Chapter 8: A New Life
That Night...
The Wayne mansion is almost empty. The only person other than Clark is Bruce, who has just entered the guest bedroom, which is now Clark's.
"Hello, Clark."
"Hey Bruce. How goes the crime fighting?"
"It's alright. Rachel came by today to visit me. She said that you saved her from two thugs who tried to rape her?"
Clark stops folding his newly dried clothes, and turns towards Bruce. Bruce smiles slightly, his hair still wet from his recent shower.
"Yeah... I almost forgot the feeling of saving someone. She reminds me of..." Clark trails off, and finishes folding his last flannel shirt, putting it on the pile of various other shirts.
"Of Alicia?"
"Yeah..." Clark says, starting to fold up his pants.
Bruce walks over, and puts his hand on Clark's right shoulder. Clark forces a smile, and continues to fold his pants.
"I know how you feel, Clark. I lost my parents when I was eight, and I couldn't stop that. When I went against Ra's Al Ghul and Dr. Crane, I relived those horrible memories. Memories that would turn a normal person insane. I have lost loved ones too, Clark. You shouldn't let that change who you are."
Clark smiles at Bruce, the first real smile he made for more than a year. Bruce smiles back, and walks over to a bookcase. He pulls back a book, and the bookcase swings open.
"Follow me, Clark." Bruce states, as he walks inside. Clark sets his pants down, and follows Bruces into the secret staircase. They descend farther and farther down, until they reach the system of caves underneath the mansion. Clark follows Bruce to a large cabinet full of gadgets. He opens it, and pulls out a black cape. He throws it at Clark, along with a pure black utility belt.
"These will help you in your fight against destiny. Use what you have wisely, Clark. These supplies are limited.
Clark looks at the black cape, and matching utility belt. He smiles slightly, an idea progressing through his mind. Bruce notices, and smiles with him.
"Do you have an idea to fix all this, Clark?"
"I think I might, but I'll have to borrow your car."
"The Porsche? I think I can do that."
"Not that car, Bruce. Your other one."
Bruce looks at Clark, and throws him a set of keys. Clark catches them in midair, and smiles.
"Bring it back in one piece, Clark."
"If I do this right, I won't have to bring it back."
Clark smiles, and speeds deeper into the caves. He stops in front of an infamous black military vehicle. It's front sits low to the ground, while the back sits on six enormous wheels. Coated in pure black paint, it sits still, waiting for the next move. He pushes the UNLOCK button, and the front door to the mobile fortress opens, allowing Clark to jump in.
VOICE RECOGNIZER ACTIVATED. PLEASE STATE NAME.
"Clark Kent."
ANALYZING… CLARK KENT VOICE RECOGNIZED. GOOD EVENING, MR. KENT.
"Good evening, yourself."
WHERE TO, MR. KENT?
"New York City."
ANY PLACE IN PARTICULAR?
"Dr. Virgil Swann's office."
The sounds of the engine starting up begin to fill Clark's ears, and the door to the outside world begins to open. Putting the mobile fortress into 1st gear, it speeds out of the caves and onto a deserted road. Clark has the car in complete control, as he switches to 2nd. The road begins to blur by as the car continues to speed over 100 mph. The darkness of early evening begins to settle in Gotham City, like a lightweight pillow. Clark continues to speed through Gotham, and he activates the nitrous boost, adding even more speed, he turns with ease, and soon exits the run down city. Traces of the Fear gas that Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul used in Arkham Asylum still haunts the air, most of it cleaned up by Earth's atmosphere, the rest by Bruce. Clark smiles again, his destination in hand.
I wonder what Virgil has for me that could be of the most importance…
Vivid flashes of the most recent dream Clark had of Alicia flies through his head. He is sitting in a black room, no light is seen for as far as Clark could see. The chair he sits in is also black, and a door opens about a hundred feet away from him. Brilliant white and blue light shine through, and a woman walks in. Her long, golden hair sits neatly off her shoulders, and she is wearing a light blue sundress with pink flowers dotted across it. She walks closer to Clark, and she smiles. It is Alicia, and she shines more radiant than ever before. Clark tries to stand, but lead chains are holding him. His strength seems to be gone, and he sits, his green eyes watching his lover. She continues to smile, and she lightly moves her hand down the side of Clark's face.
