A/n: Okay before you start throwing things at me (a rotten tomatoe sails past his head) hear me out. Okay first off I have two other side stories I'm developing. My Guyver Origins story which I may or maynot have posted by now andits Guyver/Harry Potter x-over sequel. Yeah I know I haven't finished my origin story yet and already there is a sequel. But my muse wouldn't let the idea go so... Any way I'm back so the story will go on. On that note I warn you this version is pre-beta (Lucy is still in HS so she has higher priorities and gets to it when she can). I did make some changes before posting so it should be better.
Now on to the thankyou's:
ewchy: yes I am going on with this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
X-Over: I'm glad you like this story.
and finally Cinammon: with out who none of this would be possible. I hope you story is doing well and ernie isn't giving you too many problems. Please update soon we all miss you ;(
So with out further ado:
Ch 4: The Teen of Steel and a Reporter
For the first time that he could remember Mack was able to sleep in a moving vehicle. He privately thanked the Creator who invented pocket dimension technology and the who ever expanded the back of thier car so some one could actually get some rest. He also thanked the witch or wizard that charmed the talisman Mackgave Selene which she now wore to shield her self from the sun. So for the first time in four centuries she watched a sunrise that mourning.
Michael and Cleo had taken the day shift as driver and navigator while Mack and Selene climb up into the bunks provided. The pocket in the back of the car while large was really quite small for Creator design. It was only large enough for two barracks, a conference area, a freezer for Selene's food supply, and a monitoring station with tie-ins to all the major news outlets, radar stations, and satellites. The only thing missing was a kitchen but that was what the unlimited bank account was for. Still, it was comfortable.
Selene soon climbed up to the bunk across from Mack and lied down. "So tell me why we are making for Kansas?" asked Selene.
Mack turned to her "Our next recruit is there" he said.
"What is he a kid who can talk to animals?" remarked Cleofrom the driver seat.
Mack smiled "No he's an alien, last of his kind."
Selene stared at Mack with a dumbfounded look. "No I'm not kidding. Approximately seventeen years ago a large meteor shower stuck the town of Smallville practically destroying most of it. During the shower a ship crashed landed in a field not far outside of town and was found by local farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent along with its precious cargo: a small boy. The Kent's named him Clark and adopted him. As he grew he developed powers like Super Speed, Advanced hearing, X-ray vision, and Heat Vision; add to that his superior strength and near indestructible body you should be asking why we shouldn't recruit him."
Selene sighed "Sounds like our type of recruit; how long until we arrive?" Selene asked Michael.
"We should arrive early tomorrow mourning" said Michael.
"Then let's get some sleep while we can then" said Mack. And with Mack and Selene went off into a deep sleep.
Early the next mourning they crossed the county line into Smallville, KA. What they didn't see as the drove down Main St. was Barbus standing on a building rooftop accompanied by a blonde woman with dark eyes and a slight sneer as looked down on the populace below.
"Weak, insignificant, fools" she said as the League's car passed below them.
"Insignificant yes and foolish definitely but none of them are weak" said Barbus. "Do not take any of them lightly my dear and remember your task."
"Yes, keep Kent and the League occupied with their fears while you handle your business for Dominous" she said with a smile.
"Very good, remember that you are far more now then when I found you. Fail me and you will be less then what you were" threatened Barbus.
"Yes sir" she said with a bowed head.
"Now I must go and prepare for the ceremony" said Barbus and with that he flamed out.
The girl smiled "And I must be ready to feed on their fears."
Meanwhile on the ground Michael parked the car in front of the Talon. A movie theater turned into a coffee shop.
"Okay this is where Martha Kent, Clark's mother, works. Michael you and Cleo will question her but be gentle, if she suspects us of harming or exposing him she tell us nothing. Meanwhile Selene and I will be watching the door for anything suspicious, got it?" said Mack.
They all nodded and separately they entered the shop. Once inside Cleo and Michael headed straight for the counter. Selene took a seat to the right of the doorway while Mack took the left.
After about ten minutes an elderly gentleman in his mid fifties entered the shop and looked around. For some reason his eyes locked with Mack he then walked to the counter ordered a latté and then walked over to Mack.
"Mind if I have seat?" he asked.
Mack gave him the once over and shrugged "Sure."
He took a seat "Interesting" he said to himself.
"What?" asked Mack becoming irritated with the gentleman.
"Nothing just I never knew the League to recruited a leader so young" he said softly as he took a sip from his cup.
Mack quickly began thinking of a cover but the man cut him off. "Don't bother with the cover story friend I won't betray you or your friends the Lycan at the counter with the feral and the Vampire across the room."
