Exodus
He stepped down the stairs into the cellar and saw the ship light up and begin to rise off the ground. This scene was familiar to him and he remembered that this had been the first time he'd spoken to Jor-El. Well the conversation was going to be different this time around. He knew what his future held. He had nothing to fear.
"Fear not, Kal-El. I am Jor-El your father," The voice spoke.
"You are only his memory. I know who you are," He yelled over the rush of wind.
"Very well. It is time. Time to accept your destiny," Jor-El said.
"I know my destiny," He yelled again. He would not be bullied this time around.
"Then you know to return to me by the setting of the sun," Jor-El spoke.
"I will not return to you tomorrow. I have lived this life once and you will not control it. My destiny is to protect these people from themselves. Not rule them as you hoped. I will be a hero to these people but I will reach that day on my own." He spoke.
"You speak with knowledge you should not have. You must still fulfill my wishes. There is much you need to do," Jor-El said.
"Your wishes are not mine. I won't do what you want me to. This is still my life. I'm not leaving Smallville," He said.
"The day will come. Danger is hunting you. I sense that time ripples differently among you. It ripples differently among someone else. You must do as I wish. Leave Smallville and fulfill your destiny. Change what you have done and follow my will." Jor-El demanded.
"No! I will not. You are only his memory. Just like the fortress. I learned much but the one thing I learned the most was to not become what you wanted. These humans have free will. I will not become their god. I will not rule them and make this another Krypton. Earth will remain free and I will protect them. Even from myself." He said with equal determination.
"You will do as I wish. You are Kal-El the last son of Krypton and Krypton will live out through you." Jor-El said with anger.
The ship pulsed. With a force he was shoved back into the wall and his chest burned. He knew what was happening but he couldn't stop it. He watched as he was branded again. The ship died and fell still. So did he.
When he came to he went to sit on the porch steps. History was repeating itself and he couldn't stop it. Jor-El was determined for him to rule Earth, just as before. He wouldn not crack, he couldn't. The humans were an amazing race. He loved so many of them. He couldn't rule them. He had enough trouble rotecting them from themselves.
"Someone's up early," Jonathan said coming down from behind him.
"I never went to sleep," He replied.
"What's wrong sweetie?" Martha asked.
"Jor-El spoke to me last night. He knows I'm from the future but he still wants me to do his will. I can't rule Earth. I care about everyone too much," He answered.
"The ship spoke to you?" Jonathan asked trying to sort it all out.
"He did. Dad, no matter what happens. Do not make a deal with Jor-El." He warned.
He remembered that Jonathan had come to Metropolis to bring him back and he had done that by making a deal with Jor-El. It had weakened his heart which had lead to his death. This time he wouldn't be going to Metropolis. He would figure out a way to destroy the ship without anyone getting hurt. He wouldn't slip that ring on his finger and escape. He was sticking around and Jor-El would just have to deal with it.
"What is going to happen?" Jonathan asked.
"Nothing good. But you have to promise me you'll let me deal with this. I don't want you to get hurt. Not this time," He said.
His parents could hear the concern in his voice. They could hear the fear. Since he'd come back from the future, they had never heard that. They had to trust him. They loved him enough to do that.
"We promise." Both of them said.
He sighed in relief. He trusted his parents word. If they promised to stay out of this then he could deal with the situation without worrying about them.
Later in the day he'd gone horseback riding with Lana. Something he'd missed doing. They had stopped at the old oak tree. In the future they had carved CK&LL into the trunk but this time it hadn't happened yet. The bark remained untouched.
He sat with his back leaning against the tree while she was curled in his arms and sitting between his legs. Her head was rested against his chest and he thought in silence while breathing in her shampoo. Soft peaches…it was soothing to his troubling self. He was trying to figure out what to. In a way having Lana in his arms helped him think but in others it distracted him. Like the fact that she was pressed firmly against him and Clark Jr. really liked that.
"You okay?" She asked. He could hear her worry and it made him smile. This was what he'd been fighting for. Something he would always fight for.
"Yeah. I'm great. I've got the most beautiful woman in my arms. Nothing could make me happier than this." He said holding her tighter.
She pulled back and looked up at him, "You know I can always tell when you're being less than truthful."
He smiled. She did have that uncanny ability. But this time around he was being honest.
"I've fought so hard to be where we are. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to mess up," He said while silently adding 'again'.
Now that she was his again he couldn't lose her. Meaning he had to do what was right and not keep anything from her. Even if he thought she couldn't handle it.
"I'm not going anywhere, no matter what," She said with a small smile while squeezing his arm.
"Neither am I," He whispered leaning down and kissing her.
It quickly became passionate as she opened to him. He slid his tongue between her lips and tasted her. It was perfect and it was demanding. She was letting him know she was his and he got the message loud and clear. He pulled back for air and she rested her head back on his chest. They both were smiling and couldn't stop. Everything was perfect.
"So does this mean you're officially my date to Lex's wedding?" He asked.
She could hear her smile when she answered, "Only after we've officially told Chloe about our change in status."
Those words sparked a memory. Chloe was in his driveway chewing him out for not telling her. It was a future event and he was surprised he remembered. Things had been so fuzzy lately that a picture perfect was shocking. Things were coming back to him.
"Alright. I'll tell her," He said.
"Okay. I'm sure if we're honest she'll be okay. Just meet me at the Talon tomorrow to pick me up and you can let me know how it went," She said.
"Promise," He agreed kissing the top of her head.
After they rode back to the farm and got the horses put up he figured he'd go see how Lex was doing. After Lana left he super sped over to the manor and headed to the study to find Lex and see how the wedding was coming along.
The news he did get was not good. Helen had left him cause of his stupidity. Lex had stolen his blood from Helen. Then he confessed and Helen had left him. It was another example of being honest. He told Lex not to worry and that if she loved him like he thought she did then she would still marry him.
After he left he went to the caves. He would need something to destroy the ship and if he remembered correctly it was the kryptonite key that Lionel had constructed. He searched through the caves trying to not let his anger get the best of him. Lionel had machinery everywhere some had even damaged the cave itself. That man was digging in dangerous territory.
He found the lead box and when he opened it he was brought to his knees by the sudden wave of sickness that washed over him. Inside was the kryptonite key, every detail exactly as the original key. With little strength he had he closed the lead box and put it in his jacket pocket. Before he could get caught he super sped out.
By the time he got back to the farm it was dark. The sun had already set. He went inside to see his parents but they weren't there. When he called is dad's cell phone he said they were still at the manor getting last minute details on Helen's flowers. With no one at the farm this was the safest time to do what he needed to.
He headed down to the cellar. The ship remained still. He went to pull out the lead box but he was thrown against the wall and the container slipped from his hands. The brand on his chest burned and he screamed in pain.
"Kal-El, you will not defy me. It is time to fulfill your destiny. Continue to deny me and you will hurt the ones you love. Willingly accept your fate," Jor-El demanded.
"I will never rule Earth. My destiny is my own," He managed to get out through his pain. The brand burned even more and the pain caused him to pass out.
When he woke in the morning he found the farm empty. He looked for his parents in the house but they weren't there. When he headed into the barn he thought it was empty as well. Jor-El had punished him for not obeying his orders. He was afraid that he might have done something to his parents. But they were nowhere to be found. When he checked the time he realized they must be at the church for Lex's wedding.
"Why aren't you dressed?" Lana asked from the top of the loft stairs.
He looked up quickly having jumped a bit. When he saw how beautiful she looked in her dress he couldn't breathe. He was the luckiest man on Earth.
"Lana, I thought I was picking you up at the Talon," He said finally thinking enough to speak.
"You were, about half an hour ago. When you were late I figured you were having trouble with your tie so I thought I'd meet you here," She explained.
He smiled up to her and headed up the stairs. He'd be late to the wedding if he didn't get her out of here soon. He needed to destroy the ship as soon as he could. She went over and grabbed his suit, then handed it to him.
"I have to do something first," He said.
"Like what?" She asked as he took the suit and put it off to the side.
"It's important. You should go and I'll meet you there," He said.
Her eyebrows furrowed together and she looked at him with worry. She knew something was up and it was important.
"Are you sure you're alright?" She asked. He kissed her softly and pulled back. She held his cheek and looked him in the eyes.
"I'll be fine. I promise. Just tell my parents I'll be there soon," He said.
"Don't be too late. I'm sure you don't run fast enough to move backwards in time," She joked.
"I promise. I wouldn't miss any second I could to spend with you," He answered.
She smiled and kissed him again before turning to the stairs and leaving. As soon as she was cleared from the barn he headed to the cellar. He didn't waste time or hesitate. He knew this would work, but first he had to find the key.
He found the case lodged underneath one of the shelving units. He pulled it out and rushed over to the ship. It laid still. He opened the case and immediately fell to his knees as the effects hit him. He could feel his heartbeat race faster as he reached out to grab the key.
When it touched his skin it burned and it was hard to breathe but he couldn't stop. He pulled the key out and fought his hardest to not pass out, knowing that if he did he would surely die. He used all of his willpower to move his hand towards the ship. He could hear the creak of metal as it appeared that the ship was bending away from him. He dropped the case and used his other hand to help him. The key clicked in place just as he heart began to skip in its pulse.
The reaction was immediate. The ship twisted and wrenched itself. It rose from the ground and collapsed in on itself. With an effect like a black hole everything pulled in on itself and then exploded outward. He dove backwards and felt the cellar explode around him. As soon as the rubble began to fall around him he stood and took in the damage. He was covered in grim and standing in a crater where the cellar once was.
The ship was destroyed. He looked down at his watch and noticed the time. The wedding would be starting soon and considering that his parents hadn't come back home it meant that Helen had returned to Lex. He super sped into the house and showered. Then he sped and got dressed. He didn't stop once so as he rushed through the church doors he was still fixing his tie.
"Clark, you made it," Lex said from the altar.
"Like I would miss your wedding," He answered.
He turned to stand at Lex's side and smiled at his parents and Lana who sat next to them. Lex made a signal and the music started. Lex had been waiting on him. With his parents here and him at the wedding, things were going good.
The wedding went by without a hitch and the reception was beautiful. He made a toast once again and congratulated his best friend and warned Helen to keep him in her sights. Everyone took it as a joke but Helen nodded in understanding. The music played and he only danced with Lana. He had caught his parents knowing smiles all the way across the room.
Once Lex and Helen left for their honeymoon, Lana, his parents and himself headed back to the farm. He knew he'd have some explaining to do but hopefully they wouldn't bring it up in front of Lana. It would be hard to explain that his ship used to be hidden in the cellar. She was accepting of his super speed so far and the knowledge that he could do other stuff. But he wasn't sure the alien part would come out right. When they got out of the car it wasn't but a second till his parents noticed.
"What happened?" Jonathan asked looking to Clark.
"I don't know," He said giving his dad the look that he'd tell him later.
They nodded and Jonathan led Martha inside. He looked to the crater that was left and Lana reached out to touch his shoulder.
"Did that have something to do with what was important?" She asked. He turned to her and smiled.
"Somewhat, but what's done is done." He answered.
"Are you okay?" She asked seeing how he turned back and looked at the crater.
"I'm great. Today has been great," He replied looking back at her.
She smiled and slipped her hand into his. They started towards the house where they were going to join his parents for some milk and apple pie. Before they reached the fence he doubled over and then fell to his knees.
"Clark! What's wrong?" Lana asked falling to his side and reaching out to him.
He noticed that he was surrounded by kryptonite. It hadn't been here before and there was so much of it. Lana noticed what he was looking at and remembered he was allergic to it. She panicked and began to toss the stones away.
The truck behind them exploded and she was tossed off her feet. He moved to cover her and shield her from the explosion but something slammed into his back. His blood burned and then he felt this rush flow through him. He looked down and noticed his chest was bleeding. The source of the blood was a tiny red rock poking out from his skin. He noticed the red of his veins and he felt good considering he was weak from the kryptonite. Lana pulled herself up and tossed the last stone.
"Clark? Are you okay?" She asked helping him stand.
He looked at her and then his surroundings. Suddenly Smallville seemed way too small for him. But his memories hit him. He had gone to Metropolis before. This time he'd changed things to where he didn't put his ring on. So someone shot him hoping he'd act the same way. Someone was playing games with him and if that's what they wanted then Kal was going to play along and find out who pulled the trigger.
"I'm great." He answered.
She looked down at his chest to see for herself but she saw where he'd been shot, only it didn't register at first that she was looking at a bullet wound.
"No you're not. You're bleeding," She exclaimed reaching out to touch him.
He pushed her hand away and walked off toward the barn. She followed and he heard her shock when she noticed the bullet hole in his back.
"Someone shot you from behind. You need to go to the hospital," She pleaded with him.
"Don't worry Lana. I'm fine. I just need to get out of here. Someone did shoot me. Meaning I need to leave town," He answered.
He super sped out of his suit and into his jeans, t-shirt, and leather coat. All she saw was a blur. He brushed past her and headed back down to grab his dad's bike. Someone wanted him to repeat history meaning someone wanted him to leave Smallville and go to Metropolis. So he was playing along even if it hurt everyone when they realized he was gone. One day when he figured out what was going on he'd tell them but right now he was all about getting answers. Clark wanted to stay around and play boyfriend. What needed to be done was finding out who sent him here and what they planned on doing. This was his chance and no one was getting in Kal's way.
He revved the bike and went to jump on but Lana grabbed his arm, "You can't leave. You're hurt and your parents need you. I need you," She said a tear slipping down her cheek.
This was all too much for her. One second she's trying to save Clark, the next things are blowing up and he's shot, and then he's getting on his dad's bike to ride off into the sunset. Nothing made sense to her. At that moment Jonathan and Martha came running outside.
"Come with me," He said.
"I can't just leave. Neither can you. You need a doctor," She pleaded again.
He turned and pulled on his sunglasses from inside his jacket pocket. She would have been fun if she'd come along but he wanted answers and sticking around to play boyfriend and farmers son wasn't going to get him that. So he peeled out of the gravel driveway and left a crying Lana and two stunned parents.
He focused on his driving with one thought on his mind. "I'm coming for you."