Lyla hadn't believed that she would be able to sleep at all after what happened, and awoke with surprise later on, still feeling tired. She felt drained, and with a sinking feeling in her stomach, she thought that it must have been because the exposure sickness was returning. This seemed to be confirmed by the fact that her nose was bleeding again; before she knew what she was doing, she was using her telepathy to try and make contact with Lenaria. She trembled as she waited, not knowing whether it was because of fear of the sickness, or fear of the other Empireth. Lenaria so far had treated her with nothing but kindness, but Lyla was still waiting for the façade to slip.

When Lenaria didn't return, however, her concern started to lie only with her illness. Tilting her head back and holding her nose, she hoped the bleeding would stop. She sent another signal, stronger this time, wondering why Lenaria wasn't responding. It was only after she forced herself to calm down a little that she noticed she wasn't in the same room as before. The place wasn't exactly any different, certainly not an improvement, but the door here was on the other side. She must have been moved while she slept, but she couldn't understand why that would be.

(Just kill me.)

Perhaps she had thrown up at some point and simply couldn't remember it, but if that was the case, why hadn't Lenaria healed her then?

(Kill me and get it over with.)

Her head was pounding as well, another symptom of the sickness, she supposed. Was Lenaria deliberately ignoring her? Lyla still found it difficult to reconcile the Lenaria she knew with the one Clark described.

(Done.)

She had kidnapped Lana though, and tried to force her to murder one of her friends. It troubled Lyla, therefore, that she actually kind of liked Lenaria. Her kindness almost certainly wasn't real, but… well, it would have been nice to think that it was.

After Lenaria had shown her Pendar, she had tried to comfort her. While Lyla wept, full of self-hatred, Lenaria held her. The embrace, which once terrified Lyla, now felt strangely comforting. To her surprise, Lenaria even kissed her forehead.

"Come now," Lenaria had said, shaking her gently. "Come now, Lyla. No good can come of blaming yourself. I know it was self-defence; you must see you had no other option."

The two of them had stayed together for a time, Lenaria cradling Lyla's head as she lay with her back pressed against her bed. She wondered idly what would happen if one Empireth tried to steal another's abilities. Most likely trying to absorb all the powers Lenaria had at once would will her. When she finally stopped crying, Lenaria used a tissue to wipe her face. They both sat silently for some time after that.

"When I was, when I was still just a little girl," said Lyla, voice trembling. "He was my only friend, you know? I… I was always so afraid that he would find out the truth some day. He and my father both, so I… well, have you ever managed to create a psychic construct?"

Lyla felt almost embarrassed that she'd asked the question. Perhaps it was a show of her own pride, wanting to suggest that she might be capable of something Lenaria was not. She knew right away however, that she'd been foolish. Lenaria smiled and stood back, folding her arms.

The next thing she knew, a gorgeous looking blonde, tanned youth had materialised in front of her. Lyla looked on numbly as he took her hand and hauled her to her feet. The boy twirled her under his arm before lifting her off the floor and spinning them both around. Despite everything, Lyla found herself squealing. Gently depositing her on the bed, the youth bowed before fading away.

"Psychic constructs?" asked Lenaria smugly. "No, I never could get the knack of those. Actually, that game I mentioned earlier works in exactly the same way; the pieces are formed from the player's mind and become tangible. Not so large as that one, of course. It's a sensation known as Physical Sensory Projection, essentially an illusion which can stimulate the senses."

"Wow," said Lyla, whose breath had just been taken away. It didn't take long for her sombre mood to return, however. "I made one, when I was a little girl. Like I said, I was so afraid of people finding out who I was, and I hated lying to them. I thought a lot about running away. I don't know where I would have went; from Kandor to somewhere else on Kandor, I guess. Not exactly much chance of a change of scenery. But I never went because I was so afraid of being alone."

"I can relate," said Lenaria softly.

"So I made myself a friend. I could talk to him, touch him, do anything I wanted. How pathetic is that? I never had a real friend, so I just had to make my own. I summoned him a few times, testing him out before we ran off. It all seemed fine for awhile, and then one day I just burst into tears while we were talking. I shared everything with him, but suddenly I realised I was just talking to myself. That I was still completely alone. So I decided it was better to live a different lie. Pendar… I couldn't share things with him that way, but… as long as he was around… I didn't feel like I was alone. And now he's dead…"

"I'm so sorry," said Lenaria, lowering herself to look Lyla in the eye, taking her hands in hers. "Nothing we do will bring your friend back, Lyla, but please know… you aren't alone anymore. I've lost everyone I loved too. Just know that I'm here for you. I know there are things about me you don't like. I admit I have done some… questionable things. But… give me time, Lyla. I can prove myself to you, I swear it. Anything I do… anything I may do… you must understand that it is for the good of both of us."

