Clark and Aphrodite spent their wedding night in the Savage Land. They also spent most of the week there. The rest of Clark's wives and soul mates eventually joined them.
This left the others to deal with Lois Lane. Lana had offered her house to the cousin of her Amazon sister. She had decided not to rent it out as it was useful for situations like this. For her safety Akitsu, Uzume and Chiho stayed with her. Uzume and Lois got along like a house on fire, Akitsu and Chiho where the quiet pair who just enjoyed watching their antics.
Akitsu spent the time teaching Chiho how to detect various agents who were tailing them and staking them out. The pair would then come up with numerous ways to get rid of them. The first were dealt with by a simple fire that forced them to evacuate. The second suffered from an incredibly bad smell that they eventually discovered to be a pair of skunks.
The pair got increasingly worse with the practical jokes they played on the various teams sent. None were truly hurt… but several were successfully terrorised.
Lois used the time with Uzume to pump her for information. It wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Uzume often came off as an absent-minded airhead, but she wasn't a member of the Discipline Squad just because of her number.
"What the hell is with Smallville being surrounded by hot women all the time?" She asked as they sat at a table in the talon.
"Smallville is just where they live." Uzume shrugged. "There are plenty of handsome men here too."
"Kent, Clark Kent, I meant why is he surrounded by hot chicas?" Lois often forgot that English was a second and fairly new language for most of the women. They were Japanese by birth.
"What are 'chicas'?"
"Girls, broads, women, members of the double-x brigade."
"Oh." Uzume only understood 'girls' and 'women'. Lois often used slang and colloquialism that even Chiho couldn't interpret. "Well, many of us work for his company. The rest are just his friends."
"And all of you just happened to be highly trained bodyguards?" She asked sceptically.
"We were chosen because of who we are." Uzume corrected. "Then we were trained."
"Did they pick you because you were all hot?"
Uzume couldn't help but smirk. "No, that just occurred naturally. Some of us are men."
"Then why you? What made you so special?"
"That is classified." She smiled.
"And you wonder why the American government wants you so badly."
General Lane was moved straight to Washington for treatment. He was told that there was nothing they could except fit him with prosthesis. He was haunted at night by the look in Kent's eyes just before he watched his arm vanish in an explosion of flesh, blood and bone.
"General Lane, I heard you were injured."
The General looked up to the door of his hospital room as Lex Luthor closed the door behind him and took a seat in the chair. "Any chance this was the work of a Super that we could use in the press?"
The General scowled. "No. I was attempting to acquire Clark Kent as leverage over Potter. He somehow managed to have my entire team of commandos surrounded by snipers and one shot my arm off. I received… a warning, that if we tried to go public with this they would release the entire video of the whole operation to the public."
"A warning from who?"
"I don't know, but they showed me a clip. They had no reason to bluff."
"Well we have made great strides in cloning and robotics, I'm sure we can come to an arrangement." Lex said amicably.
Lane didn't buy it for a minute. He knew there would be a catch, but right now he didn't care. Right now he wanted revenge.
"We'll talk more when I get back." Lex said as he stood.
"You're travelling?"
"I'm funding a dig in Egypt, they tell me they've found something and I want to go in person."
Lana woke up feeling like utter crap. What was worse was that she had no idea how she had gotten back to the hotel room or why she was naked.
If she found out Jason had anything to do with this she was going to kick his butt… and then she'd let the rest of her friends have a go.
She vaguely re-called visiting a church where an old ancestor of hers was buried. Chiho had been assigned the family tree project in school and she had decided to try and track down everyone else's. She had discovered that Lana was related to a French Countess named Margaret Isobel Thoreaux, she had sent her the information and she and Jason had headed to the church.
That was all she remembered.
There was a knock at the door… it was far too loud for her aching head. She wrapped the blankets around her and struggled to the door before opening it slightly.
"Kyla?"
"What the hell happened to you?" Kyla demanded as she pushed Lana back into the room, behind her Chiho, Uzume, the Triplets and Kusano wandered in with ten-year-old Chloe.
"Don't swear!" Kusano scolded.
