Smallville Virtual (TC) Season Episode 15 – Pawn

"There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries"

William Shakespeare – Julius Caesar

Lois stood at Rachel's desk, sorting through the original presentation Martha had written. It was all there, in pristine condition. Only a handful people had stayed behind late tonight, mostly staffers and such clearing up before their break. Lois looked at her watch. 20:30. Martha should be in her interview with that White guy now, she thought, picking up the phone to call Rachel. Lois knew that the secretary didn't live far away and hoped Rachel would be willing to come in to help straighten this all out. Rachel's home number just rang and rang. Frowning, Lois hung up and then shook her head. Friday Night. Of course, Lois looked over at the picture of a smiling Rachel with her tall, cute, blond boyfriend and snorted derisively.

"I should have realized I was the only one with no life." She chuckled to herself, and, just as she was getting ready to walk away, Lois saw that Rachel's computer was still on. Reaching for the mouse, Lois made the screen blaze to light. "Hmmm." Lois found a diskette and popped it into the drive. She copied as many files as she could to the diskette, without opening them. Chloe would know how to find out who had last accessed that document, Lois thought, wishing her cousin were there. Lois, however, did know how to cover her butt. Not wanting to open the file on Rachel's computer, Lois took the diskette from the drive, eyeing the PC thoughtfully. Chloe wasn't there, but the IT guys were. Lois picked up the phone again, and dialed the extension for information technology. Her reputation for being all thumbs with the computer was about to come in very, very handy.

Ten minutes later, the late night IT person, looking more like he was getting ready for a night of video games and pizza than work, arrived. Lois was glad they took turns on 12 hour shifts, and she was thrilled that it was this particular IT guy. She couldn't remember his name, but he always managed to impatiently give into her computer whims.

"Hi." She said, playing at frustrated. "Sorry. I need to find out when this file was last looked at…Rachel was out today, and I wanted to back it up."

The IT guy rolled his eyes. "We did a system back up last night. I could have restored it for you if you'd lost something. When it was last looked at, huh? Trying to make sure the staff is working, Chief?" He laughed, and Lois smiled. Nate. That was his name, Lois remembered finally.

"No, Nate, it's nothing like that, exactly, but things were changed and I want to know where that happened."

"Riiiight." Nate grinned, and walked over to the desk to begin working. "Well, Rachel primarily was doing the work, but someone with a temp. i.d. accessed it yesterday afternoon. Then it was printed." He printed the history report for Lois and handed it to her.

Lois shook her head. "Temp. i.d.? We don't have any temps in this office right now."

He looked at Lois and sighed. "Your consultant has a temp. i.d. That girl from the education council working with Senator Kent on that reform thing."

"Right." Lois looked over at the consultant's cubicle. "Nate, if I buy you dinner, can you get into that computer over there and tell me where she's been sending e-mails and stuff?"

"Well, I can do that faster from the server. If it's a question of information leaking, I can do it here right now." He shrugged. "And since I'm broke, pizza is always welcome."

"I'll order the pizza." Lois grinned, and Nate nodded, going to the consultant's cubicle and getting started on the search.

With the morning sun streaming through his window, Clark opened his eyes, trying to focus on the feminine figure sitting on the end of his bed. He smiled sleepily and sat up. And though he first thought it was Lori, Chloe came into sharp focus instead. She was just sitting on the foot of the bed, not looking at him, but down at her hand.

"Chlo'?" Clark said through a yawn, and Chloe looked over at him. Her face was an odd combination of emotions Clark could not identify. She silently held up her right hand, and showed him what she had been studying so intently. A tasteful emerald and diamond ring graced the ring finger of her right hand, the center emerald so green Clark thought it was kryptonite for a moment. The diamonds were perfectly matched, twin stars of blue white light. It seemed to have been made for Chloe's hand, and Clark felt his brain spin a little. It couldn't be possible.

"Wow." Clark said, and Chloe nodded. "Does this mean…"

"No. It means that Oliver and I are a couple, I guess. We agreed that when we're ready, I'll move it to my left hand." Chloe looked down at the ring again. "It also means that Oliver is going back to Seattle and he wants me to go too."

