Chapter 10 [Seven Minutes Earlier]

Clark looked out the window. Manhattan's towering skyline passed their car on either side. Cars flowed all around them. And the people? Passersby clogged the sidewalks. Storefronts, Restaurants and Businesses popped up one after another with no end in sight. Awe shook his head.

"Clark, we have been here before." Lana scrolled through her messages. She winced. "Lex called. We owe him an explanation about this trip." She slumped back into the seat. Her fingers rubbed her forehead. She still had a slight headache.

"If he comes by the house, Mr. Kent will talk to him, Lana. You're here to get help for what happened. It just happens that Dr. Swann invited us up here for that." Martha saw another intersection go by. "I wonder how far away this place is?"

"He said it's down by Empire State University." Miranda looked at her phone's GPS. "According to this, we're about fourteen more blocks away." Then, a text alert flashed on the screen. Now what? She brought up the message.

"Dark Sister,

Others know about your friends and you. I arranged for the police to let you go. Samurai sighted in the Big Apple. Did you know the Hirochi Kitana is on display at the Met Museum? Be alert.

Snapdragon"

Others know about us? Who would that be? Did they see Clark and Lana land without chutes? Terrific! Miranda reduced the message on her screen. That's why that detective backed off. I wish Snapdragon hadn't involved herself! As if she hasn't exposed herself enough? And the Step Bastard's here too? Her eyes rolled on that note. He's the last person I need to see right now! And how the Hell did that museum get the Japanese government to lend out *that* kitana?

"Miri?" Lana tapped Miranda on the arm. "Hey. You okay? You look like you saw a ghost." Her glimpse of the other's screen turned up nothing. Being a cell phone, X-Ray Vision availed her little good. "Did Lex try to call or text you?"

Miranda shook her head. "It was one of my friends from overseas. She has some bad news." A pointed shrug seemed to discard the notion. "I'll call later." She cleared her throat. "Arighatto's here in New York."

"Are you sure?" Martha thought through that revelation's implications. She knew the elder Arighatto conducted business all over the world. Miranda had told her and everyone that she believed him to be in the Far East. We should call him and tell him we're here. Miranda's of age but she lives under his roof. "Maybe you should let him know?"

Disagreement not to mention Out and Out Common Sense shook Miranda's head. Vigorously. "Mrs. Kent, that's the last thing we need to do. He'll probably find out we're here soon enough. I'm hoping to eat lunch and get back to Dr. Swann before he does. Clark, Lana and you don't need to be around him right now." She bit her lip. "By the way, if we're looking for something to do, I guess there's a really great Japanese art display at the Met Museum?"

"The Met? Chloe and I were looking at their website! They've got so many interesting displays! Our AP Art teacher was showing us some slides from there last year," Lana recalled. She took a deep breath. Too bad we can't go. I'd love to see that place.

"We can talk to Dr. Swann and see. Given that we're on our own for the rest of the day, I can't see why not. I'd like to go there myself. Maybe there'll be a special display?" Martha glanced at Miranda. She'd have preferred to talk with Arighatto and be honest about Miranda. Still, Miranda was of age. Besides, she knew Arighatto and Lionel talked to each other for business….

…whether for right or wrong, Priority lay in protecting Clark and Lana…

I'll talk to Jonathan. He should know about this. She ground her teeth. Why do these things have to be so complicated? Martha mulled over the implications. That detective's going to run a background check on the kids. She'll probably call Sheriff Adams. That's all the kids need. It's not like Clark and Lana did anything! We didn't do anything to the pilot!

"There's a college on the right! Maybe we're getting close?" Clark saw ESU's northeastern gate and several students at the intersection.

Miranda nodded. "That's the university Dr. Swann mentioned. It should be across the street from us."

The car turned left and then left again into a half full parking lot. It pulled into a parking space. The driver got out. Then, he opened the door to their left. "This is the Coffee Bean as you requested. The entrance is in the front. I will wait for you here. Dr. Swann instructed me to offer you this debit card. It has funds for your dining needs. Simply return when you are ready to go to the hotel." He walked around to the other side and opened that door as well. "Thank you, Folks. I hope you have a pleasant meal."

"Thank you very much." Martha climbed out of the back seat. Much as Clark had earlier, her eyes surveyed the towering skyline and parking lot around them. She accepted the debit card. "You aren't joining us?"

"No, Mrs. Kent. I appreciate the thought but my orders are to stay with the vehicle." The driver tipped his hat to her. He watched Miranda, then Lana and finally Clark emerge from the car's back seat as well. "When you're ready, let me know. Have a good time." With that, he got back into the driver's seat and closed his door.

Lana squirmed. "I wonder what's in there?"

"Customers? Burgers from what I can smell. It's a college version of the Talon with a diner attached, Lana. We can handle it." Miranda shrugged her own fear off. "We keep our heads down and don't look for trouble. Right, Captain Plaid?"

"I'm not doing anything!" Clark threw his hands up in the air. Indignity narrowed his eyes. "I just want coffee and something to eat."

It's okay, Clark. She was saying we shouldn't cause problems. We blend in. Lana shook Miranda off. "This isn't helping. I'm with Clark. Let's get something to eat. Then, we can see where we go from there." She saw Stacy waiting by the building's entrance. "There's that police captain. Guess this is the place?"

"We can check this place out, Kids. Just do so carefully. Remember, we don't know these people. We can have a meal with them. Just be careful." Martha guided them toward the waiting Stacy. Trepidation and Uncertainty ate at her with each passing step. She deduced that Swann wanted the best for Clark. Still, how much did any of them really know about him? Potential ambushes remained very much in mind. She reached the waiting resident. "Hello again, Captain Stacy. I'm glad we found this place." She extended her hand.

Stacy smiled. "It does blend in with the neighborhood. You have to look for the students coming from the university." He shook her hand. "I'm sure you're all hungry. We'll get you all something to eat. Then, you can go back to your hotel if you'd like? Follow me please." He motioned toward the teens.

"Guess that's our cue?" Lana glanced toward Clark. Despite their abilities, the new place had her on edge. Granted, Cooking Smells drew her in. Her mouth watered. Hunger jabbed at her stomach.

"It'll be okay, Lana. Mom won't let us get into trouble." Clark led the girls toward his mother and Stacy. His own appetite demanded some food.

New menu and people, anyone?