"Okay," Clark whispered, lifting Kara out of her seat. "Time to go." The theater was empty, except for Chloe, Kara and Clark. Even the usher who swept up had gone home. An empty popcorn bucket fell from Kara's hand to the floor, the impact sending a small, hollow clatter through the theater. The Kryptonian girl allowed her cousin to lift her, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I want to see another." Kara protested, her eyes barely open. "Please.."
"I think two is enough." Chloe smiled, rolling her eyes at Clark. They had gone to the movies with Lex, Lana, Lois and Bruce, and had wound up seeing a double feature, the premiere of the small theaters animation festival. Thanks to Bruce's subtle influence with the theater manager, Kara's first movie had been a smashing success. Lana and Lois both enthusiastically agreed to the young girls choice, out voting the reluctant male members of the group. Lex and Lana had left at the beginning of Disney's "Snow White", followed quickly by Bruce and Lois. Clark knew that there were other more sophisticated offerings of the festival showing in the second auditorium, and he had a sneaking suspicion that after "Beauty and The Beast", the other two couples had decided to see "American Pop." instead.
"As advanced as Krypton was supposed to be, Clark, you'd think there'd have been movies." Chloe grinned as she held the door open. They walked to the car, the streets around them pleasantly empty, a light breeze blowing their hair back. It was the perfect night for the drive home to Smallville.
"Yeah, well." Clark laughed. "I guess they were too busy with other things."
"Well, time travel and manned space exploration are all great, but nothing says culture like a good movie." Teasing now, Chloe lowered the top of her car so Clark could set Kara down in the back seat. "And, I'm very sorry, Clark, nothing says American culture better than Disney movies."
"I don't think it was very good for her to see a movie about an orphan who gets mistreated, runs away and then lives with seven weird little diamond miners." Clark shrugged, sliding into the driver's seat. "Waiting around for some prince to save her." He rolled his eyes expressively, but Chloe only laughed at him.
"Right." Chloe's grin grew wider. "Snow White didn't wait, she slept. And why shouldn't Kara have that dream of a prince on a white horse? Every girl does. Besides, what were her OTHER theatrical choices this evening? A movie about mutants defending themselves from prejudice, a sinking ship, and talking animals."
"Every girl dreams of a prince on a white horse?" Clark asked, looking at Chloe winsomely. "I don't have a white horse, but I do have a white cow."
"And I love you anyway." Chloe grinned. "Are you sure you want to drive this trip tonight? I know we take it for granted, but Metropolis to Smallville is a long drive."
"I'll take Dad's shortcut. I always save an hour that way." Clark adjusted the mirrors. "Besides, it's a nice night."
They drove, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying the sweet country air and the star filled sky. After a little while, they slipped into a comfortable silence with the music from Chloe's mp3 player drifting through the car.
"I don't understand." Kara's voice suddenly cut through the night. Startled, Chloe jumped, and Clark stepped on the brake, stopping the car. "I am confused about something."
"About what?" Chloe asked, turning to peer at the younger girl. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"No, I have been thinking of the picture of Father and Jor-El that we found today. They did not look young. They looked as they did when I saw them last." Kara rubbed her eyes. "The Earth date is twenty six years ago but they were not young." She shook her head, her blonde hair exquisite in the moonlight. "It is a puzzle." Kara sat back against the leather seats. Her eyes grew heavy and soon enough she was fast asleep again.
"Maybe Kryptonians age differently." Chloe offered, but Clark frowned shaking his head.
"Could be, but I'm thinking that they were testing the time machine before they sent Kara through." He said, looking at Chloe as he started the car again. "And oddly coincidental that they bumped into your mother."
"It's worth looking through Mom's journals just for that." mused Chloe . "It's becoming about more than just finding her voice."
"Jor-El has made long range plans before. He chose my dad before he was even born." Clark reminded Chloe. "It's not so hard to imagine. Your mother was a teacher and social worker. Who better to help Kara get assimilated to a new life here on Earth?"
"But, my mother is not the same person she was back in 1980, Clark. Whatever Jor-El had planned is going to have to take a major detour." Chloe shook her head. "There has to be more to it than that. Wait." Chloe turned in her seat. "Exposure to Kryptonian items made Lionel Luthor seem catatonic. What if that's the origin of Mom's mental illness? What if she really was somehow short circuited by some artifact?"
"It's a possibility." Clark nodded in assent. "I know it's late, but when we get back to the farm, we should take a look. I don't think we should get our hopes up, though, Chloe. "
" I don't know what else to do but hope, Clark. If this Kryptonian connection is the real deal, we may have found the way to reach my mom and bring her back." Chloe's face was a mix of sorrow and hope. "If you had the chance to have Jonathan Kent back with you tomorrow, wouldn't you take it?"
"I'm telling you, General Lane, she asked for these movies and has been watching it for hours now. We've had quite the Disney marathon. It's not bad really, the other patients didn't mind. When Snow White ended, she stood up, and started writing on the walls with the crayons. I haven't seen this kind of activity from her since the days in Roswell. She's coming more and more out of her solitude, General. She's trying to engage someone, I just know it." Jan looked up at the General with concern plain on her kind features. "And those symbols…."
"I recognize them, Jan. I appreciate you calling me." General Lane nodded, and folded his arms, studying his sisters handiwork. The wall next to the long window was covered in symbols and glyphs, all neatly written in Sarah's well schooled penmanship. Sarah herself sat on the floor, writing furiously in the newest journal Lois had brought. He walked over to his sister, and slid to the floor, seating himself beside her.
"Sarah. What are you trying to tell us?" Sam Lane slid his arm around his younger sister, and she stopped writing long enough to look into his face. A glimmer of recognition flashed in her eyes, and then she turned back to her furious scribbles. "All right, sweetheart. I'll wait. As long as you need me to. Just like in the good old days."