Chapter Five Part Four- Outrunning Fate:
Was there ever a day in Smallville where meteor freaks didn't reek havoc or kryptonian objects appear in Lex Luthor's den? Questions like this were often asked by Clark who was surprised to find a manuscript inside the Luthor Mansion with Kryptonian hieroglyphs surrounding the border saying: LOOK DEEPER
Once he did, to his surprise was a map or drawing of some sort which no doubt probably led to the stones that he was sent to find when he was reprogrammed as Kal-El.
Life was obviously never normal for Clark Kent nor would it ever be, no matter how hard her tried…he couldn't outrun fate.
Within a few hours, Bart had stolen the manuscript leaving Clark to struggle with coming up with an excuse as to why he was at the mansion in the middle of the night, it wasn't an easy conversation but when you've kept a secret from people a long time…it tends to grow on you.
"I just don't understand why he could swipe the manuscript, I really thought he was coming around." Clark sat defeated on the spinning desk chair that was near the computer desk of Lois's dorm room.
She had been listening for several hours about what had transpired between Bart and Clark, it was just now that the journalistic light bulb in her head went off.
"You said that Bart has been living in Suicide Slums for the past months, stealing so he could spend his nights in the comfort of a bed and breakfast." she turns from her seated position on her bed to grab her laptop which she quickly began typing away determined, "Chloe and I may share the same genome but I've got one talent up my sleeve that she doesn't." she turns the small computer towards him which sported mug shots and police files of a man dressed in a nice suit with glasses.
"Meet Hanison, a two bit suit wearing black market trader. He's been known to supply drugs, women, guns, you name it and he's delivered it to Edge and Mannheim." she hands off the laptop to Clark who reads through articles, "The gangs put a hit out on him years ago after they discovered that he was selling to both members of the metro crime syndicate. Ever since then…he's been hiding in a warehouse out near the docks, selling anything that comes his way including merchandise like the kind Bart takes from people."
"Where is this warehouse?" Clark asks immediately, Lois takes the computer from him to search her files.
"Its pier 54, dock 12" she quickly responds before looking up to see that Clark had taken off, "Son of a bitch!" she exclaims slamming her laptop lid down before grabbing her coat mumbling words like, "Jackass…no physically contact for a week…"
Pier 54
Bart was thrown to the floor with Hanison walking towards him with a gun now in his hand, the deal had gone south when Hanison sold Bart out to Lex Luthor who in a bittersweet case of irony double crossed Hanison by calling Metropolis P.D.
The speedster couldn't help but stare at the barrel of the gun, "Let's see if you're faster than a speeding bullet."
Before the trigger could be pulled, a dark figure called out saying "I wouldn't do that if I were you Hanison, Mr. Edge wouldn't like to hear that the cops got you instead of him."
Both men look towards the shadow who was revealed to be Clark dressed in his dark business suit with dark maroon collared shirt, a little piece of Kal he still kept in his closet after the events from his first experience with red kryptonite his second year of high school.
"Who the hell are you, some sort of boy scout?"
Clark just smirked and sped towards Hanison making sure to smash the gun in front of the man, "My name's Kal."
The recognition shined in Hanison eyes which was quickly replaced by fear, "I thought you died, people have been saying that Morgan Edge had you killed a couple weeks before his death."
Channeling his inner bad boy, Clark just smirked that cocky smile that Kal often sported when a beautiful girl was in his arms or when something he wanted went his way, "That's what I wanted people to think, but how will Vincent feel when he learns that your still dealing and selling in his territory?"
Hanison coward in fear of the man, "Please…don't tell him where I am, they'll destroy my business and make me wear cement shoes."
Clark shook his head, "I don't know what to say Hanison except maybe you leave town and forget that you ever heard of my little friend there…" he leans towards the man whispering harshly, "Or so help me, I will find you and feed you to the wolves myself."
He threw Hanison to the ground who soon took off running, the act was over and Clark was free to release a huge breath but Bart's voice caused that breath to be sucked back in, "That was awesome Clark, I've never seen that dude so scared in his entire life."
Clark immediately turned around serious and more angered then before, "You still think that stealing doesn't hurt anyone, look what could have happened if I didn't come along. You'd either be in jail or worse…dead at the hands of some scumbag."
Bart watched Clark head towards Lex concerned for his friends safety unaware to the small lead box that appeared from Bart's backpack which he stole from the loft in anticipation to Clark's actions, "I'm sorry about this Clark, I really am." he cracked the lid open and took the rock into his hand causing Clark's hands to shake and the veins to grow a sickly green before he collapsed on the floor in pain.
