Chapter 10-The Truth?
Clark super speed back to the farm with Lana in tow. He wasn't sure what to do. Lex had dropped Lana through a window in an attempt to kill her. He knew she had to remain safe from this monster. The lights were on so Clark just burst in.
His mother and father were on the couch watching TV. when he stopped in front of them. His mother jumped and spilled popcorn all over the living room floor. "Clark?" His father asked sitting up at his son's abrupt entrance.
"Dad, its Lana. Lex tried to kill her." Clark said looking down at the limp woman in his arms. She still took his breath away.
"Is she okay?" His mother asked.
"She'll be fine. She fainted when she saw me." Clark said.
"Well that's to be expected. After all your mother did so too." Jonathan said. Martha swatted at his shoulder and stood to help Clark.
"I need to head to Metropolis. Is Impulse around?" Clark asked as his dad stood as well.
"He's upstairs. What do you plan to do with Lana?" Jonathan said.
"I'm going to leave her here. I can take her with me until I've been given permission. Impulse can take care of her until I get back." Clark said heading for the stairs.
"Clark honey, how do you want us to explain this her?" His mother asked.
"I don't know mom. She can't know I'm super human though. I know that much." Clark said. His parents nodded and Clark headed up the stairs, careful that he didn't bump Lana's head on the wall.
Bart was inside his room listening to his mp3 player and dancing around. Clark shook his head and laid Lana carefully on his bed. Impulse jumped when he finally noticed Clark.
"Hey man, what's going on?" Bart asked.
"Lex tried to kill Lana. I need you to watch her while I go talk to Oliver." Clark said.
Bart nodded and waited while Clark changed into his combat clothes. Oliver was a relaxed guy, but when it came to business, you better act the part.
"She can't know the truth. If I'm not back by the time she wakes up, think of something." Clark said. Bart nodded in understanding. Clark super speed back downstairs where his parents were waiting.
"How's she doing?" Jonathan asked. Martha was in the kitchen cooking. When ever anything was happening for the worse she would cook. It was comforting to see her at the stove.
"She's resting peacefully upstairs. Impulse is going to watch over her and when she wakes up, he'll somehow explain it to her." Clark said.
Clark made his way to the door but turned back to his dad, "Your bike is still at Luthorcorp. I couldn't bring it back along with Lana. Do you think you can pick it up?" Clark asked. His father nodded and wrapped his arm around Martha's shoulders. With a nod in response, Clark was out the door and on the interstate before his parents could blink.
Clark waited as the lift moved toward his destination. The top floor of the second highest building in the city. The Daily Planet sat right underneath the Queen Ind. Luthorcorp remained the highest building, over looking the city.
It would have been faster if he'd just flown up, but with times like these when Lex was in the skies, he couldn't risk running across him.
The doors swung open to reveal the top floor of Oliver's building. The opening area had two couches and a coffee table. Behind one of the couches was a large desk, covered in files and paperwork. Behind the desk was an elevated area with a large half clock covering the wall.
Clark x-rayed the room and discovered a weapon arsenal behind the clock. To the left in the back were Victor's and A.C.'s room. To the right corner was Oliver's room.
Oliver stepped from behind his desk and ushered Clark in. He was perplexed as to why Clark had super speed all the way over to the big city when he could have just got in touch with him through COM link.
"Clark?" Oliver said in a questioning welcome.
Clark didn't miss the tone of what he said. Clark stood at attention in front of his desk as Oliver walked back around to look down at his files.
"Lex made an attack on Lana. I believe twice." Clark said standing tall.
Oliver leaned on his hands at the edge of his desk. "Details." He said.
"Earlier a shot was taken at Lana, I deflected the bullet. Earlier tonight Lex dropped Lana from the skies and through a window on the roof of Luthorcorp. I caught her." Clark said.
Oliver looked down at his hands and sighed. Clark could hear the frustration in his breathing. "Any news on Lex?" He asked.
