Author Note: Look I love reviews, no wait, I live on reviews. I turn totally pathetic without reviews, they are just so addictive. Here is the catch though: if there is something you think I need to fix or add please say so and specify! Thank you, please enjoy….

And either way please review.

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"It's six am, sir," an automatic voice said.

Lex groaned, agitated he yelled, "oh, SHUT UP!"

He was on the verge of unconsciousness, but that stupid intercom had been spewing the time every several hours all night. His body was desperate for sleep and at the most had only gotten, say, 4 fours. Not good for a man about to be tortured.

Squeezing his eyes shut Lex did not register the curl of smoke unfurling from the canister next to him. It was sickly grey, and without realizing it he inhaled the gas as he was breathing.

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"The gas has been unleashed sir. It's been thirty minutes of exposure." One guard force member said from his consul. "We have another thirty minutes more, until it is toxic."

Lionel glared at the screens. "Very well. I'll talk to him in five minutes."

Walking out he tripped, catching his fall on a random lever. He thought nothing of it, and did not notice the timer get reset. Thirty minutes of exposure where no longer counted. The gas would now turn off at an hour and a half. Thirty minutes over, thirty minutes lethal.

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"Lana!" Chloe hissed, "Get up quick!"

Chloe reached her hand down to her fallen friend. "We've got to move to our other hide out before the Guard Force catches on," to herself she muttered, "Damn Sleeze ratted us out...LANA!"

Lana gingerly stood up and straightened her shirt. "Ugh, my only pair of pants and I ripped them!" She said looking disdainfully down at her ripped jeans. Chloe turned a moment registering what she saw.

"Wait, Lana…" Chloe paused, "What was that tattoo I just saw on your back?"

"Come on we have to go!" Lana snapped sharply picking up the pace.

Chloe did not let it go. "Wait…was that in France? When you where looking for any others who wanted to join the rebellion? What happened?"

"Look I don't know how it got there or what it does, but I do know we have to go!" Lana rushed along.

Soon she and Chloe had come to a garbage disposal unit. Lana studied the wall recalling the instructions she had memorized. Behind it was a brick wall. Following her memory she touched the brick that was 12 up and six across from the right corner. Upon a tap from her finger and a small portion drew back reveling a panel. She let out a breath, "Lex really is a genius." She turned to Chloe, "Your turn."

Chloe nodded, "Let's just hope he doesn't break. He knows more than we do about the master plan. But on the other hand we know more about where project Return is hidden. Luckily the information it split up. He built it the fortress. You know were the entrance is. And I know the password." Smiling smugly, she keyed it in.

The garbage removal unit levitated a few feet in the air while the girls dashed under it. Dragged in with them were all necessary items from their previous hideout.

Once inside Lana looked around at the technology Lex had built. Sighing she turned to Chloe, "If you'll excuse me, I'm off to snatch us some dinner!"

Chloe smiled, "Yeah, shoot for it. Do you think you could steal some Chinese?"

"Anything I can manage," Lana waved and walked out the back entrance. It was tunnel that opened in the middle of an old where house. One could leave from that spot, but it also required a password getting in. As soon as she was outside a purple mist engulfed her. She took a breath.

"Ah-ha. Let's see if I can help torturing Lex," she giggled walking off.

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Lex laughed with insane glee. "Hello, Alexander," Lionel greeted waking in. Lex only laughed harder at the sight of his gas mask.

"Enjoying your self?" The King asked.

Lex smiled, "Hmm? Oh yes! Julian just told me a wonderful joke! Ha HA!"

"And that is?"

Contending the prisoner asked, "Where's the hideout? (snicker, GIGGLE, snicker)" Lex looked serious for a moment then released the punch line, "I don't know I'm laughing too hard! Ha HA!"

"Alexander, do you know what you're breathing in?" Lionel asked with a sinister glare.

"Your ex's perfume! HA ha!" The bald man wiggled around as much as his bonds would allow.

"Alexander, it is laughing gas," the man said with deadly sincerity.

"But it's no laughing matter! (snort, giggle, and another HA HA!) "

"Alexander," Lionel was beginning to wonder if the laughing gas was a good idea. "Alexander it will kill you in forty minutes unless you tell me what I want."