Mack tried to cover but he answered so completely that there was no reasonable way to cover it up. All he could say was "Thanks, Mr.…"
"Luther, Lionel Luther" he said.
Mack mouth opened in shock. Lionel Luther the felon who should have been locked up from here till doomsday was now sitting in front of him sipping a latte like he hadn't a care in the world.
"Now, Mr. Radner is it? I don't know why the League was called up but I know it must be important if you are bringing in Clark Kent and to get him to help you, you'll need my help" said Lionel.
"And why should I trust your help?" asked Mack.
"Because I'm the only one who can, but by all means you can leave" he said casually.
Mack stared at him. He was a convicted felon and yet some thing made him seem more trust worthy then some members of the Ro Council. He sat back in his chair waiting for Luther to continue.
"I'll take your not leaving as a willingness to listen. For the past four nights people have been suffering from strange attacks. They are found in a fetal position shaking with fright like they suffered through their worst fear and got themselves consumed by it. Every one of them had a strange hand print on them. Clark and Ms. Sullivan, the high school's expert on the strange happenings of Smallville, have been investigating the attacks since they started" Lionel took out a piece of paper and laid it on the table.
"Let me guess the sights of the attacks?" asked Mack as he took the paper.
"I would recommend you start with the two oldest ones and work forward" answered Lionel. He then took what was left of his latte and stood up to leave.
"One last thing, the people attacked were well known for their bravery one was a fireman, the other a police officer, and so forth" said Lionel
"Thanks" said Mack and with that Lionel left the shop.
After another ten minutes they left the shop. Martha Kent apparently became concerned when Michael said they need one of Clark's considerable talents. She denied every thing then asked them to leave.
"If the mother is this protective of her son then the father will most likely come at us with a shotgun if were go noising around their home" said Cleo.
"And the last thing we need at the moment is hostilities between us and a recruit" said Michael.
"Well Mack, what's our next course of action?" asked Selene.
Mack was quiet. He weighed his options carefully. Confronting the Kent's at their home would be unwise especially if Clark was as protective of his parents as they were of him and if Lionel was right then chances are there would be another attack to night were good. But the number of people that fit the category of brave was too high for them to track them all even in a small town. That left only Lionel's suggestion.
"Our next course will be to help a current investigation" said Mack. "I have it on good authority that Kent and one Ms. Sullivan, are tracking a rash of attacks that fit the MO of Barbus the demon Dominous resurrected for the ritual. I also have the location of were the attacks took place. Most likely we will find Kent or someone who can lead us to him."
"When did you get this information?" asked Cleo.
"Lionel Luther and yes I know taking help from someone like him is asking for trouble but at the moment we have nothing else to go on so if anyone has a problem state it now" said Mack.
Everyone seemed to start to say something but then stopped just before the words left thier mouths. They had hit a brick wall and the only way through was the tunnel provided by a repentent felon.
"None of us like the idea of trusting Luther but it seems we have no other choice" said Michal reluctantly.
"Thankyou" said Mack gratefully.
"So how do we handle this each of us take a location?" asked Selene as Mack told them what had been going on in Smallville.
"No, I want Michael to go to the sheriff and see what he can get from them" said Mack.
Michael looked at him. "They're not just going to say 'Here take all the information you need about our investigation'" he said sarcastically.
"That's why man came up with the idea of PIs" said Mack. "While you handle that Cleo you take the two most recent sites," Mack handed her the addresses. "Selene, take this one and I'll handle the first site."
With that Selene and Cleo headed down the alleyways, Mack headed across the street and then took to the nearest alley. Michael went back to the car and made for the Sheriff's office.
It was late afternoon when Mack finally made it to the sight of the first crime. Not that it was far away but difficult to find. An abandoned warehouse in the old industrial area of the town that was once part of the Luthercorp plant but got shut down for budget cuts.
The site was clean as far as clues went. Any shoe prints were stamped out by the police, and Mack's enhanced Guyver vision brought up no finger prints. But there was an oddity he found a burnt circle on the floor, like a fire burned there. The only problem was that no remnants of it remained. Police might have taken a sample for testing but never the whole thing and even if they did there would be a little something left behind.
At that moment his cell beeped. Switching it to walkie talkie he picked up.
"Radner, what's up?"
It wasCleo on the other end. " I finishedmy twoareas search and found nothing except that a fire seemed to have burned,Selene said she found the same thing as well at her location."
"Make it at all four sites" said Mack.
"Yours also, we're guessing Barbus used some kind of magical fire for some reason?" asked Selene.
"Not likely, Barbus is known for using hellfire for teleportation purposes" said Mack. His phone then beeped in on his second line.
