Chloe, Lana and Martha sat around the scrubbed table in silence. None of them were willing to give in to sleep, and the things that were unspoken between then were too awkward to address. Chloe's laptop was open on the table, set to one side, waiting for news.
"Who'd like more tea?" Martha stood, placing her hands on the small of her back as she stretched. "I'm going to put water up, and get my files. Might as well keep myself occupied. I'll be back in a few minutes." Chloe nodded as Mrs. Kent left, and looked over at Lana, who was looking off into the living room, at a picture of Clark, Pete, Lana and Chloe that had been taken sometime in junior year. Chloe sighed, thinking about those days, and Lana turned to look at Chloe, tears in her eyes. Neither girl spoke, but tears fell silently, neither breaking eye contact until Lana dropped her face into her hands. A soft chime rang from the laptop, and Chloe jumped on it, opening the e-mail from Alfred Pennyworth. Wiping her eyes on her sleeve, Chloe read it silently, listening to Lana sniffle beside her.
"Miss Sullivan,
Mr. Kent asked me to relay a message to you. He would like you to go to Mr. Luthors mansion and retrieve some articles from a secret compartment in the trophy room. He says that Miss Lang might know how to help you. He also says that if you tell Miss Lang his secret, about being affected by the meteor shower, things might go more smoothly. Good Luck,
Alfred Pennyworth"
Chloe closed the e-mail and turned to Lana. The other girl had also wiped her face, and was tracing the woodgrain of the tabletop with her finger. "How well do you know Lex's trophy room?"
"Not that well." Lana replied, looking up. "Lex showed it to me once. Why?"
"Remember how Clark used to get sick around you?" Chloe asked, and Lana nodded.
"I'm going to tell you Clark's secret, Lana. He'll be furious with me, but you need to know."
"Chloe, I…"Lana raised her hands. "I think I already know. I mean, if he's a meteor freak, that's okay. He's still Clark, and in spite of everything, I still think of him as my friend. Just tell me what we have to do." Lana took Chloe's hand. "I've been a bad friend, Chloe. I owe you a lot."
"Lana, let's not have the bad friend conversation, okay?" Chloe squeezed Lana's hand and smiled. "We're always there for each other when it counts. And now it counts a lot. There are some things we need to get from Lex's trophy room, in a hidden compartment in the wall. We have to get whatever it is out of there. Will you help me?"
Lana nodded. "I'll do whatever you need me to do."
"Mrs. Kent!" Chloe called out, and Martha reappeared, her briefcase in hand. "We're going on a little retrieval mission over at Lex's."
Martha dropped her briefcase, and grabbed her keys. "I'm ready, Chloe, Lana. Let's get going."
"You are playing with my patience." Fine said, as Lionel fumbled with the combination for the last time. "My master will not be so patient…"
"I'm very sorry, even someone such as myself, who is used to dealing under pressure, sometimes finds themselves at a," the lock gave way as the final number of the combination ticked into place. "Loss." Lionel opened the door and walked into the vault. Even Lex had never seen the things Lionel kept here, photos of Lillian in huge silver frames, the pieces of her jewelry that Lionel would never part with, Julians cradle, objects of tremendous value, both monetary and sentimental. And then, there were the expected things; gold bricks, stacks of currency from every country around the globe, pieces of art so valuable and their way of coming into Lionel's hands so questionable that they would never see the light of day again. But the prize lay in a nondescript box, banded with strips of iron. Fine had entered the vault with Lionel, his eyes scanning every object, looking for anything that might conceal the key he was searching for.
"Ah." Lionel picked up the box. "I had two of these made, from the armor of St. George.." He offered it to Fine, who did not take it, but stared at the box intently. "Oh, that's right…it's made of lead. My mistake." Lionel ran a hand across the lid. There were other articles made of the meteor rock hidden in the vault, including refined bricks the size of the gold bars. But Fine had entered the vault and showed no ill effect, so Lionel suddenly was scrambling for a new foothold in this situation.
"The meteor rock that came from your planet is quite unique…" Lionel said, controlling his nervousness with an air of nonchalance. "It has quite an effect on those of your kind that are here. "
"It would not have an effect on me." Fine said, his fingers morphing into a long, gunmetal spike. "I am not organic."
"Well, so I see." Lionel chuckled. He gestured to the changed hand "That's quite a trick."
Fine looked at Lionel. "You are not all you seem to be, are you?" Studying Lionel for a moment longer, he put the spiked fingers to Lionel's chest and remained very still. "You have touched one of Jor-El's stones."
