Crisis Part 1

At the Smallville Medical Center…

Lana fiddled with her car keys as she peered into the hospital room. The patient inside claimed to be Emily Dinsmore. Of course, it wasn't the real Emily. Her childhood friend had drowned, only for her father to clone her last year. But the girl laying on the hospital bed did not resemble Emily in the least. The patient wasn't even a child; the stranger was an elderly woman, appearing to be in her eighties.

"What happened?" Lana asked the nurse, standing beside her.

"We don't know much. Clark Kent found her passed out inside their barn; no ID on her. Just that stuffed toy she won't let go of. All we can get out of her is her name is Emily Dinsmore and that you are her best friend."

Lana flinched at the news. Emily's clone sought her out last year to take them to their favorite place: the river where the real Emily had drowned. Lana had fallen in that fateful day; Emily had jumped in after her. Lana had gotten free of the current, but Emily had been pulled under. She had been too weak and scared to save her childhood friend. When Lana confessed the news to Emily's clone, the girl had gotten furious and pushed Lana off the bridge into the water below.

And then, Clark was there. Protecting her as he always had.

"She doesn't look like the Emily I knew," Lana stated. "I'll need to talk with her. It's complicated."

"Not the first time I've heard that in this town. You don't have to go in if you don't want to," the nurse assured her. "Or I can get a security guard."

"Thanks, but I should be fine." Lana reasoned that she would be able to take on an elderly woman.

Lana opened the door and walked inside with the nurse. The elderly woman smiled upon seeing her.

"Hi, Lana," the woman said in a raspy voice. She turned to look at the nurse. "See? What did I tell you? Sisters."

"Yes, I can see the resemblance," the nurse said good naturedly.

"The nurse says you're saying your name is Emily Dinsmore," Lana said.

"I am. You don't recognize me, do you? Not surprised. I got taller."

"Why do you think you're Emily?" Lana stepped closer to the hospital bed.

"I am Emily, silly." The woman rolled her eyes. "You didn't believe me the first time, either."

"Well, you do look different." Lana said.

The elderly woman practically beamed. "I know. We look so similar now." The smile was quickly replaced by a frown. "But I don't feel good."

"Can you tell me where we played the last time?"

"The river. Our special place."

"And where have you been since the last time we played?"

"I used to be in the nice room. It was pink and had toys for me to play with. I was given a bunny. He was white with the smallest spot of black on his left ear. Then I got sick, and the bad man sent me to a dark room. My bed's not as pretty anymore and he took away Bunny Buns, but I got to keep Flopsy. Want to hold him?" The woman held out her stuffed animal.

"Thank you." Lana accepted the rabbit and made a display of shaking its paw. "Hello Flopsy. It's nice to meet you."

Lana quickly returned the toy, not wanting to upset "Emily". She seemed aware that she had grown, but oblivious as to how much.

"My tummy hurts," the woman wailed, clutching the stuffed animal close to her. "I want Daddy!"

Lana turned to the nurse and whispered, "I think she's telling the truth. This is Emily Dinsmore. We should tell her dad she's here."

The nurse was distracted by a commotion coming from the hallway. She and Lana walked out to see a teenager with pale skin wearing a gray tracksuit. It wailed as it swung its arms around, knocking orderlies across the floor like they were rag dolls.

Lana found herself retreating back into the hospital room, next to Emily's bed. In her mind, she prayed for the shooter to show up.

Opening theme song…

At Luthor Corp…

Lex was ready.

The summons to the office of Lionel Luthor when he arrived at the office had been expected. By now, Lionel was sure to have found out about Lex's visits to Dr. Teng and Dr. Garner. He brought his briefcase with the files he'd been saving for this encounter.

"What do I owe the honor, Dad?" Lex stood in front of his father's desk. He made the choice to stay standing. His father eyes remained focused on the computer screen before him, not bothering to acknowledge Lex's presence.

"I've become aware of you delegating your daily tasks to undermanagement. I'm curious to know exactly what I'm paying you for."

"Relax, Dad. I'm not sitting in my office just sharpening pencils."

"Then exactly what have you been doing, son?"

"I've been trying to find a challenge. Face it, Dad. You haven't trusted me since my psychiatric break. Everything that's been on my daily agenda is nothing more than glorified data entry. I came back to Luthor Corp to be your partner, not a paper pusher."

"I'm sorry to hear you find working here beneath you."

"Not if it's the right work. I think I've found a project I'm interested in: Project Velocity."

Lionel made a dramatic sigh. "There are hundreds of projects in development at Luthor Corp. You'll forgive me if I'm not up on the details of project…Velocity, was it?"

"Allow me to refresh your memory." Lex opened his briefcase and pulled out a specific file. "Project Velocity is primarily developing a serum that has a certain Lazarus effect on the dearly departed. The Kafkaesque trials have revitalized patients' bodies while their minds continue to deteriorate. Which is why you've recruited Dr. Garner. It sort of bypasses the code of ethics, but I suppose if you were successful, it could mean big business."

Lionel accepted the file and appeared interested as he scanned the pages. Lex helped himself to a cup of coffee as he gave his father time to read.

"I applaud your moral outrage, but this file doesn't confirm any of your accusations, son."

"It would raise a few eyebrows at the Daily Planet."

"There's no need to resort to threats. If you want to shut this project down…"

"This new project could make the company billions. So, I must not be making myself clear." Lex leaned over the desk. "I don't want it shut down. I want to be in charge of it."

The expression on Lionel's face faltered from neutral to one Lex wasn't familiar with.

"I'm impressed, Lex. I really, truly am." Lionel placed the file down and got up to stand in front of his son. He placed his hands on Lex's shoulders which, in the house of Luthor, was the equivalent of a hug. "The truth is you would be coming in at a crucial time. I need someone like you in charge of this. What you've done at Luthor Corp already, taking charge and making your own path, I'm…I'm proud of you, son."

Lex fought to stay calm as he heard words he was so desperate to hear.

"Lex. Son. I need your help."