Later that evening
Lana finishes her nightly routine and Clark is on their balcony looking to the heavens. "Baby what is it" she asks as she walks up behind Clark hugging him.
"Honey I'm just worried one of us could die this time, it scares me is all."
"That's why I have all the med tech on the first hovercraft we have landing on the island damn thing can move over any ground it will park right outside the cave I'll be there and Jor El will be on the crystal link too we will handle anything that comes up baby please calm down."
Clark looked at Lana and smiled "you know me so well you always know what to say no matter what."
"You just need a kick in the pant's once in a while husband to keep you on track." "We will deal with whatever happens Clark it will be alright just wait and see."
"I just hope your right Lana, I just hope your right." Clark believed in Lana he had his doubts about what was going to happen in the next day but he believed in her, he believed in them, time and again they withstood anything the world had thrown their way. Clark decided right then than he totally believed in them together, they were stronger together and that had to be enough.
Early the next morning
Lana was the first one up she had a rough night, the unknown was killing her. She was worried about Kara, she was worried about their friends, she was worried about the assault on the island, and she was worried about her husband she could never let him catch on to her fears. For all of them she had to remain strong for everyone. She buried her fears deep down it was going to be a successful day for the Justice League. Clark woke a little while later to find Lana brushing her hair in the bathroom.
He smiled at her "you're up early."
"Yea thought I'd get up early and kiss the kids before we leave were not sure how long were going to be gone I know we told them we might be gone a couple of days but I want all the loving I can get when it comes to our kids."
Clark gently took the brush from her, "remember when I used to do this for you all the time" as he started to brush her long tresses out.
"That feels nice Clark you do have a magic touch." They remained in close personal contact just enjoying the moment.
"Lets get ready to go we should kiss the kids and go soon."
"Let me summons Zantana so Jean has some help today I let her know last night that she would be needed here she wanted to go to the island too but I asked her to look out for our kids while we are gone I hope your alright with that Clark."
"How could I not be she is one of our closet friends if you asked anyone else I would wonder what you were thinking."
Lana smiled to Clark she kissed him "I knew I married you for a reason your the best husband and best dad ever."
Clark broke out the Kent smile "I love you Lana."
They went as a couple to each child's room and placed kisses on both cheeks Lana held her emotions in check she wasn't about to break down now she had to keep it together.
Clark closed the baby's bedroom door he looks to Lana and notices her lack of emotion "baby whats up I expected you to cry at this point."
"I'm ok Clark, it just me being determined were going to be alright and nothing is going to change that for our family."
"I'm ready to go" as she twisted revealing her Nocturne outfit. Clark did the same revealing him in his Superman suit they both levitated and flew to the balcony doors opening then and quietly closing them before disappearing in to the distance in superspeed.
What they both missed was the surprised little Lara hiding behind the stair rail she could barely hold in her excitement her mom and dad were superheros how cool was that she thought as she ran back to her bed snuggling under the covers wearing a huge Kent smile on her face as she drifted back to sleep.
Off the Coast of Prince Patrick Island
Clark and Lana landed on the newest attack war ship not in the US Navy's fleet. The ship was named the USS Alan Shepard the first naval officer to ride in space and the holder of the most accurate landing achieved on the moon under the Apollo program. This weeks trip to the arctic was a shakedown cruise, the same could be said for the other support ships one of which looked like a freighter on the outside but was far more on the inside. And the other was a older updated hospital ship with all the appointments for anyone who got wounded in the battle they expected. Also on the bow of each ship was a huge EMP generator the only earth technology that slowed down kryptonian technology at all and only for a little while, Bruce and Olive hoped they wouldn't have to use them. All the ships were equipped with the latest technology from Wayne enterprises these ships could electronically disappear right in front of your eyes.
Lana and Clark were in the captains cabin spending their last few moments together. A knock on the cabins door brought Lana out of her moment of bliss "Clark just don't take any unnecessary risks ok, please promise me."
"I wont do anything unduly risky honey I love you too much to do something like that."
Lana didn't believe it anymore than Clark did when he said it but he had to say something she reached up for a last kiss and then said "go already they can't do this without you."
Clark smiled at Lana "I love you wife" as he stepped out of the cabin closing the door to find Kara waiting on him down the companion way.
"You ready Kal" she smiled "yea lets go before I change my mind."
They reached the deck Oliver and Bruce and AC were waiting on them "you guys ready" asked Oliver? Clark just jumped overboard followed by Kara and AC, "hey wait a second I had this great speech already for this moment."
Bruce patted him on the shoulder "sometimes you just go with the flow no words are need Oliver."
"Yea but I put hours into that speech."
"Save it you might get to use it some day who knows" said Bruce as he headed for the wheel house closely followed by Oliver. Clark, Kara, and AC joined his pod of killer whales in the water the plan was to approach the island unseen. After they entered the cave Clark would watch to see if Kara got trapped and he would take appropriate measures to recover her if she needed help.
The rest of the assault team would then be delivered by high speed hovercraft to the cave entrance once they got the ship secured. Lana was going to be on the first hovercraft but some how as soon as Clark gave all clear he knew Lana would be at her husbands side in a heartbeat.
Lana knew she didn't have much time she could afford a little crying right this second but would have to hold it in until this was all over and Clark was again in her arms. She held it in, left the cabin and headed for the bridge. Until the operation was over and they had control of what ever they found in the cave.
Chloe was unable to talk to the team. All she could do was monitor the telemetry data she was getting from all the ships, she wanted to be onboard but Oliver insisted someone had to be safe in the watchtower bunker she was spending time with Tess again.
Tess had taken a watchtower role ever since she returned from Smallville after the Camdus Lab fire, she brought a piece of krypton technology according to Jor El it was the orb allowing the Kryptonian world to be rebuilt by the clones inside the orb. This was something the eradicator program would have launched but Jor El held the orb in a stasis field never to be opened.
Tess almost lived there now Chloe remembered those days, she was there after she lost Jimmy it took her a long time to get over that. She had Oliver to thank for that he's the one who taught her to love again. She hoped one of their friend would someday find someone for Tess, living and breathing watchtower was no way to live. You could become completely dissociated from people staying at the fortress like she was doing.
Lana walked into the bridge and gave a weak smile to Bruce and Oliver, Bruce gave her a little hug "they will be fine Lana, they will be fine."
Lana nodded her head looking out the window looking to the island hoping to catch a glimpse of Clark in the water.
AC and the whales ran the length of the beach several times with Clark and Kara doing their best to mimic the movements of their guides. After the tenth time up the beach they closed on the shore the killer whales headed out a little to grab a snack of sardines.
AC broke water first followed by Kara and Clark they moved quietly as they were on the beach. Kara, AC, and Clark all stood on the beach it was devoid of any life. The air had a strange feel to it something that was just on the edge of understanding but just out of grasp. AC shivered "little too cold for you" asked Kara?
"No not really this place just creeps me out there is something wrong about this island."
Clark could feel it as well he telepathically told Kara give him a break he's here that has to stand for something.
"Lets go" said Kara as she started marching up the beach.
"Uh, Kara you think just marching into the cave would be a way to get caught in a trap right a way" asked Clark?
Kara came to a complete stop, "ok earth boy, what do you suggest" she fumed?
"Um, well if we float and carry AC with us we wont set of any sensors on the way there for one and if we stay silent we can still have a element of surprise as well."
Kara looked at AC turning to Clark she said "you carry him as she floats two feet off the ground leaving the beach to their backs." They have at least two miles of open ground to cover before they reached the cave and retrieved the ship inside. They trekked in silence across the barren island rising up to over 300 feet above the beach before sighting the cave entrance.
Clark scanned all the audio frequencies while Kara tuned in on anything that sounded like kryptonian technology, not finding anything she gave a thumbs up to Clark and AC. Clark responded with a thumbs up of his own but they both kept scanning for any sounds that indicated a up coming change on the island.
They approached the second hill now they were in line of sigh of the caves entrance Clark and Kara used their enhanced vision to see if there was anything obvious to be seen like any traps of any kind. Kara gave a thumbs up meaning no risks detected Clark did the same.
The plan called for them both to use their Xray vision but they wrote out a little change of their own on the water proof pad they brought with them. Kara quickly scribbled out "you use your hearing why I Xray inside the cave" Clark thought her idea had merit he showed it to AC who gave it a thumbs up.
Clark took a moment to find all the sounds he could and blotted them out one by one the only one he couldn't blot out was Lana's heart beat which was running very fast at the moment he sent her a (I love you my beautiful wife) Lana was surprised Clark would risk the operation she remained silent she would talk to him later about this breach of silence.
Lana heart rate slowed a lot Clark smiled (just what the doctor needed) he thought happy with himself Kara heard the whole thing she smacked Clarks head and made the universal sign for are you crazy and shook her head she took the pad and wrote idiot!!
Clark didn't know what to think he concentrated on his job listening he heard nothing he gave Kara the sign to start scanning with her Xray eyes. Twenty minutes later they had no further reason to delay there were no traps they could see time to go in Clark sent one thought to Lana it was (in) meaning were going in no risks present they had several other prearranged signs as well if something looked like it could be trouble.
The cave had a foreboding look. The opening looked like something dark and evil resides within all three picked up on the feeling. They stopped a quarter mile from the entrance "ok silence from here on in" said Kara "we have no idea whats in there other than the ship so don't touch anything we don't mark with green if its red give it a wide berth."
