Chapter 4 [A/N: Jor-El vs. the Clana…And here we go! You've been advised!]
The energy ball bobbed in midair. It glowed brighter and brighter still. I TRIED TO SPARE YOU! SO BE IT! IF YOU WILL NOT RELENT…IF YOU WILL NOT SURRENDER THIS FOOLISH INFATUATION, YOU WILL BE DESTROYED! Red Fire and Energy slammed forth from it.
Fire enveloped her. She pushed Fear's weakness down. She forced herself to stand her ground. Clark, I love you. She wouldn't lose another blessed thing to this light…Jor-El…whatever. The kinetic assault seared her skin. Pain's needles jabbed at Muscles, Organs and Cells with none of Mercy's intervention. Her scream echoed over uninhabited expanse. Her clothes smoldered and ignited. All seemed lost. Jor-El's threat would claim her. She could surrender and be with her parents….
…Not so fast, Reader….
She clenched her fists. Akin to Drowning Person at the end, she grasped onto a rope…any rope. Images of Clark filled her mind. Amor surged against Hate's assault. I believe! I believe in you, Clark Kent! I believe in US! You aren't alone! I'll find you! I will bring you back to OUR HOME! She wrenched her face into Fire's intensifying assault. I LOST MY PARENTS TO THE METEORS! YOU WON'T TAKE CLARK FROM ME NOW! DO YOUR WORST! I LOVE HIM! She steadied herself. She set her jaw. The flames flowed over and around her. Amor's protection pushed back against and deflected the assault. For Punishment's duration, her stance remained firm. Her will couldn't…no wouldn't break. She clung to her White Knight of the Plaid and his image. She didn't think of anything else.
Jor-El fumed. He pressed the attack harder and fiercer. Alas! Even Stubbornness and Arrogance had to concede the field in their duel. After an hour's passage, Flames and Energy abated. UNBELIEVABLE! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCINERATED!
She staggered from her effort. "I…I made it." Her lungs gasped for air. Rocks and Dirt jabbed at her feet. "I'm not going anywhere!" Chill's shiver dimpled her skin. "Now what? I…" She looked herself over. Embarrassment reddened her face. Modesty clung to the singed rags covering her chest and beneath her waist. "You burned off my clothes? Are you for real?" Her hands covered her chest. Her eyes looked about for something…anything…to cover up with.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BURNED AS WELL! Jor-El inspected her once again. His tone softened. How did I miss that about you? Disgust ate at him. Twin spots in the ball's center glowed.
Clark's old comforter dropped from the Loft. Akin to Feather's gentle descent, it drifted toward her. It draped itself across her shoulders and down to her knees.
She clenched it closed with her hands. "Thanks…for that at least." She relished Clark's scent on the comforter. She relaxed. Our love saved me, Clark. I haven't forgotten. No matter what a jerk your Ghost Dad here is, I won't leave you! She sucked in another deep breath. "So, you missed something about me?" Sarcasm jabbed at her adversary. "You think?"
Yes! Jor-El calmed himself down. Self-Righteousness evaporated in the face of Renewed Assessment. You are unlike most Earth women, Lana Lang. I sense you are descended from a Kryptonian ancestor as well. I did not realize your worthiness for my son. No wonder Kal-El cares for you as he does.
Surprise raised an eyebrow. "You mean after all of that—now it gets through your head?" She bit her lip. "And what do you mean I'm descended from a Kryptonian? I'm human!"
Jor-El sniffed. Yes. Our people, however, have come to your world from time to time. One such person was with a human. A child, your ancestor, was born. You carry that bloodline. Your stand against me further affirms that worthiness in you. I erred in pressing Kal-El to leave you behind. I will correct that now. What you feel next will be the transition. Do not fight it.
"Fight it? Fight what? What do you mean transition?" She mulled over that concept. She realized that transition stood for a change or transformation of some kind.
You wish to be at Kal-El's side? Very well. You have passed the test. You have my blessing. Now, stand still….
"O…okay." A bright light dazzled her eyes.She relaxed and let the process run its course. For another minute, a lavender hue permeated the hall and her body through every pore and opening. She trembled as one giant shock rushed from her head to her toes. Her mind expanded. Sensations, sounds and energy picked up all around herself. Smaller pinpricks and shocks jolted her. Then, like a spring storm, the process ended as quickly as it had begun. The glare reduced in intensity.
Lana flexed her fingers and arms. Her head ached ever so slightly. She breathed in tortured breaths trying to calm her racing heart and aching temples. So…so much. "What did you do to me?"
Calm yourself, Lana Lang. Jor-El gentled his tone still further. You were already different than your fellow mortals. I am completing the cycle. You are now a full Kryptonian. You will have all of Kal-El's talents.
