Next morning Queen Industries, Oliver's office
Clark walked down the hall to Oliver's secretary's desk "Mr. Kent for Oliver."
"Go right in sir he's expecting you."
"Clark glad to see you how are you guys?" "We haven't seen a lot from you guys in a while."
"Yea about that I have a potential problem it seems Lana's boss at the hospital is willing to kill her career if she wont stay on at Met Gen."
"So what do you need me to do" asked Oliver?
"Well I was hoping that you could have your security team check this guy out." "Hopefully it was all nothing but I just have a gut feeling something else is going on here."
"Well your senses are still sharp and working even with the down turn in need of our other services."
"Yea I've been wondering about that but lets focus on Lana at the moment."
"Ok so we found out that Dr. Littlefield has a obsessive personality he has been investigated a couple of times but the investigation got dropped along the way." "He has prevented two doctors from earning their licenses to practice medicine and both of those had filed complaint of sexual harassment against him." "We also found out he was on the Lionels and Lex's payroll as well." "I think Lana needs to be careful Clark this guy is a time bomb waiting to explode."
"Do you think he could be obsessed with Lana?"
"I don't know give me a second while I talk with Lana "(baby can you talk for a few moments)?
(Sure Clark whats up I'm in the locker room changing I'm alone at the moment).
(Do you think that Dr. Littlefield could be obsessed with you)?
(well anything is possible why)
(Oliver's team found out he killed two doctors careers over the interns not doing what he wanted them to do for one). (The other fact is that he had multiple sexual harassment suits brought against him which were both dropped by the people that filed them). (They never became practicing doctors either).
(oh god Clark, what the hell)
(We will have to talk in greater detail tonight)
(I have another surgery in a half hour if everything goes well I should be home on time)
(Love you)
(you too).
Oliver noted Clarks return to the world "well?"
"She is now scared the other doctors info got her concerned but the sexual harassment suits well that brought up a oh god from her."
"Not good Clark not good I'll put a tail on Lana and have them watch close in case something happens."
"Oliver I think Lana can take care of herself she isn't a 110 pound weakling."
"Um yea what if he's figured out she's a kryptonian Clark a little green rock and she is defenseless."
"Shit I never considered that Oliver"
"That's why I want a tail on her not just to protect her but you too."
"Ok we'll both have to be very careful with out alternate egos with someone following us."
The following week
"Clark glad you could make it again I have some Mr Green news and something disturbing as well."
"Ok lets start with the disturbing news first."
"Our tail on you and Lana found a preexisting tail on you both they are from a defense contract company, whats different about this group is they provide security to military leadership and some government officials." "My team is going to penetrate their ranks it seems stupidly easy to join up with them, so I'm having three people from my team join up and within a month we will know what the hell the objective is and hopefully who they are working for as well."
"What about your resident hackers" asked Clark?
"Yea they are all working on the Mr Green issue I'd rather keep them there on that assignment for the time being." "We checked for green rocks and detected no radiation signature of any kind." "One team went as far as to toss their car and found the standard stakeout items and nothing else." "So as a big threat I'd say they are watching you for someone not a direct threat yet."
"I really don't like the fact were being followed one little bit I'll warn Lana to be extra careful but I would rather take them down Oliver."
"I'm sure you would but being watched isn't a crime yet Clark they have to do something aggressive before the police step in and arrest them."
"Yea I get it, I just don't like it is all."
"What can I tell you Clark sometimes we sit on the side lines, on our hands and have to wait." "Remember all the times we watched Lex's evil doings and couldn't do anything."
"Please don't remind me that's a chapter in my life I'd rather not review thank you very much."
That evening
"Hi Lana you made it home in one piece I was starting to get worried about you baby."
"What a day I had, four surgeries and all of then went text book perfect." "Then I had Dr. Littlefield lecture me about what a doctors responsibility is to their patient is and isn't." "I felt like a first year med student again I was so mad I bent the hand railing in the stairwell between floors." "The nurses even gave me sympathetic looks, he gave me the lecture in the OR in front of my entire team, I wanted to kill him for a few moments he's lucky I didn't fry his ass with my heat vision." "Even better I could cast a spell on him turning him into a pig, just like he is on the inside."
"Wow someone had a real bad day come here baby let me give you a kiss and a hugs to make your day better."
"I need to calm down first I don't want to create any association between you and that asshole so just give me a couple ok then we can kiss and hug, ok?"
"What ever the lady wants honey" smiled Clark. Clark walked into the kitchen and returned to the family room with a red wine for Lana "here try this it might help a little."
"Thanks Clark" as she sipped the wine trying her best to forget her day. Clark sat down on the couch next to Lana waiting her to cool off.
"Damn that man he's bringing his bullshit into our home." "I can't have that I'm glad the program has only a couple of months to go then I can put this jerk behind us and get on with our lives."
"That's the best idea I've heard so far this evening."
"No more work crap at home ok."
"What you said" chuckled Clark as Lana closed in for her hello baby kiss welcoming her home from a hard day.
