They all slept at Clark's house that night, Bart in the guest room, Lois in Clark's room, and Clark in the living room. None of them slept very much, all kept awake with worry about Chloe, but the most guilt ridden of course, was Bart.
From downstairs, Clark had to cover his ears because he could hear the boy murmuring in his sleep. Sometimes he wished his hearing wasn't so acute. In the morning, they immediately set to work, dressing up. At about 8:30 a.m., they silently loaded themselves in Lois's SUV.
Clark sat in the passenger seat and Bart sat in the back, head against the back seat, eyes glassy and he was sniffing, obviously having sobbed most of the night. Clark felt sorry for him but he knew there was nothing he could do. Lois drove slowly along the road, her long hair slightly disheveled but still curly.
All Clark could think about was Chloe, desperately wishing she was here. How he missed her. The drive took them out of Smallville and to Metropolis. It was a long silent drive, accompanied only by songs on a smooth Jazz station. No one stopped for a bathroom or food break. They were way too worried for that.
6 ½ hours after they left Smallville, they arrived in the bustling city of Metropolis. "Here we are." Lois said pointlessly, fidgeting with her fingers.
Bart grunted.
Lois drove through the streets, past the Daily Planet. Clark stared at it, wishing Chloe could be in there right now. How he missed her. Bart's hands were trembling and Clark could hear his heart beating.
20 minutes after they arrived, Lois pulled in to a small grocery store compound.
"What are we doing here?" Clark asked.
"I have some contacts here." She replied.
"In a grocery store?" Bart asked incredulously.
"Do you have any better ideas, super hero?" Lois asked with attitude.
Bart shook his head, "Sorry."
"It's o.k., Bart." Lois said, "Everybody's been on the edge lately."
"Should we come with you?" Clark asked.
"Nah," she said, "You two can stay in here." She slammed the door and entered the grocery store.
"Clark-''Bart started.
"Already on it." Clark said, and in an instant, he was listening.
She hadn't been here in a while, not in 7 months, and the last time had been to buy drugs. The man heading the counter was five ft. 2 inches with a huge gut and a shaved head.
"Hi." Lois said.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I want to see big Eddie." She said.
"Big Eddie?" He asked.
"Yeah, big Eddie." She replied sourly.
"There is no big Eddie."
"Don't play these games with me." She said, eyes blazing.
"What games, there is no big Eddie."
"Now is not the time to screw around."
"There is no big Eddie!"
She grabbed him by the collar. "Where's Eddie?" She asked, gritting her teeth.
"Ah," he said softly, "Now you're talking."
"Tell me."
"O.k." He held out his hand and snapped his fingers.
She rolled her eyes and reached in to her pockets, drawing out $50.00 in change and slapping it in to his hand.
"Ahhh," he said scratching his head, "Now I remember a big Eddie. Come with me, won't you?"
He went to the back of the store where there was a candy shelf. He made sure no one was looking, then he opened it. "Go in, quickly." He said.
She nodded and went in. He closed the shelf behind her. She was in a familiar long, dark hallway. She walked down to the end of the wall, where there was one door. She knocked on it. "Who is it?" A voice shouted from inside.
"It's Lois!" She yelled back.
"Lane?" He asked.
"The one and only."
A few seconds later, the door opened. 'Big Eddie' was by no means an exaggeration. He was 6ft. 8 inches with long, slicked back blonde dyed hair. His beard was long and greasy and his moustache reached past his lip. He wore bright red contacts. He weighed no less than 355 pounds and was 69 pounds over obese. He sat on the sofa, smoking.
The man who had opened the door was about 5 ft. 11 inches with a long, thick mane of reddish hair and a muscular body with bulging biceps.
"Hey, Lo!" Eddie said happily.
"Hey, Eddie." She said.
"Want a joint?" He asked, offering his cigar.
She waved it away. "Trying to quit."
"Why would my gal want to do a fool thing like that?"
"It kills, Eddie."
"So do guns, but I have 143, and that's only the automatics."
"Yeah, Eddie, I'm sure you do."
He noticed her sad, downcast face. "You o.k., baby doll?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Can I get you something to drink?"
She shook her head. "No thanks."
"You sure? It'll help calm you down."
