Ride with the Devil

Clark was sitting once again alone in his mother's house. Lana and Laura had left a while ago. He sat there contemplating that for the time they were here, he felt happy. Truly happy as if he was a part of something. Now he realized that he hated it that they left.

I hadn't felt like that for a long time now… It felt wonderful… And Laura… I'm crazy about that kid… she is almost a mirror image of Lana when she was that age… at least from the photographs I've seen… And she's so smart and wonderful… well… no wonder… Se is Lana's daughter… and Clive's … that stupid bastard… how can you have two wonderful people in your life like Lana and Laura and leave them? … If I ever find him… But… hey… what am I talking about… it turned out for the best… if he hadn't left, they would probably still be there with him… and he doesn't deserve them… Laura deserves to have a family though… and Lana deserves someone to love her for the wonderful person she is… if only…

Clark was interrupted by the phone ringing. He lazily picked it up.

"Hello…"

"Clark… it's Lionel… Please don't hang up…" said Lionel on the other side.

"What do you want Lionel?" said Clark a bit abruptly.

"Clark I have something very important to tell you…"

"I don't care in what you have to say Lionel…"

"Clark… if you don't want to do it for me, consider that what I'm about to tell you might save some lives."

Clark sighed. He may not have felt very high on Superman right now, but he couldn't turn down something like that.

"Ok. Make it quick."

"I can't tell you over the phone. Please come meet me at the Starlight Café downtown Metropolis in 5 minutes."

"Ok… Lionel but this better be good."

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Lana put Laura to sleep and then went over to take a quick shower. As she was in the shower and the hot water was falling on her, she closed her eyes and started thinking about what happened.

…That was wonderful… I've never seen Laura act like that with someone she knows as little as she knows Clark… And Clark was so sweet with her… He almost kissed me… he went in to kiss me… was Lois right? I… I… don't want to set myself up to get hurt again… I can't afford that now… And with how Clark is right now, he needs someone to take care of him in a way… how can I do that… I have my daughter to think about… He looked so weak and vulnerable… maybe that's why he tried to kiss me… he just got caught in a weak moment… But it's obvious even to me that he still has feelings for me… I guess he can also tell that I still love him… God I'm so stupid… I can't even pretend that I'm fine when I'm around him…

But today, after all the tension and the crying, it was almost like … we were… a family… that's stupid… I shouldn't think like that… Clark can't handle something like this now… he has to straighten up his head first… but it seemed like it helped him that we were there… he reminded me of the old Clark… and he was so nice with Laura… Not like Clive… I mean… Clark should have been… sigh … if only…

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Clark saw Lionel sitting at a remote table in the café. He approached him hesitantly.

"Clark, I'm glad you decided to hear me out…" said Lionel sincerely.

"Out with it Lionel, I will not be staying for long…" he said as he sat opposite Lionel.

"Ok… straight to the point then… I want you to prevent the damage that will be caused by an accident that will take place in two days." Said Lionel looking at Clark seriously.

Clark looked at Lionel as if he was crazy. "What the hell are you talking about? How do you know that an accident will happen? Are you or Lex planning something?"

"Well Lex is… A test of a new biochemical weapon will take place in Nevada in two days. Lex is sponsoring it and has ordered for this test. They think that the effects will be contained, but they won't! I'm almost certain that they won't. So if it is not contained, imagine the damage! I mean granted that we don't know completely what this thing does…"

"So what am I supposed to do? Stop them?"

"No. I don't think you can stop them as it is also government sanctioned, and it's considered top secret."

"So what do I do?"

"You let the accident happen, but contain the effects of the damage." Said Lionel plainly.

"Let it happen? Are you crazy? What if I can't contain the damage?"

"You'll have to. There is no other way."

"I will stop it before it begins."

"You can't do that Clark, think about it. First of all you'll have to go against the government itself. Even if you are Superman they will not take kindly to those kinds of interventions. Are you prepared for a confrontation with both Lex and the Government?"

"Maybe there's another way…"

"Even if as Clark Kent you wrote something about this, and they decided that with the publicity they should not do it now, they will simply move the date and the location and then we will have no clue of where and when it's going to happen. You won't achieve anything."

"Wait a minute… How are you so sure that this accident will take place?"

"I've been around the world Clark. I've also walked the shadows and it's quite amazing what you see and learn there. So let's just say, that I have a friend who has a friend who knows how they came about this weapon and whether it's functional or not. He hasn't let me down in the past, and I'm pretty sure that Lex is not aware of this."

"Why don't you talk to Lex yourself?"

"Because Clark, I'm dead to my son. Both literally and figuratively. He wouldn't listen to me and besides that wouldn't help him. Don't be mistaken Clark. My only concern still, is to help save my son."

"How are you planning to save him from himself then?"

"You will help me of course. After you prevent any damage from the accident, it's time for your other side to take charge. You must write an article exposing Lex's involvement in this, with facts I'll supply you with."

Clark looked at Lionel in disbelief. "You have a pretty funny notion of saving someone Lionel. You want to destroy him?"

"Only so that I can save him from all of this! Don't you see Clark? The only way that Lex is ever going to be saved from himself, is if he falls from his high and mighty throne!"

"What are you talking about? That would surely dent his image and probably create some serious problems for the Luthorcorp stock, but it won't dethrone Lex. Don't be delusional Lionel."

"Maybe it will maybe it won't. But what do you have to lose? Maybe it will even hinder his purchase of the Daily Planet…"

Clark scoffed. "If anything that will probably strengthen his grip on the Daily Planet, but as you said… it's probably worth a shot."

Lionel smiled satisfied, then immediately got up and walked away from Clark. "I will contact you for more information tomorrow." He said before he walked out of the café.

Clark remained seated, contemplating if what he was doing was right. He was practically making a deal with who he considered, for a long while, the devil and especially now that he was getting closer with Lana and Laura. Maybe it was a bad idea after all. Maybe he shouldn't be bringing trouble in their lives. Clark's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his mobile. He looked at his watch surprised. It was 10 p.m.

He looked at the screen of his mobile, but there was no caller id. He answered it. "Hello…"

"Hello Clark…" Lex's voice greeted him on the other end.

"Lex? What do you want?" said Clark starting to feel uneasy after speaking with one Luthor already.

"Hasn't Lana told you? I have an offer for you Clark. An offer that I'm sure you'll find intriguing."

To be continued…