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All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Justice League High – Episode Two Night Terrors Part II
By
Celgress
Harmony High School, noon
It had been a terrible school day for Diana. First came a confrontation between her and Clark when she had to insert herself between him and Lana. The teenage Martian (god Diana still at times could not believe her best girlfriend was actually an alien) was scared to death if she became intimate with Clark she would either cripple or kill him. Lana's uncle told her as much warning that after intercourse she might lose control apparently even a simple kiss could proven dangerous with her violate adolescent Martian hormones. Diana was forced to tell one of her closest male friends that his girlfriend was now his ex-girlfriend and wanted nothing more to do with him. Hal and Barry had to physically restrain Clark at one point with great effort and then talk him down because he became so upset over the situation. Fun times all around. Next came the news shortly after they arrived at school that Bruce had been arrested for the apparent murder of Joe Chill. While Diana knew Bruce was angry over the death of his parents she knew in her heart of hearts he was not a cold-blooded murderer. Diana wanted to skip class so she could go see Bruce at the county lockup right away but her friends including Lana & Clark, in spite of their own problems, convinced her it was not a good idea. That her being there might only make matters worse for Bruce. After school, they would go to Wayne Manor learn firsthand about what happened from either Alfred or Kate. Last but not least at noon Diana's neighbor, friend, passionate botany enthusiastic and president of the Gardening Club one Pamela "Pam" Isley got in a fistfight with well-known delinquent Jack Napier. The pacifistic Pam would later explained to Diana she had attacked Jack to save her best friend Harleen "Harley" Quinzel. Harley was a bit of an oddball. Bespectacled with blonde hair, a love of cutesy Japanese Culture, a thick Bronx accent and a painfully shy personality Harley stuck out like a sore thumb in Harmony. Harley's family had relocated from New York City to the town several years before when her mother got a job offer to replace the retiring Head of HR at Wayne Enterprises. Other than Pam no one much associated with poor Harley who was relentlessly bullied by the usual suspects that is until Jack took an unexpected interest in her a week ago.
"Get up you overrated clown! I'm not done!" Pam said gesturing for the grounded Jack to raise so they could continue their fight. So far the engagement had been rather one-sided in Pam's favor.
"Are you alright puddin'?" Harley asked rushing to Jack's side. She helped him up from the brown & yellow titled floor where he lay after Pam had busted his lip with a straight right jab. "You're bleeding puddin'!" Harley exclaimed. Pam rolled her emerald eyes at the ridiculous nickname Jack insisted Harley call him at all times.
"It's nothing," Jack said wiping away the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. He pushed Harley roughly aside then glared at Pam before he suddenly smiled. "All's fair in love and war eh Pamie? Put it there." His words referenced a persistent rumor that Pam and Harley were more than friends. Jack extended his right hand. Pam glanced down at his pale hand with its black painted fingernails her face contorted with an expression of disdain. She slapped Jack's hand away. The emo attired boy just laughed. "Come along Harley I've wasted enough time here entertaining these unappreciative dolts. Well, what are you waiting for chop chop?" Harley stood there like a deer caught in the headlights unsure of her next move. She did not want to choose between her best friend and her new boyfriend.
"Harley you don't have to go with him," Pam urged a pleading tone in her voice.
"Sorry red," Harley said after chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "But I gotta stick by my puddin'."
Everyone in the cafeteria parted so Jack with Harley on his arm could pass through. Known for his unpredictable behavior and violent nature most people in the community gave Jack a wide berth. Even Kenny and his group were afraid of Jack although Kenny would never freely admit such. When the pair disappeared through the doorway without further incident everyone breathed a shuddering sigh of relief.
While everyone was distracted, including Lana's self-appointed guardian Diana, Clark took the opportunity to approach Lana who was leaning against a pillar. "Can we talk?" He asked softly.
Lana nearly jumped out of her skin. Clark could not help but wonder why she was acting so strange all of a sudden. Things were fine when he left her at her door last night.
"There's no point," Lana said unwilling to make eye contact with Clark. "It's over between us, Clark. You have to accept that. Nothing you can say will change my mind. Please give me my space."