She waved the thought away. "I'll be fine."
He shifted his fat body in the sofa. "What's wrong?"
She sat down. "I'm trying to find out about somebody."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone in the underground, real dirty, illegal stuff."
"So you came to me?"
"Well, obviously I'm here."
He nodded proudly. "Yeah, I own these streets."
Lois forced a smile to her face. "How much do you want, Eddie?"
He shrugged his fat covered shoulders. "Depends on who it is."
"It has to do with the Luthors."
The smile was erased from his face. "I don't deal with the Luthors, Lo. I know that, you know that."
She stood up objectively, "Please, Eddie."
He waved it away. "Nah, man, the fucking gangs know not to mess with the Luthors."
"We go back along way." Lois said.
"Exactly," he replied, "And while I'm still alive, I can think about how far we go back."
"Anything you want, I'll pay."
"No, Lo. Anything else. But not the Luthors."
"C'mon, Eddie." She pouted.
"That's it, Lo. I'm sorry."
She sighed and nodded. "O.k., something else?"
This brought on another smile. "Sure."
"How about, a guy. His name is Phillip Rafferty."
"Rafferty?" There was a moment of silence. "Nah, never heard of him."
She didn't believe him. "Goddamit, Eddie, please, this is really, really important. I need your help, man. My cousin's life is on the line."
He waved her away. "C'mon, Lo! Would I be lying to you?"
"Eddie, this is really important. Please!"
"Alright, that's it, get out. I'm sorry, but you gots to go."
"No, I won't!" She screamed, "Tell me!"
"I don't know about no Phillip Rafferty!"
"And?" Bart asked. They sat tensely inside the car.
Clark listened carefully to Eddie's heart beat then turned back to his friend. "Eddie's lying." Clark replied.
Bart ground his fists in to his palm. "Well, not for long."
"You've got to help me!" Lois pleaded frantically.
Eddie motioned to the guard. "Take her away!" he said.
"No!" Lois screamed as the guard came after her. "Leave me alone."
The guard grabbed her arm. She hit his hand off her bicep and swung, punching him in the mouth. He stumbled back, lip bleeding. "You little…" he yelled, running back at her. He swung, but she ducked and kicked him in the gut.
Then she grabbed him in a headlock. "Touch me again," she murmured coolly, "And I'll break your neck." She upper cutted him in the jaw, almost breaking it, and punched him in the face again. He stumbled back, choking on his now broken teeth.
"Ahhh!" He yelled, running at her again.
She turned and roundhouse kicked him. He fell to the floor, bleeding in his nose from the blow. "Never touch a woman again!" She spat out. She turned to Eddie and grabbed the drink of water on the table. She threw it straight on him. "I'll remember this, Eddie!" She said hotly. With that, she stormed out. She burst out of the candy shelf, not even bothering to close it despite the objection of the clerk and stormed out of the store.
She went up to the SUV. "I didn't get anything." She began. But there was no one there. "Clark? Bart?" Where could they be?
As soon as she was out of the store, Clark and Bart were in, storming up to the clerk. "Where's big Eddie?" Bart asked.
The man held out his hand. Clark grabbed it and applied slight pressure, well, slight for him. The man's eyes grew bigger and his breathing became rapid. "He's past the bookcase. Leave me alone, please. He's past the bookcase, I swear to god!" Clark let him go an the man instantly raced out of the stores.
Bart shook his head and went to the bookcase. After a few seconds, they finally figured out how to open it. It slid open gently to reveal the dark hallway. Bart led the way down it and they saw the door up ahead. They burst in.
"Who the hell are you?" Eddie shouted.
Clark glanced at the bruised bodyguard. "Get out of here." He said.
The man didn't need to be told twice. He hastily abandoned his master without a thought.
"Who are you?" Eddie shouted again.
"Shut up!" Bart said coolly.
"I said who are you?"
"I said shut up!" Bart appeared in front of him and grabbed the man's throat squeezing. "Shut up!" Eddie was wheezing, desperately trying to breathe.
"Bart!" Clark reprimanded and dragged his friend away. "He won't be able to help us if he's dead, you know?"
Bart nodded and straightened his clothes. "Yeah."
"What do you want?" Eddie asked, frightened.
"We know you're lying." Clark said.
