Sorry it took me so long, but I hope it was worth it. Enjoy!!
I did borrow a couple of scenes from Smallville's 'Vessel' episode, if it looks familiar to you. They belong to Smallville, not me. Just borrowing
Chapter 40 – Evil is Brewing
Tess held Cattivo back when everyone else had left the Summit chamber. “I’m so happy to see you safe again Lady Avanya Tess,” Cattivo said “the only thing I heard was that you were dead.”
“You can just call me Tess or Lady Tess if you must and thank you. I owe my life to you for saving both Zan and my life.”
“It was my honor. So, what happened when you escaped Antar?” Tess took a seat at the “V” shaped table and offered Cattivo a nearby chair and then she explained.
“Well, the Earth’s military sent a welcoming party, shooting us out of the sky. Zan and I ended up crashing and then I was captured. They stuck me in a cell and tried to interrogate me, but when I wasn’t giving them the information they wanted, they turned their attention towards the ship, where Zan was still sleeping. Left in my cell, the drugs they gave me wore off and I was able to use my mindwarping ability to escape. My first priority was retrieving my son. I attacked and destroyed everything and everyone that got in my way and once I escaped I sought out those that I had left behind. I knew I wouldn’t be well received, but I had to try for Zan’s sake. I had the military tracking my every move but I was eventually reunited with Max, which didn’t go like I had dreamt it would. I was hoping for a warmer welcome, but it seemed Max and Isabel were having some problems of their own with their adoptive Earth parents and my arrival just heightened that already tense moment. Michael wanted to kill me when I entered his home but Max held him back because through another lie, I had Max convinced that harming me would hurt Zan. The shock was when Liz threw me up against the wall in anger upon first seeing me. That’s when I learned that Liz wasn’t truly human anymore. Anyways, they thought about turning me over to the authorities, but in the end they agreed to help get Zan and me out of Roswell. It turned out to be pointless and we eventually holed ourselves up at Isabel’s place. During the wee hours of the morning, I asked Liz to drive me to the military base, where I said goodbye. When I entered the base, I pulled out the portal device you gave me and set the coordinates for Larek’s palace and then I proceeded to the center of the base. Since I had returned to Earth, I noticed that my ‘alien’ abilities had been enhanced and protected myself the best that I could while I blew up some ammunition piles, which escalated to other stockpiles and nearby vehicles. During all this commotion, I used the portal and surprised Larek in the middle of the night.”
“Wow that is quite the story, My Lady. Why didn’t you contact me when you made it back safely? I was quite upset when I learned you had perished on your trip back,” Cattivo said, with heartfelt pain in his voice.
“I’m sorry Cattivo,” Tess said, moving her chair closer, trying to comfort her alien friend. “Larek thought it would be safer for me to go into hiding. He sent me to Avanya’s parent’s place and they took me into their home and treated me as their own. I never felt so welcome, except when you came to visit me while I was being held captive by Khivar.”
Cattivo looked up into her bright blue eyes. She really was a tender and beautiful human. Too bad she lost faith with her family on Earth, but not here. He would never let her feel pain again, not if he could help it. He embraced her as she returned the embrace and then they separated. His alien form didn’t bother her. It really surprised him how accepting these humans were. He decided in that moment to change, for her. Just like Mirek changed his appearance to make Tara feel comfortable, he wanted the same thing for Tess. He raised his hand and a bright white light filled the room, in the place of the alien persona of Cattivo stood Tess’ prince.
Elsewhere in the palace there was a slight knock on Max and Liz’s quarters. Liz was sitting on their bed, writing in her journal as Max was going over his notes for the next day’s Summit. Setting his notes aside, he went to answer the door.
“Hello mother, I thought we’d be getting a visit from you. Please come in.”
Ankaa entered the room and joined Liz on the corner of the bed. Liz put away her journal as Max joined them.
“So how long have you known about the baby?”
“We just found out, while we were out in the square visiting the people of Dione. I went to heal a young boy and since Liz and I share a special connection she joined me in the healing which drained her to the point of almost passing out. When I was finished healing the young boy I went to Liz’s side. While connected with her I learned that we were going to be parents. I could feel her heart beat, it was the most amazing thing.”
“Her heartbeat?” questioned Ankaa.
“Yes, you’re going to have a granddaughter.”
