Resistance

"Mom!" Clark called, coming into the silent house. Power was still out, and even the generator Jonathan Kent had installed some years ago had not kicked on. "Mom!" His skin was sore and his muscles ached, but worse still, Clark felt a horrible fear that something was terribly wrong.

"Here, honey.." He heard his mother's voice, faint and weak sounding coming from the couch. Moving into the living room, Clark, already fatigued and worn from his flight from the Phantom Zone, struggled to keep his composure when he saw his mother. She was covered with the black, venomous lesions she had when that Kryptonian virus had attacked her last year. "Oh, Clark…."

"What happened?" Clark knelt beside the couch, and Martha raised a hand to touch his face.

"I was getting ready to leave for that educational summit in Washington, and I felt sick. I made Lois bring me home, and I've been here ever since. Oh, Clark, it hurts…" She moaned, and Clark brushed the hair from her forehead.

"I have to try and help you, Mom. I can't leave you like this." Clark said, and Martha gritted her teeth against the wave of pain that wracked her. "But I can't stay either."

"I know." Martha gasped, clinging to Clark's hand. "Professor Fine was here, Clark, an hour ago. He said you'd know where to find him. He said all of humanity would suffer like I am if you didn't do what he said…" Her eyes rolled back in her head. "Get the kryptonite, Son…it's the only thing that helps."

"Right.." Clark stood, and without thinking went to the closet where his parents had always kept a chunk of Kryptonite in a lead box. His hand met the doorknob, when suddenly Clark remembered the last time his mother had suffered from this she had been reluctant to use the Kryptonite, because of it's effect on him. Turning, Clark looked back at his mother's form on the couch, apparently in desperate pain. He opened the closet, held it open for a moment and then closed it again. "Not here. Did you move it?"

"Oh, honey, it HAS to be there." Martha said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "I'm desperate, Clark!"

"I'll bet you are." Clark snapped, jumping over the couch. "Did you think you could fool me again, Fine?"

"Martha" sat up, the blemishes on her face fading. "Very good, Kal-El." Slowly, Fine appeared, melting out of Martha Kent's face and body. He rose from the couch, brushing himself off.

"Much faster than when I took on the form of your dearly departed Jonathan Kent." Fine nodded. "My master wasn't quite expecting you back this quickly. Those committed to the Phantom Zone generally stay there for a much longer time."

"Yeah, well, there was a loophole in my prison sentence." Clark replied. "I wasn't actually guilty of anything. Except for being too easy for you to predict."

"The whole clan of El has been easy to predict. From your father, who warned against my potential and was laughed at, to you, championing a planet of lesser beings. Comically tragic, the nobility and righteousness of the House of El. However, my master has a proposition for you, Kal-El. One I think you should seriously consider." Fine eyed Clark critically. "You should first make yourself ready to be in his presence, Kal-El. It is important to the safety of Martha Kent and the rest of this mudball you call home that you do come. You can find my master in the LuthorCorp building. " Fine bowed and then sped away, a white flash of light.

"Well," Oliver Queen said into his headset mic, "There's Smallville."

'I've never been so glad to see it in my whole life." Chloe sighed, looking back at Lionel Luthor, who had fallen asleep after the helicopter took off. "I don't think Lionel is doing well, Oliver."

"I'm thinking a trip to Podunk General isn't going to be much help if they're without power." Oliver replied. "We'll get him home first and then see what we can do there. Who did you have to come here to find?"

Chloe was looking out, searching for landmarks. "Turn right, Oliver. We need to get to the Kent farm first."

"Farm? What are you going to do, check on pork futures first hand? Chloe, Lionel Luthor needs some serious down time. Gallivanting all over the county really shouldn't be on his to do list." Queen turned the helicopter to the right, and soon enough Chloe could see the Kent barn. The big gaping holes in the barn roof did nothing to ease Chloe's mind about what she would find when she got there, and silently she prayed that Clark would be alright. "Bring it down here!" Chloe called out urgently, and then, seeing Clark come out into the front yard, began to wave frantically, her heart pounding.

