Dick got back home and he could hear his parents voices carry out into the night. The circus community was small, and everyone seemed to know everyone elses business, but all the same, he was glad that most couldn't speak Italian. Knowing that his sister couldn't possibly be in the trailer, Dick went off in search. They were not far apart, age wise, only 18 months, and sometimes as close as twins. Sure enough, she was in the big top, sitting in the empty stands, reading. Her dark hair was a shoulder length tumble of curls, and Dick felt a twinge at the sight of tears on her cheeks, and the sight of her in her pajamas. The fight had come on late this time, and Tina never hesitated to disappear as fast as she could.
"Buona sera, Tina." Dick said, climbing up to where Tina was. She looked up and closed her book. "They're at it again."
"Yeah, no kidding." Tina rolled her eyes. "It's bad, Dick. Really bad."
"What is it this time?" Dick stretched out on the long riser just above his sister. "He hasn't been…"
"No, that was over when the Romanians left." Tina shook her head. "It's something about old debts."
"Whatever that means." Dick replied. Both Graysons sighed, and Tina went back to her book. "How long do you think this is going to go on?"
"I don't know. Until Mom settles down, like always." Tina replied, not looking up from her book. "She was pretty shaken up today."
"Yeah, about that." Dick sat up. "T, that rope was oiled and Dad found the frayed parts. He never called the police, did he?"
"No." Tina sighed. "He hasn't yet."
"I wonder why." Dick said, looking out into the empty center ring. He had come home from Kara's not believing anything could distract him from thoughts of her and now he was completely overwhelmed with this mystery surrounding his father.
Bruce dropped his cape and cowl on the large chair at the command center and groaned as he pulled off the body armor that never failed to be intimidating. Things were quiet in Gotham right now, and while most people would take that as a good thing, Bruce found it to be very unsettling. As usual, he slid into sweats and cleaned up the suit, meticulously maintaining all the tools he'd used over the course of the night. It was as good a time as any to think, and Bruce was never one to pass up an opportunity to take stock of things. Clark seemed to have Kara well in hand, but Bruce couldn't help being concerned. Seeing Lex circle around the Kents made Bruce's blood boil. Clark could handle it, of course, Bruce told himself.
"Sir," Alfred's voice cut through the tomblike silence of the cave. "I did as you asked, and looked into the two matters you were concerned with."
Bruce looked up. "And?"
"The issue with the Graysons is complicated, Master Bruce." Alfred replied, "Gambling debts, but there is more that is quite surprising. Especially where it concerns the family of Mrs. Grayson."
"Explain." Bruce stopped cleaning the suit, and turned to Alfred, one eyebrow raised. The older British man nodded, going to the command center and opened a computer file.
"Her family has been involved in some kind of vendetta for years. A rivalry. Mr. Grayson's debts have been noticed by the both sides of the feud. It's a weakness that can be exploited, sir." Alfred pointed to the screen. "Luigi Osanti." The picture was of a strongly built, menacing looking man in his fifties, standing in a street someplace in Rome, Vatican City plainly behind him.
"Osanti? Why do I know that name?"
"Because he is world famous." Alfred replied. "For his legitimate circus activities and his, well, extracurricular ones, as well. I believe you are acquainted with his sometime employer." A picture appeared on the computer screen and Bruce nodded slowly, staring at the screen.
"Damn." Bruce sat down. "With Rā's al Ghūl. And Osanti is connected to the Graysons how?"
"I am unsure right now, Master Bruce." Alfred sighed. "But, of course, I am no Batman."
"Right." Bruce looked over at his friend. "And the other matter?"
"As I expected, Mrs. Sullivan's medical records have been completely sealed by the United States Military. However, there was one attempt at access before mine. Someone at Cadmus Labs."
"Cadmus. Lex's little "secret" lab. What does he want with the Sullivans?" But Bruce already knew the answer. Somehow, Luthor had a handle on Sarah's involvement with the sacred caves on the Kiwatchee Reservation and Clark. And the fact that the inquiry had come from Cadmus only made Bruce's suspicions greater.
"Not the whole family, Master Bruce. Just Mrs. Sullivan." Alfred replied. "Should we alert young Mr. Kent, sir?"
"No. I don't want the Kents anywhere near that lab." Bruce thought for a minute.
"I'll go. I want to see Lois anyway."
"What is this place?" Kara asked, her eyes wide.
"It's well," Clark looked around himself, trying to find a way to explain. "A little piece of Krypton."
"That is not entirely correct." The Archive chimed in, releasing Krypto from the crate it had manifested. The dog barked and leapt at Kara, landing in her arms. "It is a replication using materials readily available and easily disguised on this planet."
Kara looked at Clark, over the dog, who was struggling to greet her. "What was THAT?"
"I am the Archive." The voice said, and Kara's mouth dropped open in shocked surprise. Clark laughed and led Kara down to the center of the Fortress.
"We have the lost Kryptonian ARCHIVE?" Kara gaped, and Clark nodded, grinning.
"SO COOL!" She looked up. "How did the Ereena Chronicles end?"
'Popular culture?" The Archive asked. "Kara Zor-El, I am the repository for vast amounts of literature, poetry and music from hundreds of galaxies, and you are interested in a Kryptonian melodrama that was only popular amongst teenage girls?"
"VERY." Kara acknowledged solemnly, and Clark again found himself hearing a weary tone in the Archive's reply.
"The Eerena Chronicles, written by Jari-Xa, popular in the last three solar years of Krypton's existence was completed the day of the cataclysm…" The Archive began tolerantly, as Kara sat down underneath it to listen, holding Krypto in her lap. Clark moved to where the console used to be as Kara got her update, and sat down. He'd been here several times since sending Zod back to the Phantom Zone, but this was the first where he'd allowed himself to think about his parents.
"My son.." Jor-El's voice wrapped itself around Clark like a warm blanket. "You have questions…."
"Yes." Clark replied, as Kara squealed and continued to get caught up on what she had missed. "Sarah Sullivan."
"Was my very good friend." Jor-El said. "Her choice to help protect the Archive was her own. There was never any intention to harm her."
"Her DNA...she said that Kara carries it."
"Your uncle made Kara the key to the Archive's hiding place, in the event you were prevented from getting there. Sarah Lane's DNA was used because she bound the Archive to Earth. Now that you are there and are its Guardian, Sarah has been released."
"I understand that." Clark shook his head. "Are Kara and Chloe related?"
"Only as closely as marriage will eventually make them." Jor-El replied. "Kara is simply holding the gene, it is not part of her."
Kara squealed again as the Archive completed the story. Clark smiled. Having Kara around certainly kept life from being too quiet, and had managed to bring a brightness to the farm that had been missing since his father had died.
"Two lives were saved by your coming to Krypton." Jor-El reminded Clark gently. "Your cousin and the mother of Chloe Sullivan."