He stepped closer to Clark as he slipped the kryptonite into his shirt and began to rise to his feet, "This stuff will kill me.." Clark gasps out in pain watching Bart walk towards the fallen manuscript and slipping it into his bag, "You're not a murderer! That's not who you are!" he says weakly as the green veins slowly start to spread towards his neck, it was attacking his system faster then before the more his body continued to fight it off.
"You don't even know who I am! What makes you think that I'm good enough to be like you?" Bart demands slipping his backpack over his shoulders prepared to leave when he turns around ready to leave.
"I've seen the good in you." his muscles twitch causing a painful spasm, "Bart, you've got to stop running, or in the end you'll just be alone. Trust me, I know what that's like and I know you don't want that. Because down deep, we're the same."
Bart shakes his head and walks towards Clark to take the kryptonite from his chest and put it back in the lead container, "I wish that were true, Clark." he turns ready to speed away when a shock of electricity courses through his veins causing him to fall down to the floor unconscious.
Clark turn up towards the mysterious attacker surprised to see Lois standing there hold a small taser gun in her hands, "I figured what better way to stop the fastest man alive then to shock him with a taser" Lois throws the small self defense weapon to the floor before rushing to Clark's aide, "What's with the Sopranos look, Smallville? You trying to be a mobster"
He shook his head negatively, "I think we can discuss my fashion choices later, why did you shoot Bart?"
"He was gonna run off with a priceless heirloom worth thousands of dollars that held the key to whatever crusade Jor-El sent you on, I wasn't gonna let him run off with it."
Lex groans almost fully conscious along with the sound of sirens, "You better take speedy and take him back to the farm…" she unzips Bart's bag to take the manuscript from him, "Tell him that I'm sorry for shocking him." she kisses him on the cheek before watching Clark haul Bart in his arms disappearing in a flash.
"Lois?" Lex whispers surprised to see the young woman standing before him, "What are you doing here?"
She holds up the manuscript, "Your not the only one with sources, Lex. I was interviewing a few people a couple docks down when I saw Hanison high tale it out of here so I decided to check it out….I believe this belongs to you."
He takes the parchment from her surprised by the generous behavior, "Why would you do this for me?"
She shrugs, "I got tired of hating you and your father, so I figured that if Clark's willing to give you a second chance then so can I." she extends her hand towards him saying, "What do you say, Mr. Luthor? Are we friends?"
Lex stared at her for a minute, taking a few seconds to admire the sparkle in her entrancing eyes before intertwining his hand with her and accepting the offer of friendship.
Clark sat on the small bale of hay sketching what he could remember from the manuscript when a red/gold blur shot out in front of him with a cocky smirk, "I'd stick to the hero thing, cause your drawing sucks."
He just laughed at the comment while shutting his sketchpad and placing it to his side saying, "How are you feeling? I know Lois can be kind of intimidating."
Bart shrugged, "Carrying all that money around would've just slowed me down anyway." he pauses to place his pack besides Clark's sketchpad, "But I think Lois shooting me with a taser was kind of a way of telling me not to run…" he rubs his neck in pain, "Even if it did hurt like a bitch"
Clark just laughed, "She has that effect on people."
"That obviously doesn't stop you from being in a relationship with her, she must mean a lot to you if your willing to expose her to all this danger and heroism."
Clark shoved his hands into his pockets while leaning against the bale of hay with a small smile, "Lois is strong enough to take care of herself, we've been through so much together that it wouldn't surprise me if she showed up to a fight with a tank and the whole US Army."
The two laughed only delaying the eventual departure of Bart Allen, who decided to sling his backpack over his shoulders saying, "You might want to think about that, I may have had a gun in my face but I didn't imagine the look in Hanison's eyes when you mentioned the name Kal…" he smirks, "Channeling your inner criminal was definitely something to see."
Clark smirks before growing serious, "So, um, what are you gonna do now?"
Bart shrugs adjusting his straps, "I don't know. I mean, it's a big world. I figure I'd check it out, see if there's anyone else out there like us. Maybe start, like, a club or a league or something."
Clark looks slightly disappointed, "Well if you ever do put this league together, be sure to look me up…I might be able to do some good in the world."
"You know, you could come with me." The speedster offers hopefully watching Clark struggle with decision.
