Clark scanned the areas outside of the shed. A force of six men was closing in on their position. Clark took a step and wobbled. Pursing his lips, he looked at CK.
"Can you handle the outside contingent? I'm getting worse." He grabbed the closest box to steady himself. "I can make it inside the hangar to take care of the men in there or at the very least stall."
CK x-rayed the approaching men and the others in the complex.
"I count 18 outside and 12 inside the hangar." CK frowned and squinted, "It looks as if all of them are carrying bullets made of Kryptonite."
"Just great," replied Clark grimly. "We will just have to keep our distance."
"Well, we do have a few long distance and offensive capabilities," CK slyly chortled. "I've had a very bad day and I know I'm ready to take out a little frustration."
"Now, now…" Clark snickered. "Be…well not exactly nice…but maybe cordial?" Clark sighed, "I'm ready to go home, and I know Chloe sure is."
CK looked at everyone else in the room. "Stay put until I tell you the coast is clear."
With one last nod, Clark and CK disappeared out the door.
While CK incapacitated the six security men, Clark made his way around to the backside of the hangar. There were only two guards stationed at the rear door. He could hear CK moving on to the next group of security teams. It was now his turn. He let loose his heat vision on the rifles in the men's hands. They tossed their weapons quickly. Clark, appearing out of thin air, thumped the two men on the head.
"Two down, ten or so to go."
He entered the hangar silently walking down the corridor. He x-rayed the large room plotting each person's location in the room. He deduced those who were friendly and those who were unfriendly; they had the guns. He could hear Lex without super-hearing though and he was mad.
"You killed them Lex," said Chloe. "That piece of meteor rock doesn't slowly kill; it utterly destroys them." She finished with a snap of her fingers.
"Yes, I realize that, but apparently you had a plan. They were whisked out of here." Lex paced the floor in a frenzy. "But to where Chloe? What was that light?" He knelt down and looked her directly in the face. "My men said it came from an out building. What has this little band of merry men done?"
"They've done nothing but help a friend Luthor. Which is more than I can say for you!" A deep booming voice sailed across the room. Clark could not let Lex take any of his frustration out on Chloe or any of the others. His ploy seemed to work; Lex's attention was now totally on him.
Lex smiled trying to hide his surprise at Clark's sudden appearance.
"Looking a little rough there Kent!"
Clark paused, listening to the continuing fight outside. He returned his attention to Lex and retorted, "Well death tends to take it out of you. But I'm feeling much better now."
He surveyed the room one more time. Without a word, his eyes glowed red as he began systematically taking out the guns held by Lex's goon squad. He started with Lex's gun. His speed caught everyone off guard. Within seconds, each guard was nursing a burn mark and eyeing an unusable weapon on the floor.
Lex decided to play his trump card.
"Son of Krypton, you think you're so clever; remember I am my father's son."
Son of Krypton? Clark knew he had used that phrase earlier. However, he kept his attention on the last soldier in front of him. He had missed something though and he knew it. More accurately, he knew he had missed someone. Lana.
Shouts of warning from somewhere to his left still did not move his attention from the last guard. This guy was different. He was angry but controlled. He was a definite pro. Before he released his last round of heat, he heard a pop. He felt the all too familiar boiling sensation tear clean through his side. With the second pop, his upper arm felt as if he had been punched. The boiling sensation halted in his shoulder near his collarbone. The fire consumed his arm and chest stealing his breath. He finally looked away from the last man to see Lana tackled by Sullivan. A small hand gun, she had had a concealed weapon. He heard a rending of aluminum and others coming into the hangar. The fighting escalated and an unfamiliar voice spoke.
"Everyone stay where you are!" shouted James Cotterall. "Anyone moves and he dies…again."
The hangar quieted. Clark looked directly at the muzzle of the weapon. His legs were going numb; he reached for the wall of the corridor and slid down. The weapon followed his descent. He saw CK standing across the bay. He blinked and grabbed the barrel of the gun forcing it down.
Startled, Cotterall fired the weapon into Clark's thigh. Fortunately or unfortunately, Cottrell's weapon had a regular round chambered first. As the bullet lodged in Clark's thigh bone, a howl erupted from his mouth. He sank to the cold cement floor releasing the barrel from his scalded hand.
Cotterall brought his weapon to bear at Clark again when the temperature abruptly changed. He started to shiver and shake. Astonished, James Cotterall looked at the source of the frigid climate shift. CK faced him blowing an icy farewell kiss.
In mere seconds all Luthor Corp security forces were subdued along with Lex and Lana. All weapons containing Kryptonite were quickly removed. All hostages were released.
Chloe frantically crawled her way over to Clark, while Sullivan pulled CK back.
"Those are Kryptonite bullets," she cautioned him. "Can you pinpoint where the bullets are?"
CK nodded.
Chloe sat down next to Clark looking him directly in the face. The green tendrils were making their way up his neck, across his jaw and down his arm. She could hear the others shouting orders; gathering first aid supplies; and looking for pliers. She would let them handle that. Her focus was completely on Clark. Chloe talked softly trying to calm him. His eyes were loosing focus and his body shivered.
A voice pierced the hangar. "CK are we over the bullet?"
"Yes." CK x-rayed the leg. "The bullet in the leg is not Kryptonite. The bullet wound in the side is a through shot."
Clark was trying his best not to hyperventilate. He could hear Chloe's soothing ministrations. He focused on her words, grimacing as the knife made its incision. He knew what was coming next; he had had the misfortune of doing this before. So as not to disappoint, the pliers painfully searched for the bullet. He yelled and arched his back as many hands held him down while Chloe continued her whispering.
Sullivan directed CK near Pete, who was recovered enough to sit up.
"They are going to need to leave as soon as that bullet is out," said Pete watching the makeshift ER across from him. "CK, I need you to go get Chloe's car from the shed. The battery won't hold a charge, so you might have to push it through the portal. I will steer."
"You are in no condition to…"
"CK, I am the only one with a portal device imbedded in his skin. It's keyed only to me," replied Pete calmly.
"Then I'm going with you. No argument."
CK left the hangar to retrieve the VW Bug. He carried it back through the large hangar door. He looked over at the group around Clark. The surgery seemed to be over. He could see Clark lying in Chloe's lap; he was talking about feeding chickens. He heard Clark take a long deep inhale and then a long shuddering exhale. Then there was a second of silence. Everyone heard Chloe screaming CK's name.
His stomach clenched; time had run out. He sped over, picked Clark up and placed him in the car on the passenger side. He ran back for Chloe, who was losing consciousness herself, and placed her in the backseat. Sullivan helped Pete into the driver's seat. Pete activated the vortex; CK pushed them through. There was no time for long good-byes- just good lucks and thank yous called out as the portal closed.
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A/N: Not much farther. Please review!