"Just like that our relationship ends. Without any explain on your part. Don't I deserve more consideration than what you're giving me, Lana? I thought we loved each other." Clark said doing his level best to hold down his building anger at the situation which he saw as being completely unfair. "What about our dreams of going to live in Metropolis together after college? I'll become a famous journalist and you'll become a world-renowned doctor. We'll get married and have a house full of kids, remember?"
"Those were silly dreams of naive children," Lana said still refusing to make eye contact.
"Look me in the eye and tell me that," Clark demanded.
Lana tried but found she could not do so. "Please Clark if you love me like you say you do you'll leave me alone." Lana finally said after a long pause. "I couldn't bear if I hu-," She stammered before she ran out of the cafeteria on the verge of tears.
"Lana wait," Clark called after her. He was about to give pursuit when he was stopped by a tight grip on his arm, it was Diana.
"Let her go, Clark. Believe me when I say there is nothing you can do. Lana has her reasons for breaking up with you and they are very good ones." Diana said a sympathetic expression on her face.
"You did this, Diana!" Clark accused whirling around to face Diana. "Because you couldn't be happy with Bruce you don't want anyone else to be happy either!" He violently pulled free of her slackened grip.
Diana blinked in confusion. How could Clark accuse her of sabotaging his relationship with Lana out of jealousy or spite? She would never do such a thing.
"I know you are upset, so I'll give you a pass. But don't ever accuse me of being vindictive again, Clark." Diana said.
"Why not, Diana. As my Pa always says if the shoe fits wear it." Clark said not backing down.
"Hey now maybe everyone should take a moment to step back, cool down, think over the situation with a clear head," Hal said getting between the pair.
"Stay out of this Hal." Clark and Diana simultaneously warned their friend.
"I tried," Hal said putting his hands up while he walked away. Carol shook her head at him but Hal would no longer get involved "Between the two of you be it."
Things quickly escalated. It did not help matters that the two were being egged on by much of the student body eager for a second round of entertainment, save Hal, Barry Carol, and a few select others such as Pam. Diana and Clark were on the verge of exchanging blows when the teaching staff stepped in. The last thing they wanted was another lunchtime fight. Both received after-school detention as a result of their outburst.
Elsewhere
Jon Lang was busy filling the three smartboards that adorned his classroom with a series of advanced, by Earth standards, mathematical equations. Being an adult Martian he needed little food thus he often would forgo lunch instead he would use the extra time to prepare for his afternoon classes. He had completed writing out his current equation. He was about to start another when he detached a familiar presence enter the room gently closing the door behind her.
"Hello Lana," He said turning to face his niece. "I was worried about you last night when you failed to return home. Why did you not answer my texts or calls? Where were you?" In truth, Jon had overtly used his telepathy to locate his wayward niece. He knew she had spent the night at the Prince Residence.
"Take away the knowledge of me being Martian again, do it. I know you can." Lana said ignoring his words.
"I assure you, Lana, in good conscience I cannot," Jon said. "If I were to do so you could seriously harm someone or yourself. Lana, you have entered into the process humans called puberty. While I could conceivably reset your mind to its prior state, I would be neglect in my duty as your guardian if I were to do so. Your biological changes will continue unabated regardless of your awareness or unawareness. You must learn how to control your various natural abilities or court disaster."
"Please, Uncle Jon I want a normal life." Lana pleaded. "Can't you take my powers away somehow? Lock me in a human form, maybe? What about the ship we arrived on the one you showed me in the cave behind our house last night? Is there some device on there that can make me more or less me again? I'm begging you try something."
"Lana this is you. Being a Maritain is who you are. Nothing I or anyone else can do will change that fact, as far as I am aware." Jon said.
"It isn't," Lana said firmly. She shook her head in the negative. "I'm human. It's who I am its who I need to me. Lana Lang is all I've ever known. Lana Lang has a home. Lana Lang has friends who care about her and she cares about them. Lana Lang has a boyfriend who wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Lana Lang has a future. But as a Maritain, I'll be forever an outcast. I'll lose everything I have including my future. Don't do this to me, Uncle Jon."
"I'm sorry you are unhappy with your true nature," Jon said his expression became one of profound regret. "I blame myself. Perhaps I should have told you from the beginning. For that mistake, I am profoundly sorry, Lana."