"Chloe." Clark looked up, and seeing her face in the helicopter, remembered the kiss they had parted with. Their relationship had always been the example of what bad timing was all about, but this time, if the world was coming to an end, Clark wanted Chloe at his side. The helicopter touched down, and Chloe bounded out, hurling herself into his arms, nearly knocking Clark over.

"Clark!" She reached up and kissed him deeply,hungry with relief. "I saw the barn and I didn't know what to think!"

"Chloe." He touched her face gently almost not sure whether to believe it was truly Chloe. "It is really you, isn't it? Are you okay? I was trapped in the Phantom Zone, just got free…" Clark broke off, seeing the tall man who had piloted the helicopter getting out and then reaching in to pull Lionel Luthor from the back seat. "Who is that?"

"That is the man who rescued me." Chloe said, rolling her eyes. "Oliver Queen, full time tycoon, part time do-gooder. "

"Oh, really?" Clark asked, smiling. "Are you making a collection of do-gooders?"

"Yeah, right." Chloe grinned back. "I don't know what would have happened to me or Lionel if he hadn't shown up, Clark. The mob had Lionel tied to a car and well, I'd rather not think about what could have happened to me. Metropolis is falling apart, and…." She stopped, hearing Oliver's footsteps in the grass behind her.

Oliver walked toward them, carrying Lionel. "Before we get caught up in the pleasantries, I need a place to set Luthor down. He's pretty badly traumatized."

"In the house." Clark said, turning to lead the way inside. Oliver looked over at Chloe and noting her completely distracted expression, shook his head. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where Chloe's interests lie. The broad, bare back of the farmer held her interest like nothing else had since Oliver had met her. I wonder if he feels the same, Oliver thought, as Clark led them to what had to be his own room. The younger man motioned to the bed, and gave Lionel a curious glance, as if he wasn't sure what he was seeing.

"Put him here." Clark instructed, turning around to rifle through a drawer. He pulled out a red t-shirt and put it on. Clark emerged from the neck of the t-shirt, and locked eyes with Chloe, who blushed slightly and looked away. Snorting, Oliver walked past them and put Lionel down on the bed. With a eloquent look at Chloe, Oliver left the room.

"I'll be downstairs, if anyone is interested, you know, stranger in town, don't know anyone..." He gave Chloe a gentle tap on the shoulder, but she barely registered it.

"Okay, Oliver…" Chloe said, her eyes on Clark.

For a moment, they stared at each other, and then began to speak at the same time.

"Clark, before you…,"

"Chloe, I…." Both grinning, Clark nodded. "Go ahead, Chlo', you go first."

"About the whole Daily Planet thing," Chloe began, "And before, I was just so glad to see you. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. About my expectations, I mean. I know you are still not over Lana, and the world is still crumbling down around us, so, desperation makes people do strange things, right?" Chloe closed her eyes and shook her head. "As far as I can see, nothing between us has to change. Still friends."

"Oh." Clark blinked, surprised. "Okay, Chloe. If that's what you want." He reached out and took her hand. "I'm really glad you're okay." He turned to look over at Lionel, who was stirring.

"Clark.." Lionel opened his eyes, and struggled to get up. "Son, you need to get up to the Fortress. It needs to be purified before you can use it's power to defeat Zod."

"Zod has my mother." Clark informed Lionel. "I can't let him hurt her."

"You have to worry about the whole world." Lionel rejoined gently. "Your mother would not want you to save her at such a cost."

"Clark, Lionel is right." Chloe put her hand on Clark's arm. "The good news is, we're all together now, and we can help."

"I can't let anything happen to any of you. It's too risky." Clark began, looking from Chloe to Lionel. There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind them, and Clark turned, to see Chloe's friend standing in the doorway, casually drinking a glass of water.

