Summary: Clark watches the last person who truly knew him, Lex Luthor, finally die. Alone and adrift immortality looms ahead of him and he wonders why he must go it alone. Jor-el says it is because he turned against his soul holder or soul mate as humans would say. Turns out Lex wasn't meant to be his enemy but his lover. Clark is given the chance to go back and try again from the very beginning. Can he change the way things happened, can he truly give himself to the one man who could easily break him or will old insecurities hold him locked into a future he doesn't truly want.

Warnings: Male/male slash, strong language, less restrained Clark, murder, and spoilers.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, though I am sure someone has done something similar at least once before.

Chapter Five

Clark made it to his parents farm in under a minute. He spotted Chloe's little beetle in the driveway and heard her and Cyrus in his loft in the barn. He headed quickly into the house to let his parent know he was home. They were curled up on the couch watching the evening news together.

"Clark, welcome home. How did it go?" his mother asked.

"It went well. I will be going back in the morning. Lex is calling in an international precious metals buyer who will be here in the morning. It will be easier than handling it myself. I am going to set it up so that it seems like an inheritance. There were several people from out of town who were killed in the meteor shower. I can easily create a paper trail of a couple that is from out of the country. I know its illegal but its the only way I can think of. In order to get the money it has to have come from somewhere and this is the best way I can find. I wont be stealing it, I will have earned it all, it will just be a fake death and birth certificate."

"I don't know how I feel about that son. Its breaking the law." his dad said, his back straightening and his jaw firming.

"In order to save lives I have to kill off a fictional person. Besides this way Lionel Luthor won't have a leg to stand on. I know you are worried but this is the safest thing for our family. It will pay off the farm and start the company I need to introduce medical and technological advancements that will save lives. It is already going to happen but whether I make money off of environmentally sound and people conscious practices, or I sell them to a company who I can't ensure will do so depends on this."

"Oh Clark." his mom moaned. "We just worry this is a lot of change very fast. Your father and I just want to be sure you know what you are getting into."

"I know mom, and I do love that you worry about me. I know what is coming and I know it won't be easy but it will be possible. I will need a good Personal Assistant though, if you would be willing I would pay really well." he grinned.

His parents laughed and his mom swatted at him as he grinned and hurried at human speed up to his room to change into a pair of his flannel pajama bottoms and a simple white t-shirt. He grabbed his laptop and stopped by the kitchen where his mom was just finishing a thermos of hot chocolate. She had a plate of muffins as well and he thanked her before heading out to the barn where light was shining from the loft. Chloe was on his couch working on an article for the torch and Cyrus was at his telescope checking out the night sky.

"Mom made hot chocolate and muffins if you guys want any." he offered the thermos and paper cups and the plate of muffins.

"Oh yum, I love your mom's hot chocolate." Chloe made grabby hands towards the thermos with a laugh while Cyrus moved over towards the two.

Once they all had a drink and were settled around the coffee table Chloe spoke.

"Alright Clark, I have waited long enough. Now give me some answers cause the last couple of days everything has just been questions. Like why are we here but Pete isn't?"

"Calm down Chloe, I will give you your answers but this is off the record, you understand."

She pouted at him but sighed in agreement when he didn't budge.

"First off I know about your theory about the meteor infected and I can honestly say you are correct. I can also say that you should never, under any circumstances make a list of those you know or suspect. Very soon a lot of powerful people are going to become interested in those of you who have gifts, and not in a good way."

"You just said those of you, I am not infected." Chloe pointed at him and shook her finger like he was a naughty child.

"Actually Chloe, you are. You and your mother were driving through Smallville the day of the shower. You were given the ability to heal but unlike Cyrus, there is a defect in your gift. Anytime you heal someone it is going to take a price from you. I think that if Cyrus is there when you go to heal someone he will be able to heal your defect at the same time allowing you to heal others with no side effects like him."

Chloe paled as he spoke before turning speculative eyes on the thin pale boy next to her. He waved at her before slouching back into the couch with a blush.

"Well how do you suggest we test your hypothesis oh wise one, and how do you know anyways?"

"As for how to test, I suggest Justin Gaines. His hands were crushed along with a few more injuries. I think you should heal his hands while Cyrus works on you. Its not a life threatening injury so if this doesn't work you will just be weak for a day or so, maybe achy like you have the flu. As to how I know, that is a bit less believable."