"I wonder what he's up to I need to talk with the management at the hospital and see what he's saying about me I had a real uneasy feeling today with the nurses giving me sympathy look's I didn't like it at all." "It was unprofessional, it was unethical, it was upsetting, and it was plain wrong to do that. If he had a real reason to do that and I deserved it ok then but at least behind closed doors." "I'm worried Clark this jerk has destroyed two other women doctors and I've asked a couple of the nurses and they seem to want to say something but clam up and say its nothing but I'm doing a great job." "Do you think he could be holding something over their heads to keep them quiet about what ever he's been doing."
"That's always a possibility I guess, crap I forgot to get the rest of the information Oliver had for me today we got busy talking about the guys that are following me mostly and you sometimes." "Good thing you work in a hospital these guys can't follow you around in there they would stick out too much so your mostly safe from any issues for now." "God I hate saying that for now its unsettling."
"It's ok baby" Lana said "we'll get thru this just like everything else we face Clark we just need to know who these guys are then we can deal with the situation or should I say certain alter egos will take care of things."
"Boy I really like it when you say things like that" as Lana hugged Clark.
"We will deal with them how about turning them into oh say pidgins or something like that." "That way the can do what they like to do hang out and watch."
"Did I ever tell you you have a very wicked sense of humor Clark."
"No but someone told me I kiss real good" as he wiggled his eyebrows at Lana "ok stud" as they disappeared up stairs to the bedroom.
Following week Met Gen surgery operating room.
"Everyone ready" Lana asks her team? She enters the room as a prep nurse helps her into fresh gloves and the surgical gown that she wears over her hospital scrubs.
"Yes Dr. Kent we have a patient, there on the table and we have lowered body temperature 5 degrees for now and can dial it down as far as you want to go."
"Hows the patient" ask Lana to Dr. Williamson the anesthesiologist.
"So far so good I'm in the green across the board anytime you want to start."
"Ok then shall we people." Lana concentration seemed to slip a little as the nurse passed her the first scalpel to her hand. Lana started her first incision but never finished all the operating room staff passed out at the same time seems someone cut the fentanyl gas lines allowing the anesthesia gas into the room which quickly put everyone in the room out like a light in seconds. Last thing Lana saw was the floor coming up to meet her face.
Dr. Littlefield entered the OR with a oxygen mask and tank on his back he had to get Lana out of the OR before the gas killed everyone. They were on the floor the concentration would be much higher due to the gas being heavier than air. Dr. Littlefield dragged Lana to the doors leading out of the OR to the washroom then out to the deserted hall that led to the stairwell and service elevators he figured he had 30 minutes if the dose was high enough if not he had 20 but where he was taking her would only take ten there was new construction in the basement of the hospital the rooms were done but unequipped so he would have all the time he needed to set Dr. Kent straight about his wants and needs.
If she didn't go along she would be found dead like the rest of those tools on the operating room floor. There was only one person who mattered at this hospital and everybody knew it was Dr. Littlefield why Lana didn't see that was why he was taking these steps so she would see his genius and ability as a leader in the hospital. He saved people every day lots of people that's why the hospital staff allowed him to only have one intern so he could make that intern as great as him. Why Lana couldn't see that bothered him and her ability was almost as great as his she saved just about all that came across her table even more than he had saved in his ten years as head
surgeon. He had to make her see that she had to be his protege to follow him and make and insure his greatness then his legacy.
Dr. Littlefield lifted Lana into a waiting wheel chair and tied her into the chair so she couldn't get away from him. They went down to the basement he took her to the unoccupied section. Lana started to come to a little as he pushed her along. Lana was starting to wake up a little she was wondering why she was moving along a hall way wait a moment shouldn't she be performing a surgery right now then it hit her the last thing she remembered was seeing the floor hit her face what happened where was she?
The new overseeing medical insurance company insisted that the hospital had to install cameras in all the OR's to help out with malpractice suits. It was the latest thing the insurance industry was pushing on the hospitals and doctors. The unknown factor was security had hooked up the OR video feeds to the monitoring center granted the feeds showed a time lapsed view of the rooms but at least they were being monitored. The security officer couldn't believe his eyes as he watched a whole OR collapse to the floor. He watched it a second time before hitting the emergency response teams activation. The hospital administrator was on the scene in seconds wanting to know who activated the ERT teams and if the ERT was really needed. No need to make this something that they couldn't keep in house and sweep under the rug if need be.
Lana was wide awake now she was tied to a wheel chair how the hell did she get there. Someone was moving behind her she was reluctant to use her powers until she had a better idea who it was behind her and how many people there were. She got her answer as Dr. Littlefield came into view muttering to himself she should be waking anytime now Lana immediately slowed her breathing and heart rate. He checked her pulse and breathing should be anytime now. Lana wasn't in fear she was wondering what was up at this point she wondered about her team and patient but needed to understand why she was kidnapped first.
(Clark this ass I work for kidnapped me I'm somewhere in the hospital but I have no idea where I'll let you know once I figure this out besides I want to know what this idiot wants).