There was something about that last sentence Lyla didn't like, but at the same time, while she still didn't trust her, there was a part of her that felt she might… need Lenaria. Lenaria already knew more of the truth than anyone else ever had.

"I must go," Lenaria had said finally. "I have already lingered here longer than I intended, I… yes, I have to leave."

"Please stay," Lyla was stunned to hear herself saying. "Just a little longer."

Lenaria, bizarrely, looked alarmed now. Her whole manner had changed; she kept looking at the walls as though surprised to still see them there. As if surprised by the fact that she was still here with Lyla.

"I'm sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can," she had said hastily, before vanishing.

Lyla wondered now what that had been about. Had J'onn perhaps caught up with her? If so, had she been defeated? She should have been delighted by that thought, but she wasn't. And not just because Lenaria was protecting her from the exposure sickness, either.

Lyla was actually worried about her.

888

While Lenaria continued scrubbing his back, Clark tried to think of something, anything, other than what he'd done to Chloe. Unfortunately the only thing that came to mind was that the worst was undoubtedly yet to come. She could make him do anything she wanted, anything at all; Clark was now merely a prisoner in his own body. His very thoughts and memories could no longer be relied upon. It was no different than if he were insane, except for the fact that the cause, rather than some random act of chaos, was the alien who held him in her grip. A momentary fury swelled within him, but as it came panic overwrote it. If Lenaria sensed any anger directed at her, Chloe would be in danger again. He tried to think of Lana, to allow himself to believe that she, at least, was free.

That didn't help, because he knew it was a lie. Lex couldn't have controlled her more successfully if he had Lenaria's abilities. She would probably be at the mansion right now, listening to Lex telling her how concerned he was over Clark's safety, and how he was doing everything in his power to help find him. Lana would stay with Lex, for her own protection, he would tell her. She would hang around there all day, thinking about how lucky she was to have a friend like Lex, while the billionaire studied Clark like he was some kind of toy.

Why did you have to bring Chloe into this, Lex? I won't forgive you for that.

Clark grimaced involuntarily as Lenaria's hand touched his shoulder. She paid it no attention, however. She seemed distant now, staying silent, no longer taunting him, at least for the moment. Clark remembered all too well what Lenaria's touch was capable of. She had stolen every part of him, save whatever was the essence of a person, their soul. She had seen little secret parts of him that no-one else had, the Hyde to his Doctor Jekyll. Just taken his memories, keeping what she needed and simply casting off the rest of his life, sealing part of it within a necklace. And as if it wasn't bad enough that she could control him, she had essentially become him, taking his powers for herself. She wasn't the first person to do so, but nothing so convenient as a bolt of lightning was going to help this time. Well, his powers were his responsibility, no matter who wielded them… and he did still think of them, almost childishly, possessively, as his own.

She'd taken all that… and then she'd still kept on taking. She'd kidnapped Lana more than once, murdered Pete, and now held Chloe prisoner. Even down to the core of him, she was still taking. His will to fight was gone, discarded by himself, because even dreaming of fighting back meant suffering for Chloe. And if Chloe, so fragile compared to both her and Lenaria, happened to break… well, there was still Lana. Still his mother. Hell, Lenaria could hold the whole world hostage if she wanted, just like Mongul had. When Mongul held him prisoner, only his will and his wits had gotten him through. Now his will was gone, and his wits didn't seem to amount to much after all.

Lenaria had taken all of him.

Her hand suddenly tightened on his shoulder, and he thrashed wildly in the water. This was the most free movement he had been allowed for some time, and he realised it instantly. He didn't know how, but Lenaria had lost control. He finally had an opening.

Pushing himself upwards, he made to attack… and hesitated. What if this was some test? What if all he was doing was condemning Chloe to more suffering?

A moment later, he cursed the fact that he could no longer trust his instincts. Lenaria's eyes had widened in a very genuine terror. Before Clark had even time to convince himself of this, she blasted him across the room, his naked torso landing on it's side. His only thought was to get back to his feet and attack her immediately, but it was too late. However much he willed it, he would not get back up. Lenaria stood over him, looking startled but recovering.

"Trying to send my mind in too many directions at once," she gasped. "But that was the last opening you will ever have, Kryptonian."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Clark, desperately trying to lie to someone who couldn't be lied to.

"You are so tiresome, sometimes. But your time is almost at an end. I should fetch Chloe for your attempted assault, but for now I think I will be content to explain to you how you will meet your end. Yes, I am very content with what I have in store."

"What do you mean?" said Clark. He managed to bring himself to his knees, but Lenaria held him there, holding his chin up so he had to look at her. She gave him a smile that made his blood boil.

