Okay, here's the next chapter to the story. We're getting close to an end, but don't worry. I'll have a spinoff-ish sequal type where it's told from Sarah's POV. Thanks to my awesome Beta Reader Squirrel holding a bazooka and for Bubblegum889 for reviewing. I'd appreciate for more reviews since I have so many people favorite this story. Send a review! It makes an author happy! And yes, I'm a Mirror's Edge fan. That's where the whole 'Runners' thing is from.

Chapter 13: Creations and Runners

The evening air washed over me as I walked to the park. I found a few shortcuts so that my mom wouldn't have to wait too long for me. When I reached sight of the park entrance, I sprinted inside. I scanned my surroundings for anyone that looked familiar to me as I walked deeper into the park. Five minutes later, I felt a strong wave of calmness pass through me as I spotted my mom sitting on a bench.

"Sarah," Mom greeted me in a hug. "It's so much better talking to you in person than on the phone."

I let out a chuckle. "I know." She put an arm around me.

"Let's walk this way," she suggested. "Now, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Well," I swallowed, "when Lois, Jason, and I were held hostage on a yacht by Lex Luthor, and he told me that he knows our family. He said that he and Clark had an alliance when they both lived in Smallville. Is it true?"

"I'm afraid it is true. Their alliance didn't last for long though," Mom explained with bitterness. "It only lasted for a few years. Lex did some things that concerned Clark about their friendship."

"He also said something about me being an experiment."

"He told you what?"

"Luthor told me in a room where it was just me and him that I'm an experiment from the Arcon labs. Well, supposedly a failed experiment."

"What do you mean 'supposedly failed'?"

"I…I have abilities. I don't know how I got them. He said that you had something to do with it."

I guess I can't hide it any longer, Mom thought. I eyed her suspiciously. She took a deep breath and began to tell the story of how I came to be, "When money was tight in our family while Clark was still in high school, I got a job at Luthor Corp as Lionel Luthor's assistant. Lionel was searching for a way to give the unborn abilities while they were still developing."

"Let me guess, he got the whole 'abilities' concept from learning that Clark has abilities."

"Yes, that's what got him started on the research. So, because I was his assistant and I helped him with things, he kindly asked if I was willing to donate an egg sample for his research in the Arcon labs. I agreed and gave him a sample. A few months later, he found out that he didn't have a sperm sample. I asked your father if he was willing to donate. At first, he was uncertain because I couldn't have children. The lab found a way to neutralize the acidic environment of my egg sample and I immediately informed your father. He agreed and gave a sample to them.

"So for nine months, scientists monitored your development and inserted special chemical compounds in you as Lionel instructed. When you were 'born' or ready to be in our world, they kept a close eye on you as you grew in your first few months. They kept a strong watch hoping that there would be a sign that you have developed special abilities. When it came to the conclusion that you 'supposedly' didn't have any abilities, Lionel decided to discontinue the project. He didn't want to abort you. It would bring back memories of his youngest son Julian's death. He didn't want to see another dead infant.

"He decided that since you were created from a sample from both your father and I, he gave you back to us. You are rightfully our child. Just a year later, Lionel suddenly died and I inherited what he requested to be given to me. When Clark left for college a year after Lionel's death, I got a job in the Senate. Things happened over a few months when Clark learned of Jor-El. We faced terrible things that you were too young to remember about. When your father died one evening from a heart attack to save Clark, I didn't know what was going to keep us together."

Images of my father's funeral suddenly began to flash before my eyes. I saw myself as a little girl being held in Clark's arms with tears streaking my face. "I remember the funeral," I said suddenly. "I don't know how I can. I was only three when Dad died."

"With Clark still in college, I decided to take you on my trips around the country whenever I had to leave town."

"And when Clark had been working at the Planet for a few years, he let me stay with him in Metropolis," I found myself saying. "It's all coming back to me. Then you retired when I was nine and stayed on the farm. And when I was eleven, Clark left to search for Krypton. That was when I discovered I had abilities."

"Your abilities developed when you felt a strong emotion which was sadness when Clark left. I'm only guessing that if there are others who do have abilities like you, theirs developed from experiencing strong emotions."

"Wait," I stopped myself. "How did you know I have abilities?"

"Doctors have been noticing something peculiar about your blood whenever I took you to get your blood drawn to see if you were developing diabetes."

"But I wasn't developing diabetes," I put the pieces together.

"No you weren't." She had a small smile on her face.

"Besides with what abilities I have already, is there something else that I can do?" I asked.

"You might learn things quicker than other people at the normal rate. Have you experienced this?"

"Once or twice this year during school..."

"Be sure that you keep a close eye if you can. Some people will notice that there is something different about you."

"Does Clark know that I'm…"

"No. Did you tell him that you have abilities?"

"Yeah, I figured that if I can keep his a secret, he could keep mine a secret," I replied. She gave me another small smile. "When I was at the hospital earlier today, I heard you in the crowd."

"How so?"

"I could hear your thoughts. It took me by surprise."

"Is he…"

"His conditions haven't changed since he was admitted yesterday. I don't know if he'll wake up. But if he does, then I'll know. I promise I'll call you if anything changes." Our walk reached to the end of the park that was a half mile away from the entrance. "I told Lois that I'd be home before nine. Already it's a little after six-thirty, and there are some errands that I have to run."

"Alright, my dear." She gave me a goodbye hug. "If you need anything, just call me." I nodded and headed to the exit. "And, Sarah," I faced her, "be safe."

Before I left for Lois's, I made my way to the Runners' training grounds. I found out by looking at where they're mostly spotted by some people who pass by the place. Turns out that they train at the old depot they renovated a few years ago. I entered with caution as I looked around the area. I didn't see anyone, but a loud crash scared the crap out of me. "What the heck are you getting yourself into?" I asked myself.

"Funny," a female voice spoke behind me, "because I'm wondering the same thing," I let out a small gasp and turned around. A Caucasian woman stepped out of the shadows holding her hands up in a sign of peace and was chuckling. "Take it easy, kid. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk. My name is Heather," she introduced herself.

"I'm Sarah," I replied with a look of uncertainty. She held out her hand and I hesitantly shook it.

"So, Sarah, what brings you here to the Training Grounds?"

"I saw the news mention the Runners. They said you're thieves."

"There are some Runners who are thieves. Only a small number of us do what we're meant to do."

"And that would be?"

"We deliver messages and packages to our clients without the Government knowing. And I train newcomers."

"Sounds interesting."

"It's much more than that, Sarah," Heather replied.

"Is it possible that you can train me to be a Runner?" I said after a moment of thought.

Heather was silent for a few moments. "We don't just let anyone in. They have to prove themselves by taking a test here in the Training Grounds. Being a Runner takes discipline, very hard work, long working hours, physical training, and determination," she finally replied. "Are you up to this?"

"...yes," I answered after giving it some thought.

"Good. Not only will you learn an easy way of transportation, you will learn self-defense to protect yourself if you are attacked. Right now, I'll teach you the basics and you can prove yourself if you are worthy to be trained." She motioned me to follow her up to a rooftop. "Rooftops are very different for Runners. Instead of them being normal rooftops like how the people below see them, they are our streets. We see paths to get from one place to another.

"We have this 'tool' that we use. It's called Runner Vision. Any way of progression in the environment will have a red tinge to it whenever you see it. Look closely at the roofs before you and see if you notice any paths." Heather explained. I stared at the open rooftops before me and examined them closely.

I pointed to a spot a few yards away. "There." I could understand what she meant by red tinged objects highlight progression. Heather nodded.

"Yep, that's one spot. Now find a few more," she said. We spent ten minutes looking for paths across the city. "Now, your momentum will become an asset to you. You must attempt to conserve it through fluidity of physical actions, encouraging the creation of chains of moves. If you don't, you'll fall short of your target. Let's jump over some obstacles so you can get the idea of what I'm talking about." I watched her jump over high fences, pipes, air ducts, and other things. She had me jump over them which I matched her moves exactly. "Those obstacles were a little too easy. How about we jump over rooftops?"

She motioned me to wait at the ledge until she signaled me to go. "If you miss your grip and start to fall, I'll be there to help you out." Again, I mimicked every move Heather performed with ease, and I didn't fall. "Are you sure you haven't done this before? You're catching on quickly."

"I'm positive." I replied. You might learn things quicker than other people at the normal rate. Then it hit me. Of course! No wonder why I could perform every move perfectly. Heather showed me how to swing from poles and jump to ledges from pipes. She also showed me how to use cables as zip lines, which she lent me the glove she wore on her right hand. After that, she showed me how to slide down the sides of pipes and how to soften my landings by doing a drop roll.

"Well, Sarah, it looks like I'll be seeing you here tomorrow morning," Heather said after we stopped for the evening.

"You're serious? I'm in? I didn't even take the test," I spluttered.

"You showed me that you can do it, so I decided to skip the test."

"What time should I be here?"

"Be here at eight in the morning."

"What's a quick way from here to 312 Riverside Drive?" I asked. She pointed out the direction and we departed.

"Congratulations, and welcome to the Runners," she smiled. I turned and used my new skills I learned to get back to Lois's house. I jumped over rooftops, used obstacles to project myself up to higher areas, and did plenty of running.