"Well I am waiting." she urged when he didn't speak for a few minutes.

"The meteors that hit Smallville and caused the changes in people were not random space rocks. They were detritus of a planet, an occupied planet called Krypton. Krypton was a race very like humans but several thousand years older. They were already more advanced than earth is now by the time the earth came into existence. Their planet became unstable due to a mad man by the name of Zod. Zod created a device to destroy his own home and all the people on it which would only activate if he didn't give commands at a certain time. When he was captured and imprisoned for his crimes against Krypton and several other races he was unable to send the codes. A renowned scientist by the name of Jor El caught the frequency of the device as it moved towards Krypton's core and he attempted to get the ruling council of which he was a member to acknowledge the danger and evacuate the planet. They refused to see reason, not believing they could be outsmarted so badly and they forbid him from telling the public on threat of death for he and his family. They also forbid him and his wife from leaving the planet. Jor El kept silent to protect his wife and newborn son but he built a small escape pod in secret, just large enough to hold his new born son and the day the explosions started he activated the ship and placed me inside with my target as Earth. I know all of this because a genetic download was triggered a couple of days ago which gave me all of the knowledge I now hold. And also because of my spaceship in the storm cellar." he finished jokingly.

Chloe sat in silence for a moment longer before the questions came pouring out.

"Do you really look like this or is it a hologram? Are there any more of you on earth? Are there anymore planets with other races out there? Do you have any powers? Are you biologically compatible with humans? Why do the rocks cause mutations? What sorts of mutations do they cause? Does Pete know?"

He laughed out loud at her enthusiasm. "Calm down Chlo'. Wow, one at a time. First off this is me, I look exactly as I am. So far as I know my cousin Kara crash landed here at the same time I did but her ship crashed and kept her in stasis. I need to find her and will as soon as I can but I have a lot going on right now and need to focus on that first since she isn't in any danger. There are tons of planets with several races each. I have a lot of powers including super strength and speed. I can light fires with my eyes and I can fly. I have others as well including the ability to bear children for my mirror, or what you would call soul mate. As for why the rocks cause mutations it has to do with radiation and the chemicals in the brain. Some are lucky enough to be gifted and others will have to worry about cancer. You know five kids in our class have died of cancer since the meteor shower and over twenty-five still student age since then. That isn't counting the adults that have gotten sick and died. Everyone blames the Luthor Corp Plant and while Lionel's illegal dumping might have contributed the majority are from the meteors. As to the mutations they are as many and varied as the people who have them. For your last question, Pete isn't here because Pete doesn't like things that are different. If they don't fit into the Pete Ross approved column then he disapproves. I love Pete but in all honesty I think aliens and super-powers are more than he is ready to handle."

"I don't want Pete to know about me." Cyrus spoke up. "If you tell him about you that is fine but Pete, while a good guy is a follower. If he is told gifted people are bad or freaks, then to him we will be freaks. Clark is trying to build a life for us that is safe and accepting. I want that."

"Alright I can see where you are coming from but Pete has been your best friend since grade school. I just want the option of telling him if it comes to that."

"I can agree but never speak of it in public and never ever write or type it anywhere. I don't care if you have a USB that you carry everywhere or a pentagon level computer, you don't make any record of me or any of the others unless they are caught and already public record."

"Alright, I swear. Now if I am gifted, like you claim, tell me how to access it." she demanded.

Cyrus spoke up then. "Mine is like a light that flows through my whole body. I focus on the light and push it from my hands and then run them over the wound or if someone is sick then I run it over all of them. I cured a kid with cancer a couple years ago while he was asleep. His name was Mike and he moved away with his parents cause they thought Luthor Corp had made him sick. I turned on my light and I pushed it through his body all up and down until he felt clean. I don't know how else to describe it. Illness or wounds feel dirty and I use my light to scrub until the grime is gone."

