There were going to be fireworks.
This was Joshua's big moment, the first time he could use the full extent of his power and not have to worry about the consequences. He would be protected; Lenaria had assured him of it. It was her who had supplied him with the necessary… components he needed for his special ability to work. They were lined up now, all of them awaiting him. Their silence made the sounds of the wood more pronounced - the birds chirping in some bizarre rhythm, the wind whistling through the trees; all calm and peaceful. Definitely in contract to what was about to happen. He began to move along the line from left to right, gently placing a hand on each man's shoulder.
Lenaria had told him exactly what he should do. Usually he was not the kind of person to take orders, but a deal was a deal. Lenaria had saved the one person he cared about, healed the tumour in his sister's brain. She had told him she would require something from him in return, that she knew he was a very special boy indeed. He hadn't asked how she's known; she'd known because she was a Goddess. Joshua had met other people with abilities, but none that were anything like as powerful as her. He was in awe of her, and perhaps a little frightened as well.
Still, he'd always wanted to try his abilities out on a human. Sulphur was an essential component in all living cells, and was all he needed to make his ability work. He'd once used his gift on his sister's pet hamster, when he was just a kid and in a really bad mood with her. He'd regretted that later. She'd been very upset. Eventually he had managed to buy her a new one, and as far as he was concerned that was the end of it. She hadn't known he was the one who killed it though. No, she would likely never have forgiven him.
They said that hell smelled like sulphur, but sulphur on its own was, in fact, odourless. Working his way from man to man, he used the sulphur in their bodies to create explosive fluids. None of them resisted, just as Lenaria had said. He didn't know where she was, but she was influencing events all the same. Once he'd created the living bombs, she would guide them to their targets. Once the last one was set, he stepped back and looked at his work like a father admiring his children.
"KA-BOOOOOM," he said, and giggled. One by one, all eight men turned, twisted grins locked in place on their faces. Their eyes showed that there was nobody home. Even as they exploded into a thousand smithereens, he thought they would remain blissfully unaware of what was happening to them. Tittering with laughter, he moved uphill to get a better look.
888
The figure of Zod was a far more imposing one than that of Milton Fine, Clark acknowledged, even though he knew their power was just the same. He decided to try and use that to his own advantage, subtly adjusting his body to try and appear more apprehensive. Brainiac – the one on his side – wasn't going to be able to do anything, since he was surrounded by three of his own brethren. At least not yet.
The Zod look-alike was certain Clark was finished, that he would not dare attack while it held Gotham city. Brainiac had already seen him surrender rather than risk damaging the bottled cities. The result had been the release of Zod and Lenaria from The Phantom Zone. It fully expected him to surrender again. The stakes were too high. But if he gave up now, it really was all over. The cities would fall under Brainiac's rule, and he would never see his friends and family again. He would never get to marry the girl of his dreams.
Don't think about it! Just do it!
"This is your final warning, Kal-UH!"
'Zod' flew backwards as Clark's fist slammed into his chest. Clark's other hand nimbly grasped the city before it could fall, and he snapped his head round before he could even check it was undamaged. He had to push his speed to the absolute limit here. His opponents had been so convinced he would surrender, that they had read his past actions so well, that he'd managed to catch them off-guard by taking a desperate risk. He almost felt ill thinking about how badly it could have gone wrong, but he'd taken the chance only because he knew he must take it.
He turned his heat vision on the three opponents surrounding the reprogrammed Brainiac. Fortunately his Brainiac was less surprised than the others, immediately using his own heat vision to enhance and support Clark's attack. Clark took the opportunity to set the bottle city between his feet. Hopefully there he could protect it without necessarily exposing it to direct attacks.
"Ship's open!" screamed Clark, knowing he was wide open to attack from the Zod look-alike. He already thought the Kandorian armour may have been damaged by the ship's attack. That would cause big problems with Lenaria, but he had no time to worry about that now. "Go now!"
The ship, after opening to release 'Zod', had provided them with a way in. Brainiac didn't hesitate, charging in while Clark went all out trying to keep his enemies back. He managed to delay them long enough for Brainaic to get inside, but they were going to overwhelm him any moment. He'd promised Lana he would make it back, but it didn't look like he could keep that promise.
He was grabbed from behind. He felt his neck being twisted and instinctively threw his hands up to try and block the attack. His other adversaries charged forwards, pummelling him. He tried to fight back but it was useless; he was taking viscous shots to the face and gut and his hands couldn't get free to strike back. Lana… I'm sorry…
The ship was taking off, he saw as his vision blurred. That was something, at least. The cities would be restored. He'd have to hope someone else could finish it with the Brainiac's and Lenaria. But then, just as he thought his body was going to give out, a light shot out from the ship, catching all four incarnations of Brainiac. They each screamed as their bodies disintegrated, leaving no trace of their existence behind. Clark fell backwards, unable to stand. The ship landed again, opening up to reveal Brainaic, who smiled at him.
