A/N: I feel like I'm falling behind. Writing ahead is great because then when I get the reviews I want, or just the inclination to post an update, I can and it's not such a big deal. But while writing this chapter, I no buffers left! That's just not cool. Seriously!
Also, I have taken on another project, as some of you may know. It's totally fun, but I'm going to have to split my attention between the two. Add that personal life and other projects and life has just gotten more complicated. I'm not really complaining… just letting you know that there's a reason if I'm not as fast as I used to be… ;DChapter 16
As daylight slowly filtered into her cell, Chloe moaned in utter rebellion. She was sore all over… not only from sleeping on a concrete floor, but also from the minor beating she'd gotten from the two Ls the previous day. Not to mention that I don't even have the comfort of decaffeinated coffee this morning! she thought sadly. That had always been her favorite part of the day while growing up. She could picture herself sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of java with her dad.
Briefly, she considered curling into the fetal position and crying at the injustice of it all. That moment continued until she forced herself up into a sitting position. There was absolutely no way she was giving that entity the satisfaction of breaking her. After all, she still had work to do. Any moment now, the person with her breakfast should be here and she needed to find some sort of weapon. The only piece of "furniture" was the toilet, but absolutely nothing was loose enough for her to loosen with her bare hands.
She stopped fiddling with the toilet and looked around. The voice wanted her to believe it was all-powerful/knowing/seeing… but she didn't see how that could be possible. Without a doubt, there were cameras and some sort of sound system in the room that she couldn't see. Even if it was some sort of an alien power, it would need those sorts of connection because this room had been there for years. And monitoring her actions 24/7 would be silly, especially considering that it was trying to extend its power to other regions… and maintain those it had already subverted.
Chloe smiled wickedly. She could only hope that they were harder to control than it had initially thought. Maybe if it spread itself too thin, someone could break free of its influence, if for just a little bit. She thought about her strong-willed cousin who would normally have died rather than thrown herself at Clark. And Lex… She grimaced. She couldn't decide if he was playing along but really in more control of himself. His behavior to Clark didn't seem to bear that theory out, but he'd played them for fools before.
She started to pace about the room. There has to be some way to get out of here, she thought. Her first impulse was to wallow in despair and pray that Clark would find her soon. As soon as that crossed her mind, she nearly shouted in rebellion. Who am I? Lana? she ranted as her pacing took on a more determined energy. I like having a superhero that I can rely on to save me, but even when that cop kidnapped me, she shuddered at the thought but forced herself to go on. Even then, I escaped briefly and never stopped struggling while I was conscious! I refuse to let anything get the better of me!
She breathed deeply and felt herself calm down but the determined attitude remained the same. It was a relief to be back to her normal self. Something felt like it was nagging at the back of her mind and she sat back on the ground to consider it for awhile. She didn't hear the footsteps nearing her cell until the lock was turned and the door was opening. In a shot, she was on her feet and in the furthest corner from the door. She was nearly afraid that, since her behavior with Lana and Lois the night before, they were considering drugging her or chaining her.
It came as a total surprise to have Lex enter the room with a tray of breakfast. "Oh, no need to worry, Chloe. It's just me." He smiled reassuringly and gracefully placed the tray on the floor.
"I've always had to be worried about you, Lex," she snarked, but sat back down.
He looked at her in shock. "I would never hurt Clark's chosen mate, Chloe," he gasped, a hand to his chest to protest his innocence.
Chloe's eyes narrowed suspiciously and she considered him while her mind was racing furiously. Normally, she would suspect it was all an act, but the nagging in her mind was becoming more insistent. She wondered what the problem was. He was perfectly polite to her, so why was she worried. Memories of the night before flashed before her eyes. She saw Lois and Lana in their wooden and extremely unemotional states. She could very nearly feel the blows she had received from them. Then it all clicked.
Lex wasn't acting the same way as the girls and there had to be a reason. Why wouldn't Lex be acting the same way? After all, she'd known him for four years. She'd only been introduced to Lana a year earlier. Of course, ever since she'd known Clark's secret, she'd realized that her journalistic sense since first meeting Lex had always warned her away from trusting him too completely because he would always turn it to his best advantage. And then Lex's true colors had been revealed and she'd gotten even more antagonistic.
The light of revelation nearly blinded her mentally. That's it! she crowed internally. It doesn't feel like it has to control Lex so closely because we're not friends and have actively disliked each other since shortly after Clark and Lois had rescued me from his father's hitman. She took a deep breath. It had to have a firm grip on Lois and Lana because they're my cousin and nearly best friend. That's why they weren't even allowed to have the "freedom" they'd had previously when she was with Clark. In shock, she turned her eyes to Lex.
Lex had been watching her sadly. Her thoughts hadn't taken that long to sort themselves out, but it had been enough to give him the impression that she was refusing to talk to him. She watched him turn to the door and she gasped in dismay. If she was going to try and get anything from anyone in this insane asylum, she had to do it with Lex. "Lex, wait!" she said too loudly. He jumped and turned to her, his eyes shining with a bit of suspicion. She scolded herself for not modulating her tone. She sat down on the floor near the tray. "I'm sorry," she said and tried to look suitably meek. "It's just that I don't like eating alone. Would you mind staying and talking with me while I eat?"
Lex smiled in relief, or so Chloe thought. To shock her even further, he slid down the opposite wall until he was also sitting on the floor. "I'm sure it must be hard being in this room, but I'm sure it's all for the best." He looked puzzled. "I don't know why Clark is causing such a ruckus. He doesn't have to lie anymore and people want him to put the wrongs right in this world. Is that such a bad thing?"
Chloe took a deep breath. She wondered if she could provoke Lex enough to lift the fog a bit so he would help her. To buy herself some time, she took a mouthful of the food. What would be the best way to get Lex angry… at least the original Lex? Different plans flitted about her head until she reached one that she thought would be the best try.
"I don't know, Lex." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Clark's never had the ambition that you do."
"Did, Chloe." He frowned. "I mean, I always thought I would become president one day, but Clark's so much more suitable…"
Chloe had to bite back a laugh. "Suitable? Clark? Lex, you know that even Lana would be a better politician than he would!" Lex looked shocked, but Chloe wondered if she saw some of the Lex humor starting to show in his eyes. It could just be wishful thinking, she thought, but since this had been the best reaction so far, she knew she had to continue.
"Chloe, you don't mean that?"
"Why not, Lex? You're the man with all the connections. You have the political savvy to get done what needs to be done. Clark would be totally overwhelmed." Chloe wondered if she should try and point out Clark's political failings rather than Lex's ambitions.
"I would be there all the way to help him," Lex said softly, but Chloe could totally see the rebellion in his eyes.
Chloe almost crowed in delight. It's working! "In the background? Lex, you would never be happy there."
"But Clark…" he trailed off, as if his programming hadn't addressed those points yet.
"Clark is the background guy, Lex. You've always thrived in the limelight and he hasn't. I can't imagine why you would want to put him there. The public would never respect him as they do you." Chloe had to swallow a bit on that one. She was sure that once Clark grew up a little bit that he would be even more respected and revered than what the Transmission was currently forcing on people.
"They… They…" Lex looked at her and Chloe saw the ambition take over. "You're totally right, Chloe. I don't know why…" He looked around him and picked himself off the floor. "Why are you in here, Chloe? What were we talking about?"
Chloe knew she only had moments. The Transmission had known that she'd been removed from its influence. It would have to do something about Lex. She shoved the tray back in Lex's hands. "Lex, something weird is going on. Clark and I are trying to figure it out, but I've been trapped in here. Is there any way you can help me?"
Lex's face was turning white and Chloe wondered if it was too late. "I… I… I can't give you the keys," he stuttered to her relief. "They would know."
