A/N: Well another chapter has some how made itself known. I'm posting this on my birthday, so this is my present to you. To all the others out there having a birthday today: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Anyway, I hope you like where this chapter takes you... I know there's going to be a lot more twists ahead, let me tell you!
Chapter 12: Ares
"Those are the two guys who attacked us!"
Clark looked down shock written on his face. "What?"
Connor watched them with hard eyes. "That's them. I'd never forget that hair style..."
There was silence between them before Connor looked up at Clark's incredulous face. "What? They look terrible." He said with a shrug.
Clark groaned. "You are spending way too much time with Lois."
Connor was just about to give him a witty response when General Lane started to raise his voice at the men. The two of them couldn't quiet hear so with a nod they both activated their super hearing.
"Listen hear soldiers, you can't just waltz in here like you own the place. You don't, understand? In fact, I don't want to know why you're here. Lex wants something from me? Tell him to come see me himself."
The two men stepped up to him. "If you are trying to distance yourself from the project-"
The General looked them in the eye. "...Are you human wannabe's threatening me?"
One of the agents suddenly gripped Sam's arm tightly with alarming speed. Connor's eyes widened.
"Clark." He whispered. "Did you see that?"
"I almost didn't. The reflexes on that man are incredible. Man, he's probably faster than normal people." He didn't want to say out loud but Clark was willing to guess the agents would have no trouble keeping up with Connor. Maybe even him.
"This is bad, Clark. I don't like this."
The two watched as the man finally let go of the General's arm and after a few more heated words the blondes left, walking away with frightening precision. "Connor I think I should have a few words with General Lane." Clark said seriously.
"Yes!" Connor hissed. He edged forward, hands rubbing together in glee. "I have been waiting for this-"
Clark pulled him back. "I am. Alone. Stay with Lois and Chloe."
Connor dragged himself out of his grasp. "What! You can't do that!"
"Watch me." With that Clark gabbed hold of the younger man's collar and pushed him through Lois' door. "Trust me" Was the last thing Connor heard, before Clark walked away.
Samuel Lane has been called many things in his life time. Husband, friend, brother, soldier, father.
General.
Never weak or traitor. "Never traitor." He whispers after the retreating backs.
"I wouldn't say that sir." A strong and tall being stands next to him. "If you asked me, I'd say your world just isn't enough for some people. Well, at least not anymore."
"Huh, lucky I didn't ask you Kent." He grunts out.
Clark shook his head and sighed. "I understand-"
"You know nothing!" Sam hides away and the General begins to come out.
"No, wait. I know you know what I am. Judging by the way you treat me now..."
The General never looks at him. He just walks towards the exit. "Listen, I'm not racist or anything... Just-" He groans and scratches his neck. "Just tell Lo' I said goodbye alright. I'll try to see her soon."
The young man frowns. "I think you owe your daughter a lot more than a try sir. I think you also owe it to yourself. I really thought you had pride General Lane... Guess I was wrong, about many things." He turns away from the father of the woman he loves. "I'll tell her, you don't worry."
Fists form. "Kent!"
The silent figure stops and the fists relax. This will be the one of the last times he will attempt to be a good father. He can feel that. "I... I'm going to fix this, on my end. Look after her for me, please."
With a smile Clark Kent nods. "Of course, but she doesn't need my protection. She's strong enough."
Sam Lane smiles back. It's not as big or friendly as Kent's, but by God, it's the first real smile he's smiled in a long time. "Thank you... Clark." With that he turns around, one foot after the other. This will be the last time Sam Lane, a father, no a daddy; will walk away from his daughter. This he swears...
Lex Luthor watched in suppressed glee at the footage he was watching. 001CK was a complete success. All the millions of dollars he had sacrificed over the years and put into project Ares and it was now finished. After 13 attempts to get it right... He remembers the first one, a complete failure. Then there was the one that had been killed prematurely by the Green Arrow and his merry men in one of his 33.1 facilities.
"And then there was Wes." He was almost perfect. If it wasn't for that slight defect in his brain mechanism... Lex poured himself a drink. No need to dwell on past mistakes. His new agents had a chip in their heads to take care of that problem. Besides he had produced the perfect soldier now and that's all that mattered. Faster, stronger, the boy was better. He paused the video. Looking back at him was his son's green eyes, frightened at what he had just done. Lex leaned back in his leather chair and sipped his drink.
The cool brandy washed away what could have been sadness. His boy scared and alone, he knew what that felt like. He placed a gentle hand on the computer's monitor, just above the boys face. Ever so slowly it worked its way around the figure. For the first time in a long time Lex Luthor felt something other than hate. Through this clone, he had found something he had lost even before marrying Lana. He loved 001CK, in his own twisted way. He loved in a way only a Luthor could.
The hand grasped the side of the screen. Why couldn't his son understand that! With his other hand he continued the footage. 001CK's image was jogging down the hall leaping over the dead men and into the darkness.
But project 001CK was not alone, Lex reminds himself. He is not fully a clone of Alexander Luthor. And just like everyone else in his life, his son has abandoned him and is now at Clark Kent's side. His grip tightened dangerously on the monitor. Clark Kent. How he hates that name. How he hates that Clark Kent is revered as this God among men.
Suddenly his computer goes flying across the room and smashes against the opposite wall. He used to be his brother, used to have Lex's trust. But now he knows. Now he sees. The truth behind all the lies. Now Lex will be the God and Clark Kent...
The Alien. Will be destroyed.
"Connor don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Just stop it. You would've punched him if you were there too."
"I would've done more than punched him Clark."
"Hey! Enough"
"Whatever."
Lois Lane watches from where she lays. This verbal tennis match has been going on for the last 15 minutes. She's almost had enough of it. Almost. For once, she appreciates her own silence and listens to others talk. She almost died back there, she knows and now she's listening to the most important people in her life arguing. Lois Lane smiles, it's nice to know you're loved. She looks straight at Clark's annoyed face. Yeah, she was loved.
Chloe finally cut in. "Okay guys, time out. Opposite corners now."
Both of them start to protest. "Chloe-" "What! why-"
"Hey." Chloe pointed to the corners. "Right now!"
The cousins were amused at the disgruntled looks on Clark and Connor's faces. Chloe stepped into the middle. "What is going on with you two? Listen, if you don't hush it up a bit you're going to get us kick out of Lois' room."
Clark looked down, ashamed at the scolding. But Connor took it all in stride and sat down on a chair. "You heard the woman, answer her Clark. Tell em' good old General Lane had to say before he left."
"Wait, the General's gone?" Lois questioned.
Connor gave her a sarcastic grin. "He sure is Lois and going by your childhood stories it's not the first time."
"Connor!" Clark yelled. "That's enough!"
He was about to continue, but saw Lois' face. She didn't have a frown or tears or something like that, but what stopped him were her eyes. Lois' eyes had turned so sad. He hated the General, with a passion, but he would die before ever hurting Lois. "I-I didn't mean that... I'm sorry Lois. I didn't mean it."
Her mask was put on instantly. "Don't worry about it Kid." She smiled.
Connor leaned towards her. "But I-"
"I said drop it, ok."
His blue eyes dropped to the floor. "Uh, ok."
Chloe turned to Clark. "What did uncle Sam say to you?"
He glanced over at Lois, he was not liking how everyone's eyes where now only on him. Lois' hazel eyes silently pleaded with him. 'What is going on and what does the General have to do with it?'
Clark sighed. "Before I go into this... You're not going to like where this gonna go." He walked over to where Connor sat and placed his hand on the teen's shoulder. "I don't know the whole story, so maybe you could fill in some details as well?"
"Yeah sure, I've been meaning to tell you about all this anyway."
"Great." Clark nodded. "Ok, your father has gotten involved with something concerning Connor here. This in turn concerns Lex."
Lois put up a hand. "Are you saying the General is working with Lex again?"
"Yes." Connor spoke up. "Listen Lois, Chloe, what I'm about to tell you, well to be frank, you're not gonna like it. Any of it, and I'm sorry that I have to be the one who spills the truth." He cleared his throat, prepping himself. He had been waiting for a long time to say this to another person, anyone who would listen and now the moment was here.
"Four Star General Samuel Lane was there..."
...The day I was born.