"What about the items were likely to find" asked AC "think it would be safe to handle any of the items inside?"
Clark and Kara said "no" at the same time.
"Ok then just asking" said AC.
"Single file the rest of the way in and only walk in each others foot steeps ok" asked Clark?
They were finally at their goal the cave entrance from what they could see it was long and deep it seemed to cut to the left inside and then it disappeared into the gloom. The feeling of dread increased as well. Clark started in first, followed by Kara and then AC.
Chloe and Tess suggested that non humans were going to be the first to enter the cave based on the other kryptonian technology found on earth had fallen apart in the hands of the average human.
AC was Atlantian and a prince among his people so he didn't register as human. Clark scanned directly in front of them and down to his feet looking for any type of technology or old fashion booby traps.
They approached the entrance sticking to the side Xraying every step they took inside the cave. The signal to stop was a hand on your shoulder and a gentle squeeze Clark grabbed AC's shoulder who grabbed Kara's shoulder.
The first thing they noticed was that there was German writing on the walls and concrete had been poured here at some time in the past. They found the inside to be smooth walled with rotting concrete. They continued until they hit the bend to the left. She looked back to Clark he pointed to the wall about ten feet in front of them. They made the left turn in front of them was a passageway one to the right and one directly ahead and one to the left.
Kara pulled out the map watch tower had created for them to consult their position. Clark noticed lead pipes in the walls they looked like they had been their for a long time but he took no chances he stopped the team they pointed out all the pipes and marked them on the map inside of it had they then took a closer look at one of the pipes that was open in front of them about five feet off the floor it had some kind of sensor in it.
Kara studied the sensor and thought to Clark (that is a kryptonian sensor to detect body heat it turns something on or activates sensors). Clark replied with (well can I freeze it that might work you use your breath and I'll watch the thing to see if it activates). Clark got next to the pipe and gently blew in seconds the entire pipe was buried in ice.
"No reaction lets move on mark that one AC" said Kara they continued straight ahead as the map indicated the ship is somewhere ahead of their current location.
The floor went from concrete to broken rock and cement chunks then back to cracking concrete again. Clark scanned the area twice before moving ahead he found some kind of pressure plate buried in the ground "guys stop" he said out loud "there is something in the path in front of us, maybe we should mark it and levitate over it" suggested Clark.
"That sound like a good idea to me by the looks of the wall of this place I don't think it would take much to take this place down."
Kara floated over the plate in the ground marking it with the chalk powder "let the bomb experts Oliver and Bruce hired earn their pay."
"Lets move on" said AC. Clark lifted AC over the marked area and they got back into a single file line moving slowly forward. Kara focused on her side of the cave and them Clarks it looked like some sort of pipe in the wall odd thing was they couldn't see in side the pipe on either side humm sounds like a trap of some sort Kara walked forward and placed a red chalk on the side of the wall next to the pipe.
AC took out the mirror and Kara used it to look into the lead pipe, she found some kind of transmitter inside she nodded her head, another trap. Clark scanned the cave floor looking for anything else hidden he found nothing so he placed a red chalk on the wall on his side before retracing his steps they dipped under the pipe bypassing the trap.
Kara continued scanning the walls of the cave Clark scanned the other side wall ceiling and floor. They reached the first bend in the cave and stopped. Under the cave floor was a pressure plate that looked like it had been buried for a long time ago ahead lay the open cave and what they had come to retrieve Clark extended his mirror he wanted a peak at what was ahead.
He just froze and grabbed AC's shoulder who in turn did the same to Kara. Clark handed his mirror to AC and pointed ahead AC did the same after he picked up his jaw from the floor? Kara just looked she didn't understand the reactions of Clark and AC.
The cave at one time seemed to be a military base of some sort but it was old at least 70 years old or more. Clark knew what they saw on the satellite images, there was much more here than met the eye but this looked like some kind of old Nazi base abandoned a long time ago.
Clark motioned for the tablet he wrote out "its a old Nazi base at least 70 plus years old but somewhere inside is the ship we came for so were going to have to watch every step we take, don't touch anything."
Clark used the mirror again he had committed every dimension to memory his arm was tapped by Kara who also wanted the mirror AC was at the point of laughing out loud seeing Kara and Clark acting like siblings. They fought over the tablet for a moment until Kara just took it, AC was having a hard time keeping it in, Clark gave him a stern look of shut the hell up.
Kara whipped up a fast diagram of everything in the main chamber and the hidden room they wanted and a couple of other features they were unable to see at the moment. AC looked on then he found himself floating about a foot off the ground as they moved around to the other side of the island they settled in a cove about three miles from the cave "ok what are we doing out here" AC asked?
"We needed to talk this place has no sign of any disturbance by man or animal for a long time."
"We think the room has lots of bobby traps I'm not sure about the lead pipe it has something in it I couldn't get a good look at" said Kara.
Clark said "look at the diagram Kara drew its exactly what we all saw on the satellite images with the detail of the room added we saw with the mirror."
"Ok, we have a map so now what?"
"Well we need to figure out where the most likely place for booby traps would be, old and new."
"The one we found in the cave floor was real old, the pipe was old but whatever is inside it I believe is new."
"OK lets look at this thing" Clark started running a mental calculation of overlapping vectors and probabilities one ability he gained being more of a science guy now days was he could run circles around most mathematicians his mind could calculate answers in seconds of thinking about the problem. Where was this ability he could have used it in AP Calculus back in high school. Clark took the pen from Kara and marked several locations on the map "according to my analysis there should be bobby traps in or on these location."
"There is only one path to the room with the ship and a single path to it."
"We have to cross two traps to get to it."
"Only two" asked a skeptical AC?
"I agree with Kal its logical if its who I think layed out the booby traps."
"This logic is the only way to defeat the bobby trap's if we don't well, we might set them off it could be explosives to some real nasty kryptonian traps".
AC gulped at that news "so the plan is to get to the ship?"
"Still yes" they both said.
They retraced the path back to the cave entrance again carrying AC between them. The cave now looked a little more foreboding this time, They had a plan of what to expect once they reached the inside of the cave. The expected traps were accounted for and they thought they were ready for anything inside.
They passed the first and second traps without incident. To their right there might be another trap, Clark and Kara scanned the entire area in front of them as they moved to the wall and saw their was some type of panel in the wall.
They could tell that it was kryptonian because of the characters on the panel Kara could read the panel she shook her head to not approach the panel because something was just not right about the lettering.
She suspected it was a trap and a fake control panel. They looked at the floor under the panel there it was, another hidden panel under the crushed rock and crumbling concrete something to trap the unsuspecting.
They marked the new item on the map and just looked at the cavern they were in, water had been dripping down the walls for years it collected on the floor and flowed to the floor and drained in a floor drains that looked very original. The floor was cover with some kind of slime where the water had run for a while.
Next was to look around, it seemed this was some kind of communications center and by the huge red flag with a swastika in the center. There was no doubt who was behind the original purpose to this caves ownership it was a hidden Nazi base or listening post.
The equipment spread out on the benches looked like radio gear and some kind of code machine there were books and a file cabinet along with a couple of desks. This took some time and resources to set up. There were a few rusted weapons in the rifle racks and remains of uniforms this place was abandoned in a big hurry.
They saw their target in in the center room there also was a bunch of cases on the floor of the second tunnel as some kind of lab bench and there were computers with advanced communications gear. The sat-phone and booster antenna was the reason there was a intermittent IP address in this location. That was the answer that's how there was a computer network here. Answers were starting to form, finally there might be some real answers.
Clark started x-raying the table in front of them he saw several triggers for traps he marked them on the diagram. Kara continued to scan she found a couple more traps they scanned the entire roof and walls of the cave founding hidden wires, tubes, and pipes.
Kara slowly moved towards the ship she linked to Clark's mind (this is a Zod ship look at the markings) as she walked around the ships nose. The ship seemed to be inactive they could detect no power in use. (Kal I think were going to need Jor El's help dealing with this.)
(I think your right I don't know anything about this kind of ship there was nothing in the fortress records about this type.)
(There is one thing I know how to do and that is to shrink the ship once I do this it will take Jor El and the fortress to open it if we can ever open it.)
(Well that's better than trying to move it and set of the alarm system right, because if we do that it will explode just like your ship did in that government lab a few years ago.)
(Don't want to experience that again besides there is a lot of other things here that will tell us about who Zods agents are on earth now and how we can go about stopping them.)
Kara approached the ship from the back she touched a panel and the ship started to fold up on itself. As Kara bent to pick it up a blue cone of light engulfed her she screamed "aaahhh!"
Clark caught something that flashed for a moment he barely said "freeze" when a green light engulfed both.
Kara and Clark were on the ground writhing in pain. "Clark what happened" asked AC not knowing what to do?
He evaded the Kryptonite beam he barely got out of the way.
Kara already lost conscious Clark was hanging on for the moment he had to get her out of the beam. AC grabbed Kara and pulled her backwards just as he cleared the beam a new field snapped into existence it looked just like the training beams from the fortress who knew learn in one die in another Clark could feel himself going his last thought was (Lana).
Lana heard Clarks scream of pain and him say "Lana" like he was falling, she left the ship not caring what her duties were her husband needed her help. She was going to save him she blasted into the caves she saw the kryptonite beam change to a containment beam just like the fortress. She came to a stop as soon as she felt the effects of the beam she backed up a couple of steps.
