Chapter 12: Ready, Aim, Fire Part 3: A Father's Son
The gang reconvened at the truck that Kara and Lois were setting up.
"How's the evacuation going?" Lois asked.
"Mission accomplished." Kell said with a smile. "We're the only ones left."
"Kell, you and Kara take the kids to the exit point." Clark said calmly. "Garth and I will get the other truck ready and meet you back at the farm."
The kids all headed in with help from Lois and Kara.
"Now go easy on her, Kell." Garth said. "She's been acting a bit fidgety when you accelerate the gas."
"You don't need to tell me about driving, kid!" Kell said angrily. "My father was a master driver."
"He drove spaceships, Kell." Kara pointed out. She really didn't like how snippy Kell was being. It just didn't seem like him. "This is a truck full of children."
"Don't worry, Kara." Kell said. "I've got it under control."
Kell then drove off.
()()()()()
"We've righted the catapult sir." One of Imperiex's men said.
"If there are any more mistakes, the next projectile launched will be you." Imperiex said as he lifted the guard up. He had enough of the various malfunctions with the catapult.
()()()()()
Imra sat scared in the back of the truck as she turned to Lois.
"Lois, how can Brainiac be so cruel?" Imra asked.
"It's his way of punishing us because we don't always do what he tells us to." Lois explained.
"Why don't we?" Ayla asked.
"Because sometimes you have to do what's right." Lois explained. "Even if it gets you into trouble. You know, one time, when Jesus was in the Synagogue, there was a man there with a paralyzed hand. It was the Sabbath. The day Jews are supposed to do no work. A group of Pharisees and members of King Hared's court were watching to see if Jesus would dare to heal this man on the Sabbath.
"'Stand up for everyone to see you.' Jesus told the man, and he then turned to the Pharisees.
"'What is the right thing to do on the Holy Day? Good or evil? To make someone better or let him die?'
"Jesus was angry because the religious leaders were so strict and obstinate. Jesus then told the man to stretch his hand out, and he did so, much to everyone's amazement. Although they admired his powers, many Pharisees were furious that Jesus had broken their law. Jesus knew this would get him into trouble, and he was right. The Pharisees were so angry, that they joined with the friends of King Hared to plot against Jesus. Much like Brainiac plots against Christians today."
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Imperiex prepared to launch after checking and rechecking the catapult personally.
"FIRE!" Imperiex called out.
They fired two boulders into the district as Brainy tried to think of something to do.
()()()()()
As Kell was driving the truck, he got frustrated with their lack of progress.
"Come on you bucket of bolts, faster!" Kell said as he pushed down on the accelerator.
"Kell, Garth said to go easy on the truck." Kara said calmly.
"Yeah, but I can have us out of here in no time." Kell said as he pressed onwards.
"Kell-" Kara tried to warn him when suddenly, a huge boulder blocked their path, and Kell had to turn completely around, and as he tried to slow down to get his barrings, the brakes wouldn't work.
"Oh no." Kell groaned as Dick popped his head up.
"Um, shouldn't we be going the other way?" Dick asked.
"Yeah, but we got blocked, and the stupid truck's brakes gave out!" Kell said angrily, though he was angrier with himself. Garth had told him to go easy on the truck, but as usual, Kell's big stupid ego got in the way.
()()()()()
As Clark and Garth got their truck ready, they saw the other truck fly right past them.
"What in the world?" Clark asked.
"I can't stop it!" Kell called out.
"They're heading right into the fire!" Garth pointed out as everyone called for help.
()()()()()
From his palace, Brainiac watched Smallville burn as he played a harp.
Fire burn bright.
Fire burn strong.
Soon I will build
My pantheon.
Brainiac then chuckled evilly.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Clark's truck had caught up to Kell's.
"Hold on kids!" Clark called out.
"We're trying!" Dick called back.
"You're gonna have to jump!" Clark called out.
Lois comforted the children as they braced themselves.
"Ayla, don't look down!" Garth called out.
"On three." Dick said calmly. "One, two, THREE!"
The three children jumped off and landed in the other truck, with Imra landing right on top of Garth.
"Sorry." Imra said.
