We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Epilogue 4

"Men of Tomorrow"

This was the last place in the world Clark expected to find himself.

He was sitting in a large, white-walled room on a sterile, concrete block that acted as a seat for visitors to this place. Despite all his powers and all that he had experienced, Clark was genuinely nervous. Actually he was scared.

Across the room there was a clanking noise, and a second door opened to let in a pair of burly guards in white uniforms. Between them…towering over them actually…was the man who had asked for Clark to come here. He moved easily and quietly despite being chained, and took a seat across from Clark on another concrete block. He did not move as his chains were securely fastened to the floor, and one of the guards whispered to Clark.

"Don't worry son, we're watching and listening the whole time. He's never been violent with anyone before…but you're the first non-family member he's ever requested to see. You should be fine."

With that the guards left, and Clark was alone with the huge man. Even though the entire facility they were in generated an energy field that negated super powers, Clark could feel the man's power radiating off of him like heat from a fire. Clark could not help but be in awe as he looked up at the man. He was not only tall, but powerfully built, with muscles that rippled and flexed with every breath he took. His black hair was pulled into a braided ponytail that ran down the length of his back, and his proud Native American features looked chiseled from granite. The man's eyes, however, were bright red, like two live coals. There was no doubt that this man was Warren's infamous father.

"So, you are Clark Kent," said Richard Peace, better known to the world as the super villain Baron Battle, "the young man who has made quite the impact at my old school."

"Yes sir," said Clark, trying not to let his nervousness show, "I mean…I just go to Sky High."

"Modest as well," smiled Warren's father, "certainly not what one would expect from the next Commander."

"I don't want to be the next Commander," said Clark, "I just want to be me. And to help people."

"You are well on the way to that," said Richard, "especially since you went out of your way to befriend my son when all others were afraid of him…or hated him."

"Warren's a good guy," said Clark, "we didn't exactly get along at first…"

"Yes, you two fought twice within a few hours. Quite the way to start a friendship, but I must say that I approve."

"You do?"

"Of course," he said, "it gave you both a chance to show where you stand and to take the measure of each other. Steven…the Commander…and I used to try to outdo each other all the time, but it wasn't until after we graduated that we actually started fighting with each other. Perhaps if we had had a couple of good brawls while still in school things would be different now."

"Why did you want to see me?"

"I wanted to meet you in person, and thank you for being Warren's friend. I know his life hasn't been easy because of my own past and actions, but that is also to be blamed upon the narrow minded and judgmental people of the world. You have a broader vision, and I do not mean because of your x-ray vision."

Clark wasn't sure what to think. He was glad that Warren's father, though a dangerous villain, approved of his being Warren's friend, but there seemed to be a lot about Clark himself that the Baron seemed to know. Had Warren been telling his father about Clark? He didn't mind that, but another thought was crossing his mind; could Baron Battle have someone giving him information about Clark and the other students at Sky High? Had he been in contact with Royal Pain before she had been returned to her infant status? They had been classmates back in the day at Sky High and both had ended up villains who fought with the Commander.

"Yes," smiled Richard, "Warren has been writing and telling me all about you, my boy. He only gets to visit me twice a year along with his mother…my wife…so letters are the only way we can be in contact. Oh, they are looked over and copied by the guards here in case they might hold secret messages or codes sent by any of my old colleagues or minions on the outside, but Warren and my wife have NO contact with those…people. I kept that part of my life completely away from them."

That relieved Clark, and he visibly relaxed, something that Richard noticed and was secretly pleased with.

"I'm also glad that you are friends with William, the Commander's son. Perhaps you can bridge the gap between him and Warren so that they may be friends as well. The old animosities of the fathers should not continue on with the sons…it is a waste of time and energy."

"I hope so," said Clark, "I'd like for all my friends to also be friends with each other. Maybe that makes me naive, but it's something I can hope for. It was all the divisions and cliques in Sky High that made us vulnerable to be attacked by Royal Pain."

"An excellent point," said Richard, "you certainly do have advantages over the Commander already, he NEVER would have thought of that. You shall make an excellent hero someday. I'm glad I won't have to face you."

"Thank you sir," said Clark, still leery of anything Baron Battle had to say, "I'd like to think that, if you were ever to be free again, that you wouldn't go back to your old ways. Warren really loves you, and I'd hate to see him get hurt again."

"As would I," said Richard, "things have changed for me since my…unfortunate choices that put me here. Perhaps some day we can meet again…on the outside."

"I'd like that sir," said Clark, knowing his time was running out, "just as I hope you'll keep your end of the deal you made."

"Of course," said Richard, "I have already written down everything needed to add more dirt to good old Lionel's grave. I'm betting the government will be very interested in it, especially the part of how I knew where those nuclear missiles were being kept."

Clark didn't want to think about that. He just wanted to concentrate on all the positive things he had learned while being here with Baron Battle. He remained seated as the guards came in to unlock the Baron's restraints and lead him back to his cell.

"We will meet again Clark," he said before he left, "and I look forward to that day."

With that Baron Battle quietly left the room, and Clark was finally able to take a full breath. He hadn't realized he had been subconsciously holding his breath out of sheer nerves until then. Of course he could have easily held it for another hour, but still it was not a good sign that the man had such influence over him.

Clark then got up and left the visitation room and, escorted by guards, left the confines of the Vault as quickly as he could. He just wanted to get back home as soon as possible and put this terrible place behind him. He was supposed to meet Layla's parents that evening, and he definitely didn't want to be late for that.

Back in his cell Richard Peace sat and smiled. Clark had proven to be exactly what he had hoped for; young, naïve and earnest, but also with deep-rooted morals and a good nature that would serve him well.

While it was true that Warren and his mother were not involved with his minions, Richard Peace was still in contact with them. There were ways to relay information to the outside world, even when one was in a maximum-security prison. While not as infamous as Arkham Asylum or Belle Reeve, the Vault was still just a storage facility for those the people in power considered dangerous, and some of them were and should be locked away. But to send and receive information, all it took was finding the right guard and the way to manipulate them.

Richard Peace turned over and over in his mind the information that had been sent to him concerning the cave with pictographs that had been discovered near the town of Smallville that was so closely guarded by the Kiwatche, the local tribe of Native Americans as a sacred place. Being Native American himself, Richard Peace also believed in keeping such places safe from the devastating hand of outsiders, but what he had been able to decipher from the copies of the cave writings sent to him had been something that shook even him.

They told of a prophecy of a being named Naman, who would come from the sky with great powers and who would eventually rule the world. He believed that Naman had already arrived, and in fact he had just met him.

"Yes, my young friend," Baron Battle whispered to himself, "we SHALL meet under better circumstances one day…and that day is sooner than you think. In fact…"

Four words kept playing across his mind…four words that would change the world.

Baron Battle smiled as he whispered those words.

"…the day is coming."

The End

Notes:

Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed my little story. I really appreciate all the kind words and encouragement you gave me throughout it all.

I'm going to be working on a few other stories I've had on the back burner for a while, but I may not be able to post as often as I used to (and like to) because of what's going on at home (mostly work and home improvements/yard work). Be patient and I'll try hard to make them worth the wait.

These stories include finishing "Strong & Silent", a new Warren/Layla story (the last follow-up to "Flight") and another tearjerker set after that (don't worry, nobody dies).

I'm also laying the groundwork for three big storylines for this summer; the big Sky High/Sharkboy & Lavagirl team up, a sequel to "Crush" (set up in "Namesakes") and yes, the sequel to "We're Not In Kansas Anymore" (I think we have a good clue to who the main villain will be in that one (LOL)).

Once again, thank you all.