My thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing, although I wish there were more of you…

Devils Night
Part 2: Rising Son

Chloe walked back into the Talon with a grim expression on her face: she knew that she had to tell Jonathan and Martha Kent what was going on with Clark. Not that she knew much, only that he was acting like he was on Red Kryptonite, but they had to be at least warned.

Telling them that she had told Elijah Snow about it and that he was sending one of his field teams was also going to be difficult. Like most people who didn't know him that well, the Kent's were convinced that Elijah had some secret agenda. Chloe knew that his only goal in life was to see The Four in their graves, but trying to explain that, even to people who knew and had seen as much as the Kents, was not easy.

"Chloe." Martha Kent smiled as she saw her son's girlfriend walk up to the counter, "Where's Clark?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about." Chloe's eyes darted from side to side, "Is there somewhere we can get some privacy?"

"The office should be empty." Martha nodded, pulling offer her apron; "Lana can handle things for a while."

Chloe followed the older woman across the room, her eyes always moving, hoping that Clark wouldn't show up and publicly display his powers. She knew that the desire to use her own powers could be overwhelming at times, but they were too destructive and attention grabbing to be of any use until she learned to control them better.

The Talons small office was thankfully empty, and far enough away from the party that there was little chance of anyone walking in on them.

"Ok, what's going on?" Martha asked; her eyes full of worry.

"Clark's acting strangely." Chloe lowered her eyes, "Kal-El kind of strange."

"What happened?"

"I don't know: he told Lex he had a headache and wanted to get some fresh air. I followed him outside, and found him lying in the alleyway. I asked him if he was ok, and he attacked me…"

"Oh my God! Are you hurt?"

"I've had worse, and I tend to heal quickly these days. He threw me into a pile of boxes and ran off. I don't know were he's headed. I think that it might involve one of the stones, but I can't say for sure."

"What do you mean?"

"I had a dream about my mother last night, the first one I've had in weeks. I think she was trying to warn me about something. And Clark's been acting strangely ever since he got back from China."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Well, I'm going to go home and get changed, then go looking for him…"

"I'll come with you!"

"No Mrs Kent: if something is wrong with Clark, and he did look like he was on Red Kryptonite, I'm the only one who has a chance of stopping him without killing him."

"Are you sure you can do that?"

"I've never tested my powers on Clark; it's not the sort of thing you do to your boyfriend, but I think I have enough control to stop him without causing permanent injury."

"What if you can't?"

"I got a phone call from Elijah Snow just before Clark started acting funny: he seemed to think that something was going to happen. I called him back as soon as Clark ran off, and he's sending some of his people to help…"

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"I know how you feel about Elijah, Clark's the same, but his people are trained to deal with post-human abilities, and I know I can trust them to bring Clark back in one piece. Believe me, I wish there was some other way, but if there is; I can't think of it."

"Just be careful: Clark would never forgive himself if you got hurt on his account."

"Don't worry Mrs Kent: I can look after myself. I just need you and your husband to keep an eye out for our boy, and let me know if you see him."

"I'll call Jonathan immediately."

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Kal-El stood in the middle of the cave, looking at the one Stone of Power that sat in its allotted place. He could feel its power washing over him, even in its reduced state.

"Another stone in nearby." Jor-El's voice came from within the wall, "You must find it. Only when all three are joined together will their power be unleashed."

"I hear you, father." Kal-El nodded, "I think I know where to look…"

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Chloe let herself into the Planetary field office just down the street from the Talon: it was closer than home and she had taken to leaving a spare set of cloths there in case she ever had to pull an all-nighter.

The old Wall of the Weird had been moved from The Torch, and now took up two sides off the office, covered in every scrap of information she had on the various meteor-mutants and other unusual individuals in and around Smallville. Everything was also backed up on the extensive computer systems, but sometimes Chloe found it useful to be able to stand back and take stock of everything.

Only two files were not represented on the wall: Clark's and the one Chloe had started on herself. Those were under lock and key in the huge vault-like safe in the basement.

Stripping off her costume, Chloe grabbed her clothes from the supply closet and started to get dressed. Her mind started to wonder, trying to come up with a way to contain Clark without hurting anyone or letting slip the secret of their powers. Chloe knew that if it came to a choice between the two, she'd publicly use her powers and hope that people would just ignore it like they did with the meteor-mutants.

Chloe was so distracted, that she never heard the door open.

"Hello?" Lana called out. She stepped into the room, hand covering her eyes, "Sorry if I'm interrupting something, but you guys are needed back at the Talon…"

"Lana!" Chloe gasped, almost unleashing a bold of electricity at her friend, "Sorry; I just needed to get changed: dressing as an Egyptian queen isn't the best idea at this time of year…"

"Ok." Lana nodded, but couldn't help but notice what Chloe was wearing; "Does your dad know you have those?"

"Huh?" Chloe looked down, and realised she was standing in just a t-shirt and a pair of Union Jack panties. She blushed profusely, grabbing her jeans and pulling them up as quickly as she could, "Just something I picked up in London…"

"I bet Clark likes them!"

"Clark's not seen them…" The door exploded inwards, showering the two young women with glass and wood. Chloe instinctively dived for cover behind her desk, taking only a few splinters in her leg.

"Where is the stone?" Kal-El stood in the doorway.

"You again?" Isabel Theroux snarled as she took control of Lana's body, "The Stones of Power are mine!"

"You will not stop me…" Kal-El took a step forward.

"ENOUGH!" Chloe stood, electricity flicking across her eyes, "I've had just about it with the pair of you, and I am THIS close to losing my temper and doing something we'll all regret."

"Foolish mortal!" Isabel spat as she fired a magical bolt at Chloe. The young reporter dodged the attack, fighting back with a bolt of electricity that exploded a computer monitor next to the witch.

Kal-El ran at Isabel, almost reaching her before he was caught by both a bolt of lightning and a blast of magic: he was sent flying into the far wall, denting the brickwork. The attack seemed to have little effect on the alien, and he leapt back to his feet, and using his heat-vision, tried to track Chloe as she ran across the room.

Isabel used the distraction to hit Chloe with a blast of magic. Due to the young woman's speed, it only caught her a glancing blow, but it was enough to send her tumbling into the window. The glass shattered under the impact, sending Chloe flying out into the air, three stories above the street.

To Be Continued…