Chapter 6: A Luthor Story

9:00 PM: 1/2 an hour later...

In the limo headed towards Smallville, Lionel's cell phone rings. Lionel picks it up, and flips it open.

"Hello? Oh...Strongston. Have you got any information on those meteorite samples you collected from the CDC, yet?"

"That's what I called you for. I have discovered that the meteorites have been emitting a peculiar sort af radiation that has effected various people."

"What sort of effects? Are they deadly?"

"Actually, the results are quite opposite."

"Well, many people who have been admitted to Smallville General Hospital have been given, well, I don't know how to explain this, but..."

"Spill it, Strongston. I'm on a tight schedule."

"Well, it seems like the various citizens of Smallville have been given a clean bill of health, and many accidents have reported that these people have been given special powers."

"Strongston, I think you've been reading too many comic books."

"It's true, Mr. Luthor. I'm faxing you one of the new editions of the Smallville Torch."

Just as he said, the fax machine next to Lionel faxed out the title page to the Smallville Torch. Lionel tore out the page. It read:

Smallville Torch

By: Chloe Sullevin

Smallville Home to latest Superpowered Citizens

In the latest aftermath of the 2005 Meteor Shower, strange occurances have been plauging Smallville. Several of Smallville High's own students have been given special powers due to meteor rock exposure. These students have not been identified, but several traits have been witnessed, such as a young woman who apparently teleported into a burning building and saved a little girl. Another report was of a young man that easily entered a burning, collapsed building, and came out with a survivor, and no burns on his skin. A young man, also unidentified, saved an elderly man pinned under a tractor, by easily picking it up with one hand. Several more people are being treated at Smallville General Hospital and leaving with emerging super powers. Karly Kling, survivor of a burning building states, "I was pulled out of the burning building with my children, but the firefighters forgot my husband, Jeff. Then, a young man walks past me, and picks up a firefighter thet tryed to stop him, and walked right into the building, untouched by the flames. When he came out, his shirt was smoldering, but he had no cuts, bruises, or burns. His hair wasn't even singed!"
Keep reading the upcoming issues of the Smallville Torch for more recaps on what's happened in Smallville: Town of the Weird and Strange.

"What a bunch of crap, Strongston. It's all yellow journalism. Don't call me until you get some real answers."

Lionel puts down the article, and stares out the window, to a scenery of a small town, pocketed by many craters. Smoke still lingers in the air and the limo slows down, as it enters the Smallville city limits. The Welcome to Smallville: Creamed Corn Capital of the World sign is destroyed, and where it used to stand is a medium-sized crater. As the limo drives through it, the rock inside glows green and red. Many of Smallville's most notable buildings are in ruin. As Lionel's limo drives into Centennial Park, many people have already gathered in anticipation of what the infamous Lionel Luthor has to say about the meteors. The last of the survivors have been sent to Smallville General Hospital and some were transferred to Metropolis MD. Also within the group, are several people wearing different colored cloaks, hiding their faces. Lionel exits the limo after it is parked, and walks up a path and up a couple of stairs, and stands behind a podium, adjacent to the large pile of green and red meteor rocks, still emiting radiation in small doses. Many uninjured people move in a small crowd in front of Lionel.

"Hello, citizens of Smallville. You obviously know who I am. For those of you who don't know me, I am Lionel Luthor, Head of Luthor-Corp, and also head of the Luthor-Corp #3 Fertillizer Plant. I apologize for having a meeting right after this horrific meteor shower you have already encountered, but I think this is as good a time as any."

"What do you want, Luthor! You already cheated us out of our own land, and shut down the Cream Corn Plant, What more do you want!" Yells a man who's face is covered by a dark green cloak.

"The meteor rocks, of course."

"What do you want with them, Luthor?" asks another person, a woman, who is also wearing a cloak, her face concealed within the hood.

"I believe that's classified."

"Are you going to make people freaks! Huh! Like us!" Yells the green cloaked man.

"Freaks? I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about, and if you dare to question me while hiding your face, I will leave, and take these meteor rocks with me."

The green cloaked young man lifts his hood off, revealing a face full of hate. A hate towards Luthor. Across the right side of his cheek is a long scar. His eyes glow a deep red, and The young man lifts his arm, and at the same time, the meteor rocks lift, and a surge of plasma energy hits the rocks. The energy eminates from the young man's hand, and he smiles at Lionel. The plasma beam eminates more energy, and the rocks suddenly explode into millions of pieces. All that is left are slices of the meteor rocks, which have been turned completely clear. They no longer glow. Luthor stares in amazement at the young man, who leaps from the crowd with ease and lands next to Lionel. The man grabs Lionel by the neck, and easily lifts him up. The crowd gasps in loudly.

"Everyone! Do not fear me! The one you should fear is this man I'm holding by his own neck. Lionel Luthor thinks he is a God! I will not let you create more people like me!"