Clark moved to his desk to begin building an electronic trail for his parents Lara and James Elton. He was used to having to bypass much more complicated systems so creating a birth certificate and back story for his parents and grandparents on both sides was relatively easy. He created a record of them having owned a home which was sold and the funds given to the estate. His 'mother' had three tickets on record and his 'father had his appendix removed when he was eight. His mother was wealthy and his father was very smart, having worked as a systems designer for a large conglomerate. An easily ignored cog in the wheel except for his performance reviews. He added them and himself to old flight manifests for a vacation to America for a work conference in Metropolis and he made certain to put them and their will in the system for the law office he wanted to deal with. His final touch was setting up an account and back dating it for several years. That was harder than the others but he managed it and left behind no trace. Monday morning an alert would trigger that their heir was found and most likely that very day he would receive a call, and a visit not long after.

By the time he was finished Chloe was able to call her light to her hand and all three of them were exhausted. He ushered them into the house where Chloe headed to the guest room and Cyrus crashed out on a blow up mattress in Clark's room. Both would be going with him in the morning, though Chloe knew she wouldn't be able to interview Lex.

Morning came very early for Clark as he hurried through his chores while his friends woke up. Chloe was all but incoherent until she had her coffee and Cyrus was like every other teenager alive and not a morning person. A simple breakfast of buttered toast and some fruit and they took Chloe's bug to the castle where Lex's current security guy let them in. Clark led the way to Lex's office with the duffel full of gold and Lex and his expert met them. Lex had coffee and danishes for them and Clark smiled at him while the gold dealer had kittens over the pure metal in the bag. It turned out being just over five million and he completed an immediate transfer to the account Clark had set up the night before and then he left almost skipping. Once the guy was gone Lex motioned for Clark to check the room which was thankfully still absent bugs before he spoke.

"I had the set up for the Blue K water set up in a room down the hall. I have enough for about ten bottles that I boiled with the Blue K to process it more quickly and its ready. I am about to have a bottle and I have enough for both of you." he offered to Chloe and Cyrus.

"But I thought Kryptonite was bad. We just discussed this last night." Chloe questioned. Clark quickly explained about the crazy caused by the green K and how the Blue K fixed that problem. One bottle will fix you for life. I am going to leave you guys after you have your bottles cause I have some stuff to do today but if everything goes well I will be back by about three this afternoon and we can meet up if you want."

"Alright, but what about Justin, are we doing that today?" Chloe asked.

"If I get back in time yes. If not we might have to hold off until tomorrow or sneak in tonight. I also want to get some Blue K in Alicia this weekend. Curing her crazy will be good for us until we are more established."

"Alright. Cyrus you wanna hang with me today. I will be finishing up the Torch for most of the day."

"I need to stop and get clean clothes and take a shower at my foster home but yeah hanging out sounds fun."

Lex led the way as they talked and he questioned them each politely and asked if he could accompany them to deal with Justin. They all agreed it was acceptable. Lex led them to the room Clark had taken to thinking of as the Shrine in his last life. It had held a huge picture of him as well as several other artifacts and pieces of proof. He was glad Lex wasn't going that route this time. Instead there were several large wine caskets filled with water and with a good chunk of Blue K in each. Clark could feel the effects of being in the room surrounded by the stone and he checked each of the barrels to ensure they were all purifying correctly. The last bit was set up like a mad scientist lad with beakers and tubes all connected and there were eight bottles of water set in a small glass front fridge. The water had a very slight blue tinge that humans would miss but he saw easily and he sat back as the three cheered each other and downed the ice cold water quickly.

"How do we know if it worked?" Cyrus questioned.

"It will take a bit but if you were already affected your mind will clear and you will be able to recognize any irrationality. If you weren't affected then nothing will change." Clark answered.

He took a moment to smile at Lex as they all headed back out and Lex nodded at him.

"Thank you for this Lex, it means a lot."

"It is no trouble. It cost maybe two hundred for the men to gather the rocks and about the same for the supplies because I already had most of it on hand. So little to save so many minds is worth it."

"Well I will pay you back for it as soon as the lawyer contacts me with the news of my inheritance."

"Its no problem Clark. Just let me know if you will be visiting Mr Gaines today. I can meet you there or pick you up, which ever."

"Alright. I will let you know." he smiled as he watched his friends get in Chloe's bug and take off and with a final smile and after making sure no one was around to see he lifted off slowly and with a smile at Lex's awed expression he took off.