“I’ve been so blessed” Ankaa stated. “Not only was I able to be reunited with you, but I’ve learned I’m a grandmother of not one, but two heirs to the throne. Just something I thought would never come to pass, all those years hiding in the caves.” Tears rolled down her face as Max held her close and Liz joined them.
Ankaa composed herself and then asked, “Max, what did you make of the Royal Seal that was portrayed when Liz was tested?”
“I was hoping someone could enlighten us” Max stated.
“Just like the Emissary, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Ankaa said. “There have been different variations of the V formation, but never has there been a bright blue star at its center surrounded by bright white star clusters. Why would this mark be associated with your daughter, my granddaughter?”
“I don’t know” Max said. He sat in the chair next to the makeshift desk and laid his head on the table pulling his hands through his hair. “Everything is just happening so fast. We just found Zan again and met Clark Kent, then I had to come here for the Summit and then we learn that Nicholas, Lonnie and Rath are finding their way to Smallville and now my wife is pregnant with our child, which is both wonderful and frightening at the same time. And then we learn that she is carrying this special Royal Seal. How many more surprises are going to be thrown our way?” Liz got up from the bed and moved to her husband’s side. ‘I’ll always be here at your side, plus we have our family both here and on Earth.’
Max recomposed himself and faced his wife, ‘I am so lucky to have you, you know?’
‘Yeah, I know’ she leaned in and kissed him while Ankaa sat back on the bed again witnessing their display of affection.
“Are all humans so intimate?” she asked.
“Um” Liz said facing her mother-in-law, slightly embarrassed.
“Well, why aren’t you?” countered Max embracing Liz from behind.
“I don’t know” Ankaa said cautiously. “I guess we’re only intimate behind closed chambers, you are very open about your affections.”
“Well maybe if everyone in the Whirlwind Galaxy were more open about their feelings, people would be less uptight and more friendly, making my life a lot easier as their King. As it is now, they are upset at their leaders for their place in this society. They feel like they’ve been left behind, since their food has been depleted as well as their water. Maybe seeing that their rulers aren’t afraid to walk among them and listen to their problems is one step in bridging the gap. Also opening up a little bit, showing them we aren’t afraid to show our emotional side, our ‘human’ side can show them we are also caring, not just of ourselves but of them as well. Our healing of that boy confirmed to the bystanders that we do care about their problems and that mother will never forget and one day she’ll find a way to thank us for giving her back her son.”
“It used to be that way” Ankaa said, “You are more like Zan, my son, than you realize.”
Max looked at her as she walked towards them and awkwardly gave him and Liz a hug, “I’ll try to be more ‘open’ if you think it’ll help.”
“It’s a start in the right direction” Max said.
“Well, it’s been an interesting day. I’m going to retire for the evening. Goodnight.” Ankaa left through the door leaving Max and Liz to themselves.
Back in the Phantom Zone
“…so, tell me Khivar, why are you so set on getting back on Earth?”
Khivar gave the General an incredulous look. “What do you mean?” Khivar said, feeling the situation out. He hadn’t realized how obvious his attempts had been.
Zod looked up at Khivar detecting the game of chess that was transpiring before him. He grabbed some more glusses off the center plate and placed the slimy cave creatures in his skeleton mouth. Thank goodness he lost most of his taste buds when he lost his body. He had to chuckle at Khivar’s attempt at forcing the creatures down his throat.
“Oh, I don’t know Khivar. There’s so much going on around here, how could I miss your attempts at getting into my inner circle.” Zod said sarcastically. “So again I ask, why Earth?”
Khivar forced another glus down his throat and answered, “Well, first of all, it sure does beat the gourmet food this place has to offer a being.” Zod laughed again. “But seriously, as you know I was sent to this wasteland in error. I was on my way to Earth to visit an old girlfriend of mine.”
“Well, from what I understand, you should’ve been sent here a long time ago, so being here in error…I think not. I think your past just caught up with you. And traveling to Earth to visit an old girlfriend, is this the same woman whose twin you murdered back on Antar?”
Khivar sat quietly contemplating what Zod was telling him. He was definitely an informed leader. What would it hurt to just let Zod in? Join forces with him and get out of the predicament he was in and get to Earth to finish off the Royal Four wannabes and get back to Antar.