"If I get a vote," Oliver spoke from the doorway, after swallowing his water. "And I do, since I'm in this up to my neck now, whatever is causing this problem may be too big for some farmer to handle alone, no offense. You're going to need all the help you can get. I'm in."

Clark shook his head. "Listen, Oliver, I appreciate everything you've done so far, but this is something I have to handle alone."

"No, you listen, kid." Queen walked into the room and came face to face with Clark. "I'm kinda sketchy on the details, but it seems to me that you aren't really in a position to tell me no. Besides, I can't go home until the airways are cleared. I'm stuck here for the duration." He smiled over at Chloe and winked. "Aren't you glad, Goldielocks?"

"Thrilled." Chloe snarked, but Clark felt his heart sink just a little. The smile shared between Chloe and Oliver Queen sent up sparks that would have been visible even from the Phantom Zone.

Zod stood over the bed where Lana Lang slept, worn out from her heartbroken sobs of grief. The human had shown amazing loyalty and devotion, and Zod found himself wondering about her appropriateness as bait for Kal-El. Promising him the love and slavish adoration of this broken, grief stricken creature barely seemed worth the effort. Again, Zod considered keeping her as a pet, for Ursa to use or abuse, at her will. Perhaps, in time, once Kal-El had freed himself from the Phantom Zone, this girl would have spent some of her misery.

"My lord." Brain-IAC's voice was hushed and reverential. "I bring news."

"Speak." Zod moved away from the bed, any further consideration of the sleeping human was forgotten.

"It is about Kal-El, my lord." Brain-IAC began, emotionless. "He has freed himself from the Phantom Zone, and is now in that small village he was raised in."

"He escaped? So soon?" Zod nodded. "He IS his father's son." Approval crept into Zod's voice. That would make the revenge more satisfying.

"Did you doubt that, my lord?" The artificial intelligence seemed to sneer. "The clan of El has always been resourceful."

"Indeed." Zod considered this. "He will be planning his next move. Where is the human he calls mother?"

"Safe, my lord, along with another human female that is significant to him. She dwelled with his family as a foster sister. Such a bond will not go ignored by Kal-El." Brain-IAC paused. "The Oracle still is at large, my lord. It's presence is very dangerous to your cause."

"It is faulty. It's host was not prepared properly." Zod waved a hand . "That body will continue to weaken, and eventually die."

"But, Lord, the Oracle can give Kal-El the means to defeat you." Brain-IAC protested. "The Oracle is the key to regaining control of the console."

"Let it." Zod's face filled with wrath, and Brain-IAC dropped his eyes. "All of the Council could not defeat me on Krypton without stripping me of my body. On Krypton, I was a man, fallable and weak. On this planet, I am more than I was on Krypton. I am a god. I am not worried about Kal-El regaining the console. As a matter of fact, it is my wish that he does. The more powerful he becomes before he faces me, the more satisfying it will be to destroy him."

Lois opened her eyes. Her head was pillowed on Martha Kent's legs, and they were still on the plane. She raised a hand to her face, a tight bud of pain blooming behind her eye.

"Lois, honey, don't try and move a whole lot." Martha said gently. "You took a pretty nasty hit on the head."

"Yeah, that bastard." Lois growled, sitting up. "I swear, it felt like a tap at the time, but now I could swear I got hit with a sledge hammer." She tenderly touched the large, dark bruise on the side of her face. "It's swollen, right?"

Martha looked at it. "Oh, Lois!" Martha got to her feet. "I'll see if there is any ice in the galley. You poor thing."

"I wish I could say 'you should have seen the other guy' but," Lois looked around the cabin. "Where IS the other guy?"

"I don't know." Martha's voice came back to Lois from the galley. "He comes and goes."

"Where are we?" Lois stood uneasily and shuffled over to one of the windows. "You said he comes and goes?"

"Yes." Lois could hear Martha working with the ice. "Why?"

"Because unless he had a sled dogs and a supply of blubber, he can't have gone far." Wind slammed against the window, and Lois jumped back startled. Beyond the window lay an icy wasteland, with no visible signs of life. "Unless we start seeing elves, I'd better get the radio going.."