"There was an artifact in my possession, some time ago, of Kryptonian origin, but alas, I no longer possess it." Lionel explained, as Fine began to root around the vault, looking for what, Lionel did not know. 'You won't find it…"
"I am not looking for Jor-El's stones." Fine turned and studied Lionel. He held up the box, and shook it. "The key." With minimum effort, Fine pulled the lid off the box, and stared down at the key that glowed bright green. "This key is different."
"This key," Lionel took it from the box. Translucent and glowing, it cast a sickly light over Fine's face. "I had made. The original was stolen from me." Lionel handed it to Fine. "This should open your ship."
"My master will be pleased." Fine examined the kryptonite octagon and nodded. "You will continue to be my hostage, human. My master will need a sacrifice when he arrives."
Chloe, Lana and Martha made their way through the Luthor Mansion, marching purposefully to the trophy room. Lana had gotten them past Lex's security, and since the room had not been touched, under Lex's specific instruction, all was as it had been when Clark found it.
"Whoa." Chloe surveyed the damage, taking in the scope of what she was seeing. Martha's sharp intake of breath let Chloe know that Martha, too, was just now taking in what was before them. Earlier, they had run into this room to help Clark, too blind with worry to have realized what they were walking into. "Oh My God, Lana, is this for real?" Chloe placed a hand on the rectangular sculpture in the center of the room.
"It was." Lana also, surveyed the room in shock. "Who did this?"
"We found Clark over there," Martha pointed to the twisted display case, "the room was already damaged."
Lana sighed. "I'm glad. This room has been a weight on my heart for weeks." She kicked at a piece of glass. "I wish I knew for sure what we were looking for."
"We're looking for a compartment in the wall that has meteor rock and refined meteor rock in it." Chloe said, walking around the room, knocking intermittently on the walls. "Once we get it out of here, I can start searching Dr. Swann's data for what it all does."
Martha looked over at Chloe, who shook her head. "Chloe, Clark is allergic to the meteor rock, what does he want with it?" Martha whispered, when Lana disappeared into an alcove. She reappeared, looking at Chloe and shaking her head.
"It's okay, Mrs. Kent. Lana knows Clark's secret." Chloe said, and then added quickly, "you know, how the meteors affected him? He wanted me to tell her."
Martha nodded. "He was so afraid for you to know, Lana. Knowing how you've been through so much with other people affected by the meteors, he was afraid that you would think differently about him."
"It doesn't matter." Lana said, pushing her hair out of her face. "I thought it would, you know, finding out about Clark's secret…but now, I realize that knowing doesn't change much." She looked at Chloe and smiled. "Clark and I were always meant to not be together. It just took too long to figure it out."
"Okay, let's stop wading in the water as it goes under the bridge." Chloe bit her lip and knocked on the wall next to her again. Hollow. "I think this is it." She knelt and picked up a large and heavy sword that was on the floor. Taking three steps back, Chloe raised the sword and slammed it with all her might on the wall. The wall buckled, and Chloe grunted, lifting the sword again. Stepping to the side, she swung the sword like a large baseball bat several times, and the lead panel gave way on the last swing, falling backward, with a dull clang. "Whoa."
Martha and Lana ran to look into the room. All along the walls, were tables full of meteor rock, or refined kryptonite substances. Stepping over the door, the three women walked into the narrow room, each going to a different area to examine the contents of the room.
"This is the near death experience serum." Lana held a small, glass vial up to the light. She frowned. "Lex." Lana set the vial back on the table and shook her head.
"Oh, it gets better." Chloe said, quickly read labels as she picked up items and
put them in her bag. "There is a sample or example of every experiment done with meteor rocks since, well, ever. We have to figure out how to get everything out of here."
Chloe stopped loading her bag and looked around. "Lana, can you find baskets, bags, anything?"
"I'll go look." Lana nodded and ran off to find the required items. Chloe turned to Mrs. Kent, who was standing at another table, this one covered with examples of raw Kryptonite, in just about every color Chloe could think of.
Martha was holding a large, metallic chunk of Kryptonite in her hands. "Chloe, I don't want to think about what this all could do to Clark. This room would be deadly to him."
"I know." Chloe rested her hand on a box of shining red jewels. She looked down and smiled. "The stones from Smallville High School Senior Rings. We know what THOSE do." Smiling in spite of herself, Chloe walked over to Martha and looked at the meteor rocks. "We'll have to get all of this out of here, and when we get back to the house, get started figuring out what all of this can do."
Lana reappeared, dragging a laundry cart and three large baskets. She was flushed and looked a little excited. "Look." She opened her hand. A gunmetal grey octagon lay on her palm. "I found this in Lex's room, in a little lead box. I was looking for more meteor rock."
