Chapter 6 [Somewhere between Metropolis and Kansas City]

Kal sped north on the 'borrowed' motorcycle. Miles fell away with each marker. Asphalt rolled by under his wheels. He stayed within traffic's flow. Temptation whispered toward Metropolis' night scene. He knew something would pique his interest there. Then, he thought better of the diversion.

That'd be the first place Jonathan and Martha would go….

Sarcasm's snort escaped his lips. He'd endured enough of Hokum-ville. Other places beckoned along this road and others like it. Wild Parties and Orgies awaited. Banks and other targets begged to be robbed. Opportunities awaited him. Business waited as well. Kansas City lay only another hour and a half to the north. He'd stay there a night or two. Plans could come together for his next move.

Lament and Melancholy chilled his heart. His mouth twisted. Their source annoyed him to no end. Conscience, at least not his, didn't bug him….

…No, his fake Earth human persona, Clark, whined and sulked within himself. Guilt panged within that one. For some reason, he believed he could clean up his own toxic stupid spill. He pulled on their brain to go back to Smallville. He missed Lana.

Lana…Little Girl Small….

Kal curled his lip. Patience frayed with his weak counterpart. SHUT UP, YOU FOOL! YOU GAVE UP, CLARK! I'M IN CHARGE NOW! THIS TIME YOU AREN'T PUTTING ME AWAY! NOT AGAIN!

We have to go back! I should never have left her like that. Mom lost the baby. Lana…I….

WELL TOO BAD, CLARKIE! SAY GOOD BYE TO IT ALL! THERE ARE HOTTER WOMEN THAN THE COFFEE WENCH! ALL SHE DOES IS WHINE ABOUT HER DEAD PARENTS ANYWAY! WAH! WAH! WAH! Kal spat down at the black top. Disgust left a bad taste in his mouth. He didn't want to hear about Clark's problems, Ma Kent's loss or Pa Kent's chip on the shoulder. Freedom jazzed him up. Period.

SO WHAT? SHE LOVES HER PARENTS! SHE DOES A LOT FOR EVERYONE! LEAVE HER ALONE! Clark yelled back. SHE DIDN'T DESERVE HOW WE TREATED HER! I WAIT FOREVER TO ASK HER OUT! YOU HURT HER! I HAD TO EARN HER TRUST BACK!

Kal raised an eyebrow. SO YOU DO HAVE A SPINE AND A PAIR! WELL TOO BAD! I HAVE BETTER WOMEN TO BE WITH! DEAL WITH THAT! He stared at his right hand. Glowing red ring stone held his rapt attention. Its numbing effect silenced Clark's resistance for the time being. That's better! Maybe Little Clarkie will shut up for a while! That whining makes me nauseous!

YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT VOICE, MY SON. HEED IT WELL! Jor-El interjected over their telepathic link.

Not him again! Kal shook the elder Kryptonian off. He ground his teeth. "What is it, Old Man? I'm busy! Trying to drive here!" He wove around a dawdling Nissan with a seventy-something year old driver behind the wheel. "Slow and brain rot due to age! Are you taking notes, Old Man? You should!"

YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME, KAL-EL!

Yeah right! Kal coughed at his shouted directive. "You are a piece of work! You know that? You toy with Clark. You threaten his parents. You forced him to turn his back on Little Girl Small. She's boring but we could've scored with her! You got him all hot and bothered! You pushed him to blow up that stupid Ship of yours with the 'come with me or else!' bullshit! It's about your STUPID DEAD WORLD! Well, it's dead! You're dead! Clarkie's whole world's dead! That leaves ME and WHAT I WANT! SO SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY!" Snide smirk spread across his face. "You're as bad as Jonathan Kent! You know that?"

Kal's words seared at Jor-El's ego. DO NOT COMPARE ME TO THAT HUMAN EXCUSE FOR A FATHER! I WOULD GIVE YOU YOUR EDUCATION! IT IS YOUR DESTINY TO LEAD THESE PEOPLE! YOU WILL RETURN TO SMALLVILLE AT ONCE!

You make me an outcast! A thing! And you want me to come back? "Sppt!" Kal's Raspberry sputtered its disrespect at Jor-El. You can't make me! I don't want your rule and the headaches! I'm my own man! I'll rule MY WAY! Stay out of my way!

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW, MY SON. IF YOU WILL NOT RETURN, THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WILL BRING YOU BACK WILLINGLY OR NOT! THAT IS ALL! With that, Jor-El went silent once more.

Kal snorted. Like anyone's going to make me do anything I don't want to? Whatever, DAD! He glanced at the ring and its red rock once more. I'm not going back there! He can do what he wants! I stomped Clark and everyone else! I'll pound whoever else into jelly too! He goosed the accelerator and cut off another car.

Attitude carried him toward Rebellion and Freedom. The question was how long would that last? And what would he do when he discovered Jor-El's agent?

Now those were questions for consideration….