Chapter 3 [Smallville Cemetery—Half an Hour Earlier]

Mist wafted through Necropolis and surrounding woods. Fireflies bobbed and wove akin to Faerie through the area. Nightingale chirped from a nearby branch. Doves cooed in response. The stones and monuments within the cast iron fence maintained their vigil. Angel hovered just beyond the Langs' flat stone.

Conscience ached however….

Clark blurred his way out of the fog. Insomnia denied him the previous night's rest. Guilt weighed on his heart and mind. Consequences and Ramifications unfolded all around himself. During his super sprint, he took in the rebuilding around Smallville. Lana had showed him the storm cellar's remains and the explosion's impact crater.

Lana…

I wanted to protect her from Jor-El! He threatened her. He rubbed the back of his neck. Normal (re: human) steps meandered through the cemetery. His head ached over the previous week's nonstop disasters. If only Jor-El hadn't threatened Mom, Dad and her, it would have been okay! I know I should've talked with them. But what could they have done? He would've killed them! Look at what he tried to do to Lana. He actually made Mom pregnant? That thought pretzeled his mind.

A SIMPLE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS, KAL-EL. YOU WOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU WOULD COME TO ME FOR YOUR EDUCATION, Jor-El snapped.

Him again? Clark ground his teeth. Granted, Jor-El had spared Lana's life. Moreover, he'd removed the barriers between her and him. Methods of doing so, however, left a great deal to be desired. Kind of a private moment. I need to apologize.

APOLOGIES ARE GOOD AS LONG AS YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. WE HAVE TO GROW AND PROGRESS. OFTENTIMES HOWEVER, *HUMANS* STEW IN THEIR MESSES. YOU MUST SHAKE OFF THOSE EMOTIONS. THEY DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR TRUE PURPOSE AND DEVELOPMENT. LANA LANG HAS A GREAT DEAL SHE NEEDS TO LEARN. SHE WILL LOOK TO YOU.

I'm here for her. Guess it'll help that I know this stuff. I can show her what to do. Clark turned left at the angel. Instinct guided him toward his destination. Got two people you need to meet.

REALLY, KAL-EL? Skepticism soured Jor-El's tone. DID I NOT JUST SAY…?

Clark ignored him. He exhaled a weighted breath. Contrition riveted his eyes on the stone. He'd visited with Lana early in the previous school year. He'd tended to their plot on the previous day. Still, Unworthiness sank at his spirits. He didn't know if he should be there at that point…especially after what he'd unleashed. He brooded over Lana's unfolding situation. Doubt ate at him. What do I say? What can I say?

How about what's on your mind and in your heart?

Clark stiffened. "HELLO? LANA?" A frown pulled at his mouth. I thought she was getting ready for work. What would she be doing here? He looked all around himself.

Clark? You okay? Kind of a private moment here. I'm in the shower.

Embarrassment reddened Clark's cheeks. Sorry. I could've sworn that I heard you. I'm not looking. Promise. I'll stop by the Talon before I go back to the farm.

Sure. I'll have everything open in an hour or so. See you there.

Clark shook his head. If it isn't Lana then who'd sound like her? I…. He noted a woman emerging from the fog. Her white blouse and dark skirt stood out against their backdrop. Humidity matted down her dark tresses. Sharp eyes and Purpose impressed him to say the least. Despite his abilities, he backed up a step. Disbelief pretzeled his thinking at that point.

Lana, despite her earlier declaration to the contrary, watched him.

Clark stared at her. Everything seemed akin to Girlfriend's visage. Voice registered as Lana to him. Something else, however, seemed off. Jor-El?

SHE APPEARS TO BE LANA LANG. SHE IS NOT. KAL-EL, THIS IS HER ANCESTOR, LOUISE. Jor-El brooded over that instance. Despite his own protestations to the contrary, Amor warmed his heart. Emotions melted (some of) Logic's chill over him. YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE, LOUISE.

"Oh? And where ever should I be, Joe?"Impetuousness elicited a shrug. Sauciness lilted Louise's tone. A smirk worthy of Lex spread across her face. "Seems I'm right where I'm supposed to be." She sucked in a deep breath. Pirouette twirled her in a complete circle. "I have a message for you both! AH!" She smoothed wrinkles from her clothes. "First though, I do have something else to do." She pulled a small cloth from her pocket. She squatted down and wiped her niece and nephew-in-law's stone. "Can't have them looking bad. Can we?" She inspected Clark. So you're Lana's dream guy? It's about time you stepped up, Clark."