Clark sat up more, concerned. "Seattle is pretty far away, Chloe. What about your internship?"

"I've been offered one at the Seattle Times, if I decide to stay." She informed him, her hazel eyes seeking reassurance. "Right now, I'm just going with him for a little while. Things are bad for his company, and I don't want him to face it alone. Dad is going too…needs to find someone to sublet his apartment. He's going for good. Got a job out there as a general manager for a computer manufacturer. More money than LuthorCorp ever paid him. Clark…" Chloe frowned. "Am I making a mistake? I mean, the Seattle Times is as good a paper as the Daily Planet, right?"

Clark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Right up there with the New York Times and the Gotham Herald. This isn't about the paper, though. Is it?"

Chloe reached over and pulled on his t-shirt gently, collecting her thoughts. "No. It's not just about the paper. Listen, Clark, I'm in love with Oliver and that's been a big surprise for me because I never thought I'd love anyone other than…" She looked at him squarely, blushed and then looked away. "Well, anyway, I just get the idea that if I stay here, neither of us is going to do much more growing up."

"Chloe?" Clark took her hand. "What are you talking about?"

"We depend on each other too much, Clark. You are my best friend, and you mean the world to me. If I hadn't met Oliver, we would have gladly kept things the way they were forever. It's been too comfortable, too easy." Chloe smiled. "But…" She trailed off, her expression growing soft and distant.

Clark shook her hand a little, bringing Chloe back to the conversation. "But?"

"I love Oliver." Chloe said helplessly, and Clark smiled. "I do. It's crazy. I certainly didn't have falling in love with a billionaire on my list of things to do with my life."

Clark laughed. "You and Oliver make sense, even if he were poor. I know he loves you, I can see it when he looks at you. And I've never seen you so happy."

"Really?" Chloe smiled brightly and Clark nodded.

"Really." He agreed. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning, first thing." Chloe sniffed. "I drove out this morning to talk to Lois and you first. Oliver is coming out later – he said he'd bring Lori out with him. He wants to see his calf before he goes back to Seattle." They both grinned at the thought of Oliver's attachment to the not so little anymore calf. "So, come on, Kent. This may very well be my last day in this sweet little slice of Weird America. I expect to be treated like a princess."

"Yes, your Highness." Clark laughed, getting out of bed, glad he'd slept in sweatpants and a t-shirt. "What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know, but you need to get dressed." Chloe stood and polished her ring on his shirt, looking at it again. "It's not too big, is it?"

Clark shrugged. "How big is 'too big' with stuff like this?" He looked at Chloe's hand again. "It's like a shiny pea."

Chloe grimaced comically, thinking of her least favorite vegetable. "I'm going to show your mom. See what she says." She drew her hand away from him slowly, looking up at him, tilting her head as she always did when trying to figure him out. "Clark, you are happy, right? I don't mean for me…I mean for yourself. Lori is great."

He felt the scope of her penetrating look and smiled. "Yeah. Things with Lori and I are great, and it's nice to think that for now, anyway, we can just hang back and enjoy the summer." Clark debated telling Chloe about his visit to Jor-El, but he decided against it. First and foremost, Chloe deserved to be happy and not worried. He smiled instead, and she nodded, her face still arranged in it's "Let's figure out Clark" expression.

"Okay…" Chloe grinned at him finally. "I hope so..."

"Hello!" Lois' voice trumpeted from downstairs. "Kent Family?" They could hear the front door close behind her as she walked into the house. "Are you all home?"

"Coming, Lois!" Clark called, rolling his eyes. "I have to remember to get the house keys from her." Clark sighed and went to walk down the stairs, letting Chloe go before him.

"Aw.." Chloe laughed, galloping down the stairs to meet her cousin in the kitchen. Lois, dressed in her work clothes, stood at the counter drinking a long drink from her coffee mug. Mrs. Kent sat at the counter, reading a sheaf of papers, her hands over her mouth. "What's going on?"

"Mrs. Kent is being sabotaged by someone because of her connection to Lionel Luthor." Lois said, setting her mug down. "I'm working on finding the rat now, but I was hoping to have you work with me on this. "

"What do you have?" Chloe asked, and Martha looked up, her eyes filled with a betrayed, hurt gleam. Clark moved around the counter to put his arm around his mother consolingly. "It's not Lionel himself, is it?"

"No." Martha shook her head. "Who ever it is, they are trying to get to him through me. Lois has everything, the presentation info, the bids, and email records." She looked up at Clark. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Well, that's a switch, usually it's a Luthor hurting someone on purpose." Chloe said, looking at her cousin. "You staying in Smallville?"

"Only as long as it takes to change clothes and head up to Metropolis to do some more digging." Lois told her. "Mrs. Kent, you had that interview with Perry White?"

"It's today, actually." Martha drew in a deep breath. "I'm going to have to cancel.."

"No!" Both young women said together, and Lois shook her head. "Mrs. Kent, you need this interview more than ever now. Positive press, another building block in your good reputation."

"She's right, Mom." Clark said, not wanting to agree with Lois at all, but he could not debate that point. "Besides, until we know for sure if Lionel is involved, you really need to stay away from him."

"I hope you'll listen to him." Lois snapped, picking up her coffee mug again. "I have to go. Get showered and out to Metropolis." She looked at her cousin. "Ready? I really could use your help."

"Of course…" Chloe looked at Clark and Martha for a long minute and then nodded. "Let me call Oliver. He needs to know plans have changed."

"I'm here." Oliver stood in the doorway, holding the door open for Lori. "What plans have changed?" Chloe went to him and led Oliver outside. Lori watched them go and then let the door fall closed behind her.

"What is it?" Lori asked, and Martha sighed. "Something is wrong."

"Someone is trying to make me look bad in the Senate. Lois uncovered the plot, and she's trying to figure out whose responsible." Martha said, and Lori frowned.

"Well, you must be patient. Clark, you will be working to discover this as well, will you not?" Clear aquamarine eyes fell on him questioningly, and Clark nodded. "How can I help?"

"Well," Lois began tartly, "You can start by not sending Smallville with me. He's not very helpful. And who the hell are you anyway?"

Lori eyed Lois coldly, her voice becoming regal. Clark loved her for it. "Now, you listen to me. Clark is far from useless, and he has a right to protect his mother's honor. As for me, I am as you are, a friend of a very good family." Lori placed a hand on Martha's shoulder. "I will stay with you, Mrs. Kent, if you will have me."

Martha nodded, grasping Lori's hand in her own. Lori and Lois locked eyes across the counter, and Clark shuddered. It would be a very bad thing to be between two women who were, well, as determined as Lori and Lois were, he thought, smiling.

After a minute, Chloe and Oliver returned, their faces grim, but hand in hand.

"Martha, I have to get back to Seattle – I only came out today to say goodbye." Oliver began, and Martha sighed, releasing Lori's hand to embrace him. He hugged her back. "I'm going to make some phone calls though, see if I can get my meetings switched here until you get all of this cleared up."

"No." Martha said. "Don't you dare. I saw the paper, Oliver. You go do what you have to. I think you'll have a reason to come back." She looked over at Chloe eloquently. Chloe nodded, smiling at Oliver brightly.

"You got that right. Okay, who feels like going to a benefit this afternoon?" Oliver said, grinning widely, and Lois frowned.

"The benefit is off, Martha has an interview today." She said, and Oliver shrugged.

"So, Martha stays, does her interview. I have tickets to a benefit that Lionel Luthor will be at. If someone is taking potshots at him through Martha, maybe they'll show up at the benefit." Oliver looked at Clark. "You could go in your mothers place, Clark. Prepare you for a life in the spotlight. State Senator Kent's son, a devoted advocate of literacy..." Oliver let Martha go gently and winked at Chloe. "Well, if the family business does go bust, I have a career in journalism just waiting for me…what a headline." Chloe laughed, turning to take in Clark's reaction.

"Ha, the last thing I want." Clark laughed, whisking eggs in a bowl. "In the spotlight."

"No, Clark, Oliver is quite correct." Lori said wisely. "It would be very proper for you to attend in your mother's stead." Lois snorted, and Lori turned, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "And you, Lois Lane, will go with him. Chief of Staff, son of the senator. It's perfect." Lori nodded, satisfied and Oliver grinned, folding his arms across his chest. Chloe snickered into her coffee, as Lois gasped in shock, and Clark set the bowl of eggs down gently, looking down at the countertop saying nothing. There was perfect silence for a moment and then, a blast of rebellion sounded from either side of the room, Lois talking fast and Clark resisting angrily. Lori, Oliver and Chloe shared an amused grin, but Martha's face was an example of parental impatience.

Martha cleared her throat loudly. "Now, that's enough. Lois, Clark, I agree with Lori and Oliver. It's a sensible plan, and gets you all to where you'll be in a position to find out as much as you can." Lois and Clark glared at each other, and finally Lois squared her shoulders and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Smallville, I can deal with it if you can. Just make sure you're presentable. Don't embarrass me." Lois said, turning to leave.

"Yeah, okay." Clark retorted under his breath. "I won't, if you can act like a human being. " Lois turned, and stalked up to Clark.

"You listen to me, farmboy, I'm the chief of staff for State Senator Martha Kent. People know who I am there. Just try to breathe through your nose, okay?" She reached up and pushed Clark's chin up, shutting his mouth before she walked out the door, letting the screen slam behind her. "I'll be back in a little while. Be ready to go."

'Yeah, that is annoying, you breathing and all, Clark." Oliver said to Clark, laughing. Clark rolled his eyes, and turned back to breakfast with a good natured scowl. "Try to stop doing that." Oliver shuddered, looking at the door where Lois had just exited through. "I'm glad I got Chloe. Those Lane girls are tough."

"You have no idea." Clark, Chloe and Martha all said at once.

When Perry White arrived at the Kent Farm later that day, he was greeted by musical laughter that drifted out through the open windows from the kitchen. Transfixed, he walked to the screen door and knocked. A radiant strawberry blonde girl with Martha Kent came to the door and studied him for a moment before pushing the screen open for him. A girl in a class of women Perry had only dreamed about, she had to be somehow connected to Martha's son, who was himself quite a specimen of manhood.

"Hello." She said, her voice music with it's soft Welsh accent. "You must be Mr. White. I'm Lori, Clark's girlfriend."

"Ah, of course." Perry blinked, as if waking up from deep sleep. "Well, he didn't meet you at school…"

"Oh, no." Lori smiled. "We met through friends."

"Ah." Perry nodded. "Because it's hard for either one of you to meet people, right?"

Lori laughed, a gurgle that immediately endeared her to the newspaperman. "Something like that. Won't you come in? The banana bread is underway, and there is pie cooling." Perry walked into the kitchen. Martha Kent came out of her pantry at the same time, carrying several jars of what had to be homemade preserves. Perry was stricken by two things when he saw her, one, how perfectly right Martha seemed in this setting, and two, how absolutely lovely she was.

"Oh, Perry! I totally forgot the time!" She said, setting the jars down. "You've met Lori?"

"Um yeah." Perry replied as the tall blonde went to the table, opening a jar to start dotting cookies with a rich red jam. "Nice that you have help today."

"Well, Lois was going to be here, but she went to that literacy benefit in my place with Clark." Martha smiled at Lori. "Lori was nice enough to agree to stay with me."

Lori looked up from her jam filling and nodded.

"Well, I hope Lori won't mind if we get started." Perry said, taking the offered apron from Martha. "I just want this to be casual. Just some bread baking between friends."

Martha laughed, and Lori grinned also. "Well." Martha said, handing him the bananas and a potato masher. "Better get started, friend."

"Right. Banana mashing." Perry looked down at the bananas. "To think, I have my masters in journalism…"

"Is it not the case that many great journalists have endured such things?" Lori asked, her eyes cast down at her cookies. "I have heard stories of journalists golfing or participating in some barbaric sport like FISHING to get their story."

Martha choked, and Perry looked up at the girl "Fishing? Barbaric?"

"Lori is a strict vegetarian, Perry. And very mindful of ecology. Aren't you, dear?" Martha supplied the information quickly, and Lori nodded eagerly.

"How New Age." Perry smiled at the girl. "Parents were hippies, huh? Into all that crystal and Atlantis stuff?"

Lori smiled, and licked the jam from her fingers. "That's exactly right, Perry. Definitely into crystals and Atlantis. Mrs. Kent, I'm going to look for some more eggs. Nice to meet you." Lori picked up a basket and walked out of the house, leaving Martha and Perry alone.

"Nice kid." Perry watched after Lori as she left. "She comes from the same perfect mold as your son."

Martha laughed. "I don't think that's possible, but yes, I like her very much."

"So, banana bread relates to political life how?" Perry asked, peeling the bananas and dropping them into a bowl. "What is it about baking day that helps you get your mind around the next week of work?"

Martha smiled, measuring flour, salt and sugar into a bigger bowl. "Well, baking is the exact opposite of politics, I guess. Everything goes in at the precise measurements and comes out perfect. In politics, in all of the rest of life, it gets so complicated."

"I see." Perry put the last banana in the bowl and began to mash them. "My favorite part of running a newspaper, I've found, is doing the layouts. It's precise work, but it's very soothing. Everything fits, at the end, but it takes some work."

Martha nodded. "My husband used to say that farming was like that. He could be bothered by something and after the day of working the farm, he'd have the problem resolved. I guess everyone has something like that."

"If they don't, they should." Perry said, looking into the bowl of mashed bananas. "Less people would drink if they thought that way."

"I don't know, Henry." Lana shook her head skeptically, looking at her biological father. "I thought of art school, but I've been more interested in astronomy." The Talon was having it's usual Saturday traffic, and Lana was able to take a small break.

Henry looked at the brochures again. "Because of your involvement with Lex Luthor. But you, Lana, what do you want? If astronomy feels like YOU, then forget these."

She tipped her head, looking at the pamphlet from the school in Gotham City. "Gotham Institute of Design? Oh, Henry, that would be a dream come true."

"A dream come true." He smiled at his daughter. "Sounds like astronomy is out."

Lana smiled dreamily, taking the pamphlet from him. "I remember reading about this school a long time ago, and thinking how wonderful it would have been to go there. But I could never afford it."

"Well then." Henry adjusted his glasses. "You could probably get in on a late registration. And, I can help with tuition. It's the least I can do."

"No." Lana sighed. I'm staying here. I like Smallville. It's home."

"Everyone needs to grow past home to come back to it, Lana." Henry said, setting the pamphlets down. "And at least now you know, that whatever happens, you'll have family." He cleared his throat. "Other than Nell, I mean."

"Oh, Nell." Lana looked down at the table and her cooling tea. "I haven't called her yet. She doesn't know about Lex and I."

"Tell her when you are ready." Henry advised. "If she's as much like your mom as I think she is, she'll understand."

Lana nodded slowly. "I wouldn't know if she's like Mom. But I think she'll understand. After she gets over my missing out on marrying Lex Luthor."

Henry laughed. "Well, I can't help but be glad about that." He looked over at the door as the bell sounded. "Speak of the devil…"

Lex made his way through the Saturday crowd like a shadow. Lana rose, and Henry did as well, standing beside his daughter protectively. "Lana, Mr. Small." Lex nodded in greeting, his face neutral. "Lana, I was hoping to speak to you. I know we talked yesterday, but there were some things that I wanted to clear up."

Lana folded her arms. "I'm sorry, Lex, but there really isn't a whole lot more for us to say to each other."

"I think there is." He held out a hand. "Would you come with me? Just to talk, and only to your office." Her eyes flicked to his hand, and Lana did not reach for him, so Lex put his hand down.

"I'd rather stay here." Lana replied, a little sadly. "Anything you have to say to me can be said here."

Lex nodded. "Okay. I respect your wishes as far as our personal relationship is concerned, and I wasn't sure how far that extended." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, setting it on the table in front of Lana. "It's the deed to the Talon. Anything else just didn't seem like enough. Please, Mr. Small, look it over. It's all legal. I'm still holding an interest in the profits, but the whole thing is yours now." Henry picked up the envelope, taking out the deed and read it over, while Lana stared at Lex in surprise.

"I don't know what to say," She breathed finally. "What do you want, Lex?"

"Nothing, except for you to be happy." Lex replied. "Which is all I've ever really wanted. We had something in common, I thought. We were both so affected by the first meteor shower, I felt a connection with you from the first." He tapped the smooth surface of the black laminate table. "I could tell you I love you, but after yesterday, I wouldn't expect you to believe me."

"Lex." Lana said, wiping away a tear. "I believe you care about me as much as you can. And I believe you believe it's love. But I can't be involved in your life as deeply as you wanted me to be. I'm not strong enough. I don't know what the future holds for either one of us, but I know that we aren't meant to find out together. Giving me the Talon was probably the most thoughtful and wonderful thing you could have done. But I can't take it. It feels too much like a bribe to keep me near you."

Lex nodded and Lana felt her breath catch, seeing unveiled regret and loss in his normally mirror smooth grey eyes. "A bribe? Lana, I could have held on to the property…"

"He's right, Lana." Henry said, looking up from the document. "He could have. But this sets it all clearly in your name." The lawyer turned to Lex. "The share of profit you are claiming could be construed as payment for the property."

"It could and that's what I wanted." Lex agreed evenly. "Not a bribe, Lana."

Lana sighed. She looked at Henry, who smiled, handing her the deed. "Okay. Thank you, Lex." Her voice was choked with tears, but Lana did not falter.

"You're welcome. Well, I guess I'd better go." He looked around. "It was nice having this place." Lex smiled at Lana sadly. "Goodbye, Lana."

"Lex." She nodded. "Goodbye." He turned and left the Talon, moving as gracefully and silently as he had arrived. Covering her mouth, Lana turned and buried her face in Henry Small's shoulder, weeping. This time, the goodbye was final.

Lois stood with Chloe as Oliver and Clark made their way around the room, shaking hands and talking to the guests. "What are we looking for?" Lois whispered, and Chloe shook her head.

"I'm not sure right now, but look for anyone that might seem familiar. It's kind of something you feel. If someone looks suspicious, they just might be." Chloe sipped her drink and looked around. "Like those two." Chloe indicated a well dressed couple, talking low as they looked around the room.

"What's suspicious about them?" Lois asked, and then she grabbed Chloe's arm. "It's not them, but look." She turned Chloe toward a good looking young man with blond hair. He was wearing a press pass, and taking notes on everything going on around him. "That's Rachel's boyfriend."

"That's Lucas "Snapper" Carr." Chloe smirked. "He's a new reporter at the Wichita Record. You've probably seen him all over the Capitol building."

"No, not all over." Lois said quietly. "Just in one particular place." She began to walk toward him, and Chloe stopped her. "I'm going to talk to him..."

"Hey, there, Lois, slow down." Chloe whispered. "You can't just barge up to him and say…Hi, Snapper…" She smiled charmingly at Snapper Carr and he nodded, smiling back. "How's life at the Record?"

"Not the Planet, but I'm really hoping do the move to broadcast news very soon." Snapper said, turning to Lois. "Hope you aren't planning to scoop me, Sullivan. You're Lois Lane, right? Martha Kent's Chief of Staff?"

"Yes, yes I am." Lois replied, regaining control over her temper. "I'm also Rachel's boss. How is she? I tried to call her yesterday."

"Oh, well, Rachel went to visit her parents this weekend, since I had to work here in Metropolis anyway." Snapper replied. "I'll tell her you said hi. Meantime, where is Senator Kent? I thought she was going to be here today." He looked around at the people around them, searching for Martha.

"She's home, taking care of family business." Clark said from behind Snapper. "I'm Clark Kent."

"Oh." Snapper said, and Lois smirked as the reporter's expression fell. "So you're here pinch hitting for her?"

"Something like that." Clark nodded, and Snapper nodded, and then, waving, ran toward Lionel, completely dismissing Clark, Chloe Oliver and Lois as the older Luthor entered. Oliver chuckled, and Chloe smiled up at him, taking his hand in hers.

"It's nice being the stranger in town. No one knows me." Oliver quipped as the press in the room milled around Lionel.

"Well, they're about to get to know you." Chloe told him, as the crowd of people moved toward them with Lionel. "Come on, Lois, let's disappear right now." Chloe grabbed Lois by the hand and pulled her away.

"What does Snapper Carr want with Martha?" Chloe asked, and Lois frowned.

"Another photo opportunity, I'm sure." Lois rolled her eyes. "Well, now what?"

"We keep circulating. Keep Snapper in mind, though. You said you heard a man say that he wanted to release the story? Well, he's a man, and a reporter." Chloe folded her arms. "I don't say he's guilty, but let's keep an eye on him all the same. Otherwise, we wait. One of them asks a question about the tampered with presentation, that's who we talk to."

Lionel Luthor, long a skilled manipulator of the press, smiled his sharky smile at the crowd of reporters. "Welcome, welcome. This benefit for Luthorcorp's co-venture with Queen Industries is really something I'm quite proud of. Because of the generosity and compassion of young Oliver Queen, millions of children across the country will have the extra support they need in becoming ready for school. And millions of adults, long unable to appreciate the written word will have a whole new world opened to them." Lionel turned to Oliver and embraced him formally. Flash bulbs popped, and the barrage of questions began.

"Is it true, Mr. Queen, that your company is experiencing it's third straight week of declining stock prices…"

"Mr. Queen, word is that you've been in Metropolis all this time for personal reasons. Care to comment? Sources say you were spotted yesterday with a young woman looking at rings…"

Clark leaned over to Oliver. "Invisible, huh?" Oliver shrugged, grinning.

"All part of the game, Clark." Oliver laughed. He shook his head at the reporter. "No comment to either of you. Official press releases will be sent from Queen Industries next week and the other thing is not your business." Flashes exploded around them, and Clark blinked against them.

"Mr. Luthor, Senator Martha Kent was expected to appear today. Where is she?" A female reporter asked, and Chloe moved in, studying her face.

"Do you know her, Lois?" Chloe whispered, and Lois shook her head.

"No, I don't. Chloe, look. I know her…" Lois gestured toward a tall brunette standing in the corner on her cell phone. "That's our consultant, the one that was supposed to be helping Martha with putting this bill together. What's she doing here?"

"Let's find out." Chloe said, as the woman left the room, while the collected press waited for Lionel's response. Slipping away, Chloe and Lois followed the woman from the classroom as the reporters geared up for Lionel's reply.

If Lionel had been taken aback by the question, he gave no sign, but turned to Clark as if his appearance at the benefit had been planned. "Senator Kent could not attend today, but her son, Clark, National Honor Student and State Championship Quarterback was pleased to join us." Lionel smiled at Clark and embraced him as well, whispering. "Is your mother okay?"

"She's fine, but someone is trying to…" Clark began, and Lionel moved away, and with a curt nod, turned back to the crowd.

"Please explore the facility here, speak to our teachers, and donate, donate, donate." Lionel said, dismissing the reporters with a regal wave. Taking Clark by the arm, Lionel drew him away from the crowd and into an empty classroom. Oliver followed with a cocky grin over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Clark." Lionel said, when he was sure they were alone. "It wasn't a good idea for you to tell me more than if Martha was okay in front of the press. They are bloodhounds."

Clark nodded. "Someone is trying to sabotage Mom at the senate. Lois found out about it yesterday. Based on the e-mail records, it's been going on for quite awhile. They are getting ready to break a story that Mom is serving special interests by only promoting Luthorcorp for state services."

Lionel nodded, taking the information in. "It's common for one bid to be used in an initial presentation, just for reference, Clark."

"Martha was in the second stage, her literacy bill is supposed to be up before the state Senate next session." Oliver continued. "The bid presented was supposed to be the best one. I looked over the info Lois brought with her from Wichita. There's only the Luthorcorp bid."

"Martha is too conscientious to not have other bidders." Lionel rubbed his chin. "And Martha's connection to me would be enough for the Senate to squash the bill entirely. She's devoted so much time to it…her reputation is on the line."

"Exactly." Oliver nodded. "What Clark and I are hoping for, Lionel, are some ideas as to who would most benefit from disgracing Martha, and hurting you."

Lionel was silent, turning away from the younger men. The only name that came to mind was one that he could not give them, no matter what. He lowered his head, and moved around the desk. "I have not made a great many friends in my time, gentlemen. It could be one of any number of people." He looked at Clark. "Someday, you will understand, son."

Clark and Oliver both looked at each other. "Do you want to talk to Lex or should I?" Oliver said finally. "He's my best guess."

Lionel smiled. "Well done, Oliver. A surprisingly accurate guess."

"Not so surprising." Oliver replied. "Sometimes your worst enemy is your best friend, or closest relative. Dad always said I was lucky to be an only child."

"The best way to get to Lex is to stop whatever it is he's planning is really only a question of moves." Lionel mused, fingering his beard thoughtfully.

"Moves." Clark looked at Lionel. "Like a chess game."

"Exactly." Lionel nodded. "And every expert chess player thinks more than one move ahead of his opponent. If I were to advise you not to speak to Lex until you have more evidence connecting him with this, I hope you would take me seriously."

"I can't let him continue to hurt my mother, Lionel." Clark said, and Lionel nodded.

"Of course not. I myself find his attack on Martha to be unconscionable. But this situation is easily stopped without giving him a hint of your next move. Don't you see, Clark?" Lionel leaned forward. "The game is just beginning."

"Hey, Donna." Lois called out to the consultant, who turned, hanging up her phone. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"I was looking for Senator Kent." Donna replied. "I thought you were going to the Hamptons."

"I was." Lois smiled. "But I found out we had rats in the office, so I stayed to help get rid of them."

"Good for you." The consultant replied tartly. "If you'll excuse me, I have other clients.."

"I don't think so." Lois said calmly. "I think you and I are going to have a conversation about your connection to Luthorcorp, and why you sent more e-mails there than to your consulting firm." When Donna began to refuse, Lois folded her arms. "Donna, I don't think you've met my cousin, Chloe Sullivan. She's with The Daily Planet, and what we have on you right now? Well, let's just say the only consulting you'll be doing will be whether the customer wants paper or plastic." Lois smiled sympathetically and pointed to a chair. "Have a seat, and let's talk."

Chloe smiled, and shrugged. "I'm sure the voters would love to hear how the popular Martha Kent was nearly destroyed politically. I'd be doing my duty as a citizen. Besides, the people have a right to know."

Donna sighed. "The other bids are with a reporter friend of mine. The plan was to hold the bids back, making it seem like Senator Kent was doing it, that she only was interested in pushing Luthorcorp. We were going to break the story right after Senate went back into session."

"Cute. Who's the reporter friend? Not Snapper Carr?" Chloe asked, and Donna shook her head.

"No, he's in there now, from The Kansan. Daniel Cooper." Donna shook her head. "I'll be your source for the story, it's really him I'm worried about. He's got the Luthorcorp contact." Donna looked at Lois and Chloe sadly. "Please help us."

"We'll do what we can." Chloe patted Donna's shoulder. "We're not without resources ourselves."

"Right. I'll go find Clark and Oliver. You two go get Daniel Cooper." Lois said, marching back to the benefit. "It's time we settle this."

Lori had filled the basket with eggs, even from the moody brown hen Clark called Cranky, and she loved running her hand over the finely textured surfaces of the eggs. The afternoon was still young, and the sun was high. Life here on the Kent farm was wonderful, Lori thought and she never wanted it to end.

"You look perfectly at home, Your Highness, all earthbound and sunkissed." The female voice made Lori jump, nearly dropping the eggs. Callista smiled, gorgeously exotic in silvery leather. "Your mother sent me, Lorelai to bring you back to Atlantis. But I have my own reasons for being here, so if I take my time fulfilling her wish, neither one of us will really be too upset."

"I can't believe it's you." Lori said, her voice a half whisper. "They sent you to bring me home?"

"I asked to be the one. Like I said, I have my reasons for coming back too." Callista said, embracing Lori. "It's good to see you, my friend."

"And you." Lori's eyes filled with tears, feeling homesick and scared all at once. "How long do we have?"

"As long as we need." Callista replied conspiratorially. "And hopefully, that's enough."