Weak and Powerless

When the ringing of the phone broke the disturbing silence in the house, Lana run to answer the phone, hoping to hear Clark on the other end reassuring her that he's alright. Unfortunately the person on the other end was not Clark.

"Hello…" said Lana unable to hide the nervousness in her voice.

"Lana… it's Chloe… I just saw it on the news… how is Clark?" said Chloe on the other end, sounding worried herself.

"Oh my God Chloe… I have no idea… I don't know where he is and what happened to him… I mean… for Clark to fall out of the sky like that, he must be really hurt…" Lana fought hard to control her breaking voice and keep back the tears that were threatening to roll from her eyes.

"… Don't worry Lana… I'm sure he'll be ok… after all he is Superman…" said Chloe trying to sound confident for her friend.

"I don't know Chloe… I…" Lana couldn't keep the tears from staining her cheeks any longer.

"Listen… from what I've gathered so far, this was some sort of side-project for the government regarding a new biological weapon and from what my sources tell me, Luthorcorp was producing it. I'll make a few more phone calls and see if I can learn anything else. But everyone so far claims that Superman was nowhere to be found when the feds sealed off the area. So maybe he got out of there."

"If that's the case then where is he?"

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Clark opened his eyes and realized he was in a place that resembled a lab. He was strapped on a table and found himself unable to break free of the straps. He also felt dizzy and disoriented, the unmistakable effect of Kryptonite. Soon he saw a figure approach him.

"Relax Clark…" said Lionel as he came into Clark's line of sight.

Clark realizing he was still in his Superman suit looked around to see if there was anyone else present that might have heard Lionel call him by his real name.

"Don't worry… We're all alone…" said Lionel with a smile. "I know you wouldn't appreciate people knowing your secrets, so I sent all the doctors away for now."

"Where am I?"

"You're at a safe place. This here is a lab that belongs to one of the many companies I obtained over the years."

"What have you done to me?" asked Clark, his voice barely concealing the anger and the threat that were present there.

"Nothing Clark… The only thing I'm guilty of is not telling you of the exact composition of the weapon they were testing. As you can imagine, by what happened to you, they used Kryptonite as the catalyst of their biological weapon. If it's any consolation you succeeded in containing the poisonous cloud that was created. Right now we're in the middle of taking the Kryptonite particles out of your system. You see you've inhaled quite a lot of it when you were near that cloud. It's a good thing you managed to succeed."

"Why didn't you tell me about it if you knew?"

"Because I didn't know how you'd react… You may have considered it too dangerous and approached things differently. I didn't want that… but the point is all's well that ends well, right?"

"How long have I been out?"

"Oh just a couple of hours… But now thanks to you this accident is already front page material…" said Lionel satisfied.

Clark looked at him perplexed. "What do you mean?"

"Well… a tourist 'happened' to pass by the area where this happened and how lucky for us that he had a camera and the good sense to tape the whole thing. Exciting television for sure… and the climax you falling out of the sky, exhausted after your timely intervention…" said Lionel in an almost theatrical presentation.

"They showed that on TV?"

"Oh… they sure did… It was brilliant…"

Clark got a worried look on his face. "Oh my god… Lana…"

"Pardon me?" asked Lionel.

"Why am I strapped Lionel?"

"Because while you were unconscious you've been having a sort of nightmare and you were flinging your limbs around recklessly. You've hurt two of my doctors."

"Well I'm awake now… so take them off…" said Clark looking intently at Lionel.

Lionel remained silent and thoughtful.

Clark slowly felt his anger swelling. "Lionel…"

"Ok… Ok…" said Lionel finally breaking a smile. He approached the bed and let Clark loose of the restraints. Clark made to get up but found it impossible, to stop his head from spinning. As he was about to tumble off the table he was on, Lionel caught him and laid him back down.

"I told you we're still in the process of cleaning up your system… it will be a couple of hours more, so just be patient…"

In his dizziness Clark was able to mutter. "Lana… call Lana… have to…" then he fell into slumber again.

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Lana sat on her couch thoughtful. Luthorcorp is involved in this… Should I call Lex and demand to know what happened… But Clark told me to stay away from him for now…If he was somehow involved… I would hate to drag myself and Laura into this… But I can't just sit around and do nothing… Think Lana think…

Lana was once again interrupted by the phone. As her adrenaline was rising, she ran to answer the phone.

"Hello…" she said anxious to learn anything that would put her heart at ease.

"Hello Ms Lang…" said Lionel on the other end.

"Mr. Luthor?" Lana was surprised to hear him at first, but then her mind went back to a conversation she had with Clark the day before and how Lionel and Lex were up to something. She now wondered whether Lionel had anything to do with what happened to Clark.

"Yes… there's no need to worry Ms. Lang… I am, you can say, the bearer of good news… Clark Kent is fine…"

Lana felt immediately a huge load lift off her heart, but soon became worried again as to how Lionel would know about this. "How do you know Mr. Luthor?"

"Because he is here with me…"

Lana smiled relieved. "Can I speak to him?"

"Well… not really… he is here but he is currently… sleeping… you see he was hurt in that accident that happened today and right now we're helping him get better…"

Lana frowned when she heard that. Something didn't fit right. Why would Clark end up being with Lionel and what part did Lionel play in all this? "Well… where are you… I want to come and see him…"

"Oooh… that would not be possible Ms Lang… I'm sorry to say… we're at an undisclosed location and it will remain so… But don't you worry… I promise you that as soon as he is feeling better we're going to let him return to you… Don't forget… we're keeping him here for his own good… And in the meantime Ms. Lang… don't tell anyone about our little conversation… this is as much for your own good as his…"

Lana wasn't sure if Lionel was threatening her, but it scared her nonetheless. "Are you threatening me Mr. Luthor?" asked Lana after she mustered all her courage.

"By no means was that a threat Ms. Lang… You're not in danger from me… That was a warning… Just be careful… Wouldn't want that sweet precious daughter of yours be mixed up in our world… You've got to protect her first and foremost… Good bye Ms Lang…"

As Lana hang up the phone, a feeling of foreboding clutched her heart. She immediately and instinctively ran to where her daughter was quietly sitting and reading a book. She sat by her and held her tightly. The mere thought of something happening to her had scared Lana beyond belief. But what did Lionel mean?

To be Continued