Smallville: "Well, well if it isn't everyone's favorite delinquent," said Hal with a big grin as he laughed to himself.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lois demanded. Hal shrugged.
"Well at first I thought it was on official business but now I see big bad dad just can't stand to let you out of his sights," said Hal shaking his head.
"My father sent you here?" Lois demanded.
"Yeah," said Hal annoyed. "And you can tell him I'm not amused."
"I'm not either!" said Lois annoyed. "Not get out of here before-."
"Hey Lois," said Chloe showing up. "Who's this?"
"No one," said Lois shoving Hal away. "And he was just leaving."
"Hey!" said Hal breaking free and holding out his hand. "I'm Hal Jordan, USAF."
"Chloe Sullivan," said Chloe shaking his head. "And umm…Daily Planet."
"I've read your column haven't I?" Hal asked confused. "Sullivan's Travels or something like that."
"Yeah," said Chloe impressed. "How'd you like it?"
"Well I-," began Hal when suddenly Clark ran up.
"Everybody okay, I saw what happened," he said.
"Fashionably late as usually Smallville," said Lois.
"Yeah Clark, what took you so long?" asked Chloe mischeviously. Clark was about to respond when Hal cut in.
"So you're Clark Kent huh?" he asked. "That's odd I thought your dad said he wasn't expecting you until later."
"Got out early," Clark lied.
"Oh,"
"Hey you guys," said Lana suddenly appearing.
"Hey Lana," said Clark slightly mesmerized. Hal rolled his eyes.
"Well I've got to be going," said Hal and with that he was gone.
"Yeah me too," said Lois hurriedly taking off as well. Chloe stood there bewildered before smiling and then dropping it and walking off as well.
"That was weird," said Lana confused.
"Yeah well, so how was school?" Clark asked.
"Good," said Lana. "Good."
The two walked off together. Hal meanwhile was trying to locate the recruitment office to his disappointment.
"It has got to be around here somewhere," he said trying to make sense of a local map.
"Hello again," said Chloe showing up once more. Hal tipped his head in her direction while continue to study the map.
"Smallest town in the world and this map is worthless," he said tossing it in a garbage can.
"It does have its perks," Chloe pointed out.
"So what do you want?" asked Hal. "Hopefully not a scoop because I'm the last person who would know anything about the military's operations."
"No," said Chloe shaking her head. "Besides I'm not really a reporter yet."
"Then how'd you get that column?" asked Hal.
"It's a long story," said Chloe before quickly changing the subject. "Anyway I couldn't help but notice that Lois acted very weird around you."
"Yeah so?" asked Hal. "Why does that concern you?"
"She's my cousin," said Chloe bluntly.
"Oh I didn't realize you were that Chloe Sullivan, I just assumed it was a coincidence," said Hal as he continued walking down the street.
"Wait, you know who I am?" asked Chloe confused.
"I thought we already covered this," Hal said.
"Just tell me how you know her," Chloe snapped. Hal looked at her shocked.
"Yesh, calm down," said Hal. "I used to babysit her."
"What?" shouted Chloe. "You're not much older than she is!"
"Now you know why she's so upset," said Hal. "But her dad doesn't trust her at all so there you go. I'm only four years older than her but I did it for awhile. Needless to say she was, and still is, pissed."
"And that's how you found out about us being related?" Chloe asked.
"No, I didn't find out until you told me just a few seconds ago," said Hal with a grin. Chloe groaned.
"Sorry," said Hal sincerely. "But it's been a long bus ride and I'm exhausted. I'm also teed off that I have to be here to once again babysit her because General Lane can't get off either of our backs."
"Huh?" asked Chloe confused.
"He's convinced, like he was of so many years ago, that I'm a delinquent," said Hal simply. "So go ahead and print that in your paper, in the meantime I've got work to do."
With that he was gone down the street as Chloe watched him go confused before a long black limo appeared next to him. The rear window rolled down and Hal and the person in the back exchanged a few words before Hal got in. Chloe looked at the limo in shock.
"Hal Jordan is in cahoots with Lex Luthor?" she wondered confused before heading off to go find Clark.
Limo: "Greetings Mr. Jordan, I trust the natives haven't scared you off yet," said Lex Luthor with a grin.