He made it to China in under half an hour, still not at full speed, and the temple just a few moments later. He couldn't remember which tree it was exactly so he x-rayed from the air and once spotting it he dove down and drove his fist deep into the soil before taking off into the sky with the stone clasped in his fist. He knew the general coordinates for the stone in Egypt and with his x-ray it didn't take long to find the hidden temple. Again it only took a few minutes, and only that long to ensure he didn't damage anything else as he collected the stone.

Another flight across the ocean and to the cave where he made his way to the hidden chamber with his ship key and settled the stones one by one on the stone table. A bit of work with the alien tech and the insistent ringing echoed through the air. It was almost painful and he took off at full speed landing in Ireland and with a bit more work he unearthed the stone for water and took off again. It was almost noon by the time he landed back in the cave and joined the final stone to complete the crystal.

Like the first time it triggered the pulsing light and whirling vortex but he could hear a whistling in the distance and was slightly surprised when in just a minute his ship sped to him right as the portal fully formed and he, the crystal, and his ship were transported to the frozen arctic. The ship stayed floating next to him as he picked up the crystal and threw it through the air.

It only took about five minutes for the fortress to form and he led the still floating ship across the snow and to the fortress. Once inside the building lit up and Clark moved the ship over to a docking station that he remembered. It was funny to watch the ship 'download' into the fortress but he moved quickly to cut off the AI of his father before it could start in on him taking over the world. He moved a few of the preset commands on the console to trigger the fortress into understanding what exactly had happened.

"Greetings Kal El, son of Jor El. Welcome. My systems read that you have already completed all training parameters and my sensors from you ship indicate a massive spike of energy matching with a time jump occurred three earth days ago. Is this correct?"

"It is."

"Then you are ahead of scheduled time from where it was suspected you would be. What are your orders Kal El?"

"For now I do not have many. What is the time frame for you you to have infiltrated the human technological systems?"

"I have already begun. Total assimilation should occur within 27 earth hours."

"Very well once that is done I need a group of people found. They are the original members of the Justice Society of America. Carter Hall as an immediate interest. I also need a boy around my age who goes by Davis Bloom found. Bloom is the incarnate Doomsday created by Zod. I have the knife to destroy him completely but I need him found. He will not activate for a few years yet but I would like to find him before he does."

"The entity Doomsday is indeed a threat. Carter Hall and the JSA should be relatively simple to find. Would like like the information sent to you or would you like it held here for your perusal?"

"Keep it here. Checkmate, the human government group who took them down will need to be dealt with so make certain your searches trigger nothing and leave no clues."

"Very well Kal El. Do you have any other commands?"

"Yes, I need a concentrated Blue K serum to cancel out the powers that are deadly to the wielder and any near them. Most will not need it but my memory gives me more than a few who become a danger to themselves simply to survive their own mutation."

"Synthesizing a serum will take 32 earth hours. I shall place it in a dart to be fired from a human tranquilizer gun. Twenty darts to start with in a thin lead casing so that you might carry them with no ill effects."

"Good, that works well. The last thing I need is for you to track down the Kryptonian Dax Ur. He resides on this planet and I would like his assistance in creating a way to defeat his creation Brainiac."

"I will find Dax Ur."

"Alright that is all I have for you just now. I need to take my leave I will use the portal back to Smallville."

Clark moved to the transporter console and with simple insertion of the key he was back in the Kawatchie caves. It was almost two in the afternoon and he was dirty from everything he had done so far that day so he headed to the farm and took a shower after having lunch. He called Chloe who was with Cyrus at the Beanery, which he had almost forgotten about. He promised to meet them there and then called Lex who agreed to meet them as well.

Clark said goodbye to his parents and headed into town to the coffee shop that he planned to put out of business very soon. Chloe was waiting with Cyrus and as Clark spotted them he notice how relaxed the smaller boy seemed. His tense shoulders and nervous manner were gone and his ever present hunching to hide himself was gone as well. Clark ordered a simple coffee and headed over to the two to wait on Lex.

Cyrus spoke to him with his eyes bright. "You were right Clark, Blue juice helped. I hadn't even realized how twitchy and paranoid I had gotten until I wasn't anymore."

"He is right Clark it took about two hours to show but he has changed so much in the past few hours its crazy. Blue juice is awesome. I haven't changed any that I can tell but I put a little advert in the paper about the water which I just called Blue, I am going to get as many bottles as Lex can spare and keep them in the mini-fridge in the Torch Office. I suspect I will have a few visitors this week. I even printed out a few labels for the water so it looks like an actual product so that the teachers and staff don't argue against it."

"That is awesome Chloe and Cyrus, I and so happy for you man. Lex will be glad too."

"What will Lex be glad about?" the voice of the bald billionaire sounded from behind him. He turned and found Lex in black slacks and a gray fitted cashmere sweater with his hand loosely in his pockets. It was a familiar image and one Clark found very comforting.

"Blue helped me Mr Luthor." Cyrus smiled brightly at him as he motioned for the older man to join them.

Lex looked him over as he sat next to Clark.

"I can see that. Do you feel clearer?"

"Yes. I havent felt this good in months. I hadn't even realized I was changing but I feel so much better now."

"Well that is good. We will certainly keep an eye out but Clark seems to think it was enough for life so here is to hoping."

"Good now what exactly is our plan?" Chloe sat forward, bringing them all in together closely to prevent anyone from overhearing.

"We are just going to visit a classmate for us three and Lex is along as a friend."

"I also have my Land Rover so we can all ride together and I have a bottle of Blue, is that what we are calling it?"

"Fantastic we can all ride together. And as to the name yes, Chloe coined it and put a small add in the Torch. She also created a lable for it we just have to attach the labels to the bottles."

"Fantastic. Shall we go?" Lex stood and they all followed him out to the SUV. Clark took the front seat where a small cooler sat on the floor with a bottle of Blue. The bottle was different from the ones that morning. It was about as round as a regular bottle but instead of being shaped with curves and hand holds it was strait like a round canister. It was made out of clear glass and about eight inches tall. Chloe had a sample of the labels and she slipped it on and the natural adhesive sealed it closed. The drive to Metropolis was only about 2 hours long at the speeds Lex was driving and they all chatted amicably the whole way.

Justin was in the childrens hospital and was just being settled into his room for the evening when they arrived. They had stopped and gotten fast food for him as an extra excuse for the nurses and while they gave disapproving glares they let them all in. Cyrus shut the door to Justins room while the other teen was greeting Chloe.

"Not that I am not glad for visitors, but I must say you are not the group I imagined." he quipped.

"There is a reason for us being here besides just visiting Justin." Chloe said quickly and eagerly. Clark stepped in when Justin began to look distrusting.

"Justin things have changed for you since you accident haven't they? You can do things, things that you don't talk about because you are afriad you might be going crazy?"

"How do you know about that?" Justin questioned sharply.

"Because you aren't the only one who can do things." Cyrus interupted. "Chloe and I are healers and Clark is a whole lot more."

"We are here because we thing that I can heal your hands or at least fix them more than surgery alone can. We just need you to let us try." Chloe offered eagerly gesturing to Justin's bandaged appendages where they lay limply in his lap.

"You think you can heal me?" he questioned disbelievingly.

"Mr Gaines, truthfully you have nothing to loose. If we are crazy and nothing happens you are no worse off than you were before but if it works, even if it doesn't work all the way, you will be a little better and will have more mobility than the doctors are saying you will now."

"Your Lex Luthor." just said unhelpfully. He was clearly not handling it well so Clark motioned for both Chloe and Cyrus to get into position.

Chloe smiled at Justin as she moved her hands to cover his gently so as not to hurt him and Cyrus moved in behind her ready to light up as soon as she did. He would heal her while she healed Justin.

Clark and Lex stood back and watched as Chloe's hands lit with light. Clark caught to look of amazement on Lex's face before he noticed Chloe paling before Cyrus lit up as well and focused on her heart and head. Clark could almost see the switch as Chloe began looking stronger even as Justin looked on in awe. Cyrus stopped after a minute while Chloe kept going until Justin was moving his hands freely under the wrappings and cast.

When Chloe stopped and opened her eyes Justin was looking at her in awe and she just smiled as Lex moved forward and passed her and Cyrus regular water and passed Justin the bottle of Blue. The bottles were all the same but like before the Blue had a slight tint that human eyes couldn't see but Clark could.

Justin drank a few swallows before setting his water down and unwrapping his hands on his own. There weren't even any marks from the countless surgeries or from the accident. Clark x-rayed the hands and wrists to find the bones and muscles and ligaments all in perfect condition. There weren't even any plates or pins that should have been there.

