Chapter 31

"Wow this is, amazing Lex," Lana commented as she looked at the wall paints in the cave as she shone her flashlight around.

"I know," Lex said. "But you haven't seen the best part yet."

He led Lana over to the carved section of the wall. Lana immediately recognized the octagonal shape. But it made no sense, how was this connected to her? She didn't realize it but her body reaction had given away that it was familiar to her.

"What is it?" she asked Lex.

"I don't know," Lex replied. "But I intend to find out. Apparently these caves used to be very important to the Native Americans of these parts. I'm going to try and see if they can decipher these symbols for me."

"But I thought they didn't have any written language," Lana said.

"Neither did I," Lex agreed. "However somebody must have carved this stone, and either someone has arranged a very elaborate prank, or they at least have some idea as to what did this."

"Well that's good," Lana said. "But I need to get going, I've got stuff to attend to back at the farm."

"Like Clark?" Lex asked.

Lana stopped where she was. Clark was living with her and her parents, but he pulled his own wait and Lex of all people should know that since he was in a partnership agreement with Lex for control of the Talon.

"Lex, what do you mean?" Lana responded with a question of her own.

"I'm just going by what Chloe Sullivan told me," Lex replied.

"Well for someone who wants to be a reporter; Chloe certainly has a difficult time keeping her facts straight about this," Lana said angrily.

"Whoa, I seem to have struck a nerve," Lex said as he feigned being frightened. "I'm not saying that I took everything Chloe told me at face value, but well, she certainly has come through in the past about quite a few things. Besides, it's not like your feelings for Clark are completely unknown to me. I believe we talked about him not that long ago and now that he's moved in with you. Well I can understand why you haven't had much time to visit me."

"Our relationship is not like that," Lana said. "We haven't even been on a date unless you consider mucking out stalls together a date. And as for you I don't know why you're so interested in my relationship with Clark."

"Just seemed to be a topic that was high on Chloe's mind," Lex said. "And I know that you two aren't speaking to each other. I was wondering if I could do anything to help."

"Lex, just stay out of this, I don't want to earn Chloe's enmity anymore than I already have." Lana warned him.

"Lana, there is no possible harm that can come from me trying to help you reconcile with Chloe," Lex said. "I'd be happy to serve as a mediator. But I do need to know just how serious your relationship with Clark is."

"As much as I doubt that anything can help the situation, I'm glad you're at least trying to help," Lana said. "As for my relationship with Clark, well all I know is that we're good friends. There's definitely romantic feelings between both of us, but Clark's living with my family and that just wouldn't be appropriate.

"I understand," Lex said. "Do you need a ride back to the farm?"

"No," Lana replied. "I was going to go jogging later; I might as well get in the exercise now. I'll see you later Lex."

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Lex met with Chloe in his office.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Chloe asked.

"I think you'll find we've got a lot to talk about Chloe," Lex replied. "But what I think will interest you the most, is the exclusive story I'm willing to let you report."

"What is it?" Chloe asked.

Lex pulled out a brown manila envelope and handed it to Chloe. "My recent construction of an office complex discovered some, unusual cave paintings. The construction has been moved to protect them. I haven't explained my reasons for moving the construction to the public yet, I felt like giving the Torch the exclusive."

"Why the Torch?" Chloe asked. "This seems more like news for a big paper like the Daily Planet."

"Because I know you haven't been having an easy time lately," Lex said. "You lost some of your friends because they're having a relationship and aren't telling you. And you have mentioned your feelings for Clark."

"I'm beginning to think that maybe I was being really selfish," Chloe said.

"No don't say that," Lex said. "That's what makes people successful in life. They want something and they strive to take it. You just need to become more forceful Chloe."

"You right Lex," Chloe said. "But I think this is a lost cause."

"You're probably right," Lex agreed. "They have moved in together and who knows what they're doing."

Chloe began looking through the pictures of the caves. She got to the picture of the carvings in the wall.

"What's this?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know," Lex replied. "But I think Lana Kent does."

"Lana? How do you know?" Chloe inquired.

"I took Lana down earlier to see the caves." Lex replied, "Her body language when she saw that didn't match what she said. I think she knows something."

"You'll have to explain that to me some other time," Chloe said. "Right now I have an article to write."

"If you want a private tour of the caves just let me know," Lex said.

"I'll do that," Chloe agreed as she got up to leave.

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When Lana returned to the farm she had done a lot of thinking. She didn't know how or why, but somehow those caves were connected to her. She had to tell Clark and her parents. She immediately told them about what she had seen in the caves.

"Are you sure that this is related to the spaceship?" Jonathon asked Lana.

"Look I know what I saw," Lana answered. "Why else would there be an octagonal slot carved into the wall that's the exact size and shape as the one on the spaceship?"

"I gotta agree with her," Clark said. "This is just too coincidental."

"What if it's a trap to lure you out?" Martha asked.

"Nobody knows about the slot on the spaceship besides us and Pete, and Pete hasn't told anybody." Lana replied. "Besides, from what Lex told me the discovery of these caves was a complete fluke. They had been covered by a cave in for a while."

"Lex was about to talk to the Native Americans right?" Clark asked.

Lana nodded, "Yeah, but why?"

"Well he's not exactly the first person that they would want to talk to," Clark said. "It's people Lex's family that have forced them onto reserves and what not."

"But maybe we can talk to them," Lana said catching on to Clark's idea.

"Yeah, and I think we've got a pretty good chance." Clark said. "I just wish we had Chloe to help us out with this."

"That reminds me," Lana said. "Lex offered to try and patch thing's up with Chloe."

"I think Lex has an ulterior motive behind that," Jonathon accused.

"Dad, why do you always shoot down Lex's good intentions?" Lana asked.

"I just don't trust him," Jonathon replied. "I've never seen him do anything that he doesn't stand to benefit from."

"You don't exactly go out of your way to see what he does though," Clark said.

"Let's just drop this argument," Martha said. "We need to find out just what these caves are before Lex does. So let's focus on that."

"She's right," Lana said. "Let's get started trying to figure out who we need to contact."

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Please Read Over:

Well what is Lex up to this time? It can't possibly be good, since he doesn't seem to be helping with Lana and Chloe's friendship. And what will happen with the caves? Will Lex learn the tales or will Lana and Clark be able to figure it out first? Keep reading to find out.

Just another one of the usual reminders that if you want to talk to me about the story or Smallville in general. Go on IRC to the otherside servers, irc. (Port 7000), irc. (Port 7000), or irc. (Port 6667), then go to channel #smallville. Hope to see some people there. If you're looking for an IRC client I would recommend X-Chat although there are many other options out there. Really, please go there to discuss any questions answers will be a lot more direct. That and it gets kind of boring talking to the same two people all the time, I need fresh opinions. And if that doesn't work for you, look for the Smallville Revised Forum in the Smallville section of forums. Look forward to seeing some of you in either place.