It really wasn't as simple as Harry made it out to be to simply go back to work. Emma issued a notice to all parents that school would be postponed for the rest of the week. The adults had no choice but to return to work.
Smallville was untouched by the invasion, as it was a small town miles away from the nearest major city so it wasn't too hard to attempt to return to a life of normality. The rest of the world had it a little harder, especially the cities where looting had taken place.
Shayera had returned to Central City with Barry. Using funds from Harry, he had bought a secure residence for the alien woman where the pair would stay and operate out of. Barry was her unofficial guide on the planet.
When Lana wasn't in the lab having her soul examined by Harry, she was with Jason and showing him around town. She had explained that she was helping her family in the city, which was why she wasn't around during the invasion. Jason had had a small go at her for not calling him to help and speed things up.
Chloe spent a lot of her week off trying to explain and answer all of Lois' questions.
Then she tried to hide in Tokyo with Kyla who was accompanying Clark and helping out where they could around the city.
Unfortunately Lois thought she was hiding at the castle.
"Hey, Uzume, have you seen my cousin?" She asked the Sekirei as she finally found someone after searching for nearly fifteen minutes.
"I think she is in Tokyo. She said she was going to help Clark and Kyla."
"And how does she get all the way to Tokyo in less than an hour?" She asked sceptically.
Uzume just smiled and grabbed her hand. "Follow me, I was just here to pick up Chiho's phone."
Lois didn't protest as she was dragged to a room just off the entrance hall of the castle. The problem was that once she walked through the door it was clear she wasn't in the castle anymore.
She was currently standing in a very luxurious room with sofas and reclining chairs. There were also computers, televisions and a kitchenette. Occupying the room were various Sekirei.
The large windows that led to a balcony showed a view of Tokyo.
"What the hell just happened?" She asked. "How did we get to… Tokyo?"
"We walked through a magical door." Uzume smiled as she led Lois to a large and expensive looking door with a nameplate in Japanese on it. "You're lucky, we used to have to take Portkeys. They were horrible!"
She knocked on the door and heard a familiar voice answer in Japanese.
"Hey Clark." Uzume greeted the man in the expensive suit behind the desk. "Lois was looking for Chloe."
Standing behind Clark was Tsukiumi. "Is it truly Chloe she wants or does she merely seek to spend time with my husband?" She asked pointedly.
Tsukiumi still believed that Lois was angling for a relationship with Clark and she wouldn't even believe Aphrodite that the girl just wasn't actively interested.
Of course, Aphrodite didn't bother mentioning that the girl was exceptionally aroused around their husband; that would make things too easy.
"Not now Tsukiumi." Clark sighed. "Lois, Chloe is… hiding from you." Chloe hadn't actually stated that when he had contacted her mentally, what she had actually said was 'oh god she found me'.
"Hiding? From me?" She asked in disbelief.
"You've been pestering her with lots of questions." Clark said with a smile. He found it ironic that it was Chloe moaning about questions.
"Well no one else is going to answer them! Uncle Gabe doesn't seem to know much and he's got the mojo."
"You can ask any of us questions Lois. We don't really tend to keep secrets from those who are aware of who we are."
"Besides, there is a charm on you to prevent you from blabbing." Uzume added.
"A charm!? You put a spell on me?" She asked Clark dangerously.
"Not exactly." He corrected as he stood up and straightened his suit jacket. "The charm is on us. It protects our identities." He headed for the door with Tsukiumi in tow.
"Where are you going?" Lois demanded.
Clark stopped with his hand on his door. "Lois, this is my job. I have duties to deal with."
"Fine, I'll come with you." She said assertively.
"You can't come with me. You can accompany Uzume and Tsukiumi though."
"And why can't I come with you?"
"Because I am going to be dealing with a bunch of boys and men in various states of undress whilst we assess their medical status. It's the same reason I won't be going with Uzume and Tsukiumi who will be women and girls in a similar state."
"Oh." She said a little weakly.
"You should still have an escort. I insist-"
"Tsukiumi! Mutsu will be with me, Harry and Scott will be there too." Clark caressed the cheek of his blonde-haired Sekirei. "And if that isn't enough, I am the God of Thunder and you will be right next door with the remaining Sekirei."
Tsukiumi continued to grumble as she pushed past Uzume and Lois and stormed up to the only male in the room Lois and Uzume had arrived in.