Martha gasped, walking to Lana to take the octagon. She remembered herself, and examined it intently. "It's got little symbols on it." Martha looked at Chloe and Lana, and Lana nodded. Chloe walked over and looked at the octagon herself.
"These symbols are all over the caves." Chloe said, secretly hating Lex a little more. He had taken the key she'd found and hid it. "I wonder what they mean?" Chloe took the disc and examined it more closely. She looked back at Lana. "Can I hold on to this for now?"
"I don't see why not." Lana replied, going into the meteor sample room. "If Lex had it put where he did, it's probably something important." She didn't sound as nonchalant about it as her words would have implied. There was a quaver in Lana's voice, a trill of rage that Chloe welcomed. Lana angry at Lex meant she'd try to protect Clark as much as she could. Slipping the key in her pocket, it hit the glowing crystal and a shriek pierced the world, splitting Chloe's mind in two. Lana and Martha fell to the floor, covering their ears.
"The Key." Fine turned, facing west. He looked over his shoulder at Lionel, tossing the kryptonite key on the floor. "You are no longer necessary."
"Now wait a minute." Lionel held up his hands. "I think you are mistaken."
"No. But I will give you some small mercy." Fine's hand turned into a sharp, evil looking blade. "You will bleed to death before you run out of air in this vault."
Bruce figured the trip to Geneva would take about three hours, and they were very nearly there. Alfred had been relaying messages back and forth between Chloe and Clark all night. The women had gone over to Lex's mansion and were taking out the Kryptonite, and hopefully they'd find something to help take Fine down. Bruce wanted an edge. If this Fine person was indeed from Krypton, he had the same powers Clark did. A physical battle was completely out of the question. He looked around the cabin. Clark was actively researching something on the communications computer, and Lex was asleep, or seemed to be.
"Clark, what do you have?" Bruce asked, getting up from the pilot seat. Soon enough, he'd have to start dealing with the international red tape. Miraculously, everyone had their passports, and Switzerland was a friendly country.
"Just researching Dr. Fine." Clark said, casting a glance over to where Lex was sleeping.
"There was a small time hypnotist by that name in Granville that went missing the day of the second meteor shower." Pointing to the picture, Clark nodded. "That was my World History professor."
"What the hell are we dealing with, Clark?" Bruce asked, running his hands through his hair. "If it's a missing hypnotist…"
"Possessed, hypnotized, under the influence of meteor rock, take your pick." Lex interrupted, not opening his eyes. "We're talking about Smallville. Everything and anything is possible. My spies in four countries identified Dr. Fine, all of them in hot zones for infectious disease. Whatever he was before the meteor shower, he's not human now." Lex opened his eyes and looked at Bruce, who was frowning, deep in thought. "You wanted full disclosure." Lex said, a mock helpful smirk hovering around his mouth.
"Appreciate it, Lex." Bruce returned Lex's smirk with a scowl. "We're almost in Geneva. Brush off your French, Lex. It's all on you." With that parting remark, Bruce walked back to the pilot seat, and began the landing protocols. Suddenly, Clark grasped his head, and fell from his seat, groaning. The ringing was deafening, producing such a mind splitting pain that Clark could barely register anything else. Holding his head, he writhed on the floor, as if being ripped apart.
"Clark!" Lex jumped up, and Bruce turned, his face pale.
"What the hell is going on?" Bruce yelled, and Lex shook his head.
"Clark!" Lex turned Clark over, wincing at the agony written on his former friends face.
"The girls." Clark grunted, fighting through his pain. "The girls are in danger. And Lionel." Clark lifted one hand from his head, and pulled on Lex, drawing him closer.
"You have to go on and save your father, Lex. You have to." The shrieking resumed, and Clark screamed in pain.
Bruce pulled off his headset, hanging up on Geneva Approach. He jumped over the seat and knelt next to Clark. After a long moment, Bruce turned to Lex. "I'm touching down in Geneva, you are going after your father. Clark and I are going back to Smallville." Bruce fixed Lex with a stern glare. "I know you arranged for your jet to meet you here, so I'm not worried about getting you home, Lex. But I want you to keep in touch."
Lex nodded. "I'll let you know when I find Dad. You go land the plane. I'll stay with Clark."
Chloe rose, blinking against the light that surrounded her. She seemed to be in the Fortress, but somehow everything was different. A woman, tall and willowy, with a glossy mop of black curls stood a few feet away, her beautiful face so familiar to Chloe that she felt her eyes sting. A man also stood with the woman, and his green eyes were intense and wise, his hair prematurely white around a youthful face that smiled and wrenched Chloe's heart so deeply she could not breathe. Clark's parents. They had to be.