"Later Ku." Uzume hushed her. "Lana, you look terrible, what happened?"
"I- I really don't know. I remember going to that church yesterday that Chiho told me about, but… nothing else." Lana rubbed her temples partly in pain and partly in frustration.
"Would you like us to take a look?" Phoebe asked.
Lana just nodded.
The Triplets joined hands as their eyes started to glow, they focused their abilities on Lana Lang, they spoke as one.
"The memories are here. A bright light, then you were gone. No longer in control, your body moved on its own, taking you back here. That is all there is."
They released their hands as the glow receded.
"So something happened at the church." Kyla mused. "I'll take Uzume and Chiho and we'll check out the church. You three stay with Lana and make sure she doesn't vanish. Come on girls." She said as she headed out the door.
The Cuckoos stared at the closing door with amused looks. "You would think she'd forgotten we were thousands of years older than her." Phoebe commented.
"You don't act it." Lana sighed. "You do very well at playing teenage girls."
Mindee stepped forward and cast a healing charm on Lana's head. "Go and get washed. We'll clean up."
Lana wasn't gone for more than two minutes before she came storming back in naked and soaking wet. "What the hell is that?" She demanded.
"Swearing!" Kusano and Chloe chorused angrily.
"Not now girls." Celeste hushed them.
"You don't remember getting a tattoo?" Phoebe asked.
"I didn't have it yesterday and you said I came straight home."
Mindee knelt down and examined the tattoo on her lower back. "There is some magic in here." She muttered. "Harry can probably tell us more though."
"That is an interesting tattoo."
Lana screeched as she ran back into the bathroom.
"Was it something I said?" Harry asked as Celeste followed after Lana.
"No boys allowed!" Chloe wagged a finger at him.
"It doesn't count when the boy is your doctor, Chloe." Mindee explained.
"But that doesn't excuse not knocking or announcing yourself." Phoebe glared at Harry.
*THWACK*
"OW!" Harry stood there rubbing his head as a newly appeared Miya stood there tapping the palm of her hand with her ladle.
"Did you follow me just so you could hit me?!"
"Chloe said you were being naughty, so I thought I should come and keep an eye on you." She poorly hid her amusement behind her glare.
"This I what we get for letting Hope teach her before she remembers herself."
"I think it is a great idea." Phoebe shrugged.
"It will be an interesting experience for our next Burning Day." Mindee nodded.
Chloe was learning about magic very quickly, it was very likely that she would be just as proficient at magic as Harry and Xander by the time she remembered herself. Most Phoenixes weren't taught about magic during their growing up stage post-Burning Day, they eventually remembered on their own. Hope was experimenting with Chloe whilst she taught her about being a Phoenix.
The major problem for dealing with Chloe was that she was still learning to control her natural ability to make people tell the truth. It caused some very interesting situations.
"What is this tattoo?" Lana demanded as she came back dressed in conjured sweats and a tank top that allowed the tattoo to be seen.
"It's an unusual symbol." Harry mused. "It appears to be part of a rune set but without knowing the language it is difficult to know what it means."
"Would you mind if we shared an image of the tattoo with the rest of the family?" Phoebe asked.
"As long as you only show the tattoo." She agreed with a glare at Harry.
A few seconds later there was a knock at the door.
Phoebe opened it and Clark walked in.
"It's Kryptonian." He said without pre-amble. "It's the symbol for water… and transference."
"Transferring what?" Lana asked worriedly.
"Anything, it was used for everything from banking to transport." Clark frowned as he knelt down behind Lana to examine the tattoo more closely. "Without more context there is no way to tell what this relates too."
"Kyla, Uzume and Chiho are at the church where this happened." Mindee told them.
"We'll join them then." Clark nodded as he headed for the door.
"Whoa!"
Lana was mortified to hear Jason's voice as Clark opened the door. She quickly ran for the bathroom to change into clothes that were more suitable for company.
"Jason, hi." Clark said hesitantly. "Erm… come in. Let me introduce you to Phoebe, Mindee and Celeste Cuckoo."
Jason physically blanched at the smirk the beautiful blonde triplets gave him.
