asked you. I am tired of being patient." Dr. Swann said, watching his face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Lois XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lois silently prayed that Clark would just cooperate. Whatever it took to make Swann happy. But consciously she knew better, the Clark she knew would never cooperate with a man like Swann. But then again, he might not be the same old Clark that she knew.
She hated to think what Swann would do to him if Clark didn't do as he asked.
She continued to hold up the pictures, she looked over to Lex, trying to get his attention. After a few seconds, he finally looked over.
"Get him away from Clark!" she mouthed from behind the pictures, hoping she was unnoticed.
Lex just stood there, obviously trying to think of a reason they needed to leave. But it ended up being unnecessary.
Dr. Swann apparently had had enough of Clark's silence.
"You had your chance Kal-el. I'll ask you again in about a week to see if you've changed your mind." Dr. Swann suddenly turned around to face her.
"Tell the others that the subject will be unavailable for testing for the next week."
Lois just nodded, not knowing what else to do.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Lex and Jason XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Nothing could have quite prepared them for what they walked into. When they first entered the large room, they saw a metal table that was tilted upward and facing the wall opposite. They also saw Lois standing next to the counter, away from the table. She looked absolutely relived to see them again. They both immediately realized who was on the table.
They followed Swann into the room and made their way around the table.
Neither of them had really thought about this moment a lot, but nothing they could have imagined would have been close. Clark lay limp on the table; his eyes were open, but he was just staring blankly. They could immediately tell that this was not the Clark they had once known.
"Dr. Campbell, if you wouldn't mind holding up the pictures on the counter behind you? I would like you to hold them up so Kal-el can clearly see them while I talk with him." Swann asked.
They stood slightly back as Lois held up pictures of the cave symbols. As Jason looked more closely at them, he recognized one of the symbols…Lana's tattoo. He stood wondering how the situation was going to play out. Lana had not yet felt comfortable telling everyone the details.
For a few moments they all recognized a small piece of the old Clark as he silently stared at Dr. Swann, defiantly refusing to answer. They both tried to meet Clark's gaze, but failed.
"Now, I'm going to ask you one more time Kal-el. What do the symbols in the picture say?" Swann asked.
They watched Clark defiantly remain silent.
"You are going to cooperate with me, I have been very patient with you. I know that you can read them; I watched your face as you suddenly recognized them several months ago when I asked you. I am tired of being patient." Dr. Swann said.
Something in the corner of his eye, caught Lex's attention. He looked over to where Lois was standing, "Get him away from Clark!" she silently mouthed to him.
But before he could come up with a plan…
Dr. Swann gave up and turned away from Clark to Lois.
"Tell the others that the subject will be unavailable for testing for the next week."
Neither lex nor Jason liked the way that sentence sounded. Jason looked over to Lois as she forced herself to nod; looking like she was going to be sick.
"I will have the guards come and collect him in a moment." He said to Lois.
Next he turned to Jason and Lex, "You might like to go down to the other lab room and talk with the other scientists."
Dr. Swann exited the room, with all three of them hot on his wheels.
"What are you going to do with him?" Lex demanded once out of the room.
Dr. Swann seemed to ignore them, "Guards, I would like the subject placed in isolation for the next week. Understood?"
The four guards that were standing there just nodded. As they passed by, the two guards in the back slightly nudged Lex.
Lex looked over long enough to recognize Pete and Mr. Kent walking by them into the lab. He quickly turned back to Swann.
"Tell me!" Lex demanded again.
"Just where I said, in isolation. Now if you will all follow me, I will show you to where the other doctors are working." Swann said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Pete and Mr. Kent XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After joining the other guards that morning, they had been instructed that they would be stationed on the second level to patrol. They just hoped they would get a glimpse of Clark.
After they had been down there a while, they heard a door open around the corner from where they were. They quietly went around and caught a glimpse of Clark; though it had not been comforting. They watched as two large guards drug a dark haired figure down the hallway past them. Another large guard followed closely behind them.
They waited until they were sure they were alone before commenting.
"We have to make this work." Was all Pete could get out; which was more than Mr. Kent was able.
A few hours later, two other guards joined them. They started down the hallway once more, when a door at the end opened and they watched four people exit.
"What are you going to do with him?" They heard Lex yell, as they got closer.
Dr. Swann suddenly looked over to where Mr. Kent and Pete stood.
"Guards, I would like the subject placed in isolation for the next week. Understood?"
They just nodded. The two guards behind them hurried forward, with Mr. Kent and Pete following behind. Mr. Kent made sure that Lex saw them.
They both stood frozen for a moment as they realized what they were seeing.
However, they both quickly composed themselves; and helped the other guards undo the straps and carry Clark, limp in their arms, down the hallway to a small door.
One of the guards opened the door to reveal a room lined with lead walls and bright lights. There was barely enough room for Mr. Kent and Pete to carry Clark into the room and set him on the floor.
They all exited and shut the door behind them.
"What are they going to do with him in there?" Pete asked, nonchalantly.
"Well, he'll be in there for a week with no food, and periodic exposure to the Kryptonite. Then maybe he'll be more cooperative; especially after all the time he spent in there last time." The guard explained.
