Chapter 1 [An Hour after "Exodus"]

Late Spring brought Changeable Conditions across the Kansas skies. Sol warmed the air and ground alike. Wheat and Corn sprouted from plowed earth across the state. Clouds bobbed and meandered at one another across robin's egg blue skies. Chaos, however, slammed weather fronts into each other. Winds could howl. Shelf Clouds and Rotation spun out of control from time to time. Such dark clouds lingered across Kansas' western extent. Storm jumped its own bounds. Situation advanced on Metropolis.

Of course, other places could feel it first….

[Stop and Go, Travers City, Kansas]

Cars and trucks turned into the small chain gas station beside State Road 90. Drivers refilled their gas tanks. Snacks, soft drinks and coffee satisfied Hunger's craving. Some stretched their legs before Journey resumed. Destination and Purpose awaited for most.

But some drifted akin to Dandelion's fluff….

Kal pulled off the road. He pressed the accelerator between Smallville and there. Distance eased his heart's burning. Previous influences grated on his psyche. Jonathan's lecture elicited an eye roll. Pete's attempt to stop Clark bordered on pitiful. Jor-El frayed his last nerve with the control attempts. And that wasn't counting Lana's intervention….

Lana…

Lament and Mourning chilled him. Headache pounded at his temples. Anger curled his lip. Stupid Clark! HEY! You like whining? You gave me control! Remember? You couldn't handle the mess! Hey! You blew up Dad's Ship! You killed the kid! You let Little Girl Small play you! Well deal with it! This time I'm in charge! I like that way! It's staying that way! Red Meteor Rock glowed in front of his eyes. This keeps you quiet so SHUT UP! He stalked into the store. He fixed a pair of hot dogs to his liking. A can of cola went with them. He hustled toward the front. Granted, he and the bike needed something to run on. He just didn't want to get spotted either. Nor did he need the cops stopping him before Metropolis for that matter. Not that he cared, mind you. He hustled to the counter.

A heavy set woman scratched lottery tickets. Alcohol's stench wafted from her pores. Greasy greying hair stuck against her scalp and neck. She cast another loser aside. Red eyes considered the display behind the counter. Occasional farts soured matters still further. "Losers alla 'em! Crap!" She curled her lip. Grunt escaped her mouth.

Bad enough, she's a beached whale! She sounds like one too! Really? He noted the clerk endured the experience. His eyes watered. His nose and sinuses clogged. "Sorry, Mizz Edwards, that's all we got."

"Well I'll keep scratchin'! We's going to stay put til I get a big one! I ain't movin'! Gimme a pinkie! My luck's gonna heat up yet!" Edwards tossed another ten spot at the clerk. "Gimme five pinkies and five blues! I feel something comin'!"

Besides another stink bomb? What a moron! She did want to heat up. Kal raised his shades. Twin heat vision beams streaked toward her. Emerging Methane met Fire Sight.

Edwards jumped in the air. Bright blue flame shot out of her rear end. "AHH! What the Hell?" She ran out of the store and toward the woods.

"HEY!" the clerk bellowed at her. "Miz Edwards?" He scratched his head. Smoke hung in the air. He batted the air to clear Stench and Irritation away from him.

Kal smirked. At least, the local entertainment made the stopover worth his while. The clerk's issues allowed him to speed out the store. In less than a heartbeat, he'd already stuck the nozzle in his tank. Gas flowed in. Numbers sped by on Pump's side. Who'd think that a whale actually could waddle that fast? Snort lifted his spirits. This could be fun! He put the nozzle back in the pump. His hand screwed the cap back on. He got back on.

Adventure, Mayhem and Kick Ass Fun called down the road….

His foot raised to start things up again. A familiar vibe bore down on him…a really irritating vibe at that.

"HEY! CAPTAIN PLAID! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

And now, I get Little Girl Small's sidekick? Who's next? Bratty Emily? That wench Tina? Chloe? Kal started the bike up. "Lookie here! If it isn't the other mourning girl? Lana's really going on. If you get back to Dullsville, you two can really whine up a storm. Just don't do it around me! Do it loud enough and that Dad of yours'll really beat you!" Sneer spread his smirk across his entire face.

Miranda's frown twisted her entire face. Her eyes narrowed. An emergency run for the Talon pressed her to Wichita and back. She'd hoped Clark had actually turned a new leaf. Consideration and Caring had guided his actions. Much as with Chloe, Jealousy burned holes in her heart. His insults fanned that inner flame to a five alarm inferno. Telepathy alerted her to another angle. She felt none of Clark's indecisive attitude. Rather, Filthy, Smug and Irritating Party Boy James Dean Wannabe leered at her once again. "You'll have to do a lot better than that! Didn't learn your lesson last time?" She shook her head. "You did something to Lana! DIDN'T YOU?" She grabbed at his sleeve. "ANSWER ME!"

Kal, of course, felt Jealousy and Attraction inside of her. Snort jabbed at her. "You just can't get over her. She isn't interested! Get over yourself! I don't care!" He blew a short breath. "I felt you peeking around in my head! I SHOULD KILL YOU NOW!" He shoved her up against the gas pump. "Go and tell Little Girl Small she blew it!"

"Clark, stop it!" Resentment burned at her. Still, she recognized Kal's aura and thoughts. She grabbed at her aching side. "Think of Lana! Don't let this creep win! COME ON!"

Kal shook his head. "Loser! Bye!" He buried the throttle and sped out of sight.

She ground her teeth. Pain burned at her side and knee. What did he hit me with? A bazooka? And what's going on with him? Great. He's back to the way he was in the Wild Coyote! She eased herself back into her SUV and started back out for the Talon.

Deliveries first. Then she'd find Lana and get to the bottom of the mess at hand. Maybe she'd get Pete's and the Kents' help too….