"What..are you...talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You wanted to create superhuman warriors that you would later sell to the highest bidder. All you needed was the right element to enhance the human genes. And you found it. In the meteor rocks."

"How...do you know...that?" Lionel asks, and the man's grip tightened.

"Doe the name Strongston ring a bell? Did you really think I was still working for you?"

"Strongston...that's some... amazing abilities...you have."

"Thank the meteor rocks, or what's left of them. They rejuvenated my body, de-aged me some, 20 years, and made me super powerful. And all that's left is to get rid of you."

"But...why?"

"Because, Lionel, you are an evil man. I have learned to use my gifts as a source of good, not evil. You, on the other hand, would use such gifts a source of evil. Goodbye, Lionel."

With one flick of his hand, Strongston snapped the neck of Lionel Luthor, immedietly killing him. Strongston lets go of Lionel's still warm body, and looks on to the still stunned crowd. The crowd breaks apart, and the people run, except the three people wearing cloaks. Strongston leaps to the ground, and walks up to the small group.

"Why did you destroy the meteorites, Mr. Strongston?" Asks one of the cloaked individuals.

"I did not destroy them. I transfigured them into an element that wouldn't emit radiation. The rocks had a side effect, and destroyed each other. There are many more, do not worry."

"What should we do about tomarrow, Mr. Strongston?" Asks another person.

"You all should all get some sleep tomarrow. You will need to go back to school just like every other day. Wear regular clothes. Pull down your hoods, I would like to see how the meteorites have affected you physically."

The three people pull their hoods down, just like instructed, three of them are men, the other a woman. All of them attend Smallville High.

"Justin, your first." Strongston states.

Justin, a young man wearing a blue cloak, lifts up both of his arms, which then transform into two, six foot long swords, and as he breathes in deeply, his whole body turns into a living body of metal.

"Good, Justin. You can change back, now."

Justin's metal armor melts away under his skin, and he appears normal again. Strongston looks to the next man.

"Your next, Adam. Show us what has been given to you by the meteorites."

Adam walks over to the stadium where Lionel's body has been lying. He reaches under the front of the stadium, and easily picks it up. Adam then sets it down, and walks over to the group, and reaches into his pockets. He pulls out a small rock, and stares at it. Purple fire shoots out of his eyes, hitting the rock, and making it glow purple. He throws the rock 15 feet away, and snaps his fingers. The rock immedietly explodes, vaporizing a large chunk of earth, and scorching a lot of grass.

"Great, Adam! Significant improvement!"

Strongston looks at the young woman.

"Let's see if you have been practicing, Alicia."

Alicia walks backwards, and immedietly vanishes in a bright green flash of light. She reappears on the stadium, and vanishes again. She reappears in the small group again, and smiles a smile of relief.

"Good Alicia, you have really improved. Now, have any of you found that mysterious teenager that saved the man from the burning apartment building?"

The group shakes their heads.

"Oh well. There's a good chance that he will be at Smallville High tomarrow. Let's recite our motto."

The group huddles together. They reach their hands in, and start to recite:

"We are the protectors of the Innocent

Ones who have been given powers from the heavens.

We fight for good, never evil.

To protect the world from Chaos."

The group splits apart, leaving the dead body of Lionel Luthor all by his lonesome...

Back at the Evan's house, the three women and their dog are clothed and sitting on some kitchen chairs, and are staring at Shane and Everette. An utter silence is between them.

"So, I guess you guys aren't from around here." Shane states.

The tallest woman, and the oldest, around thirty, turns her head to Shane.

"No, we are not. We are looking for my son."

"Oh, uhh...aren't you a little far off?" Shane asks.

The other woman, around twenty with light brown hair, moves slightly in her chair.

"This is Earth, right?" She asks.

"Yes..." Says Everette.

"Then he is here." Says the oldest woman.

"Do you ladies have names?" Shane asks.

"Of course. My name is Lora-El, the life partner of Jor-El." Says the oldest woman.

"I am called Kara-El." Says the light brown haired younder woman.

"I am named Cara-Lo, and I am here to be with my Kal-El. And this is Kal-El's pet, Krypto."

Krypto barks enthusiastically, and sets his head on Cara-Lo's lap. Cara pets him, and scratches him behind the ears.

"So, you are looking for...Kal-El?" Shane asks.

"Yes, he has landed in this small town. I can sense him." Cara says.

"Well, you guys can stay the night tonight, we have some spare beds, and "Krypto" can sleep on the couch. Then tomarrow, you can look for him." Everette states.

"Thank you for your hospitality. You are most kind." Lora says.

"Well, your welcome. I'll show you to your rooms." Shane exclaims.

Lora, Cara and Kara walk up the stairs with Shane, and Krypto stares at Everette.

"I know what your thinking, and your not sleeping in my bed."