Chapter 13 [State Road—A Mile Away]

[A/N: Miranda's about to spill some major beans here!]

Clark leaned back into Miranda's passenger seat. His eyes remained fixed on the passing farms and fields. Granted, Lex's recovery and Lana's improvement eased his spirits. Questions and Concerns dampened his mood however….

What was going on between Chloe and Lionel? Why were they looking at her laptop like that?

What happened to Dr. Bryce and the plane?

What poisoned Lex? Who rescued him the first time? How was he cured and brought back from Death's Door?

How did Miranda know about Lana and him?

Really weird! He glanced over at her. She kept her attention focused on the road for the most part. Then he'd turn back toward the road.

THE HUMAN IS A TELEPATH, KAL-EL. THERE IS NOTHING STRANGE AT ALL ABOUT THAT! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR US, Jor-El interjected. As he did so, he revealed Miranda/offered her a way into the conversation.

A dark frown cut across her face. Other than her sensei back in Japan and Arighatto, Mental Firewall had kept Telepathic Eavesdroppers at bay. Sarcastic cough escaped her mouth. An eyebrow arched toward Clark.

She…can? Clark stiffened. Surprise widened his eyes for a heartbeat. Then, he saw her head shaking at him. "What?"

"Tell your friend that I'm actually a tele-empath, Captain Plaid. And yes, I heard that." She turned into the Kents' driveway. Thank you for accepting me at least. I take it you're the guy who tried to kill Lana?

I CONSIDERED HER A THREAT. I HAVE SINCE SAW HER BENEFITS TO MY SON'S PATH. HIS FEELINGS DO…HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. AS FOR YOU, HUMAN, I WANT TO KNOW MORE. I SENSE YOUR LOYALTY TO LANA LANG. YOU WOULD BE A RIVAL FOR KAL-EL FOR HER?

Rival? What? Clark snorted. "He's full of it, Miranda. I know you're Lana's best friend. I'd never come between you two. You know that. But a rival? That would mean…" He raised an eyebrow.

"That would mean…oh…that I'm gay?" Rueful Laugh spurted from her mouth. "Newsflash, Captain Plaid, we all have our little secrets. Like you should talk?" She rolled her eyes. "You take the cake in that regard. Powerful aura, super strength, speed, heat vision. I saw them all that day at the gas station. You've got a hell of a split personality, Clark. What's in that red meteor where you're concerned?" She pressed out a sharp breath. "Yes, Clark. I'm gay. Yes, I love Lana. I know she doesn't feel the same about me. I'm the way with Lana the way Chloe is with you. I've accepted that she and you love each other. Sometimes I don't get why but that's the way it is." She shrugged. "Just don't tell Lana okay? Her friendship is really important to me. She'd really freak out if she knew." She ground her teeth. Pain bit through her. A tear streaked her cheek.

"Yeah I get that. I won't tell her. I can see you're really great about not pushing yourself on her. I know it doesn't mean a lot but thanks." Clark struggled to take in her revelation. He'd seen her get terse in previous Talon visits when Lana and he'd be in a difficult point in their relationship. Her protectiveness seemed to be overbearing at times. Yet, he admired her self-sacrifice and support for Lana and her endeavors. Sometimes, he wished Jonathan and Martha would've allowed him that freedom.

She nodded. "It means more than you think, Clark. At least you aren't judging me. Anyway, back to your issue, Lana and you really need to learn focus. You do know that just because you're speaking on that link of yours that it isn't a private line? Right? I can hear your thoughts. I'm not trying to eavesdrop. But she's having problems because she has to learn that focus with her empathy. You have those issues too at times, Clark." She pulled up in front of the house. "And by the way, I wouldn't call it freedom. I'd call it being caged and neglected. My so-called 'stepfather' keeps me here. There are some really dark secrets that only a few people know. One of them may have surfaced at the hospital. I felt something in Mr. Luthor's room that I haven't felt since I was a kid. Mr. Luthor knows what it is. He won't say anything to you or anyone else. Don't push him. I don't want the Step Monster finding out. He nearly destroyed it the first time when he…he…" She shuddered. Her foot pressed down on the brake hard.

The car slammed to a sudden stop.

Clark raised an eyebrow at her. "Miranda, it's okay. Whatever it is, we can keep it between us. Lana might have to know some of it if you're good with that…."

Another shrug deflected that comment. "Lana does know. She just hasn't put that last piece in yet. Mr. Luthor knows. So do your parents. Today's not the day for that either." She pointed at her head. "Just like your friend there can listen in, so can Arighatto. He probably knows about you, Clark. You have to be more careful for Lana's sake if not your own." She leaned back against the seat. Am I right, Mr. All Seeing Out there? I heard you talking to Lana earlier too. That's probably how you know about me. Right?

IN PART, YES. AT LEAST YOU ARE AWARE OF MY PRESENCE. I AM AWARE OF THE SECRET YOU ARE REFERRING TO. AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT ENDANGER MY SON OR LANA LANG, I WILL KEEP IT. MY SON NEEDS TO LEARN DISCRETION.

Clark rolled his eyes and undid his seat belt. "I'm trying. Okay?"

"Try harder, Clark." She shook her head. "I'd say act normal but we're off that particular reservation at this point." She surveyed the farm. "It's just like the Talon and Mr. Luthor's mansion. So many layers…."

"Layers?" Clark scratched his head. He tried to grasp her meaning. Gist escaped him. "You mean all of the things that have happened here?"

THAT, MY SON, IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE MEANS. THE FARM HAS NOT CHANGED IN FORTY OF YOUR SOLAR CYCLES. IT IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO HOW IT WAS BACK THEN. YES, I HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.

You've been here? That revelation stopped Clark in his tracks. His eyes went wide.

YES I TOOK REFUGE THERE AFTER…WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS IN SMALLVILLE. I HAVE BEEN IN THAT TALON. AND I KNOW OF HER SECRET. BEFORE WE SPEAK TO JONATHAN AND MARTHA KENT, MIRANDA ARIGHATTO, CAN YOU HELP THEM TO FILTER THEIR THOUGHTS?

I can do that. We can't have Lana freaking out like that. She can't help it though. It's tied to her parents' deaths. She needs to deal with it. She exhaled a sharp breath. "Clark, we'll talk more about this later. Right now, your folks are waiting. Whoever you guys saw on the road, I'd like to talk with them as well."

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Now what?" She looked at the message. "Virgil Swann? Why do I know that name?"

"That's him! Answer it!" Clark motioned to the phone.

"Hello?" She put the phone to her ear.

"Good evening, Miss Arighatto…or should I say Miss Dubois? I am Virgil Swann. I know who you are. Now don't worry. Much as with Clark, your secret has been safe with me for years. I know about your family particularly your uncle. As I am sure the Kents can tell you, Clark and Lana have met him. He spent considerable time on that farm when he was your age. I will speak of the rest when you are all inside and ready."

Her jaw dropped. Incredulity widened her eyes. She stared at the phone. "You…you know what happened to my family?" Her eyes jumped up to meet Clark's. Who is this guy, Captain Plaid? What the Hell?

"It was most unfortunate. I am sorry I could not help you. Hansei Arighatto has his resources and abilities. I could not get around them until now. As I said, we will speak again inside. You can trust me, Miss Dubois. I can tell you that. And yes, we should speak soon. I can answer your questions. Perhaps, Clark, Lana and you can come to New York? Your good friend, Snapdragon, and I can answer your questions?"

Once again, she stared at the phone. And he knows Snapdragon? Who is this guy? The CIA? Interpol? "Yeah good idea. Their parents will want to know. Lana can't pull another escape act without the Sullivans or her aunt getting suspicious. And there's Arighatto too. He'll know if I'm gone. And what about Lionel Luthor?"

"I know about Mr. Luthor and your abductor. You will know why when we speak. Thank you for your attention to detail." With that, Swann disconnected the call.

"Unbelievable!" She put the phone back in her pocket. "You weren't kidding. Wow! Clark, seriously, you need to pay more attention. Hate to break it to you but people know." She pointed at her pocket. "He just dropped some big names. If they know about Lana and you, you better step up your A Game." By the way, thanks for the conditional trust. Who are you?

I AM JOR-EL. I AM THE ONE YOU CALL CLARK'S FATHER. HE, LANA LANG AND YOU SHARE SIMILAR CATASTROPHES, MIRANDA. I WILL TELL YOU MORE WHEN IT IS TIME. FOR NOW, THE KENTS AWAIT YOU BOTH.

Yeah them. Miranda rubbed the back of her neck. She watched Lana meander out of the barn with the two glasses. Then, Martha came after them. "Hey, Boss! Mrs. Kent!"

"Miri!" Lana waved to them. "How's everything back at the hospital?" She rushed over to Clark. "I'm really glad to see you." Her arm squeezed about his waist. Everything's so much calmer. That static's still here somewhat. It's really faint though.

That's good. Clark embraced Lana in return. On the one hand, she completed him. Their hearts beat together. Warmth flooded up and down his spine. On the other hand, Consideration and Guilt nudged at him. "Are you doing better?"

"It's more peaceful. Once I got out of there, I was better right away." Lana glanced over at Miranda. "Maybe we shouldn't be talking out here…?"

"Miranda knows, Lana. Jor-El just spoke to her. We should get in the house. Dr. Swann's going to call us." Clark shrugged at his mother. "Sorry, Mom. We just heard."

"Dr. Swann called here earlier. At least now, I have a voice to go with the face." Martha sighed. "I can't believe he's still alive much less speaking to us after thirty years. Let's get in the house. Dinner will be ready in an hour. I can't believe your Dad isn't home yet, Clark. Maybe Dr. Swan'll wait for him?" She led the teens into the house.

At that point, the phone rang. Guess waiting wasn't an option….