"Put this on your face." It was a man's voice, and Lois turned, startled. Their captor stood just behind her, holding a makeshift ice bag. "And unfortunately, the radio is malfunctioning."

"Where is Mrs. Kent?" Lois asked, reaching for one of the seats closest to the window, trying to get her balance.

"She is safe." Fine held out the icebag. "It will not do for you to have any blemishes. My master would never forgive me."

"Your master?" Lois took the icebag slowly. "Okay, buddy. I don't care if you answer to a dog whistle and drink out of the toilet. I want to know where Martha Kent is."

"Waiting for her son to come, of course." Fine answered reasonably. "That's all."

"She was here just a minute ago..." Lois began, and bringing the icebag to her head, she flopped down into the leather seat. "I'm hallucinating or something."

Fine looked down at Lois, his face stony. "If all goes according to plan, you will be reunited with Martha Kent soon enough."

It was a little scientist convicted for illegal genetic experimentation that told Lex how Zod had managed to escape from the Phantom Zone. He also let drop several of his key findings and Lex smilingly listened, making mental notes, banking on the day he got out of this void. Ursa had not really been much help. Her anger at Zod clouded any ability she may have had to see the bigger picture. It didn't really matter, of course, Lex thought, as he drifted past the convicts. Being physically insubstantial had it's high points. All the same, Lex had planted the seeds of his resistance movement, and now just had to wait for them to come to bear. Looking out through the transparent wall, Earth loomed, glowing blue and green against the blackness of the universe around it.

"It's all very Zen." Lex said to no one. "Very enlightening."

"That was the point." Lex heard the voice and then out of the gloom it's owner materialized. A spirit being, like Lex. In a physical body, this man must have stood well over six feet tall, and something about his face was very familiar. "There have been very few of your kind who could truly understand." The spirit smiled gently, wisely, and Lex recognized the resemblance, so much so he could not believe it had not been apparent immediately.

"You're his father." Lex whispered, shocked. "You're Jor-El."

"I am an imprint of Jor-El." The spirit being replied. "For your purposes, however, it is the same."

"But you're dead. That much I know. I've learned alot here." Lex suddenly felt very small, a child caught playing with things forbidden. "I know Clark's secret."

"Indeed." Jor-El nodded. "But at what cost? You have given yourself over to the worst kind of slavery for it. And now, what good will it do you?"

"I've heard this before." Lex laughed. "Do they hand out a book to all new fathers with these platitudes? Even an advanced race can't get past 'you sold your soul.' Somehow, I find that oddly comforting."

"You speak of your father." Jor-El drifted closer, ignoring Lex's mocking comments. "I can see into his thoughts. Lionel Luthor is allied with my son to defeat Zod. But concern for you is there, Alexander. It is as much a part of your father's soul as his own will to survive."

"Yeah, sure." Lex rolled his eyes. "You don't know Lionel Luthor very well."

"I know him well enough." Jor-El replied. "The purpose of my imprint here is to help the convicts be rehabilitated. Past circumstances allowed your father and I to spend much time together. The Phantom Zone was never meant to be permanent. Except for one prisoner."

"And he's out on the town." Lex said. "So, you're the equivalent of extra terrestrial therapy. Where's the couch?"

"Your arrogance is unwelcome." Jor-El flared, and Lex was stricken again by the resemblance between Clark and even this pale replica of Jor-El. "If you were not here in spirit, Kal-El could have saved you when he escaped. You will not be judged by me. And, until now, your crimes have served only to harm yourself." Jor-El frowned. "Curious."

"So, now what?' Lex asked, looking over at Clark's biological father. "What do we do now?"

The smile that appeared on Jor-El's insubstantial face was not like Clark's at all. It was world weary and wise where Clark's still possessed the brightness of innocence and faith. "We wait, Alexander. And just as your father guides my son, so shall I guide you."