(Be careful Lana he could have kryptonite if he does just tell me over the link I"ll X-ray the entire hospital to find you I'll tear it down brick by brick if I have too).
(Its ok I can handle this if its get dangerous I'll let you know ok).
(Not happy about this but ok for now).
Lana could feel her face being lightly slapped "Lana wake up, Lana" said Dr. Littlefield "we need to talk."
Lana decided to play along a bit to see what this mentor wanted from her. She played groggy "Dr. Littlefield what happened" Lana asked faking it all the way.
"Well Lana you have to see things my way you have to be on staff here at Met Gen I wont have it any other way." "I want you to be my protege and only you, someone has to ensure my greatness and legacy." "You will make me to be the great healer I will be credited with training you to save all the people that have crossed your table we will be a great team they will write songs about us, Lana and what a great team we will be." "Oh that husband of your's has to go I can kill him for you if you want, the kids are ok for now but we will have to send them to boarding school soon can't have them in the way of our greatness."
Lana had heard enough she was mad as hell ok I could kill him but I think a little magic is in store for this jerk and I have to get him fired so he needs to at least rip my clothes. "I will never ever help you in any way doctor you can go to hell as for killing my husband you could never be the man he is your a poor excuse of a human being." Boy oh boy that set the doctor off he grabbed Lana scrub shirt and attempted to pull her up ripping her shirt in the process.
"Never" he yelled "never, how dare you"!
Lana had enough she broke the restraints and stood up "you my dear doctor have messed up hugely, I'm going to teach you a lesson." The doctor grabbed the nearest thing he could find a tool of some sort and swung at Lana. The tool stopped in mid swing the doctor had a look of confusion on his face. "Not nice to hit a lady asshole." Lana used her magic and trapped him up against the nearest wall "not so good to not be in control now is it" she asked? The doctors eyes went wide how the hell was she doing this. Lana cast her truth sawyer spell "Now for a little truth how many women have you done this to Dr. Littlefield?"
"Um um" he said. "It started as sexual favors but I was looking for someone to make me a great doctor you can't have that without a willing protege I have done this in some form to all my interns you have the most promise to make me great."
"You only let women into this program?"
"Yes" he answered.
Wow that was a surprise because it was a small program he would have ultimate control over the interns to make them do anything he wanted. Oh he was sick worse than Lex. "Ok then" she slammed his body to the wall, he passed out as Lana cast a tell all spell over him so when he woke up he would tell anyone what he had done over the years. She saw a sign that said exit and started walking that way she found herself in the hospital still close to the morgue she headed for the elevators and the security office
(Clark I'm ok this guy was a jerk calling him a pig is a insult to all pigs).
(He has been doing this for years it started as sexual favors but he decided he had to have a protege to make him a great doctor).
(He's passed out in the basement of the hospital, that's where he took me, I'm about to go to the security office and make them call the police even if it costs me my job I don't care he has to be stopped he has done this for far too long).
(Glad to hear your ok and I agree you can do someone else program if you want to be a surgeon we'll find one for you).
(Love you, come to get me soon please).
(Love you, leaving now).
The security staff called 911 before Mr. Adams the administrator, got to the security office it was too late to stop the wheels rolling. The guard told the police someone took a doctor hostage and knocked out the entire OR staff. "Damn that cat was out of the bag whatever happened was going to be in the news" said the administrator. Hopefully it wouldn't cause me to loose my job he thought. The police dispatcher sent almost half of the Metropolis police department. The administrator knew if the police would be involved it would make the news. Hopefully there wasn't a lot more to this story. As the first officers showed up, a disheveled doctor Lana Kent opened the security office door ripped shirt and all. The administrator fainted at the sight of Lana all he could think was lawsuit. The police got the whole story from Lana's perspective. Clark joined her shortly holding her hand as she recounted her experience. The police found Dr. Littlefield still passed out in the basement they tagged and bagged the wheel chair the restraints, surgical tools and the strips of clothing. They read the doctor his right he waived his rights. Once they started questioning him, he didn't stop talking for almost 8 hours. The lead investigator just knew this one was going to be a very long case.
The administrator told Lana she must be mistaken, something like that would never happen in his hospital. He also tried to grab the tapes and erase them too bad they switched to compact disk for storage a while ago his attempt at deleting the incriminating evidence was witnessed by MPD officers and investigators as well as the hospital security staff. Lana was pissed at this point turning him into a pig for a while or something else maybe a dung beetle crossed her mind. She decided another truth spell was called for and quickly cast it. The administrator went on for a day and a half before he got out his complete confession he was going away for a very long time it was discovered later he was in Lionel then Lex's employ as well, the charges just kept adding up. The hospital administrator tried to make out like he was unaware of Dr. Littlefield's little games but Lana's little spell made sure the administrator was implicated in the case as an accomplice he would turn a deaf ear to any woman who came with a sexual harassment suit and embezzlement of public funds.
