Chapter 15: Hostile.
Clark sat on a chair waiting, and a second later, Kara bust open the door of the Kent Farm House, to rush over towards her cousin and check on him.
The door was reduced to mere splinters from Kara's forceful entry.
"Maybe you should have done that teleporting thing inside instead of on the front step," said Chloe to Harry.
Harry just nodded, allowing Chloe inside, before he turned and fixed the door with a simple motion.
"Clark, what happened, are you okay?" asked Kara in a frantic voice. "I thought I told you…never mind, you're still breathing."
"Kara, I'm just a little weak and sore," said Clark, with a reassuring smile on his face. "I did get struck with lightning."
Kara shook her head at the blasé way her cousin was treating his near death experience. She tried to listen to her cousin's heartbeat, and as far as she could tell it was normal. She could tell he was not about to drop dead as a consequence to what happened, which gave her a bit of relief and allowed her to relax.
"Explain, please," said Harry.
Clark took a breath and proceeded to explain.
"Lana and I were outside. I got weakened by a piece of Kryptonite, and lightning struck and caused my powers to transfer into her."
"I see," said Harry, nodding slowly. He performed several scanning spells on Clark.
"Power transference, that's never a good thing," offered Chloe. "Last person who got your powers through lightning…well the power drove him insane."
"I know, but this is different, he had some issues before he got my powers," said Clark. "It's different, it's Lana."
Kara just smiled fondly. Her cousin rationalizing and sticking up for his friends was kind of endearing, even if it was someone she was not particularly fond of.
"Clark, please sit still," said Harry.
This was delicate work. Harry had to get a clear scan of Clark to gauge everything that happened.
Clark did sit still, and waited. Chloe watched in the background, before another thought visited her.
"Well, how about your father?" asked Chloe. "He got your powers, and it destroyed his heart, and….well you know what happened there."
"I know what happened, I'm not even sure how permanent this is," said Clark. "I can still use my powers, to an extent. Lana seems happy about this, she seems to think we can level…well do things that we couldn't do."
Kara winced. While what her cousin did in his free time was his business, she did not need to hear about him potentially doing anything intimate. Especially with Lana, but Kara tried to keep her expression blank and calm as she waited for Harry's final assessment.
"The good news is, your powers should naturally flow back to you completely in due time," said Harry. "Chloe mentioned this happening to you before, was it a complete loss or partial?"
"Complete," confirmed Clark.
"But this time it's partial," said Harry and Clark nodded to confirm. "That could mean something or it could mean nothing. It could mean the Kryptonite was weaker or you're getting a bit more immune to it because of constant exposure."
"I didn't feel immune," said Clark.
"I don't know without a more detailed study," said Harry, shaking his head before he turned towards Kara. "He's fine, Kara. A bit sore and a bit weaker than he would be normally, but a day or two, he will be back to his normal power levels."
Kara let out the breath she had been holding. Perhaps she was overreacting, but Clark was the only family she had left. Her gaze was fixed on Clark.
"I'm glad you're okay, Clark" said Kara.
"Lana might be another matter entirely," said Harry.
"Yeah, I didn't think invisibility was one of your powers," said Chloe to Clark. "So, where is she?"
Clark shifted a little bit and decided to explain.
"Well, Lana seemed to be thrilled when she got my powers, but the way she was acting…she has my powers but the control thing is a bit off. And I'm afraid she could hurt someone. That's why I called Harry, to make sure nothing was going to happen. And now…"
He turned around and tried to use his X-Ray vision. It was a bit more of a strain until his powers completely boosted back up to what they should be, but he managed it.
"She's still up there, good" said Clark, a bit more at ease after confirming Lana's whereabouts. "She…she wasn't too happy that I called you into this."
"Doesn't she understand that you're only looking out for her well-being?" asked Kara gently.
"Lana…well she accepted it after a while," said Clark.
"Before or after much shouting," said Chloe. "So, if I looked upstairs, would I see the results of a super powered tantrum?"
"Well she did bust a window, and break a glass, but that was just her breaking in her powers," said Clark.
Harry remained silent and he pondered the situation. The good thing was Lana was still here, and he could fix this situation before it escalated out of control.
"Bring her down here, I'll figure out what to do," said Harry.
Clark zoomed upstairs, and Harry tapped his foot, and waited.
"So what are you going to do?" asked Chloe.
"There's enough information here for me to know that those powers could have a long term effect on her, whether it would be psychologically or physically," concluded Harry, and Kara sat down next to him. He placed his hand on hers. "I don't know how permanent the transference is. It could be something that burns out over time, or it could be something more…long lasting."
"I hate to be the one to ask the obvious question, but couldn't you just wave your hand and have things be back the way it should be?" asked Chloe.
Harry shook his head.
"If only it was that simple. It's never that simple. I could do it, but it could hurt either Clark or Lana or both, and…well that's not a road that I want to go down. Power transference is a rather dangerous area."