Full what? She puzzled over the changing state of affairs. Wait! Now you can hear me? How can I be talking into your mind? I don't understand. What is this?
I told you. You are now a Kryptonian. We communicate with telepathy. The energy ball rotated toward the Kents' sentry scarecrow yards away. Run to that thing. Burn it.
What? Clark is running around out of control! We don't have time for this! She stole a look toward the driveway and state road beyond that. "I should be going after him!"
And what would you do once you catch up to him? You need to deal with your abilities first. The scarecrow…now. Practice with your heat vision and super speed. Then, you will pursue Kal-El. Before anyone can run, they must crawl and then walk. You should master the basics. Even Kal-El had to practice. Do you wish to discover your abilities as he did? Remember how your theater nearly burned?
She rolled her eyes. She had to admit Jor-El's point. How can I stop Clark…no Kal…if I can't control my own actions? I feel so jittery! Talk about being turbocharged! She hustled toward the backfield and waiting scarecrow in its midst.
I said run! Run like a Kryptonian! There are times when you will need to pretend to be human. This is not one of them! Push yourself! HURRY!
She snorted. All right. No need to get pushy. She sucked in a deep breath. Her strides lengthened. Her leg muscles exerted their full potential. Her surroundings blurred past her. She overshot the scarecrow…and the entire Kent field for that matter. What's going on? How can I stop? How…I? She cut across her family's former farm and back toward the state road. She pressed down the asphalt. Somehow, her hands kept hold of the all-important comforter. Speed increased more and more. Finally, she veered to her left. Her fingers caught something solid. They dug into it jerking her to a hard stop. She blinked. Her eyes focused on her surroundings. An alley had replaced the Kents' farm. Familiar trash cans and murals adorned the area in front of herself. Recognition dawned upon her.
She'd run all the way into Smallville. She stood beside the Talon. She peered out toward Main Street. Amazement and Awe overwhelmed her. "How did I run all the way in here? It was only a couple of minutes…" She breathed fairly normally. She wasn't even winded. "How do I get back?"
You overshot your target. Now you see how Kal-El reaches your theater or the academy…what you call 'high school'. Jor-El cleared his throat. Rush back as you came. Do as I have asked. Then, you may go after my son.
Maybe I can get some clothes first? I have some in the theater. This comforter doesn't help that much. She rolled her eyes. I would've had to leave my purse at the farm! She stepped up to the back door. She tried the door knob to no avail. Of course it's locked!
Pry it open! Jor-El instructed. Use your strength! It is but metal. Your hand can crush it.
Doubt held her back for a couple of heartbeats. She glanced around for Sheriff Adams or some deputy. An arrest for indecent exposure was the last thing she needed at that point. Her hand squeezed the offending knob. Those fingers crunched it like tin foil and ripped it away. I can really do that? Clark's done that too! Why should I really be surprised? She slipped through the now-open door and into the back room. Shadows hid her cautious advance. She found her possessions under the table by the time clock. She pulled out a pink blouse and a pair of brown slacks. Better than nothing! She dressed in a mind-numbing blur. Unreal! I can dress as fast as I can run? Incredulity numbed her thinking in that moment. What else can I do? I can run really fast. I'm really strong. I can talk with my mind.
Lana Lang, I am waiting, Jor-El reminded her. Even now, you discover your true abilities. As you have figured out, you have great strength and speed. While you are there, I wish you to try something else. Focus on the wall in front of you. Concentrate on it and what's behind it.
What's behind it? Questions filled her mind. She concentrated as per his directive. At first, only the wall stood in front of herself. She pressed still further. Then, the wall disappeared. In its place, the Talon's café area presented itself to her. She could see Sandra and Miranda with their customers. Others sat at the tables. Activity remained constant. "X-ray vision? Are you kidding me? Does Clark have this too?"
Of course he does. He discovered it in your academy.
He discovered it at the high school? She rolled her eyes. Please don't tell me it was during gym class! UUGGGHHH! She caught herself on that note. This is Clark you're thinking about. He's not like that! Get a grip on yourself. The x-ray view ceased. "I really need to practice."
As you do with everything else, Lana Lang. That is a good beginning. Return to the farm. Then, do what I need you to do, Jor-El reiterated.
Return to the farm. Okay, Lana, you can do this! She stuffed the comforter under the table in her clothes' former place. Then, she crept back out the door and into the alley. She sprinted up that path. Her feet accelerated within seconds. She sped down the state road at mind-blurring rates once more. This time, however, her mind understood the process. She relaxed. The blur slowed down…or it seemed so to her. Everything around her crawled. Even water sprayed at much slower rates. Then, everything snapped back to full blurring acceleration again. Within another heartbeat, she cut back through her family's former farm and toward the Kent Farm anew.
Back to Square 1 or so it seemed….