"Lying about what?"
"Lying about what you told Lois."
"Told who?"
"Don't play games with us!" Bart shouted.
"Alright, alright. Was she wearing a wire?" Eddie asked.
"Don't worry about it." Clark said, "Now tell us the truth."
"About the Luthors? Oh, I don't know about the Luthors."
"About the Phillip Rafferty guy!" Bart snapped, frustrated.
"O.k., o.k!" Eddie said, leaning back in his chair, "but I don't know much."
"Just tell us what you know."
Eddie tried to straighten his clothes. "This guy is in to big business."
"Big business?" Clark asked.
"Yeah," Eddie nodded, "Big business."
"What kind?" Bart asked.
"Underground. He's making super soldiers."
"You mean like robots?" Bart asked.
"Yeah, robots."
"How does he make them?" Clark asked.
"It's not that complicated." Phillip answered. "If you have enough money, it's a breeze getting by."
"How do you know about it?"
Eddieshrugged. "I know about everything."
"What does he use the robots for?"
"I dunno, but something to do with the supernatural."
"Supernatural?" Bart asked
"Yeah."
"What do you mean?" Clark asked.
"You know about the meteor shower, the thing that happened in that little town. Ville, something ville."
Bart and Clark shared a knowing look and both said, "Smallville."
"Yeah, that one. I think they…you know, capture them."
"Capture them?" Bart asked.
"Yeah," Phillip answered, "Take them hostage."
"But why?" Clark asked.
"Something to do with DNA. They take them and they try to get their blood, stuff like that and all. They basically steal their abilities. Me, I don't believe in the supernatural. It's all a busload of shit to me. Nothing's real."
Clark nodded. "But why does he need the robots?"
Eddie shrugged. "Don't ask me."
"That's all you know?" Bart asked.
Eddie nodded. "That's all I know."
"You better not be lying." Clark warned.
"I swear on my mother's grave." Eddie said.
"Do you know any locations?" Clark asked, listening to the man's heart beat.
Eddie shook his head, "No."
"You're lying!" Clark yelled. He grabbed Eddie by the collar and lifted the humongous man easily, slamming him against the wall. "Tell me the truth."
"I don't know any!" He hollered.
"Bart, lock the doors." Clark said coolly.
Bart made his way.
"No! no!" Eddie shouted. "Maybe I do know something."
Bart stopped. "Oh yeah? What?"
"There is a place. A long while away from here. Orion city."
"Orion city?" Clark questioned.
"I know where that is." Bart said.
Clark turned. "Where?"
"Someplace in Canada." Bart replied. "I've been there. Smallville's so much bigger than the place. Tiny."
Clark turned back to Eddie. "Where exactly in Orion City."
"Slampers Woods." He said.
"Slampers Woods?" Clark questioned and turned back to Bart.
"I've heard of it." Bart confirmed.
"Alright." Clark said. He clapped Eddie softly on the forehead and the obese man fell to the floor, unconscious. "Let's go."
Orion City, CANADA
They were in Canada in less than 10 minutes. It took Bart a little longer to remember the direction of Orion City, but they reached there. There, they asked multiple people where Slander Woods was. After an hour and a half of asking, one kindly man told them he was headed in that direction, 30 miles away. He showed them the exact direction. He put the map back and was about to offer them a ride, but by the time he turned, they were gone.
SLAMPERS WOODS
"So this is it." Bart said, looking around.
There was nothing there so far. The trees were dense with the fog and all, and it was getting late. "I don't think he lied." Clark said.
"Why not?" Bart asked.
"Because I studied his heart beat." Clark said, agitated.
"Let's go." Bart said, "Big Eddie is going to be a lot bigger by the time I finish with him."
"Wait," Clark said, grabbing his shoulder. He focused deeply.
Clark's Super Hearing was activated and the frequency stretched throughout the woods. He heard crickets chirping, a nearby stream, and the sounds of nearby animals. He focused harder and he began to hear human voices. Soft voices moaning, whispers, sounds of torture. There was something around here. He focused and he heard the sounds of a city 30 miles away, so he focused only on the surrounding woods. He closed his eyes to block out the distant city's sounds.
"You hear something?" Bart asked.
Clark nodded, not breaking in to a lapse of concentration. Clark walked towards the sound. They walked through the forest about 300 yards before Clark finally stopped. "There!" He muttered, pointing towards the ground.
"There's nothing there!" Bart said.
"I hear it."
"There's nothing-''
"Shut up, Bart." Clark said.
Bart shrugged. "O.k. Do your thing."
Clark opened his eyes and focused.
Clark's X-Ray vision scanned through the ground, going down, down through pipes, until he saw an underground structure. He scanned through that. It was some kind of laboratory. He saw scientists walking around, holding keyboards. And he saw many computers. Clark turned his head slightly, still scanning, and moved in to another area. Inside, he saw, there were cells. He scanned inside the cells. He was sickened. There were people there! They were locked up inside the cells. He scanned for an entrance and found one right under him.
Clark turned to Bart. "It's underground." He said.
Bart nodded. "Is there an entrance?"
"Right under me." Clark bent down and slammed his fist in to the ground. The ground shook with the impact. Clark felt around and finally found a handle. It was the handle of a steel door that opened upwards.
Clark easily tore the steel door off it's hinges and threw it away. He dropped in to the entrance with Bart behind him. It was an air conditioned, empty room with a valve like appearance.
"We're here." Bart whispered gladly.
Suddenly, the door of the room opened and a guard walked in, holding a rifle. He didn't know they were there and was shocked when he saw them. "What the-?"
But Bart was already behind him and he hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious.
"Good job." Clark said.
Bart nodded. "Let's go."
They went through the entrance.
"There are some cells here." Clark said, "We've got to free the people."
Bart nodded. "Right behind you."
Clark walked towards the direction of the cells. "There!" He whispered. At the entrance to the cell block, there was a guard. He turned up to look at them.
"What?" He asked. He picked up his gun and fired. Clark reached out and caught the bullet, then he grabbed the guard and threw him against the wall, knocking him unconscious. Clark then pulled the switch at the edge of the table and all the cell doors slid open. Suddenly, an alarm started the beep. The prisoners ran out of their cells, crying out in surprise.
"Over here!" Bart called.
"Come over here!" Clark repeated after him.
The prisoners rushed towards him. "What are you doing?" One asked.
"How'd you get in here?" Another asked.
"Who are you?"
"What are you doing here?"
"How'd you find out about us?"
"You could be killed!"
"Get us out of here!"
"Please, have pity on us!"
"C'mon, let's go!"
"Quiet!" Clark snapped. The thundering of guards coming down the stairs sounded. They ran down, holding on to rifles. Clark and Bart closed the door on the people, though they were desperately pounding the doors.
"What are you doing?" The head of the guards shouted. The guards opened fire on them. Bart zipped out of the way and the bullets bounced off Clark's chest harmlessly. "What the hell?" The head shouted. Clark zipped at him and smashed him in the chest, sending him up flying so that he hit his head on the roof and fell back down, unconscious.
A soldier swung at Bart. Bart ducked and hammered him in the mouth then kicked him in the chest so he stumbled back. A soldier swung at Clark. Clark easily caught his fist and cracked it, then punched him so he flew back.
Bart kicked a soldier in the gut and smashed him in the face so that he tripped. He then zipped at another soldier and speared him in to the wall, then repeatedly hit him in the chest. The soldier fell to the ground, unconscious.
Clark zipped over to a couple of soldiers and smashed their head together so they fell to the ground, unconscious. The guards were all down. Bart now opened the door and the prisoners stormed out.
"Hey, what was the big idea?"
"Why'd you lock us up?"
"Be quiet!" Bart yelled.
The prisoners quieted down.
"Now," Clark said, "I need you to take the guards to the police station."
"Why can't we leave them here?"
"They could die." Clark said.
"That ain't gonna bother me."
"Please, we helped you!" Bart said, "Just do this one thing."
"Alright," some grumbled.
A woman tapped Bart on the shoulder, "How the hell did you take down all these guards?"
"Luck," he replied, "Now go!" The prisoners lifted the guards and prepared to drag them out. Some kicked at them spit on them. The guards were now helpless.
"Where's the entrance?" One lady asked.
"Here, I'll show you." Bart said, and led them all outside to the entrance. Clark and Bart helped them get out. During this, the door swung open. A scientist stood there.
"What are you doing here?" He shouted.
Bart swung and hit him in the face. The man stumbled. One of the prisoners kicked him and he fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Take him!" Clark said.
The prisoners nodded. "Sure."
"Thank you!" An old man said.
"Yes, thank you!" They chanted.
Clark and Bart nodded. "No problem."
"We'll need a few of you." Clark said.
"For what?" A tall, muscular black man asked.
Clark put a hand on his shoulders. "For the scientists."
"Ah, I'll be ready for them." The man smiled, rubbing his fists against his palm. "I'll be ready for those bastards." A few more volunteered.
The prisoners led the way to the lab. Clark knocked on the door lightly. A weary scientist opened it, expecting the guards. One of the prisoners punched him in the face and the whole group stalked in. The scientists turned from their work and screamed. They were all captured in less than 30 seconds and in 40 seconds, Clark and Bart were the only ones in the lab.
They searched it for any possible clue, but yielded none.
"Let's go." Bart said sadly.
As they were about to make their way out, the large computer in the center was turned on and a voice said, "Well, if it isn't the Terrific two."
Bart turned around, "Rafferty!"
"The one and only!" Rafferty smiled.
"Let her go!" Bart hollered, "You want me! I'll come to you."
"That will make it much to easy for you." Rafferty said.
"Just let her go!" Clark hollered.
Rafferty chuckled. "Ahhh, you have to find me first. I never underestimate people, I knew you'd find this place."
"If you hurt her in anyway, I'll kill you!" Bart screamed.
"What do you need her for?" Clark hollered.
Phillip's eyes turned cold for a moment. "Revenge."
"What!" Bart yelled.
Suddenly, the screen went blank. Clark was angered. Suddenly, the lab screeched. SELF DESTRUCT MODE it beeped. A gigantic console on the side of the wall started to beep and it started at 30 seconds. It beeped steadily. The console was huge, twice the size of a super computer and about the size of a warehouse.
"Let's go!" Bart yelled.
"Go on!" Clark hollered.
"What?"
"Go on!" Clark yelled, "I won't be hurt."
Bart shrugged and zipped out.
The bomb was now at 18. Clark focused on the consoles and his eyes turned a fiery red.
Clark's Heat Vision spewed fire, blasting out of his eyes and directly in to the gigantic console. The heat ray burned right through the structure, melting it with such a high degree of heat that it became liquid and dripped easily to the floor. The wall behind the console erupted in flames. Clark shot a quick ray at the wires holding up the console and it fell to the ground, covered in fire. Clark grabbed one of the wires inside the consoles and tore it completely out then continued to focus. The fire burnt the console's insides in to ash. Clark continued to focus, now using so much power that the liquid quickly evaporated in to steam. Clark then looked around the lab. Clark focused again. Clark's Heat Vision blasted around the lab, starting fires and melting the equipment. Clark could think of nothing better than destroying this room. The heat rays exploded the computers and walls until the whole room was burning with fire. Clark walked along the hallway, shooting beams and burning everything. He went in to the cell room and blasted the whole place on fire. He saw a couple of gas tanks. Clark shot a few rays on to them and they became hot and exploded. In a split second, he was gone. As Clark super sped out, he sent quick bursts of heat rays at the entrance so it quickly melted down and shut down any possible methods of entry. By the time the gas tanks exploded, Clark was over 100 yards away from the laboratory, having escaped the scene easily. The prisoners had already made their escape and Bart and Clark watched the huge explosion from a distance.
When the debris had finished raining all over the forest, Bart turned to Clark.
"I thought she would be in here." He admitted.
"So did I." Clark said.
They stood in silence for a moment.
Then Clark said, "Is everyone alright?"
Bart nodded, "Yeah, they're fine."
Clark sighed. "Atleast some good came out of this."
Bart clapped his back. "We'll find her."
"What about Lois?"
"Well, we're going to have to make up an excuse."
"She's going to be furious."
"It's better than nothing."
"I hope so."
"Don't worry, Clark. We'll find Chloe."
Clark sighed. "I sure hope so."
Bart shook his head, "What happens now? What does this mean?"
Clark looked at him, eyes blazing, "This means war!"