Kara remained quiet, and watched Clark and Lana upstairs. There seemed to be a bit of a heated argument, but Lana decided to concede to Clark to remain downstairs. The blonde Kryptonian remained by Harry's side.
She used her super hearing and picked up an erratic heartbeat from Lana. The human heart was not meant to beat in such a manner.
"Harry, listen to that, that doesn't sound good," whispered Kara.
Harry listened, and he would have to agree.
"Her heart beats erratic, it shouldn't beat that fast," said Harry before Chloe could even ask. "I don't know if it's temporary stress or something more permanent…"
Lana was lead in to face Harry. She tried to fix her face into a neutral expression to hide the agitation she felt.
"I swear I feel fine," said Lana to Harry before he could even speak. "Sure, new powers get some getting used to but…"
"I'll be the judge of how fine you feel," said Harry in a tone that Lana sensed left no room for argument. "Kara already heard your heart beating erratically. Do you want to cut your life short for a few days of power?"
Lana stopped and stared. In her high of getting her powers, that's something she had not considered, but she grudgingly conceded Harry had a point.
Still the lure of power, and being with Clark on that level, it was almost too much to pass up, even if there were risks.
"It's just settling," said Lana, but she seemed a bit less sure. "There had to be a reason why I got this power. Clark and I…"
Harry cut her off again.
"I need you to be perfectly silent while I scan you, to make sure none of your internal organs have been damaged when you got struck by lightning," said Harry. "Or if the Kryptonite didn't do any permanent mutation to you."
Lana relaxed, mostly because Harry placed a sedation charm on her. The effects would only be temporary, but Harry could scan her without much resistance.
Kara, Clark, and Chloe all waited and watched.
Harry's results gave him enough to be rather disturbed by. She did have some low levels of Kryptonite within her genetic makeup. It was hard to determine whether or not it was from the accident or something else. It was not enough to be classified as meteor infected, but Harry suspected there were prolonged periods of time where Lana had been around a small sample of Kryptonite.
Of course, Harry suspected anyone who lived in Smallville for any amount of time had been slightly tainted. Those who had been tainted the most were the ones who exhibited powers.
"The powers are only temporary," concluded Harry. "In a few days, they'll fade, as I suspected, but they'll leave their mark. I would recommend that you come to the Shining Light Foundation with me, so I could find a way to remove them."
Lana's eyes widened.
"Remove them, I can do so many great things with these powers, even in a few days, how many people I can help," said Lana. "Are you sure they're only temporary?"
"Very sure, but the damages will be permanent the longer you have them," said Harry in a calm voice. "And by helping people, are you sure you don't mean help yourself to your revenge on Lex Luthor?"
Lana's eyes widened, and her breath sped up.
"You can't be sticking up for him…after all he did to me!" yelled Lana, but Harry shook his head.
"I'm not about to defend anyone with the last name Luthor did or did not do, but here's the thing," said Harry. "You get your revenge on Lex, and what does that bring you? Will it undo everything bad that has ever happened to you because of him? I understand your outrage…but this obsession has been taken to an unhealthy level."
"Harry does have a point," conceded Clark.
"I thought you'd be happy, isn't this what you wanted?" asked Lana.
"Not if it kills you, Lana," said Clark in a diplomatic tone of voice. "Just think about your health. Really consider what this could do to you."
"And think about what it would do to Clark, if he loses you to your obsession," whispered Kara in an undertone to her.
Lana turned towards Kara, and she lost it.
"Oh, it's not like you care, you've had it in for me from the first time you've met me, both of you," said Lana to Harry and Kara, and a blast of heat vision caught the curtains on fire.
Harry was quick to put it out. Lana took a deep breath. Having accidents with her powers was not a good way to keep them.
"I don't have it in for you, I just don't want to see my cousin hurt," said Kara hotly.
"I'm not trying to hurt Clark," argued Lana. "And you've just flown in here, thinking you can run his life!"
Kara was angry at this point and would have punched Lana had Clark not been standing between them. Chloe sat off to the side and she watched the situation transfixed. It was like a train wreck one could not look away from.
"Enough from both of you!" yelled Clark, and both Lana and Kara both shut up, even if their angry gaze fixed on each other. "Everyone's just…this has been a rough time for all of us…"
Lana took a deep breath, and it appeared for a second she had calmed down.
Until the moment she jumped up, and broke the door open with super speed. Chloe, Clark, Kara, and Harry all watched her leave.
Harry knew she was beyond reasoning right now. He recognized the symptoms.
"That could have gone better," concluded Chloe.
Clark did not know what to do. Lana was out there, with powers she could barely control and could be killing her. He tried to go after her, but Harry shook his head.
"Clark, I need one more piece of information for you, before you go off after Lana," said Harry. "The scene of the crime…"
"Crime's too strong of a word to use," said Clark. "Lana didn't purposely take my powers."
"Fine, just take me to the place where you got struck by lightning," said Harry.
"Couldn't you just…conjure up lightning again and reverse the effects?" asked Clark desperately.
Harry pondered for a second, but shook his head.
"I could, but to get it precise would be a one in a million fluke," said Harry. "I'd be more likely to blow you both into microscopic dust particles."
Kara closed her eyes at the thought.
"Lightning's definitely out then," said Chloe. "Maybe I should go looking for Lana…"
"Chloe, thanks for the offer, but at her current state, she could do some serious damage if you got in her way," said Harry.
"I'll look for her," offered Kara, and Harry had reservations about this as well. Kara responded with her logical reasoning for why she was the best to do this. "Anything she can do, I can do better."
"That's not egotistical at all," said Chloe, but Kara just shifted her gaze.
"Plus, I don't think she could fly yet either," said Kara. "So I can cover the most ground, while Harry finds out a way to reverse this…situation."
Clark turned a worried glance towards his cousin.
"Kara, you won't hurt her, will you?" asked Clark, the argument fresh in his mind.
Kara's expression softened as she looked her cousin in the eyes.
"Clark, I can't make you a promise that everything's going to turn out okay. For you, I'll make sure Lana is returned back safe and sound. But, I'm not going to just sit back and let her run free with those powers. If I have a chance to bring her in, I'm taking it. She might be sore in the morning, but…she'll be alive."
"Just do what you have to do," said Clark. "Just make sure…you find her before she does anything that she'll live to regret."
"I'll try," said Kara, eyes closed and she let out a sigh.
"Just do what you can, Kara," said Harry, and she leaned forward, and gave him a kiss goodbye.
After a moment, Kara flew off, and Clark led Harry off to the scene of the power transference.
Several scientists proceeded to walk around a lab, and spoke in hushed tones. The doors opened, and Lex Luthor walked into the lab and surveyed the situation. His head looked around, as the scientists continued to hover around a vial. A liquid swirled around inside it, but was prevented from escaping with a green meteor rock.
"So what am I supposed to be looking at?" asked Lex but he noticed what was peculiar about it. "Project Scion…how did it…"
"We're not sure, sir, but it turned into liquid from the dust sample you had acquired."
"That dust sample is the last remaining part of an advanced piece of alien technology," said Lex, and he looked at the vial. "The ship of Milton Fine, and I wanted you to keep it under lock and key. Something you seemed to have failed to do, given that it's changed."
"It's almost like it is evolving," said the scientist. "Almost as if it's trying to escape, and find a way…"
"It may be trying to escape, Dr. Jensen," said Lex grudgingly. "But it's something that must not escape. If anyone knows the truth about Project Scion, there are going to be questions. Questions you might not want to answer to, if the wrong people find out. Your ethics are without question, but…this is not a matter of ethics."
Lex heard a door creek off to the side of him. Immediately, he remained on his guard and tensed up.
The second he looked up, all of the scientists had been dropped down to the ground. They were rendered completely unconscious.
"Whoever you are, come out," said Lex, reaching to call for security.
Lex found himself knocked into a wall before he could even press one button. A shadowed figure appeared from the darkness and picked up Lex by the throat. He was knocked out cold.
The gloved hand picked up the vial containing Project Scion and pocketed it without a sound. Lex was dragged off. Time had stopped around them all.
Time would restart itself in a matter of moments, but the shadowed figure would ensure that they would have escaped with Lex Luthor and whatever project he was working out.
Revenge would be sweet. The kidnapper had been waiting for this for a long time.
The young Herald of Death bit his tongue and performed scanning spells on the ground. Using his powers, he could mentally reconstruct what occurred in his mind, down to the absolute micro-second. Clark looked over his shoulder, and waited for his assessment.
"It just backs up my theory," concluded Harry. "There's a twenty five percent chance I can stabilize Lana and she could handle your powers...but that's playing the odds. There's more of a chance that I can remove her powers, and fix any damage. The ball's in your court now Clark. What do you want to do? They're your powers after all."
Clark paused at this moment and mulled over his options.
"If there's more of a chance to remove her powers and make sure she's fine then do it," said Clark. "What are the consequences if the first method doesn't work?"
"Slow and agonizing death," said Harry in a somber tone. "But there are many things that can go wrong. With her mental state, which I can tell was already on shaky ground. I'm not going to tell you what you should do with Lana, but all I'm telling you is to remain on your guard. Those who think they are helping you, sometimes end up hurting you the most. And what Lex did…well I don't know everything, but I know enough to be concerned."
Harry sighed.
'Both of them, Lex and Lana, they're going to be the death of me,' thought Harry.
"I'm going to warn Lex, give him the heads up," said Clark.
Harry thought that would be best for Clark right now.
