"Tell me again why the Planet sent you?" Lois asked her cousin.
"I think it's because I have got the two biggest scoops of the year." Chloe said.
"I wouldn't call them scoops Chloe. I mean you got lucky. Bruce Wayne just happens to have business with Lex Luthor and Xena the Amazon stops by." Lois said.
"Her name is Diana and she's an amabassor now, so show some respect." Chloe said." And besides Bruce and I dated for a while." Chloe said.
"You two dated for about three weeks Chloe." Lois said.
"From what the General says that's longer than you." Chloe said.
"Yeah well the General was the reason that none of my boyfriends never stuck around." Lois said.
"What have you told the General about Clark?" Chloe asked.
"Everything, I told him that Smallville is a good wholesome all-american, cornfed, plaid wearing…."
"Lois, does the General like Clark?" Chloe asked again.
"He wants to know when Clark was going to ask me to marry him." Lois said.
"Have you ever given any thought to dating Clark." Chloe asked.
"Chloe, I would date a guy in a guy dressed in blue spandex before I date Clark." Lois said.
"Okay." Chloe said.
"I got to run.." Lois said and then left her cousin. A few moments later a small airplane land at the airport. Chloe watched as Hal Jordan exited the plane and started to walk toward the car that was waiting for him.
"Captain Jordan I'm Chloe Sullivan of the Planet. I want to get a word with you about your flight." Chloe said.
"I have no comment about the flight right now, thanks now." Hal said then he got in the car and drove off. Chloe watched as Jordan drove away.
Hal walked into his hotel room and threw his suitcase on the bed. He then walked over to a small table and set his briefcase down and sat down. He fingered the latches as he played with the latches he wondered if he should open the case and look at what was inside. He still couldn't believe what he was carry in the case was from another planet. He flipped the latches and opened the case. Inside the case was an alien lantern. It was bright green and had a small opening in the middle that was large enough for Hal to fit his fist in. From what he could remember this was the battery, it really held no real power. The real power was what the battery charge.
Hal reached in the battery and took out a small emerald ring that was glowing. This was thing that the battery charged. At least that was what he remembered. Hal studied the ring for a few moments. He could still remember the power he felt the first time that he wore it. It was then that he heard the voice in his head again.
"In brightest day." The voice said. Hal quickly put the ring back in the battery and placed the battery back in his briefcase. He quickly walked out of the room. He suddenly needed a drink.
Hal stumbled out of the bar. He had been there for more that three hours drinking. He stumbled over to his car and was about to get in when he somehow thought better of it. He turned and started to stumble his way back towards his hotel.
Some how he was able to stumble his way back to Main Street and towards the hotel. He looked up a sign that read "The Talon". He decided that he needed another drink. He stumbled his way to the door only to run into Martha Kent.
"Sorry, ma'am." Hal slurred.
Martha Kent took a step back; Hal's breath was foul.
"I think you need to call it a night." Martha said.
"I need an other drink." Hal said.
"Why don't I take you inside and buy you a cup of coffee." Martha said.
Hal gave Martha an odd look and then passed out. Martha bent down to help him out. Lois saw the whole episode from inside and came out to help.
"Mrs. Kent, wants going on?" Lois asked.
"He's drunk I was going to take him inside and buy him a cup of coffee but his just passed out." Martha explained.
"Well I'll go call the sheriff and have them take care of this." Lois said.
"Lois help me get him in the car. I'll take him to the house." Martha said.
"Mrs. Kent I know you have a thing for taking in strays but this guy is a drunk." Lois said.
"Lois." Martha said.
"Alright." Lois said and then helped Martha.
Martha drove up to the house just as Clark and Chloe were coming out of the house. Chloe had come over to help Clark learn more about Krypton. It was planned meeting. It was soon after the death of Dr. Swann, that Clark learned that Swann had left all research on the planet to Clark.
"Clark how is that with your mom?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know." Clark said.
"Clark could you give me a hand?" Martha called. Clark and Chloe were over to the car.
"Oh, my god that's Hal Jordan." Chloe said.
"Who?" Clark asked.
"He's a test pilot. He just flew the XY-72 spy plane. I was going to interview him for the Planet." Chloe said.
"Where did you find him?" Clark asked.
"He was drunk outside of the talon." Martha said.