Forty minutes, thirty minutes off.

"You want jokes? I got jokes! Hey, did you hear the one about the dyslexic man who walked into a bra? HA HA HA."

By now Lex sounded by a Hyena on drugs. "Besides," the bald man said as seriously as he could manage (which wasn't much), "you're not going to kill me until you have what you want. Isn't that funny? HA HA HA HA! "

"A laugh riot," Lionel mused dryly. After a pause, "Yes, that is true, very true, but when that timer goes off, your life depends on whether or not I turn this gas off."

That wasn't true. Lex didn't have forty minutes, he had ten. They had started late, and as such the Guard Force thought it was fine. It wasn't unless Lex was immune to these types of things; gasses, diseases, poisoned scotch, he might have had a chance.

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Thirty minutes later Lex was feeling dizzy. Every fiber of his being focused on not reveling where the hideout was or where project Return was. The others in the rebellion were counting on him. He laughed. Mostly because of the air he was breathing, but he also laughed at project Return. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Time, ha, he thought, time no longer matters.

Not carrying, his being felt totally free. His vision was becoming hazy, he didn't care. Sure he was going to endure more if he survived this, but life is just one big joke right?

By now the gas was fatal, in the critical zone. Lionel studied his prisoner sure they and twenty more minutes. His ideas quickly changed however when the man fell limp and his chest no longer rose up in a basic breathing motion.

The gas was immediately shut off. An on call doctor was immediately there. To the doctor's surprise the Lex had no pulse. After a minute of frenzied activity and CPR, the bald man was back.

Blinking awake, Lex whispered to Lionel, "See, I told you."

Lionel stormed off. That runt of a man! His impudence! Lionel walked straight to his executive elevator; he needed to rethink this plot.

In the plush exclusive elevator he quietly remembered when it had happened. Well, no it actually had started before that….

(a/n italics is the past, and this is mostly Lionel's POV)

My only son was unconscious. Lex was scared and buried under several corn stalks. To my horror Lex was now bald. Bald at age nine! Crazed I had looked around for help. Then I had noticed a metal ship, could this day get weirder? Yes, actually it did. A small white boy walked from the ship. The boy was naked, clean, with beautiful brown hair. I twisted my head, and had looked form side to side. Who would be better to raise? Alien with possible powers or wussy bald son that I care for? Yeah, tough decision. Slowly a plan had begun to form.

After Lex was okay, I had told him that Jason (that's the name I had chosen, it sounded like a champion name) was going to be his brother. "A brand new family!" Lex had laughed. "Yes," I had agreed, "Brand new."

When Lex was strong, and ten, I had given the boy a sack of food, a map, a blanket and warm clothes. "Go. This is my brand new family boy, you are not it." At first Lex was confused, he used to camp outside on the lawn hoping to be taken back. He never was. I had him forcefully removed.

Jason was confused at first too. "But daddy," he tugged at Lionel's sleeve, "I liked him."

"It's okay," Lionel had reassured, "he was no good for you. You are destined for much more."

Suddenly there was beep telling him that he was at the top. To his surprise the spy he had on the rebellion was waiting in his office. She was sitting on his desk, her hair causally thrown over her right shoulder. There was a sucking sound as she pulled a cherry of its little tooth pick. Somehow it made him want to drool. Making eye contact she said, "So, when is it my turn?"

"Isabelle, I think you are exactly what I needed." She always looked good to him, no matter what happened to the body she was in.

"And Lionel I need you."

By now he was standing face to face with her. They kissed. "Mmhmm," he pulled away, "So do you have any more information?"

"No, I can tell you where they are, but Chloe is the only one with the password in." A smile spread across her face, "Oh wait, I do remember this, once in, I can open the door to anyone I want."

"Perfect. But Isabelle?" Lionel stared into her eyes.

"Mmm?" She murmured snuggling into his shoulder, "I love your cape. It's so sexy."

"What do you know about Project Return?"

"Not much, Chloe assumes Lex has already filled me in and won't spill any more."

"Ah. Well, I think I have a plan."

Isabelle looked into his eyes, "Ah. But do we have to activate it right away?"

"No darling," he said gesturing into the bedroom down the corridor, "We don't."

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Late into the afternoon Lex was hungry and again strapped down to the table. He was now shirtless. Lionel had said to him, "Every time you resist I will make your existence more miserable."

And right now with his bare back on the table, he was cold. Cold, hungry, and agitated was not good.

He yelled, "C'mon you stupid automatic thing! Tell me the damn time! I'm going frickn' crazy! Oh god…You know what Julian your right? I don't need to lose my cool over this. I'll be fine without knowing, just work on a plan out, just work on Plan Return…"

"It's 9pm." The automatic voice relented.

"STOP THAT!"

"…lex?..." Isabelle was ushered in. She was wrapped in a blanket, and carried a jar of ashes. A member of the Guard Force followed closely and also set down two trays of food. He left after poking Lex in the side. Glaring at the man, Lex did not speak until he left. Suddenly, like a windup toy in motion, Lex suddenly began taking as the door slammed shut.

"Lana? You? What the! Oh my god … Julian! They've captured Lana!"

"Oh Lex what are we going to do?" Isabelle very convincingly sniffled.

"Lana," Lex rotated his head to view her, "first what's in that jar?"

She lifted it up, and narrowed her eyes starring at it intently. Surprisingly she was not handcuffed in anyway; in fact none of her mobility was restricted. "Oh this? Lionel wanted me to give it to you."

She held it in front of Lex's vision. Lex read the label aloud, "Julian Luthor, died as an innocent baby, and cremated, ashes in this jar."

Lex reread it to himself. He looked at the ceiling and said nothing. "Lex? Lex!" Neither Lana nor Isabelle had ever understood Julian, Lex had never confided. Now it seemed would be good to know. Isabelle still tried "Oh, Lex! Do you want to eat what they brought us? Will that make you feel better?"

A colder, harsher tone escaped the prisoner's thin lips, "No."

She set the jar with the label on the counter in Lex's view as per instructed.

"Oh, well, I'm hungry…" She turned and began to eat. One plate was hers and one was Lex's. It was crucial he ate his macaroni and cheese, the drug in it would act much like a truth serum. Supposedly it would slur inhibitions, and create nightmares, after an hour the victim would scream out any important information.

Isabelle actually did not care whether or not he ate. As they were together in bed discussing the plan Lionel had promised that she could torture him however she pleased if he did not eat.

In between mouthfuls she asked, "Don't worry, I won't tell about…about…it. How it annihilates…"

"Project Return. Remember?" Lex continued to stare at the ceiling but talked quite forcefully. "It'll annihilate the sun. Creating another ice age and…and…"

"The end of Lionel Luthor." She finished.

He whispered, "But shh, people may be listening."

This was too easy, she thought, it seemed logical to continue incase he was lying. As she was just finishing his cold voice spoke once more. "Who are you?"

She looked up startled, "What…what do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," Lex snapped, "Lana knows unbelievable martial arts. She can defeat me hand to hand. She would not go down without a fight. I myself was kidnapped with a stun dart. If any guards had fought me they would have lost. I'm a tough, but you are tougher."

Isabelle glared. Lex continued, "Which means, she would be injured from fighting against the odds. And she would probably have her legs and arms handcuffed to prevent anymore resistance. Also, Lana would have hated the steak you just ate. And Lana knows Project Return; she knows what it looks like. Only I know what it does. Chloe knows how to stop it."

Isabelle licked her lips. "Oh, so you really are the mad genius they make you out to be."

"Who are you?" he repeated.

"Don't you want to eat your dinner? I'm supposed to feed it to you-"

"No. Who are you?"

She shrugged, "Fine. Get some sleep, you'll need it."

Isabelle turned to go; she opened the door, but stopped at the sound of a whimper. A very different tone of voice came from Lex now. It was a high pitch, rather pathetic. "Please though," it begged, "Please take that jar. Take it away, it makes me…oh, just take it!"

Snickering, she slammed the door behind her, leaving Lex with only the smell of a very good dinner. When the click of iron left him alone a tear rolled down his cheek. If he looked at the jar it would remind him that his brother was really gone. Well, his real brother.