"If you think that's for the best, then go for it," said Harry. "I'll take these readings back to the Shining Light Foundation, run a simulation on the main computer. To make sure everything will be safe for when I undo the power transference. I'll be in touch."
Clark and Harry went their separate ways. Harry hoped Kara could track down Lana before that woman did something that Harry would have to fix. He had no questions about her capabilities, but given it was dark now, it would be a bit tougher to get a fix on Lana.
Now Harry tried to calm himself down, and hoped that he could get everyone out of his situation.
Hindsight being what he was, he should have stunned Lana and dragged her over to the Shining Light Foundation, but that was the price he paid for diplomacy.
Clark moved at super speed, and reached the study of Lionel Luthor. Lionel just hung up the phone the moment he reached arrived. The elder Luthor surveyed Clark, and his breath was short.
"Ah, Clark, what pleasure do I owe you?" asked Lionel. "You seem winded, given your powers; I would not have thought it to be possible."
"Neither did I, but my powers haven't completely returned to me," said Clark. "I still have some of them, and I'm better off than I was an hour ago. There was an accident, lightning, and…well some of my powers got transferred to another person.
Lionel inclined his head, and thought over the situation in his mind.
"Well, that's quite the dilemma, isn't it?" asked Lionel. "As we know, your powers were never meant to be held by mortal men or women. Such a transference could have fatal consequences."
Clark did know all too well.
"It's temporary, the powers should fade in a few days," said Clark.
"So, who's the lucky donor?" asked Lionel.
Clark paused for a few seconds, before he answered a question.
"Lana."
Lionel remained eerily silent.
"This is a worse situation than I had thought," said Lionel, breaking his own silence. "Clark, Lana's not the same girl you once knew, not anymore. The past few years have not been kind to her, son. And her marriage with my son pushed her over the edge, I fear. And when I went missing, she was the one who arranged for me to be kidnapped."
"Lana…she wouldn't do something like that," said Clark, but his voice lacked the necessary belief in his convinctions.
Lionel wondered who Clark was trying to convince.
"Those powers present a danger, to both Lana and anyone around her," said Lionel. "And Lana's already capable of malice, but that's beside the point. The point is at least her motive is predictable."
Lionel's gaze met Clark's eyes directly and without blinking.
"Find Lex, and Lana will likely be closely behind him, watching his every move. The problem is my son is making himself rather difficult to track down, and he's has his own obsessions. But never mind, have determined how to reverse this situation, before Lana hurts anyone?"
"Harry's on it," said Clark.
At this point, Lionel's silence resumed, before he spoke again.
"Harry Potter, the resident darling of the Shining Light Foundation, selfless and bold," said Lionel. "I know his type; he wears a mask in front of his intentions. And I'd hazarding a guess you offered him a full scan of your powers."
"I had no choice," said Clark.
"You could have refused," responded Lionel.
"Kara would have insisted," said Clark.
Lionel clicked his tongue before he offered his own brutally honest assessment of this situation.
"Your cousin seems to be enamored by this young man, and would do anything for him," said Lionel. "Including attacking her own flesh and blood, if Mr. Potter convinced her it was for your own good."
Clark was a bit agitated by this accusation, but Lionel seemed unfazed about this particular reaction.
"Kara wouldn't do that and Harry wouldn't ask it of her," argued Clark. "We should have never gone into the Shining Light Foundation on that night. It was a huge mistake, and if Kara never spoke to me again, I wouldn't have been surprised."
"Calculated error, yes," agreed Lionel. "But one that could have paid off in the end. The past is what it is. Just be on your guard around Harry Potter. His bloodline has been rooted in obsession, and he could have very well seduced your cousin over to his point of view, as a means to his ends."
"You're wrong, I can tell what both Harry and Kara feel for each other is nothing but genuine," said Clark, his voice rising in agitation. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down. "Just…I'll find Lex…unless you know where he is."
"I would have told you, but I have a list of facilities where he could be," said Lionel and he handed Clark a printout. "Best of luck to you, but do consider what I said."
Clark zoomed off. Lionel sat back and pondered the results of his latest encounter with Clark.
'Harry Potter, you've done well in swaying him over to your point of view,' thought Lionel. 'If Potter finds a way to control the traveler's destiny…it can't happen.'
Harry responded with a deep sigh, as Chloe hovered in the background and peaked over his shoulder. She waited to see if Harry would come up with anything.
"Soon I'll have pieced together a brand new sequence to create a new spell," said Harry, more to himself and Chloe, as millions of lines of data scrolled by at the speed of light.
"So this is how the magic happens," said Chloe.
Harry nodded. He could read more information in a second than most could read in an hour thanks to his powers.
"Close to getting something I think," said Harry.
"So, this isn't going to have any adverse effects on Lana," prompted Chloe.