“Okay, here’s the story. Your information is somewhat off. Yes, I did play a huge part in killing off the Royal Family on Antar, but I wasn’t made aware that their DNA was mixed with human DNA and these replicas were sent to Earth. I ascended to the throne on Antar, by force mind you and when I learned of the existence of this other set of ‘Four’, I sent my private army to Earth to terminate their existence, but they have failed me. I guess these wannabes didn’t hatch out of their pods for over forty years and my people were unable to find their pods, wasting all that time searching. At the same time, my army’s husks or skins could only survive under the Earth’s atmosphere for fifty years. They where preparing human bodies for their Harvest so they could extend their time on Earth, but they got sloppy and their location was discovered by the replica Royal Four and they destroyed the incubators that held their new bodies, killing off most of my forces. The survivors retaliated and followed the ‘Four’ back to their town and tried to kill them off, but again the survivors were fried by that queen wannabe. She tapped into her inner power and sent them up in flames. How Nicholas was able to get away still escapes me. I later found out that another set of ‘Four’ was sent to Earth, but Nicholas was able to contact a couple of them and befriend them. They are helping him in locating the remaining ‘Four’.”
“Remaining ‘Four’? Who died?”
“From the one set in Roswell, a royal pain in my ass named Tess and from the other group their leader named Zan. Also Ava from the New York group transferred her loyalties to the Roswell group. Nicholas has befriended Lonnie and Rath and they are my only forces left on Earth, so I decided to travel to Earth to take care of the problem myself and got stuck here.”
“So, who is this girlfriend you were talking about?” Zod asked with a big smirk spread across his black skeleton features, a very eerie sight.
“Vilandra. Well, that’s what she was known as on Antar. On Earth, she’s known as Isabel. She is so full of spit and fire.”
“Wasn’t she one the ‘Four’ you murdered?”
“Yeah. I guess I like them with a little bit of fire in them. In fact, the last time I was on Earth, Isabel sent my ass back to Antar with a threat and I just wanted to reciprocate the offer.”
“You are a cold being, aren’t you?” Zod said, “I like you.”
“So what’s your story?” Khivar asked, as Zod explained the circumstances surrounding his exile to the Phantom Zone.
“So, what are our chances of getting off this sandblasted rock?” Khivar asked.
“I believe I can use you, but only you. There is only one body being prepared for me on Earth and since you were fortunate enough to retain yours, I may be able to bring you along and together we can pull our forces together and go after our foes, and eventually prepare some other bodies and have the remaining occupants of the Phantom Zone join us in our endeavors.”
An alliance was formed, now all they were waiting for was a sign from the Kryptonian Intelligence known as Brianiac or on Earth, Milton Fine.
Elsewhere in the Phantom Zone, Raya was sitting on the rock hard ground reading through Jor-El’s notes when a big wind came up and blew open one of Jor-El’s journals. There must’ve of been just enough wind to unbind the loose corner of the book, its end flapping in the wind. Raya reached for the journal and retrieved all the papers that were blowing around when she noticed the corner was flapping. Not having anything to repair the book, Raya cursed. Then she took a closer look. There was something underneath, on the inside of the book cover. She reached for her blade and carefully opened the inside of the book cover to revel a single sheet of paper. She read through the letter, which was addressed to her from Jor-El. He was a brilliant scientist. Inside the letter were his answers to Krypton’s demise. He also included the arguments he told the Science Council, along with his solution, which included a prophecy bringing three worlds together with a special child who uses the Kryptonian ‘Father Crystal’ Jor-El personally grew and sent to Earth with his son. The child is supposed to combine it with an Antarian crystal. The combined Antarian-Kryptonian crystal when used by the child will have the power to change the fate of one of their worlds, in this case the Whirlwind Galaxy. Raya read through the letter again. His theory was really extravagant. She couldn’t even fathom that this one child could really achieve such an extraordinary feat. She folded the letter and secured it away with her personal belongings. Now, it was just a waiting game.