"Listen carefully Swine!" She hissed as she stood on her toes to try and get level with the taller Mutsu. "If one hair on my husband's head is out of place when we are done I will challenge you in the arena."
Mutsu tried to hide his smirk. Both he and Tsukiumi knew that in a fight he would win. But he understood the desire to protect one's Ashikabi.
"Of course, I will protect Uncle as though he were my own Ashikabi." He assured her.
"Wait, what am I supposed to do?" Lois asked.
"You have two choices." Clark informed her. "One: Head back through the door Uzume brought you here by or two: go with Uzume and Tsukiumi and help out. The second one will get you to Chloe."
Lois shrugged as she linked arms with Uzume. "Its not like I have anything else to do."
Lois couldn't help but feel slightly inadequate.
Over one hundred beautiful women surrounded her and each one was standing there in their bra and panties happily chatting away and waiting to be called.
"Uzume! What the hell are you doing?"
Uzume was currently down to her panties; she never bothered with a bra in the first place and rarely wore her panties. "Its Sekirei Diagnosis Day." She explained. "We get measured, weighed and examined to make sure we are all in good health." She began putting her clothes in a bag that she handed to a female attendant in a lab coat nearby. The bag was marked with a 10.
"This is just a scam right? There are cameras all over the place and Smallville is watching and getting his rocks off." Lois scrutinised the walls looking for signs of hidden cameras.
"Clark doesn't need to watch in secret. He could walk in here right now and he would be swamped by girls eager to talk to him." Uzume laughed as she dragged Lois into the crowd searching for Chiho.
"What is this? A Miss Tokyo Pageant?" Lois quipped.
"Thank you Lois, you are very beautiful yourself." Yume quipped cheekily as the pair approached.
"She has a nice set of breasts." Musubi said excitedly as she began circling a now very worried Lois. "Do you think she will beat you Yume?"
"Hey! Hey! Hands!" Lois squawked as Musubi's hands started wandering over her chest.
"Musubi!" Tsukiumi screeched. "What have we told you about playing with other people's bosoms?"
"Aw, but they look so good! And they feel even better!"
"Don't worry Musubi, you can come and play with mine if you let me play with yours."
"Yay! You're the best Yukari!" Musubi squealed happily as she bounced (literally) over to the female Ashikabi.
"I take it back. This is a lesbian convention." Lois muttered as she watched the two women fondle each other and giggle.
"Harry and Takami say that all Sekirei have an obsession or fascination with their bodies and other people's bodies." Chiho explained. "You get used to it after a while."
Lois looked very sceptical. "If you say so. Why are you dressed like that? I thought you were human?"
Like everyone else in the room, Chiho was just in her bra and panties. "Clark insisted that all Ashikabi get medical checkups as well."
"So is that what the '10A' stands for?" She referred to the markings on her underwear.
"Yes, the number is the number of my Sekirei and the A denotes me as an Ashikabi." She nodded.
"There aren't many Ashikabis." Lois noted as she looked around.
"You're looking at boobies! You're looking at boobies!" Lois spun around to see Musubi, Kusano and the girl Musubi called Yukari singing smugly.
"I have no idea which of you is the most immature." Lois sighed.
"You sound just like my Sheena." Yukari laughed. "It takes me ages to get him to loosen up."
"Hey, I'm plenty loose."
"Well strip down, you might as well join the queue and get a free check up."
"You just want to feel me up. I'm fine and healthy." Lois said firmly as Musubi and Yukari giggled.
The two girls went back to chatting and… feeling.
"Alright ladies, start forming lines and we'll get through this quickly." Takami announced from the front of the room where various female physicians were waiting.
Lois was suddenly grabbed by the arms on either side by Uzume and Yukari. "Come on, free check up time!"
"I'm healthy!" Lois objected. "And what the hell happened to my clothes?!" She squeaked.
She was dressed in under-garments matching all the Sekirei and Ashikabi, but hers had the number 109 on them.
"I'm not the last Sekirei!" Kusano said happily as she grabbed Chiho and Musubi's hands and began to dance.
"You guys think you are sooo funny." Lois grumbled as she was led off.
"Haruka, I notice you haven't made any more attempts to run off again." Clark smirked as the familiar twenty-year-old Ashikabi stood in front of him in his underwear.
"You are going to bring this up every time, aren't you?" Haruka sighed.
