I'm a big fan of Catwoman, I have always loved how she could manipulate Batman. I really don't feel I ever do her justice when I try to write her in to the story. But I needed someone to introduce Kryptonite into the story, so I gave it a shot.
Thanks for all your reviews!
Chapter 2 – Old Friends
Clark flew back to the cave carrying the led encased Kryptonite. He flipped on his communicator.
"Alfred, meet me in the cave."
"On my way Sir." The old gentleman responded.
Clark sped up and the outside world blurred as he approached the Batcave entrance. He masterfully flew in and navigated the turns into the inner cave, landing gracefully in front of the massive Batcomputer.
"Long night sir?" Alfred appeared out of nowhere. Clark had the best hearing on the planet but Alfred could still sneak up on him.
"Yes, Catwoman was the one robbing the museum and she wanted this…" Clark showed him the cat.
"I'll get the containment container and tools." Alfred walked over to a storage bin.
"I want to know where this thing came from. Catwoman said it's very old, but I only arrived here in the early 80's"
"Maybe a timewarp or blackhole of some sort sir?"
"Is that possible?"
"If you'll pardon me sir, but after meeting you, I'm open to anything now." Alfred said with a slight smirk.
"Point taken." Clark responded with a small smile.
Alfred took the cat over to the workbench and began to heat the lead so that it would melt off.
Clark began to program into the Batcomputer a complex search for the origins of the cat and then made his way to the costume vault and changed into some workout clothes. He jumped on the treadmill and started to run. This was a specially designed treadmill; it was capable of speeds up to 120mph, not fast enough for Clark to get into a good sprint but enough for a good jog. Clark had picked up jogging as a way to relieve stress and right now he was thinking of running a marathon.
Clark had just made 50 miles when the phone rang; he flipped off the treadmill and flew over to the computer.
"Kent here."
"Clark…"
"Hey Chloe, long time. How are things going…"
"Clark there's been…an accident."
Clark sat down in the control chair, fear griping his face
"My parents?" He asked slowly
"No, they are fine. It's…Lana."
Lana and Chloe had become close since Clark left Smallville. Lana had started teaching at a grade school in Metropolis earlier that year after graduating with her general education degree. She and Chloe had gotten an apartment together.
"Is she going to be ok?"
"She's dead Clark. She was found outside of Smallville in Rider's field early this morning. It looked like it could have been an accident. But I'm not sure…"
"Where are you?"
"I was visiting my dad here in Smallville when it happened."
"I'm on my way; I'll be there as soon as I can." Clark hit the hang-up button.
"I'm sorry sir. Were you and Lana close?" Alfred put a hand on Clark's shoulder.
"Yeah we dated off and on; I couldn't get close because…I wouldn't tell her my secret." He said as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, secrets do tend to get in the way of relationships." The older man said with a knowing tone.
Clark opened his eyes and changed subjects, "Alfred, get us ready to go."
"Very good sir."
A few years ago Clark had donated money to build a commuter airport outside of Smallville. Why the Luthors had never put one in he would never know. He guessed they were only going to Metropolis and so a Helicopter from the front lawn of their castle was better than having to drive to a real airport. He could obviously just fly to Smallville much faster than a jet but he had found that he could get a lot of work done during the flights.
And again to recap our top story, it appears that our city's protector, Superman does have a weakness…
Clark turned off the TV and returned his focus to the documents on his laptop. He was finishing up some emails and memos that he had been neglecting for the past couple of days. How you ever kept up this busy schedule Bruce I'll never know.
Alfred looked up from his Laptop, "Sir, the Computer just finished its analysis and it is inconclusive."
"Inconclusive? That doesn't happen often, if ever. Any thoughts Alfred?"
"I've already started the tests again sir and we'll check the computer when we get back."
"Great, so the computer doesn't know what's going on and there could be Kryptonite that Bruce and I never collected."
He and Bruce had spent a couple of weeks in Smallville gathering up the rocks from around the town shortly before Bruce's disappearance. He knew that they hadn't gotten it all, he was sure that the Luthors had a fair bit of it. But he had been reasonably sure that the rest of the world didn't have any or know of its existence…until now.
"It was appearing that way sir."
