Authors note: this chapter has taken me some time to finish I had a hard time deciding how to this. I have decided that I want to do a whole series of stories. Anyway, back to the story hope you enjoy. P.S. I have gotten people telling me that my chapters are raw if any one wants to test read my chapters I would be glad for the help.

Smallville: An End to a Beginning

Chapter 4: Crisis

"Come on Kal-El your not giving up that easy are you?" Fines had tied Clark to a steel table hanging from a wall. For several hours, fines had delighted in repeatedly beating Clark in the head and gut. "I imagined that you would put up more of a fight."

Clark hung there unable to move. He did not understand how Fines was doing this. No one had ever beaten him like this. He could barely muster up the strength to fight his restraints. The clamps that held him against the wall were a steel alloy. Normally he could bend steel like butter so what made this any different. With a great heave, Clark pulled against the restraints as hard as possible. After several moments, he had expended all of his energy with nothing to show for it but sore wrists.

"Now, now, let's not get hasty Kal-El. If you are not going to play nice and let me kill your woman friend in peace then I may have to make a last minute script change. You see Kal-El I plan to make your entire life miserable. Your father ruined me Kal-El he took everything from me. I had spent decades working on earth making it ready for invasion. General Zod and I had worked tirelessly looking for the perfect planet. This world had everything we could have ever wanted. Lush green forests wide spanning waters it was perfect. It even had billions of inhabitants that would fall easily beneath our solar irradiated feet. However, Jor-El had to grow a conscience. He looked upon these savages and saw great power and wisdom. That is why you are here your father knew that I would not stop, even after my adopted planet of Krypton had been destroyed." Fines walk up to Clark and placed his hand upon his chest. "Within your chest beats the heart of Krypton's god. Rao-El was Ruthless in judgment and swift to act. It is a shame to think that such power is wasted on a man without the courage to act."

Fines walked over to Lois and began untying her binds. Looking over at Clark, he gave him a mischievous smile. "Since you're not being any fun I think I will take the young lady back to her family."

Fines pressed his fingers on Lois's temples forcing her to pass out. Lifting up her limp form, he placed her over his shoulder. "That way I can kill her as well as her loved ones."

Clark pulled against his restraints trying to fight them from his wrists. "NOOOOO…" Clark screamed at the top of his lungs. His arms felt like they would rip from his shoulders. Adrenaline pumped so hard and so fast that Clark almost forgot why he was fighting. "Lois…" Fines had gone. There was no trace of him and Clark could not get a fix on Lois's heartbeat. He had lost there was no way to get out of these shackles. No way to get help, Clark was lost in despair.

Clark had passed out for what had seemed like an eternity. When he came, too he could not remember why he was there. Then it hit him there was still a hint of Lois's perfume in the air. That sweet smell brought back all of the pain and all of the shame. Glancing at his hand, he realized something he had not before. There right in front of him was the key. His shackles were Kryptonian. It made perfect sense the Kryptonian symbols on the restraints gave him hope. The symbols spelled the word "locked". Clark cleared his throat. These shackles had to have been from his father's experiments. In Kryptonian, he spoke the words Open Lock . The symbols began to shift they now spelled open. Abruptly the restraints deposited him on the floor. Clark was still weak; there were no windows in the room. Clark must have expended an excess solar energy. There was almost nothing left in his body. Stumbling over to the only door in the room Clark pushed it open. There in front of him was a long staircase. Feebly he began to walk to the steps.

After nearly ten minutes, Clark made it down the six floors to a poorly titled entryway. There in front of him were two large wooden doors. Clark could not get to them fast enough. Bursting through to the Metropolis Street enveloped by the warm summer sun, Clark had never felt better, Clark could have lost him self in the suns sweet embrace. His ears began working in overdrive. He needed to find her heart beat again. He stood still on the sidewalk, eyes closed he began to attract attention form the people going about their daily lives. He was completely oblivious to everyone by Lois's heart. When he found it, he almost did not recognize it. It was erratic with no true rhythm. Something was wrong, opening his eyes Clark launched himself up into the air. The people around him look around in panic no one just disappeared like that. Finally deciding that they had imagined it they went on their way.

Clark had only been in the air for a few seconds but he was already hovering over the house across from Chloe's apartment. Chloe was Lois's best friend and Cousin, Chloe was why Lois had come to Smallville. Clark was trying to figure out what was going on in the house. He could only pick up three bio signs. Fines must be alone with Chloe and Lois. That was good, this why Clark did not have to worry about exposing himself to anyone else.

Fines had both women in Chloe's bedroom. They were sitting on the bed while Fines paced blabbing about how sweet this revenge would be. Lois had been trying to free her hands when Clark burst through the window.

"Hello Professor, you weren't going to get started with out me were you." Clark had a glint in his eye that Lois had never seen before. He was determined. "I would hate to think you were cheated out of your revenge."

Clark advanced forward; reaching Fines the professor just smiled. "You are truly something else Kal-El. I had you figured to be a pacifist like your father."

"Trust me I am far beyond pacifism. If you have hurt either of these women so help me god I will not rest until you pay." Clark backed up a step and looked over towards Lois.

"I won't give up with out a fight Kal-El." Fines began to pace again with both hands in his trouser pockets.

"If that's what you want." Clark began to scan the walls to see if they would hold up much stress.

"Well then I suppose you should know my real name. In earth speak you would pronounce it Brainiac."

Clark rushed to Brainiac and shoved him through the wall. Turning his attention to the girls, he untied their wrists. He had nearly gotten them up when Brainiac strolled through the whole in the middle of the wall.

"Well that's just rude." Fines leaped at Clark and sent him into the wall. Clark moved from the wall, grabbed Fines and threw him into the floor. Before he fell through Fines grabbed hold of Chloe's ankle dragging her with him through the whole in the floor.

"No…" Lois grasped for Chloe but Clark pulled her away and jumped down after him.

Fines crashed through floor after floor. When he finally landed in the basement Chloe fell on top of him in a heap. Brainiac was on his feet by the time Clark reached the bottom. He had Chloe on her feet with his arm wrapped around her neck. Brainiac was in terrible shape. There was massive skin damage. Pieces of flesh hung from his exposed robotic form.

"Not a pleasant sight I'm sure Kal-El. I want you to know that I will never go away. No matter how many times this and other forms die I will live on." A light in Brainiac's eyes flashed. "You have less then 5 seconds to save Lois before my body self destructs. This little gem I have here will die with me however."

Clark paused not sure what to do.

"Hurry you idiot."

In an instant Brainiac Blew up, Clark barely had time to fly back up to get Lois before the flame engulfed her. Flying far away, he was at Metropolis General before the rest of the apartment blew up.

Clark landed on the pavement. As soon as Lois was on the ground, she began to scream. Blood began to run from her ears. Clark could see tiny robots in the blood. Clark picked up Lois and carried her into the hospital. When he reached the desk, she had passed out. Orderlies rushed her onto a gurney.

Rushing down the hallways of the hospital Lois began to start opening her eyes.

"Don't worry Lois your going to be ok." Clark reassured her as they raced to an operating room.

Lois looked up at Clark with a hurt look upon her face. "Who are you?"