"No, she won't have any physical damage, it will be just like she was before she got the powers," said Harry, and he focused on the screen. "Breaking down the matrix of Clark's powers is rather complex. There are infinite lines and strands of DNA. No computer created by a mere mortal could ever read it. I have at my fingertips information that many people would kill to get their hands on."
"Well, people would have killed for less," said Chloe. "I just can't believe there aren't any spells that would just reverse everything."
Harry conceded that was a good point, but he figured out the reason for it.
"Those spells if they were created, they would be abused," said Harry. "In my world, if people could take the gifts away from those of…lesser breeding in their words, they would do so. And that was the stance the government took towards the end. Those born of non-magical families had to have stolen their gifts from magical users. It was the only explanation. It was the most logical explanation, after all."
"They didn't think that there was a more logical explanation," said Chloe. "There had to be magical ancestors, a long time ago. It just makes sense."
"Yes, there were, but they wanted to show themselves superior, but the past is the past," said Harry. "I think I've got…this."
Chloe and Harry both stared, as the number sequences scrambled themselves on the screen.
"With all of that money, I'd think you'd be able to afford some good spyware protection," offered Chloe to break the silence.
Harry's teeth gritted.
"This is not a bot, a worm, a Trojan, spyware, malware, or anything like that," said Harry. "If it was, they'd be destroyed. My computer eliminates any foreign data…unless…"
It struck Harry immediately.
"Chloe, could you please step out for a minute?" asked Harry. "Don't ask, but me and my computer need to have a word alone."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, but slowly backed away at the look Harry gave her. She sensed there was something that Harry would want to do alone.
When Harry was certain Chloe was gone, he turned to the computer.
"I know you're in there," said Harry. "Now do I need to get a spell to exorcise you or will you tell me why you're trying to scramble numbers on a very important charm sequence?"
One word typed out on the computer. "Headset."
Harry sighed, and picked up the headset. He put it on.
"You have five minutes to explain, Lily" said Harry.
"I took a look at the charm you created to reverse the power transference," said Lily over the headset. "It's rather decent work, good work even, but I could have improved on it."
"What did you do?" asked Harry.
"Harry, nothing malicious, I swear on my own grave," said Lily.
"I want a full explanation about what you did," said Harry in a warning voice.
"Just a bit of a reminder to make sure this girl understands the price of what she's doing," said Lily in a quiet voice.
"I'm trying to undo the damage, not create more," said Harry in agitation.
"This Lana Lang girl stole my journal, she deserves to be punished," said Lily in a savage voice.
"I'm not going to get into an argument with you about anything involving her, but…this is really a situation where I'm trying that I'm trying to mitigate the damage on, not create more," said Harry. "This has been really hard on Clark, and on Kara as well…"
"Harry, do not let your heart defeat your head," said Lily in a warning tone of voice.
"Put the charm back to the way it was, or I'll bury your journal so deep into the center of the Earth you'll never get out," said Harry.
There was a long pause that a person could cut the tension with a knife.
"I don't see why you won't let me help you," said Lily. "Done, it's back to what you did before, I swear. But Lana's a danger to what you're here for…you and Kara, the mission…"
"Please leave my computer, and return to your journal," said Harry. "If I wanted you to help me, I'd come for you. I get why you made the deal, but I can handle this myself. I don't need anyone to guide me. I never needed it before, so why start now?"
"Very well, just remember you were sent here to guide the traveler, by any means necessary," said Lily, and then Harry could sense her leave.
Harry dropped the headset. He double checked the printout of the charm work. Sure enough, he would have to get Clark and Lana in the same place and perfectly still and have them both willing to have this charm performed on them.
He shook his head. He knew Lily was gone from his building and back into the journal. His mother had the best intentions in mind, or so she thought. Harry vowed not to trust her just because of who she was.
"Done, Chloe!" called Harry.
Chloe entered the room.
"Okay, good, did you and your computer come to an understanding?" asked Chloe.
Harry just shook his head.
"You think I'm insane, don't you?" asked Harry.
"Oh, there's no thinking about that one," said Chloe with a grin.
Harry just sighed. He moved onto checking in with Kara.
"Kara, any luck with Lana?" asked Harry.
"No, but I'm looking for her, do you want me to bring her back when I find her?" asked Kara.
"Yes, any way you can think of, I'll remain in touch," said Harry.
He ran one final simulation.
"I've got everything that I need, it's just a matter of getting all of my ducks in a row," said Harry. "Be careful, Kara."
"I am," said Kara. "I think I got a sight of her, she's heading towards one of the labs outside the city."
"I've got a fix on your location, I'll be there in a couple of minutes," said Harry. "Do what you have to do."
Harry turned around and walked over to the vault. Chloe watched him.
"What are you getting?" asked Chloe.
"Insurance," said Harry, and he opened up a vault, before he picked up a package wrapped in lead.
