-1Pilot
He closed his eyes waiting for some type of impact but nothing came. In a split second all senses rushed to him. He could smell fresh corn, feel a soft breeze and hear what appeared to be a large motor. Daring to see what was in front of him, he opened his eyes.
He was staring down at his own feet, at least what he hoped to be his own feet. He wore old work boots that were stained by dirt. Aside from the blue jeans and boots that he could see, he was standing on dirt. Slowly he looked up to a red mailbox that looked like the one at his farm house. A closer look and he could see 'Kent' clearly painted in gold against the red.
Confused he ventured into looking a bit more. A yellow school bus continued down the street, it's large tires kicking up dirt. To his right was the 'Kent Farm' sign that hung proudly above the entrance to his driveway. He looked up to see the yellow house and red barn. It was then he felt the weight on his back. He reached up to grab the strap that held it to him. He pulled it off and stared down at his old school backpack that he had carried far into college before it had finally broken.
Unsure of what was happening he headed up his driveway and to the entrance of his home. He tried to use his x-ray vision to see what was waiting for him inside but he couldn't seem to see through any of the walls. He then tried to hear but all he got was the common sounds of the farm.
With nothing else to try he opened the door and stepped inside. The living room looked as it always did. He gently laid down his back pack and tried to figure out what was going on. He had been sucked into some box and landed on a pile of kryptonite that he didn't know of. He hadn't been around kryptonite in years. Not since Lex Luthor was put away behind bars for the murder of Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan, and Jimmy Olsen.
"Son, I know you want to try out for the football team but it's just too risky. Just because you're upset doesn't mean you can sneak back in and skip school."
The voice struck him at his core. He hadn't heard that voice in years, not since his last words spoken to him before his heart failed. Jonathan Kent walked into the living room from the kitchen. He stood staring unable to believe his eyes. He had to be dreaming or dead because his father was standing right in front of him.
"Dad?" He asked hardly able to form words.
"Clark? What's wrong?" Jonathan asked rushing forward and grabbing his shoulders.
The feel of his hands gripping him was real. He was sure he looked like he saw a ghost and truth was he believed he was looking right at one.
"I don't know. Dad?" He asked again.
Jonathan gripped his shoulders tighter and shook him a bit, "It's me Clark. I can't help if I don't know what's wrong,"
"Everything's wrong. What happened to Lois and that meteor freak? Why am I back at the farm?" He asked trying to figure out what was going on.
"Martha!!" Jonathan called.
His mother came around the kitchen corner and into the living room looking a bit frantic. "What happened? Why are you still here Clark?" Martha asked.
Clark looked over his mom. She looked years younger like back when he was in…high school. His heart sunk with the thought that he had somehow gone back in time. How was that even possible? Time travel didn't exist unless it had something to do with the kryptonite.
"I don't know why I'm back but I doubt I'm in the right time," He said voicing his thoughts.
"What do you mean, son?" Jonathan asked.
"Dad, I'm 27 years old and married. I went to help a young girl and next thing I know I'm landing on a pile of kryptonite and looking down at my dust covered feet," He said.
His parents looked at him dumbfounded for a moment. "27 years old? Kryptonite? What are you talking about son?" Jonathan asked.
"I think I was transported through time," He answered.
"Transported through time?" Jonathan repeated. He simply nodded in response. What else was he to do? "Alright let's just take a step back and figure out what to do."
"What is there to do? We don't know what brought him here to take him back. Besides it appears he's in our son's body that's from this time," Martha said with her input.
"All I can think of is for you to follow your everyday routine so no one will suspect anything. So just go to school and we'll talk about this when you get home," Jonathan said stepping back and disappearing outside.
"So married?" Martha asked with a smile. For some reason she didn't seem as freaked out. With his confused look she sighed. "I just wanted to know, that if you really are from the future, just what type of man my son turned out to be."
"I think I just need to think this over," He said remembering his dad say something about school. That was why he had his back pack and the school bus ran. He walked numbly to the front door and grabbed his bag. He opened the door and walked down the stairs. He slung his back pack over his shoulder and took off at a jog. In a split second he was moving in super speed and passing the school bus.
It was easy enough to remember his way back to the school even through the fields. Eventually he was standing outside the school building. He looked around and noticed a familiar blonde walking next to his once best friend. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was looking at Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross. Clark walked up, his amazement and shock evident on his face.
"Hey guys," He said shifting his back pack, trying to fit in. Chloe mumbled a bit trying to get out her question. Something about how he had gotten there. He realized that if he really had gone back in time then they didn't know the truth about him.
