Chapter 2
"Mom, dad!"
"In the barn!" His father called out, and Clark and Colson quickly walked over to the barn just as Jonathan slid out from under the tractor, Martha helping him up.
"Mr. Colson, what brings you here? Is everything alright?" He asked, looking from Clark to Colson.
"Everything's fine dad. It's just...I don't exactly go to a private school, and Colson isn't exactly a teacher."
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent, my name is Phil Colson. I am an Agent with the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division as is your son."
"Explain. Now." Jonathan said, looking as though he wanted to beat Colson to a pulp.
"It all started back during my incident in Metropolis. I was in a bar and a woman bought me a drink. I should never of taken it, but I did. As soon as I finished it I blacked out. When I came to I found myself restrained, and looking at that same woman. Only it wasn't the same woman."
"I am sorry about that by the way. Fury's orders."
"I thought you'd already be out on assignment." Clark said with a smile which Natasha returned.
"And miss seeing you off on your first job? Not likely. I'm sorry I missed the briefing."
"I wish you'd been there. Ward decided to call you eye-candy." Colson said, and Natasha laughed.
"It wouldn't be the first time. I'll just have to punch him next time I see him." She replied, making the other two agents laugh. Jonathan cleared his throat, and they turned toward the Kents, both of whim were obviously still waiting for an explanation.
"Anyway so I wake up and find out that the woman that bought me a drink is actually Natasha Romanoff, the best Agent SHIELD has. SHIELD had apparently been watching me and they wanted me to work for them. I met Director Fury and he told me that if I joined them, he would help me with my powers. I agreed, on the conditions that anything about me was redacted, that I know everyone who has access to my file and that you and Chloe have protection. Oh and that Natasha teaches me trade craft." He said with a smirk.
"Son how can you be so calm about this?! The government knows your secret!"
"They also need my help."
"What happens when they decide that they don't need you? What happens when they decide that your powers are all they need?"
"That won't happen. I will personally kill anyone who tries to act as though Clark is expendable." Natasha said in a tone the brokered no argument. However, Jonathan still didn't look convinced.
"Dad, you need to understand that I know more ways to defend myself than people who spend their entire lives in special forces. Besides, Natasha's got my back, and the only way she isn't a threat is if she's dead."
"Even then I'd check her for bombs." Colson interjected, and Clark nodded.
"Clark, you shouldn't have to do this though. You're only sixteen!" His mother said, speaking for the first time. Clark smiled softly even as he shook his head.
"Mom, I can't keep pretending to be something I'm not. Normal sixteen year olds don't have my powers. Normal sixteen year olds don't have to stop their friends from becoming killers. Normal sixteen year olds don't watch the girl they love die right before their eyes. I can't keep fooling myself into ignoring what's out there. There are things that make what I have dealt with look like nothing, things that could put the entire planet at risk. How could I live with myself if I did nothing while people died?"
"You couldn't. You're too much like your father. Just promise me that you'll come home." She said, and he nodded, unable to do anything else. Everyone there knew that one day he might not come home, but no one was willing to say the words. He walked over and embraced his parents before walking out of the barn with Colson and Natasha on either side of him.
"Nice ride." She said, and Clark smiled.
"I like it. Once we find time I'll let you take her for a spin if you want." He said, and she smiled.
"I'd like that. Now I hate to run, but we all have work to do. I'll call you once I get back and we'll figure something out." She said, and Clark nodded again giving her a soft smile which she returned before they parted ways, Clark and Colson heading back to the Helicarrier while Natasha headed to do whatever job Fury needed her for this time.
"Where have you two been, we've been ready for almost an hour." Ward said as soon as Colson and Clark walked onto the Bus. Clark thought the Bus was an understatement. It was more like a flying house. There were conference rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms for more than ten people, a private lab for Fitz and Simmons, offices for all of them and even a gym and shooting range. In short, it had everything they needed for a long-term mission.
"That's classified." Clark replied, and Ward glared. The others just looked at Colson, waiting for him to speak.
"Clark's right. Now let's get this show on the road people. We have a briefing in five minutes." He replied before heading up to his office, presumably to double-check any last minute variations in his briefing.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Excuse me?" Clark asked calmly, ignoring the anger in Ward's voice.
"Who the hell do you think you are telling us what's classified? You're a rookie who probably didn't even attend the academy!"
"You're right I didn't. I survived being trained by the best in SHIELD and I guarantee you that it was harder than the academy. Now I don't know why you insist on acting like this, but shove it. If you want to complain afterwords because my mission performance is unsatisfactory then go right ahead, but until then let's all just do our jobs." He said before heading into the conference room, the others joining him a moment later. Colson walked in last and shut the door behind him, passing out folders to each of them.
"Recently there have been a series of break-in's into SHIELD archives, all having been committed by a cyber-terrorist group named the Rising Tide. Think of them like a darker version of what Julian Asange was doing a couple years ago. Now the reason we are handling this should be self-explanatory." He said, motioning for them to open the file.
"Colson, has any of this been released to the media?" Clark asked as he looked up from the file, having barely finished the first page. The others looked at him when they heard his tone of voice, but he ignored them keeping his eyes focused on Colson.