"I'll call back Selene, it must be Michael" said Mack as he switched lines.
"Mack, I just got out of the station and I was able to get a look at some of the evidence. I hate to say this but I think we may have a copy cat on the loose" said Michael.
Mack groaned and sighed heavily.
"Please tell me you're joking" said Mack.
"I wish, the police have moldings from shoe print from one of the crime scenes, size eight female, and I also got a look at one of the victims. The hand print on them had a thin indentation about a half a centimeter above the finger and they found a chip of red nail polish at one of the sights. So unless Barbus has become a cross dresser we have to assume there is another attacker out there most likely female" said Michael.
"Great, just great" said Mack. Before he could say more though a sound of a tinkling glass caught his ear; He was not alone.
"Michael contact Selene and Cleo let them know what you found then tell them tomeet upwith me here at my location, in ten minutes" said Mack.
"What is it?" asked Michael in a worried tone.
"Nothing major I hope" said Mack. He then hung up and then hid himself quietly in a dark alcove.
After ten minutes or so a young woman about seventeen came from down the alleyway from her own hiding place and investigated the circle. Her back was to him but in the late afternoon light he could see she had shoulder length blonde hair as well as a camera. She was taking pictures of the site. Deciding she meant no harm Mack stepped out of his alcove. But no sooner did she hear him that she spun around and getting out a can of mace from her bag sprayed him full in the face.
Mack was pissed. Not pissed enough to let loose the full wrath of his powers but pissed off enough to start cursing like a sailor.
"Ahhh...shit...goddamnit!" yelled Mack in serious pain.
"Who are you?" asked the blonde as Mack stumbled back.
"Some one who does not warrant being sprayed with mace" Mack yelled as he tried to clear his eyes. "Now you mind telling me who the hell you are!" he asked.
"I'm the one with the mace so you'll answer my questions" she said threateningly pointing the can directly at his face.
At this point Mack was considering heavily transforming and scaring her to death. But thankfully he didn't have to for as soon as she uttered her threat Mack heard the cocking of a gun.
"I would drop the can right now" said Selene.
The girl turned and saw the gun pointed directly at her knee. She immediately dropped the mace can which Mack kicked far from the girls reach.
"Thanks for the save Selene" said Mack as he got the last of the mace out of his eyes and thanking god that it didn't work as well on Guyvers as it did humans.
He then turned his attention to his attacker. Now lacking her weapon she looked terrified and cringed as Mack looked at her. His anger subsiding slightly he sighed heavily.
"You don't have to do that we're not going to harm you" he said heavily.
"You're not?" she said in mild surprise.
"No we're not, yell at you for hitting me with mace maybe but we are not going to harm you" said Mack.
Straightening herself up, she looked at both Mack and Selene. Mack could see she was slightly intimidated.
"So what are you guys exactly?" she asked trying to break the awkward silence.
"What do you mean 'what are we'?" asked Selene coldly.
The girl huffed "What is with you super powered types, just because the rest of us don't have powers you think we're all stupid!"
"Umm… superpowers…" said Mack trying to defuse the situation. If she yelled any louder people could overhear them.
"Don't give me any of that 'I have no idea of what you're talking about' crap I get enough of that from Clark!" she yelled.
"Clark! You don't mean Clark Kent do you?" asked Selene.
The girl nodded.
"By any chance you wouldn't happen to be Chloe Sullivan would you?" asked Mack.
"And if I am?" she asked in response.
"Then you might be able to help us get in contact with him, we kind of need his help" said Mack.
"And just what kind of help do you need him for?" asked Chloe suspiciously.
"The classified kind" said Selene coldly.
She gave them both a look that said plainly "You've got to do better then that."
"I see the term classified has no meaning for you" said Mack. "Okay we can't tell you everything but I can say this, we need his help to save the world."
"You're serious. You need him to help save the world from danger as in meteor falling to earth we're all going the way of the dinosaurs kind of danger" she said with a slight laugh.
"No, more of the evil genius kind" said Mack indulgingly.
She stared at both Mack and Selene piercingly. Mack could see she was noting everything about them. Trying to find something that said she could trust them or not.
"How does Clark make this seem so easy" she said to herself. "Fine, yes I am Chloe Sullivan, and yes I know about Clark, and yes I can tell you how to get in contact with him" said Chloe.
Mack chuckled to himself. "About time you decided" he said to himself with a laugh.
"Today is Friday, Mrs. Kent usually has Lana close up for her early so she can get home and cook the Friday night family dinner" said Chloe.
"So Clark will be on his way to the Talon to pick her up" said Selene.
"We should make contact before that, the last thing we want is more innocent lives involved then needed" said Mack.