"I took a short cut," He said with a small smile. He had never been good a lying but he had gotten better with the help from Lois. He needed better lies to keep Perry off his back.
"Through what? A black hole?" She asked looking at him like he was a weirdo.
If only she knew the truth. Pete stepped past Chloe and pulled on Clark's shoulder.
"Chloe's on her weird vibe again. She thought something attacked the bus again," Pete said grabbing Clark by his bicep and pulling him along. Chloe jogged around them and stood in front of them.
"Just because other people choose to ignore the strange happenings doesn't mean they don't happen," Chloe said.
"I forgot you two were like this," He said out loud with a smile until both Chloe and Pete looked at him like he was from another planet. Again, if only they knew.
"You know we would like to stand around and talk weird with you but Clark and I have tryout forms to turn in," Pete said pulling his from his pocket. He couldn't remember this particular time. It was so long ago that it was pressed from his mind, plus he hadn't had a lot of good memories in Smallville so he had left them behind along with everything else.
"Why would you two join those bumbling jocks who call themselves our heroes?" Chloe asked.
Pete pulled her further to the wall and lowered his voice. Clark joined them and simply listened hoping to remember something helpful. "Chloe, you know Homecoming's up along with the picking of the scarecrow. Clark and I figured they wouldn't pick us if we were a part of the team." Pete explained.
So it was freshman year. Pete and himself were trying to get on the football team. Chloe was into the weird things happening in Smallville. However he felt like he was missing something. Chloe and Pete continued to argue and as helpful as it would have been to pay attention, it wasn't a favorite past time of his.
He shook his head and looked off down the sidewalk. It was then that it clicked. That all time stopped. Slowly it sped up as she turned around. He could recognize her anywhere, from any angle. The love of his life was alive and smiling while talking to a student about something. His heart froze in his chest while he figured out what to do.
In this time were Lana and himself friends? He knew they started hanging out in freshman year but when and exactly when was it. As far as a timeline went, he was lost. It wouldn't hurt if he talked to her. Hell if they weren't friends already why not now. She may have been dead in the future but she wasn't dead now and Lex wasn't around. This was something he could fix.
"I'll catch you guys later," He said.
Chloe and Pete turned to see what he was talking about. He walked closer to the dark haired beauty. She smiled and clutched the clipboard closer to her chest. He wasn't but five feet away from her that he felt the pain in his abdomen. He winced from the nausea and pain and tripped over his own two feet. As he pulled himself up, a small but beautiful hand held out one of his books that had fallen out of his backpack.
"I didn't know you had a dark side," She said handing him back 'The portable Nietzsche'
"Doesn't everybody?" He asked taking the book from her hands and noticing the necklace around her neck. How could he have forgotten her kryptonite necklace. He was too weak to get away so he pulled himself up and leaned against the railing. "I guess so," She said before standing. "So what are you, man or superman?"
He looked up at her amazed by the words that had just come out of her mouth. She had said superman. Man or Superman. He couldn't answer with either of those so what was he to say. "I'll get back to you on that one," He said not quite sure what to do.
He heard someone call out Lana's name and he didn't bother looking up as his memory was clearing up bit. If it was early freshman year near homecoming that meant Lana was still with Whitney. His prediction was correct as Whitney walked up and gave Lana a sweet kiss before asking for her help on his English paper. All of this was really confusing to the point that he shouldn't have even come to school in the first place but instead find away back to his time. Instead it looked like he was going to do homework.
Whitney turned to him, "You forgot one Clark."
He tossed the book to him and with his weak arms he couldn't catch it without falling and dropping everything else. Whitney just looked at him like he was special before wrapping his arms around Lana's shoulder. He could feel the jealousy in his chest. He had always loved Lana and after all this time, it seemed that he still did. But what was he to do?
He had tried his best throughout the rest of the school day and once the final bell rang he was more than happy to get out of Smallville High. He had graduated once, he really didn't want to do it again. All he really needed was a breath of fresh air and some time to think.
He simply went for a walk and found himself at a quiet bridge running over the Smallville river. He stopped for a moment to breathe and think. He looked down at the peaceful water and tried to remember all that he could.
Whitney had gone off to war and never came back. Pete ended up leaving because he couldn't handle keeping his secret. He and Lana had eventually gotten close and then apart and then close again. Then of course there was Lex Luthor. They had been friends but because of non careful rescues, Lex had gotten on his trail. If he really was back maybe he could change all of his mistakes. He knew the outcome and some of the wrongs he had done. He didn't remember everything but maybe enough to make a difference.