"I should have known you'd have some Kryptonite at arm's reach," said Chloe.
"Yeah, you should have," agreed Harry.
"It's going to get bad enough for you to use it," said Chloe.
"It always does," said Harry darkly, and he made sure the glowing green rock was secured. "I hope it doesn't, but better safe than sorry."
'If Lana has Clark's powers, she also has his weaknesses,' thought Harry.
A blur appeared, but stopped behind trees. Clark peered out at what appeared to be a crime scene.
Police barricades were put up and several uniformed officers scrambled around the area. Clark remained in the background, and his mind jumped to the absolute worst conclusion.
'No, Lana, she couldn't,' thought Clark in despair. 'She might have thought about it, but she wouldn't.'
He took a step forward, but nearly bumped into a very familiar figure who was also snooping around in the shadows.
"Fancy running into you here, Smallville," said Lois. "I thought you'd heard what happened. Lex got kidnapped."
"Kidnapped, so no one killed him yet," said Clark, but he had to hide his sigh of relief.
"Not that I know of, well there's been no body found," said Lois. "So until we find his body, I'd figure that there is a chance he's out there living. It's weird; whoever did this couldn't have sped past all of the bodyguards, all of the security, and knocked out every single scientist in that lab. They would have almost had to have…"
"Super human powers," said Clark, dread flooding him.
"I'm going to see if I can get a better look when this investigation dies down," said Lois, eyes focused. "It's…it's getting rather tense, because none of it seems to make sense."
"Civilians back behind the barricade, and no press!" shouted a loud voice.
Clark remained rigid and took a deep breath. He felt a bit better, but he would feel even better when he was sure Lana did not do something that she would live to correct. Lex did some horrible things to her, but Clark hoped that she did not fly down the path. The path towards the point of no return.
If she did, and he felt a lump in his throat as he thought this, he would have to treat her like he would any other dangerous criminal. Clark did hope that it would not come to this, and he tried to find Lana.
There was no telling where she could have taken Lex, but perhaps it was not too late.
Clark always made these powers look so easy. This was the thought that was going through the head of Lana Lang. Her super speed was fine, but the stopping could use a little work. Especially on the rougher terrain, but she found she was getting the hang of it. Lana took a deep breath, and tried to focus her eyes.
X-Ray vision was another one that flickered in and out. She just needed it to work long enough to find out if Lex was in this building or not. Her surveillance of him indicated that he was spending a lot of time in the lab area. On several projects that he would prefer no one get an idea about.
Lana frowned, if any of these hurt Clark, she would end him.
Before she could move around to the other side, she felt something grab her by the shoulders. Lana was caught off guard and hoisted up into the air. She gave a slight scream, but a hand clapped over her mouth to silence her.
The next thing Lana knew, she was dropped in the middle of a field far away from where she was.
Kara dropped down to face her. Her red cape fluttered in the breeze, dressed in her full Supergirl attire.
"What are you doing?" demanded Lana.
"I'm trying to stop you from doing something that…" started Kara.
"Something that I'd regret?" asked Lana. She faced the blonde girl, about ready to lose her patience "Do you think I'm doing this for me? I'm doing this for Clark."
"Oh, and how is putting yourself in danger doing anything for Clark?" demanded Kara.
"Listen, you don't know half of the things Lex has put me through and he'd put Clark through if he ever found out the truth," said Lana.
Kara took a deep breath.
"What he did…if you did something violent to Lex, Clark would never be able to forgive you and he'd never be able to forgive himself. Revenge is easy, but you're in danger of becoming just like him. Just as obsessed…"
"You don't understand," said Lana in an even voice.
"What don't I understand?" asked Kara. "I saw Clark; he's worried about you and what could happen to you. And you could end up getting yourself killed if you don't get help now. These powers, they weren't meant for someone like you."
Lana's anger flared.
"You just want full run of Clark's life, don't you?" challenged Lana, but Kara snatched her by the shirt and pulled her forward so she could look Lana in the eye.
"Clark's the only family I have left, and if anyone does anything to hurt him, I'll deal with it, I'll take care of them," said Kara through gritted teeth. "But…obsession brings down everyone and..."
Lana tried to aim a blast of heat vision, but she shot it up over Kara.
Kara darted Lana out of the way, as the oil drums that she connected with exploded.
Kara blocked most of the blow with her own body.
"Oh my God, I didn't…" started Lana, coming to her senses slowly. "Kara, it's…"
"I'm fine," said Kara, pushing Lana away as she got to her feet.
Her outfit was pretty much damage proof. Her hair was slightly messed up, and her pride was damaged by being knocked off of her feet.
Realization hit Lana immediately and her breath became pained.
"I don't have the control, maybe you should take me to Harry's and just have him do what you need to…to…take them away," said Lana.
Clark zoomed in at the speed of light. He saw Lana and faced her. Lana deflated at the disappointed gaze that Clark gave her.
"Where is he, Lana?" asked Clark. "Lex…you didn't…"
"She didn't get to Lex, Clark," said Kara. "I stopped her before she did it."
"Yeah I swear Clark, I was going to…well you have an idea what I was going to do," said Lana.
That really got Clark's interest.
"So someone else got to Lex," said Clark. "There was a crime scene, someone kidnapped him."
Harry arrived as if on cue.
"Kara, what happened?" asked Harry, and he grabbed her. She looked a bit worse for wear, smelled like oil. Clark noticed this as well, and both waited for an explanation.
"Lana and I…we had a little disagreement," said Kara. "I'm okay, I heal easily, a nice hot shower, and I'll be good as new. But we've got a bit of a problem."
"What kind of problem?" asked Harry.
"Lex got abducted," said Clark, but he looked at Lana with a bit of distrust, which she wilted under.
"I didn't have anything to do with it," said Lana, frustrated and agitated that no one seemed to believe her.
"Lionel said that you seemed to have something to do with his disappearance," said Clark quietly. "You hired someone to abduct him."
Lana grew rigid. The fact Lionel informed Clark of that fact would not help her case.
"But, I didn't hire anyone to abduct Lex…Clark…"
"Is she lying?" asked Kara, eyes on Harry.
Harry turned to Lana and after a moment, shook his head.
"She's not," said Harry, but Clark looked at him. "Her body language, heartbeat, and breathing rate would be way different if she was lying. Little trick I picked up when I was traveling, kind of useful."
"So, lying to you would be useless," said Lana.
"Yeah, but I've got the charm ready," said Harry. "It's too dangerous to leave your powers like this."
"Don't suppose I could for a bit longer," said Lana.
"You have to give them up willingly, or they will destroy you," said Harry in a warning voice. "And I know that will devastate Clark."
'God only knows why,' thought Harry to himself, but he shook his head.
Perhaps Clark saw something in Lana, but that was not his place to split hairs.
"Stand there Clark, and you stand there, Lana," said Harry in a patient voice. "This will be over than trip to the dentist. Kara, stand in the back, we don't want any more surprises."
"Okay," said Kara.
"Lana, we're only doing this because…those powers will hurt you," said Clark.
"Yeah, but it was an interesting experience while it lasted," said Lana. "So, work your magic, I guess."
"Catch her, and if you feel any side effects, call me immediately," said Harry to Clark. "There's a less than one percent margin for error, but…better safe than sorry."
Harry waved his hand, and the light engulfed both Clark and Lana. Lana collapsed and Clark caught her.
"Clark get her back home, and get some rest, please," said Kara.
"Okay, thanks Kara," said Clark, holding Lana in his arms.
"So the charm put everything back to the way it was," said Kara.
"Yes, it was," said Harry. "Letting her keep the powers…much more could have gone wrong with it, than could have gone right. And hopefully she can find peace with what happened in her own way."
Kara wrapped her arms around Harry. The couple embraced.
"You did the right thing, Harry," said Kara, looking into his eyes with pure unconditional love. The two were lost in the moment, before she spoke again. "Lana's just got to…well if she does care about Clark, she'll realize that this is for the best."
"I sent Chloe on ahead to make sure they got back okay," said Harry, but sure enough there was a buzzing in his ear. "Chloe, did they get back?"
"They got back," said Chloe. "I heard about Lex…what do you think happened?"
"I have no idea," said Harry after pondering the matter. "He's…well it could mean any number of things. It's not my job to go running after kidnapped billionaires. He used his one get out of jail free card with me, my work's done."
"Tell Clark, we'll swing in tomorrow night to make sure there are no side effects," said Kara.
"Will do, and…you two did the right thing, even Lana will admit that in the end after she's had a couple of days to think about it," said Chloe.
The words "I hope" seemed to be hanging off of Chloe's tongue, but she did not say anything further. Harry placed an arm around Kara's shoulder, and pulled her in towards him with a smile.
The one thing Harry neglected to inform anyone was he left a backdoor open in the charm for Lana, as a reward if she had come to terms and conquered all of her demons. Harry did not want to get anyone's hopes up, and it had to be done willingly, without being forced.
Until that moment, Lana would be blissfully ignorant to the fact that she still had powers. They were locked away until the moment where she could handle the great responsibility that came with great power, if that ever happened. If they ever did unlock, there would be no adverse effects.
It was Lana's one last chance to prove herself, an unknowing test of character of sorts.
"Let's go," said Harry, and Kara happily agreed.
It was way late at night, and the two were happy to return to their home.
Kara stretched in the bathroom. Harry walked by the open door when he heard her run a bath. Harry was dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt.
"Harry, you're just in time," said Kara, and she threw her arms around him in greeting and gave him a passionate kiss. They pulled apart after a few moments. "I was just about to take a nice long soak, but it just doesn't feel right without you."
Kara was a vision of absolute hotness. She only wore a lacy blue bra and blue knickers with red trim. She placed her leg up against his side teasingly, and leaned against Harry. He pulled her scantily clad body into his for another kiss.
The blonde returned the favor, and as if by magic, both of them were naked. They climbed into the soapy, warm water for a nice long soak. Harry leaned back, and Kara rested against him.
"It's been a long day," said Kara, and Harry soaped her back up. Her soaking wet body felt so good against his. "But it's almost worth it, to be here with you."
Harry just smiled. Kara relaxed against his chest, shifting in the water to get comfortable.
"You're going to end up spoiling me," said Kara, and she turned her head slightly with a grin towards Harry.
"You're worth it," said Harry, and he washed her hair. "Most beautiful girl in all of the known galaxies, and some of the unknown ones I'd imagine."
Kara giggled at this and Harry planted light kisses on the side of her neck. She shifted against him in the bathtub. She breathed in and out and Harry washed her front for her.
"I can't image spending the rest of my life with anyone, but you," said Kara. Her head lazily rested on his chest for a moment. Harry proceeded to the lower portion of her, and Kara's eyes closed, with her head leaned back in pure bliss. She encouraged him with both her movements and her words. "Right there like that."
Kara turned around and she lathered up Harry's chest for him. She reached around to do his back, and then slowly washed is lower body. Her hands were barely visible underneath the soapy water, but Harry sure felt what they were doing.
They were sitting practically on each other in the tub, face to face with each other. Harry was pulled slightly, just so Kara could wrap her legs around his waist. Her arms were wrapped around his back and Harry wrapped his arms around her.
Harry pulled Kara into a kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance. Their hands explored each other, as they slid against each other in the bathtub. Her soapy body rubbed against his, and the sounds she made inflamed him. They would be more than warmed up for their usual bedroom activities. In the meantime, the couple proceeded to have some good clean fun in the bathtub.
The fun continued in the bedroom into the early hours of morning. They only needed three hours of sleep to recharge their bodies, a perk of being Heralds of Death. An hour of activity was on the menu before Breakfast, followed by a nice long shower, and then they more than got their fill for dessert.
Harry and Kara felt stronger and more confident after these activities.
Through a dazed and confused state, Lex tried to shift his way out of his predicament. He found himself bound and blindfolded. All he could tell about his location where there was ticking clocks all around him. So he hazarded a guess he was in some kind of antique shop that sold clocks.
"Who's there?" managed Lex in a hoarse voice.
"Ah, Alexander, I've been waiting for this for a long time."
The voice was heavily modulated and disguised.
"Lana if that's you, this isn't funny," said Lex.
"Lana, no, not Lana, not her," said the kidnapper with a light chuckle. "The police will be looking into her though, and while she's being investigated, I'll get some time to play"
The laughter sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Lex.
"You see, Alexander Luthor, you've been protected for a long time, secured. The secure life I wish I could have had, but it was all for nothing."
"What do you want?" asked Lex. "I can pay you any money if that's what you want."
More nerve racking laughter echoed through Lex's ears.
"Alexander, not all of your problems can be solved by mere dollars and cents," said the kidnapper. "Time is on my side. I'm intrigued about this vial, this liquid, it must be valuable."
"You don't know what you're playing with," said Lex in warning.
"But I'm sure you do," said the kidnapper. "I've been keeping an eye on you for some time. You've escaped justice, but the only justice is swift and final. But, rest assure, you have more use to me alive than dead. For now at least."
Lex held his breath for a moment.
"Just what do you want?" asked Lex. "How did you kidnap me?"
"As I said, Alexander, time is on my side," said the kidnapper. "And your time has run out. The last name Luthor and the power it wields, it means nothing to me. I have nothing left to lose."
"Just what's your motivation?" asked Lex.
"Your father ruined my life," said the kidnapper.
A few seconds was taken for silence.
"That doesn't necessarily narrow it down," said Lex, but he got nailed hard with a blunt force to the side of the head.
He slumped down into the chair.
"Time makes a fool out of all of us, but it shall not make a fool of me," said the kidnapper. "I'll let everyone wonder where Lex Luthor is. They'll never find him, until I want them to, and I'll get everything that I want. Lionel Luthor will rue the day he dismissed my theories as those of a lunatic."
Lex strained to try and get a hint of who had kidnapped him.
"And if your father doesn't give me what I want, well I'll send you back in small pieces," breathed the kidnapper. Lex could feel the kidnapper's putrid breath in his face. "No money can buy your way out of this one."
To emphasis how serious he was, the kidnapper bent back of Lex's fingers, and broke it with a sickening crack. Lex tried to hide the pain of a broken finger, but his expression betrayed him.
To Be Continued in Chapter 16 Hostage.