Back on Earth
It’s nighttime in Sierra de la Botija, located in Honduras, Central America when Milton Fine found his way to his ship, hidden deep inside the rainforest away from prying eyes. Touching the triangular ship, Fine was absorbed inside and went to retrieve the device he knew held the key to the Phantom Zone. He pulled the Extractor from its location and looked at it closer. The silver sliver of meteor rock was still within its core, as well as a little bit of Kal-El’s blood. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten about this. He was the one who contaminated Kal-El with the silver piece of kryptonite to begin with. It had an adverse affect on the Kryptonian, bringing him to the brink of insanity. Fine had gone in, once he had retrieved the information he needed, and extracted the silver piece with the Extractor. Grabbing a glass-like container, Fine opened the end of the Extractor containing the sliver and blood and withdrew the sliver and poured the blood into the container and sealed it. Thinking the silver kryptonite may come in handy later on; Fine sealed it in another container and stored it away. Pleased with himself, he sat at the controls to his ship and lifted off. It was almost time to release his master Zod.
Lex was sitting on his couch holding Lana close to him. They had just finished eating some Chinese food when Lex thought he would open a bottle of wine. Things hadn’t been feeling right with him lately. He could feel his body changing and then he thought he was going crazy, including losing his short-term memory. What did Fine inject into him. As he was trying to remove the seal holding the cork onto the wine bottle, he cut his finger with the blade of his knife. Pain seared up Lex’s arm from the cut, but as he looked down at the incision he briefly noticed a silver liquid filling the incision and then the cut healed before his eyes.
“Is everything alright?” questioned Lana.
A smiled crossed Lex’s faced as he turned with two filled glasses of wine, “Everything is fine, sweetheart.” He walked towards her as something overtook his mind and he dropped the two glasses of wine, which shattered upon impacting the floor. Lana ran to his side not knowing what was happening. “LEX” was all she could get out as Lex convulsed on the floor, on top of the shattered glass, which pressed itself into his body. Blood was beginning to soak Lex’s silk blue shirt.
Inside his mind, Lex was getting images of the events that transpired the night before. He witnessed the whole conversation between him and Milton Fine. Then he was driving up to Warehouse 15. He noticed the building had been set ablaze and there were explosions going off inside the building. Lex couldn’t figure out what could be exploding in the warehouse because it was empty. Then he was searching for this boy Fine had mentioned. Then he noticed a group of teenagers hovered up on the hillside. Moving in the direction of the hillside, he began to climb it. The group hadn’t noticed his presence, since they were watching the action surrounding the blazing warehouse including three individuals, one of them a boy who were climbing the other side of the hill. As he got closer he noticed Lois was there as well as General Sam Lane. What was going on? Finally one of them noticed him. Coming face to face with the group he said, “What the Hell is going on and why are you even involved General Lane?” and then there was a great explosion and then he saw Clark flying through the air carrying Chloe towards the hillside and then he landed on his feet, setting Chloe down on the ground, as they both looked back at the scene on the docks. Clark was flying. He knew he was hiding something from him, but flying? It was like one of those aliens that attacked Smallville back in the second meteor shower. That would explain everything. How he was able to save his life that day on the bridge and every other unexplained thing that associated itself with Clark Kent, because Clark Kent was an alien! And then he heard a female voice in his mind, “Lex, you will go back down to your car and await the fire department. You were just out checking on your properties when you came upon the fire. You also have never heard of the names Brett Chambers or Zan.” Now he was following what the voice was telling him to do. No…go back!! Lex tried to will himself, but his body wasn’t listening and then he woke out of his trance. “NO…GO BACK!”
“LEX!” Lana cried. “Are you alright?”
“Give me a piece of paper and pen!” ordered Lex still a little groggy.
“Lex, you’re hurt”
“GIVE ME A PIECE OF PAPER AND A PEN!” he was more vocal this time. He just wanted to get as much as his ‘dream’ written down before he forgot. Lana scrabbled over to his desk and retrieved the wanted items and pushed them towards Lex who was still lying on the shattered glassed floor, blood everywhere. He grabbed the pen and began scribbling frantically, not leaving out any detail. Clark was an alien. It all made sense. Lana sat back watching him, not knowing what to do. When he had finished, he raised himself up off the floor and walked over to his safe, unlocked it and secured the paper in the safe and locked it back up. Lana took this opportunity to attend to Lex’s injuries.
He sat down in a chair, as she took off his bloodied shirt to see there weren’t any marks or glass penetrating his skin. Nothing. Sponge in hand, dripping with water she wiped the blood from his back, looking for any kind of mark, but there was no evidence on his back that would lead to the blood soaking his silk shirt. Lana finished up in silence and then faced Lex. “Lex, what happened?” she said with concern in her voice.