"Not yet, and our job is to ensure that it isn't. It would be easier if we could find out who made up this group, but all they leave behind is their alias and affiliation with the Rising Tide."
There was silence for a moment as they all looked through the files, analyzing the various crimes and aliases in an attempt to find some sort of pattern. Suddenly Clark gasped as he reached the last page.
"Colson, I have to go. I'll be back soon." He said standing up and heading for the door, only to find Colson blocking his path.
"Clark, what's going on? Did you find something?" He asked, and Clark nodded.
"One of the aliases...I know it."
"How?" May spoke up, everyone's attention having turned to Clark as soon as he stood up.
"Because that alias belongs to my best friend. Her name is Chloe Sullivan."
For a moment there was silence as Colson looked into his eyes. Clark met the older man's gaze unflinchingly, not backing down.
"Did you know about this?"
"Of course he did! It's no coincidence, he joins SHIELD and then his best friend hacks us." Ward spoke up, but everyone ignored him, waiting for Clark's response.
"I had no idea that Chloe was affiliated with the Rising Tide. But now that I do know, I am asking, no I am begging for you to let me talk to her. Let me figure this out."
"No. We will bring her in, and then we will question her."
"I'll be glad to handle it." Ward said, and Clark turned slowly, fixing the older man with a look that would freeze hell.
"If you so much as touch her, I will kill you."
"Stand down Agent Kent. May, can you handle it?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Agent May, please don't harm her. She's not a bad person." Clark said, and May looked at him for a minute before nodding once. There wasn't a really a need to harm this Chloe Sullivan, not yet at least.
Clark stared through the glass just as he had been doing for the last hour, ever since Chloe had been brought in. When May had first brought Chloe on board he had been nervous, but now he was just angry. He was angry with May and Colson for the harshness of their questioning, he was angry with Chloe for refusing to answer anything, he was angry with Ward for his constant need to mutter about how easy it would be for him to get the answers that they were looking for. But most of all he was angry with himself for being too busy training to realize what his best friend was up to. Oh, he knew that his training had been important, but so was Chloe. She was the closest thing that he had to a sister, and he felt that he should have known what she was up to.
"She's not talking. She admits to being part of Rising Tide, but she won't tell us anything else."
"Let me talk to her. I'll get her to talk." Ward said, but Colson shook his head.
"No. Clark, you know her. Talk to her, convince her to help us." He told the younger man, and Clark nodded, steeling himself before walking into the room. Chloe looked up as the door opened, and her mouth opened in shock as she beheld her oldest and dearest friend walking into the room.
"Clark? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question. Why are you working with the Rising Tide Chloe? What sort of hold do they have on you?"
"They don't have a hold on me Clark. They noticed some of the research that I'd done into Lionel Luthor and they came and made me an offer."
"Chloe, why would you work with them? They're trying to destroy SHIELD, and that could have dire consequences." He told her, but Chloe just shook her head.
"Clark, don't you get it? I'm doing this for you. Nothing's going to be released, but if SHIELD can't track people then they can't hurt them. I won't let anyone lock you in a lab Clark, and if I can't let that happen to you than why should I let it happen to anyone else?" She asked, her voice full of pain and anguish at the thought of what could possibly happen to her best friend.
"Chloe you don't understand. I know that you think you're doing the right thing, but you've got it all wrong. SHIELD dosen't want to imprison people with powers they want to help them. They already helped me."
"What are you talking about?" She asked, and he smiled.
"Remember that private school in Metropolis I've been at for the past three months?" He asked, and she nodded her head in response, Clark's smile widening as he saw his friend connect the dots.
"I wasn't at a private school. I was undergoing training to join SHIELD."
"What?"
"Tell me, how far did you get into SHIELD's database?"
"I know that their Director's named Fury and they've got a pair of top Agents that only go on suicide missions. One's named Clint Barton, goes by Hawkeye and the other is named Natasha Romanoff better known as-"
"The Black Widow, and the person who trained me." He finished, cutting her off.
"You're serious." She said, and Clark nodded once.
"Chloe, you need to listen to me. Whatever the people at Rising Tide promised you, you cannot trust them. They are using you to get information on SHIELD. You need to tell Agent Colson everything that you know, and then you need to help us make sure that none of the information you just told me gets into their hands."
"But-"
"No buts Chloe. If these people get their hands on the identities of SHIELD agent's thousands of lives could be at risk. People will die. Now please help us bring them down. Help us stop them before it's too late." He told her, and she lowered her head. When she looked into his eyes a moment later, the young SHIELD agent could see the tears building in her eyes.
"I am so sorry Clark. But it already is too late."
"What are you talking about Miss Sullivan?" Colson asked as he stepped into the room.
"I...I arranged to meet someone, a representative of Rising Tide."
"When?"
"In three hours, at the coffee shop across from the Daily Planet." She said, surprised when she saw Colson smile.
"Tell me, how long would it take you to make fake intel look authentic?" He asked, and this time it was Chloe who smiled.
"Give me a computer and one hour."
"I don't like this. She could betray us." Ward spoke up as they watched Chloe walk over to the coffee shop where she was to meet her Rising Tide contact.
