Chapter 5 (Part 1): Things are not always what they seem.

The darkness of the night swept across the state of Kansas. But this night did not give rest to some. Clark stood in the middle of the caves of the Kawatche people. His gaze bypassing the painting of Sageeth and even Naman the protagonist of the ancient legend. Instead it landed on the symbol that represented Naman's soul mate. Clark had not dwelled on the legend in many months. Not until the sudden arrival of Conner sprouted questions into his mind. Questions only his biological father could answer.

Clark walked up to the altar that would take him to his fortress of solitude. He pulled out the octagonal key from his jacket pocket. He placed the key inches above a slit in the stone. Letting it go, he activated the portal.

Clark looked down at his fingers, not really noticing the bright tunnel coming over him in waves. The shock and awe that once associated itself with the portal no longer affected him. He sighed deeply, besides he had a lot on his mind.

The air became chilled; Clark could see the air that he breathed. Finally the tunnel stopped, snow and ice now surrounded his vision. Clark strode forward; slowly he stepped onto a block of ice.

"Jor-El!" Clark yelled, his voice bouncing off the high walls above him. "Father!"
"Welcome home my son." Jor-El's voice boomed robotic like into Clark's eardrums.
"Thankyou father." Clark continued on heading for the Fortress' control panel. "I need to ask you something concerning… Well me."
"I am always willing to hear your inquiries, my son."

The new sun broke its way through the windows of Clark's bedroom. Conner sat upright on the bed, his back resting comfortably on the bed head. A book on astronomy lay out on his crisscrossed legs. It was opened up to a page on Jupiter's moons.

But he had lost interest on the topic hours ago. Conner gazed out the window, watching the cows in the field, grazing without a care in the world. Conner turned his head at the sound of descending footsteps on the stairs. He guessed Martha was up, probably going to talk with Lois, who had arrived sometime before. He turned back content in watching the cows.

"Morning Mrs. Kent."
"Lois!" Martha exclaimed, "You gave me a fright." She placed her hand on her heart, in an attempt to bring the rapid beat back to a normal rate.
"Sorry, my bad." Lois got up from the stool she was on and walked over to the coffeepot. "Want some coffee, it's freshly made."
"You are an angel Lois Lane, what would I do without your coffee?"

"I just don't know Mrs Kent, I just don't know." Lois looked over at Martha "An angel?…right. An angel who happened to be the daughter of Lucifer." She placed a mug full of steaming coffee in front of Martha. "These horns, aren't here just for decoration you know."

Martha laughed at the younger women's words. It surprised her just how much Lois reminded her of her self at 22. Martha went over to the cupboard to get the jam jar. As she went across the room she noticed that the couch was empty. Only a blue pillow and a neatly folded red blanket remained.

"Lois sweetheart, did you see Clark this morning?"
"Nope, I got here about an hour ago. I didn't want to wake anyone up so I just used the spare key under the pot plant to let myself in."
"And Clark wasn't sleeping?"
Lois shook her head "I thought maybe he started his chores early."

The sounds of footsteps come down form the stairs. Conner's long fringe covered his eyes while he went.
"Good morning Conner, would you like some juice?" Martha offered
"Morning Mrs Kent" Conner yawned "But do you have some coffee instead maybe?"
"Coffee? Well look at you. You're walking with the big boys now kid."

Lois went up to Conner and flung her arm around his shoulders, while her other hand messed up his hair. Martha watched their interaction, she smiled. It seemed Lois had unofficially adopted Conner as her little brother.

Conner yawned again; he rubbed his eyes in attempt to keep himself awake. Lois saw the action and swept back his hair so she could see his face clearly.
"Conner did you get any sleep at all last night, any at all?"
"May-" he tried to stop a yawn without success "-be"
"Alright mister, I want you to go back to bed and get some rest, understand?"

"Lois really it's fine I just need some caffeine and-"
Lois' eyes narrowed into dangerous slits "Understand?" she said threateningly
Conner gulped "Yep." He squeaked

Conner quickly made his way back up the stairs. But Conner's head popped back from around the corner "By the way if you're wondering where Clark is, he went really early to the fortress." Then as quickly as he come back, his head whipped away.

Martha cringed at Conner's explanation to where her son was.
"Smallville's at the wha?" Lois asked her.
Martha sighed. "The loft I think he meant." though she added quickly "But I wouldn't disturb him, he's most likely doing his chores." Martha hated lying to Lois, but it was Clark's choice when to tell her about his secret.

"That's ok I wasn't planning to toady. Actually I was going to spend sometime with Conner if that's ok?"
Martha smiled "I don't see why not. I think he needs to get off the farm for awhile. He's been cooped up here for five days now."

