Chapter 31
Earth 1…
"So why are they letting you wander around?" Mia wonders about why the two Luthors are just leaving Tess alone and free as she finds herself led to a quiet corner of Sub-Level 3.
"I doubt they're not keeping an eye on me using their supersenses," Tess believes.
"Maybe," Mia demurs "but supersenses or not we can get distracted. Or need to focus on one thing just like a mundane."
Tess chooses not to comment but instead take the opportunity, the first one she has had, to examine the power inhibiting collar around Mia's neck. "Do you have these things in the future?"
"Of course. How else do you think you keep superpowered criminals locked up?" the Latino woman asks back rhetorically.
"How do you get them off?"
"Not easily. Without the key you would need some specialised tools."
"Doesn't look that sophisticated a lock to me," Tess remarks.
"Well…if my double had to use only currently available technology it could be simpler. You would still need something to pick it with."
"I'll see what I can do."
Earth 2…
"I still think this is a bad idea," Chloe says to Clark. The duo plus Lionel were at the Luthor mansion in Smallville. It hadn't been hard for Clark with his superspeed to sneak them in.
"What are you doing?" Clark asks Lionel as they stood in the older Luthor's bedroom.
"If I am to regain my position I must look the part," he replies as he opens up his wardrobe. "At least my son hadn't gotten around to throwing out my belongings yet," he remarks.
"Why is that?" Chloe asks. "In fact why was he keeping you around?"
"A weakness on his part. I thought I had taught him better," Lionel says, sounding disappointed.
"My guess is that he's wanting to prove a point to you," Clark says from his experience during the time Lex was his friend. He always remembers just how often Lex did things to prove a point to Lionel.
"Hard to do if I was dead," Lionel figures. "Yes. I see your point. You truly are nothing like my son are you?"
"Just get on with it. We're on the clock," Clark snaps impatiently.
"Very well. Oh, you'll be needing this," Lionel says as he throws a set of clothes at Clark.
It doesn't take much guess work at what Lionel is wanting Clark to do. "Just remember I'm not actually your son," he mutters as he changes into an outfit suiting of Clark Luthor.
"I'll keep it in mind."
"So a bad idea," Chloe continues to mutter. She only wishes she had a better one.
A short time later the trio, with Chloe still muttering over how terrible an idea this is along with renewed threats of homicide should Lionel betray them, power walk their way through the hallways of the mansion.
They are just approaching what had been Lionel's office when his former, now his son's, assistant shrieks in surprise at seeing him. "Mr Luthor! I…uh…didn't know you were back from your sabbatical," she stammers.
Lionel aims her a cool gaze. "Yes. I'm fully rested up and eager to resume my role. Why don't you bring me a summary of everything I've missed so I can get up to speed."
"Of course Mr Luthor," she says obediently as she scurries away.
"I bet you enjoy that little power rush don't ya," Chloe snarks as the trio enter the office. "Making all the little people jump at your mere presence."
Lionel loudly sighs. "I have no intention of getting into some ethical debate with someone whose mind is already made up," he tries and shuts her down.
"Just remember I'm only playing along with this until we shut down whatever it is your son is up to. Then I'll show you both just what a Huntress can do," she warns him.
"So melodramatic," Lionel critiques in a deliberate manner to irritate her as he sits down and starts looking through the computer on the desk at just what is rebellious son has been up to. That boy clearly needs to be reminded of a few lessons.
As Lionel works Chloe flicks on the tv to the news to see what's happening out in the world.
"And in the news today heartbreak runs rampant as billionaire playboy and CEO of Queen Industries Oliver Queen announced his engagement to his long term girlfriend Lois Lane…"
Clark stares intently at the tv on the wall. "Lois and Oliver are engaged?" he queries aloud.
"What? They're not a thing in your universe?" Chloe asks, her tone sharp and if Clark is not mistaken with an underlying bitterness.
"Um…no. They did date briefly a few years back but it didn't last. They're still friends though," he explains.