"Do you know why my control slipped? It's because I was otherwise engaged, with your allies Raya and J'onn. It was a more difficult battle than I expected, but of course I emerged victorious. Raya is dead, and The Martian is my prisoner. Poor Raya, she felt bad that she let you down, in the end."

Clark's heart sank. He couldn't mourn Raya, since he had barely gotten a chance to know her. But it still hurt that one of his own people, who had fought alongside him and actually saved his life, was dead. Just another person who had to die so Lenaria's pathetic existence could go on. As if that wasn't enough, their last, best hope in J'onn was lost too.

He had to force the thoughts away before they drew Lenaria's attention. She still remained smiling however; he hoped she hadn't just filed it away for now.

"I will keep you alive just a little longer," she told him, fingering his hair, like he was her plaything. Which he supposed he was. "To let Lex study you, and to have my fun. I do have my whims, Clarkie!"

"When it's over… when it's over, what will you do with Chloe?"

"If I told you I would let her go, would you really believe it?"

"No," said Clark, the word catching in his throat. He didn't even believe Lana would be allowed to live, however much he hoped it in his heart.

"It's yourself that you should be worried about," she said, lowering herself now to look him in the eye. "You're not going to die down here, you know. There was a reason I asked Lex to expose the alien threat that walked amongst us."

""What… what do you mean?"

"Every hero needs their villain, Clark. I can't use my abilities to control every mind on the planet, but that doesn't mean I can't command their loyalty. In truth, I prefer to have them choose to love me. I get to make you suffer, and I get to be a hero at the same time."

"You… can't…"

"Do you have a preference, for where you will attack? Perhaps Metropolis, where you can end the life of your own mother. Or Gotham? I still have a score to settle with the costumed fool who dwells there. Of course, a lot of damage has been done to both already, so perhaps somewhere else. All that matters is that before you die, you will personally take millions of lives. And then, when all seems lost, I will emerge to save the rest… and end your life."

888

A few drops of a thick dark liquid dropped to the floor, and, observed only by the machine that produced it, began to move. The drops began to increase in number, merging together, becoming a small stream. It would continue to grow to the point where it would, eventually, consume the entire facility. The Eradicator watched it develop with detached interest. Once the machine was finished, the glutinous substance slithered out of sight, disappearing into the shadows.

It felt an incredible sense of urgency in it's need to rescue Kal-El, but it had been delayed never-the-less, forcing itself to run self-diagnostics. It had suffered slight damage in the battle with Raya and J'onn, yes, but it was unconcerned with such superficial injury. What The Eradicator was checking for was any sign that The Fortress had altered it's purpose in some way. The connection to Kal-El was wonderful, so much as it could feel wonder, but also unexpected. The Eradicator had to ensure that it had not been compromised. Kimda had already tried to tamper with it's programming, but, since his alterations had conflicted with it's core objectives, The Eradicator, had, in time, been able to overcome this. The Eradicator's concern now was that The Fortress itself may conflict with these goals.

Eventually it had been satisfied. Perhaps when time allowed further analysis would be necessary, but Kal-El took priority for the moment. His suffering had eased for now, at least. It was tempting to go to him immediately, but first, The Empireth had to be dealt with. If it gave her any warning of it's presence, she would surely flee. The Eradicator had never met Lenaria, but it didn't need to have. The data it took from The Fortress contained everything it needed to know about her. True, the files on her full range of abilities was incomplete, but it was not concerned. It was satisfied that it was more powerful that her.

The Empireth were an abomination. It had information about them that even The Fortress did not contain, information that it had held for longer than it could remember. Kimda had no idea what he was doing trying to recreate their race. The Sergeant could never even have comprehended the truth about their existence, the horrible secret behind their birth. The Eradicator would remove that legacy from the universe forever. It would not kill Lenaria itself, however. No, The Eradicator was prepared to fulfil Kal-El's every need, his every desire. There was only one thing Kal-El would wish, and that was for Lenaria to meet her end at his own hand. It would deliver her to him directly.

There were concerns over Kal-El, however. Having been raised on Earth, The Eradicator knew his loyalties were conflicted. Alien influences had affected his life. The Fortress had provided all it needed to know on that score. Kal-El had abandoned his true destiny for a human female named Lana Lang. That would not present a problem for long, however. The Eradicator would do what it was named for, and it would eradicate any alien influence in Kal-El's life. Krypton would rise again, and it would be there to serve and guide Kal-El in his journey.

It felt something approaching excitement as it anticipated meeting The Kryptonian for the first time. Leaving the room, the thick liquid trailing alongside, The Eradicator moved to confront The Empireth.