"Alicia…" Clark manages to say, exhaustion hitting his body.
She moves a frock of her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear, and kneels down in front of him.
"You are almost there, Clark. You must talk to Virgil. He has something for you."
"How… do you know?"
"Because I talk to him in his dreams too. I told him to make a machine, designed specifically for you, and he did. This machine will help you fix the problem, and then we can be together."
"Alicia… I miss you…" Clark says, looking down at the ground. Alicia moves her hands to his face, lifting his head up so she can look deep into his eyes. He smiles, and she moves in and kisses him.
The kiss they share makes Clark's soul melt. It felt as if Alicia were still alive, and he could feel the warmth and happiness from her run through his body. Alicia lets go of Clark, her hair moving in an unknown wind. Her piercing green eyes watch Clark, honesty and sincerity take form of tears in her eyes.
"I love you, Alicia and I will find a way to get back to you."
"Your already on your way, Clark. We will be together." She says with a smile. Alicia unlatches Clark's hands, and they embrace each other. Clark hugs her like there was no one else in the world, and she can feel the love he has for her. Alicia starts crying, but Clark holds her still.
"I almost...forgot what this felt like..." Clark states, trying to keep handle over his emotions.
"Me too."
They let go of their embrace, and Alicia still smiles at Clark. Her loving eyes make fresh, new tears, and Clark wipes them away, the softness of her skin makes him smile. She smiles back at him as she holds his hand to her face and starts kissing his palm. Alicia stands, and she begins walking towards the brilliantly white light from the door, and Clark follows her. Alicia turns towards Clark, and stops him.
"You cannot come with me, Clark. Not yet."
"Not yet?" He asks, more tears filling his eyes.
"No Clark. Go to Swann's place, he has your answers."
Alicia heads towards the door, and stops at the entrance, where Alex sits. She kneels down, and picks him up, making Alex smile with her careful embrace. Alex waves at Clark as they both walk into the doorway. It slams closed and the room fills with darkness again. Alex's voice fills the room.
"Don't worry Daddy. Everything will be okay."
Even through the darkness, Clark notices something laying on the floor next to him. He reaches down, and touches it. Soft, sort of furry, he picks it up, and moves it to his face. A light green, he moves it between his fingers. It is Alicia's green scarf, the last thing that reminds him of her. He moves it to his face, and the smell of Alicia's perfume fills his nose. The softness of the scarf reminds Clark of Alicia's skin, soft and natural.
Suddenly, the floor disappears, and Clark is thrown down into the darkest part of blackness, and he keeps falling. He continues to fall, until he jerks awake. Clark is sitting in the driver's seat of Bruce's prototype army vehicle. Realizing his surroundings, Clark wipes fresh tears off his face, and notices that the "Batmobile" is steering itself. He tries to turn the wheel, but it stays stuck. Not wanting to break it off, Clark lets go of the wheel and looks through the holographic windshield.
"What's going on?"
WE ARE HEADING TO YOUR DESTINATION, MR. KENT.
"Where?"
NEW YORK CITY. TO DR. VIRGIL SWANN'S OFFICE.
"How long have I been asleep?"
3 HOURS, MR. KENT.
"How long do we have left 'til we get to New York?"
ANOTHER 2 HOURS. I SUGGEST YOU GO BACK TO SLEEP.
"Yes.. sleep sounds good."
Clark watches as the Batmobile moves down the interstate, the speedometer over 100 mph. It passes car after car, its lights off, as to not be noticed. His hand rests on something soft and feathery, and Clark looks at the object. His eyes open in utter surprise and shock at the object sitting in the passenger seat, draped under Clark's hand. A green scarf, Alicia's, sits next to him, her name written on the tag. Lipstick appears in the middle of the scarf, right in front of Clark's eyes.
He picks it up, and smells the scarf, Alicia's perfume fills his lungs. Clutching the scarf, Clark closes his eyes and enters a dreamless sleep...