"Kudos to them," Chloe mutters, clearly not meaning it.
Clark gets the feeling he's missing something but since he intends to be gone from this universe shortly he decides not to delve deeper. Instead he finds himself contemplating the fact that seeing Oliver and Lois together on the tv is making him feel surprisingly little considering he said only recently he loved her. Wow. Is he like…over Lois?
Before he can reach a conclusion Lionel interrupts his musings.
"As much as we all like to see people get their happy ever afters I have gotten all the information and codes we will need to access the Chemical Plant."
Clark lets out a breath and goes over to stand behind Lionel and look. "Does it say what they're building in there?" he wonders.
"Indeed it does. My son was careless in not encrypting it better," Lionel critiques, continuing to sound very disappointed. "It seems he has designs on your world."
Clark leans in closer.
Chloe does as well. "It's some sort of dimensional gateway," she gets from skimming through the technical details. "And look what makes it work," she points out the key component on the design schematic.
"The mirror box," Clark recognises it.
"There's your way home farm boy."
"It is also likely where I'll find my rebellious daughter," Lionel reckons.
"And friends…possibly," Chloe cautions.
"Quite true. Fortunately I made sure to have in place within Luthorcorp security peoples whose loyalty to me is beyond question."
Chloe makes a face. "This is…"
"…a bad idea," Clark finishes for her. "I know," he laments.
Earth 1…
"Will you please stop fidgeting?" Tess asks with increasing annoyance.
"I'm not fidgeting," Mia protests, sounding like a whiny teen.
Tess rolls her eyes. "This is why I'm never having kids," she mutters snidely under her breath as she tries to pick the lock of the power inhibiting collar.
"You're never having kids because you're destined to become a crazy cat lady," Mia smirks.
"Snotty brat."
"Way to butter up the kid of the guy you want to sleep with."
"For the last time I'm not interested in sleeping with Clark," Tess says with increasing agitation at every time the brunette brings it up.
"You're a piss poor liar."
"And you're annoying the one person who may be able to get this collar off of you so if I were you I would learn some impulse control when it comes to what escapes your mouth."
"Boy, you would so not get along with my Aunt Penny then."
"I'll learn to live with the disappointment," the redhead drawls sarcastically.
"I guess you're use to that," Mia says cheekily.
"Not going to kill her. Not going to kill her," Tess murmurs under her breath.
"Perhaps you're not but I might," a voice states laced with anger before Tess finds herself flung away. She looks up to find Clark Luthor has appeared.
"Did you really think I didn't know what you were doing?" he asks bluntly.
"It was a possibility. After all you are an idiot," Mia insults him.
"Watch your tongue, girl."
In response to that line Mia sticks her tongue out at him. "You either simply don't realise or forget that I know you. I've met you. I've kicked your ass all across this planet and it was really, really, really easy to do as well. You think you're special. You're not. You're a loser. A pathetic wannabe dictator who always ends up getting beaten. Mostly in humiliating ways too. You're a joke. A clown. A-ack!" her tirade of insults gets cut off when Clark Luthor's hand wraps around her throat.
"How dare you!" he snaps angrily as he begins to squeeze.
"Daddy!" Mia Luthor pleads with him as she appears on the scene. Nothing. "Father!" she snaps in a more formal tone as she grabs his arm to try and stop. "Father, please. I know you want to kill her but I still need her."
He looks at her with barely controlled rage.
"Please," his daughter repeats her plea. "I promise you'll get everything you desire shortly. Everything I promised to give you."
There is conflict on his face before he shoves Mia away. "Fine," he says petulantly before turning to Tess. "Because we're family I'm going to give you one warning. I have no tolerance for betrayal. Also no patience. Try to help her again and well, you aren't as unique as you think you are. I have a Tess back home who can replace you like that," he says with a snap of his fingers.