Both Dr. Littlefield and the administrator were going to jail never to see the inside of a hospital again in a professional capacity. Lana was given her completion for the advance surgical procedures program. She passed her state board and joined the staff of SMC. The new administrator of Met Gen begged Lana to stay on as the new head resident surgeon, she wouldn't hear a word about it she had a bad taste in her mouth for big city medicine. The Kent's were ready to return to their home.
Lana loved her job a SMC she worked where she lived and a lot of her patients were former classmates and friends. She was happy they got busy with child number four. A couple of months later they were pregnant again. This time it was a girl, her name was Laura Jean Kent and another flawless birth at home.
New years eve 2016 11:30 P.M.
"Well Lana now you're a licensed practicing doctor and seem to be happy back on the ranch, baby number four is delivered so what's next for you guys" asked Chloe with a glass of water in her hand?
"Never mind me what about you your first child is precious and the one your carrying looks to be a boy if I had to guess." "I'll look if you really want to know."
"Boy aren't you spot on I had a ultra sound last week its a boy he will be Gabriel Robert Queen, thanks anyway."
"Oh matching bookends" said Lana "to accompany Robert Gabriel Queen I like it polar reversed names I'll have to use that at some point too" she said.
Chloe looked at Zantana "what about you, children on the horizon for you guys yet she asked?"
"No not yet we have a couple of things we both want to do before we are parents."
Lana said "Clark has more work to do for your husband some big development in flight drives of some sort so that will keep Clark close to home."
"I hope the crisis level stays the same its real nice to only have to deal with something major once a month or so."
"Hey I have a question for you Lana I've noticed you don't have any signs of crows feet around your eyes nor have I seen anything like it around Clarks eyes either." "I found my first gray hair the other day and I am not happy about that milestone." "Have you found one yet Lana" Chloe asked?
"Uh no I haven't seen anything like a gray hair."
"Lana can I ask you something, maybe uncomfortable."
"Chloe were best friends and have been for years you can ask me anything you should know that by now."
"Ok I just want to be sure it was ok to talk about."
"So whats the question" asked Lana?
"Are you guys getting older at all?"
"Wow go for the big question huh."
"Sorry its the reporter in me you know Wonder Woman is like 5000 years old right?"
"Yes, I'm aware of that."
"Well from what I've found out we won't age at all under a yellow sun, we will regenerate endlessly and even if were exposed to a red sun once we get to a yellow sun again we regenerate back to this age which I guess is about 22 or so."
"Crap Lana some girls get all the luck your never going to have to deal with sagging boobs or age lines or gray hair or any of the other getting old stuff." "Lucky you" said Chloe but Zantana interrupted her "yes, but that means Lana's going to outlive everyone she knows." "Oh man that's going to be hard to see all your friend pass on and you stay." "I couldn't imagine having to go through that." "I'm sorry for you Lana that's going to be hard losing everyone you love."
"Hopefully that wont be a problem Clark isn't the only one who has lab space under the ranch, I have been advancing the work a couple of researchers have been doing with cellular mitosis." "If we can slow that process down or arrest it human kind will be just as immortal as we kryptonians." "That's if people want the drug and want to live a long time."
"When will it be ready for human trials?"
"Well I have a worm culture that is an human equivalent of 150 years old right now in the lab but its not 100% just yet, only 9 out of ten live that long I'm going to turn my research over to one of Oliver's teams once I get it to 100%, I'm not about to let my husband to be the only one to contribute to mankind's betterment." "Lets find our husbands, it getting close to midnight, I want my husbands lips" said a notably excited Lana.
Zantana couldn't agree more she could use some lip lock time with Bart. "Lana that's the best idea you've had all night lets go find our men shall we ladies" said Zantana.
Valentines Day 2017
Lana and Clark had taken a night for themselves they took the kids to DC so Grandma Martha could baby sit for the evening. They had a romantic dinner alone for the first time in a while Clark made a simple diner of egg noodles alfredo and shrimp, Clark being the at home dad had developed some affluence with his super powered cooking skills. Lana was always amazed at Clarks growing skills. Tonight's fare represented a simple sample of his cooking prowess. They quietly talked during diner laughing at certain points remembering their earlier life both just starting to wonder what it really would mean for them to out live everyone they have ever known and what the morrow would bring to their door step. Clark made a simple chocolate cake with strawberry sauce this one of Lana's favorites, always a delight for her taste buds. He didn't make it often but when he did a night of passion ensued. There was just something magical to the dessert, Lana often wondered if Clark used one of her potions in the cake because it made her want to do things with her husband. Lana never asked she chose to enjoy the experience instead.
Lana sat at the table finishing the wine and cake while Clark superseded through doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen up. He was done in moments and returned to his lady love's side kissing the top of her head slowly moving to the side of her neck gently moving her trusses of brown out of his way. Clark placed soft kiss after soft kiss on the side of her neck he slowly moved to the strap of her dress kissing it over her shoulder and down her arm. His lips traveled back up her arm across her shoulder to her neck and the back of her neck causing Lana to groan "you have no idea what that does to me Clark" Lana could feel the fire building in her eyes she thought is this what Clark had to deal with when I was a young teenager? She became consumed by the passion building in her body, she opened her eyes and twin beams of fire blasted across the dining room burning holes in the wall. Clark stopped his kissing and stared with his mouth open, Lana's face turned red she had never lost control of her powers like that before she prided her self on keeping them in control.
Lana sat in the chair breathing heavily "Clark I'm so sorry."
"Uh its ok let me put the fire out first, accidents like this are going to happen" he smiled at her.
Lana whined "but I'm a grown woman Clark this shouldn't be happening to me."
"Why baby" Clark asked "you're suddenly afraid of letting go and giving in to your passion" he asked? "I seem to recall a young lady who was always trying to talk me into giving in to my passions when we weren't having sex because her boyfriend at the time was scared to hurt her."
"I recall a young man who almost burnt the talon to the ground be cause he couldn't control himself Clark."
"Well what can I say I have a very hot wife" as Clark closed in for a deep passionate kiss.
Isabela Island, Ecuador Queen Heavy Launch Facility
"Wow, Oliver this is some place you built here."
"It took us a year to get the Ecuadorian government to understand we were serious about building what we have here today." "It helped to build and staff a new university and a couple of world class hospitals too." "We had to prove to the government and the locals we wanted to be a good thing for their country they had fears of the Americans moving in and taking over." "The tricky part was getting them to agree that we operate under US law in our facilities." " It took a while to get that point across Lex had a testing facility here so the local military was looking for the usual bribes and as such." "The government was persuaded to retire them from the military they became war lords for a couple of weeks Black Canary and Green Arrow fixed that issue, now everything's good were 65% of this countries GDP and we educate and train locals giving them good paying jobs raising their standard of living, and giving them skills to be proud of as well."
"That's awesome Oliver hope that plays out well in the press back home."
"This road hasn't been easy Bruce and I had to protect each other from corporate raiders our boards had to be dragged screaming and kicking along for this ride."
"What did you two do asked Clark?"
"When we announced this joint venture 4 years ago we knew we were going to be facing a up hill battle." "The news of a private company getting it to the governmental space game hit both our stocks were hit hard so we bought up all the shares on the market of each others companies." "We both hold about 52% in each others companies." "We both hold about 30% of our own companies so there will never be a hostile take over." "Not that there haven't been a couple of attempts but they awoke to a rude surprise they didn't have enough shares to even put a member on the board." "Its embarrassing how easy that was to engineer."
"How did you buy up all those shares?"
"Well when we made our first announcement of space based manufacturing back in 2010 my companies stock nosed dived." "I called Bruce and asked him to buy up all the shares he could, he bought a lot Clark." "Bruce used his personal money through several companies so It wouldn't be tied to Wayne Industries or to him directly." "Bruce and I made the technology joint agreement with his company and operation agreement his companies stock did the same thing his stock price dropped like a stone." "I personally bought up all the shares on the market or Chloe did under several shell companies." "For the first time in my life Clark I had to watch what I was spending it almost broke me but we survived that trial."
"Wow Oliver Chloe never said a thing I never suspected a thing."
"Yea it was strange having a budget, Chloe god bless her grew up with understanding budgets and well when her dad was unemployed they tightened up the belt a lot she knew how to live cheaply thank god."
"That's Chloe, good girl" smiled Clark.
"So what about now?"
"Well the robotic manufacturing and the return of He3 from the moon proved itself thanks to you and the solar cells we build on the surface made lots of power we have been beaming it back to earth for years." "All you have to have is our receiver and you have power anywhere on the surface of the earth." "We have been flooding the press with your power generators and all that they can do so things are going well, we also found iron and nickel in high amounts all aver the moon so with this first launch to the moon we will be establishing a continuous manned presence on the moon we will mine the moon for materials to build everything we need in space." "We found water on the moon and now with steel we can build almost anything the only things we will have to launch into orbit are people and support materials." "We will launch people and materials to the moon every couple of days." "At the peak of the US space program they launched every couple of months at, best we are doing that every couple of days" smiled Oliver.
"How long before the dome is up and has air" asked Clark.
"Well we sent up a new robot last year its function was to dig out rock for the dome, I expect to have the dome operational in six months provided we don't have any issues."
"Like that nut last year that blew up a rocket."
"Yea about that we found out that he was a spy for a competitor."
"What" said Clark?
"He worked for another government and was feeding any information he got to his employer."
"Why am I hearing this now almost a year later."
"Both Bruce and I took a hard look inside our own companies to see if there were any other spies and we found several some had even manages to siphoned off lots of money." "We almost suspended our plans, both of us felt disappointed that people working for us could be so easily bought off I was starting to loose my faith in my fellow man."
"I just don't know what to say" said Clark.
"Its ok Clark its past history, now we have a better screening process for new hires and regularly look into our current employees lives with their permission.
"What if they don't want some one looking into their lives" asked Clark.
"Then they get reassigned to the environmental operation, no secrets there" smiled Oliver.
The final minute of the countdown was ticking by as both Oliver and Clarks eyes watched the first rocket launch into the sky a minute later followed by another and a finally a third. "There they go Clark mankind's first permanent steps to the stars and a manned constant presence in space." Clark smiled this was a moment in history that would be the start of mankind's freedom from the earth and their growing wings reaching for the stars.
(Clark whats up, I can feel your happiness).
(I just watched Oliver's launch to the moon it went off flawlessly. Oliver went through a lot of things to get to this point a lot more than either of us ever suspected).
(Glad that it all went off so well).
(I watched a moment in history happen it was strange being a observer to this event considering we both are going to be around forever).
(I love you husband when are you going to be home)?
(Oliver and I will leave in the next hour we should land at the new Smallville airport in 5 hours).
(I'll be in bed waiting for you big boy). Clark could almost feel Lana giving him the your going to get it later with a wiggle of her hips.
The rockets made the flight to the moon in 36 hours right on time in the flight envelope, the crews were ready for the hard work ahead of them. They knew they would be on the surface of the moon for a total of six weeks before the next relief crew arrived, there would be a lot of accomplishments and the first would be getting the dome up and running it would give them quarters and a place to work. Once the habitat was in place life for everyone who followed them would be much better because the dome was a structure in a hollowed out cave they would have 25 feet of solid nickel iron over their heads it would keep them protected from what ever the universe sent their way. Short of a super nova they would survive anything else.
Two weeks later the outer dome was completed they had four weeks to finish the inner dome and then leave the moon for a rotation on the earth training for their next mission. The inner dome had rooms and labs to be constructed another team was setting up the on-site steel plant to make ready rolled steel for any uses the moon inhabitants needed it was a automatic factory and robotic collectors fed the plant a steady supply of raw materials. This plant would be in continuous operation unaided by human hands unless something broke down that the repair robots couldn't handle. They were done two days ahead of schedule the ground team couldn't have been happier the construction crew left a plaque they made with all their names on it saying "whoever follows the path to this place, know it was built by local #597 for all mankind, reaching for the stars" and listed all the teamsters.
The moon soon became a busy place Oliver and Bruce were sending up more specialists every day to the moon. The hustle and bustle of manufacturing in low gravity changed many processes and created many new ones. New discoveries were becoming a daily experience several new elements were added to the periodic table due to discoveries made on the moon. New alloys that couldn't be made on earth were a easy proposition in low gravity. New drugs made it to the medical markets everything from pain killers to cancer drugs that couldn't be manufactured in a heavy gravity environment could now be made in quantity. Most of the first drugs produced were from the days of Skylab and the shuttle missions they proved theories and concepts but were unable to manufacture that was a mute point now. Queen and Wayne industries announced a new joint venture they called L6 a large habitat in the L3 Lagrange point between the moon and earth. The habitat was to be for advanced manufacturing and a way point for moon bound travelers. It would become in later years a point of debarkation to the outer system and the asteroid belt for now it was just another place to go in space.
Kent Ranch Early September 2017
Lana, Zantana, Chloe and Kara all sat in the backyard enjoying the late afternoon heat of the Kansas plain. Lana had three days off from her practice and the hospital it was a rare day so Lana wanted to spent it with the people she want to be with her friends.
"Well girls its been a heck of a year, a crazy doctor, the hardest intern program designed by a nut job doctor, me getting my medical license and opening my own practice not to mention I'm the de facto doctor for all the superhero's at the moment besides Emil."
"Lest we forget what the boys have done too added Chloe the whole moon thing and now the new L6 project too."
Zantana added "not to mention that my good friend and apprentice Lana has mastered her magic."
That brought a series of hugs and congratulations from the ladies, Lana summed it up with "we have done well girls we have done well."
"Oh if you didn't know Kara Bart asked Zantana to marry him."
"Wow that is news" Kara said "how did that happen."
Lana started to say something but went quiet when she see's out of the corner of her eye Zantana turning red. "Uh" went Zantana "I trained the wild beast he's a real nice guy under all the flash persona the whole flash thing I think was because he felt out of place that's one of the many reasons he and Clark got on so well I think they both felt like outsiders looking in."
Kara smiled "I know exactly what the boys were feeling girls."
The girls talked about their lives and how they have become much more than they ever figured they would be. Lana rose from her seat and asked "if anyone wants more ice tea" yes was the general answer Lana headed for the house followed by Chloe "sorry girls bathroom break" she said as she followed Lana into the house.
Chloe caught up with Lana in the kitchen "Lana I have a question for you."
"Um sure what do you want to know" she answered.
"Well you recall I asked you about aging a while ago."
"Yes I remember" wondering where this conversation was going.
"Ok have you given living forever anymore thought your going to have to die ever so often and then become a new person as well, its not going to be a easy thing to do."
"I can teach you how to create identities and how to shift assets along to the new persona" offered Chloe.
"Yes that would be useful information to know why are you fixating about this Chloe?"
"I just don't want you to be alone Lana you will have Clark but you wont have your girlfriends to talk to about things I know you Lana your girlfriends are a survival thing for you if it wasn't for me in high school you would have gone nuts with Clark and his secrets back then."
"You are right on that point it just might have been a big enough issue to drive us apart forever." "I had a issue with people not telling me the truth back then without you to talk to it could have caused a insurmountable wall to be erected between Clark and I." "You did have a lot to do with us staying together up to the day that never was."
"My issues with abandonment also created problems too that what drove me to Lex and his evil web of lies." "I do need my friends why are you bring this up so often."
"I just want you to know I'll be here for you as long as I can Lana the girls all want to be your support team there are just some things you talk to your girls about that you don't with your husband."
"Those are pretty far and few between for me I share all of me with Clark."
"Even the occasional hot guy your eye see's" asked Chloe?
"Really don't look at other guy Chloe I have the worlds hottest man as far as I'm concerned."
"Ok point taken but we still need you too Lana I know Zantana would never have given Bart the time of day if it weren't for you talking to her about him and well me being with Oliver is because of you too if you recall it was you at the Isis center telling me after Jimmy died to talk to Oliver he had a good head on his shoulders and a good heart." "Your the one who gave me the idea to be watchtower for our friends Lana." "After that I just sort of fell for Oliver, I miss Jimmy but he made his choices and he also got run down by a homicidal creature from Krypton too." "You held my hand through it all Lana I don't think I would have made it without you support I just want to be there for you through time too."
"Thanks Chloe" Lana hugged her long time friend Lana grabbed the pitcher and they returned to the back yard.
"One more thing where ever it is you go take your friends with you Lana you need them."
Flash back to Brainiac attempt at taking over Chloe 2007.
Chloe's apartment over the talon late afternoon the shadows of the day are growing longer just like Chloe's fear of confronting Kara who has been acting very strange as of late. Something is seriously wrong with that girl she used to have the same principals as Clark but she just let three people die and did not a thing to stop it from happening what the hell.
"Kara" she says to a new message "there's something wrong with Clark he's convinced if he destroys the fortress no one will be able to control him were at my
apartment I need your help." Suddenly Chloe hears and feels the blast of air announcing Kara's arrival she called her 20 minutes ago saying she and Clark were waiting for her at the apartment above the talon.
Kara appears as Chloe closes her phone "where is Clark" she has a stern look in her eye that is troubling to look at.
Chloe takes in the sight of Kara something is defiantly off here she can't put her finger on it or what the thing that's off is either.
She answers "He's right back here" walking to the bedroom doorway she takes a couple steps in that direction and pulls out the piece of kryptonite she had in her purse holding it out in front of Kara's face. Kara gets a very evil smile looking at Chloe as a cat would a mouse. Chloe cant understand whats wrong Kara should be on the ground in very bad pain this moment instead she is looking at a almost laughing Kara. Chloe is clearly out of her element.
Chloe mind is racing the only thing she can think to say is "why isn't it working?"
Kara smiles evilly at her "maybe you forgot to check the expiration date." She starts to walk closer to Chloe. Chloe's eyes get bigger and bigger she finally says "Kara there is something seriously wrong with you."
Kara cuts of further comment with "You lied to me." Shaking her head she says "Clark's not here."
Chloe figures this is it time to try to do the impossible and outrun a kryptonian as she turns to the door making a fast getaway. Kara's hand re-closes the door with ease Chloe turns to look at her, Chloe's eyes are more than wide and big now she has no idea what is about to happen but she knows it wont be good. The hand starts to turn a blackish gray in fact the whole body seems to be doing the same thing too bad the door wont open. Chloe is at the point of tears she has figured out that this is it, her life is over. Chloe watches the change completes she says "Oh God" in recognition. The person before her is Brainiac, he reaches out and quickly slaps Chloe's face. He grabs her hand with the green rock still clutched in it "I'm impressed I wouldn't have thought a weak willed member of your species, especially a friend of Kal El's would ever use kryptonite against his cousin."
"Let me go" said Chloe with little conviction, fear clearly coming out in her voice.
"I remember you said Brainiac always sticking you're pretty little head where it doesn't belong he held her hand up and extended the mind probes from his finger right to the back of her brain. Chloe was clearly in pain but suddenly her restorative powers kicked in enveloping her in a energy cocoon Brainiac was shocked at this change of events his mind probes melted off his body falling to the floor as ash. Brainiac staggered back a couple of steps he asked "what the hell are you?"
Chloe passed out she fainted against the doorway.
His construct was damaged and no longer working correctly he put out a call to the nearest Sub unit to come to help him. The new unit arrived at the apartment "what is the problem" he asked "she did something to me, fix me" he looked over his counter part "ok let me link to all the others to repair you." The new arrival started the merge process when everything went out of control what ever power Chloe Sullivan had it was wreaking havoc with his systems all of a sudden the copy that he called for repair turned to ash and floated away on the air currents in the room. The remaining copy knew he had to have more power to repair and refused to allow this contamination to get to his ship he had his favorite toys there he would not risk loosing the miniature cities of Kandor and Argo these took a lot of work to capture and hours of enjoyment would be gone if he allowed the infection to spread farther than his copies. The joint intelligence that was Brainiac set in action a plan to recover all his abilities and powers copies attempted to merge only to find out that they were unable to rejoin. The remaining intelligence in the ship shut down denying access to the ship resources putting the ship in sleep mode the ship was safely tucked away in the northern parts of the Canadian provinces it would never be found. The remaining copies of Brainiac met one on one assigning research on how to solve their current issue then get back to their number one priority freeing Zod from the phantom zone.
The brainiac copies after several years with no real results and the loss of more copies returned to their primary goal getting Zod freed. The first issue was a vessel, Kal El was no longer a option he had completed his training at the fortress and the copies disintegrated the moment they tried to gain access to the fortress. The copies tried to find Lex Luthor but it seems he died at some point to bad because his cellular structure was perfect for Zod plus all the time they spent developing him as the vessel would go to waste. They decided to start with the few cell they had from a earlier version of Lex Luthor and adjust his cellular structure to Zod's needs. They found the Luthor funds that were hidden world wide. They had trouble getting some of them but most just gave them the monies which started the cloning operations. Oddly enough they set up shop first in Kal El's backyard Smallville they used a old facility in Smallville that had been mothballed Camdus Labs.
One Brainiac copy ran this facility he hired several researchers and never showed his face in Smallville again he employed a pi firm from out of state to keep track of Kal El they were assigned to monthly checks only. Brainiac saw the wedding and was surprised when it happened considering a brainiac copy presented Kal El with a false history of how his life was going to go even had him believe he married Lois Lane. The fake legion ring malfunctioned destroying that copy of brainiac. Seeing Kal El married to Lana Lang was a unexpected event. Brainiac thought about using Lana as leverage to gain access to the fortress until it was observed Lana showing signs of kryptonian powers. Brainiac abandoned all surveillance in Smallville. Brainiac had moved operations to the ocean ships after the lab in Smallville burnt to the ground setting the program years. Ocean bound operations were the best way to make sure the testing continued without interruption they suffered the loss of a couple of ships but overall they had relearned enough to be able to soon bring a full term clone to life then get the clone ready for Zod to inhabit the vessel. The plan was going well until the Justice League started to stick their nose into Brainiac's operation, several ships went dark there were even pings to the computers in the hidden base in the Canadian wilderness a disturbing fact. Brainiac was sure they were getting too close so they shut down all functions at the hidden base and moved back to be mobile operation again. This made for face to face information sharing which was Brainiac's Mr. Green persona in no time the Justice League was tracking him world wide they had discovered a lot of the clone labs and taken down a couple of the more important labs. Still brainiac continued with the directive make a vessel, get Zod out of the phantom zone.
2012 Smallville Kansas
The Ranch had become more than a home it felt like them. You could feel the good vibration the second you entered their home. It was a presence everyone felt at the ranch it just made you smile when you entered their home. Clark and Lana just attributed it to living life to the fullest and doing good in the world. The world was getting to be a better place their were no active conflict anywhere for a couple of years now and people were getting fed and they generally happy overall. Not everyone was happy but the vast portion of the population was happier than they had been in years. The economies of the world were undergoing a change it seemed everyone had money the space industries of Queen and Wayne corp had posted huge profits over the last couple years and it looked like there was no end in sight for these conditions to continue. The space drugs were cheap and easily made. The space steel was a huge hit no more lifting materials made in the gravity well into space, why when it could be made on the moon with robots and delivered where ever it was needed at a very low cost the cost to get 50 tons of steel into lunar orbit was $5,000 USD. Lifting that same amount cost almost a billion to accomplish the same result from earth. There were several new space platforms being built in earth orbit for low gravity manufacturing. L6 was getting closer to being complete several countries wanted space to conduct research several companies wanted to manufacture more powerful computer chips being at the front of the electronics CPU manufacturing Samsung committed to two whole floors of L6. They wanted to do manufacturing research in their leased part of L6 the biggest kick was going to be the new space based telescopes in earth following orbits. Their was even talk of dropping a couple of these new telescopes close to earths orbit around the sun. The astronomers figured they would have better definition with all these far placed platforms and with more of them coming online the information they got could only get better.
Oliver had seen Clarks super secret Lab under the farm Clark showed him a prototype ship that used ionic propulsion which was way faster than chemical rockets it would reduce the time to travel from earths surface to the moon in a couple of hours not days like the present. Oliver's and Bruce's eyes popped out of their heads they could barely believe Clark had a working prototype. Both billionaires could see that this development would be the one break thru that would change human history like the wheel has done for eons for mankind. Even though Clark wanted no recognition for his effort they both decided the drive would be called a Jonathan drive to Honor Clarks father Jonathan Kent. They had for a little while considered calling it a Kent drive but there are not a lot of people with the last name Kent so the Jonathan drive name won out. This was going to be the biggest secret they would hold for a while.