Chapter 14 [Sometime Later]

Clark tossed and turned. Bruises faded and disappeared. Certain body parts' throbbing ceased. Nightmares, however, continued. Kal's insults, Jonathan's lectures, Lana's pleading and Jor-El's threats rang in his ears. Her pain seared at him for some reason. And then Power surged through her. "La…Lana?" His eyes blinked open. He found himself on a padded examination table. Electrodes recorded his vital signs for the computer to his left. "Where am I?" Stiffness and Pain greeted his effort to sit up.

"You should take it slow, Kal-El." Swann wheeled himself around in the wheelchair to face him. He'd watched Clark's readings on the monitors. "You are fortunate. Very fortunate indeed."

"Fortunate?" Clark raised an eyebrow at Swann's assessment. "Dr. Swann, Smallville's dealing with that aftershock. My Mom lost her baby. Jor-El threatened Mom, Dad and Lana. Kal's tortured me." He swung his legs so that he sat on the table's edge. "There's too much to do."

Swann frowned. "Yes, Kal-El, there is a great deal to clean up and set straight in Smallville. I have seen the damage for myself. I wish to extend my condolences to your parents and you concerning the baby's death. That is quite a shame. I wish it hadn't had to happen. It shouldn't have happened. You, however, made that happen."

"I was trying to protect everyone against Jor-El! Lionel Luthor trying to decipher the caves' symbols. He devised a Kryptonite key to do that. Dad is fighting me about the Krypton stuff. I want more with Lana but…." Clark bowed his head. Frustration boiled over inside of himself. "It's so much! I'm trying! Because of Jor-El, I couldn't make Lex's wedding!"

"I agree that there is plenty of blame to go around. Everyone wishes for you to follow their version…their vision…their plan. The Cowaches see you as Numan. This Jor-El…your Kryptonian birth father…I imagine? wants you to fulfill your role as his son and heir. Jonathan Kent wants you to be Clark Kent, farmer and Earth human. You are all and yet neither of these, Kal-El. You notice that I simply presented facts to you? I never force you toward a particular path or goal. I tell you what I know. Then, I leave the decision to you. I thought you were ready to know about your heritage. I was wrong."

"What? I've been trying to deal with it! I'm trying to respect Earth and Krypton! Each side hates the other. What am I supposed to do? I want to bring them together. Tell them to leave me alone!" Clark rubbed the back of his neck.

"That is for you to figure out how to do, Kal-El. You cannot simply push them away. You cannot run away from them either. I am disappointed. You have exposed yourself twice through your actions. If it wasn't for Miss Lang, it would have been far worse." Swann narrowed his eyes. "You have to deal with that in an adult manner. Perhaps you might have come to me about the spacecraft? I could have communicated with your birth father in a more constructive manner. Your father is a ghost not simply an artificial intelligence imbedded on that spaceship. The craft, by the way, rebuilt itself and fulfilled its goal in spite of your attempt to destroy it."

"It…what?" Clark stared at Swann. "The kryptonite key should have…."

"It blew the craft up all right. The resulting shockwave damaged your community. There have been repercussions. But no, Kal-El, the spacecraft rebuilt itself. It continued onto its goal." Swann spoke into the microphone. "Show Lang standoff."

The screens cleared. They showed Lana's ordeal after Kal's departure. She stumbled about the farm and storm cellar. She decided to pursue him…

…and the Ship stalked her….

She confronted it. Silence hung over the farm for several minutes. Then, the Ship turned into an energy ball. Bright light ended the transmission….

"LANA!" Clark shook his head. His heart wailed. "NO!" Tears welled up in his eyes. His teeth ground. "I can't believe he killed her! Why?" He trembled. "First the baby and now Lana? I…I…." He bowed his head. "When does it stop?"

"Collect your resolve, Kal-El. Miss Lang should be dead. She survived. She's been marked, scarred and changed forever by the experience. She is alive. You have a great deal to thank her for. History repeated itself." Swann raised an eyebrow. "You do remember the college students at the Talon, correct?"

"Lana had to get them to stop their lawsuit. I remember that." Clark scratched his head. "She didn't fight Jor-El. What?"

"It seems that is what she did, Kal-El." Swann sucked on a straw to his right. "Miss Lang has requested to speak to you in private about the rest. In return, she allowed us to have this conversation between us. She is waiting for you back at the Riverside Inn. The car is waiting out front to bring you there. I have located and retrieved the motorcycle from the parking garage. Right now, your concern is speaking to Miss Lang. I cannot stress how much she has dealt with over the past seventy-two hours. Listen. Do not react. I cannot say for sure. You owe both father figures the same thing. They also owe each other the same thing as well. I have arranged for transportation back to Smallville as well. Good luck, Kal-El. I hope that this matter grants you perspective and reflection. I am sure we will speak again. Remember if you need me, you have simply to contact me." His wheelchair turned and propelled him through the door.

LISTEN TO HIS WORDS WELL, MY SON! THERE IS A GREAT DEAL FOR YOU AND ME TO GLEAN FROM THEIR MEANING! Jor-El interjected. I…AM GLAD THAT YOU ARE WELL ONCE MORE. LANA LANG IS WAITING FOR YOU. TAKE THE WAITING CONVEYANCE. SHE WILL SPEAK TO YOU SHORTLY. With that, he went silent.

Lana's waiting for me? Jor-El's telling me to talk to her? What happened? He navigated his way through Furnishings' labyrinth and through the door. The recent battle's damage scarred the passage all around himself. Someone faced Kal? Don't tell me they brought Byron up here? That's the last thing he needs! Who stopped Kal and got the ring away from him? What aren't they telling me? How did Lana survive? His eyes widened more and more with each step down the hallway.

The door hummed and unlocked right in front of himself. It seemed to swing open of its own accord.

The chauffeur snapped to attention. He opened the limo's back door. "Good afternoon, Mr. Kent! If you can climb in, I will take you to the inn." He motioned toward the back seat.

"Uh…sure." Clark glanced over his shoulder toward the passage. Then, he observed the waiting car and backseat. Move ahead I guess…. He settled into his seat and watched the door close. Apprehension and Unknown unsettled and scared him at that point.

Mysteries seemed to mushroom at that point….