Tess stands face to face with him defiantly while trying to hide her fear, knowing he can do exactly as he says whenever he feels like it. So focussed is she on him she is caught completely off guard when a powerful red blast of energy knocks him away. Tess blinks and slowly turns her head to the side where stands Mia, her hands now glowing bright with red energy. "Huh?" is all she can unintelligibly manage to utter.
"I picked his pocket for the key while he was strangling me. Another thing you can thank/blame my Aunt Penny for," Mia explains before turning her attention to her double and her returning father's double.
"You are no match for the two of us," Mia Luthor declares confidently.
"Kiss my Awesomely Cute Ass!"
Tess face-palms. "Really?" she asks incredulously.
"Whatever," Mia mutters as the 3 superpowered beings charge at each other in a blur of motion and the fight begins.
Earth 2…
Ok so here they were. Lionel Luthor. Clark Kent pretending to be Clark Luthor and Chloe Sullivan along with a posse of Luthorcorp security heading over to the Smallville Chemical Plant to take down Tess, Andrea and whoever else stands in their way…or rather Lionel's way of regaining complete and total control of his company.
If she survives this Chloe is never listening to farm boys ever again. Partnering up with Lionel Luthor. She'll never feel clean again.
The outer lines of security are easily gotten past and the group soon enter the plant and head for the access down to the lower levels.
From the bag Chloe was carrying she pulls out her bow and arrows. She has a feeling from here on in things are going to be much harder.
And how right she is when they are attacked by security the moment they hit Sub-Level 3.
With Clark present that goes just about exactly as one might imagine and they are soon incapacitated. They soon hit the work floor where Lionel is proven correct. His rebellious daughter is waiting for them with more security and also 'friends', proving Chloe correct.
And the friends are familiar to Clark. Victor, Bart, AC and Dinah. Quick question; Where is Andrea?
"This has gone on long enough Lutessa," Lionel tells her.
"The days you can intimidate me old man have passed," the redhead sneers in return.
"What disrespect," he sneers in return. "I could have left you to rot in a mediocre, meaningless existence. Instead I brought you into the family. Recognised you as my daughter. Gave you everything and what do I get in return? You whoring yourself with your brother and then helping him betray me. It's clear to me now that you and he are no children of mine. Lex was my only real heir."
Tess laughs bitterly. "If you call that 'parenting' it's no wonder Lillian killed herself rather than live another second watching you slowly kill all that she loved," she twists the knife in.
"By the time I'm done with you you'll wish you were in the same place as my late wife," Lionel threatens.
"Seriously are we done talking yet?" this version of Bart asks, showing he has about the same patience level as the one back home.
"Actually, yes. Take care of the farm boy. Leave my father to me," Tess instructs them.
And with that the fight begins.
Earth 1…
Across the vastness of the Sub-Level 3 space blurs of motions fly and intersect with each other, creating shockwaves. Interspersed in-between are blasts of red energy going back and forth.
"You know you can't win this right," Mia Luthor is telling her quantum duplicate as the two exchange blasts of energy at each other.
"I don't know nothing!" Mia Rojas responds as she flies across the space, dodging a blast which just so happens to strike Clark Luthor instead which elicits a curse from Mia Luthor. For good measure Mia brings her hands together and smashes the biggest blast she can into her father's villainous double sending him tumbling through the air. Though taking that moment to do so leaves her vulnerable to a blow to the back of her head, sending her tumbling to the floor.
At the last second, Mia manages to right her orientation, land on her feet, crouching down and pushing off the floor, creating a dent as she does so, and accelerate back up right at her double. She pulls her right fist back and lets loose, sending her own villainous double smashing upward all the way to ground level.
She gets no time to congratulate herself on that when Clark Luthor smashes into her back with full force. He grabs her hair and throws her downward. Mia barely then moves out of the way as he shoots down, trying to crush her skull with his foot. He jumps atop of her and starts to strangle her.
"You know it has been way too long since I killed someone," he tells her as he squeezes tighter. "And sharing my daughter's face will not spare you."
"As if you care about anyone other than yourself," Mia chokes out her retort. She brings up her hand suddenly in front of his face and unleashes a blast of energy, blinding him before kicking him away. She gasps for breath as she gets back to her feet. "You know I've slagged your dreg ass before and fun fact you ain't your future self yet," she says.
"That may be true," Mia Luthor says as she hovers above. "But I wasn't there then."
Mia eyes her double carefully. "Which brings back up where in the blue hell have you been all this time?"
Mia Luthor laughs a strange, mangled chortle. "Hell's a word."
Mia arches an eyebrow.
"It won't happen. I won't let it happen. Not again!" Mia Luthor says vaguely, as if vowing something before shooting straight at her goodie two-shoes self.
Mia swerves out the way at the last second and slams an open palm into her double's back which sends the Earth 2 native careening into the partly built portal structure, smashing it apart and it all tumbles down, burying Mia Luthor. "Wow, ok, Sway. Didn't actually plan that but hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth," she remarks airily.
Her self-congratulatory moment is a bit of a mistake as she gets grabbed from behind in a bear-hug by Clark Luthor who starts squeezing hard.
"I have had enough of you!" he declares with menace.
"Again with the squeezing. You got a kink or something," Mia manages to choke out.
"Arhh!" her father's villainous double screams in rage as he picks her up and smashed her down on the floor before repeatedly punching her over and over, driving her deeper and deeper and deeper…
Earth 2…
Clark catches a punch thrown at him by Victor. He then pauses momentarily at the vacant expression his friend's double's face possesses. He then recalls how Lex tried to, essentially, turn Victor into a robot with the use of a control chip inserted into his friend's brain. Seems like a possible explanation here. Pushing that aside he grabs the arm and uses it as leverage to throw the cyborg away.
"SCREEEE!"
It's all Clark can do not to cry out in pain as he desperately tries to cover his ears. In the next few seconds it's clear this is a distraction as a superfast red/yellow blur grabs him, spins him round and around at superfast speeds before catapulting him towards a waiting 'Aquaman' or whatever he is called here.
CRUNCH!
Fist meets Clark's face and believe you him he feels it. He tumbles across the floor, takes a second to regain his senses to find 'Aquaman' mid-leap, ready to pound him. Clark's eyes light-up and beams of intense heat emerge and strike this version of AC. Nowhere enough to actually harm him seriously but intense enough to dry the blond man out. Dehydration is AC's biggest weakness after all.
That takes out AC's double for the time being as Clark gets back to his feet, only to be peltered by superfast punches from a red/yellow blur. Stinging would be the appropriate description of how it actually feels. Out the corner of his eye he can see Dinah getting ready to unleash her superhuman scream once again.
He has to time this right as he sees the air distort in front of the blond woman in slow-motion as she screams. And…now!
With his own superhumanly quick reflexes he manages to snatch Bart and switch places with him so it's the speedster who gets hit with Dinah's blast instead of him. He can see her face screw up in anger and frustration as she sucks in a new breath. In an instant he is in front of her, gently(by his standards) chopping her throat and bruising her larynx.
Clark leaves her coughing and struggling to breath as he assesses the rest of the room with Lionel and Tess's rival security forces fighting each other. In another time and place he would try and put a stop to this but he needs to take advantage of everyone being distracted and get home. He rushes over to the interdimensional portal structure and rips open a panel in the base and there, wired into the heart of it is the means to get home. The mirror box.
Clark reaches for it when an all too familiar wave of sickness hits him.
"The fact you look like him but are so riddled with weakness, turns my stomach."
Andrea. Clark would have a witty retort if he wasn't falling to his knees right now as the twisted version of his daughter's mother moves closer with the glowing piece of kryptonite in her hand. She then throws her hand back before striking him across the face over and over and over…
Author's Note: While I didn't have Clark bump into Lois here I couldn't let it pass about her and Oliver without a mention at least. Also if you're wondering why Chloe is so bitter it's from the Season 11 comics. She and Ollie had an affair until he chose Lois over her. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews.