Chapter 4

Kaitlyn's eyes squinted when the teenager stated his name, both Wesley's and Morgan's widened, and when all three realized what they were doing they stopped it and checked to see if they had been observed doing it. They hadn't. All three of them were thinking the same thing. I know that name sounds familiar…

When Clark released his hand, the first officer of the Enterprise introduced himself as well.

"I'm Will Riker."

Clark smiled, nodded, and then pointed off behind the group. "My house is back that way," he said. "And my parents are home. The rest of you can introduce yourselves when we get there."

"Fair enough," Riker said, following the boy as he started in the direction he had indicated.

Wesley thought hard as he followed the group. He knew he had heard that name before and felt as if it should be easy to remember where. But so much had happened to him in his twenty-seven years that it was hard to remember the names of everyone he met or heard of. He tried to keep any expression off of his face that might reveal his train of thought, and didn't pay much attention to the rest of his friends until Kaitlyn dropped back and began to walk beside him. He was only vaguely aware that she was studying him until she finally spoke.

"Wes, is something wrong?" she asked with concern. "You're still breathing hard. You look exhausted."

Wesley knew she was right. Since attempting to get back to the Enterprise he felt extremely tired, but he didn't want to admit it.

"Look, I'm just a little tired, okay?"

Kaitlyn lowered her voice. "But why? Using your powers isn't supposed to tire you out!"

"I don't know, Kaitlyn," Wesley said in annoyance. He sighed. "Sorry."

Kaitlyn smiled gently. "It's okay. And don't worry. We'll get out of here and find out what's wrong with you somehow."

"Hopefully," the young Traveler frowned.

"Oh cheer up, Wesley," Kaitlyn said, taking his hand and leading him forwards.


Meanwhile, Riker was noticing a puzzled expression on Morgan's face as she walked near him. He maneuvered his way closer to her and asked quietly what it was.

Morgan looked up at him, and was about to say something when there was a burst of noise just behind them. Kaitlyn, dragging Wesley along with her, had caught up to Faith and frightened her from behind on purpose, causing the girl to yelp in surprise. Now the two were giggling like schoolgirls as they swatted at each other, and Wesley pulled away from Kaitlyn and moved towards Riker.

Finally, as he reached them, Morgan got a chance to talk as the noise died down, and answered Will's question.

"It's just that this place looks familiar. I think this is the same town I was born in, in the twenty-first century. This is Smallville."

Wesley, now walking on the other side of her, nodded. "That's right, Smallville, Kansas. United States of America, and from the looks of it this is the late twentieth to early twenty-first century."

"Wesley, how did you know that? I don't think I ever mentioned it to anyone on the Enterprise," Morgan asked, her brow furrowed.

Wesley blinked. "Umm.."


The whole conversation had been spoken softly, so that they would not reveal to Clark where they were really from, as Riker had not decided what exactly to do when it came to that yet. Clark, however, had heard every word of it.

Clark didn't make it a habit of using his super hearing to eavesdrop on the discussions of people he barely knew, or anyone, but he'd heard the words "twenty-first century" and hadn't been able to resist, wondering why they would refer to the current century in such a way. Now, finding himself more and more intrigued by these strange visitors, he also found himself saving one of them from an uncomfortable situation, though Clark didn't quite know why it was uncomfortable.

"We're here," Clark said, unintentionally interrupting those who were talking and preventing Will and Morgan from pressing Wesley further about what he knew. He led the group up the sidewalk.

"What a cute little house," Lwaxana said to her daughter. Deanna only smiled, most of her attention occupied wit sorting out the confusing varied emotions emanating from those around her, though she did agree with her mother. The farmhouse was two-story, yellow, and inviting.

Clark hopped quickly up the steps to the porch and opened the door, ushering them all in. When they had all gone through he came in behind them.

"Wait here," he said as he walked into the kitchen. "I'll go find my parents." Riker nodded, and Clark walked off.

"Mom? Where are you?" he called, taking a quick look through the rest of the downstairs rooms. When he didn't see her he pounded up the stairs. "Mom?" When he reached the landing, he saw Martha coming from his parents' bedroom.

"What is it, Clark?" she asked.

"Well mom, I sort of…met a few people in the corn field. They needed help, so I brought them back to the house. They're downstairs."

Mrs. Kent frowned. "In the cornfield? What were they doing there?"

Clark shrugged. "I don't know. They didn't seem to, either. That's why they need help."

Still looking confused, Martha nodded. "All right," she said, and started down the stairs, her son right behind her.

"Where's dad?" Clark asked.

"He's in the barn, but it's almost time for lunch, so he should be in soon."

"Okay," Clark said as the two of them walked into the kitchen.

Martha froze as soon as she saw the group of people there. Her eyes went immediately to the young man in the strange, gray clothing. He looked back at her in surprise, recognition in both of their eyes.

"Wesley?" Martha said in shock.

The young Traveler, who had been struck by how familiar the interior of the house looked, suddenly realized why.

He stared in surprise. "Mrs. Kent?"

And suddenly, everything made sense to him, and the memories all came rushing back.