“I don’t know” Lex said, still in somewhat of a daze. “I just started to dream…of a lost memory.”
“You were convulsing on the floor Lex. It really scared me. You had dropped the two wine glasses and were rolling around in their broken remnants. That is how your shirt became soaked with blood, but when I went to clean your injuries, there weren’t any. What happened to them?”
“I really don’t know” Lex said, but he knew. He was changing into one of them, an alien just like Clark. Lying on the couch, Lex pulled Lana down onto him and kissed her. Soon, he was sleeping.
Metropolis
Lionel was in his residence sitting down drinking an evening cocktail, preparing himself for bed when he began to get the all familiar feeling that Jor-El was going to use his body as a vessel again. Reaching for a piece of paper and a pen, he began to start scratching out one Kryptonian symbol after another. Finally after what seemed to be a book’s worth of hieroglyphics, Lionel passed out from exhaustion.
The next morning came and Lionel woke up on the floor surrounded by marked papers with symbols written all over them. Going to the bathroom, Lionel took a few aspirin for the raging headache these little visits from Jor-El gave him and then he proceeded to gather up the papers, get dressed and head to the one person that would be able to translate the glyphs. Chloe.
Chloe was sitting at her desk at the Daily Planet, drinking down her second cup of Cappuccino with of course a double shot of Espresso. Clark had called late the night before to let her know he was back and he had brought back his Aunt and Uncle and informed her of Liz’s departure with Max. There wasn’t a lot of detail given, since it was over the phone, but she got the gist of what was happening. Since things were slow around the ‘Planet’, Chloe decided to do a little research regarding the Phoenix Miracle. There were still three boys out there that Max had healed that were unaccounted for. She was surfing the ‘Net’ trying to get a name, any name that she could follow up with when she jumped at the sudden appearance of Lionel Luthor, almost tipping over her coffee.
“Lionel, for a moment I thought you were Clark, sneaking up on me like that. Someone should tie a bell around you. So, what can I get Metropolis’ Billionaire this morning?”
Lionel reached into his leather attaché case and pulled at a manila envelope filled with the documents he had scribbled the night before. “Miss Sullivan, I need your assistance.”
He handed the envelope over to Chloe, who proceeded to open it. She briefly looked at its contents and then looked up at Lionel, while puting the papers back into the envelope.
“I had another restless night of sleep and woke up with these documents scurried around my bedroom and was wondering if you could use your deciphering program to figure out what I wrote and forward your results to Clark.”
“Sure. It’s just a matter of recognizing the recurring patterns and then bumping it up against my Kryptonian dictionary or Clark. You know, each time you have one of these nighttime episodes, I get to add more symbols to my dictionary.”
Lionel smiled, “Glad I was able to help. Good day Miss Sullivan.”
Chloe returned to her work of locating the boys that Max had saved. She would work on deciphering the symbols when she got home.
Meanwhile, Lois woke up early and decided to take a trip out to Fort Ryan Army Base to visit with her father. She needed to speak to him in person. As she pulled up to the base gate, she was stopped,
“Identification, please”
Lois pulled out her driver’s license and said, “I don’t have a Military ID, but if you call my father, I’m sure he’ll allow me access.”
“And who would your father be?”
“General Sam Lane” the guard took her license and retreated back to his office and picked up the phone. Soon he was back at the gate and handed Lois her license,
“Have a nice day, Miss Lane,” he said allowing her entry onto the base. That was the thing about the military, there was always rotation and never the same guard it seemed, but it had been awhile since she had visited her father. She pulled into a parking spot and went up to his office. His secretary recognized her and announced her arrival to her father.
“Hey LoLo, how are you doing?” Sam said, embracing his daughter. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“Our friends from Roswell” Lois said. Sam’s interest peaked and he closed the door to his office and offered Lois a chair. “Can we talk, openly?”
“Yes, my office is secured. What’s going on? I assume it has to do with our other worldly friends.”
“Other worldly, yes. Friends, not necessarily. Remember when our friends told you about some bad eggs out there, well Liz had a vision that three of them are making their way to Smallville. In fact, they’re supposed to make an appearance at the Talon.”
“Your friends are really amazing. I’m still trying to accept all the remarkable things they can do.”
“Tell me about it and I’m around it more than you are. And then learning one of your best friends is among them. That information threw me for a loop.”