"Hi Jason."
The creepy way they spoke as one didn't help. "Hi." He grimaced at the adolescent squeak in his voice.
"And this is Harry Potter."
"As in…"
"Dr. Harry Potter, friend to the super heroes." Clark nodded.
"Hi!" Harry gave cheerful wave.
Clark looked around but couldn't see Miya, Kusano and Chloe. He looked to Phoebe who just gave him a wink. He couldn't sense their souls so he assumed they had been teleported home.
Fortunately Jason was still speechless at meeting the now world famous Harry Potter.
"We were just headed out. Tell Lana we'll see her at dinner?" Clark noticed that Jason wasn't very responsive. "Jason!"
"Huh? What?"
"We're leaving." Clark enunciated.
"We are?" Jason asked dumbly.
"Celeste, would you go and check with Lana?" Clark sighed as he grabbed Jason by the shoulder and manoeuvred him to sit on the bed.
"You really know Superman?" Jason managed to ask Harry with obvious awe.
"Sure, he's a good man." Harry smirked. "Tends to whine a little too often."
Clark just glared at him.
"Whine? About what? He can do all those amazing things and he has that incredibly hot girlfriend!"
"Excuse me?!"
Jason fell off the bed as he tried to turn in shock at Lana's voice.
"Lana! Hi!"
"You are checking out other women now?" She asked with her arms crossed.
"Lay off Lana." Clark rolled his eyes. "Even you think she's beautiful. Jason is here with you and doesn't deserve to be put through any of your… feminine tests."
Clark blanched as the glare turned to him along with identical glares from the triplets. "Jason… you're on your own."
He grabbed Harry by the shoulder and dragged the Aspect of Death wearing the shit-eating grin out of the room.
Lana really hadn't felt like spending the day sightseeing and exploring with Jason. She really liked him and knew she was falling fast for him despite only knowing him a few weeks. The problem was that she felt like she had a target on her back with that tattoo… on her back.
She wanted to be back at the castle with the others researching what it could be or for Harry to at least try and remove it. There just hadn't been time with Jason arriving that morning. She was just lucky that Kyla and the others had arrived some thirty minutes before Jason did.
"I'm beginning to feel like I'm going to have to take some drastic measures here Lana." Jason eventually sighed as they where walking down the banks of the River Seine.
Lana was definitely confused. "What do you mean?"
"You are distracted by something and I feel like I'm not getting the attention I deserve! It's your birthday! I should be getting beaucoup points for making this a day to remember." He said with a hint of dramatics.
Lana just smiled, she really liked the way Jason made her laugh. It was different to how Harry and Xander would clown around like Laurel and Hardy at times.
"I'm sorry, I've just been a bit pre-occupied." She apologised as she hugged his arm in an attempt to show she was happy to play his game. "My friend died recently and I feel I need to go home and help sort things out. She was like a sister to me."
"Ah…" Jason said awkwardly. "When are you leaving?"
"This week. I still have a year left of high school to finish as well."
"Well there goes my good mood." Jason grumbled.
"This doesn't have to be the end. We can still talk and visit. This is the 21st century, the world is a much smaller place." She assured him.
"Oh god!" Jason exclaimed in horror. "I think you found a new way to say 'let's just be friends'!"
"It's not that bad!" She laughed. "This. Is. Not. The. End." She stated firmly. "Clark won't let it be the end, I think he likes you and I know he wants me to be happy so he will probably keep kicking me out here whenever I have the time."
"It feels so weird to have a girls ex trying to set us up."
Lana stopped and turned to face him. "Are you going to keep moaning for the rest of my birthday?" She demanded.
"Ma'am! No ma'am!" Jason said quickly. "Happy party time here we go."
"Yes, we have two hours before we meet the others." She said as she linked with his arm again and pulled him forward to the hotel.
"Two hours? Two hours before I meet the entirety of your family." He shuddered.
The only people missing from the party were Gabriel and Chloe. Both wanted to be there but knew they couldn't without raising a lot of questions.
Lana intended to travel to Japan that night and spend some time with the child version of one of her best friends. For now Chloe was with Hope learning more about Phoenixes and magic.
Jason was constantly squirming under the intense questioning he received from Kyla and some of the Sekirei. When he wasn't trying to traverse that minefield he was trying not to stare at the very healthy endowments on display at the table. He felt a little bit justified as he noticed more than one table around the restaurant empty when the female noticed her male companion staring at their table.
It was very difficult considering they all enjoyed laughing and that did interesting things to their… endowments.
"Would you all excuse me please." Clark said with a wince. "I'm… suddenly not feeling well."
Kyla and several of the girls stood up, Kyla waved the others back down and walked Clark to the door.
"What's wrong?"
"I think someone has discovered one of the Stones." Clark rubbed his temple. "I can hear it."
"Let's go get it then!"
"You can't, I have to fly fast and you know that will tear your skin off." Clark reminded her.
"I'll put up a shield."
"Kyla, we tried those out. They don't stand up. Harry can only survive because of his healing abilities."
Kyla looked back at the table and sent a mental message to Laura. The ebony haired woman quickly made her excuses and joined them at the door.
"Clark needs to go after one of the Stones. Can you give him backup? Only three of us can survive Clark's high speed." Kyla explained the situation quickly.
"We're on it." Laura said quickly as she nudged Clark out the door.
Kyla returned to her seat and gave an explanation that Laura was taking care of Clark so she could interrogate Jason some more.
As Clark flew through the air at super speeds he held Laura tightly to his chest. He was flying backwards and upside down and practically curled around the woman to try and protect her. Laura herself had a bubblehead charm on so she could breathe.
Eventually Clark came to a stop in mid-air.
"That's where the signal is coming from." Clark sent to Laura with his newly available magical telepathy.
"Let's use stealth then."
"It's Lex's jet, can't we just rip the doors off?" Clark begged.
"Stealth, Clark." She insisted as she went invisible.
Clark did the same as he shot forward and landed on the fast moving jet. Clark then phased the both of them through the top and into the interior.
They were surprised to see Lex lying on a table with medical equipment attached to him.
They weren't here for Lex though; they were here for the stone. Unfortunately the stone was sitting in Lex's hand as the man examined it.
"Ideas?" Clark asked his invisible partner.
"We could take the stone and obliviate him of the knowledge he ever had it."
"No, Lex is a genius. He'd eventually notice any holes in whatever story we put in place."
"We could wait for him to put it down and then perform a switching spell on it. Replace it with a conjured fake."
"Oh god."
"What?" Laura asked.
"I have an idea that will prove that I have been completely corrupted by Harry."
"M-M-Mr Luthor!"
Lex sighed irritably as Doctor Gabrielle Vaughn, the woman treating him a recent poisoning attempt on him, began stuttering like a little girl.
"What now Doctor?"
"T-th-th-there!"
Lex looked up and was surprised to see a black mist coalescing on the floor at the end of his bed. As he watched he saw he saw a cloaked figure rise up out of the mist and the floor itself.
The cloak was pitch black and very tattered, a silver tube was held in one hand. The face was obscured despite Lex having a direct line of sight under the hood.
"You have taken what doesn't belong to you." The being said as he pointed at the stone in Lex's hand. The voice was deep but raspy.
Lex was not a man to scare easily, he also didn't intimidate easily. "I keep what I find."
"I have found you. Should I keep you?" The being asked with head tilted questioningly. "My Master has no policy on pets. He might allow me to keep you as one."
"I am Lex Luthor and no one owns me." Lex sneered as he moved to get off the bed.
He froze as the silver tube came up and red beam of light erupted from the end stopping just before it touched the medical equipment.
Lex knew a lightsabre when he saw one. That was advanced technology, it didn't matter that it was fictional, it just meant genius nerds had tried to create a functioning one.
Lex saw an opportunity. "Perhaps we can trade for the stone."
The being started to laugh.
Lex scowled angrily.
"Stupid creature. I do not need the stone. It is you who does not deserve the stone. The only thing you have worth trading is your life… which I hold in my hands."