"No problem." Garth replied. "Clark, they're in."
"You're turn, Lois." Clark said.
"Can you get any closer?" Lois asked.
"Lois, if I was any closer, I'd be driving your truck." Clark replied.
"We'll jump with her, come on, Kell." Kara said as Kell abandoned the front seat and took one of Lois' arms while Kara took the other. "One, two, three!"
The three jumped to the truck as the other one crashed into a building and as consumed by the flames.
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Brainy was watching the horror with Imperiex.
"Funny." Imperiex said with a smirk. "From here, they look just like ants."
"They look like people to me." Brainy said angrily.
()()()()()
At the market, everyone looked around. They were surrounded by fire, and the flames were too high for Clark, Kell, and Kara to fly out without having the children suffer from the smoke.
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Imperiex gazed at the center of the district.
"Target that statue!" Imperiex called out.
()()()()()
Everyone arrived at a glorified statue of Brainiac, unsure of what to do.
"There must be some way out of here." Garth said, trying to be hopeful, but coming off more panicked.
Unfortunately, every way was blocked by fire and debris.
"We're trapped." Dick gulped.
It was all Kell's fault, so he figured he'd go with a clean conscious.
"Kara, I'm sorry." Kell said plainly. "This whole thing is my fault."
"Chin up, Kell-El." Kara said cheerfully. "I've been in worse scraps. I can't think of any, but I'm sure I have been."
"I just wanted to impress you." Kell sighed.
"Impress me?" Kara said in shock. "Is that why you've been acting so odd?"
"Yes." Kell said. "I don't even deserve to wear the family crest."
"Bull plop!" Kara said firmly. "Kell, Uncle Jor-El wasn't born a great leader, and neither was Kal! They became leaders over time, and you will too."
"Really?" Kell asked.
"Yes, once you learn to think a little before leaping into action." Kara said.
"Here comes another one!" Garth called out as one landed very near where they all were.
"I can hardly breathe." Dick gasped.
"Any more boulders, and we're done for!" Garth called out.
"Any ideas, Kara?" Clark asked.
"Nope." Kara responded.
"Father, I've let everyone down." Kell sighed. "What should I do?"
Just then, he noticed the statue and the aqueduct, and he got an idea.
"Dick, do you think you can climb to the top of that statue?" Kell asked.
"Sure." Dick said. "But why?"
"I've got an idea." Kell replied. "It's a long shot, but it just might work. Imra, Garth, I'm gonna need your help too."
Kell then grabbed some stray rope that thankfully wasn't burned.
()()()()()
As the catapult got loaded again, Brainy got one more idea.
"Imperiex, why don't you double the load?" Brainy asked. "It'll speed things up."
"I'm in charge of this operation, Brainiac 5!" Imperiex said angrily. "I'll give the orders! Double the load!"
()()()()()
Imra, Garth, and Dick climbed up the base of the statue with the rope they unwound it.
"Good, now tie off the rope!" Kell said calmly.
"Be careful!" Lois called out too.
They did so, tying the rope to Brainiac's two hands as Kell grabbed a bust of Brainiac.
"Quickly!" Clark called out. "We don't have much time."
()()()()()
"Prepare to fire!" Imperiex called out after the second boulder had been added.
"But sir, I don't think we should." A guard said.
"You're not here to think, now fire the catapult." Imperiex said darkly.
"But sir-"
"I SAID FIRE!"
The catapult was fired, but it collapsed under the load and caught fire itself.
"Give me that bucket!" Imperiex said quickly as a soldier handed it to him.
"But sir, that's oil!" The guard said, but it was too late. Imperiex flung it on the fire, and it only got worse, and that was the end of the catapult.
()()()()()
Kell aimed the bust at the aqueduct as he got it centered but began to get nervous.
"What if I miss again?" Kell asked himself aloud.
"Then I was proud just to know you." Kara stated. "Now do your best. That's all you can do."
Kell nodded and fired. It hit the aqueduct, spraying water all over the fire and putting it out as everyone cheered.
"Now that's a shot even Uncle Jor-El would've been proud of." Kara said kindly as she and Kell hugged.
Wow! That was a close one, huh?