"Let's get something straight," said Hal annoyed. "I don't want to be here and the only reason I am is because you're developing a bird that'll hopefully get me off the ground and back to my base as fast as possible."
Lex nodded. "I do admire punctuality. The plane will be finished in three days so until then you'll just have to enjoy yourself."
"We'll see," said Hal. The limo stopped outside the office and Hal opened the door.
"Until next time," said Lex.
"Yeah," said Hal and with that he was gone. Lex shook his head before the car rolled off as well. Hal entered into the office, went straight to the small room in the back and put his bags on the ground before flopping onto the bed and going to sleep.
Outskirts of town: Tempus slowly stumbled down the road exhausted as a black limo passed him by blowing dust at him.
"Jerk," said Tempus. "Well I'll show them all when I destroy Superman."
Next Day: Hal woke up wearily before rubbing his eyes. He got up, changed, and headed out into the early morning air before leisurely jogging down the road. As he did he passed by an alleyway that contained the unconscious form of Tempus who was still out cold from the long trip he'd had to endure. Hal quickly left the town proper and poured on the speed running faster and faster until he was well out of town and completely out of breath. As he stopped he stared up into the sky where he saw a group of geese flying directly overhead.
"Someday, someday," he said to them. He continued walking down the road with his hands in his pockets. After a few more minutes he reached a mailbox that read: 'Kent' on it.
"Speak of the devil," he said with a grin as he walked down the dirt road to the farm beyond.
Town: Tempus woke up and groggily cleared his eyes. He stumbled out into the street as he looked around confused at all of the decorations.
"They must be delirious from all of the CFC's and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," Tempus reasoned. He approached The Talon and looked up at it.
"Ah yes, the frequent jaunting grounds of the young Clark Kent, it is here that I will spring my trap," said Tempus happily. But as he approached the doors he couldn't help but still notice the Closed sign on it. He growled angrily before a thought occurred to him.
"Superman always arrives to save the day," he said with an insane grin. "So I'll just go make some trouble."
He walked off happily whistling to himself confounding the people around him.
Kent Farm: "Hey Hal," said Jonathan. "You're up early."
He was outside working on his tractor when he saw Hal walking down the road towards him.
"What can I say, being a fighter jock precludes any jet lag," said the pilot yawning.
"I'll bet," said Jonathan with a grin. "You know much about tractors?"
"I know about planes," offered Hal lamely.
"Well there are no crop dusters around here," said Jonathan. "But if you could hand me that three-eighths I'd appreciate it."
"Right," said Hal handing him the wrench.
"So what do you think of Smallville?" asked Jonathan.
"I miss the sky," admitted Hal truthfully. "But it does have its charm."
"That's good to hear," said Jonathan absently as he worked on the tractor. "So I hear you met Clark yesterday."
"Briefly," Hal snorted. "I don't think I left much of an impression though."
"Nobody's perfect," Jonathan responded. At that moment Clark appeared.
"Hey dad, sorry I'm late," he said. "Hey Hal."
"Clark," Hal acknowledged. "Listen about yesterday, I'm sorry to have left so abruptly but group meetings just aren't my thing, especially when I'm the odd one out."
"Don't worry about it," said Clark.
"I'm really not a bad guy," said Hal. "It's just that…"
A massive explosion was heard in the distance.
"What the-?" asked Hal as the ground briefly shook. In the far distance smoke could be seen rising from the ground.
"Isn't that where Smallville is?" Hal asked.
"Yeah, it is," said Jonathan stunned. Hal's military training kicked in.
"Alright you two stay here where it's safe, Mr. Kent I'm commandeering your vehicle for military purposes, Clark?" began Hal but the Smallville teenager was gone.
"Where did-?" Hal began.
"He probably went to call the authorities," Jonathan quickly covered up. Hal was about to press further, but he more important matters to attend to.
"Right, I'll be back!" said Hal as Jonathan tossed him the keys. Hal got in and started the truck before peeling off towards the smoking city.
Smallville: Tempus watched annoyed as pandemonium erupted as smoke and flames erupted from the local gas station.
"Come on, where is he!" Tempus shouted consulting his watch. "He's usually here by now!"
A newer model VW beetle pulled up to the edge of the inferno and two women got out looking at the blaze as one took out a pen and notepad and began jotting some stuff down. Tempus looked at them confused before pulling out his temporal scanner and imputing their images into it.
"Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan," came the response from the machine as well as displaying a brief bio on both of them.
"Ah, this looks promising," said Tempus happily as he approached them.
"How did this happen?" asked Lois confused.
"I don't know, but now that I work with the Daily Planet I feel obligated to cover it," responded Chloe. "Man this is just too bizarre, first Lex is once again involved with the military and now…"
Tempus stood right in front of them.
"Where is Superman?" he asked simply. Chloe and Lois looked at each other confused before looking at Tempus like he was insane.
"Who?" they asked confused.
"Superman, where is he?" Tempus demanded angrily.
"What makes you thing that we even know who you are talking about?" asked Lois annoyed.
"You might not yet," Tempus conceded before turning to Chloe. "But I know you do."
Chloe's blood ran cold at that statement.
"I-I," she began when suddenly Tempus grabbed her and pulled right in front of his face.
"If you don't tell me where he is you can kiss your future goodbye," said the man darkly. "And believe me, I know how your future will turn out. I'm from it!"
"Hey let her go," said a voice. Tempus turned around to see Clark Kent standing there next to him.
"Finally, I've been waiting to get in touch with you all day," said Tempus grateful. He let Chloe go and whipped out a futuristic looking weapon and shot Clark point blank with it. The weapon emitted an energy beam which slammed into the college student flinging him backwards and into a brick wall on a building across the street.
"Clark!" shouted Chloe.
"Ha!" shouted Tempus happily. "That's Tempus 1, Superman 0!"
A screeching sound was heard as Jonathan's truck roared to a halt and Hal emerged from it and ran to the building that Clark had smashed through.
"Who the hell are you?" demanded Tempus.
"I'm Hal Jordan!" shouted the individual. He leapt though the gaping hole that was brimmed with fire as Tempus looked at him shocked.
"The Green Lantern?" he asked bewildered. "Here?"
Hal emerged moments later dragging a charred Clark Kent with him as Lois and Chloe rushed to help him.
"Is he dead?" asked Lois a little worried. Hal felt Clark's pulse.
"He's alive," Hal confirmed. "Somehow."
Clark coughed and sat up groggy.
"Wow," said Hal wide-eyed. "And here I thought you getting here before me was a miracle."
"You know us country folks, thirty miles to school and all that," Clark coughed.
"Damn it!" shouted Tempus behind them, primarily to himself. "He already has his invincibility!"
"I'll bet," said Hal looking at the time traveler confused. "Hang tight I'll deal with this guy."
"Hold on," said Clark weakly trying to stop him from going.
"I'll be fine, don't worry," said Hal with a grin. "Now get him out of here."
Lois and Chloe began to help Clark get to his feet as Hal advanced towards Tempus.
"Hey buddy what the hell is your problem?" demanded Hal.
"You don't scare me Green Lantern," said Tempus a little frightened. "Or you Superman!"
"I don't know what you're referring to," said Hal as Lois and Chloe helped Clark into their car and took off. "But all the same I'm going to take you down."
"Superman took that blast because he's invincible, you are merely mortal and cannot," said Tempus aiming his gun at him. "Doesn't that frighten you?"
"I don't feel fear," responded Hal. "And I swore an oath to uphold justice."
"Ah yes, the Green Lantern's mantra: In brightest day, in blackest night, let no evil escape my sight, let those who worship evil's might beware my power, Green Lantern's light," Tempus recited.
"Something like that," said Hal playing along. "So are you going to face me or not?"
Police sirens began blaring as cop car lights were seen in the distance.
"Another time Green Lantern," said Tempus. "Another time."
He tore off as Hal stood there even more confused as several cop cars pulled around him.
"On the ground now!" the cops shouted at him.
"You're joking right?" asked Hal.
"On the ground!" they shouted. Hal shook his head and laid down on the ground as he was handcuffed and tossed into one of the cop cars as it spun off. From the shadows Tempus watched him.
"He may be even more of a threat than Superman," the time traveler thought. "After all, Parallax once took out Superman with one punch and that's not even considering how much power The Spectre has. I'd better eliminate him as well before he gets that infernal ring because after all with him and Superman eliminated there will be no Justice League for them to found."
Tempus smiled happily and began skipping down the alleyway, humming to himself.