One of those things just caught his attention. A silver Porsche was speeding his way, a roll of barbwire in the middle of the road. He was able to run out of the way as the maniac driver dodge and speed through the guard rail. Without thinking he dove in after the car.
A moment before he ripped off the roof, the memory struck him. Lex Luthor was inside that vehicle and it had been the start of their problems. All because he had ripped off the roof. He moved to the door and used as little strength as possible. The door barely moved because the pressure wasn't equal with the inside and outside of the car. Wanting to cover his tracks he picked up a rock and busted out the glass before pulling the door open. Slipping into super speed he pulled the bald man from the driver's seat and up onto shore.
Moving as quickly as he could he performed CPR and a few moments later Lex was coughing out a lung full of water. The bald man coughed and sputtered and finally looked up at him.
"Are you okay?" Lex asked.
"I'm fine. I was able to dodge out of the way," He answered.
Surprisingly enough Lex bought it. It was one major change if it was successful.
He looked up from his spot on the dirt ground when he heard his father calling his name. Just seeing Jonathan running down the dirt hill sent shivers down his spine. His father was still alive. If he really was in the past, reliving his life, then he wasn't going to waste time with his father. Not when he knew he was going to lose him.
"Who was the maniac that did this?" He asked reaching his side and ripping his jacket off.
"That would be me sir. Lex Luthor," The bald man said reaching his hand out. Jonathan ignored him and help his son to his feet.
"Jonathan Kent, this is my son," Jonathan asked.
"You have an interesting son Mr. Kent. If there's anything I can do to repay you?" Lex left the question open.
"Drive slower," Jonathan said before turning to leave.
He watched Jonathan from across the kitchen table. His mom was in the kitchen finishing dinner.
"So you're from the future?" Jonathan asked.
"As far as I know, yes. I was fighting someone and then next thing I knew I was here. I don't understand the details," He answered still confused.
"What do you plan on doing?" Martha asked coming into the living room with a plate full of food. He stood and helped her with the steaming hot plates and set them down on the table.
"I guess I'll just live day by day. What would you do if you were reliving your life?" He asked.
"What do you mean, son?" Jonathan asked.
"If you remember some of the things you wish you could change and had the chance, would you?" He asked.
"That depends son. I guess you would have to trust your instincts and know if it's really worth changing. Would the outcome be any better," His father advised.
It wouldn't do him much good. There was much he wished he could change but what would be the outcome? So all he could do was trust his gut and live each day.
"So I guess I don't have to tell you that you're from another planet?" Jonathan asked with a half smile.
"No. In fact it's called Krypton and it exploded in a civil war. The meteor rocks are fragments of my home world which I get sick around and they can kill me. They're called kryptonite," He said going on and explaining everything he had learned during his lifetime.
After dinner he had gone to the one place aside from the loft that he knew he could think. He had too much on his mind to simply hang around in the barn. He needed some fresh air so he headed to the graveyard.
He hadn't been alone long before he heard a horse gallop up to the fence. He heard footsteps shortly after and decided it wouldn't be best to continue hiding. He stood from behind the tombstone and heard a female gasp.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," He said.
"Clark is that you?" The voice belonged to Lana and he couldn't believe he was talking to her again. He hadn't seen her in years, feared she was dead and here she was only a few feet away from him. "What are you doing out here?" She asked.
"I came here to think, you?" He asked.
"I came to visit my parents," She answered. "Is everything okay?"
"I'll live," He answered. He walked over to her side and smiled. "Visiting your parents?"
"What is that weird?" She asked.
"I've heard of weirder. After all this is Smallville," He responded.
"Well in that case let me introduce you to them," She said taking his hand and pulling him over to a tombstone. She kneeled and pulled him down with her. "Mom, dad this is Clark." She listened for a moment and he was respectful and remained quiet. "Mom wants to know if you're upset about a girl," She asked.
"No, not tonight," He answered with a smile.
"Dad wants to know if you're upset about a guy?" She asked.
He laughed, "Nope, just life in general."
"Sorry about that, he has a sick sense of humor," She said.
"It's alright," He said.
"So what is bothering you?" She asked.
"If you had a second chance to fix everything that you wished you could fix but were afraid to change the future…what would you do?" He asked.
He had asked his father but it was still bugging him to no end. Should he right his wrongs or live life again the exact same way?
"I think if it's worth changing, something you truly believe in…then go for it," She honestly gave her advice. The night continued and they talked. He walked her home.