"You seem to have more lives than a cat, Mr Kent. We'll have to see about getting you patched up. Still, we have secured our objective. The constructs are merely an extension of the will of this ship – soon enough though, this ship will be an extension of mine. And therefore yours, of course. We need to take it to The Fortress. Once there, Jor-El can heal your wounds and we can see about restoring the cities."
"No, I'm alright," said Clark, barely making it to his feet under his own power. "I need to get back to Lana and the others and make sure they're okay. Take Gotham and get the cities restored as soon as you can. Not Kandor, obviously. Not yet. We can't just have an alien city showing up out of nowhere. We'll need to work that one out later."
"Clark, I don't…"
"Don't argue with me! Just take care of it. And… thanks."
888
Although the last thing Lana felt like doing was eating anything, Lois convinced her, Chloe and Pete to head over to the mess tent. Lois didn't hang around for long; The General had apparently arrived on-site, and was insisting on seeing her. Lana tried to eat something, but it only made her feel ill. She was too worried about Clark. She was glad Lex was alright, but the fact that he was on his way here could potentially open up more problems. The three of them sat at a table; they had plenty of space, as the place was more or less empty.
"Can't help but notice something's missing," said Chloe, eyeing her hand. "Don't tell me the engagement's off already?"
Lana rubbed her finger unconsciously.
"Lex is on his way here," she said, deliberately avoiding Pete's gaze. "I can't have him find out about Clark and me right now. Last time, when I went to him after the election, that was a disaster."
"Still don't know why you and Baldy are so tight anyway," said Pete. "That guy is everything Clark's not. Lana, you need to realise that they are consequences to hanging out with Lex Luthor."
"Pete, I really don't need to hear this right now," snapped Lana. "Especially not from you. You chose to abandon Clark when he needed you, so don't think you can just swan back in here and tell us how to live our lives."
She regretted the words immediately, but had no chance to apologize.
"So that's how you see it? I moved away to PROTECT Clark," said Pete, standing up.
"Listen guys, we're all under a lot of strain right now," said Chloe, looking away from her laptop. "Look at it this way; the world's in a lot of trouble and bickering isn't going to help. Can we try to keep things in perspective?"
"I'm sorry, Pete. I know you're just trying to look out for us," said Lana.
"It's alright," said Pete. "I can't say you're totally wrong anyway."
Lana smiled apologetically. Pete was beating himself up even though he hadn't done anything wrong.
"What are you doing anyway?" Lana asked Chloe, who was hitting her keyboard. "Looking for bottle cities on Ebay?"
"Something like that," smiled Chloe. "Trying to trace Lenaria, actually. People all over the world are crying out for her help. Our least favourite Empireth doesn't seem to be doing much about it though."
"Probably still nursing her wounds from that ass-kicking Clark gave her," said Pete.
"She can heal herself instantly, remember?"
"Well yeah, but you know, like mental wounds and stuff," said Pete.
"Nobody we know hurt, I hope?"
Lana's heart beat faster, close to panic. Lex was here.
"No, everyone's fine, Lex," said Lana, getting up and shifting uncomfortably.
"Clark not here yet?"
"Not yet," she said cautiously. There was something in Lex's tone she didn't care for. But mere moments later he smiled at her and hugged her.
"I'm glad the two of you are all right as well," said Lex, turning to Chloe and Pete.
"I'll skip the hug, thanks," muttered Pete.
"Your loss," said Lex dryly, taking Lana's hand. He spoke to her in a low voice. "Lana, we need to talk in private, about what I mentioned on the phone."
"I won't be long," she told Chloe and Pete. Lex took her outside, leading her to a quiet area. She asked him how he'd just been able to walk onto the site.
"Because I'm Lex Luthor," he said, smiling enigmatically. "Also, because I know General Lane of old."
"So what is it you want to tell me, Lex?" asked Lana, dreading whatever it might be. From the corner of her vision she noticed a soldier walking awkwardly towards the mess tent. He certainly looked cheerful, she noticed. Before she could get a closer look, Lex had taken her shoulders and forced her to look him in the eye.
"You already know, don't you?" whispered Lex. Terror seized Lana. She licked her lips, unable to speak. An age seemed to pass.
And then an explosion blew the mess tent apart.