"AC what happened?"
AC was shocked Lana was the doctor on the ship at least that's where she was suppose to be at least. "We were just starting forward and Clark started to say something and that green beam got them both now there is that blue beam as well."
Lana supersped back to the ship they had brought lead sheet with them it would protect her as she tried to save Clark. Lana was back in the cave "AC give me a hand" as she held up sheets of lead she melted the ends together making a large blanket of lead sheeting. "Thanks AC, wish me luck."
Lana moved forward she couldn't feel the green beam but she could tell she was in the beam she all of a sudden she couldn't go forward anymore. Thru a pin hole she saw Clark still five feet in front of her she used a mirror to see what else was on ahead of them Clark looked green his body had green veins running all through his exposed skin.
Lana was studying the beam and where it was coming from when she felt Jor El's presence. "Lana this is a trap Zod and his followers used this frequently off krypton, we lost many good people to this type of trap trying to chase down Zod and his contacts in the universe."
"Jor El Clark is not doing well I can't hear his thought at all he passed out a while ago, please tell me there is a way to save him I seem to be stopped by the containment beam."
"The containment beam is impenetrable the only way you can disable it is to destroy the crystal that is generating it."
Lana went back to her mirror looking for the point of origin for the beam. "There has to be something else Jor El what if I cant find the beams origin point." "Can we generate a feed back on the beam and make it blow up the crystal,"
Jor El was silent for a moment while he considered Lana's suggestion. "I believe that would work Lana you need a reflective surface and a parabolic dish to redirect the beam back on itself."
Lana tore off a couple of sheets of the lead and polished it at super speed, "now what Jor El?"
"You have to get a edge under the beam then you should be able to push it into the beam and then direct the beam back to the origin point."
"Ok" said Lana. "I have to save my husband" said a tearful Lana. Lana gently forced the reflector into the beam catching a little at a time until she had the whole reflector in the beam. She directed the beam back up to the crystal in seconds the field started to destabilize and the crystal blew up. Lana dropped the reflector and ran forward with the lead sheeting she grabbed Clark and supersped out of the caves to the outside and the sun hoping Clark would recover.
Clark was in the sun his color was getting better. Slowly he was getting better by the second in a couple of minutes he was aware of his surroundings. "Lana what are you doing here" he asked?
"I saved you husband, you and Kara got trapped in a kryptonite beam and then a containment beam captured you after AC removed Kara."
"How is she?"
"She is not awake yet she hasn't been exposed like you have been, her tolerance is a lot lower than yours Clark." "I disabled the confinement beam with Jor El's help Clark so we could go at it from the front again the big trap was the kryptonite beam without the containment beam its half a trap so we should have a easier time of getting the ship." "I just hope there aren't any more big surprises waiting for us in there" said Lana.
"Lets go up to space to recharge, let me grab Kara and you follow us up to watch us for a while ok."
"That sound great Clark the direct yellow sun will fix you up a lot faster in space than being on the surface." Lana was on her ear bone,"Watchtower this is Nocturne I'm taking Lady K and Boyscout upstairs to air them out" This was code for they need time to recover.
"Copy white angel enjoy heaven watchtower out." Lana helped Clark carry a semi conscious Kara up to space. A hour later the three kryptonians returned to earth and Prince Patrick Island.
"Ok whats the plan this time asked AC?"
"I think we stick with the original plan and find the rest of the traps."
"I don't want to sound ungrateful for the experience but think you could find someone else to go in with you two this time" asked AC?
Kara looked at AC "hey Clark I didn't know earth had a chicken fish species."
Ok fine, I'm still in, lets just be careful this time no touching anything until were someplace to disable the traps, ok."
Kara just chuckled, "ok little chicken fish" she giggled.
Clark said "lets go back in."
Oliver came walking up to them just then "um guys how about I join you in there this time we keep Lana outside to be the rescue team if its needed ok?"
"Fine" said Clark as he kissed his wife (I'll be very careful this time, I love you Lana)
(I love you too Clark, just go slow we have plenty of time ok).
AC mumbled as they started for the caves "always with the fish jokes" he shook his head and followed the others.
Clark scanned the remaining room surfaces looking for more hidden triggers. He found several hidden switches and maybe triggers. Artifacts were don't touch because they had no idea what was a trap and what wasn't. He saw the book next to the one he had his hand on was a trap too. AC backed up from the table and marked the location on the map.
"Where are the rest of the traps Clark" AC asked?
"We might as well have them bring in the hovercraft and the rest of the support team and have them start removing the traps."
The hover craft approached the beach, Clark contacted a very nervous Lana (it's ok).
(The ship is in a deactivated state so its safe to move). Lana smiled for the first time in a while Clark was ok she felt relieved.
AC stayed in the cave with Clark meeting the bomb disposal team as they got out of the hovercraft. He handed the diagram to a tech who quickly got copies made and distributed to the engineers. The engineers started to work on the first few traps to deactivate them the lead pipe was a simple infrared detector looking for heat specifically body heat the buried plate was hooked up to a couple of high explosive charges that were world war two era. The other traps were deactivated one by one.
Kara rejoined Clark and AC in the cave they were looking in the ships cave. Clark caught something that flashed a green light engulfed both Kara and Clark were on the ground writhing in pain. Kara already lost conscious Clark was hanging on for the moment "get her out of the beam AC." AC started to grabbed Kara to pull her out of the beam as a new field snapped into existence. Clark could feel himself slipping away. Lana heard Clarks scream of pain and him scream (Lana).
AC was looking at Kara and Clark both trapped again. Lana appeared in a blur of color in her Nocturne costume "what happened AC." "We were just starting forward and Clark started to say something and that green beam got them both now there is that blue beam as well." Lana focused her heat vision on this new threat in seconds something further back in that cavern exploded and caught fire as the twin beams flashed a couple of times and were out for good. Lana ran forward she grabbed Clark and supersped out of the caves to the outside and the sun hoping Clark would recover. AC followed Lana's actions dragging a unconscious Kara out to the sunlight.
After checking her husband out she checked Kara over, she was in worse shape than Clark but she was starting to recover slowly. Clark was in the sun his color was getting better slowly he was getting better. "Lana what happened he asked?"
"I saved you Clark, you and Kara got trapped in a kryptonite beam and then a containment again."
"I used my heat vision to destroy the emitter crystal taking out both beams."
"How is Kara?"
"She isn't awake yet."
"My love you both have had repeated exposure, today is wearing on her she needs more time to recover than you."
"I just hope there aren't any more big surprises waiting for us in there" said Lana.
"Hopefully that's the last trap Lana I don't think any of us can take much more kryptonite exposure today."
"I hope your right Clark, I hope your right."
Within a half hour Kara regained consciousness again she was stunned she never expected repeated exposure to kryptonite this was the work of brainiac. Clearly no one else would know to use a confinement bean with the kryptonite beam. This was a lot harder than she ever expected but she wasn't about to knuckle under in front of Kal El she refused to be the weaker cousin she was strong and she was going to prove it to everyone.
Clark looked at Kara "hey how about you sit this one out Kara?"
Kara unleashed on Clark "so who appointed you my guardian cousin?"
She was pissed "I can and will decide what I can and can't do Kal El not you or anyone else."
Lana chided Clark "you have to let her make her own choices Clark remember what happened when you started making choices for me husband."
"Don't remind me I made the same mistake again, I'm glad your here to keep me on the straight and narrow."
"Kara I'm sorry that isn't my place to tell you what to do I can only offer my advice when you ask me for my opinion I just worry about you that's why I can be so over
protective sometimes Kara, I'm sorry I promise to try my best to not make choices for
you again."
"Fine" said Clark as he kissed his wife (I'll be very careful this time, I love you Lana)
(I love you too)
"Clark just go slow, we have plenty of time ok."
They reentered the cave this time the pipe and the pressure plate had been deactivated. They walked past the teams working on disarming devices and started Xraying the walls and floor AC followed in their steps marking anything they indicated with the chalk powder. Clark stopped he found another nasty trap as he pointed at the trap on the floor "another pressure plate."
As they walked past it AC outlined it with red chalk dust again. They now were approaching the first cave inside seemed to be all sorts of things including a couple of stasis crystals that looked occupied. Clark and Kara had a telepathic conversation over action plan stay and investigate or press on.
Lana interrupted them both (just press on you two remember its the ship we want I'm watching thru Clarks eyes.)
Kara rolled her eyes "Lana's right Clark lets move on."
(Love you honey) thought Clark.
(You too baby, you too) thought Lana.
They moved to the second cavern they could see the folded ship Kara took a deep breath. Zod's ship sat on the cave floor "Clark its mostly a military ship but they put things like genetic scanning so they could kill those who they figured didn't fit in the new world they wanted to create." "Zod had a plan to make just a few clone's and those models would be genetically loyal to Zod so they could never be corrupted away from Zod's cause." "Then he would personally pick the mating stock, his loyal inner circle would then pick a few for themselves and then the rest would be purged from the genetic data banks and the gestation genetics chamber all other would be slaves and not allowed to reproduce."
"Lucky for everyone that Zod lost his coup and was banished to the phantom zone along with all his followers."
So thought the high council of Krypton, the same leaders Jor El warned of the impending doom facing their planet. Once Zod was gone Clark and Kara's home was destroyed by a hidden follower of Zod who was close to both Clark and Kara, Zor El, Jor El's brother and Kara's father. Zor El was a brilliant scientist in his own right he created a crystal that contained a clone of Lara and Zor they were both tied to each other if one died the other died too. Clark had hope of unraveling them from each
other someday but it wasn't a priority project now the crystal was hidden in a no space box in their bedroom.
Every time Clark opened the box he would hear his mother calling to him to help her he knew it was Zor El not his mother some day he would free her but not now. Lana felt Clarks pain every time he opened the no space box she felt the pain through his soul it hurt him badly over the years. Clark opened the box less and less as the years passed it was loosing its power over Clark but a painfully slow process it was.
Lana really hated Zor El if they ever could separate the co-joined life forces she would happily send the destroyer of Krypton to his doom in the phantom zone. Lana spent time years ago talking with Kara about her father after Jor El removed Zor El's brain blocks he place on his daughter.
She had developed a hatred for her father being such a hateful person and destroying their home. Kara said she wanted to kick his ass before his soul was stripped of its body and sent to the zone both Clark and Lana thought she would have more issues years later if she did something like that. They both though she would be better off if she just confronted him before the sentence was passed on him.
Kara made it to the ship Clark was on her heels with AC an arms length away Oliver was just in awe of where they were. Neither Clark nor Kara could see inside the ship it appeared black to their xray vision. Clark let out a deep breath he had been holding for awhile now. "Now what he asked?"
Kara looked at him "well cousin we should be able to move it to the fortress and place it in a stasis field, then Jor El should be able to help us crack the access codes so we can see whats inside."
"What about the other cave's" asked AC?
Clark answered "we need to check it out after this ship is moved."
"Ok I get that" said AC "lets press on then."
Kara turned and said "wish me luck" as she picked up the ship again cringing while waiting for yet another trap to be unleashed.
Clark just started to say no when Kara bent over picking it up she smiled at both AC and Clark, "what" she said the both looked at her like she went crazy or something.
"What happened" said Clark.
"The folded ship is in a standby state its a way to make the ship portable so you can carry it with you easily and if you need in a hurry it it unfolds and will take off as soon as you enter the ship for open space unless its programmed to do something else."
"Oh" said Clark "lets see what else this cave of wonders has shall we" asked Clark?
"Ok but I want to get the ship out of here as soon as we can" said Kara. Kara deposited the ship in a black security box and handed it over to a technician for the moment as they moved back to the first cave.
"What the hell is that" pointed AC indicating a rather tall pair of crystals as they carefully walked toward them looking to see who was encapsulated in the crystals. Much to their surprise they found a brainiac copy and some other humanoid both frozen in the crystal.
"I wonder who the other person is" asked Clark?
Kara checked the controls "well they have been like this for about 7 years, they are in suspended animation."
"Wow" said AC "I would say cool but that's a number one bad guy in there not anyone I want to meet anytime soon."
"I agree" said Clark "can we move them with out disturbing the contents" he asked?
"Yes" said Kara "we can move them safely."
Clark pointed to a kryptonian computer and interface consul. "I know what that is and look at all the data crystals" he exclaimed.
"Looks like a lot to go through think we will be having a lot of long nights and not the fun kind you and Lana have all to frequently."
"Well your the underwear model Kara you have more than half the human population hot for your body and and the other half wishing they were you."
"Yet you complain about what your poor married cousin does with his wife at night."
"Look you two mission please, ok" asked AC.
"Fine" they both hissed.
Lana appeared in a flash of purple white light before their eyes "ok you three quit clowning around what have you found?"
Kara pointed to the black security box and the folder ship "we have the ship."
"Look who's home" said AC pointing to the crystals.
"Wow is that who I think it is boy do I ever have a score to settle with that ….. thing." Lana looked at the other crystal "who is this I wonder?"
"We don't have a clue yet but look at the computer and all the data crystals smiled
Kara."
"Well I say this was worth the trip there is a lot here, its going to take years to understand everything we found so far said Clark."
"Whats in the other cavern" asked Lana?
"Well we found weapons and old Nazi radio equipment and world war two weapons as well, it looks like this was a weather station or surveillance site."
AC added "there is even a German code machine too, its all together so who ever was stationed here died here unexpectedly."
"Well there is one more cavern to look in any guesses as to what might be in there" asked Lana?
"Not yet" they all replied.
"Ok then shall we" as they started forward into the next cavern some lights kicked on "what the hell" said AC.
"That shouldn't happen look for traps" said Lana. They started Xraying the floor and walls and checked the ceiling as well for hidden beams or laser light triggers.