"Wow, who would have thought that." Chloe said.
"Let's get him inside." Martha said.
It was the crowing of the rooster that woke Hal up. Hal blinked his eyes and the room came into focus. It was then that he noticed that he was not in his hotel room. He sat up in that bed and looked around the room. He got out of bed and walked over to the window. He looked outside and saw a young man walking from the barn to the house. Hal shook his head again.
A few moments later, there was knock on the door and Clark peeked his head in.
"Your awake." Clark said.
"Yeah and got one hell of a headache." Hal said.
"I'm Clark Kent." Clark said.
"Hal Jordan." Hal said reaching out to Clark. Clark shook Hal's hand.
"We're about to have breakfast your welcome to join us." Clark said.
"That would be great." Hal said.
Hal and Clark walked down stairs a few moments later. Martha was setting the table when they came down.
"Good morning." Martha said.
"Good morning, ma'am I'm Hal Jordan. I want to thank you for helping me last night." Hal said.
"It was no problem really. Would you like some coffee?" Martha asked.
"After the night I had I would love some." Hal said. Martha handed Hal and Clark a cup of coffee. Then they all went and sat at the table. They were about to eat when they heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Clark said and went to answer the door. Clark came back a moment later with Chloe.
"Good morning everyone." She said.
"Hi Chloe." Martha said.
"I remember you." Hal said. "You're the reporter." He added.
"Yeah, I'm Chloe Sullivan, Daily Planet." Chloe said.
"Nice to meet you." Hal said.
"So what's for breakfast?" Chloe asked as she sat down.
"After this I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have." Hal said.
"That would be great." Chloe said. Martha set down the platter of pancakes and sat down. Everyone served himself or herself and passed the plate around. Hal took a bite out of his pancakes and smiled. Martha could not help but smile at him.
"I have not had something this good in all time." Hal said.
"I thought that in the Air Force you get all the best food?" Clark asked.
"We do." Hal said. "It's just that it's not cooked with such great care." Hal said. When everyone was done Martha was about to clear the table when Hal stood up.
"Let me do this Mrs. Kent, it the least that I could do. Then I could help you husband and son with some chores around the farm." Hal said. It was then that the table became somber. Hal looked around the table wondering what he did wrong.
"Mr. Kent died a few months ago." Chloe said.
"I'm sorry." Hal said.
"It's okay, but me and Clark are still adjusting." Martha said. Clark stood and helped Hal clear the table.
Later Hal, Clark and Chloe walked out to the barn and up to the loft.
"I haven't been on a farm in years?" Hal said.
"Really you grew up on a farm?" Chloe asked.
"No, I grew up in the city, my grandparents had a farm. I would spend the summer with them." Hal said.
They all sat in the loft. Chloe looked in her purse for her DVR.
"Where did I put that thing?" Chloe said to herself.
"It's in your right pocket." Clark said. Chloe checked her pocket and took out her DVR.
"How did you know that?" Hal asked.
"She puts everything in her right pocket." Clark said.
"Okay so let's start." Chloe said.
"Great." Hal said.
"What was it like to fly the XY-72?" Chloe asked.
"It was one of the best thing that I have ever done in my career." Hal said.
"Now the area where you flew is known for its UFO sightings. Did you see anything?"
Hal was slow to answer he still was not sure.
"Ah no I saw nothing." Hal said.
Then he heard it again "In the blackest day"
Hal stood up and started to walk away.
"I have to go." He said.
"What, what's wrong?" Chloe asked.
"I just have to go." Hal said and then he walked past Clark and Chloe. He got as far as thee barn door when he heard the voice again and then he dropped to his knees.
"Leave me the hell alone." Hal said. Chloe and Clark ran down to him.
"Hal are you okay?" Clark asked.
"Yeah, but I lied I did see something. In fact I have something from it." Hal said.
Later Hal, Chloe, Clark were all in Hal's hotel room. He pulled out the briefcase and opened it. Hal then pulled out the battery.
"What is it?" Chloe asked.
"It's a battery of some kind, but it's what is inside of it that the real power." Hal said. He reached into the battery and pulled out the ring.
"I really don't know what to do with it but I know that I have to take it to Washington." Hal.
"Where did you get?" Clark asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Hal said.
"This is Smallville." Chloe said.
"Okay." Hal said.
TBC……