Chapter 35 - Rules of the Game
Of Course the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you—if you don't play, you can't win.
Robert Heinlein US science fiction author (1907-1988)
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
Clark held Kala back so he could look into her teary eyes, "Kala, I'm sure we were given those glimpses into what might be so we could prevent them from happening. You need to tell us everything you remember about your dream."
Lois came and stroked Kala's hair tenderly, "We have beaten that man several times before and we will not let him hurt any of us ever again. Your daddy will not be in this alone, we'll see to that," she motioned to Richard and Chloe who were now both standing in the doorway listening.
Kala sniffled still unsure as she looked around the room at everyone's faces then back to her dad.
"I can see how worried you are about me but you need to trust that all of us working together will enable us to beat him. That man doesn't play by the rules but we can still beat him at his own game. You have to believe that honey. Now tell us what you remember."
Lois looked back towards Richard and Chloe, "Clark, Kala why don't we all go into the family room there's more room there? We all need to hear this" Clark pushed away from the table the uneaten breakfast forgotten.
"Good idea." Clark helped Kala get up and taking her hand guided her to the couch where he sat back down drawing her with him.
Lois looked at Jason deciding he should be included since he most likely would listen from wherever she might send him at this point. Taking his hand she followed Clark into the family room and she and Jason joined him on the couch.
Richard, Chloe and Catherine took nearby easy chairs and Ben pulled dining room chairs over for him and Martha.
Kala looked around at everyone waiting for her to start. She looked back at Clark and once again clung to his neck and buried her face in his neck and shoulder. "I don't want you to die because of me."
Clark pulled her back after a moment gently wiping away her tears. "Kala, we can do this. We're not alone I am not going to die and you are not going to be hurt. All of these people are here to help us and there are others we can call if need be."
Kala drew a deep breath and finally started so softly that everyone in the room had to hold their own breaths in order to hear her. "Jason and I were playing on Daddy Richard's patio there was still a little snow on the ground but not like now it was dirty and yucky looking snow." She stopped looking around at everybody then continued. "Daddy Richard had just called the starship and we were all going to go flying. Auntie Chloe was making us some snacks to take and Daddy Richard went back in to help carry them out. Jason remembered something he wanted to take and ran back into the house so I was all alone."
She looked at the hurt expressions on Richard and Chloe's faces and spoke up louder. "It wasn't your fault, it was only for a minute but they were watching and they…they snuck up and grabbed me from behind putting something smelly over my nose and the next thing I remember was waking up somewhere else with that bald man standing over me. He had icky breath" she said making a face with her tongue sticking out.
"They must have chloroformed her." Clark looked over at Richard who nodded agreement. "What else do you remember?"
"He smiled at me. Not like all of you smile at me but a mean smile. He said it was about time I woke up. Then he said to some man next to him that the pieces were all in place so let the games begin."
"Kala this is important, do you remember anything about the room?" Clark asked softly.
Feeling stronger having gotten part of the story out she continued, "We were in a big tall room with funny cold walls all around like somebody just put them there. There weren't any windows at all in the walls but the walls didn't go to the ceiling. Oh, and there was just a concrete floor and it was dirty and oily like a garage floor. There was also a big truck and the men were unloading the starship, the one you programmed for Daddy Richard."
"Did the truck have any writing or any pictures on it?"
"I'm sorry Daddy, I don't know" she said almost tearing up again, "I only saw the back with the big sliding door open."
"That's alright honey, you're doing great. What happened next?"
"The bald man grabbed me and held a green rock thing up to my face. He seemed surprised about something. Then he told me to call for you to help and he squeezed my arm real tight. I screamed and screamed but, Daddy he didn't really hurt me." Kala looked deeply into Clark's eyes needing to make sure he understood that.
"He only scared me so you would come and you did and he threw a green knife like thing at you and you fell. Then he pushed me at you and I fell on top of you. Daddy you were breathing real hard like it hurt real bad. That man said something but I wasn't listening to him because you stopped breathing and your skin turned pale green like the knife thing. Daddy you were dead I know you were."
At this point Kala's tears started again so Clark pulled her close to him as he looked at the rest of the family trying to gauge their reactions. Kala continued softly again as if spent with the telling. "It was all my fault because I called you to save me."