The plane landed twenty minutes later and He and Alfred made their way to the blue Mercedes ML500 SUV being pulled around from the back of the plane. Clark jumped into the driver seat, Alfred used to object to him driving but Clark insisted that it was Smallville, his home and he wanted to drive.
They quickly made their way to the other side of town and pulled into the gravel driveway of the Kent farm. He parked the car and jumped out to hug his mom who had come running out of the house. His dad made his way quickly from the barn and gave his son a hug.
"Good to have you home son." Jonathan told his son. "How are you doing Alfred?"
"I am doing well, thank you sir." Alfred responded as he took the bags inside.
"Dad I need to go down and check on Chloe, no telling what she is getting into while she is playing detective. I'll be back later."
"Be careful Clark." His mom told him as he climbed back into the Mercedes. He headed down the road towards Chloe's home. Nice to be in Smallville again. I had missed the trees. He thought as he turned up her drive and came to a stop in front of her house.
"Lois?" He was surprised to see her here. Chloe hadn't said anything about her. Lois had been in New York and had gotten a job at the New York Times.
"Hey Smallville." She gave him a quick hug.
Clark unsure of himself, "Hey Lois, ah, where's Chloe?"
"You know my cousin; she's off following a lead. It's how she deals with pain." She replied
"Sorry it took me so long to get here. What can I do to help?"
Lois looked in his eyes, he seems a little cold. So down to business…Out loud she said, "Chloe told me that the cops said it looked like Lana fell asleep at the wheel and ran her car into a tree. But Lana never goes out that way at night, she has no reason too."
"We'll go to the field and check it out."
They drove in silence to the field and easily found the crash site. The police had really trampled the area when they had looked for clues. Clark had long since adopted Bruce's pet peeve of the police and their handling of crime scenes. His trained eyes and x-ray vision began to sweep the area. He spotted a dart in the dirt; he quickly walked over and began to examine it.
"Chloe was right, it wasn't an accident. Lana was probably drugged and then drove her car off the road. Into that tree" He said handing her the dart. "Any theories on who would have done this? Did Lana piss anyone off recently that you know of?"
She thought for a minute, "No, she and Jason had a fight a few nights ago and she and Lex had an argument about the talon. But nothing unusual."
"Jason and Lana got back together?"
"They are…were engaged Clark."
Clark gathered his thoughts for a minute before he spoke, "Is Jason still working for Luthor?"
Luthor? He's always called him Lex…I wonder what has happened to him. Lois thought, "Ah yeah he still is."
"I'd bet she saw or heard something she shouldn't have, Luthor loves his secrets. We need to see her car."
They drove again in silence to the police impound lot where Lana's car had been towed.
He used to be more talkative…Lois thought
Clark easily broke the lock on the back gate when Lois wasn't looking and they snuck in.
Clark looked the outside of the car over as Lois looked inside. Clark found nothing in the crumpled mess but Lois crawled out of the car looking triumphant.
"Whatcha got?" Clark asked.
"Look at this Smallville; I think it's a piece of the LexCorp logo on this torn paper." She responded.
"I think your right, looks like this is a shipping order of some sort."
"Destination is…Smallville. Luthor is bringing something here and had Lana killed because of it." Clark said angrily.
Lois touched his arm, "Clark what's happened to you? You seem so cold and angry…You were friends with Lex…" Lois said in a half whisper.
Clark did feel ready to explode, four years of…everything…
"Get in." Clark gestured to the car.
He quickly drove away from the lot and found a clearing to pull off in to. They both got out and leaned against the car.
"You remember the night that you were blown off the building and I told you that Batman saved us?"
"Yeah, he didn't, you did."
"You knew?"
"Yeah it took me a while to figure it out, I was a little hazy on the details at first, but there was no way that Batman could have gotten to us in time."
"So you know I'm…"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry I didn't just tell you…"
"You know I'm actually not mad at you. I know why you did it."
"Well you may also know that he disappeared one night. I never knew you could become so close to some one in such a short amount of time, but after your fight and work with someone so closely…
Clark's eyes started to tear up, "I searched everywhere, I couldn't find him …Couldn't save him…"
Lois pulled him into a hug and held him until he let out four years of frustrations. Lois just listened to him and gave him all the silent support she could.
When he had finally stopped rambling she pulled his face up to hers and he smiled,
"I'm sorry for not staying in touch with you Lois..." He started to apologize.
She cut him off with a kiss.