Chapter 8 [Kent Farm]

Martha stooped in front of her flower boxes. Pink, white and red tulips pleased her eye. She'd sniff a bloom or two. Her fingers plucked lingering weeds from their dirt. Watering bucket irrigated the tulips. Homer's Vegetable Stand expected their delivery on the next day. Without Nell's shop, another customer—granted a bitter and vengeful one but a customer nonetheless—went by the boards. Desperation pleaded for a bumper crop. Every source would be needed. New Storm Shelter demanded it. Funeral and Burial strained resources still further.

Sarah….

She dropped the weeds into a trash bag. Mourning numbed her. Pain stabbed at her heart. Distraction's best efforts couldn't soften that particular blow. She'd drive to the cemetery later. Clark's guilt didn't help either.

Clark….

She eased herself back to her feet. She looked down the driveway and toward the state road. Granted, she didn't expect him back yet. Deeper Consideration, Consequences and Ramifications had finally registered on him. He was only trying to protect us from Jor-El. Still, maybe now, he'll realize that communication's a good thing? That Dr. Swann knows about our situation. Wish we knew how! She wandered away from the house. Her mind attempted to wrap itself around Jor-El's assault on Lana.

Lana….

Ash and Soot still streaked the dirt by the barn. Coupled with the storm cellar's impact crater, Desperation's respective stands had exacted a deep price.

How could Jor-El do that? They're still minors! Outrage stewed within her. She shook her head. What kind of father would do that?

THE KIND THAT EXPECTS HIS SON TO FOLLOW HIS DUTY, MARTHA KENT! Jor-El snapped at her. Her attitude grated on him to say the least. YOU HUMANS HAVE MADE HIM WEAK AND EMOTIONAL! EVEN NOW, HE AND LANA LANG CAN BARELY CONTROL THEMSELVES!

"Barely…?" His telepathic challenge irritated her as well. "Jor-El? That is you, right? CLARK AND LANA ARE STILL TEENAGERS! THEY ARE NOT ADULTS! WHO ARE YOU TO SAY…?

ON KRYPTON, THEY WOULD BE ADULTS! THEY ARE OF AGE EVEN BY YOUR WORLD'S LAWS! THEY ARE OF BOTH WORLDS NOW! THE SWANN HUMAN HAS BEEN MOST HELPFUL IN THAT UNDERSTANDING! PERHAPS YOUR MATE AND YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT! NOW THEY MUST MASTER THEIR ABILITIES! Jor-El hissed to himself. THEY RETURN TOWARD YOUR FARM.

"Well here they aren't adults! They still have another year and a half! My husband and I raised Clark as best as we can! We are human! And Dr. Swann has talked to you but not us?" She threw her hands up in the air. "LOOK AROUND! YOUR CONVERSATION CAUSED CLARK TO BLOW UP HIS SPACESHIP! YOU TRIED TO KILL LANA BEFORE YOU LEARNED SHE WAS LIKE YOU TOO!"

LANA LANG SURVIVED BECAUSE OF HER STRENGTH AND LOVE! SHE PROVED HER WORTHINESS AGAINST THE ORDEAL! IT WAS ONLY AFTERWARDS THAT I DISCOVERED HER KRYPTONIAN NATURE! I MADE HER LIKE KAL-EL! THEIR LOVE HAS LINKED THEM FOR MANY OF YOUR SOLAR CYCLES! YOUR EARTH COURT DETERMINED HER TO BE AN ADULT AND YET YOU DO NOT? SHE HAS EARNED MY RESPECT. IT IS MY HOPE THAT SHE WILL SHOW KAL-EL THAT STRENGTH AS WELL.

"Clark is stronger than you realize! He…." She started to retort.

The phone rang in her pocket.

"Now who?" She glanced at the display. "UNLISTED?"

ANSWER YOUR DEVICE'S SUMMONS.

She rolled her eyes. I'll probably regret this. Doubt forced her to hesitate but only for a heartbeat. She raised an eyebrow at the alien entity. Who would be calling me here on Earth? "Good morning. Kent Farm."

"Yes. Good morning, Mrs. Kent. I am Virgil Swann. I suppose Clark Kent and Lana Lang have told your husband and you about me?"

She stared at the phone. Virgil Swann, the preeminent astrophysicist and virtual recluse, just spoke to her. He was calling *her*. "Dr. Swann? I'm sorry. I was under the impression that you didn't make calls."

"And you would be correct, Mrs. Kent. Your son's and now Miss Lang's situation has forced me to reach out. I have watched your farm and Smallville since the meteor shower. I know of the events there. I believe it is time that we all speak." Swann watched her through his console's monitor.

She surveyed the yard all around herself. Then, her eyes gazed up at the sky. "You're spying on us?"

"I merely watch from time to time. Your affairs, I can assure you, are your own. My concern is with your situation. You'll forgive me if I do not get into more specifics at this point? We do not know who could be listening in." Swann watched his console. His eyes discerned Jor-El's energy in Martha's proximity.

"I appreciate your caution, Dr. Swann. My husband would as well. I thought you were in New York? We can't leave the farm for more than a day I'm afraid." She knew full well that Jonathan wouldn't budge. "Can you let me speak to him about it? Is there some way we can let you know?"

"That's fair enough, Mrs. Kent. Thank you. I will call back tonight. For now, I believe Mr. Kent and Miss Lang will be there in a few minutes. She will need rest and assistance. Until tonight then." Swann disconnected the call.

"Until tonight." Martha put the phone back in her pocket. "What's going on with Lana?"

HER EMPATHY IS FAR MORE DEVELOPED THAN I COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED. IT IS LIKE KAL-EL'S HEAT VISION. SHE NEEDS TO FOCUS. BESIDES, SHE AND KAL-EL WERE DISCOVERED. ANOTHER FEMALE OBSERVED LANA LANG. SHE SAW KAL-EL BEFORE. SHE SEEMS TO KEEP THE SECRET. YOU WILL NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER. I WILL WATCH AND LISTEN. SEE TO THEM, MARTHA KENT. With that, Jor-El went silent.

Someone else found out? What now? Martha hustled back toward the house. Her eyes remained riveted to the dirt driveway. Jonathan's really going to love that Jor-El and Dr. Swann are watching what we do. Granted she wasn't comfortable with that notion either. Still, Priorities demanded that she see to Clark and Lana at the moment.

And when they arrived, she'd do exactly that….