"This Lana is she an employee of the Talon?" asked Selene.
"She used to run until she went to Paris for the summer and offered Mrs. Kent to take over for her. Now though she's a tenet, there's an apartment on the second floor she has" said Chloe.
"Then we should avoid talking there at all cost" said Selene.
"Agreed, Selene, I want you, Michael, and Cleo to keep watch for Kent when you see him call me up and I'll make contact, Miss. Sullivan any advice?" asked Mack.
"Yeah, first drop the Miss. Sullivan crap, it's Chloe. Second, do not make Clark think you're here to hurt or exploit him, or worse any one he cares about. Third take me along, if Clark sees you have my trust then he'll be more likely to trust you" said Chloe.
"But we don't really have your trust, do we?" asked Selene.
"I trust Clark, if he gives you the okay then you'll have my trust" said Chloe.
"Right, Selene call Michael tell him the change in plans, I'll stay with Chloe" said Mack. With that Mack motioned Chloe to lead the way.
It was almost eight when a League member spotted Clark in the Family pickup heading for the Talon. Mack sat in Chloe's BMW Bug quietly waiting and letting the tension between them grow. Chloe was still trying to figure Mack out and Mack was trying not to reveal more then needed. So for the past three hours Mack had been dodging questions about himself and his associates; so when the signal came Mack could quickly responded.
"He's coming up from the south west of town, probably came strait from the farm" said Cleo who was watching first check point at the edge of Main St.
Their set up was simple it was eight miles from the Talon to the town's edge in the direction of the Kent farm and another eight or soto the farm. Cleo was placed at the town's edge and Selene and Michael had taken position at the half way point. About five minutes later Selene with her superior eyes spotted the blue pickup about two miles off from her position.
Suddenly it stopped and a cry reached her ears. Clark had pulled over and rushed off to help. But for Selene and Michael all they saw of him was a red blur issue from the truck's cab and speed off.
Michael quickly alerted Mack "We have a situation."
Mack listened as Michael told him what happened. "Investigate with caution, I'll be along as quickly as I can" said Mack.
Mack quickly got out of Chloe's car and checked the area; no one was around except them.
"What is it Mack?" asked Chloe as she got out of the car.
"Chloe can keep a secret?" asked Mack.
"Yeah; Why?"
"Because now I ask you to keep mine" he said then turned and called out "Guyver!"
Chloe gasped in shock as the neural tendrils burst from the base of Mack's neck coiling and enwrapping his form. Then she watched horrified as the tendrils began to conform to his shape and become armor. Upon completion Mack turned to face her, steam from his vents issued out as the spike rose out of his helm. All Chloe could do was stare at him and catch her reflection in the metal orb placed squarely on his forehead.
"Tell, no one" said Mack in an unintentionally menacing tone.
Chloe nodded terrified at what would happen if she said no.
"I'll be in contact just in case, so stay close" and with that he turned and manipulating a dial like orb on his belt (if you could call it a belt, it was really a stretch of armor in the area a belt would be) began to rise into the air and took off in the general direction Clark was coming from.
In the alleyway however Clark's situation was becoming desperate. On his way to close up the Talon for his mom he spotted a girl being attacked by an old man dressed all in black. He immediately pulled over and attempted to help but as soon as the man was gone and he went to help the girl up from the ground she placed a hand over his heart and said some thing he could not longer remember but suddenly he began to weaken like when he was exposed to green Kryptonite only slower. His vision clouded and became black. Suddenly there before him was one of his best friends Lana Lang. But she was different she was in a hospital gown and clutched a glowing jagged chunk of green Kryptonite.
"Your fault, you killed them" said Lana.
"No I…" stuttered Clark as he backed away in fright.
"You forced me to move away" said a voice behind him. Clark turned to see it was his friend Pete who had moved away two years ago. He too carried a jagged chunk of Kryptonite.
"You lost us a baby" said another pair of voices. Clark didn't have to turn to see who it was. He had heard those voices for as long as he could remember, it was the voice of his parents.
"You broke my heart" said Chloe's voice.
"You lied to me" said the voice of his friend Lex Luther.
"You imprisoned me" said the voice of Lionel Luther.
More and more voices saying horrible things. The pressure was so immense that for all his strength he collapsed underneath it.
What Clark didn't know was that he was unconscious. Barbus picked himself off the ground were Clark had thrown him and looked at the scene before him. The alien was out and the girl he had turned from mire freak into a demon was feeding on him. Through his fears his life would leave him and the earth would fall to his employer.
"So much power, so much" said the girl.
"Do not stop until you have it all, then be ready I'm sure that scream he let out will attract those insufferable do-gooders" said Barbus.
