Stand my ground

Clark tried to fly as slowly as he could out of fear of Lana getting worse, but at the same time the feeling of urgency to get her there fast, spurred him on. He constantly talked to her, kissed her head and tried to soothe her, but it was obvious to him that she was slowly slipping away.

When he neared his destination and the cold became almost unbearable, for a human being, Lana drifted away. Clark then flew as quickly as he could to the place where no human had ever stepped before.

As the crystal temple-like structure came into view, Clark landed quickly and attempted to enter it while he was still holding Lana in his hands. But as he tried to walk in, something momentarily blocked his path.

"No mortal being shall enter this holiest of places for our people Kal El." Said his father's voice.

"I'm taking her in there." Said Clark not waiting for a discussion.

As he stepped through, he was engulfed by a bright light and when the light subsided he was standing inside his "fortress of Solitude", but he was no longer holding Lana.

Clark panicked. "Where is she?" he screamed inside the crystal structure, which echoed his voice over and over.

Nothing but his echo came back to him and Clark started to get really angry.

"Tell me where she is or I'll tear this place apart with my own hands!"

Again no answer was heard and Clark gave off an enraged cry, as he banged his fists on the ground, causing the whole structure to shake violently.

Then Clark saw a figure standing across from him. The figure seemed vaguely familiar and as Clark strained his mind to remember where he had seen him before it hit him. It was the same guy he had seen 15 years ago, on the day of the second meteor shower, trying to kill Lana.

"I am the protector of the knowledge. All who threaten it shall be punished. Even you Kal El."

Clark was getting angrier by the minute. His mind was almost clouded by rage and a slowly growing feeling of revenge. A revenge he couldn't extract the first time they met.

"Where is she?" he screamed to the guy slowly approaching him.

"She is of no consequence any more Kal El." Said the guy coldly.

"I see you won't take the easy way out, which is fine… cause I owe you something from the first time we met." Said Clark as his eyes almost shined from the rage he was feeling.

He propelled himself like a rocket towards the man in black. Upon impact the guy flew across the vast chamber and crushed against the wall, as the whole structure shook violently.

"Where is she?" shouted Clark even louder causing another tremor.

The guy in black stood up and launched himself against Clark full speed. Reacting faster than the eye can see, Clark grabbed him mid air and pummeled him to the ground really hard, burying him a couple of feet beneath him. He grabbed him again and lift him back up. As he held his momentarily stunned opponent a couple of feet off the ground, Clark leaned closer and menacingly to him.

"I'll ask once more and then it's going to get really ugly! Where is…"

Before he had a chance to finish his sentence, his opponent managed to land a powerful blow on Clark, that sent him reeling to the ground. Clark though was back on his feet really quickly and as the man in black was near him ready to attack, Clark hit him full force towards the ground. The result was a huge hole that went on for several feet underground, and his opponent buried down there.

"No matter what you throw at me, I will find her! Where is she?"

As he was shouting to his father a searing energy hit Clark and propelled him backwards. From out the hole came his opponent again. They stood opposite one another for a second before the man in black unleashed a powerful energy wave against Clark. Clark braced himself for the impact, but still it was too much. He fell to his knees as he screamed in agony. He felt the world around him fade as he was struggling to think and breathe. As he was starting to lose consciousness, his mind raced to the only thing that mattered to him.

Lana… I'm sorry… I failed you… I…

Then as he was thinking this, something inside him stirred.

What the hell am I thinking? She never gave up on me… and I'm not going to give up now! Lana will not die! No two ways about it!

He mustered all his strength and will and he got up, as his opponent continued to hit him with powerful waves of energy, that made his body tremble with each impact. Still, Clark kept on walking slowly but steadily towards his opponent. As he approached him, he saw the man in black look at him bewildered. Clark was now standing in front of him gritting his teeth to withstand the powerful energy that was hitting him. Then he grabbed his opponent and lift him high in the air. Before he had a chance to do anything though, a bright light shone around him and his father's voice was heard again.

"ENOUGH!"

Like that his opponent was gone. Clark fell to his knees exhausted, physically and mentally from the confrontation.

"My son… Lana Lang has served her purpose…"

"Served her purpose? Served her purpose?" repeated Clark more angrily. "And what purpose might that be in your twisted logic? Saving me today? She saved me the day I met her! And has been doing that ever since, in more ways that you can possibly fathom! I would not be who I am, had it not been for her! She made me want to be a better man! She showed me all about kindness and understanding, when all I saw around me were small minds and small people! With her I learnt the most important thing in life! To love! I am because of her and I won't be without her!" said Clark finally giving in to tears as he bowed his head in frustration.

"My son it is her time! We can't interfere in the lives…"

Clark cut him off. "Can't interfere? But that's all I'm doing! I've saved countless people so far in my life, and you're asking me not to interfere now that the one person I care about most in this world is in need of my help! The one person I owe my life to? How is that logical?"

"My son… to save her you would need to sacrifice a very important item that should be saved for you! It would jeopardize your future and in consequence the many people you won't be able to save without this."

"I don't care! What is this item?" shouted Clark defiantly.

"It's what we called the "Sun crystal". It can produce energy that accelerates the growth rate of cells, which effectively can heal somebody of the most serious of wounds. But son… that is meant for you, as you will need it in the future."

"She needs it now, so please father, help me! Help me!"

Jor-El remained silent.

To be continued…