Sparks flew as the lightsabre was gently tapped on the top of the medical equipment leaving scorch marks but no other damage.
"You may keep the stone… but not your life as well… and when I have your life… you won't need the stone."
Lex could hear the smugness and he hated it.
"What assurances do I have that you won't kill me once you have the stone?"
"If I wanted you dead, you would be dead… and I would have the stone. I am merely showing you my generosity by allowing you to live."
Lex growled angrily, he knew he didn't have any options right now. He tossed the stone onto the bed.
The being stood there, still holding his lightsabre over the medical equipment threateningly.
"You have the stone!" Lex said with a hint of desperation.
The being chuckled as it deactivated the weapon and picked up the stone with a skeletal hand. "I do so love it when arrogant mortals beg."
The being then began to sink back into the ground until it and the mist vanished.
Lex angrily got back on the bed. He looked around for the doctor and saw her passed out on the floor.
This just made Lex even more frustrated.
Xander arrived back at the castle with Clark and Laura who had been watching invisibly.
"The Crystal of Fire." Clark nodded as he read the markings on the crystal.
"Right." Xander nodded. "So all we need are the crystals of water, wind, earth and heart and then by their powers combined-"
"We get it Xander." Clark interrupted. "And there are only three stones. Fire, water and air."
"Where are you planning on keeping that thing?" Xander asked grumpily.
"Under my bed."
"In what? A shoebox?" Xander asked incredulously.
"I was thinking a safe."
"But why your bed?" Laura asked curiously.
"Because in my bed there are usually two deities, an Amazon warrior and several other women who can decimate armies."
"Wow… all I ever had was a Veela and a Metamorph… actually I once had several metamorphs and Veela… but they were my kids and they were just playing on the big bed." Xander mused. He turned to Clark with a huge grin. "Imagine how many little deities and Sekirei will be playing on your bed!"
"I'm over a hundred years old Xander, I've had time to come to terms with it." Clark smirked as he walked off.
He didn't realise that both Xander and Laura were trying not to laugh as they could smell his fear and panic.
"I can't believe that goddamned bastard- OW!" Chloe rubbed her head as she glared at Miya.
Chloe had woken up that morning and finally remembered her life. She still looked to be about fourteen but that was easily overcome with glamours. She had just been told about the confrontation between Clark and her uncle.
"Does she mean me or her uncle?" Xander asked Logan with a stage whisper.
"Is there really a difference?"
"My Uncle Sam is the b-Ah… bad guy! Bad guy!" She said frantically as she dodged the raised ladle.
"Why was he trying to get Clark? Why wait until Lois was with him?"
"We aren't sure what he was after." Laura explained.
"Probably thought the kid was the weak link." Logan offered. "Not many people know about his position in MBI, but he is known as a friend of Harry. Isn't he listed as his biological brother?"
"Whoa… so he wanted to use Clark as leverage to get to Harry?" Xander asked.
"Harry has too much protection… too much visible protection. Clark, not so much."
"Makes me wish I had just killed him."
"So now that you are back with us mentally, how do you want to handle your miraculous escape?" Harry asked Chloe and Gabe who was there for this meeting.
"Oh! I know!" Musubi raised her hand eagerly.
"The Chair recognises the bouncy young lady." Harry said officiously.
"Huh?"
"You!"
"Oh… well, we could say that Superman, being a friend of Harry Potter, was keeping an eye on the Sullivans and that he heard the bomb ticking down and swept in and heroically saved them."
Everyone just stared at the girl worriedly as she appeared to be on the verge of swooning as she gazed lovingly at her Ashikabi.
"I hate to be the one to say this… but that could actually work." Neville eventually broke the silence.
"So… we've been living in Japan all this time letting people think we are dead?" Gabe asked.
"It sounds cruel, but it is the easiest solution. We can say that Clark had MBI handle everything."
"Do we have to say that I was involved?" Clark grumbled.
He and Lois had a fairly antagonistic relationship, something that the others took great joy in watching. Especially when Tsukiumi insisted that they were engaged in courting behaviour.
"You can be the one to take Lois to see Chloe." Lorna suggested. She then gave him a mocking smile. "You can hide behind little Chloe and she'll defend you."
Clark glared at her before turning to Aphrodite. "As their god, am I allowed to use the Amazons for self-protection?"
"Of course! One of the duties of the Amazons is the defence of my honour and my temples." Aphrodite confirmed.
"Right, Kyla and Lana will be my back up."
"Buck buck buuuck."
Clark just glared at the conjured hen that stalked across the large table.
The reunion between Chloe and Lois was tearful. Mainly because Lois was pounding Clark with a pillow and the three Amazons couldn't stop laughing. Eventually she relented and Kyla sat on his lap as the five of them caught up.
"So I want to hear about this Jason everyone keeps mentioning." Chloe grinned at Lana.
"Really Chloe? You want to gossip about boys? What are you fourteen?" Lois scoffed.
"Are you jealous, Lois?" Clark taunted with a smile. "Are you unhappy on your lonesome?"
"Shut up Smallville."
"Good job Tsukiumi isn't here." Kyla chuckled.
"Why? Has she started talking about boys?" Chloe asked.
"No, but someone told her that Lois calling Clark 'Smallville' was a term of endearment and affection. She thinks Lois is looking to date Clark and keeps giving her tips."
"Why don't you just stop calling him Smallville?" Chloe asked.
"She can't!" Kyla laughed. "She keeps forgetting and it's just so natural for her now."
"So… Jason?" Lois tried to change the subject.
"What are you… fourteen?" Chloe mocked. "But carry on Lana. Spill!"
"I met him in France. He asked me out and we have been sort of dating." Lana shrugged.
Chloe eyed her friend shrewdly. She abruptly turned to Kyla. "The long version?"
"He saw Lana and fell off his bike." She smirked at Lana as the former stuck out her tongue at her. "He managed to talk her into it and they have been exploring Paris together ever since."
"He fell off his bike… because he saw Lana?" Chloe asked with wide eyes. "What? Love at first sight?"
Lois scoffed. "More like lust."
"I used to trip and fall down around Lana." Clark chuckled.
"That was not my fault." Lana objected.
"So you two never dated?" Lois asked them.
"We did, for a few months some time before we met Kyla." Clark nodded.
"But Clark would trip around me because I wore a necklace made of Kryptonite, he had an allergy to it. It was only because of Harry that we found out."
"An allergic reaction to meteorites?" Lois looked at him pityingly. "Pa-the-tic." She said smugly.
"Lois!" Chloe was shocked at her cousin's callousness. "Clark nearly died several times from that stuff."
Lois waved a hand dismissively.
Chloe looked at her with narrowed eyes. "So, who wants strawberries?"
Lois looked at her, betrayed. "Not cool Chloe."
"Neither were you." Chloe glared at her cousin. "How would you like it if we joked about Uncle Sam's arm?"
Lois actually had the good grace to look ashamed. "So why were they trying to kill you? Who was trying to kill you?" She asked trying to move away from her mistake.
"Lionel or Lex Luthor." Chloe answered. "I have information that Lionel murdered his parents."
"We believe it was Lionel who attempted to kill you." Clark added. "Lex has distanced himself from Lionel completely."
"Then next week this should all be over." Chloe sighed in relief.
"What happens next week?" Lois asked.
"That's when the hearing begins and my evidence and testimony is entered into evidence."
"You will still be assigned a bodyguard. Uzume will be undercover." Clark said firmly. "And of course there will be other operatives nearby at all times."
"Not Superman?" Chloe grinned.
"Yeah, you bastard!" Lois glared at Clark. "You never told me you know Superman."
"So does everyone else in the castle. My parents know him. They also know The Flash and The Green Lantern." Clark countered. "You already know Harry is my brother."
"Yeah, but you could at least introduce me or get me his autograph." She grumbled.
"We know the girl who has the first Superman Autograph." Lana sang.
"Yeah, lucky bitch." Kyla muttered.
"You're just jealous because you didn't think to ask first." Chloe laughed.
"I still don't get why you all want his autograph." Clark said, his confusion obvious. "You know him personally."
"Yukari was thinking long term." Lana explained. "She wanted to make sure that there wouldn't be tons of frauds claiming they had the first one."
"This way, when Yukari challenges their claims you can stand up and back her." Chloe finished.
"Why would the first autograph matter?"
"Jeeze Smallville, you live under a rock?" Lois sighed. "Imagine how much you could get for the first Michael Jackson or John Lennon autographs. It's like finding the original version of the Declaration of Independence!"
"Isn't there anyone who you admire that you want them to sign something for you?" Chloe asked.
"No. I don't get the point of getting someone's signature."
"It's so you can prove you met them, Clark." Chloe explained. "Yukari can now say that she met you in your early days."
Lois' eyes snapped to Chloe. "Why would someone want Smallville's autograph?"
Chloe panicked as she realised her slip.
"I am the head of one of the largest companies on the planet, the biggest in Japan." Clark saved the day flawlessly.
"Yeah, but you still live on a farm." Lois smirked.
Chloe was nervous as she walked into the courtroom to give her testimony. Not because she was afraid of public speaking, Luthor or a corrupt justice system, but because she was surrounded by four Sekirei. Miya, Mutsu, Kazehana and Matsu were on special assignment at the request of Harry and the Japanese government. They were dressed in their uniforms and turning heads.
That was why Chloe was nervous… the added attention.
Although, at least with Mutsu she didn't have to worry about feeling inadequate.
"I understand the need to ensure Miss Sullivan's safety, but do you really need to stand next to her in the witness chair?" The Judge asked exasperatedly.
Mutsu gave the man a small smile. "You do realise that if we are not protecting Chloe-San, then you would be considered… extra damage?"
"Collateral damage." Matsu supplied.
"Yes, collateral damage for an assassin?"
"I've been a judge for more than thirty years, I've been shot at enough times that it's become a mere nuisance."
"Guys, I'll be ok." Chloe insisted.
She instantly shrunk back at the glare from Miya. "We were requested by the Prime Minister himself. Are you suggesting you have better judgement than him?"
"No ma'am." Chloe squeaked.
Miya's head snapped to the judge. "What about you?" She challenged.
"Like Miss Sullivan, I don't believe the Prime Minister of Japan is the one we are worried about." The Judge sighed. He wasn't going to argue with an irritated woman carrying a sword. He was just glad they didn't seem to like guns.
"Very well, the prosecution may begin."
What followed was a pretty standard Q&A session regarding Chloe's knowledge and how she acquired it. None of the information she gathered was confidential and she had done things legally. The irony wasn't lost on her.
This left very little for the defence to pick at. So they chose a different route. Discrediting the witness.
"Miss Sullivan, can you prove you are who you say you are?" The attorney asked. He had that knowing smug voice that grated on people.
"I can prove it enough for my friends, my family and my government." She shrugged.
"But according to all the recent reports and these documents here… you're supposed to be dead." He said with mock horror. "I must say you look very healthy for a dead girl."
Chloe just sat there.
"Well Miss Sullivan?"
"I believe she is waiting for a question, Mr. Gathsby, much like I am." The Judge frowned.
Gathsby swallowed slightly. He had been so court up in his acting he had forgotten how to handle a witness. "Miss Sullivan, if you are supposedly dead, how can you be here testifying?"
"Probably the same way you have documents claiming you passed the bar but are actually an idiot."
The spectators in the gallery laughed as Gathsby bristled. "Objection!"
"Miss Sullivan, please try not to point out the truth about the defence." The Judge said wearily.
"Sorry your honour. I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
The Judge looked at Gathsby and shrugged. "Overruled."
Gathsby scowled, as did Lionel who was wishing he had a better lawyer.
"Miss Sullivan, please tell the court why you committed fraud by falsifying your death."
"Objection!" The Prosecutor shouted.
"Sustained!" The Judge responded. "Gathsby, you are now on thin ice. You have no more warnings."
"Miss Sullivan, why should we believe anything you say when you couldn't even stand up and assure the courts that you weren't actually dead?"
"Your ice is cracking Gathsby." The Judge sighed. "You'll have to answer that one."
"I am seventeen years old. A minor in the United States of America, I had no say in the matter. Furthermore, when Superman saved my father and I from the explosion he took us straight to Japan without asking for my input. Or my father's."
"The defence would like to call the being known as Superman to the stand."
"Your toes are beginning to freeze. Ask a question or dismiss the witness."
"Isn't it true Miss Sullivan that you were hiding in Japan and that MBI put you up in a five-star resort?"
"Actually-"
"Yes or no, Miss Sullivan."
"Erm… no."
Gathsby went back to his table and pulled up some papers. "In your deposition you stated that you stayed at the MBI Beach Resort. Are you now saying you lied?" He challenged accusingly.
Chloe just shrugged. "No."
"I would like to ask the court recorder to read back last few lines of Miss Sullivan's testimony."
"Go ahead."
The court reporter, a middle-aged man, began to read. "Mr. Gatsby: Isn't it true Miss Sullivan that you were hiding in Japan and that MBI put you up in a five-star resort?
"Miss Sullivan: Actually-
"Mr. Gathsby: Yes or no Miss Sullivan.
"Miss Sullivan: Erm… no.
"Mr Ga-"
"That's all I need your honour." He interrupted. "Are you indecisive or lying Miss Sullivan?"
"Objection."
"Rephrase Mr. Gathsby."
"Why are you changing your story as to where you were staying… Miss Sullivan?"
"I'm not." Chloe sighed.
"Then which is it Miss Sullivan? How are we supposed to know the truth when you can't even tell the lies from the truth yourself!?" He cried triumphantly. "I have nothing further for this witness." He said dismissively.
Chloe frowned and turned to the Judge. "Sir, I was asked a question just now. Two actually. I would like to answer the questions."
"Go ahead Miss Sullivan."
"First of all, I was staying at a private un-ranked beach resort. So no, I was not staying at a 'five-star' resort." She said with air-quotes. "Secondly, you can easily tell the truth when people like you stop trying to smother it in lies and half-truths."
"Thank you Miss Sullivan, you and your guards can step down now."
"I have further questions."
"Then you shouldn't have dismissed the witness. If you want her recalled then take it up with the Prosecution and submit a request to my desk. For now, this court is in recess until after lunch." The Judge banged his gavel and the court began to clear.
As Chloe and her entourage headed to the gallery they smirked at Lionel Luthor hissing angrily at his lawyer. He may not be the head of LuthorCorp any more but he still had the money to buy high priced lawyers.
They headed straight to the people in the first row. Harry and Clark were standing there with Lois and Gabe. It wouldn't have mattered as they had managed to pack the entire gallery with their family and Sekirei. The only person in any danger was Lionel Luthor.
"You did good Chlo." Clark smiled.
"Year cuz. You kicked that lawyers ass." Lois laughed.
"It was fairly simple, I just followed Xander's advice." She high-fived the Father of Death.
"I would have expected advice from you to have my daughter pulling pranks." Gabe said cautiously.
"I can be serious!" Xander argued. "I just told her to abide the exact working of her oath."
"'I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.'" Chloe nodded. "In other words, don't let them make you lie with only half an answer, refuse to answer or withdraw you answer if they try to. If the judge tries to force you to answer with the limitations then explain your position and ask for immunity from prosecution from perjury."
"Do you think they will get Chloe back up there?" Gabe asked.
"Unlikely." Amara said from his other side. "Gathsby knows it would be too dangerous to his case. He was clearly trying to punch holes in her credibility and honesty as well as provoking her into an outburst so he could bring up her age."
A/N: That's all folks... for now!
Yes, we have reached the last of my pre written chapters. I have nearly finished year four... when I say nearly, for me that means maybe a week or two.
As soon as I have it finished and polished I will start adding the chapters to this story on my usual daily basis.
Remember, they will be in this story so you don't have to worry about looking for a new story, if you get alerts then you will get a new one for chapter 54.
How close am I to the end?
Season Four Finale!
Which will barely resemble Smallville's season four finale.
What happens at the beginning of my Season Four?
Martian Invasion!
See ya in a bit!
