"A party, at Clarks?" I asked, not believing what I was hearing from Chloe as we walked down the hall.
"Yes, now wouldn't you just love to go, who knows, we could even find the next story of our lives!" She said, smiling up at me.
"Knowing Clark, its going to go down hill fast." I said, shacking my head. "Sorry, but I'm going to be out of town, I will finally get to se my mother after so long." I said, with her nodding her head.
"That's understandable, will you be able to make the trip?" Chloe asked, with me shrugging.
"I could only hope so, I have to get the pictures." I said, taking my camera off and handing it to her. "Here, take this just incase I don't make it back." I said, with her taking it and wrapping it around her own neck.
"I'll see you later, try to make the party before you leave!" She said, running into her class.
'Not happening.' I thought, shacking my head and walking off to my next class.
Later that night, Metropolises
Walking into room, I saw my mother was laying down in her bed, her hair missing. Walking over to her, I saw her looking up at me, giving me a smile. "I have a question for you." I said, not sitting down. "Who is, Jessica and Trish?" I asked, and she lost her smile.
"How did you find out?" She asked, her voice sounding dry, like she hadn't drank anything in days.
"I'm having visions of her, both her and Trish. I know that you experimented on her, and I want to know who she was and why I see through her eyes." I said, crossing my arms, not happy with her. "I want the truth, or I walk through that door, and you never see me again." I said, with tears falling from her eyes.
"When the meteor shower hit, Jessica was one of the victims. She was from out of town, from New York. She came here to get away from a mad man, and that man is Kilgrave." She said, with me nodding as I knew this already. "When she came in, Luthor Corp took her in as well as Trish, who was already dead. We had no idea that Jessica possessed the raw strength that she did, and it back lashed on us."
"She fought back." I said, with her nodding.
"We sedated her, experimented on her to see what made her tick, what gave her the powers she possessed, and then, a new project happened." She said, looking out the window. "Two kids were created from her DNA, in hopes of creating more. I was against this decision, and they fired me on the spot." She informed, with me seeing tears in her eyes.
"What happened to the kids?" I asked, with her looking at me.
"One had gained traits of her mother, becoming super strong and was sold to another country for war. I haven't heard from her since." She said, with me swallowing. "The last kid, showed no traits of his mother, and they planed on killing him. I saved him that night, and when I found him, he was in a pressurized tube. It was meant to crush ever bone in his body, to make it look like he was nothing but dust. When I saved him, he was completely broken. It took months for him to recover, and that's when I decided to take him in as my own." She said, with me cursing under my breath.
"Where is this lab?" I asked, wanting to know so that I could go their my self.
"Its floor 4 at the Luthor Corp labs in Smallville. To get there, you need access to level 3, and that is secret in its self." She said, pointing at me. "If you go there, you wont like what you find." She said, with me nodding.
"I never like what I find, its apart of my bad luck charm." I said, taking her hand. "Get well, I'll come see you again later." I said, kissing her hand and walking off, completely pissed. As I walked out, I saw doctors taking a man down the hall, where it looked like he had a broken neck. I planed on following, but I had to get home.
The next day, Kent's farm
Walking up to the door, I saw that it was a mess inside. "The hell?" I said, pushing open the door. Walking in, I nearly slipped on the ground, but caught my balance. "Clark, you here?" I called out, walking forward, not seeing him or getting an answer. Once I reached the living room, I stopped as I felt eyes on me. Turning around, I saw both Martha and Johnathan Kent staring me down, looking pissed. "I had nothing to do with this!" I said, looking around, where some buttered bologna fell on my head, with me gagging as I shook it off.
"But you knew about it?" Johnathan asked, with me looking around.
"I was in Metropolis for the night, I finally got to see my... Well, my adoptive mother." I answered, with them raising an eyebrow at me. "Ya, I'm adopted, yay me!" I said sarcastically, shacking my head. Hearing the door open, they waved me over, with me making my way over to them.
We watched as Clark walked in and sat down, with him getting something on his arm. He looked disgusted, then sped off and started cleaning the house. Once Clark was done, he sat down, where Johnathan started clapping, gaining Clarks attention. "Hey, you're home early!" He said, looking at them then at me. "Hello, I didn't see you here last night, good, you wouldn't of liked it." He said, with me rolling my eyes.
"I came to see if you needed help cleaning up, but I guess you don't." I said, looking at his parents. "So, what happened?" I asked, actually curious on why he wasn't here.
"We called six times, and six different people answered, none of who knew who you were!?" Martha yelled, with me shutting my mouth. "Where were you?" She asked as they walked up to him, with me standing at the stairs.
"The hospital." Clark said, with me perking up at that and making my way to the door.
"Who got hurt?" Johnathan asked, worried that he was going to have to pay someone's medical bills.
"No one, but I did find Earl Jenkins in the barn!" Clark said, with me raising an eyebrow at that.
"Earl Jenkins?" Martha asked, knowing the name. "Last I heard he was working at the Smallville plant, better paying job too." She informed, with me taking that into mind.
"Ya, and get this, he's wanted for murder." Clark said, shocking me. "He's... Extremally jittery, I cant get close to him because I feel..."
"You feel what?" Johnathan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Its like when I'm close to the meteor rocks, I get sick." Clark said, with me knowing what was going on.
'My next scoop, lets see what I can get!' I thought, taking off without them knowing.
Later, hospital
Walking into Earl's room, I started checking his vitals, dressed as another nurse. Seeing him waking up, I smiled at him. "Morning Mr. Jenkins, how are you feeling?" I asked, looking at the officer, with him stepping out to inform the others. "Ok, I'll be serious, I don't work here, I need to know, what happened to you!" I said, with him looking at me with wide eyes. "I'm a reporter, and whatever happened, we can have whoever it was who did this to you, suffer or come to light!" I said, with him smiling.
"I was a janitor at Luthor Corp." He said, already having my attention. "I worked on level 3, they were experimenting on corn, trying to make it grow faster, but it was unstable and it blew up!" He said, shocking me.
"Was there a level 4?" I asked, with him nodding.
"Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but no one will listen to me!" He said, with me taking his hand as he started shacking, with me holding him still.
"I will prove your sanity, trust me!" I said, with more doctors running in, where they started getting to work while I left.
Walking out, I saw Clark and Johnathan walking down the hall, with me turning down the other and making my leave.
Later the afternoon
"Hello everyone, I'm Gabe Sullivan, plant manager and proud father!" Our tour guide said, waving at Chloe. "Hi sweetheart!" He said, with her rolling her eyes.
"Hi dad." Chloe said, not really looking forward to this.
"Welcome to Luthor Corp, where we give a crap!" He said, with me face palming.
"Ok, somebody kill me." Chloe said, hiding behind me while Clark stood next to me.
"Ok, before we all go inside, I need you to remove all phones, pagers, jewelry, anything that jingles, dangles or rings and put them in these plastic trays right here!" Gabe said, passing them out.
"Excuse me, do you mind if I bring my camera with me?" I asked, raising my hand up. "I would like to get some shots for the school paper, I'll only take pictures of what you say is ok!" I said, with him looking at the guard, with him nodding.
"Yes, but I will need you up at the front!" He said, with me looking at Clark.
"Find an opening and move." I said, with him knowing what I was referring to as I started walking forward.
"I heard there was a 3rd level to the plant, is that true?" Clark asked, with me looking at him like he had grew another head.
"Ya, Ya that's where we do the alien-"
"Lets not go that far." I said, reaching him. "After all, we don't want to revile all the secrets, now do we?" I asked, with him smirking.
"No, we don't!" He said, nodding his head. "This way everybody, lets stay together!" He said, with us walking away.
Later
"This is it, the plants control room, one hundred thousand tons of animal waste to process here, trust me, the results can be pretty explosive!" Gabe said, looking at me. "You are free to take pictures!" He said, with me doing so. "So, if any of you had beans for lunch, I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" He said, with everyone laughing.
'I hope Clark is getting things done!' I thought, seeing him missing from the group.
Seeing the handle shacking, I looked at it, with me knowing that this was going to end badly. "What the heck, excuse me!" Gabe said, making his way to the door.
As he reached it, he opened it, with Earl grabbing him and aiming a gun at his head, scaring everyone. "Don't move!" He yelled, looking at everyone. "Take me, to level 3!" He said, with me taking a step back as this as now a hostage situation.
"Chloe!" I said, grabbing her arm as she tried walking forward. "Stay, back, and do as he sais." I said, with her backing up with the others.
Later
Everyone was sitting against the wall, with me being the only one standing. Chloe was sitting next to Pete, with me standing next to her. "I'm telling you, there is no level 3!" Gabe said, with Earl shoving the chair forward.
"Lies!" He yelled, with me hearing foot steps.
"He's not lying!" Clark said, walking in with some blue prints. "I found these blue prints, there is no level 3!" Clark said as he continued to approach him, arms wide open.
Earl walked over to him, took the blue prints from him, with Clark getting sick. 'He was right, he is just like the meteor rocks, but why does it make him sick?' I thought, frowning at him.
Seeing Earl open the blue prints, he held it up and aimed the gun at it. "Every night, I go down to level 2!" He said, sounding angry. "Follow the red pipes, down that long hallway, I open the door, and I take the elevator down, to LEVEL 3!?" Earl yelled, shoving the blue prints in my face, with me smacking it away. "Just like every body else." Earl said, looking at Clark. "Get over there, and you sit down!" He yelled, pointing at the wall, with me frowning as Clark did as he was told.
"Everything's going to be ok." I whispered to Chloe, with her looking up at me. She was on the verge of crying, her father on the line. I sat down, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into a hug, one she returned instantly. "Everything will be alright in the end, nothing bad will happen, trust me on this." I whispered, with her nodding her head.
The phone rang, with me knowing that it was swat. Seeing Gabe answer it, he looked at Earl. "Its Lionel." He said, with Earl walking over to him.
"Speaker." He said, with Gabe putting it on speaker. "Mr. Luthor, do I have your attention now?" He asked, with me letting Chloe go.
"Earl, why don't you come out, we have a lot to talk about!" Lionel said, with me knowing that this was going to be bad.
"Just tell me what you were using down on level three." Earl said, with me standing up and leaning against the wall again.
"You're sick Earl, let everyone go, and well get you help!" He said, with me face palming at this wasn't going to work. Suddenly, Earl started shacking, with me getting ready to move, but Chloe grabbed my leg before I could help him. He ended up grabbing a wheel, with Clarke getting up to stop him. Earl ended up breaking it, increasing the methane pressure and hitting Clark with it, knocking him down onto the ground.
Earl started talking to his self, with him going up to the camera and started talking to it. Whitney got up and made his way over to him, but I stepped in front of him, stopping him. "Trust me, not a god idea." I said, with him glaring at me.
"This is our chance-"
"Our chance, is to do as he sais, and survive!" I said, with Earl looking at us.
"SIT DOWN!?" He yelled, aiming his gun up at the camera and shooting it.
Whitney moved back to his spot, with me doing the same. "Earl!" I said, with him looking at me. "Listen to me, if I know Lex, he will come in here his self, and give himself up to free us, there, he will show you level 3." I said, with him walking over to me.
"What makes you think I will trust you!" He said, putting the gun to my head.
"One, I'm not against you pulling the trigger." I said, keeping my arms crossed. "Two, I can take photos of level 3, proving that its real, you wouldn't hurt the only person who could do that, would you?" I asked, with the phone ringing, with Gabe answering it.
"Its the swat, they are sending Lex Luthor in." He said, looking at me in shock.
"No kidding." Earl said, keeping his eyes on me. "I see, I fell like we've met before." He said, nodding, with me narrowing my eyes. "No, we haven't." He said, nodding his head as well. He grabbed me and leaned me forward, with him whispering in my ear. "I'll let everyone else go, but not you, I need proof, and you are it!" He said, shoving me against the wall. After a good bit, Lex walked in. "What kind of man sends his son to do his dirty work?" He asked, with him knowing what was going to happen.
"I'm not doing anyone's dirty work." Lex said, walking forward with his arms spread apart, wearing a bullet proof vest.
"What are we doing to do about these kids Earl?" He asked, looking at all of us, with me staring at him.
"I tried talking to your father, but he wouldn't listen to me!" He said, pointing over to the phone.
"I know the feeling." Lex said, with me knowing that his relationship with his father wasn't the best. He took off his vest, walking up to him as he tossed it on the ground. "You say everyone's been lying to you, well I'm going to tell you the truth. You're going to let these kids go, and I'll take you to level three!" He said, with Earl aiming his gun at his chest.
"Get out." Earl said, with everyone leaving as fast as they could. "Get out!" He said again, with Chloe grabbing my arm and pulling me, but I stayed put.
"Chloe, I have to stay." I said, seeing Earl was looking at me.
"No, come with us!" She said, with me looking at Gabe as he grabbed her and started pulling her away, with her actually fighting to get back to me.
Once everyone was gone, I walked over to them. "Ok, Earl, lead the way to where level 3 is." I said, with Lex looking at me, then Earl.
"He wasn't apart of the deal." He said, with me nodding.
"I actually was, before you came in." I said, with him looking at me. "I'm going to be the proof that there's a level 3." I said, holding my camera up and looking at the hall. "Shall we?" I asked, with Earl pushing Lex forward, with us walking down the hall.
Later
Reaching the closet, I saw a hole in the wall, with an elevator behind it, with a sledgehammer beside it. "Well, would you look at that." I said, taking a picture of it. 'Thanks Clark, leave the rest to me.' I thought, looking at the other two.
"How do you explain that!?" Earl yelled, looking at Lex while pointing at the elevator.
Lex was in shock, not believing what he was seeing. "I cant." He said, with Earl dragging Lex forward, with me following behind. Once we got in, we only saw two buttons. "Two buttons, I'm sorry, ok." Lex said, where Earl pressed a hidden third button, shocking Lex even more, with me taking a picture of it.
Once the doors opened, we exited, with Earl flipping a switch and reviling a giant empty room. "I told you it was here, and down there, that's how you get to level 4." He said, with Lex looking at Earl.
"Level 4?" He asked, with me following them.
I took a picture of it, with me looking at them. "Ok, so big empty room, and now time for the greatest mystery to be reviled, what caused Earl to do his jitters." I said, with them looking at me.
"There's no way you know." Lex said, shacking his head in disbelief while Earl aimed his gun at me.
"Earl, tell me about this place." I said, with him looking around.
"There used to be corn all over the place, and there were sprinklers that sprayed a green mist on them to help them grow." He said, with me nodding.
"What do you think was in that mist?" I asked, looking around. "A new element, one not known to many but the people of Smallville?" I asked, with his eyes widening. "You were exposed to a gas form of the meteor rocks. While not deadly in a solid form, gas for it can be, my guess anyways." I said, walking past them.
"And where do you think you're going?" Lex asked, with me turning to face him.
"Why, to see what's behind door number 4 of course." I said, walking over to the stairs on the other side.
"Not so fast!" Clark said, with me stopping, suddenly the entire walk way started shacking, with me falling over and grabbing hold of the railing. Looking down, I knew that I would be fine, but with witnesses, I would be revealed. Looking over at Lex, I saw him holding on as well, where he ended up falling and grabbing onto Earls leg. Pulling myself up, I made crawled over to Earl and grabbed his hand, where I acted like I was having a hard time lifting him.
Once lifted up, he made his way to safety. Grabbing Lex as he grabbed the bar, I helped him up as well. "Go!" I said, with him making a break for it. Suddenly, the walk way I was on shook, with me grabbing hold on the bottom of it. Looking up, I watched as they left my vision, with me rotating the walkway. Once it hit its side, I fell off, with the others landing near me, with me patting my chest. "Looks like its good luck today." I muttered, standing up while they looked over the edge.
"How are you alive!?" Lex yelled, with me looking up at him.
"Luck!" I yelled, making my way over to level 4's door. Once there, I opened it, with me seeing another elevator. Walking in, with me pressing the 4 button on it. Once I was lowered, the doors opened up, with me walking out, seeing absolutely nothing. Sure it was a big room, but there was nothing here. Frowning, I pushed the first floor button and went up, taking my leave.
Later that night
Walking around the kitchen, I was getting the table set up. Hearing a knock at the front door, I looked up and raised an eyebrow at that. Walking over to the door, I saw two guests. Chloe and her father, Gabe. "Can I help you?" I asked, looking between them.
Chloe shot forward and hugged me, with me tensing up as I didn't expect the hug from her. "Thank god you're ok!" She said, breaking the hug, but her arms still around my neck, smiling up at me.
Hearing Gabe clear his throat, she backed up, with us looking at him. "So, you're the famous Dakota." He said, holding his hand out to me. "I recognized the camera from Chloe's stories of you." He said, with me looking at the camera that was hanging up right now. "Thank you, for being there for my daughter, and making sure that she was safe." He said, holding his hand out to me, with me taking it and shacking his hand, still confused.
"You're welcome?" I said, looking between them. "Chloe keeps me out of trouble at times, so I just return the favor. She watches my back, I watch hers." I said, with him nodding. "Anyways." I said, looking at Chloe, who was looking in the kitchen. "Would you like to come in, I have dinner made and I tend to make more than enough for one person." I said, with Chloe lighting up like a light, while her father looked between us.
"I don't see why not." He said, smiling as Chloe basically ran inside and over to the table. "Something tells me, that this isn't the first or last time that she will eat your meals." He said, with me taking his coat as he walked in as well.
Ya, not my best of days.