Chloe grasped his arms and made him look at her. "Something, anything… a weapon… something to pick the locks…"
Lex's internal struggle was increasing and Chloe wondered if they had enough time. Keeping the tray in one hand, he reached into his pocket. He handed her a titanium Swiss knife tool and the fork. "This is all…"
Chloe smiled in relief. She slid the tools up her sleeve and patted his arm reassuringly. Thank goodness I'm still wearing Clark's shirt, she thought wryly. "It'll be fine, Lex," she whispered, just as all emotion drained off his face.
"Someone will be by with your dinner. Please do not interfere with my duties." He said it so woodenly that Chloe was nearly afraid for him.
She moved away from him obediently and he exited out of the room. Chloe was actually relieved that he hadn't tried to take back what he had given her. Perhaps all memories are repressed when he takes a person over entirely, she thought.
------
Clark was exhausted. He'd spent the entire evening covering the entire Manor and the surrounding property. He'd known it was extensive, but even when he'd used his superspeed after everyone else had finally gone to bed, it had taken all night. He sped through the trees, determined to speed up the journey. He just knew that his time was running out when it came to Chloe and the others. Internally, he admitted to himself that Chloe was probably the bait to a trap, but he couldn't turn his back on her. He slid to a halt 3 yards before the trees ended for the road. He knew that he was going to have to walk the rest of the way to the Retirement Center, but at least he'd covered a little bit of distance nearly instantaneously. He had been grateful for the trees, but it had seemed odd to have so many around the Manor. After all, they were in Kansas. He sighed at the extra time he now had to take, but knew it would be better to use it than attract attention.
When he arrived, he was thankful that it was still rather early in the morning. The night shift workers were still huddled around their workstations and the tenants were still sleeping. He knew that he couldn't just rush past the nurses and aides, but he had to get to the basement. With some judicious use of his x-ray vision, he found a single employee sleeping at his desk. He went in through that door and headed directly for the basement. What he saw was enough to have his blood run cold. Instead of a shelter in case of tornados or storage rooms, he found many lab rooms. Were they doing illegal experiments on the residents?
His blood began to boil. How dare they do this to them? He thought briefly of Cassandra. He wondered if he had the time to do something about this, but an image of Chloe kept him from doing anything foolish. Then he smiled. Once I tell her about this, Chloe'll write an expose and it'll be stopped immediately. Then the smile disappeared and determination filled him. He had to have her back. She was his anchor in this world. His super hearing picked up vehicles heading for the home and knew he had only a few minutes left. He checked on his sleeping and unwitting accomplice before he snuck out the same door he had entered with. He checked the Center off his mental list, but circled it so he'd remember to talk to Chloe. Resolutely, he headed for the school.
------
Chloe had been fairly certain that, immediately after her attempts to "subvert" (Actually, return to "normal", she thought wryly.) Lex, she was under surveillance. But she knew it couldn't last forever. After all, the Transmission had already taken over at least two towns. It couldn't afford to observe a captive solely for too long. Especially when it thought there was no chance for her escape.It helped that she felt the subconscious prickling that indicated someone was watching her… an essential skill needed by any journalist that spent a lot of time sneaking around. So she just meditated until the feeling disappeared. She smiled. I knew doing nothing would bore him… her… it… She shrugged. She felt some elation in her situation now that she knew she had a way to escape. But she also knew that she was going to have to act with caution. There was no telling when she'd be watched… and she wouldn't have time to hide everything.
Before she could pull out Lex's gift and the fork which was uncomfortably jabbing into her arm, she heard a "psssst". She looked around. She was perfectly alone in the room and she didn't think her captor would bother trying to get her attention. But she knew she had to try. Any assistance she could garner would be a relief. "Yes?" she hissed under her breath. She was afraid that any strange noise would cause the monitoring to return in full force.
"Miss Sullivan!" Jor-El's voice came through loud and clear. Chloe was surprised to hear some relief in the construct's voice.
"Be quiet!" she hissed, angry at this apparent disregard for secrecy.
When the voice returned, Chloe would have sworn that he was laughing at her. If the man had been alive, she certainly would have throttled him, whether or not he was Clark's biological father. "Miss Sullivan," he stated after he was able to regain control of himself, "I am speaking in your mind. You do not have to worry about being overheard by your captors."