"So are you going to the dance?" He asked.
"Yea, with Whitney." She answered.
He kicked himself mentally. He had forgotten she was with the football player. "Right," How could he be such an idiot.
"I promise to save you a dance," She said. He smiled before she continued, "Thanks for walking me home."
She reached on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He smiled and watched as she walked off towards her house. So far so good.
He came home from school the next day to see a beautiful red truck sitting in the driveway. A present from Lex Luthor. He already knew his father would be pissed, there was no reason not to be. Martha smiled at him as he walked up and tossed his backpack down.
"Guess you already know," She said more of a statement.
"Dad has the keys and he wants me to give it back," He said.
"That answers my question. Your father's in the barn," She said before getting back to the farm work with a smile.
He headed inside to see his dad working with the leaf hacker. He remembered shoving his whole arm down it. He'd never seen his dad so freaked out. This time he didn't need to explain himself to his dad in such extreme terms.
"Guess you know I want you to return it," Jonathan said after turning the machine off.
"Of course. I'll take it back," He said holding his hand out for the keys.
"Were you and Lex friends?" Jonathan asked getting to the real question he had wanted to ask.
"We were," He answered not wanting to lie to his father.
"How did that turn out?" Jonathan asked.
"We weren't anymore. Not after he married Lana," He answered remembering the wedding and watching as Lex smiled in victory.
"What?" Jonathan asked.
"If I could change anything, that would be it," He said sadly.
He had never gotten over her. Now that he had a second chance he wouldn't screw it up. Only one problem, she was with Whitney. His father held out the keys and he took them from him. He went on to return the truck.
He watched as Lex dueled and lost. Angrily he tossed his sword and it landed in the wall beside his head. He didn't blink as Lex walked forward and pulled off his helmet.
"Clark, what are you doing here?" Lex asked.
"I buzzed but no one answered," He replied.
"How did you get in?" Lex asked pulling his sword out.
"I squeezed through the bars, hope you don't mind," He answered.
"Not all at all," Lex said as he removed his gloves and went for a bottle of water.
"Let me guess why you're here. Don't tell me you don't like it," Lex said.
"No, it's not that. I just can't accept a gift like that. Thank you though," He said handing him the keys.
"Clark, you saved my life. I think it's the least I could do," Lex said.
"Don't worry about it. I would love to stay and chat but I must get back," He said wanting to remove himself from the Luthor home. He knew how Lex was and he didn't need the millionaire on his trail again.
"Oh well, alright. Perhaps I'll see you around town," Lex suggested.
"Perhaps," He responded before turning back and heading out of the Luthor mansion.
"Clark," Lex called out. He turned to look at the bald man, "Do you believe in second chances?"
"Not until these past few days," He answered truthfully.
He looked at the picture on Chloe's computer. "This is Jeremy Creek twelve years ago and this is him today." Chloe said. He turned around and leaned against the table. The first of the meteor freaks. He didn't remember him all that much.
"That would make him twenty six. This Jeremy doesn't look that old," He said.
"Jeremy was in a coma for the past twelve years where he suffered from an imbalance of electrolytes." Chloe said.
"That's why he hasn't aged," Pete said.
"Does he get to go on your wall of weird then?" He asked. Chloe and Pete looked at him in shock.
"You know about the wall of weird?" She asked.
"Well yea, you've been working on it since the strange happenings in Smallville occurred," He answered. They continued to look at him in shock. Clark had never been normal but this was past his normal normal.
"In that case, let me continue my theory," Chloe went on.
After Chloe finished telling him her theory about revenge, he headed outside to go home. A hand grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. He faced Whitney who looked pissed. "Congratulations Clark your this years scarecrow," He said.
He pushed away his hand, "Don't mess with me Whitney,"
Whitney pushed Clark and then ripped off his jacket, "Come on lets go."
Whitney swung at him and as he dodged something made him weak in the knees. He ended up falling to the ground with a shove from the jock. "What's going on with you and Lana?" He hissed leaning over him.
Lana's kryptonite necklace hung from Whitney's neck and he tried to not let the blonde know it was making him sick. Whitney noticed him staring at Lana's necklace and he pulled it from his throat.
"You like her necklace. Good cause that's as close as you'll ever get to her," He said putting it around his neck.
The feel of the rock against his skin was painful and he couldn't hold back the whimper that escaped him. Only kryptonite could ever do that to him. A truck pulled up and Whitney's friends pulled him into the bed of the truck and then covered him with a jacket. His vision blurred before he blacked out.
