Chapter 4 [Althanor—Some time later]

For what seemed like an eternity, Clark floated in darkness. His arms still burned although not as badly. His aches seemed less. Then a light drew him back.

Clark….

He relaxed and slowly opened his eyes. He found himself on a straw cot with his own pillow under his head. Seeing his wife there brought a smile to his face. "La…na?"

"Just relax, Clark. We made it," she informed him while wiping his forehead with a damp cloth.

"Ron? Ryan?" Clark worried.

The boy is here. As for Ryan, he is all right, Kal-El, Jor-El pointed out. It pleases me that you're awake. How are you feeling?

"Tired. Skin's burning. Otherwise okay." He leaned over and kissed her. "Thanks. How are you doing?"

"A few burns and scrapes that are healing. Otherwise I'm holding my own. We managed to capture Zorpox and get you not to mention the agents help. The Professor's counterpart came through," she explained.

"You found him? Where was he?" Clark realized.

Heloise did, Kal-El. He now lives in his world's past with his family. By some miracle, he can still cross to our world and time even as he cannot be in his.

"That's harsh." Clark grimaced. He sat up slowly. "We need to deal with Ron though."

"Clark, stay down," she advised firmly.

I agree with Kal-El. The boy must be reclaimed. His power must be contained. We cannot have Dubois releasing his demonic counterpart as he had to tonight, Jor-El concurred.

"The Destroyer?" Clark stared at Lana.

She nodded. "He went off and really ripped into Zorpox. Dahak stopped fighting after a while. It was kind of weird."

The priestesses kept the demon contained for enough time to allow the Destroyer its due, Lana. But the effort taxed them…and me as well. I assisted the women in their effort on our common goal. Jor-El considered the point. Prepare yourselves. I go to speak with the other Dubois and his wife. It will be time soon for the rescue mission. With that, he vanished from view.

"Remind me to send Ron a bill for the headache," Clark groused.

"You know he'll be falling over himself to apologize," she reminded him. "Seriously I'm glad you're okay." She let her lips brush his warmly. "We can pick this up later…."

"I can get into that," he agreed.

"After you check Ryan's diaper," she teased letting her eyes sparkle into his.

He shook his head at their private joke. Still he wouldn't object to some family bliss after this was over.

****

[Sensei's Bed]

Across the chamber, Angie made the room glow as she administered her healing talent on Sensei. Her mind still swam with the day's revelations—double standards really.

They could cross over to the Amazon Village or the other universe or there but not to their own time.

They were still denied their lives….

She did her best to put it out of her mind for the present. She had her patient in front of herself. For the first time in months, she was a doctor again.

"Wha…t? Who?" Sensei groaned.

"Relax, sir. You're safe," she reassured him while stopping the process. "We're in Althanor with the priestesses."

He took a deep breath with effort. "And you…you are?"

"I'm Angie Dubois. I'm…a friend," she introduced. "I healed you."

"You're…from the other universe. Miranda's aunt…died," he remembered.

"That's right but I'm here. You rest," she directed gently. After he closed his eyes, she turned back toward DC-Dave. "I'm bushed."

"You're amazing, Princess," her husband complimented her.

"Nice to hear you say that. We do need to talk when we get back about this arrangement," she told him with a frown.

"It wasn't easy for me to go back there." DC-Dave shrugged. "But I had to. You know that."

She sighed. "It isn't you, Dave. It's the situation. We'll deal with it later." She saw Jor-El appear. "How are they?"

Kal-El and Lana recover well. They will soon be ready. We must move soon. The boy's darkness grows in strength. Soon the one called Zorpox will break free from the priestesses' prison.

"They can handle him," DC-Dave disagreed. "But I'd rather get this deal finished for both Dave's and Ron's sakes."

"Bring…Stoppable San…back here. I set things up…." Sensei added.

"We will," Angie assured him. "It's time for you to rest though, Sensei Sama. Just as you and your counterpart took care of Miri for us, we can help you."

"Domo," the teacher responded before closing his eyes once more.

Seeing the priestesses approaching to tend to the aged sensei, DC-Dave urged, "Let's get our folks and do this. The sooner Ron's back, the better I'll feel."

Recalling her…and Xena's experiences with Zorpox, Angie had to agree.

[Prison Hut—across the village]

Zorpox strained against the leather bonds holding him in place. He couldn't feel Dahak's power boosting his anymore. He glared up at Cybelle who watched him intently. "How 'bout some love, Sweets?"

"You waste your bravado on me, Zorpox. I could care less," she frowned. "We'll soon have you back in your place."

"That's what you think! What's the 411 on the Destroyer? How'd he get back?" he spat.

"We found him where your master found him." She murmured something in an old dialect and touched his forehead.

He screamed in agony as his psyche rocked from the vibes. Worse he felt something from within that place.

Ron surged for a second. He was fighting back.

"NO! YOU CAN'T!"

"Yes we can," Cybelle leaned close to the bound boy. "Goddess willing, we'll get your friends back. Your sensei is awake. And my brother feels his counterpart. They know where he, Kim and Yori are. It won't be long. Make your peace with the dark one, Zorpox." She walked through the door and shut it behind herself. A single touch reenergized the mystical field around it. She turned to the two women guarding it. "No one gets through. It will not be long." With that, she left.