Martha took a sip from her coffee "So what are you planning?"
Lois took a bight of her now cold toast "Well" She munched "I was going to ring up Chloe see if she could help."
"Hmmm." Martha leaned back on the counter eating her own piece of toast "Go on."
"And we can't have him wearing Clark's old plaid shirts and faded jeans for the rest of his life." Lois paused as she visibly shivered at thought.

"I'm gonna take the kid shopping."

"I don't understand father. I didn't think it was possible for someone to clone me. How do you think it happened?"
Clark didn't get a response straight away.

"Father?…Jor-El?….Hello?" He sighed, lifting his face up into the wind. For the first time since discovering the main room he noticed it had no roof. Clark growled softly, almost three years of having it and he hadn't even noticed that fact. That kind of sucked.

"Jor-El did you even hear me?"
"Patience Kal-El." Jor-El's voice thundered. Clark stepped back at the loudness and range of the voice. He was shocked, he didn't know Jor-El could raise his voice out of anger. It seemed Clark could get his biological father annoyed, even if he was a simulated version of Jor-El.

"Sorry"
"A Kryptonian should never be impatient, becoming impatient is a human imperfection."
"You really are my father, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Just checking." Clark walked half-heartedly around the chilled room. "Why is it taking you so long to answer?" Clark asked curiously

"I am searching for your answers in the data files stored in this fortress."
"Oh, right. Father can you process two questions at the same time?"
"Yes Kal-El." Jor-El replied, once again robotic-like.
Clark nodded. He stopped his mindless walking abruptly. "Father, am I able to have children with a human?"

Silence once again answered him. Clark having, learnt his lesson from before, slowly sat down on the floor. He would have to be patient.

I wake up to the sound of talking. I sit up slowly, I guess I didn't get Clark's ability for staying up days on end without sleeping.

That sucks.
Stretching up I feel the muscles in my back start to relax.

All last night I sat up wondering what Krypton was like. Would I have liked it there? Judging by what Clark told me about the Kryptonians, probably not. They sounded a bit up themselves if you ask me. A whole race full of themselves. More full of themselves then the human race if that was possible.
Heh, apparently it was.

I walk towards the window, opening the sill to let in the breeze. The slight wind plays with the ends of my hair. Maybe I should get it cut, always wondered what I'd look like with a Mohawk or spiked up hair.
"Ok, so where is this Conner anyway?"

The talking that I had woken up to invaded my hearing again.
"Oh he's inside sleeping still."

Standing next to a car I've never seen before was Lois and a person I recognised as Chloe Sullivan from Clark's photo. She looked up to where I stood. I wave down at her in a friendly greeting. She waves back, I feel as if I've made a new friend.
"What're waving at Chlo?" Lois looks to where Chloe was, at me.
"I get the feeling he's not sleeping Cuz."
Lois turned back to her cousin. "Oh how observant of you."

"He really does look like Clark, huh? That's really amazing. Oh man I'm getting flashbacks." Chloe shook her head in wonder. "But his hair's a bit scruffy."
"Yeah I'm gonna work on that Chloe. With your help, we'll make him model material"
"Um hello, guys." The two of them look back up at me. "I can kinda hear you." I yell.

They look at each other then back up at me. They have the same sheepish smiles on their faces. They look more like sisters then cousins.
"Apparently the three of us are going somewhere?" I call out, referring to an early part of the conversation I over heard.

"Well you heard right kid." Lois yells back
"So where are we going, ye lovely maidens?"
Chloe steps up next to Lois "Shopping!"
I jump from her voice; she's even louder then Lois, if that's possible.

The two walk into the house, I turn around from the outside world. "Whoa"
Picking up a white shirt that was flung across the bed. I pull it down over my head. I stop mid pull "Shopping?"
I pop my head through the neck hole. "Should I be worried about this?"

(Smallville) Connecting (Washington DC)

"What do you want?"
"Such manners General, no wonder you're put on such a high pedestal in the army."
"I told you this line isn't safe. Anyone can listen in."

"And I told you to start up part 4 of the operation."
"You said it was up to me when to start."
"Well I've changed me mind. I would hurry with those plans General. I'm a very busy man, with a fast pass schedule."

"…Alright, alright, just make sure Lois or Chloe doesn't get involved with this understand."
"(Mumble) well it's a bit late for that…"
"What?"

"You are no position to threaten me General Lane. I would hate to conveniently Remember about the-"
"I understand Luthor…But please just keep those freaks, both project 001CK and Kent, away from my family."

"(Sigh) fine, just begin part 4 of the plan. (pause) And I would do it now General, I won't ask so politely next time."

(Click)

"What have I gotten myself into…"

(Click)

(Beep)

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