Chapter 12 [Five Minutes Earlier]

Clark and Lana rushed at super speed away from the Met. Twin blurs slipped through gaps in NYPD's surveillance. Their route zig-zagged in a general northeast direction. Instinct pressed them onward away from Pursuit's potential traps. Within minutes, they zipped into an alley to catch their breath.

Lana caught her breath. Her eyes peeked around the alley's outer edge and onto the busy Manhattan avenue. "You think we're clear?"

"We should be." Clark sucked in a deep breath. He kept a good distance between the trash cans and himself. "We're about three blocks from the Inn. I didn't want to rush right in there. Mom's not going to be happy we shut off our phones."

"Better than letting people track us through them, Clark." Lana raised an eyebrow. "We've got enough to worry about right now. Let's just get back to the inn. Then we can figure out what else is going on." She looked out again. "Coast is clear. Let's go." She walked out onto the sidewalk.

Clark surveyed the area. "Fine. Sooner we walk down there, sooner we can be back in our rooms." He guided her down the sidewalk. As he did so, his eyes kept looking everywhere. "Hope there's word from Mom and the others."

"Yeah. I want to know where Miri and that Princess went. Also who's the ninja with the flying carpet? Kind of weird. You know?" Lana guided him up to the Inn's front door.

That's kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, Boss.

MIRI! Relief eased Lana's mindset. Where are you? We were worried! She walked into the lobby.

Are you okay? Clark looked about the lobby. His x-ray vision swept the entire area with no results.

I'm fine. Sorry I did the disappearing act. I was looking for another way to get away from the Stepbastard for you guys. I followed one of those ninjas out of the building. I guess I was off the grid for a bit? I'm on the elevator. See you guys in just a bit, Miranda half-lied. Guilt ate at her. She stepped off the elevator. Over here!

Lana rushed over to her friend. "We thought Mr. Arighatto had kidnapped you again! Glad you're safe!" She embraced Miranda.

"Yeah, me too. Who else is going to run the Talon if we're not there. Right, Boss?" Miranda smirked at Clark and her. "Captain Plaid beat you this time? There goes your streak."

"Everyone gets lucky." Lana's eyes rolled at him. "Have you heard anything from Mrs. Kent, Gwen, Peter, the Princess or those professors?"

"Nothing." Miranda rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm just tired. Sorry."

"We get it." Clark turned his phone back on. "Message." He read to himself: "Kal-El, Lex Luthor and Chloe Sullivan are on their way to the inn with your mother and Dr. Crosby. Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy are safe. Please let Miss Lang and Miss Arighatto know. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO THEM! VS." He shook his head. "Good news. Mom, Peter and Gwen are all right. We've got a longer night though." He showed them each the message. A frown pretzeled his mouth.

"Lex and Chloe? Now?" Lana grimaced. "Great. Now we're going to get it for scheduling ourselves off. He's still steamed about our last trip up here." She bit her lip. What are they doing here now? Is this related to the crash? Great. Can this get any better? Who else knows?

"You had coverage. Right? That should be all right then. We'll be back tomorrow or the next day." Clark texted Swann. "Thanks for the heads up. We'll be ready."

Great. What can I tell him? Chloe's not going to back off. We… Miranda heard her phone buzz at her. "Just a minute." She sucked in a deep breath. "It's that Princess." She got on the line. "Good Evening, Princess. Are you all right?"

"I am well. Professor Tuishiama and I are on our way to the hospital. Agents Petersen and Singleton are there for observation. And you? You disappeared, Miri." Jasmine glanced at Tuishiama.

"I was just telling Clark and Lana that I followed a bad guy out of the museum. Then, I must've made the subway. Sorry. One of those ninjas hit me. I've had a splitting headache. I can't remember very much. I'll be okay. I hope nothing's wrong with Agents Petersen and Singleton."

"I will keep you informed, Sister. Thank you. Talk to you tomorrow. Rest," Jasmine bade her.

"You as well, Princess. Thank you. Best to the agents. Take care." Miranda hung up. "The Stepbastard must've hit Agents Singleton and Petersen pretty hard. They're in the hospital right now."

Great. I hope they don't remember the Kryptonite exposure. Clark checked his watch. They could be here any minute.

Clark, what do we say? Panic unsettled Lana to be honest. Inexperience left her grasping at figurative straws.

We just be careful of what we say. That's all. We're going to take some heat. I did what I'm supposed to. I'm here for my family. Wait until you guys hear about my request. Good thing you're looking for more waitressing help. Miranda rolled her eyes.

Lana raised an eyebrow. "Miri, you aren't quitting on me! I can't….!" She ground her teeth. "Please! I!"

"What? NO! I just need to take leave." Miranda shook Lana's assumption off. I just heard tonight. My Sensei needs me over in Japan, Guys. He wants me to train, especially with Stepbastard in the wind. It's my usual training deal that we agreed to when I started working at the Talon.

Lana sucked in a deep breath. "That's fine. Lex and I will figure it out. That is if I'm not fired first."

"Lana, Lex can't fire you. You left the Talon covered. We had an emergency. We're up here. Our appointment is tomorrow morning. We killed a night in New York by going to that museum. We met up with our new friends. Who knew we'd run into that stuff?" Clark shrugged to give an additional selling point to the story.

The girls looked at each other. They hoped Lex would buy it….