Chapter 20

At the Institute...

A couple of days later and Clark sits up in bed down in the infirmary eating his breakfast. He had been here 3 days now. He has never been in the infirmary this long. Not even after when Parasite stole his powers and he ended up half cooked.

The effects of the kryptonite, and Beast had proven it was some form of kryptonite, had lingered on and on. His burns had finally healed but he was still feeling way below par.

It doesn't make sense to Clark.

The spider...if it was a Kryptonian that made it how he did so would be the very good question. If it's this detrimental to him surely it would have been that detrimental to that Kryptonian...except from what he's been told we're talking thousands of years ago. A lot had happened to his people in the intervening time period.

Perhaps that Kryptonian's genetic make-up was slightly different?

Clark couldn't be sure till he got out of here and had a chance to go up to the Fortress and ask Jor-El.

There were far too many questions involving this Apocalypse and too few answers.

On the plus side Clark had company this morning in the shape of Wanda, whose turn it seemed to be to keep him from getting bored.

"You know you don't really need to keep me company, Wanda," he tells her, offering her the chance to leave to do something else she might prefer and not feel obligated to him in any fashion.

Wanda's eyebrows rise slightly. "And the alternative is what? Chancing my life in that madhouse we call a kitchen?"

"Good point," Clark concedes.

"I thought so," Wanda chimes with a proud smile.

"It is why I've been faking my illness for 2 days."

Wanda snorts out a laugh and shakes her head. She knows perfectly well he hasn't been faking anything. Those burns were horrible to look at. She had made the mistake of being here when Beast was changing Clark's bandages. She nearly tossed her lunch.

"So any more visions to report?"

Wanda shakes her head. "Nothing specific, no."

"Is it difficult to cope with?" Clark asks with concern for her.

Wanda shrugs. "It was freaky at first but it's something you just have to learn to cope with. Though, like Tarot, I've stopped having them recently apart from that time a few nights ago."

"Apocalypse," Clark states the apparent source of that trouble.

"Yeah," Wanda draws out. "Not a very comforting name and to do what he is, blocking the visions, even Dr Strange can't imagine how he's doing it beyond him being so vastly powerful he's blinding, like staring into the sun."

"I really want to come up with something comforting to say but for once I don't have anything."

"I want to take pleasure in the fact my father got punk'd but since it brought Apocalypse's release one step closer I can't even do that," Wanda complains.

"Well it could be worse."

"How?"

"You could discover you have a reverse gender clone," Clark uses as example.

Wanda makes a face. "That's so weird," she has to reflect on X-23. She wasn't here herself that day so only got told about it after. Considering the girl took out virtually the entire student body plus staff she's sort of half-glad she did miss it.

"The sad part is there was a day when these things knocked you flat. Now it gets a rather lacklustre 'That's so weird'."

"We need new professions," Wanda declares.

"Yeah. Probably. So a month back. All settled back in?" he asks how things are going for her.

"Yep. Bit strange with the new faces and those Hellions lot across town but...it's nice to be home."

"And you're not bothered they stuck you in with the New Mutants?"

Wanda shrugs to show she isn't really bothered. "Perhaps it's for the better for now. Dr Strange has been teaching me to control my powers but there wasn't a lot of using them in a team situation. Safer to practise that in the Danger Room than out on a mission."

"Well for what it's worth I would trust you to have my back."

Wanda smiles brilliantly at that. "Thanks," she says. Clark's always been so nice and willing to trust her even when she wouldn't trust herself. See this is what makes him a million times the brother Pietro could ever be.

At this point Beast enters to perform his morning rounds. "Hello Wanda," he greets her politely at seeing her.

"Morning," Wanda replies.

"And how are we this morning Clark?" Beast asks.

"Bored," Clark complains. "Although less so since my x-ray vision came back and I can watch the tv," he says, pointing upward showing he means he's been watching whoever has one on up in the mansion.

Wanda has to shake her head in bemusement at him.

Beast smiles in amusement. "I think Clark we'll do one more check on you this morning and then you can leave."

"Yipee," he cheers.

"Although I will still advise you taking it easy for a few more days yet. You've admitted yourself you don't feel back to full strength."

Clark can't argue that though he'll want to see if he can be let to go see Jor-El and get some answers and information on Apocalypse.

Later that day, once most of the students have left for school, the staff have one of their regular meetings. That now includes Thunderbird since he does help teach the combat training.

James has to say that he has been very impressed by everything since he came here...especially Naman's...he mentally corrects himself, Clark Kent's parents. To have raised the person they have shows them to be very great people.

They go through the usual. How the students' training is going, whether there are any issues that need to be known about.

Jonathan gives an update on Cypher who has slowly been spending more time out of his room. They were still a long way from the boy interacting normally though. His emotional wounds were going to be slow ones to heal.

"So when are we sending the last of the rugrats to school?" Logan asks in reference to Bart and Wanda and Doug who don't attend Bayville High.

"Well Wanda and Bart are making progress in their remedial education," Hank answers. "Still they have not caught up to where they should be. My personal opinion is that after the summer, when the new school year starts would be most sensible for both. As for young Mr Ramsey...well first we would have to persuade him to agree to take a test to see where he currently stands. We have deliberately allowed him time to settle in."

"I'll talk to him," Jonathan volunteers. They had to get around to this and if anyone has formed a connection with the young teenager it's him.

Charles brings up one matter they have been putting off for too long but after what happened in London needs to be settled. "I inevitably plan to discuss this with Cyclops later and speaking with all due respect to Ororo's feelings we need to decide whether we are going to permanently replace Spyke on the X-Men. Nothing will be decided here and now. I just wish to hear your input."

"We need to decide what the teams lacks power-wise. I always say diversity is important," Domino offers her two cents.

"We don't need to know your dating habits, Jinx," Logan jokes.

Domino sticks her tongue out at him.

Sean chuckles. "Dom's preferences aside I think she has a good point."

"Agreed," Ororo says with a chuckle.

"The obvious place to start is in the current membership of Generation X which brings us to young Robert," Hank suggests.

"Popsicle?" Logan scoffs at that notion. "Look just because he's been an annoying little..."

"Logan," Ororo cuts him off with a stern utterance of his name before he swears.

"Just because he's been an irritating...nuisance about wanting to be an X-Man doesn't mean we give him what he wants."

"I wasn't suggesting that," Hank says. "However his actions in London proved he is at least worthy of consideration."

"I would agree with that," Charles says.

"He lacks focus," James critiques. It was one of Bobby's more annoying attitude problems. He was easily distracted.

"But he does meet my remark about diversity," Domino argues in favour of. Ice powers was certainly different.

"T' be fair we can list strengths and weaknesses for every single one o' them," Sean argues.

In a sense they do that as they go through virtually every member of Generation X arguing out who to consider before leaving it to Cyclops to make the final decision.

You could argue against Sunspot since James is there for the superstrength category though Roberto can do more than just be strong but you also must remember there are still severe limits on how long Roberto can use his powers before he exhausts them.

Volcana was still dividing her time between Generation X and moonlighting as a hero alongside her brother...plus the fact she's not really in it for the whole human/mutant equality push so you would say probably no.

Cannonball...it would almost be a waste of Sam's leadership skills to put him in a team where he wouldn't be leader. In fact he would be some way down the pecking order on the X-Men.

Boom Boom is...well Tabby is Tabby. There's no particular reason she can't be considered though like Bobby she can be a bit wild and rebellious at times which doesn't tend to sit well with Scott's serious nature and approach to team discipline.

There's the apple of Sean's eye, his beloved daughter Siryn. Terry was a wonderful student. Light-hearted as her father yet skilled in use of her powers. Sam had nothing but praise for her on any mission she went out on. The previous decision to put her on Generation X was her lack of experience on a team but that had improved over the last few months. Certainly has to be in contention for a promotion.

Then there was Berzerker. Ray...was probably where he should be in all truth. He was fine. Never brilliant but more adequate which is why you would edge against promoting him.

The next topic follows on. If you do promote someone(perhaps more than one) from Generation X who replaces them. Who to take from the New Mutants.

Charles makes a point for what he thinks. "My first two choices would be Betsy and Wanda. Generation X, who are the ones we also send on missions, lacks a telepath and while Wanda can do many things with her magic one important trait she has picked up is teleportation."

Ororo nods, seeing what Charles means. "It would take the pressureoff Kurt being our only teleporter," she agrees with Charles' view. On occasion they did have to 'loan' Kurt down to Generation X when the mission required it. It was asking too much considering how much the act of teleportation takes out of Kurt.

"That sounds like an area we may wish to pursue a new recruit in," Martha adds. Sure the details of the teams isn't her speciality but she always feels free to chime in.

Charles nods. One of the many benefits of having Martha and Jonathan here is that they have a perspective that can only come from being simply human. Charles means that in the best way possible. Yes new recruits may be a good idea. Top priority being another telepath and another teleporter. That way all 3 teams can have one of each.

Well none of this has to be settled right now. It'll all need to be discussed with the 3 team leaders, Cyclops, Cannonball and Havok.

Fortress of Solitude...

Once Clark was discharged from the infirmary he sought permission to come up here and get answers. The Professor agreed...and here he is. Took him longer than usual because he's off his best at the minute.

"Jor-El!" he calls out.

"My son," Jor-El's voice booms out across the icy construct. It was rather drab. Clark had been meaning to redecorate.

"Sooo," Clark draws the word out. "Care to explain?"

"To what do you refer to Kal-El?"

Clark looks...astonished. "Ok...have you developed a bug? Because normally you are way ahead of me on these things."

"Your humour, as always, eludes me."

"Apocalypse. The spider guardian that was some sort of Kryptonian construct. He may almost be beyond human history but I'm guessing not for us. I'm guessing it was a Kryptonian who helped lock him up in the 1st place so I ask again. Care to explain?"

"Some answers you must discover for yourself."

"Nope," Clark argues, shaking his head. "Not good enough. Not this time. Friends of mine have gotten this sense of something dark and terrible coming. I won't allow it. Not if it can be stopped. I will protect my friends no matter what."

"Again you put your human attachments to a few above the many, Kal-El."

Clark rolls his eyes. They've had this debate before so many times. "Their foreboding was for the whole of the future. You know of the planet. The one you want me to save."

"Great men are forged in fire, Kal-El. It is your destiny to rise up and lead humanity."

"Not at the expense of a single human life. I don't care about my destiny as you envision it. You..." Clark blinks as he suddenly realises something. "You're just going to let it happen aren't you? Because it fits in with that 2nd moment you keep talking about for me to seize my so called destiny. That moment is Apocalypse's release from his prison isn't it? That's unacceptable, Jor-El!" he snaps angrily, his hands squeezing into fists.

"This was put into motion long before you were born, Kal-El."

"So what? I am so friggin tired of this! I am so fucking tired of this cryptic destiny bullshit!" he yells. "I accept you are my link to Krypton but it's not worth this price, Jor-El. I won't allow it if it can be stopped and I know it can. Find the 3rd key first and Apocalypse remains where he is. What and where is the 3rd key?"

Silence.

"Jor-El. I want an answer!" Clark demands.

"You will neither like nor accept my answer. In that case silence is best."

"Because the answer is no. You won't tell me. You won't help," Clark figures though he is utterly flabbergasted at Jor-El's refusal to. He knew his biological father didn't really care about sacrificing the few but if Apocalypse is freed...from what they know it'll be the whole damn world that is affected. So why? When it's that big a scale why won't Jor-El help?

"I will help by training you to be ready," Jor-El responds.

Clark turns on his heels and walks away counting backward from ten before he really loses his temper and breaks something. Rao...this is so frustrating! Jor-El obviously has the information Clark needs but how does he persuade his father to give it to him?

Clark calms himself and walks back to the crystal console. "You're wrong. I know I've said it before but in this case you really are. I will not accept just waiting until Apocalypse is free. I will not accept the risk of innocents suffering because of some pig-headed idea of what you think I need to go through to become the person you think I should be."

"Trials, pain, suffering, triumphing over adversity, these are the tests all Kryptonians must overcome on the journey to adulthood. For you these must be much more strenuous as you have the entire future of this world on your shoulders. I regret you must carry such a burden alone, my son but fate has dealt its hand. We must make the best of it and if you are strong, as I know you are, you will be made all the stronger when you emerge through the other side. Humanity will be made stronger."

"At what cost?"

"There is a natural order to the universe Kal-El. We fight it at our peril."

"That's not an answer!"

"Yes. It is."

"No. It's not. Listen to me good Jor-El. I will stop Apocalypse. No-one will suffer because of him and no-one will suffer because you happen to be a pompous ass. I am not leaving this spot. Not until you tell me what I need to know. I'll stand here for a century if that is what it takes," Clark tells his father defiantly. He folds his arms across his chest and waits.

Nothing.

No reply.

Zip.

Zero...hey! What's that?

And that is a brilliant white light in the ice below Clark's feet.

"What are you doing?" Clark rumbles, a touch of concern in his tone.

There is no response as the light bursts out of the floor, blinding Clark. When he can see again he finds himself encased head to foot in crystals...utterly unable to move or access his powers but still conscious.

This is new...and Clark's in big trouble.

"I am sorry, my son," Jor-El speaks. "Your destiny requires you to be in a certain place at a certain time and destiny cannot be stopped. Not even by you. You will sleep now and when you will awaken you will inform your friends that you could not find any answers and all of this...this will be nothing but a dream.

If Clark could move even the slightest muscle his eyes would be widening in alarm. 'He can't! He can't!' Clark argues in his mind. Jor-El can't do this to him. Not again. He promised. He said he wouldn't mess with Clark's mind again. He can't! He...

Clark jerks away, breathing heavily. It takes him a few moments to realise he's in bed lying on his side.

A slender feminine arm wraps around his waist from behind. "Hey. You ok?"

Clark rolls onto his back and looks into the concerned one eye of Callisto, smiling softly.

Hey, he never said it was his own bed he was in.

Clark blinks a few times before nodding slowly. "Yeah. Weird dream," he tells her.

Callisto smiles sympathetically before resting her head on his bare chest and starts tracing her finger over the outline of the sheer chiselled plains. Clark wraps his powerful arm around her. Callisto lets out a sigh of contentment as Clark gently brushes his fingers over her bare skin.

Clark lies there just taking a moment to recall how he got here. He went to see Jor-El about Apocalypse. Unfortunately Jor-El couldn't help. That there was no record of this in Kryptonian history. That, if a Kryptonian truly was involved, he broke standard protocol about non-interference in a less developed culture so probably chose not to record his actions in fear of punishment. After that Clark came back to Bayville, it was starting to turn dark and he chose to go see the Morlocks as he does on occasion.

Still hasn't had that chat with Evan...and no he's not deliberately trying to avoid his friend. If anything it seems, to Clark, Evan is avoiding him. Evan's been to the mansion for check-ups and could have sought Clark out any time he wanted to. Hell he just has to shout and Clark will come but it seems Evan doesn't want to have that talk just yet and Clark has decided that he won't push it. Evan has to be the one who calls on him so yeah, Clark's sad it's like this but there is nothing to be done right now.

Anyway back to how he is here. Well it's kinda obvious isn't it. After he spent some time down in the sewers he and Callisto sneaked away to continue their...'relationship'...to coin a phrase.

Sneaked away to a motel room...and that probably sounds seedier than it actually is. It is just they almost got caught once down in the sewers and after that they decided they wouldn't take the risk any more.

Now why Clark continued this...why?

It's really hard to give an answer beyond it just feels good...and he's under no delusions about what this is. They're not dating...at least Clark doesn't think you can count anything he and Callisto have done together as a date. In fact the last thing Clark needs is another stupidly complicated relationship considering his track record with women. This is what it is. So yeah it's basically just sex...and as far as Clark knows from what Callisto has told him she's perfectly happy with this being all they have.

Still it's really, really good sex. Ok so yeah she's literally only the 2nd woman he has ever been with so he doesn't have that much to judge it on. Then again he is not comparing Callisto to Rogue. The experience is as different as the women are from each other. It is just really, really good...though Clark has this niggling at the back of his head that it feels a little...he doesn't know. Not wrong. Lacking the full proper connection of a real relationship maybe...and Clark just doesn't think in the end this is enough for him. What to do about it he can't seem to decide.

"Kal?"

"Hmm?" he responds. Yes he asked her to call him Kal, it is his name. Considering what they're doing they should at least be on a first name basis...and hearing her crying out 'Superman!' in the throes of passions sounded really(read extremely) weird and off-putting.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Callisto repeats her concern for him.

"Sure. Why do you ask?"

"You fell asleep," Callisto answers plainly. He's never done that...at least not before her. He seems to have boundless energy normally...which let her tell you when it comes to the sex just makes it amazing so it's really odd for her to watch him sleep for a change.

"Rough few days," Clark gives the vague but honest reply.

"Want to talk about it?" she offers. They don't usually talk anything too personal...sort of an unspoken rule. Talking about stuff like that would make this seem too much like a proper relationship. However, that doesn't mean they don't talk about other things.

"It's just that Apocalypse thing I mentioned," he gives the not entirely whole truth since he's skipping over the Kryptonian stuff. Still hasn't told her about that but you know what, for now it's fine...and Clark knows deep down it's probably not right he doesn't tell her that he's not human but he's ignoring that voice for the time being.

Callisto nods. He had told her about it since it might be a problem for the Morlocks too unless the X-Men can stop this guy...whoever he really is. Normally Callisto doesn't take much interest in what goes on on the top-world but in this case she hopes the X-Men and Superman can stop this guy because Kal's warnings about it sounded pretty grim.

Kal.

Callisto can't stop her lips curling up slightly. She knows his name. Odd name but who is she to judge. Callisto isn't even her real one and he assured her Kal is his. She snuggles into his warmth. This is...probably too nice a feeling really yet Callisto can't give it up.

Make no mistake she's not confusing what she and Kal have for anything more than it is. She has no delusions of a happy ever after. She accepts it'll last for as long it lasts. It is what it is. Two people finding a transitory connection and physical comfort with each other.

That and the sex is fan-fucking-tastic. Perhaps the best she has ever had.

Still when it comes to an end and all is said and done she will forever have the memory of having had one of the most powerful beings on the planet share her bed and you know what that is something.

"Callisto," Clark speaks.

"Yes?"

"Do you ever have the feeling you're forgetting something important?"

Callisto raises her head and in the dimness can see the perplexed look on his face as if he is struggling to remember something. "Why? What is it?"

"I don't know. It's just that. A feeling that there is something I have forgotten."

"We all get that feeling now and again."

"I don't."

Callisto cocks her head curiously.

"I have a perfect memory. I never forget anything. You, this very moment, I'll remember in HD quality for as long I live."

So that means he'll remember everything they have shared. Callisto can't stop a surge of feminine pride swelling up inside her at hearing that. He'll remember every pleasure she brought. Callisto strokes his broad chest. "Whatever it is, it can't be that important if your memory is as good as you say," she says.

Except important or not Clark doesn't forget things. Oh he can be distracted like anyone else and lose track of time and in that sense 'forget' but to actually completely forget something...that only happens when someone messes with his head. Like after his friends snapped him back to himself after Jor-El turned him into 'Kal-El'. Clark couldn't remember everything he had done at first...and in fact there are still some pretty fuzzy pieces of his memory of that to this day. That's why this feeling is bothering him so because it almost never happens to him.

Callisto rises up and crawls over his body, her eye gleaming with lustful mischief. "Don't worry. I have the perfect way for you to forget your troubles," she promises.

"How?"

Callisto's lips curl up into positively pure sinful, lustful evil before she yanks the sheets over her head and disappears under them.

"Callisto? Call...oh Rao," Clark groans in pleasure as his eyes roll into his back of his head.

At the Institute...

Charles was in his study just checking over some of the accounts as matter of fact. Running a mutant school isn't cheap. Martha helped him do the work and in fact had helped with these. He was just checking them over one more time to commit it to memory what all the incomings and outgoings were.

Amongst the incomings brings up a sore point. Bridgette, on behalf on the sadly still missing Patricia Swann, maintained the grant Virgil use to give the Institute.

Charles pauses. Patricia. The sting of that failure could still be felt. He had no idea where the poor young woman was. All they knew was what Rogue had once mentioned to Clark that Magneto had turned Patricia into a mutant with his machine and she vanished...or teleported.

To where?

Wherever it was it wasn't a place Cerebro could detect...and it could detect the entire planet if Charles pushed it.

So either her mutation made her undetectable...or she teleported herself off this plane of existence...or the worse alternative. The one Charles doesn't like to think about. That she is simply no longer alive to be detected.

The sad truth is they have done all they can do right now to find her unless they get a new lead.

New lead...that's what they need in relation to Apocalypse. For now all they could do was wade their way through the history books and try and interpret whatever myths and legends there are. And even the first customary glance had brought up one thing clearly. Now they had a proper name to research into Apocalypse was seemingly everywhere, in almost every ancient culture there was some sort of reference to a deity of destruction and death that might well be Apocalypse. Plus 4 horsemen serving him is also a common theme. So much so it survived into the Bible.

Charles had been giving it a lot of thought these last few days. The First One...just imagine that. Being the first and only mutant on the planet, not knowing what you were, not having anyone to share it with and if Apocalypse is as powerful as they speculate...there is no telling just where that power drove him. Quite possibly to madness. If what they've discovered so far has any ring of truth Apocalypse has seemed to scar the memory of just about every ancient culture on Earth as something terrible and to fear so madness could well be what indeed happened.

Now add an unknown number of centuries of imprisonment on top of that...now it makes sense why there is only darkness that can be seen in the future if Apocalypse returns.

That makes it more pressing in all fact to sort out any team changes they wish to make and to put them through the training sessions to embed the teamwork. They had to be ready and in tip-top shape. Charles had talked to Scott, Sam and Alex about it and they asked for a few days to think on it and discuss it amongst themselves before making a final decision.

Though how much talking there will be between Scott and Alex is questionable. The Summers brothers were still at loggerheads over Alex dating Roulette.

Charles can hope they are able to put their personal issues aside and just make a professional decision.

Just as soon as they stop being hot-headed teenagers that is.

Charles sighs. He can't really have an objection to how Alex chooses to conduct his personal life...beyond the under-age sex he indulged in. Then he can. His only concern is that he really still doesn't understand what it is Emma, the Hellions and the Hellfire Club truly want to achieve here in Bayville and therefore he can't be certain that Alex won't be harmed when this game reaches its conclusion.

All he can do for now is to try and reach out to Emma and her students and hope to show them the light to quote a phrase.

Just then Charles' private phone rings. He reaches over to the small table at his side where it is lying and picks it up. The caller ID makes him smile as he answers it. "Hello Lilandra," he greets her warmly.

"Hello Charles," Lilandra's warm tones greet him back.

"You're well I hope," he expresses his true, deep feeling.

"As well as can be expected," Lilandra replies.

"How's the rebuilding going?" he asks despite the fact his X-Men have been helping and therefore has a good idea but making polite conversation.

"We're getting there," Lilandra says and much progress had been made this last month. "However a problem is arising with the Mayor and local authorities."

"In what way?" Charles asks, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Well their priority this last month has been trying to reconstitute the local police after Lionel massacred them."

Charles' face sours. So many unnecessary deaths because of Lionel's insanity.

"Now they've more or less done that they've shifted focus on who's to blame. Take a guess who they're taking aim at?" Lilandra asks with a tone of inevitable foreboding.

"You and your community," Charles can guess.

"I need your help Charles. The Mayor is organising a town meeting on the aim of finally expelling us from the land once and for all...and he has Lex backing him."

Charles closes his eyes momentarily. Lex. He thought the younger Luthor would be more busy with saving his own hide in the face of the Congressional Investigations into the whole Lionel affair. "When is this meeting?" he asks because of course he will help.

"End of the week."

"I'll be there the day before so we can discuss our strategy face to face."

"Thank you," she whispers in utter gratitude.

"Thanks are not necessary but you're welcome."

"It'll be good to see you again," Lilandra says with deep heartfelt emotion.

"As it will you," Charles replies conveying the same feelings.

The call ends and Charles knows he has much to do to prepare for this meeting. He never expected it so soon but it seems like he's on a trip back to Smallville.

Author's Note: Oh what? You thought Jor-El was actually finished messing with Clark's head. Puh-lease. Why he's doing this is a question that will be answered before the end. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; the Professor heads for Smallville and he's not alone in making the trip.