"When I'm done I will feed on them" she said as she convulsed slightly in pleasure.
"Good, now to the business at hand" with that Barbus flamed out.
Fallowing his departure was Michael and Selene's arrival fallowed closely by Mack.
"Since when can you fly?" asked Michael.
"The Guyver is equipped with an anti-gravity field generator; I only use it when running would raise too many questions and time is of the essance, and from the looks of this I was right" said Mack as the armor retracted back into his body, after which he looked down at the girl who was slowly killing Clark.
"Well then let us not waste any time then" said Selene as she pulled out her gun and loaded it with standard hallow point bullets.
"That won't work" said Mack as he lowered Selene's arm as she took aim.
"And why is that?" she asked.
"Because there's a link between their minds, killing one would effectively kill them both unless you first sever the connection" said Mack.
"And how do you propose that, Selene only has slight telepathic abilities and I have none, so unless you have another trick up your sleeve…"
Mack interrupted, "I do, Guyver's can link telepathically with other Guyvers in a form of collective consciousness so what one knows all the others know, using that I might be able to hack that link and sever it from within but only for so long, but once severed though it will be up to you two to physically cut it."
"Physically cut it?" asked Michale.
"Of course the link is forged through contact if she is no longer touching then she wouldn't reconnect when Mack is unable to block her any more" said Selene.
"That's the hope any way, if the link is forged through contact they just have to be separated, but…"
"What?" asked Selene, as she interrupted Mack with a hard glare.
"Well let's just say that if the link is not forged through physical means then no amount of distance could sever it" answered Mack.
"Then we would have to kill her then?" asked Selene.
"Not necessarily" said Michael. "If we were to cause her to black out for any length of time then the link would sever itself in order to divert all of the body's energy to regaining consciousness."
"But wouldn't killing her be safer for all involved?" asked Selene.
"Yes it would but we need to question her first so go easy her" said Mack and with out another word called out his armor again. Once transformed he gazed down at the two figures below and suddenly there was a click as something disengaged from within Mack's armor. Michael and Selene watched as the shining orb on Mack forehead began to extend outward like a grotesque antenna. Once it had stopped the orb began a series of pulsations first fast, then slow, and faster again until it finally settled into an easy rhythm. They both took it as a sign that Mack was now trying to break the link.
The strangest thing about hacking mental links was how you perceived it and for Mack it was strange in deed. Many people would perceive such a link as a wall to be cracked but Mack was not most people, no he saw the link as a building ,the vary familiar building belonging to Kronos back home.
"Okay Mack, this is how you perceive the link between Clark and the girl now were would you think the hart of it would be?" he asked himself.
He didn't have to wait for an answer, he already knew it. If this was how he perceived it then the hart of the link would be at the top right were Smith's office would be. So with that in mind he began the ascent up stairs and elevators toward the CEO's office. After several traps and dead ends he reached his target. The oak double doors he had broken into so many times and that annoying plaque which said "Trevor Smith Esq. CEO Kronos Corp."
Mack stepped towards them and placed his hands on the brass handles and took a deep breath and pushed. No sooner then he did when the illusion of Kronos broke and it went dark. He awoke to find himself in a black room and saw figures all holding glowing green rocks and beating down on something or someone.
Once his eyes had focused and adjusted to the dark he could make out the person being beaten. It was Clark and from the looks of the cuts on him he had been beaten for at least two days. Mack rose to his feet and tried to pull the attackers off him but to no avail. They just ignored him and continued beating the young man.
"Okay, time for something less surgical" said Mack to himself. "Just remember they aren't the real thing, just visions, they aren't real." Grabbing the nearest attacker he spun her and laid a punch into her stomach. Instead of hitting flesh her skin cracked like an eggshell that reveled a thick tar like inside. He then got a look at the face of the attacker it was image of Chloe Sullivan. After he pulled out his fist the Chloe illusion she crashed to the floor into a thousand pieces and evaporated into dust.
Once she was gone the other images turned to Mack. Almost all of these faces were in Clark's file. His parents, his best friend Lex Luther, and his father Lionel, there was even his friend Pete Ross who left Smallville in order to live a normal life. But now these nightmarish clones turned from Clark and began attacking hard.
These visions were strong but easily defeated. Mack assumed that how easily they were defeated depended on how much Clark believed consciously they would actually do this. His parents were by far the easiest a light chop to the shoulder caused them to collapse into a sickening puddle of the tar substance. Pete fell much same as the fake Chloe did with an eggshell like crunch. The fake Lex and Lionel were harder like dinosaur eggs but eventually they did as well. The unknown girl was by far the hardest. Her shell felt like steel when struck but every hit made a small dent also she was the most accurate with her glowing stone dagger. She was quick were the other had been slow and lumbering. So deciding to end this fight Mack thrust all his power into one shot enough to put a hole through a steel door and enough to shatter the illusion into a thousand dissolving pieces.