“I know what you mean. I never saw that on the radar. So, which bad eggs are we talking about and what does the group want me to do?” asked Sam, grabbing a pen and paper.
“Okay, two of them are named Lonnie and Rath. These are the Isabel’s and Michael’s twins, but with a punk and rugged appearance and then there’s Nicholas. He’s the one that looks like a teenage boy, but he’s probably the most dangerous. They want you to report back to the FBI about some possible activity in Smallville and bring out your FBI friends to investigate and if you happen to capture them, great! Our friends will stay inconspicuous during your stay; just keep your guys away from the farms.”
“Okay, but what happens if we do capture them? I know Max didn’t approve of the interrogation methods that were used on him. What do I do with them?”
“They gave me this” Lois pulled out a small pentagon device and handed it over to her father. “You activate it this way” she turned the dial like she was shown, “and as long as they are within the proximity of this device they won’t be able to use any of their abilities and you’ll be able to contain them, until Max gets back.”
“Where did Max go?” Sam asked, putting the device in his drawer and then locking it.
“Home, along with Liz”
“Home. You mean…back?”
“Yep and Clark’s Aunt and Uncle are here for a short visit too.”
“His ‘real’ Aunt and Uncle?”
“Yep” Lois said nonchalantly. “They’re really nice too. They’re staying at Clark’s. Oh, and I saw the most beautiful place last night. I think Clark called it his ‘Fortress of Solitude’.”
“Sounds nice Lois. Well, I’ll contact Agent Davis and have some guys there within the next couple of days, keep our friends safe.”
“Always” Lois got up and hugged her father.
“And take care of yourself and stay out of trouble” Sam said as Lois turned and left his office, “I’ll try daddy” she said with a slight giggle in her voice.
Luthor Mansion
Lex awoke out of his sleep clutching his head, which was searing from some unknown pain. Lana was awoken out of her deep slumber as well when Lex sat up abruptly causing her to roll off of him landing on the hard floor below. “LEX” she screamed, as he wandered around his study grasping his head. Ignoring Lana’s pleas of inquiry, Lex located the keys to his car and left the mansion at high speeds. Lana followed him in her SUV to a nearby cornfield. His car was left running abandoned on the side of the road with the door wide open. She turned off her vehicle and quickly followed him into the cornfield. “LEX” she yelled, noticing that he was running around like a madman.
“LANA STAY BACK” Lex screamed, still clutching his head.
“WHAT’S HAPPENING?”
“I DON’T KNOW” and then all of a sudden, the ground began to explode around them. She looked straight up and was surrounded by a blinding light and then she saw it. The same spaceship she had seen the previous year. She stood there in shock, as its shadow covered the ground causing Lex to turn around, coming face to face with the black ship, but this time it was hovering above him. He turned back towards Lana to see Milton Fine standing directly behind her.
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” he screamed, and then Lana turned around and noticed Fine.
“What are you doing to him?”
“Preparing him?” Fine said, but before Lana could ask, “For what?” he was gone.
Then bright blue beams came down out of the center of the ship and enveloped Lex. “LEXXXX!” screamed Lana. He looked at her, their eyes locked on each other and then he was gone. Lana ran to the spot where he just was and fell to her knees as the ship disappeared. She was kneeling in the epicenter of the Kryptonian symbol that had been burned into the field.
It took Lana a while to compose herself. She didn’t know where to turn. Lex was gone, abducted by aliens. Getting into her vehicle, she just sat there, still in shock, trying to think of her options. She was in Smallville. The only name that kept coming to her mind was Clark Kent. Turning the engine over, she pulled onto the gravel road and made her way to the Kent farm. Luckily she knew these roads by heart, because she really didn’t know how she made it. Pulling into the driveway, she drove up next to the barn and got out of her vehicle. Still in a daze, she made her way up the front steps and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Opening the door, she entered the house and in a loud whisper she said, “Mrs. Kent. Clark.” Still no answer, but then she heard movement coming down the steps and turned around facing the stairs she saw two unfamiliar strangers descending the stairs. “Hello, I’m Lana Lang. Is Clark or Mrs. Kent around?”
“Are you alright child?” asked Tara, seeing the distress in the girl’s demeanor. Lana shook her head “No” and sat down on a kitchen chair.
