Chapter 27 [Luthor Mansion—2018]

By now everyone had congregated close to Clark's bedside. They'd stopped any semblance of festivity or feasting. Now they actively watched in a vigil for their beloved hero. They saw every labored breath rasping through his mouth and down into his tortured lungs.

Off to the back, Lex stood in the doorway. He'd rushed down there at Reardon's urging yet stayed in the background. He had no wish to argue with his former friend on the latter's death bed. Part of him wished he could have been in the center of the gathering by the bed….

….yet the mortmain affixed to his right wrist reminded him why he couldn't be…

What a waste. He knew Clark didn't buy the whole justice deal. He didn't care what the others had thought. He'd make Metallo and the Parasite pay for robbing him of his game. No matter what it took, he'd make them pay.

"Mr. Luthor?" Reardon inquired while shaking him from his reverie. "It'll be anytime. His pulse is weakening."

"I understand," Lex replied with a surprising break to his voice. Despite his resolve, his guilt over Fate broke into his voice. He spat in disgust at himself. Then he stopped cold at the sight around them.

Interspersed within the crowd, several glowing figures watched events closely. One by one, they turned toward him in disapproval for a brief second before returning to their task.

Kyla Buckwater wiped the patient's brow gently with some sort of cooling cloth.

Alicia stood by the now-shut off monitors silently.

Ryan rubbed his dying friend's shoulder.

Jonathan remained by his wife at the bedside.

"It must really suck, doesn't it, Luthor?" Hawkman rasped sarcastically from beside him. His dark eyes burned into Lex's from within his mask.

"Haven't passed to your next life yet, Hall?" Lex scoffed with equal fervor.

"I have one more task yet. A request from someone special. You know? We'll make sure Clark's okay. Just stay out of the way. Even you can't screw this up now," Hawkman dissed the host before marching toward the group.

Be that way! Lex stewed over the dismissal yet didn't move an inch.

Clark gasped for breath. He could barely keep his eyes open. He didn't have the energy to do anything much for that matter. He now wondered if this is how Lana felt at the end. And I wasn't strong enough for her. How do I deserve this attention from everyone? What will I see on the other side?

As if on cue, he saw his angelic escort of sorts. His eyes went wide.

"Clark, what is it? It's going to be okay," Martha queried. She grabbed onto her son's hand desperately.

"M…Mom, it's okay," Clark assured her weakly. "They're here."

"Who, Clark?" Pete queried not understanding.

"Kyla, Alicia, my Dad and an old friend of mine," Clark clarified with a smile. "Thank you all."

"You're welcome, Clark," Kyla told him.

"It's time, Son," Jonathan announced as he had on the Awful Day years earlier.

"We're to see you up there. Big time orders, Kal," Hawkman affirmed.

"One minute." He strained to slit his eyes and speak. "Pete, Byron, thanks…for everything. Tell…Chloe…sorry."

"She'll understand. Hey thanks for being so cool, Dude. Love you," Pete declared while rubbing his shoulder.

"I will have something special for you shortly. The Muse will not fail you. That I promise," Byron vowed.

"I know you won't." Clark looked straight at Martha. "Mom, not…much longer. Just…wanted you to know…I appreciate that you…and Dad took me in. That you…let me have these friends. Now…I have to leave… Love you."

"You'll always be with me, Clark. You found your Dad and me. Be at peace, Baby. Go and be with Lana. I…." She wept with tortured tears at the impending transition.

"Come, Son." Jonathan extended his hand. He wished he could do more to assure Martha at that moment at time as he'd done for her and Clark when Lana had passed away. Now however there was the main task at hand.

Clark felt himself floating above his tortured body. Somehow he wasn't burdened with pain or emotion any more. He saw that he wore white robes now as well. "So I'm dead."

"You're transitioning, Kal," Hawkman clarified. "This life is over. Now come." He stepped into formation with the girls and Ryan forming an honor guard of sorts befitting the hero that Clark was. "Jonathan?"

"It's going to be all right. There are other heroes you've inspired who are ready to take up the fight," Jonathan assured his son.

And in a flash of light, the honor guard departed taking their charge with them.

And so one age ended and another began…..