"Jor-El." She whispered, and he nodded.
"Daughter of Earth." Jor-El said, "You have brought together the keys. A bridge between Krypton and Earth has been forged, if only for a short time. The danger to your friends and Kal-El is greater than ever."
"Every being from Krypton on Earth is now aware of the original keys location." Lara glided to Chloe and touched her cheek. "The tie must be severed at once. The servant of Zod is already headed toward you. Kal-El and the one who protects the city to the East are also returning."
Chloe drew out the crystal and the octagon from her pocket. "What do I have to do?"
Lara smiled. "You must bring them together again, and the crystal will be merged with your very being, Daughter of Earth. All the knowledge of Krypton we prepared for our son will be imprinted in you. This is for your protection and the preservation of this crystal."
"There is great power also." Jor-El spoke, and he took Chloe's hand in his own. "The power to protect your friends has been given to you. You will know what to do. Use it wisely, Daughter of Earth."
"Will I have Clark's, I mean, Kal-El's gifts?" Chloe asked, gasping in shock.
"No." Lara shook her head. "Your own talents will be magnified, for a time. When it is safe, you and the crystal will be separated."
"You are the chosen. "Jor El said, looking down into Chloe's face. "You are the guide Kal-El needs for this first part of his journey."
Chloe nodded. "When I wake up?"
"You will be returned to where you were." Jor-El told her. "But you will have a connection to us, and to the entire Kryptonian history. Give the key to Kal-El's human mother. It will not be safe for you to possess it."
"I understand." Chloe shifted the octagon to her other hand. "I'm ready."
Lara nodded. "Daughter of Earth." She smiled. "Chloe. You are brave, loyal and beautiful. It is no wonder that Kal-El loves you so."
Chloe brought the crystal and the metallic octagon together again. White light blinded her, but she could hear Lara. "Be brave, Chloe. You are the crystal, now."
Chloe opened her eyes, blinking. Lana and Martha knelt beside her, fear and concern on their faces. Quickly, she handed the octagon to Martha and looked at her left hand. A white, raised scar ran along her palm, shimmering like frost. She and the crystal had been joined.
"Chloe, are you okay?" Lana helped her sit, and Martha slipped the octagon into her pocket.
"I'm okay, but we have to get out of here, now." Chloe looked around. '"Gather all the Kryptonite you can find and let's get it to a safe place."
Clark sat up, rubbing his forehead. Lex sat back, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"Clark." Lex sighed, relief obvious in his grey eyes. "You scared the crap out of us."
"What happened?" Clark asked, looking around. 'One minute I was in my seat, the next, well, here I am?"
"It looked like you had a seizure." Bruce said, over his shoulder. "Y0u were babbling about the girls being in danger."
"The girls." Clark whispered, and he jumped to his feet. "I remember."
"We're getting ready to land now. Lex is going after Lionel, and we're going home." Bruce informed him. "Hope you are up for a marathon flight."
"It doesn't matter what I'm up for, Bruce." Clark said. "We have to get back and save the girls."
"We will, just hang on." Bruce nodded grimly. "We're landing now."
Lex watched Bruce's black jet taxi around the runway in Geneva to take off again. The flight preparations had been handled by Bruce himself, with Clark assisting. They were quite a team of boy scouts, Lex laughed to himself, as the jet shot off, into the western sky. It was time to find Dad.
Bruce put the plane on autopilot and stared at Clark. "You want to what?"
"Fly. I can fly about as fast as I can run. I'll be back in Smallville before you even cross the International Date Line." Clark said, and Bruce shook his head.
"Nothing doing, Clark. You have another seizure, you're dead." Bruce said sternly and Clark frowned, folding his arms.
"It wasn't a seizure. It was a warning. The key for the Kryptonian ships emits a frequency that Kryptonians can hear. If that thing was going off, Chloe and Lana are in danger, and we can't get there fast enough in this." Clark looked around. "I can be there in less than five minutes."
Bruce weighed this in his mind. "Go. There's a jump hatch in the back of the plane. The door behind you will seal to keep the pressure from bringing the jet down, so once you are out there, that's it."
"I understand," Clark said, nodding. He turned and strode toward the pressure door. Turning, Clark smiled at Bruce. "See you in Smallville," Clark's grin grew wider, teasing. "Batman."
"See you in Smallville." Bruce replied, as the pressure door sealed shut. Ahead of him, he saw a red and blue streak of light pass the jet and head into the western sky and disappear. "My friend."