"Chloe you even got rid of the pins and plates. Truly healed, like it never happened." Clark smiled at his friend.

"Awesome. Cyrus I felt when what you were doing clicked. I could feel myself weakening but when you started it was like something changed in the energy patterns and suddenly I wasn't pulling in bad to replace what I was sending out. I felt it heal."

"That is amazing. Truly amazing." Lex offered. Now I will call in a favor and have a doctor I know here in half an hour to release you. Obviously we can not have anyone too interested in your miraculous recovery Mr Gaines. You three finish your water, stuff like this takes it out of you. I will call Doctor Hamilton."

Clark could barely hold his surprise at that. Emil Hamilton was the original JLA doctor. They couldn't use Chloe unless it was life or death because of her dying when she healed others and the doctor was the best they had. To find out Lex knew him was a bit of a surprise. Clark wondered at a few times when Emil had come up with cures that were amazing and no one knew where he had gotten them, always with an answer about a colleague who was a scientist. Clark wondered how many times Lex had saved one of the JLA without them knowing. More proof he wasn't evil.

He made certain Justin drank all of his Blue K water and helped them all pack up Justin's things while they waited on Emil to arrive. When he did Lex explained that one of the teens had a natural healing factor but they didn't want them taken by the government and experiment on and would Emil do what needed to be done to prevent that. Emil agreed and within and hour they were on their way back to Smallville. They stopped at a drive-thru and Lex marveled at the McDonalds cheese burger and fries before agreeing it was good tasting if not necessarily good for them.

Half way through the drive Justin made a comment about how he could think clearly for the first time in a while and Clark let Cyrus explain the Blue K water while he simply basked in Lex's arm resting next to his on the center console close enough to touch his. He smiled at Lex before bringing up the idea for the JLA. Chloe immediately claimed her place in the freak brigade and Cyrus said he was in and Justin after thinking it over said they would all need some sort of self defense training which meant he was in.

"I have designs for outfits in my head and I will see about getting them drawn out. As for self defence I am looking into finding someone to help with that but we have to be very careful about this. There was a group about fifteen or twenty years ago that called themselves the Justice Society of America and they did much like I want us to do just on a smaller scale. There was a group created by extremists in the government called Checkmate who tried to recruit them as super assassins and operatives. The JSA refused and Checkmate targeted them head on. They falsified records and framed them all for crimes they didn't commit. They ruined them and more than half of them, when they tried to fight back, were killed. I am working on a way to neutralize Checkmate but until I can at least get them declawed we cant mention this to anyone and no writing it down anywhere."

"Alright, I can do that. I can also star working on a comic series which tells the story. I can get a few ready and if you like them then I can get them published anonymously in the Planet. If the public thinks of Checkmate, a fictional agency, as the bad guys then when Checkmate makes a move publicly then they will be shut down."

"That is actually a brilliant idea. I like the way you think Mr Gaines." Lex smirked at him in the mirror.

"You can call me Justin. It seems weird for Lex Luthor to be calling me Mr Gaines." the newly healed teen smiled as he casually slipped his arm around Chloe. Clark hid his chuckle because that was such a teenage move. Lex smirked at him too.

It took almost three hours to get back to Smallville and it was dark when they did. They dropped Justin off at his house where his parents were waiting. They had been so excited about hearing he was being released even though they didn't understand anything besides that it was a miracle. They dropped Chloe off at her car on main street and then Lex took Clark and Cyrus back to the farm where his parents were waiting.

"Hello Lex, I am Martha."

"Hello Mrs Kent."

Clark watched as they greeted each other and made small talk before his mom invited Lex for Sunday dinner the next day and he accepted. Lex took his leave a few minutes later and Clark hurried through his chores while Cyrus set up his bag in the guest room where Chloe had spent the night before. Lex had said he would move to get Clark's parents temporary custody of Cyrus until he came of age so the guest room was his until further notice. Lex would have the approval ready on Monday especially since thanks to Lionel his parents already were approved by the state.

They would get the rest of Cyrus's things when the paperwork came through and a case worker would be by to visit. Clark finished his chores and took his final shower of the day before switching back into his pajamas and finally crawling into bed, satisfied with his days work.