Once the last illusion was down the room shuddered and a faint cry of "Nooooo!" could be heard. The link was severed now it was up to Michael and Selene.
Outside in the real world only ten minutes had passed when Michael and Selene heard the attack call out "No, get out, he's mine!"
"That's our cue" said Michael.
"I'll keep a line of sight on her if she tries to run, you'll take her out?" asked Selene.
Michael nodded but didn't answer he was already in the throws of transforming. He had tossed aside his jacket and shirt in order to spare them from tearing. And now his bare skin was becoming thick like a rhino's hide and blue-grey in color. His fingers became long and clawed and his body became lean and muscular. Also the sicken crunch as his bones shifted to support him. His teeth became like long and white, like pearl knives. And last his brown eyes gave way to deep white less eyes the color of obsidian.
He let out a fierce howl and leaped from the building to the ally below. The girl spotted him and became over come with terror. Keeping her one hand on Clark's chest she fired what looked like an energy ball at him. It hit but though thatthickhide it only slightly singed him. But the hybrid became enraged and leapt for her pulling her away from Clark and slamming her against the wall.
He was about to lay out the killing blow when a fierce bobcat like roar reached his ears. Suddenly a feral appeared behind him. He let out a fierce roar to scare it off. Instead it stood there and changed it became the form of his friend Cleo. Her being there awoke in him his human half and the rage of being attacked subsided. They needed her alive for now. So he held her against the wall and Cleo approached.
"I'm gone fifteen minutes and you all go nuts on me" she said loud enough for both Selene and Michael to hear.
She was grateful though that Selene had text messaged her and told her all she needed to know. Now came here specialty interrogation.
"Okay, Madam mind reader here's the deal you cooperate you stay in one piece, you don't and my fiend here gets a new chew toy, okay?" The girl nodded still too terrified to speak.
"Good now as a show of good faith permanently sever the link between you and your victims" demanded Cleo.
The girl looked back and forth between her captors with a look of boiling hatred she closed her eyes for about a minute and when they opened she sputtered out "Done."
Cleo looked toward the spot were Mack had stood motionless. Suddenly he dropped to a knee and his armor retracted. He looked down toward Cleo and gave her the "All's okay" sign.
"Good girl, now what are you?" asked Cleo.
"Meteor freak, I was exposed to them and they caused me to start feeding on the fear of others. I usually just hung out in ally ways waiting to come upon some unsuspecting dupe and scare them then feed. But it was never enough then about four months ago Barbus appeared and turned me into a fear demon like him and took me far away so I could learn my new powers. I forced people to live their worst fears and I fed. I lived far from here until Barbus brought me back here said 'I needed to repay my due to him' by distracting Kent from something he had planned" she said.
"What was it he had planned?" asked Cleo fiercely.
"Something to do with that girl from the Talon Lana Lang and releasing some one named Isabel" with that fire burst around her engulfing her and burning Michael's hand that was still at her throat.
In that burning blaze she was gone leaving nothing but a few ashes and a charred spot on the wall. The severity of the burn caused Michael to revert to his human form and in the process cause his reforming human skin to heal the burn. Mack and Selene rejoined Michael and Cleo.
"Well this makes things worse" said Mack.
Michael as soon as he was fully human again went to examine Clark. "He's unconscious but he'll live, I recommend we get him some place safe."
Mack quickly took out his cell and contacted Chloe. When she arrived and saw Clark unconscious she rushed over yelling "What happened?"
Michael calmly explained and soon with Mack help carried him over to Chloe's BMW for transport home.
"I'll go with him make sure he's safe and explain everything to the Kent's" said Michael and with that he and Chloe rode off toward the Kent farm while Mack and the others went to investigate the Talon.
No sooner did they arrive at the Talon then they were thrown back across the street by an enormous blast of energy. Barely conscious Mack saw to figures exit the wreck. They walked purposely towards them Mack pretended to be out.
"You can't get good help these days" said a southern singsong voice.
"Well Barbus looks like that little retch of yours failed" said the female voice.
"And neither of us are in any place to stop them my dear Isabel, so they remain alive for now but never fear" and with that Barbus passed his hand over Mack's face and looked at it like he was watching something and smiled. "We'll see you soon" and with that they flamed out.
Mack waited about a minute before he opened his eyes. Barbus and the female were gone. To where was unknown but he was sure who the girl was Lana Lang but why had Barbus called her Isabel. He put these questions aside for the moment while he checked on Selene and Cleo.
After he woke them they had to scramble out of sight to avoid the police. Almost an hour and a half later the police investigators had dispersed enough for them to slip away to the car parked about two blocks away in an ally.
"Our first major test as a team and already we've screwed up" said Mack as they rolled into the Kent Farm about forty minutes later tired, bruised, and in an over all down trodden mood.
"Well at least nothing else can go wrong" said Cleo halfheartedly as they exited the car.
No sooner did they knock when the door opened when they found themselves starring down a twin barrel shot gun being aimed by a weather worn farmer in his late forties. He was clad all in denim with a thick leather belt and work boots.
"Keep those hands where I can see them" he said.
Suddenly though a rush of feet came behind him and he saw Michael his shirt sleeves rolled up like he was in the middle of operating and a worried Chloe.
"It's alright Mr. Kent they're with me" said Chloe slightly relieved.
Mr. Kent lowered the shot gun and let Mack and company, enter the kitchen. Immediately Mack went over to Michael and asked him about Clark.
"He'll be fine, the girl did less damage then I thought and he heals fast. A good nights rest and he'll be good as new. But what happened at the Talon?" asked Michael.
"Too late, we were distracted long enough for what ever Barbus did to work. The strange thing was though he was not focused on Kent but on Miss. Lang but strangely enough called her Isabel…" Mack's word became interrupted by a gasp from Chloe.
"I assume that means something?" asked Mack.
Chloe seemed to be in a state of shock so Mr. Kent explained how during the summer Lana some how came to share her body with the spirit of a mid-evil French witch and that besides Kryptonite rocks was the only person on earth capable of hurting Clark.
"Bad to worse" said Mack as he stared at Cleo coldly in regards to her earlier remark.
Cleo smiled sheepishly and then went into the living room to check on Clark.
"So where's Mrs. Kent?" asked Selene trying to soften to mood slightly.
"I had businessat thetown market and picked Martha up my self, I left my cell phone athomeso I couldn't get a hold ofClark now I wish I did.Police arrived about twenty minutes before you did and told us what happened at the Talon, she headed out to check the damage" said Mr. Kent.
"Mainly the second level apartment was damaged but besides that the coffee shop is still intact" said Mack then taking out his phone he left the room.
A few minutes later he came back with his phone pocketed "I just got off with M; he said any damages will be handled by him and a repair crew will be out here in a week to fix any damages."
Mr. Kent looked gratefully at Mack and said "Thank you."
Mack only smiled; he then checked his watch it was almost eleven. "By any chance would it be too much to ask for a place to sleep tonight?" asked Mack.
With that Mr. Kent showed them to Clark's room and the Extra bed room which was vacant of its usual occupant Lois Lane who was at the time visiting her father. So shedding the grime of that night's loss the League fell into sleep waiting for an uncertain mourning.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo" was the alarm that mourning as the sun rose in the east the next mourning. Mr. and Mrs. Kent had awoken to find Clark already up and about. Michael who had kept watch with Chloe all night in rotating shifts gave him the all clear and he was out helping his dad like he always did.
About an hour later the smell of cooking breakfast roused the other league members out of sleep except Selene who slipped out in the middle of the night to feed off the stock pile of cloned blood they kept in the car. By the time they were all down stairs Clark and Mr. Kent had come in from the early mourning chores.
"So how do we handle this?" asked Cleo referring to getting Clark to help them to save the world.
"We handle it with tact, their son just got attacked, so let's give them a little time" said Mack who then walked past her to the kitchen to get something to eat.
Breakfast turned out to be not so much a talkative affair then a question and answer session between Mack and Chloe. For some reason Clark didn't mention what his attacker used against him and knew Mack was the one who saved him from becoming a vegetable. They only touched upon it when they first arrived at breakfast "Thanks" was all Clark said to Mack and then shook his hand.
Mack returned the gesture and spoke no more of the subject and no more then ten minutes into the meal Chloe began questioning him again trying to coax some Intel out of him. Clark only smiled at this and Mack becoming exasperated focused on his meal ignoring Chloe.
When the meal ended Chloe headed into town but gave Mack a cold look of suspicion. Selene and Cleo helped Mrs. Kent with the dishes Michael began packing up his equipment from examining Clark. Mr. Kent headed back outside to tend to the fields Clark was about to fallow when Mack stopped him.
"Can we talk outside" he asked.
"Yeah" said Clark and he fallowed Mack to the front porch.
Once outside Mack leaned against the rail and took a good look at Clark. It was hard for him to believe he was as strong as his file said he was or that he had any of the abilities it said he had. Some one his age should have been wondering about simpler thing hell he should have been worrying about simpler things but that was not what fate dealt them, instead it chose to make them heroes.
"Let me ask you Clark, how many times did you save a life?" he asked.
Clark smiled slightly "Too many to remember."
"Ever pull off a big save, some thing that could have effected more then just Smallville?"
Clark thought for a moment "Once or twice, Mack what are you getting at?" he asked.
"Why my crew and I are here, we came to recruit you for a mission" said Mack.
"A mission what kind of mission?" asked Clark.
"I don't have all the details for you but what I do know is that a madman called Dominous is planning a ritual to wipe all 'impure beings' from the planet" said Mack.
"'Impure beings'?" asked Clark.
"Beings of mixed blood, people like Michael are at risk of being 'cleansed' as it were just because of what they are" said Mack.
"Why, Michael seems normal enough, why would this affect him at all?" asked Clark.
"Michael is a lot more then he seems as am I and Cleo and Selene. We are all unique in some way either by birth or accident and it comes down to us to protect the world from the not so normal catastrophes" said Mack.
Clark sighed heavily. "What would happen if I say no, just tell you to walk away and not bother us again, what would you do?" asked Clark.
"We leave, never bother you again, and unfortunately continue on minus one super powered teen that can most likely do things that we won't be able to do other wise" said Mack honestly.
"And if I do?" asked Clark.
"We head out as soon as possible to finish gathering our League together so we can combat this threat" responded Mack.
Clark was silent for a moment in deep thought "How the hell am I going to explain this to my parents, how am I going to explain this to Chloe without reveling my self to her?"
Mack smiled; Clark didn't know that Chloe had already figured him out. Probably figured he would tell her everything when he was ready. Well no time like the present to come clean.
"My advice be honest with Chloe, she might surprise you, as for your parents that's up to you to decide" said Mack sagely "We'll plan on leaving tonight give you a chance to set things in order."
Clark thanked him and then went inside to deliver probably the hardest news he would ever have to give.
It turned out Mr. and Mrs. Kent weren't as bad about Clark leaving to the save the world as Mack assumed. Yes, Mrs. Kent cried that her baby was leaving but none the less helped in packing up his luggage. Mr. Kent seemed more a combination of pride that his son was doing something for the well being of all mankind but couldn't handle that he wouldn't be there to help.
Chloe on the other hand turned out to be a problem. Clark came clean about what he was and that he was leaving to help save the world. But about four hours before they were to leave Chloe came up to the farm in her red BMW suitcase and lap top in hand and a thermos of coffee in the other.
"Uh, Chloe what are you doing?" asked Clark as he put down the luggage he was carrying.
"Coming with" she said with a smile.
Mack who was also helping with the luggage dropped his case with a thud "Excuse me?"
"I'm coming with you" she repeated slowly for Mack.
"Uh, no you are not" said Mack as calmly as he could.
Clark sensing trouble on the horizon quickly picked up his case and the one Mack was carrying and put them in the trunk.
"Yes I am" responded Chloe still smiling.
"Listen Miss. Sullivan, Chloe; what we are doing is not your typical meteor freak attack. These are dangerous forces that could possible kill you or worse, so please stay here!" said Mack firmly.
"Okay, now you listen, when those meteor freaks attack who does Clark go to for info me, why? Because I'm the best at it; system that needs to be hacked, I can do it or know some one who can, Information needed, I know were to find it, and when it comes to a friend risking his life I'll be there to back him up like it or not Mister Radner I'm going with you either fallowing you in my car or as a passenger in yours" she said with cold determination.
Mack was flustered; normally he would have been aggravated to the point of scarring her off with a transformation but now didn't have the hart to do it.
"We need some one to run the terminal we have tied in to the government and media, I suppose you'd be better at reading in between the lines then any of us would but I'm in charge, you take orders from me and no one else. And in combat you stay in the car and not get involved unless needed" said Mack in a lack luster defeated tone.
"Understood sir" said Chloe with a mock salute. With that she stowed her luggage in the car.
Mack trudged into the house mumbling how long this trip would be. Once inside He came face to with Clark "She's coming with isn't she?" he asked with a smile.
"No choice, she said she would have fallowed us if didn't take her, this way at least we can keep an eye on her" said Mack exhaustedly.
"Chloe usually gets her way, no matter what" said Clark.
Mack took a seat at the kitchen table and said again with a slight weep "This is going to be a long trip."
A/n: Okay we have Kent and an unexpected recruit along for the ride. Thing are getting interesting. Coming up the chapter all you Talia/Charmed fans are waiting for. The League is in San Francisco in:
Ch 5: The Wiccan Way