Relic Part 1
This is a Season 3 rewrite so we get to see more interaction between Clark and Alicia, a favorite side character of mine. This rewrite starts off with episode 3. Episodes 1 & 2 will have occurred just as they did on the show. As with any newcomer, Alicia's first scenes will be short and get longer as the season progresses. If you've seen the show, you already know how things go, but I'm hoping I have a few surprises in store for you. Naturally, since Alicia is vying for Clark's attention while Lana is trying to repair what they had, there will be some drama ahead. I just want to focus on the scenes I'm adding/ changing, so if there are repeat scenes they'll only be mentioned.
Anyway, if you have a season rewrite you recommend, please share in the comments. If this style doesn't work, I'm open for constructive criticism.
Do I own the show or any of the DC characters? That would be 'no'. Do I have a love/ appreciation for them? That would be a 'yes'.
Enjoy!
The last bell of Smallville High rang eighteen minutes ago. Which meant the Talon was packed. Clark Kent wove his way through the crowd to get to the counter to order. As he waited in line, he scanned the crowd. Clark recognized every face; it was hard not to in a small town. But his close friends were not there. Pete was at football practice. Lana hadn't even been at school today; something about a family matter. Chloe was still at school, working on the next Torch edition. Normally, that was where Clark would be at this time, but he had quit the school paper last year. He could have gone home and finished his chores early, but things were still awkward there. His parents were encouraging him to spend time with his friends off the farm. Clark knew they meant well, and they were trying to give him time to mend things, but Clark couldn't help but wonder if they still didn't want him around.
Clark sighed as his stomach began to twist in guilt. Somehow he kept managing to hurt the people he cared about.
For two beautiful days last year, Clark had everything he ever wanted. He and Lana had finally begun to date. His mother was pregnant, and his parents were beyond ecstatic. Clark was excited himself at the thought of being a big brother.
And in one instant, Clark had destroyed every shred of happiness.
The spaceship Clark had arrived in Earth had begun to talk to him. It demanded he leave his home and loved ones to fulfill his destiny.
And leave Clark did. In his fight to stay and defy destiny, Clark had unintentionally caused the death of his unborn sibling. He had caused his mother untold anguish; his father was lividly angry and disappointed in Clark's actions. Before Lana could get hurt, Clark willingly put on a Red K ring and ran away to Metropolis. But Clark had hurt her; he just didn't see the pain he caused until a few weeks ago.
"It's on the house, Megan," the barista behind the counter said, bringing Clark back to the moment.
"Really?" Megan asked, uncertain.
"Didn't you see the sign?" The barista laughed and pointed up. Clark's eyes drifted to where her finger was pointing. A banner above the counter read: Keep up the winning streak. Swim team members eligible for a free drink.
"How come that never happens for the football team?"
"Well, this is the first year the swim team has been undefeated. I guess Lana thought you guys needed more encouragement."
Opposition between sports teams. That could be a Torch story. Clark shook the thought from his head. He was not a reporter anymore. Chloe no doubt had things perfectly under control. She mostly ran everything by herself anyway, and that was usually her preference.
Clark had to stop letting people down.
Coffee in hand, Clark now had the task of finding a place to sit down. Every seat was taken. People sat grouped together by the clubs they were in. Some were having study groups and others were just relaxing by themselves with a book.
Surprisingly, Clark found he was missing being in the Torch office. Being a superpowered being, Johnathan Kent had forbidden Clark from joining a sports team.
"It's too dangerous."
"You could hurt someone."
"It's not fair to the other players."
Clark knew the reasons by heart. He had only joined the school newspaper to help Chloe, but the Torch had provided him a way to belong to high school. And that's all Clark ever wanted: to belong.
It was a feeling that no one could ever truly understand. Not his parents or Pete, who knew his secret.
Why didn't I get this in a to-go cup?
Finally, Clark managed to find the last available chair. It was part of a small table; just meant for two people. A blonde girl was already sitting there, an open textbook next to her latte, practically taking up the entire table.
"Is this seat taken?"
"It's yours." The girl never once looked up from her book.
Clark took the seat, feeling he was taking up too much space. He held the mug in his hands instead, so it wouldn't take up table space. It felt weird to be sitting across from someone and not talking to them.
"You must be new. I'm Clark."
The blonde's eyes snapped up from the page and locked onto him. She stared at him for several seconds, which was an eternity with someone with superspeed. Slowly, she closed her book, careful to keep her page marked, and forced a smile. "Alicia."
"So, how are you liking Smallville so far?"
"It's fine."
Alicia sat staring across from him, tight lipped. Clark sipped his coffee and checked his watch, unsure what to say next. Thankfully a third person arrived to break the ice.
"Alicia Baker? Hi, I'm Chloe Sullivan. Hi, Clark." Chloe had somehow managed to find an empty chair in seconds and pulled it next to the crowded table. "I'm the editor for the school newspaper, the Torch. I'm hoping you can spare a few minutes. It's tradition to do a 'nice to meet you' column on new students. Just a way of introducing you to everyone all at once."
Alicia sighed. "I guess."
"Great. So, you lived here around ten years ago. What's the biggest change you've noticed?"
"How'd you know that?" Alicia asked with wide eyes.
"Chloe takes journalism very seriously," Clark offered. He tried to give his friend a pointed look. "Maybe lighten up."
But Chloe was ignoring his warnings. "Does your move have anything to do with the Adam Knight incident?"
Alicia paled. "I have to go." The girl scrambled to put her things together and left, leaving behind a rather frustrated Chloe. The young reporter began to shove her notebook back into her bookbag rather aggressively.
"How's it going?"
"It's going great, Clark. I have to increase the font size to twenty-two just to get two pages." As Chloe stormed off, Lana came in through the front doors.
"Everything all right with Chloe?" Lana gracefully sat down in Alicia's empty chair.
"She's just frustrated about the next edition. Everything go ok today?" Clark took another sip of coffee. Seeing Lana was complicated more than ever. Clark had to force himself to stay away from her; desperately wanting to prevent hurting Lana ever again. Lana, however, had insisted Clark not push her away.
There was just no winning. Clark hurt her by keeping his distance, but it was preferable than what would happen if he got too close. Even if Lana didn't understand that.
But Lana seemed preoccupied with something else right now. Her brow was furrowed as she answered. "I'm not sure. I was going to stop by the barn later to talk to you, but do you have a few minutes now?"
"Of course. What's up?"
Lana took in a deep breath before talking. "I just came from the state prison where my Great Uncle Dex has spent the last forty years."
"What? Why?"
"He was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. Claims that he's innocent and asked for me to believe him."
"Well, convicted murderers spend half their day convincing people they're innocent."
"Yeah, but I think there's something to his story." Lana pulled out an aged newspaper article concerning the arrest.
Clark gingerly took the pages. But the shocking part was not the article itself, but the drawing of a wanted suspect. A sketch that looked very similar to Clark's face. And around his neck was a pendant that had a symbol very similar to the ones found in the Kawatche caves.