The Black Coats
Written By: The Ascended Ancient
Chapter I: "Beginnings"

NOTE: This is set during the fourth season. It takes place between the episodes "Run" and "Transference"

Cut to Smallville, Kansas. It's a nice, quiet little town. There's a general store, and a supermarket. And there are farms. Lots and lots of farms. In fact, the only thing special about Smallville was that it was the cream corn capital of the world.

That all changed in 1989. That year, a massive meteor shower hit this small town. It came without warning, and before anyone knew what was going on the town was in flames. As all this was happening, Jonathan and Martha Kent were on their way home from a trip to the nearby city of Metropolis. Suddenly a meteor hits nearby, overturning their truck. Thankfully neither one was hurt. As they lay in the damaged vehicle, they saw the last thing they could've expected: a young boy walking towards them. The Kents get out of their truck and go over to him. But even more shocking than the boy is the vehicle he used to get there. It's an alien spaceship. Thinking quick, Jonathan and Martha borrows another truck (the driver had died during the meteor shower) and uses it to bring the spaceship - and the boy - home.

Several days later, Jonathan and Martha Kent, with the help of a powerful friend, forge adoption papers. Newly-named Clark Kent is officially their son.

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On the Smallville High football field, the team prepares for an upcoming game. Clark Kent, a Senior and the team's quarterback, calls the play.

"22! 53! Hut!"

The ball is snapped, and Clark takes a few steps back. He scans the field, finds an open player, pulls back his arm, and lets loose with a perfect pass. The receiver catches the ball and is taken down at the other team's 18 yard line. From the sidelines, Assistant Coach Jason Teague cheers.

"Way to go, Kent!" Jason shouts.

"Thanks, Coach," Clark replies.

"Alright, guys," the coach continues. "I think that's enough for today. Hit the showers, people!"

Clark and the rest of the football team head for the showers.

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As he walks away from the school, Clark reflects on how glad he is that he can play for the school football team. It hadn't been easy getting his dad to let him try out, but everything worked out for the best.

Clark glances around to make sure no one's watching, then starts to run at super-sonic speeds. Yes, super-sonic. Clark, as was mentioned earlier, isn't human. He's from a planet called Krypton. Many years ago, some unknown disaster destroyed Clark's home planet. His parents, Jor-El and Lara, sent their only son, Kal-El (Clark's birth name), to Earth so that he could survive the devastation. And though he looks human, Clark possesses a number of supernatural powers. He can move faster than the speed of sound, he's super-strong, his skin is virtually impenetrable, and he has x-ray and heat vision. Despite all of this, Clark has one weakness: Kryptonite. When Krypton was destroyed, huge chunks of irradiated rock from the planet was sent out in all directions. This rock, called Kryptonite, is what hit Smallville back in '89. There are two kinds of Kryptonite: green and red. Green Kryptonite weakens Clark and, with extended exposure, can kill him. Red Kryptonite strips him of his inhibitions, making him a reckless, super-powerful man. So, in summary, Smallville is the one place on earth with a virtually limitless supply of the only substance that can harm or affect the judgment of Clark Kent.

And so Clark super-speeds home to his parents farm, unaware of the new danger looming on the horizon.

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On the outskirts of Smallville, several large trucks drive up. The come to a stop on the edge of a forest. From one of the cabs, a man steps out. He's wearing a black trench coat with a red shirt on underneath it. His pants are black, and he's wearing black gloves, a black winter hat, and dark sunglasses. He looks around, surveying the area.

"This is perfect," the man says. "We'll set up the base here."

"Yes, sir," a similarly dressed man says. The first man walks away from the trucks. Another man walks up to him.

"Colonel," the second man begins, "do you really think that these meteors had as much of a biogenic effect as they say?"

"I don't know, Major," the colonel says. "But that's what we're here to find out." The major nods.

"Investigate and contain by any means necessary," he says.

"Exactly," the colonel replies.

End of Chapter I

Author's Note: So, what's up with these military guys? Are they the ones that are going to discover Clark's secret? Stay tuned for "New Arrivals", Chapter II of The Black Coats, where hopefully a bit more of the plot will unfold.