"So how are things for you and Kuno?" Clark asked.
"Fine. She is enjoying her work at the host club. I'm not fond of her working there though." He admitted.
"She is perfectly protected." Clark assured him. "MBI owns the club. I bought it for Homura to run so she could employ Sekirei and Ashikabi."
"As Hosts?" Haruka asked in disgust.
"As greeters, waitresses, kitchen hands… and hosts, if they want to. Lets not forget that Kuno only sings there." Clark pointed out. "Which is probably a good thing after her one time filling in for the kitchens."
The poor timid Sekirei had managed to break six crystal champagne glasses, spill an entire urn of coffee and start a kitchen fire.
And that was in the first thirty seconds.
She was forbidden from going anywhere but the dressing room and stage without an escort now.
"Ok, you are good and healthy. Hopefully Kuno is too." Clark announced.
"What? But you didn't do anything." Haruka argued. "Why do we have to be naked?"
"Its magic, you are only in your underwear so we can do a casual check for things a magical scan might miss, can't be too careful. Would you really want to spend thirty minutes in an MRI machine for inferior results?"
"I'm claustrophobic."
"Lois Lane… Number 109? Ok whatever floats your boat." Harry shrugged.
"I thought there were only female doctors here." Lois grumbled as she tried to cover herself with her hands.
"The female doctors can only deal with the physical side of things. I'm here if a Sekirei wants more of her previous memories back." Harry explained. "With their help of course." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the Cuckoos.
"I don't have any previous memories. I'm not a Sekirei! That girl, Yukari, she put me in these with her mojo." Lois complained.
"Then why did you get in the line for the Sekirei and not the Ashikabi?"
"I don't know which is which! I was dragged here." She snapped.
Harry looked down at the quiet little girl who was still firmly gripping Lois' hand.
Kusano just used her other hand to reach up and tap the number on Lois' panties. "109. That means she is a Sekirei. She is my little sister." She declared.
"And does Number 109 have an Ashikabi?" Harry asked with a questioning smile.
"I want Clark to be her Ashikabi."
"Hey-"
"Now Kusano." Harry interrupted Lois. "You know that isn't how it works. If it was then every Sekirei would want Clark as their Ashikabi. 109 has to find her own Ashikabi. But who knows, maybe it will be Clark after all."
"What about Kusano's memories?" Lois asked trying to change subject. "You said something about giving the Sekirei back memories. Where are Ku's?"
"Ku is too young for hers at the moment. Instead we are going to go straight to the second half of the day. Beach time!" Harry cried happily as he grabbed the giggling little girl into a hug and vanished.
Lois stood there for a moment wondering what she was supposed to do. "YUKARI! WHERE ARE MY GODDAMNED CLOTHES?"
The Sekirei Diagnostic Day was a huge success. Clark and Takami were finally able to grab the final missing Sekirei and explain the situation to them. They were able to reach the Ashikabi as well. Fortunately they were all decent people; they just had a rational and intense fear of MBI.
The clean up of the alien tech was easily dealt with. J'onn was taken to Tokyo where he was assigned to the Alliance Headquarters to advise on their technology and space exploration.
Shayera was given the moniker 'Hawkgirl' by Barry and this was used to protect her identity and her wings, much like they did for Miya. She was staying with Barry at his personal headquarters in Central City whilst he showed her Earth and how to blend in.
For most of the castle residents they returned to Smallville High. Lana's relationship with Jason was an open secret, they were to avoid as much interaction with each other as possible but they were free to spend chaperoned time in public. Kazehana and Yume had instantly offered their services as chaperones.
"Have you managed to sneak into any broom closets yet?" Jodi asked Lana teasingly at lunch on their first day back.
"Jodi! We aren't even supposed to see each other during the day!" Lana hissed.
"I think you should get as much kissing done as you can." Abigail shrugged. "Take it from someone who nearly got banned from kissing for life." Abigail had been treated with Bruce' Banners ray gun and was happy to know she could kiss who she liked.
"I wonder what would have happened if you were to kiss Clark." Chloe mused. "Maybe you should have kissed one of us!"
Silence descended on the cafeteria.
"I said that a little loud, huh?" She winced.
"As you were people." Kyla called out loudly. "Don't make me get my boyfriend to come and deal with you."
People instantly shuffled off as quick as they could.
"Does Clark know you drop his name like that?" Lana asked.
"Nah, what's the worst that could happen?"
"Someone could break their knuckles on his face?" Jean laughed as she sat down at the table.
"Jean… why are you here?" Chloe asked worriedly. "I thought you-"
"Chloe, after you've had about five burning days you'll understand the desire to make the most of your new youth. I told Scott to suck it up and deal with it."
"Are you going to be in our classes, Jean?" Chiho asked.
"Yep!" She grinned happily. "I was even thinking of trying out for cheerleading."
"There were a lot of names on the sign up sheet." Lana commented. "I think I am going to need to assign a co-captain. I was surprised to see your name on there Chiho. I didn't think you were interested."
Chiho's head snapped to glare at her Sekirei.
Uzume sat there trying to look innocent.
Trying… but failing.
"I am not becoming a cheerleader." She hissed.
"But you'd look so cute!" Uzume pleaded.
"Who'd look cute?" Lois asked as she dragged a chair to the already crowded table.
"Uzume signed Chiho up for cheerleading." Chloe answered.
"Chiho? As a cheerleader?" Lois was clearly sceptical. "She's not the type."
"See?" Chiho told her Sekirei.
"I have an idea." Lana said with a sudden smile. "Why don't you and Chloe both sign up temporarily? You could do it as a bit of investigative journalism, write a piece about cheerleaders as outsiders."
"Sounds more like David Attenborough on a wildlife piece." Phoebe laughed.
"Here we have the Cheerleader in her natural habitat. Notice how the others follow the member of the herd with the largest breasts and blondest hair." Celeste mimicked the famous documentarian as the others laughed.
"They will be interacting with them. That would be more Steve Irwin." Lois countered. "Will ya look at the boobies on that one. She's the clear leader, why don't we get in closer and see if we can't get a good look at what she's got hidden up that skirt?" She said in a very bad Australian accent.
Once again silence descended on the cafeteria.
"Keep it moving people!" Kyla called out.
"I'll do it as long as Lois is nowhere near the field." Chloe agreed hesitantly.
"Do what?" Ryan asked as he joined them.
Jean had suggested Ryan start high school with the rest of the castle students. He was doing quite well with his training but he needed to push his boundaries.
"Chloe and Chiho are going to be cheerleaders." Kyla answered.
"Really? I've seen the Cuckoos and Lana practice with Uzume and Musubi, but I can't see Chiho doing that sort of thing."
"See?!" Chiho said more emphatically.
"I want my hot Chiho the Cheerleader!" Uzume pouted.
Chiho rolled her eyes and leaned in to whisper in Uzume's ear.
Uzume's had a very happy look on her face.
Ryan had a very red face and stood up quickly.
"Ryan? What's wrong?" Chloe asked.
"Chiho offered to dress up as Sailor Moon and I think that's hot so I have an erection."
Ryan's eyes widened in shock as did the eyes of everyone around him.
Chiho was completely red from embarrassment.
Ryan suddenly glared at Chloe.
"I am so sorry Ryan. I… I don't know what happened!" Chloe began to apologise, she hadn't meant to use her truth compelling ability.
"Did anyone else hear me?" Ryan asked tightly as he refused to look around the cafeteria.
"No Ryan, they did not." Phoebe said soothingly.
"After an earlier outburst I cast a privacy charm on the table."
"And Chloe honestly didn't mean to make you tell the truth." The Triplets assured him.
"Sit down kid." Lois ordered as she dragged the boy back into his chair. "I don't spend much time at that castle but I know you should be used to frank discussions of sex by now."
"Ryan, can I ask you a question?" Chloe asked.
"You can."
Chloe was about to speak when Kyla stopped her. "One moment, did you mean to say that or did Chloe's ability make you say it?"
"Chloe made me say it." Ryan said uncomfortably.
Chloe leaned over to Lana and whispered in her ear.
Lana nodded and then relayed what was said. "Chloe wanted to ask, and feel free not to answer, but I thought you could block out thoughts now?"
Ryan sighed unhappily. "I can't block thoughts, I can just ignore them. When it comes to exams Lorna is going to have me tested at the castle."
"She thinks you will cheat?" Kyla asked not quite believing it.
"No, not cheat." Phoebe answered.
"He will hear what everyone in the exam hall is thinking. Every right answer will be there for him." Celeste explained.
"Even worse: Every wrong answer will be there as well. It makes it very hard to think for yourselves." Mindee added.
"We used to give the Cuckoos their exams in Harry's head. It was the only place they could be without hearing everyone." Jean told them.
"Is that why you sometimes sit there staring into space?" Lana asked.
"Just the three of us."
"Harry."
"And his dragon."
"No Lois, that was not a euphemism." Ryan said quickly.
"Hey Jason, how's the team looking?"
"Clark? Are you allowed on the grounds?" Jason asked as he saw the taller man walking up to the football field.
"I'm registered as a part-time teacher and guest speaker."
"Oh, right. You teach economics, right?"
"I try. I'm still not getting the hang of this teaching thing. Last year I was in class with most of these people." He indicated the footballers on the field.
"I don't suppose we can convince you to go back to school? These boys are trying but they seem to be lacking… something." Jason admitted.
"Maybe they need some motivation."
"Huh… that looks like some good motivation right there." Jason said in thoughtful surprise as he watched several of the cheerleaders carry out a cooler full of drinks.
"They must be new cheerleaders." Clark said.
"Boys! Take five and hydrate!" Jason called out to the team.
"I'm going to go say 'hi' to the girls." Clark said as he moved towards his girlfriend and their friends.
Jason just nodded as he headed to the cooler himself.
"No suit?" Kyla asked with a small pout as he approached.
"I thought you preferred me in casual clothes?" Clark said as he looked down at his shirt and jeans.
"I do. But that doesn't mean I don't like to show off my powerful and hunky boyfriend." She said as she bobbed her eyebrows.
"That probably has more to do with her dropping your name when it comes to threatening other people." Lana explained.
"Threatening? Amazons are not supposed to be picking fights." Clark said with a wry smile.
"No, but we do keep the peace and fight when needed." Kyla challenged.
"And was this one of those 'needed' times?"
"Of course not." Kyla said smugly. "That's why I dropped your name; to avoid having to fight."
Clark couldn't help but smile at her logic. "I suppose I should be glad you didn't drop one of my other names.
"Alright, new topic." Clark said as he changed the subject. "Why are you dressed as a cheerleader, Chloe?"
Only Kyla and Chiho were in casual clothes. Chloe looked very uncomfortable in the short skirt and tight top.
Chloe nudged Mindee who rolled her eyes.
"Chloe is refusing to talk as she thinks she has lost control over her truth power." Mindee explained. "She nearly caused a bit of a scene at lunch."
"And the cheerleader uniform is punishment or penance?" Clark asked.
"No, I suggested that she join up for a while to write an article about cheerleaders from an outsiders point of view." Lana answered.
Clark frowned. "Aren't some of your cheers in the form of a question? 'Who's gonna win?' That's one of them. What will happen when she asks that, will everyone in earshot give their opinion?"
Chloe paled as Lana looked a little sick herself at the thought of everyone shouting out an unexpected answer. Kyla was laughing hysterically as Uzume tried to calm her.
"I will take her and have her work on the physical side of things." Mindee assured them.
"Did I miss it? Is it over?" Lois asked as she ran up.
"Miss what?" Uzume asked as Lois tried to catch her breath.
"Chloe being a cheerleader. You really think I'd miss the chance to see her try this?" She grinned at Chloe.
"You do remember that Chloe is a trained Amazon?" Kyla asked. "She can do this sort of stuff in her sleep."
"Yeah, so can I. But you wouldn't catch me jumping around in a short skirt and waving pom-poms." She countered.
"Kent! Get off the pitch so the girls can get back to training." Jason shouted angrily from the touchline.
Clark was a little taken aback. "Did he seem angry at me?"
"He seemed a little angry in general." Lana offered.
"He does look like he is in a mood." Kyla agreed.
"I need a drink. I'll be right back." Lois said as she headed to the cooler.
"I'm going to go and find Harry. I'll wait with him until you are finished; no need to annoy Jason any further."
Like most life forms, Kryptonians consumed solids and liquids and then expelled the waste.
In other words: Even Superman needed to pee.
Clark was washing his hands when the door to the men's room opened. At first he just ignored it, it was a public bathroom after all. But then he felt the slender arms wrap around him.
"Kyla? What are you doing here?" Then he looked in the mirror. "Lois?!"
"Hey handsome." She said seductively. "Why don't you let me deal with you for now. Maybe later we can have Kyla join us." Her hands slipped to his belt.
Clark quickly grabbed them. "Lois! You don't even like me! What-"
Clark was interrupted as the door slammed open and a man in a hoodie with his face covered aimed a shotgun at them. Clark grabbed Lois and spun away into a stall as the gun was fired.
"What the hell is- whoa there!" Danielle Moonstar had heard the gunshot and found herself staring down the barrel of the gun. She was trained in disarming gunmen and had the gun in her hands in less than a second without using even a tiny bit of magic. She then smashed the butt of the gun in to the attacker's face knocking him out.
Clark was desperately trying to get up, for some reason the gunman hadn't fazed Lois one bit and she was still trying to undo his trousers.
"Lois, cut it out!"
"Aw come on Clarkie. Haven't you ever fantasised about making love in a bathroom?"
"Clark?" Dani queried as she kept the gun trained on the attacker.
"Aphrodite!" Clark shouted.
"Kinky! Calling in the missus." Lois grinned.
Clark gave up used a stunner on the girl. He conjured a stretcher for her and turned around to see a very angry Aphrodite standing there.
Clark knew that look; he'd seen it before. "So, someone is messing around with Love again." He sighed.
"Yes." Aphrodite hissed as she easily lifted the downed gunman and pulled back his hood.
"Jason?" Clark muttered in surprise. "Is he affected like Lois or is this something different."
"What do you think?" Aphrodite asked curiously. "You must be able to feel it."
"I can, but I serve the Avatars, I am not one of them." He reminded her.
"Your bond with Death is more than that of an Apprentice, you are bonded to Harry and myself as family, your senses are as strong as ours in these matters."
"Well this is certainly awkward." Harry muttered as he arrived with Emma.
"You know the situation?" Clark asked.
"I have connected everyone mentally." Emma nodded. "Thank you for allowing me access, Goddess." She gave a slight bow to Aphrodite.
"We are truly family now." She responded.
"Ok, we can fix these two fairly easily. But we need them back at the castle, we need to use Bruce's new ray gun." Harry explained.
"Do you know what happened to them?" Dani asked.
"No, but I do know that two people who have never set foot in Smallville before two months ago have an alarmingly high amount of Kryptonite in their blood stream. I need that neutralised before I can restore their brain chemistry"
"Is Lana in the loop?" Clark asked Emma.
"She is."
"Fine, I'm taking these two back to the castle. I don't know how to use the machine though so I will leave them unconscious in two of the cells." Clark said as he hefted Jason over his shoulder and put a hand on Lois's shoulder before vanishing.
"He's spent how many years watching us do magic and he still can't remember that we can teleport objects remotely?" Dani sighed.
"He has a lot to remember Dani." Aphrodite chided with a smile. "He gets the job done as best he can. All we can do is help him when he needs it."
Dani wasn't convinced. "I'm just saying is all."
"Get over yourself Smallville." Lois scoffed as she sat up on the medical bed in the castle infirmary.
Jason had been fixed and his memories modified before being taken home and left to wake up on his own. As Lois was in the know she was woken up in the castle by Jean and Clark.
"It's true, Dani walked in on you with your hand down his pants." Jean giggled.
"Oh god… wait… you said you could re-grow body parts, right? So you can chop off my contaminated hand and re-grow it."
"What are you complaining about? I'm the one who was molested!" Clark argued. "Keep your hands to yourself, Lois." He said with a slight smile tugging at his lips as he marched off.
"Hey! I'm not done with you yet Smallville!" Lois shouted as she tried to get off the bed. "Come on Jean, I'm healthy… other than needing a new hand." Lois whined as Jean pushed her back down.
"I know. But whilst you're here I thought I'd give you that new hand." Jean said as she held up a scalpel.
Lois ran from the infirmary as fast as she could, she eventually found herself following the sounds of an argument in the Great Hall.
She was not impressed when she saw Jean sitting at the table smirking at her.
"You can not send in an army of armed Amazons to deal with this." Harry said with a small laugh.
"These foul beings would dare meddle with the sanctity of love!" Aphrodite said angrily. "I cannot believe you can sit there so calmly and let this happen."
"Aphrodite." Clark said warningly.
"And you! I know you can feel how wrong this is!" She turned on her husband.
"Aphrodite! You're anger is getting the best of you." Harry snapped. "Now sit down Goddess."