"You're not Lana? Louise? You're…" Realization finally offered Clark an answer. He narrowed his eyes. He turned toward the back fence and her grave. He scratched his head.

"Dead? Clark, I've passed on. It doesn't mean I don't watch." An exasperated sigh pressed from her lips. "There's a lot that gets by you, isn't there?" She shook her head. "You really need to open your eyes to what's going on around you. Just consider how big and complicated this world really is. You rush into things without really thinking them through. You can't afford to do that anymore."

"I have to protect my family and friends! I love Lana! Doesn't that…." Clark started to protest. He threw his hands up in the air.

She snorted. Sarcasm arched her eyebrow at him. "You're really strong and can do things. I know you help people. I have news for you. There are a lot of things you don't know, Clark. Joe…your father…showed me other things that your people can do. He and I rushed in too. Guess what? I ended up getting hit by a ricocheting bullet. Your Dad shut his heart off for his duty." Her frown curled tighter around itself. "Well now, you can't do that. You've got to do better, Clark!" She got right up in his face. "Thanks to you, my niece is involved too! She's counting on you to be there for her! And you ran away!"

"I didn't know what to do! Everyone was in my face and blaming me! All right! I know I made a mistake! At least now I know that I can talk to Dr. Swann and Lana! I'm not alone." Clark pointed at his own head. "Tell Jor-El not to threaten the people I love! He drove me to that point!"

DO NOT BLAME ME FOR YOUR OWN HUMAN FAILINGS, MY SON! YOU…. Jor-El started.

She put her hands up. "Normally, I'd agree with Joe, Clark. As I said before, you do things without thinking them through. You're right in this case." She rolled her eyes. Joe, you did threaten Clark. As such, you have a role in this too. So does Jonathan Kent. Intimidation and fear are so pitiful! Look at Lana. She and I are already blended in our heritage. You've made her the best of Earth and Krypton. Thanks to the Kents, Clark is the best of both worlds as well. You all need to deal with that. This is no more 'this side' or 'that side'. How droll of you! She sniffed again. You haven't changed, Joe.

LOUISE, YOU COULD NOT HAVE COME BACK TO KRYPTON WITH ME! IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED! I HAD MY MARRIAGE TO LARA, KAL-EL'S MOTHER!

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?" She narrowed her eyes. "YOU ALL COME TO OUR PLANET TO EXPLORE AND EXPERIENCE! YOU CAN HAVE RELATIONSHIPS! YOU CAN HAVE KIDS! BUT WE AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE WITH YOU? REALLY?" She stomped her foot. "Ooh! So help me! You are so infuriating!"

THERE IS A NATURAL ORDER TO THINGS….

She coughed. "Your natural order blew up with Krypton, Joe. Clark will be alone unless you understand that. Nell needs to understand that as well. Perhaps, all sides need to stop isolating the kids. There are others who can help."

NONE FROM KRYPTON. THE ONES YOU REFER TO SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED!

"Others?" Clark bit his lip. He knew Jonathan and Martha wanted things kept as close to the vest as possible. "Lana and I need to keep the Secret! We can't…."

She shook her head. "I hate to break it to you, Clark. There are others who know out there. Good thing for you that they're better at keeping your secret than you're proving to be. Tell Lana she's not an orphan. Nell's kept our family away from her. Still, she shouldn't go seeking them out. When the time's right, they'll appear. Her friend, Miranda, has her own connections."

"Miranda?" Clark narrowed his eyes. "She's an orphan too! Her family was killed years ago."

She shrugged. "Not all of them were. That has to stay secret for now. You and Lana have met her family. At some point, you'll meet again. Hansei Arighatto is a murderer and a thief. Beware of him. He knows of Lana and you already. Thanks to your joyride, others do too."

TAKE CAUTION, KAL-EL. IT IS AS THE SWANN HUMAN AND I HAVE TOLD YOU!

"And you can do the same, Joe. Remember what I said. Maybe have that Dr. Swann speak with your parents? It might be good for everyone to know each other. Sorry. I have to return. It's good to meet you, Clark. Take care of Lana…please." With that, she turned and vanished into the fog once more.

Clark rushed after her. "I will! What do you mean? Hey! Where'd she go?" He flailed about in the fog. No sign remained of her. "She's gone!"

SHE IS A SPIRIT NOW, KAL-EL. THEIR KIND CAN DO THAT!

Louise just added to the conundrum it seemed….