"You're sorry! You ruin my life by keeping secrets from me! You then refuse to help me but I shouldn't be upset because you're sorry!" Lana said outraged at her Uncle's seeming unwillingness to help her. "Are you lonely being a freak!? Is that why you want me to be on too!? Are you really so selfish you'd destroy my happiness to ease your own pain!? I can't believe you would do this to me you! You told me I was like the daughter you never had, why! Do you actually care about me!?"
"Lana if you don't calm down you'll lose control of your present state of being. You may revert to your original form." Jon said approaching Lana a concerned expression etched on his face.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you! Everyone seeing me as something out of a horror movie!" Lana accused. "Stay away from me!" She opened the door then ran outside slamming it behind her cracking its frame.
Jon frowned things were not going well. Lana remained insistent on rejecting her Martian heritage. For the first time in his life, he had no idea how to best proceed. He wished his sister Lana's mother had survived the Martian cataclysm rather than he. She would have known what to do. If only he had somebody he could talk with. The only one aware of his and Lana's past was Nelson Kent. In turn, Jon was aware of Kent's own secret. The kindly, aged physician had in his possession an ancient helmet that was home to Nabu a cosmic entity of great power. When Kent donned the helmet he would merge with Nabu becoming Doctor Fate Sorcerer Supreme of the Universe. Immediately upon their first meeting with Dr. Nelson, who just happened to be one of their neighbors, he became Dr. Fate in front of them. Fate had recognized the alien nature of Jon and the then infant Lana. Sensing the purity of Jon's purpose on Earth Dr. Fate agreed to keep their secret as well as assist with their stay in any way he could. Perhaps it was time Jon took Dr. Fate up on his offer.
Outside
Clark in frustration punched a hole through a tree. "Oops," Clark said to himself under his breath. "I need to better watch my temper."
That spring strange things began to happen to Clark; he ran away from an angry bull faster than should have been humanly possible, he single-handedly pushed his father's truck out of a deep mud puddle and most disconcertingly of all he woke up one morning floating above his bed. Uncertain what was going on he reluctantly told his parents of the events. He would never forget the look on their faces. They looked like they had seen a ghost. A few days later, his parents told him the truth he was an alien from a planet called Krypton so was his sister Kara who was actually his biological cousin. His parents carefully explained to him what had happened during the night of the meteor shower how they found his pod. They next related how Kara's pod had arrived following the trail left by his own on warm fall night four years later. The made Clark promise not to tell Kara until her own power manifested in four more years as they felt she was not ready for such a burden. Clark and his father then dug up the buried pod that brought him to Earth as a newborn baby. A hologram of Clark's biological parents Jor-El and Lara-El then activated. The holograms provided him with more information about his heritage. After which his father explained he and Dr. Nelson had accidentally activated the holograms while burying the pod which was how he and Clark's mother knew what they did. After they took the pod to one of the barns on the Kent Farm his father gave Clark a long talk on using his budding powers responsibly one Clark took to heart.
Clark could hardly believe he had briefly lost control of himself not once but twice today. First during the morning revelation by Lana and just now with the unfortunate tree. Clark gave up a silent pray his strike would not cause any permanent damage to the plant.
"Talking to yourself eh Clark?" Kenny said laughing at Clark. "What's the matter upset Lana found somebody better? You not up to the task of satisfying her?" Around Kenny, his sycophants laughed at his crude jokes. Aware no good could come from engaging Kenny, Clark started to walk away. "That's it runaway coward! No wonder Lana left you! I bet she wants a real man like me!" Kenny taunted flexing his muscles. "Maybe I should ask her out? What do you say Clark will you be my wingman? Clark, tell me, what sort of stuff does Lana like in the sack? I bet she's a wildcat into some freaky shit." He turned to his followers with a sickening smile. "The reserved types always are, am I right?"
Before Kenny knew what happened he was pushed up against the side of the school an arm across his throat. "Stay far away from Lana or you'll regret the day your sorry ass was born!" Clark hissed as Kenny's group tried in vain to pull Clark off their leader.
"Chill Clark I was only funnin' you." Kenny choked up his face red from lack of oxygen. "No hard feelings." Clark released Kenny then quickly went back inside. This awful day could not end soon enough for Clark.
To Be Continued