He came to with a searing pain in his shoulders. His vision swam and when he focused he noticed that it was dark out and he was surrounded by corn. A large red 'S' was painted on his chest and he couldn't help but think of the irony. He tried to pull himself free from the binding but the kryptonite around his neck had weakened him greatly. He noticed someone in the corn beside him.
"Never changes," The guy said.
"Help me," He pleaded the pain ripping at his back.
"Hurts doesn't it?" The guy asked stepping forward so he wouldn't have to strain to see him.
"You're Jeremy," He said recognizing him from Chloe's picture. Jeremy turned and began to walk off but he called for him to wait, "Where are you going?"
"The homecoming dance," Jeremy replied before going off through the corn field.
He was amazed by how little he remembered of his freshman year. From a distance he heard the screeching of tires and called for help. A few minutes later he could see a light pierce the darkness. Out of the corn came Lex. He looked at him in shock before moving to untie him.
"Who did this to you?" He asked undoing the knots.
As soon as his arms were free he ripped the necklace from his chest and reached for his clothes. He had to get to the homecoming dance.
"Don't worry about it Lex," He said before taking off. He heard Lex call out and offer him a ride but he could get there faster if he ran.
He saw Jeremy outside the electrical box. "Jeremy you need to stop this," He called gaining his attention. Jeremy turned and looked at him. He turned from the electrical box and stalked forward, tossing down the crowbar.
"I won't let you hurt them," He called again.
"What? You think they're your friends? They hung you half naked from a post and you want to defend them?" Jeremy asked.
He was ticked and instead of letting Clark get in his way he grabbed his shoulders and sent a wave of electricity through him. If he had been in his future body this wouldn't have hurt him but instead it burnt. He could feel it course through his body and he struggled to break his grip. Gathering his strength he tossed him into the hood of a truck.
After a minute he stood and with a spark started the vehicle. He hoped in and raced toward him. He reached up and tried to stop the truck but he wasn't as strong as he used to be. Instead he rode the hood of the truck until Jeremy crashed through a wall. He pulled himself up from the rubble and looked through the window at Jeremy. Water poured through the car from a busted pipe and Jeremy ended up electrocuting himself. Without wasting time he grabbed the truck and pulled it forward so he could pull Jeremy from the vehicle.
When he finally opened the door Jeremy looked up at him in confusion, "Where am I?"
"You're in Smallville. I'm Clark Kent," He said with a smile before helping him from the car.
He waited for the police to escort Jeremy away before he headed into the dance. He watched from the balcony as Chloe and Pete danced and Whitney and Lana danced. He really wanted to leave and go home but he knew that this was his second chance. Was he really going to waste it? He headed downstairs to the dance floor and waved to Pete and Chloe. He walked up and the two of them looked at his current appearance.
"What happened to you?" Pete asked.
"I was picked for scarecrow," He answered knowing it wasn't a full lie and he passed off as the truth.
"How did you get out of it?" Chloe asked.
"Lex showed up and heard me calling for help," He answered.
"So what are you going to do?" Pete asked.
The song changed to another slow dance and he looked out on the dance floor.
"I'm going to ask Lana to dance," He answered before smiling at the two of them and heading out. Chloe and Pete watched in shock as he walked off. This new Clark they were looking at had more balls than the one they remembered.
He walked up behind Whitney and tapped him on the shoulder, "Mind if I cut in?"
Whitney turned and looked at him in shock.
"How did you…," He asked. Lana looked at Whitney in shock.
"By the way good game tonight. Sorry I couldn't make it," He said almost sincere.
He wouldn't have minded to see Whitney get tackled.
"Thanks man," He said still in shock.
"I'm glad you could make it Clark," Lana said with a genuine smile.
"Same here. I understand if you'd rather dance with your boyfriend," He said.
She looked over at Whitney who could only shrug. "I would love to dance with you," She responded.
He took her hand in his and they swayed to the song. There were no huge sparks of fireworks but the way she smiled at him gave him hope that maybe this time, it would work out.
After a long night of dancing they parted ways and he headed home to the farm and his loft that waited for him. He was far from tired so he headed up to his fortress of solitude. A lot had happened in the past few days and he needed to clear his mind.
Instead his thoughts turned to Lana. He was still in love with her and although he knew he would lose her he swore he wouldn't let that happen this time. All he had to do was remember what happened in his teens and then change his mistakes. Only thing was, he had made many mistakes. Especially when it came to Lana.