"Thanks for the offer but I've got things to do here…important things."
Bart smirks and prepares to leave when Clark calls out, "Are you sure there's nothing I can do to change your mind about staying?" the speedster turned with a cocky smile.
"Tell you what. If you can catch me... I'll think about it."
The two streak across the Smallville landscape, each gaining the same amount of speed until Bart disappears in a red/gold blur that went faster then Clark had ever seen leaving him at the Welcome to Smallville sign with a smile on his face.
Hours Later…
Clark stared at the finished sketch which matched the map almost down to a key, his memory had somehow allowed him to fully replicate the images and symbols that made him even more confused.
The glyphs in the upper left hand corner was kryptonian for tree, the top center one was kryptonian for ruins, upper right hand corner was badlands, the right text was plains, and the lower half side of the manuscript was mountains. It was obvious that they were clues of some sort to an unknown location, one that was meant for him to find.
His eyes landed on the ancient temple with a diamond shape symbol with an eight in its crest, similar to the one that he was scarred with when he ran off to Metropolis as Kal.
'What is so important about these stones?' Clark thought to himself seemingly lost within his personal thoughts.
Central Kansas:
Jason knocked softly on the wooden door before stepping inside the small office of Professor Willowbrook, his eyes trailing over the artifacts that looked like they belonged in a museum.
He would have looked at the artifacts in more detail but the pictures of the Kwatche cave paintings caught his eyes, to his knowledge the story on the cave wall was about a man who would fall from the stars with the ability to shoot fire from his eyes and possess the strength of ten men.
Curiosity got the best of him when his fingers trailed towards the small leather bound journal which was opened to a specific page, "A hero shall rise from the ash that will unite the stones that will erect the fortress of knowledge, he will not see the enemy disguised as his brother who wields the weapon which will pierce his heart and cause the hero to be no more…Segeeth will rise."
Footsteps echoed and Jason acted quickly by rushing into the nearby coat closet with a small crack to see the professor walk into his office with Dr. Crosby trailing behind him, "I've lost the stone." she states firmly watching as the professor stilled, "Luthor must have taken it without my knowledge."
"Swan gave you that stone to bestow upon Clark, why would Lionel Luthor want an ancient stone?" Willowbrook asks from his desk watching at Dr. Crosby's nervous behavior.
"Just because a Luthor is behind bars doesn't mean he doesn't still have power, he's just as dangerous inside then out."
Jason watched them discuss this back and forth curious to Clark's connections to the stones of power, something was deeply wrong about that mild mannered farm boy and he was determined to find out his secret.
The morning sun shined down upon the large farm while Clark hovered in the air, his hands fixing the KENT FARM sign which hanged at the entrance of their farm.
"Looks like you've been practicing your flying" Lois calls up from the ground dressed in her jogging attire and iPod strapped firmly to her arm which provided sounds of AC/DC, DEF LEPPARD, even WHITESNAKE.
His boots touched down on the dusty soil, "Dad's tired of reinforcing my bed frame, he wants me to practice outside where I can at least try not to break anything." he smiles with his eyes betraying him by gazing down at her semi sweaty body, a small wave of desire hit before quickly being pushed down by self control, "I thought you were leaving back for Metropolis, what are you doing here?"
Lois stepped closer to him, her body pressed against his and her lips barely brushing over his. "A girl cant visit her boyfriend before going off to the big city?" she whispers against his lips causing Clark to stumble back nervously.
"I just thought Met U was important to you, that's why you were trying so hard to get accepted…right?"
She just shrugged, "It's a lot different from Smallville, I sometimes wish that I could just stay here with you and help with the whole kryptonian crusade-"
Clark cuts her off by framing her face with his hands as he leaned towards her saying, "I've been dealing with Jor-El along time, I can handle anything he throws my way."
She just shakes her head and kisses him on the cheek before turning back on the main road, "Oh and by the way, Smallville…that suit you wore was a sexy look for you, I'd keep that in your closet for the next time Kal has to come out and play" she smirks turning back to run off down the opposite path she was currently on.
'A hero shall fall at the hands of one close to him' an eerie disembodied voice echoed around him until he shook it off by going back to work.
Things were coming together and something's would soon fall apart.
TBC…
A little jumbled and long but I kind of liked how I ended it, Jason's storyline starts to interweave with Clark. Think of this as a revival of the Clark Kent file that Lois still has in her dorm room *spoiler* REVIEWS MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND!