Visiting Lex

Clark visited his family after being away for two years at a university. He and his father sat at the kitchen table after dinner and had a private talk.

"Gee, dad, I've only been gone a year," Clark said.

"And while you were in school Lex has turned this town upside down," Jonathan Kent sighed. "He's doing controlled experiments to duplicate the freakish accidents that resulted from the meteor rock. They passed a law against such experimentation, Clark. But he's attracted a slew of investors who are using their financial and political clout to back him up. He's mined the fields for kryptonite and our farm is the last hold out. So now he's using Eminent Domain to plow a highway through our farm and confiscate the land."

"I'll talk to him," Clark said.

Walking by Lex's open office door the next day, Clark knocked.

Writing behind his desk, Lex looked up. "Clark, how did you get in here?"

"I found an open door. I didn't think it'd be a problem," Clark said, trying to cover up the fact that he used his super powers to get past the heavily guarded Luthor compound.

"Thanks for the heads up on the security leak. We'll see to it that it doesn't happen again," Lex said jotting down on a note.

Clark noticed a coldness to Lex. As if he were no longer welcome in Lex's social sphere.

Finished writing, Lex turned his full attention on his visitor. "What can I do for you, Clark?"

"Lex, it's been a long time. I just got in town. My father tells me you're trying to mine our land for meteor rock. How could you do this to us?"

"You surprise me, Clark. Thought you'd see it as a favor."

"Why's that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Green was never your color. Gives your complexion a rather sickly pallor."

A chill went up Clark's spine. Exactly what did Lex know about him?

Lex smiled. "Did I say something wrong?"

"What happened, Lex? We used to be friends. You're not the same person I left when I took off to the university."

"We all change, Clark," Lex said getting up and sitting on a corner of the desk. "We mature, go off in other directions. Sometimes we outgrow each other."

"What have you been doing with the meteor rock?"

"That's proprietary information and the intellectual property of the investors. I'm not at liberty to say."

"Lex, it's been said you're using it to experiment on people."

"Oh, no. That would be illegal." Lex replied, not skipping a beat. There was a look of amusement and a raised up eyebrow on Lex's face. "What about you, Clark? You wouldn't happen to be one of those meteor experiments gone horribly wrong, now would you?"

"Why would you say that?" Clark gulped.

"Come now, Clark. Have you forgotten that impromptu performance you gave in the lab? Juggling concrete?" Then Lex said dryly, "It was a real show stopper."

Clark froze. Did Lex have his memory back during the time of the freakish onyx experiment when he was split in two? "But that was when you were . . . split …. You're not spl—"

"No. That would be illegal." Lex droned. "About your secret powers. Don't worry, Clark. It's not in my best interests to reveal you. Consider it our little secret."

"Lex, about the farm …"

"Sorry to cut this short but right now I have a business to run. I'll have a courtesy guard escort you out."

Lex was obviously through with him. Once again Clark got the distinct impression that Lex no longer accepted him in his social stratosphere. Clark got up and turned.

"Oh, and Clark."

Clark stopped on his tracks and looked back.

"Next time you want to see me . . . make an appointment."