Clark nodded, "Yes, sir. He can fly, just like myself."
Oliver stood to his full height and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger. "Then it's true. Clark does Lana know anything about you?" Oliver asked.
"No sir. I only caught her as she was falling. She fainted after she saw and acknowledge that I was alive." Clark said.
Oliver began to pace as he thought. "You are to remain in Smallville. It's okay to be known that you're alive. However none of your abilities and be known outside of your family. Find Lex's weakness and exploit it. We have to bring him down before any more attempts on innocent lives are taken."
Clark understood his mission and it required him to lie to Lana and everyone else. The only problem would be if he could do that.
"Dismissed." Oliver said, waving his hand at Clark. Clark relaxed and entered the lift again. He watched Oliver's slouched shoulders and realized the stress put upon him. They had to stop Lex at all cost.
Clark was back in Smallville an hour after dawn. He'd stayed around in Metropolis listening to anything he could on Lex. Apparently rumors were spreading about his vast "power". Clark couldn't tell if it was super human or business.
The farm was already awake when he slowed in the driveway. He quickly x-rayed the house to see who was awake. Everyone was up and in the kitchen eating breakfast, even Bart.
Clark stood close to the door and listened in to what they were saying.
"So Lana, how's your eggs?" Martha asked.
"Their good Mrs. Kent. No one cooks better than you." Lana said. Her voice sounded tired and emotional. He could only imagine what she was feeling or thinking at the moment.
"I'm glad you're okay Lana." Jonathan said.
"I am too. I don't know what's gotten into Lex. I'm just glad Clark was there to catch me." Lana said.
Clark knew the questions were coming. He could hear the tension in the air.
"Speaking of Clark, how is it he's even alive. I saw him die in the hospital." Lana said. Clark heard the sound of metal on glass. Lana had dropped her fork, or someone had.
"Lana, this is hard to explain." Martha said.
"Then allow me." Bart said cutting in. "Clark was chosen to partake in a military experiment. Mainly to revive lost soldiers. They succeeded in recharging the particles and organs of the human body. Thus Clark was brought back and thrown into the military life."
"So you mean to say Clark is a soldier brought back to life?" She asked. He could only assume by the silence that a nod was her reply. "Who are you again?" She asked.
"My codename is Impulse. I'm here with Clark on a mission. However outside of these walls I'm a relative of the Kent's." Bart said.
Now that the story was straight with Lana and he knew what it was, it would be easier to lie to her. Without wasting anymore time Clark opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.
Lana stood from the table once she saw him. The others sat and watched as she moved toward him. Clark wasn't sure what to expect as she crossed the kitchen. Once within reach, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.
Clark held her lightly, afraid that he'd crush her small frame in his large arms. He could hear her sobs against his chest and remained holding her in comfort. He could smell her shampoo and feel the silk of her hair against his chin as he rested his head against hers.
"You're really alive?" She asked pulling back and looking up at him.
"I'm really alive." Clark said.
Her sobs started again even stronger as she reached up and rubbed his cheek with the palm of her hand. He sighed and leaned into her soft touch. He had missed it over the past two years away from her. He reached up and wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. Her breath caught in her throat at his touch. "Is 'impulse' really telling the truth?" She asked finally pulling back.
"What truth? That I'm some military experiment back in Smallville for a mission?" Clark asked amazed at how easy the lie slipped from his lips.
"How did you know what we were talking about?" She asked amazed by what he had said.
"What else would you talk about after passing out in my arms?" Clark asked hoping to cover his tracks.
She folded her arms across her chest and studied him. He stood tall, a habit when under inspection. She noted his military outfit and his straight back stature. He was serious about the military. She'd remember the day's when Whitney had been around. She recognized the military give a way's.
"I understand this is rough for you, me coming back. My mission is to protect you." Clark said. Their was no need to hide that truth from her. Her arms dropped and she stared at him in shock.