"How is that even possible? I didn't realize Kryptonians had E.S.P." A thought came to her so horrible that she couldn't bite back her next thought. "Has Clark been snooping through my thoughts all these years?" She could feel a blush rushing from her head to her toes, so great was the mortification she experienced. Clark knowing all the practically pornographic thoughts she'd had about him was not a good thing.
When Jor-El returned, Chloe knew he was laughing… or at least as much as a Kryptonian construct could laugh. "Miss Sullivan, Kryptonians were not blessed or cursed with that ability, nor would Clark ever stoop to eavesdropping like that." Chloe's relief at the first turned to shame that she would ever assume Clark would do any such thing like that. She realized with a grimace that she wouldn't have that problem. "The reason we are able to converse at all is due to the inhibiting patch that Clark placed on your temple."
Chloe wanted to scream in frustration. If he could read her thoughts because of the patch, he knew all about… "So, you've been eavesdropping this entire time…" She managed to bite out her thoughts so vehemently that she was sure Jor-El was slightly aghast.
"In fact, that is not correct either." Jor-El's voice was taking on his professor voice and Chloe was suddenly sorry she'd even asked. "The patch has to be consciously activated for both parties to hear the other. Had you not been willing to make contact with someone, I would not be able to hear you. I had not thought to make use of this aspect of the technology, but because I had not heard from you or Clark in too long of a time period, I needed to do something. You were the only one fitted with the device, so I had to make contact through you."
Chloe's mind goggled. This type of technology would be the envy of all the governments of the world. "So we don't have to worry about being overheard at all?"
The pause before the answer brought her anxieties to the forefront again. "By your Earth technology?" Jor-El asked scornfully. Chloe just knew he'd be sneering at her if he would have actually been alive. "Do not you think that you are giving your Earth scientists too much credit? I will have you know that Krypton was very advanced scientifically… light years beyond Earth's most advanced technology."
Chloe fumed. As much as Clark had warmed to the personality of his birth father, his superiority complex was very much intact. She would have ripped him a new one if what he'd just said hadn't started an alarm off in her head. What is it? She thought desperately to herself, knowing it was very important and something that Jor-El wouldn't even consider. When it finally dawned on her, she almost vomited with worry. "Earth technology… whatever. We can discuss your personal prejudices later. What about Kryptonian technology?"
The answer came slowly. "I suppose it is possible, although this was a design I had created shortly before the destruction of Krypton and no one was aware of it. It is possible that…"
That was all Chloe needed to hear. If their communication was detected, she knew she'd be searched thoroughly. She knew she absolutely had to hide her contraband. She looked about the room and her possibilities were extremely narrow. She contemplated throwing them up to where they could rest on the window sill. But there were a couple of drawbacks… How would she get them back down? And could someone see them through the window?
That only left one alternative… the toilet. Throwing it in the toilet bowl was out because they could easily be seen and she'd need to be able to get it out fairly easily. She had nothing to tape it under the water tank with… The light bulb lit and she flashed into action. She whipped off the lid, dumped the tools inside, and replaced the lidas fast as she possibly could… which felt faster than normal, but she wrote that off as adrenaline. She heard a loud commotion coming down the hall and knew by the prickling sensation on her neck that she was just in time.
Before she could relax, she had to know. "Jor-El, will they find the blocking patch? Will I be put under the spell of the Transmission again?" She knew in her gut that Clark was going to need her help, but if her protection was removed…
"Miss Sullivan, have no fear. They will be unable to revert you to your past artifical obsession." Chloe thought he sounded rather smug.
She decided to press the issue while she still had time. She thought about wondering what was taking them so long, but decided she didn't really care. "How do you know? After all, it's just a bandage type thing on my temple!"
"They searched you before putting you in your cell. They were not able to remove it then and will not be able to do so now." He paused and Chloe felt like holding her breath. Reluctantly, his voice returned. "Test it out yourself, Miss Sullivan. You try and remove it."
Before she could stop herself, her hand was at her temple and felt… absolutely nothing there. "Wha… What happened to it? Did it fall off? Why am I still exempt?"
"It was absorbed into your system and cannot ever be removed."
Chloe's eyes widened and she felt a sudden fury explode within her at this… this… this alien busybody. "Does Clark know? Ooooo! I'll just bet he did! How dare you? I didn't ask for something alien to be done to me! Get it out. Get it out now!" She wished that even a hologram could be in front of her so she could take a swing at him.
"You need to calm yourself. Clark knew nothing other than what I chose to tell him. And I would not remove it even if I could. Look at all the good it has already done."
Chloe wanted to spit. "You know what, you idiotic Kryptonian? Get out of my head! You have done absolutely nothing to 'help' me and nothing good has come of it besides coming to my own senses, which I had already proved was possible in my efforts with Lex." She slumped back to the ground and put her head in her hands. "If it hadn't been for you, they wouldn't be coming to interrogate me… wouldn't have me under surveillance currently… Your overweening arrogance has placed my possible freedom in jeopardy." She thought slowly and realized that she had even less reason to trust him now and decided to throw caution to the winds. "And you could very well be the source of the Transmission. Reportedly, there's no way for you to contact Clark to let him know where I am. I think the reason why I'm not currently affected by the Transmission is because you excluded me to cement Clark's trust in you. Well get this, you weird alien megalomaniac. I don't trust you and I'll do everything I possibly can to get to the bottom of this mystery and, if you have one iota of a part in this, I'll make sure that Clark never trusts you and never returns for training. You have my word on that!"
She was only rewarded with silence. She didn't know if he'd listened to the entire rant, and realized that she may have threatened him too much. Great, Sullivan, she castigated herself. Tip your hand. That's a good way to run an investigation! You should have just pretended to trust him… Then he could have tried to prove it to you by helping you escape. Once you're out of this little corner of Hell, you could have helped Clark. Right now you're just warming the concrete with your butt!
Unfortunately, her recriminations didn't end when the door slammed open. The three LLs filled the doorway, eyes penetrating every corner of the cell. She looked at them with wide eyes, hoping that she looked innocent rather than scared. She was definitely not reassured by the hard yet empty look identical to each face. "You will come with us," they said in unison, furthering her creep factor.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, scooting to the corner of the room opposite the toilet. She didn't want them to think she was protecting anything over in that area. She even clenched her hands behind her back, faking hiding something there before she was dragged out of the room by the girls.
A/N: Wow! Look at this long chapter! I haven't written one like this in ages! I feel so good about that!
iluvsmallville1: Thank you for the complement! My ultimate wish is to be a professional writer. Then I could indulge in that passion and work on some of my others. ;D Don't worry about not reading the last chapter right away… it's just that you normally write a review right away, so I wanted to double check on you… whether you were okay, or just hated the last chapter! ;D
Johnny Superfecta: Yeah. I thought that the whole thing with the bunkers in Smallville being lined with lead was funny. Otherwise, Clark would just be able to look into anyone's home at a whim… Not that he would, but still:D
Lana-Fu is very hard to defeat. I think it's something about not expecting it from her… ya' know?
KentCharm: Since you shared my views about the non-Chloe death for Ep. 100, congrats to you as well. But can I tell you that I totally felt ripped off that Lana didn't die and that they killed off Jonathan? I can't even watch it again or I'll burst into tears! It's terrible!
I'm not sure how I feel about this incarnation of Clark. I know that Chloe is his best friend and he feels like he can confide in her about everything since she now knows all about him, but how can he be so… so… so insensitive? After all, it was just last year that she practically told him that she was still in love with him and he had to let her down "easy". I could just spit with ire!
MarkMark261: I didn't make a huge deal about it, but a chapter or two ago, Clark went to talk to Chloe and she was totally missing and there were three drops of blood on the ground. I let him make a mental leap! ;D
So sorry. I'm the News Editor for AMO or Allison Mack Online. (They must have deleted it because it was so websitey.) So far, it hasn't cut too far into my fan fiction writing and I'll have to reconsider if it starts to…