Lois never really believed that the so-called gods and goddesses had so much respect for Harry. She saw the way Clark, Aphrodite and Loki teased him.
But right now… she could see his power. She could see the fear and respect in Aphrodite's eyes as the goddess quickly sat down.
"I never sit calmly when people are in pain. I always have plans in motion. If you were to calm yourself and observe your surroundings you would realise my plan and that I was only waiting for you to allow me to tell you the results." Harry growled.
"Both of you calm down." Clark ordered as he pushed Harry down into his chair. "Phoebe, do you have anything?"
Aphrodite frowned as she looked around the table. Everyone was there except the triplets. Their absence told her everything she needed to know about Death's plan.
"The new cheerleaders have developed a chemical they call the 'Love Molecule'. It is enhanced with Kryptonite. They have been spiking the football team's water cooler to make the boys more pliable and subservient."
"They are currently throwing a pool party and taking advantage of their… love slaves." Mindee added.
"Those bitches are so off the squad." You could hear Celeste scowling over the mental communications.
"I think being cheerleaders will be the least of their concerns." Chloe sighed. "So, you had a plan?" She asked Harry.
"I had a plan." Harry nodded. "Now I have a new plan."
Everybody groaned in frustration at the grin on Harry's face.
Everyone except Xander who got eager and Lois who had no idea what was going on.
Harry's original plan involved various teams making surgical insertions into the houses of the cheerleaders and capturing them. They would liaise with the Sheriff so there wasn't a panic over the missing girls.
Instead, Lana and Harry had collected Jason and restored his memories. He and Lois were explaining what had happened to the Sheriff whilst a new team infiltrated the pool party.
Aphrodite, the triplets, Kyla and Musubi were dressed in nothing but bikinis as they sauntered through the house where the pool party was being held.
Clark did his best not to blush as he led them. He was just glad he was allowed to wear Bermuda shorts. The girls had pouted and pleaded but Aphrodite overruled them… she was trying to make up for snapping at him earlier.
"Do we have enough people for this?" Clark asked over the telepathic link the Cuckoos were providing. "There are a lot more people here than I thought."
"We will be using some mental persuasion." Emma answered from where she was hiding in a surveillance van out front.
"This mental communication is downright creepy." Came the uncomfortable voice of the Sheriff.
"Just plant the bugs where you can, if you can get them on the cheerleaders, even better." Laura instructed.
"Why am I the only male here?"
"Because you're the only one who can fit in. They already know the rest of us." Harry answered.
"Then morph into someone else and get in here."
"Clark, Mara has her eye on you. Separate from us and make yourself available." Phoebe instructed.
Clark kept exterior cool and collected as he did as he was told. Inside was another matter. "Can I just point out… again… that this is a really bad idea. These drinks are laced with Kryptonite."
"Noted. Now move it." Clark could hear Harry's smug grin.
Clark made his way to the bar that was nearby. Clearly the owners of this fairly upscale house were used to hosting parties. The Sheriff would be arresting everyone present for underage drinking.
"Hey Clark, you're looking parched." Mara said seductively as she sashayed over in her bikini. "Why don't try this? Its my own recipe."
"Erm-"
"Drink the damned poison Clark!" Harry practically shouted.
"Thanks, sounds great." Clark smiled winningly. "I hate your guts Harry!"
Clark chugged the drink down and immediately felt the effects of the Kryptonite. He tried to maintain his balance but his blood was literally boiling.
"Clark? Are you ok?" Kyla asked as she came rushing over. "What did you give him?" She demanded of Mara
"Nothing! Just a drink!" She said as she began to back away in worry. She suddenly found herself boxed in by the Cuckoos.
"Somebody call an ambulance." Phoebe instructed as they began to draw the attention of the partiers.
Aphrodite was kneeling down on Clark's other side as he reached a hand up to her. "Bring me Harry. I must hurt him." He rasped.
Aphrodite just smiled; if Clark was making these sorts of comments then he would be fine. "You can deal with him later."
"I'm here, I'm here." Harry said as he ran up.
"I saw him walking outside and I grabbed him." Musubi stated woodenly. She was a very bad actor.
"Alright Clark, lets get you to the hospital." Harry said reassuringly.
Clark's eyes widened in horror. "I swear to god Harry; I will make you pay for this."
Clark was exceptionally uncomfortable.
He was sitting up in the hospital bed surrounded by his wife, soul mate and Sekirei, some of whom were eyeing him up like a side of meat.
And he was wearing one of those horrible little hospital gowns.
"Where is he? I've been here for over an hour." Clark grumbled.
"Father said he had to liaise with the Sheriff." Homura answered uncomfortably.
"He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?" He glared at Number 6. "Tell him that he either gets here now or I will sign out AMA."
"What's that?" Kazehana asked as Homura quickly exited.
"Against Medical Advice." Matsu answered. "It means the doctors said he wasn't well enough to leave but that he did so anyway- ow!"
Matsu rubbed her hand where Clark had rapped it.
"Leave my bed sheets alone." He glared at her.
"Spoil sport." She pouted as she moved back to stand beside Kazehana.
"Isn't Helen on duty tonight?" Clark asked.
"No, this is her night off." Kyla said apologetically.
"How are Lois and Jason?"
"Other than trying to get a handle on not being in control of themselves, they are doing fine." Matsu answered. "Lana said that Jason was sorry about snapping at you."
"Wasn't his fault, he can buy me a coffee to make it up to me if he wants." Clark laughed. "And Lois?"
"She is avoiding Jean." Kyla smirked. "Something about a 'crazy scalpel wielding red head'."
"What about you, Aphrodite? How are you feeling now?"
"Better, thank you Husband." She said with a hint of shame. "I apologise again for my earlier behaviour."
"You can make it up to him later." Kyla grinned.
The door opened and a doctor walked in. Just not the one they wanted. "Clark, I hear you are attempting to leave our care?" Dr. Scanlan asked with a smile.
"I'm perfectly fine. Harry already cleared me he just refused to sign the papers." Clark grumbled.
"I assume that Dr. Potter has used all his abilities to heal you?" Scanlan asked with a very pointed look. At Clark's pointed look he tried to explain. "He filled me in after the kidnapping attempt from the hospital."
"Everyone here is in the know." Kyla said cautiously.
"If we weren't you wouldn't be able to talk about it." Matsu shrugged.
Scanlan nodded as he remembered some of the things Harry had told him. "Magic, he used magic to check you and heal you?"
"Yes, he's just being his usual annoying self. Another one of his jokes. The truth is…" Clark paused and gave Scanlan a piercing look before making his decision. "… I, Clark Kent, am Superman."
Scanlan's eyes widened as the truth hit him. "My god! How did we never- magic of course." He began to chuckle. "So I assume your physiology is completely different to ours?"
"Different enough. The main issue for me is that Kryptonite can severely damage me."
"Of course. Your allergies." He nodded. "Its very useful knowing about these blasted rocks. No offense."
Clark just waved it off.
"Because we know about the infected we can help them or send them to Dr. Potter. The government is still stonewalling the scientific community on the effects of these rocks." He scowled.
"Go to the MBI website or the Superman website." Matsu instructed. "You will find lots of international scientific papers there about the effects, including medical advice."
"Are there English translations?"
"Translations for every language." She said smugly.
"More magic?" Scanlan asked curiously.
Matsu was indignant. "Of course not! I wrote a program to translate them."
"That's very impressive. And you managed to account for grammar rules?"
"If you are referring to the mess that a certain search engine's translation system can make of things, then yes. My program is full proof."
"Matsu is about as human as I am, Doctor." Clark said with a proud smile. "She is also one of the smartest people around."
"I can believe it." He chuckled. "Are all of you… non-human?"
"Technically I am the only human in the room, other than you Doc." Kyla waved.
"Well you definitely all look human." He muttered as he began scribbling on the clipboard. "Ok Clark, I've officially discharged you. Take your papers to the front desk and they'll send you on your way."
"You're a lifesaver Doctor." Clark said gratefully.
"Hardly." He scoffed. "Not compared to you."
A/N:
I think I discovered that a lot of people who read this story are Australian!
I made a typo in the last chapter by calling the political leader of Australia the President. He's actually a Prime Minister. You spend enough time typing 'American President' and 'Australian President' kind of flows from the fingers.
Don't worry though! I know the truth and have gone back and changed it... so... if you want to see some MAJOR changes to the last chapter... tough.
There was a political coup off camera and Australia went from being an independent republic to a member of the Commonwealth again.
It shall never be referenced in this story though;)