(a/n Smallville Clark Adopted Future Jason)

Squeezing his eyes shut he remembered when he was young. At first he was still sad about losing Julian and Mom. Then he was bald, with no one, no one except Jason. And it was fine for a while, when they where best friends. One afternoon during the year when they where friends Lex had fallen into the river on the outskirts of his father's property. He would have drowned if Jason had not jumped in after him. Just when he was sure his life was perfect, his father had banished him.

After the first month, that first month of pain and hope, he had thought it was joke. He strayed on the lawn, hoping to be good enough. He wasn't. On the second month he had jumped in that river hoping to drown, but his father's, no actually, his enemy's security had fished him out. He remembered looking into the security man's eyes, and almost thinking for a second that he would go back inside and this would be over, he could be warm. No, he was taken in a limo and dropped on the outskirts of Metropolis in a dark ally. "Stay away" the strange man had said. It made him angry and that was the moment when he realized who his enemy really was. Not that asshole of a father, it was Jason. It was probably that bastard's plan to have him kicked out he had rationed.

Fueled with rage he was sure there was a solution. He spent all moments at the library, learning, realizing his natural genius. That was his brand new family, and when books didn't give him comfort Julian did.

Right now though, to his side was proof that Julian was actually dead. Which meant he had been talking to no one for fifteen years of his life. And that meant he was crazy. Crazy men did not build a time machine that worked. He had built a time machine and he was sure it would work, stage one of Project Return. Yet, next to him was the only person who had kept him going, and he was in a jar.

Silent tears rolled down his cheek, cradling him into a dreamless sleep.

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"Can I talk to the prisoner," Clark paused and spat, "dad?"

"No." came the answer from the room down the hallway. Clark stood in the office. From the giggles he heard, he assumed his 'father' was with another woman.

It was six pm. Clark, he decided he liked that name, decided it would be good to talk to the man. "Please?"

The king suddenly appeared in a silk bathrobe, "No, I'm not ready for you to talk to him yet boy. Go, I'm busy."

Clark quirked an eyebrow, "Hmm? Well fine."

He marched off to his room. In the distance he turned he heard a feminine voice call, "OH! OH WHAT A FEELING! And then what else your Brilliance?"

He shuddered all the way to his room. Once on his bed he pulled his knees up to his chest. A part of his brain clicked. He realized suddenly how much the bald man knew. After all he was his brother. He exhaled. No, he thought, could this be the same man?

He was so young when he had brought in. Yet something in his memory tugged. Closing his eyes he could see it; that one moment after coming out of the ship. He had walked up to the little boy and his father. He took the boys hand and the boy had fluttered his eyes open just to see who it was that was giving him such pure kindness. It seemed after that their life bonds were connected. The man had taken them both under his wing. He could not remember much after that; it was one year, an eternity to a small boy, that they were together. A year that took forever, but was too small in the memory.

"It's okay," Lionel had reassured, "he was no good for you. You are destined for much more."

Clark grabbed something from the kitchen, just a snack bar, and decided to go talk to the man at midnight, when no one would suspect. His father could not stop a bond that he and Lex had held for so long.

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Chloe sat reflecting on a lounge chair. She missed Lois. Her cousin had died when she had leaded the last of world's armies against that, that thing, Jason. He had won, and rumor had it that he had kept her alive for a week afterwards. As his victory treat. Chloe shuddered in the underground cement room.

Looking up when she heard the buzz; she pressed a button in the arm chair. A secret camera outside showed it was Lana asking to come in, she had a black eye and was limping. With one good hand she held to brown bags.

Immediately Chloe opened the door, and helped Lana in. Taking Lana to the couch she went to get some ice.

"Lana! Are you okay?" Chloe helped her friend, holding the ice against her head.

Lana took it and applied pressure. "Yeah, I'm fine, but I don't remember where I've been for the whole afternoon, I have the Chinese but it could be poisoned for all I know…"

"Lana it looks you where in a fight!" Chloe said taking the bags, and helping her to sit down.

Lana looked up, "I have the feeling that you shouldn't always take things as they are. There is more point of views to consider…"

After saying that, she promptly fell unconscious. Chloe stared at her, her head was drooped down, and brown hair covered her face.

"Strangely, that's right," Chloe agreed munching on Chow Mien. "And that's why we have to be careful...In this time you never know…"

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…to be continued…