Legacy Part 6

On Main Street…

"They couldn't have been real feds," Clark finished explaining to Lex about the raid on the farm.

It had been a while since he had been able to hang with Lex. His friend had been busy with work and Clark had been busy with Van. But, after the illegal raid, Clark thought it would be a good idea to catch up. Clark had needed to drive the truck as his powers were still gone.

"I'll look into it. You have my word. By the way, congratulations on your cover story." Lex said.

"Thanks." Clark smiled at the compliment. He was still proud of his article being published in a real newspaper. Clark had wanted to share the news with Chloe first, as she would understand his excitement. But then he remembered how Chloe had agreed to spy on him. So, he went to Alicia instead. She had praised him and complimented him and gave him plenty of kisses, but it wasn't the same as getting praise from another journalist enthusiast.

"How about I buy you a coffee as a congratulations?" Lex tilted his head toward the upcoming Talon. Neither Stan nor Sasha were at their stations on the sidewalk outside.

Clark's stomach twisted. While Alicia had made up her mind to never set foot in the coffee house again, Clark was still on the fence. The article he wrote on the dueling coffee shops had been eye opening. It turned out most of the people had just been staying inside their homes out of fear that a shooter was on the loose in their town. Many of the local businesses were starting to feel the financial strain. And it hadn't been until Lana was hospitalized that customers started to feel there had been a decrease in customer service. Especially if they were suspected of being a meta.

But Lex was his friend and was trying to be supportive of him. Clark should show him the same curtesy.

"Sure. Thanks," Clark said with some hesitation.

"There's no need to feel pressured. You should stand by your convictions. Nothing wrong with that." Lex said with the easy confidence Clark desired.

"The whole thing's just stupid." Clark sighed. "Is it naïve of me to say I just want people to get along?"

"Highly."

"I'm still surprised you didn't want to give a quote for my Torch article about this."

"I'm more of a silent partner. Lana's the general when it comes to the Talon's battles."

"Interesting." Clark continued at Lex's raised eyebrows. "It just seems the stand's been closed more frequently cause Stan got a new internship. At SynTechnics."

"Good for him."

"Last time I checked, that was a subsidy of Luthor Corp." Clark smirked at Lex's emotionless face. He knew that Lex was still helping Lana in his own way.

Lana.

A lot had been going on the past few days, but Clark was reminded of something she had said.

"Lex, is it true Lana was drugged with a truth serum?"

"Yes."

"But…how?"

"You were there. What did you observe?"

Clark remembered Lana being shaken by Perry White's questioning. Alicia had gone over to help her as Clark had tried to get Mr. White out the door. He didn't look at Lana until she had started her rant. After that, Clark had been focused on making sure Van wouldn't hurt Alicia.

Maybe Alicia noticed something.

Before Clark could decide about going inside or not, he heard someone call out his name. Clark recognized the caller as Bobby Big Mouth, Chloe's friend, driving a car he pulled up to the sidewalk.

"Clark, come quick! It's your girlfriend."

"What happened?" Clark asked.

"Perry was trying to interview her for his story. Then, that shooter came out of nowhere. I think he hit her with a tranquilizer or something. Anyway, now she's…ah, just get in."

"I'll call an ambulance," Lex offered as Clark hopped into Bobby's car. "Where do you need it?"

Bobby sped off before giving an answer.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

What an idiot, Bobby thought as he drove the gullible farm boy straight into the trap.

Now that those zombies had vanished from the face of the earth, Bobby was ready to get back to snitching in the big city and finally get a decent meal. But Mr. White insisted there was a big story in this small town and would not budge until he got it. He promised Bobby an Italian feast if he helped him land the story of a lifetime by going along with a crazy plan.

Funnily enough, the subject was Clark Kent.

Bobby sneaked a glance at the guy in his passenger seat. He looked normal to Bobby. Normal for an insanely tall, muscular individual. Still, Mr. White had gone on and on about Clark being one of those metas. Course, when he spoke like that he always had an open flask in his hand.

Yet, for some reason, a billionaire had recruited Sullivan to spy on him. She insisted there was nothing to find and was now busy trying to understand Lionel's obsession among her other projects.

Wonder what I could come up with?

Bobby brought the car to Saunder's Gorge, where the trap had been laid. Mr. White was at the railing, peering down,

"Where is she?" Clark demanded, racing over.

"There!" Perry pointed down.

"Alicia!" Clark called below.

Bobby peered over the rail. The gorge's wall was smooth in some areas, but others had jagged rocks sticking out. There were several ledges that jutted out; none of them were very big. Alicia's huddled form was on one of these ledges now. It was too small for her entire body; most of her leg below the knee was unsupported in the open air. Only an experienced rock climber could get back up.

Or someone with unnatural abilities.

"How'd she get down there?"

"After she got hit, she used that special power of hers to try and get away. I think the drugs made her unbalanced or something. She hasn't moved since."

"I got some rope," Bobby casually offered. "We could lower you down and you could pull her up."

Clark took the final piece of the bait and helped Bobby tie the rope to the front of the car. Bobby shook his head in disbelief as the naive fool didn't question the many holes this situation presented.

How did Van know where she was?

Why would an interview take place here?

Why did Bobby have rope in his car?

Clark's breathing became fast and shallow as he approached the rail. He hesitated only a minute before grabbing the rope and climbing over the fence.

He's brave. I'll give him that.

Clark lowered himself down to the small ledge. He managed to get both of his feet on the small surface. His hand never let go of the rope as he reached out to touch Alicia's cheek. Bobby was too far up to hear anything, but then the girl's body turned into a cloud of green mist, leaving the farm boy alone on the ledge. Then the rope dissolved in a similar fashion, leaving Clark stranded. Alicia joined Bobby and Perry staring down at the trap that had just snapped shut.

"I want it all on tape," Perry said, handing the video camera over to Bobby.

"Alicia?"

"I'm sorry, Clark. I don't have a choice," Alicia called down. Bobby felt some empathy for the poor sap as the lightbulb finally went on.

Bobby had been surprised to hear Perry White and Lionel Luthor had come to an arrangement. Alicia was in on it from the beginning, something about her also working as a Luthor spy. She was the perfect bait to draw Kent out to a secluded area and into a dangerous position. Now, all they had to do was sit back and watch Kent save himself from falling to his death, getting the whole thing documented. If Mr. White was right, and Kent was one of those freaks with enhanced strength, he'd be out of there in no time.

"You can't leave me here!"

"Come on, Clark, getting out of there should be child's play for you," Perry called down.

Bobby concentrated on filming. His stomach began to twist as the reality of what they had just done sank in. He had done some shady things in the past; it came with the territory of being a snitch. The way Perry explained the plan, he seemed certain Clark would just jump up within seconds.

Come on, come on, come on already! Bobby chanted as his heart rate began to quicken. The ledge Clark was on was proving to be unstable. As Clark twisted his body to get a more secure footing, part of it had crumbled and the rocks fell towards the river below.

"No one knows where you are," Perry shouted, trying to speed things along. "Just use your powers and we can all go home."

And then Clark said the last thing Bobby wanted to hear.

"I don't have any powers!"