Lana turned to AC and asked to get the rest of the team in here to start the process of identification of the devices and artifacts. AC started on his way out he turned and started to say "good luck" when the cavern opening started to close Clark, Lana and Kara all superspeed out of the third cavern.
"Wow that was close" said Kara "so there is something important inside there." Clark started to X ray the rock that slid in place almost capturing them, he didn't see anything new behind the wall but he could hear something hissing behind the wall.
"Hey you two"he said "listen to the hissing behind the wall."
"That sounds like gas of some kind" said Kara. Oliver and AC both nodded in agreement.
"Well then, Oliver get the engineers in here asap, get them de-bugging this place."
"Hopeful they deactivate all the other bombs and traps" said Kara.
Clark punched the wall once with a sharp rap his hand broke right through the rock as he pulled his hand out and looked in the hole there was a whitish gas flowing along the floor.
"Um guys" he said "it looks like there is something on the floor I don't have any idea what it is its white in color and it came up from he back of the cavern." "There seems to be a fan in the back it must exhaust the cavern somewhere to the surface."
Clark hit the wall again the crack ram to the bottom of the floor as soon as Clark started to pull the rock apart one of Oliver's techs ran in saying "let me test the air in that cavern it could be explosive."
"Oh" said Lana "well then test it please."
The tech started the hand-held unit the lights turned red right away, "its explosive." "You guys set off a trap I would think it malfunctioned it should have gone off by now we need to get the gas out of the cavern before it ignites."
Kara stepped up "I can help with that" she inhaled at the opening sucking all the gas from the room they didn't see the green speckles in the gas until Kara inhaled it all. Lana caught Kara as she fell to the floor. "I saw green speckles in the air as she sucked it in Clark she has Kryptonite in her lungs I have to get her to the ship right now Clark."
They both took Kara out in supers speed right to the med bay "I need to hook her up to this breathing machine maybe we can remove some of the kryptonite from her system."
"There is something someone doesn't want us to have in the third cavern" said Clark.
"I have to save her Clark" Lana flew into action she saw a little improvement in Kara the breathing filter machine made a slight improvement in Kara's condition the green veins started to retreat.
Lana's nurse turned on the special lights they had in the med bay that allows kryptonians to regenerate. The lights were one of the many medical advances Lana discovered it was something that saved Kara and in the future it would save a lot more lives including Clark and Lana.
Kara slowly improved over the next few hours she would be out of it for days Lana's breathing machine recovered about 70 % of the contaminates introduced to the lungs so it was useful on humans too. Clark returned to the caves in a couple of hours later he found that the Oliver and Bruce's experts had cleared several traps he and Kara skipped right over.
Clark was shocked he found AC "well looks like we missed a few things these guys and girls seem to be on top of it."
"Yea Clark they sure are tight and good at their jobs, hows Kara doing?"
"She's doing better but its going to be days before she is really ok again." AC looked over to the engineers, they both watched as they discovered and removed yet another explosive device.
Bruce walked up behind them "well we think the third cavern is clear finally the first one seems to just be weapons and bomb making material." "The second had the ship and a lot of technology we have no clue about." "We got through the wall of the third and seem to have found a bio lab there is a body or two in a frozen stasis units." "Were going to take samples and figure out who it is that was frozen."
"Wow" said Clark "so that would be worth keeping out kryptonians out of for that reason alone."
"Yea I think we need to understand about this place and the things in it before we can
make any sense of any of this." Oliver joined them hearing the end of Clarks statement.
"Well this is about as confusing as those damn pirate ships we found a while ago."
"Yea but Kara and I both recognized Brainiac in one of the crystals in the second cavern and I want to know why a computer construct needs to be in stasis more than anything else."
Oliver smiled "well glad I could answer Clark I would like you to meet the elusive Mr. Green."
"What" said Clark "who is this again?"
"Mr. Green Clark, and the third cavern is loaded with what I expect to find out are parts of a genetically purified and Kryptonianized Lex Luthor."
"No way," Clark looked like he could be knocked over by a feather Lex parts in cold storage and Brainiac is the Mr. Green we have been chasing for years?
"This is just nuts to a whole new scale." (Lana you heard that right)
(yes my love why Lex though)
"Oliver why Lex of all people?"
"Well he gave him that serum years ago so some of the genetic work had been done and maybe he grew fond of the Luthor, a known business person like Lex would open up doors for him so it would go a little faster him building a supporter base and then army to take over the world."
Bruce even nodded at that, "it would make things happen faster."
Clarks head was swimming as Lana appeared in a flash of purple and white light "well its over now why would Zod picked Lex?"
"I remember how at ease he seemed in Lex's body when he took him over the last time" she shuddered a little bit and Clark hugged her to chase away that bad memory away. They all looked at the crystal with brainiac frozen in it all of them felt a chill run down their spines.