Mirek came into the kitchen and said, “Hello Lana Lang, I’m Mirek and this is my mate Tara, Clark’s Aunt and Uncle.” Tara went over to the sink and searched around in the cupboards looking for a glass. She saw Clark getting liquid refreshments the night before and thought that Lana could use some in her present condition. She finally found the cupboard with the glasses and then she stood at the sink, bewildered. How did Clark get the clear liquid to flow? She picked up the rinse nozzle and pulled it up and depressed the nozzle, still no liquid. Then, while holding the nozzle in its depressed state she lifted the handle of the faucet, spraying the kitchen with water. Tara jumped back, dropping the nozzle in the sink when water started flowing from the faucet. Aggravated and wet, Tara grabbed the glass and filled it and pressed the handle down, turning the water off.
Tara gave the water to Lana, who accepted it and took a long drink, before setting the half emptied glass down. Finally regaining her composure she asked, “Where’s Clark?”
“I believe he said he had to go to the adjacent domicile,” Mirek said.
Lana gave him a strange look. Even though these people were very nice and inviting, there was a certain strangeness about them.
“What Mirek is trying to say is he went to Max’s house, next door.”
“Thank you” Lana said understanding, “I used to live there; I’ll just drive up there and visit with him.” She got up from her seat and left. Soon she was pulling into her old driveway and walking up the steps. It was so weird having to knock on this door, but she raised her hand and knocked.
Pete had come over earlier and took Maria, Kyle and Ava to work. Jesse and Isabel were still sleeping and Serena went to the Granolith along with Mira. Since Max was gone and Isabel protested that she wanted a little time with Jesse, their training session got bumped until later on that evening, with Ava and Kyle. Clark decided to give Tara and Mirek some time to adjust to their new surroundings, so he went out and did his normal chores and then went up to the Fortress to continue his training. It was part of Michael’s routine to get up early to cook for the household and now he was sitting on the couch playing a little Madden Football on the Playstation they had picked up at the local pawn shop. Hearing the knock at the door, Michael paused the game and opened the door. Before him stood a distraught pretty girl with long straight brunette hair and beautiful green eyes and then it dawned on him. He had seen a picture of her up in the barn. This was Lana Lang.
“Hello, I was told Clark Kent may be here. Can I speak with him please?” She said in a shaky voice.
“Are you okay?” inquired Michael.
“No, I’m not. I need to speak with Clark and it’s very important, is he here?”
Michael knew that Clark was up at the Fortress training and he didn’t know what he should do. Isabel would kill him if he interrupted her ‘alone time’ with Jesse. He knew Clark wanted to keep Lana out of the club. Man, he hated having to think this hard! Running his hands through his hair and made a decision.
“Hi, I’m Michael. Are you Lana Lang?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m Lana. Is Clark here?”
Grabbing a couple of jackets and putting one on, Michael directed Lana out of the house. “No, he’s not here, but I can take you to him. It would be better if you told me what was wrong though.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you” she mumbled.
“Try me. Can you drive us to the Kewatchee Caves?”
“Clark’s in the caves. Thanks, I know the caves well. I can go by myself” Lana said, unsure of whom this person was. She turned around and walked back towards her vehicle.
“You won’t find him in there” Michael stated.
Lana turned around, “What do you mean?”
“I know you don’t know me and I’m not the most presentable person, but I’m a really close friend of Clark’s and if you really need to speak with him, you can either wait until he gets back later this afternoon or I can take you to him now. It’s your choice.”
“If you’re such a close friend, why haven’t I ever met you?”
“Maybe, it’s because you’ve been hanging out with Cueball?” Michael countered. At this, Lana broke down and cried. Michael was in shock. He wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction just for calling her boyfriend Cueball.
“I’m sorry” Michael said, placing his hand upon her shoulders.
“Sorry” Lana stammered. “I just need to talk to Clark. Get into the car and we can go to the caves together.” It didn’t matter anymore, she had to talk to Clark and find Lex.
On their way to the caves, Michael asked again, “So, what wouldn’t I believe?”
“You’d probably think I’m crazy. I can’t even believe it. He’s gone. He took him. He took him.”
“Who’s gone? Who took who?”
“Lex. Lex is gone and Fine took him. Took him away…in a…ship” she said in a soft whisper.