"No Kala nothing was your fault just as it wasn't Richard or Chloe's fault that he managed to grab you. Luthor is just pure evil. That's why we have to stop him." Clark looked at Jason sitting quietly in Lois' lap his eyes also teary and his lips were quivering along with Kala's.
Martha jumped up addressing both kids, "I think it's time for your favorite program. Let's go see." Clark smiled at his mom in thanks and nodded at the kids. As the three rounded the corner Kala looked back at Clark, their eyes meeting in the understanding that each would do whatever necessary to protect the other. With that knowledge a mixture of peace and worry filled both of them.
The others in the room saw the looks the two had exchanged and remained quiet not quite knowing how to respond. Clark finally broke the silence. "Luthor thinks he's so much smarter than everyone else and because of that he often gives himself away as he condescends to the rest of …us. He loves to gloat always wanting us to know just how clever and smart his plans are."
"You're right he told me his entire plan on the Gertrude before he fired that missile creating New Krypton. It wasn't the only time he'd done that either."
Richard and Chloe had had less experience with Luthor so they just listened along with Catherine and Ben.
"The way I see it the chess references are simple…you're my queen" he said looking at Lois, "likewise the reference to the other super pawn was to Jason since he already had Kala. From what she said he tested the kryptonite on her just like you said he tested Jason. The castle is my fortress in the artic and the starship is the knight."
"Huh, the starship is the night?" Lois questioned
I see you're not very familiar with Chess. The knight is typically made to look like a horse. A horse is a means of travel thus the starship."
Lois nodded her head. "Oh, now I see but what does it all mean. Wait. He wants to either have everything that is yours or destroy it along with you."
"Exactly!"
Richard leaned forward, "But how and why would he have taken the starship. You said it was secure that only you or I could fly it."
"That's true to a point. Only you or I can program it. Evidently Luthor transported it in a truck thinking he could 'figure it out'. We don't know how they could have loaded it in the truck without doing something to you, Chloe and well, Jason."
"But why would they only have taken Kala why not Jason too, unless he flew off to find you or something."
"Either that or they thought Kala would be easier to handle," Lois added "especially after what happened last time with Jason."
"Wouldn't they have just subdued Jason with Kryptonite?" Catherine asked.
"Jason doesn't seem to react to kryptonite like I do, at least not so far. Although we should test him again today, we need to know where we stand."
"So what do we do? Other than not let the kids out of our sight for even a second especially at our place." Richard squeezed Chloe's hand.
"Well, we now know for sure Luther is watching your house yet again. Being on the river like it is we shouldn't be surprised. We make use of that knowledge and set our own trap for him." Clark looked around the room as everyone nodded. "We also know the events in the dream didn't take place for at least a few days since Kala remembered there was only a little snow and it was dirty and 'yucky'."
"That place she described sounded like an old warehouse with partitioned walls separating the rooms." Lois looked at Clark for concurrence. "Does that fit with what you remember?"
"Yes, they could have made the maze with lead partitions and painted the inner partitions with paint laced with kryptonite. That could also explain why I haven't been able to find him, it's most likely his current hideout. This gives me a new reference when looking for him now."
"Wait, don't you dare fall in the trap without the bait even being set. Kala and I'll never speak to you again if you do!"
Clark sighed, "Don't worry I've learned my lesson as far as Luthor is concerned. I'll just stand guard and call in the Calvary if I spot him. I couldn't stand being dead AND you and Kala never speaking to me again." The mood in the room lightened ever so slightly with his joke.
"Anybody have anything else to add?" Everybody just shook their heads. "Then I suggest we all give it some thought and compare ideas later today. Luther wants to play Chess, I say we play Whist and trump him before he has a clue what's going on."
"Whist?" Lois and Richard chorused.
"Yes, Whist it's an old trick-taking game that shares many traits with Bridge, it's just harder to play well."
"As I recall you played it quite well during that tournament our high school Chess Club sponsored."
"Yet another of your many hidden talents Clark, what else does Chloe know about you that I don't?" Lois smiled.
"I don't know, that I was the official class nerd…no you already guessed that I'm sure!"
"So with this whole mess with Luthor you should cancel the dinner you're having for Chloe and I we can do it another time."
"No, we are not going to let Luthor destroy our lives or our plans. We are going to take control of the situation. We won't give him any opportunities till we have our set of cards dealt. From now on he's playing by our rules."
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
Don't know what whist is then check out Wikipedia
en.