"Chloe Sullivan is no traitor. I trust her with my life."
"I hope you're right because that's exactly what you're doing, and not just with your life." May interjected, and Clark nodded. He understood what was at stake, but he also knew his best friend.
"Quiet down people, her contact's approaching." Colson's voice came over their earpieces just as they saw a young brunette walking over and sitting down beside Chloe. Clark shook his head, disgusted that the Rising Tide would send someone so young.
They could hear her conversation through the earpiece she wore, and it seemed that Chloe was just as shocked at who her contact was.
"You're my contact?"
"You sound surprised."
"Well yeah. I didn't expect someone so young."
"You think you're the only one that gets recruited at a young age Chloe?"
"I guess not. Do you have a name?"
"Skye."
"Just Skye?"
"Just Skye. Now tell me, do you have the intel we need?"
"Right here."
They watched as Chloe pulled out the flash drive containing the false or outdated intel that Colson had given her and handed it to Skye who quickly inserted it into her own laptop. A moment later she disconnected it, and closed the computer and they could all see her fixing Chloe with a glare. Clark saw it and turned to Ward who had a similar look on his face. No words were exchanged, but they both knew what needed to be done. The two ran over to the table weapons pointed at Skye, with Colson and May following close behind.
"Hi there, I'm Clark Kent Agent of SHIELD, and you're under arrest. Do me a favor and come quietly." He said, just as May came around and put cuffs on her.
"You okay Chloe?" He asked, and she nodded, picking up Skye's laptop and walking back with the others.
"Ward...thank you for your help. I know you were just doing a job, but still..." He trailed off and Ward nodded.
"I was wrong about Sullivan, and I guess I was wrong about you too. Welcome to SHIELD." He said, extending his hand. Clark shook it and then the two followed after their teammates and the prisoner.
"So, training with Romanoff... How was it?"
"Honestly? Longest three months of my life."
"I'm sure. So did you..."
"No. Natasha and I are just friends. Besides, even if I did think about her that way, I'm not her type."
"So what's going to happen to them?" Clark asked once everyone sans Chloe and Skye had been seated in the conference room.
"Chloe helped us, so we'll send her back to Smallville. We'll still have agents watching her though. Skye on the other hand will probably go to prison." Colson replied simply.
"Seems a waste. I mean if they sent her to meet Sullivan based on what they knew of her, then she must be almost as good when it comes to hacking." Ward spoke up, surprising everyone.
"What are you suggesting Ward?" May asked.
"We turn her, offer her immunity in exchange for helping us." Clark said, catching onto the older man's plan.
"It's too risky." May objected, but Clark shook his head.
"People said the same thing about SHIELD trusting Agent Romanoff and look what happened. She's not a bad kid, she's just misguided. Let's give it two weeks and if we're not sure we can trust her she's out. You can't say that a good hacker won't come in handy."
"What about Sullivan?" May asked, but Colson shook his head.
"She's off limits, Fury's orders. Alright, we'll give your idea a shot Ward, but she's your responsibility."
"I understand sir." He replied.
A few moments later they all left the conference room, Colson heading down to the holding cell to give the two women the news. Clark went to follow intent on seeing his friend, but he was stopped by Agent May's hand on his arm.
"Look, I don't care what sort of deal you made with Fury. I don't care how good Romanoff thinks you are, you need to learn your place. It is not to contradict your superiors."
"I report to Agent Colson. If you have a problem with me take it up with him. Unless of course you want to settle this the old-fashioned way?"
"Gym. Ten minutes." She said before walking away.
"She didn't try to deck you, so that's a good thing." Ward said as he walked over to him.
"Something tells me you have some experience with that?"
"Some." Ward replied, but he didn't elaborate.
"Ten bucks says Clark loses badly." Ward said as he, Fitz, Simmons, Chloe, Colson and a somewhat reluctant Skye stood watching the two begin to circle each other.
"I'll take that bet." Chloe said with a smile.
"Anybody else?" He asked, shaking his head in frustration when there were no other takers.
Suddenly Clark attacked, striking so fast that May could barely block his attacks. She struck on, hitting Clark in the stomach and making him step back before the two were once again locked in combat. Thirty seconds later it was over with May laying unconscious on the floor.
"Was knocking her unconscious really necessary?" Colson asked as he walked over and woke her up.
"Strike first, strike hard, and make sure they can't get up." Clark replied simply, parroting Natasha's words from the day the two had first met.
"He's right. Good job, you fight well." May said as she stood up.
Clark merely nodded in acknowledgment, smiling as he saw Ward hand Chloe ten dollars. As he fell asleep that night with the plane speeding toward Germany and their next mission, his thoughts turned to Natasha. Was she okay, had her mission been successful, would she have approved of how he did his job? Anyone walking past his room would have heard her name on his lips as he finally succumbed to sleep.
Meanwhile in Smallville, the spirit of Jor-El watched his son's development with growing displeasure. Kal-El was not embracing his destiny, and that simply could not be allowed. He had to think, to plan and find a way to put Kal-El back on his proper path.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks to everyone who has followed, favorited or reviewed this story and the next chapter should be up soon!