“Damn” Michael stated. Fine was up to his tricks again and now Lana was involved, along with her bald ass boyfriend. Lana looked over at her passenger. He must’ve not heard the last part of her statement, because he wasn’t contradicting her. She remembered when she had asked Clark if he believed in aliens and he had said that he actually did. She was hoping that belief would be enough for him to help her find Lex. If anyone could, it was Clark.
Finally making it to the caves, they each exited the vehicle and entered the caves. “So, where’s Clark?” Michael didn’t say anything as they went deeper into the cave. “CLARK” Lana yelled out and the name echoed throughout the cave.
Coming to the chamber entrance, Michael turned towards Lana and said, “Now, I know I haven’t done anything to gain your trust, but I need you to trust me now and not ask any questions until I reunite you with Clark,” and then in a mumble voice he said, “and he’s going to kill me.”
Lana looked up at him and saw the seriousness in his eyes. She nodded. Michael raised his hand and waved it before the stone wall. A silver handprint materialized and Michael placed his hand in the handprint, opening the door to the secret chamber. Lana’s jaw dropped. She wanted so badly to respond, but she held her tongue and followed Michael through the opening as the door closed behind them. Michael walked over to the octagon shaped table and waved his hand over its epicenter. Another silver handprint materialized.
“Now, I need to touch you and when I place my hand in the handprint there, we will be transported to where Clark is. There will be a pulling sensation, but you’ll be fine. Do you trust me?” Michael asked, holding out his hand.
Reaching out her hand, the two held hands as Michael placed the palm of his other hand inside the center of the console. Soon they were pulled into the portal, frightening Lana a bit and then they were standing in the middle of the ‘Fortress’.
“Where are we?” Lana said shivering.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Here” Michael gave her the extra jacket he had grabbed for her. She put it on and asked again, “Michael, where are we?”
“It’s not my place to say. I’ll let Clark explain it to you. Follow me.”
Soon they were in the center of the ‘Fortress’ and the sight before them sent Lana over the brink. Lana fell to her knees staring up at Clark who was within the confines of a light beam, similar to the one that took Lex away from her. But Clark was…floating in its center with all these symbols rotating around him. He was in some kind of trance too. Michael was wondering how he could pull him back to reality. “What’s happening to him?” Lana stammered out. She was frightened, and seeing Clark in this stance reminded her of Lex’s abduction. Knowing no other way of getting through to Clark, Michael decided to address his father.
“Hello, Jor-El. Are you out there?”
“Who is it that is interrupting my training session?” Lana jumped at hearing the place echo with a strong male voice from nowhere. She looked at Michael for answer, but he wasn’t giving paying attention to her.
“Michael Guerin”
Michael and Lana felt a cold wind come up, which was beginning to freeze them through the jackets they were wearing.
“Hold up. Why are you trying to freeze us to death?” Michael stammered out.
“I do not know of a Michael Guerin. You are not welcome here” Lana was drawn to Michael who wrapped his arm around her to keep her warm. “What does the voice mean you’re not welcome here? If you’re not welcome here, how is it that you were able to bring us here?” asked Lana. ‘Of course’ Michael thought.
Again he addressed the ‘voice’. “Jor-El. Sorry for the miscommunication. Michael Guerin is my Earth name” he said, looking over at Lana who gave him a questionable look as he continued, “My name is General Rath, a member of the Royal Four and King Zan’s second in command.” The cold wind died down and the voice responded.
“Welcome General Rath. What can I do for you?”
“I need to speak with Kal-El. It’s imperative. It involves Milton Fine.” Michael waited for an answer when Lana leaned over and asked, “I’ve heard that name before, who’s Kal-El?”
Before Michael could respond, Jor-El said, “Agreed” and then Clark was released from his trance and came back to his senses when he realized Michael and Lana were standing there.
“Hello Michael, Lana. Michael, can I have a word with you please.”
Michael knew this was coming. He had planned out his response on their way there. When they were out of earshot, Clark gave Michael a very disgruntled look and then crossed his hands in front of his chest when Michael began to explain, “I know Clark. She was the last person you wanted to let into the club, but she came to the house and she was so distressed and emotional. She cried. All she wanted to do was talk to you. Nobody was around and I didn’t know what to do. We can have Ava wipe her memory if this doesn’t work out, plus I think you need to listen to her. She was basically mumbling but from what I understand Fine abducted Lex and took him away in his ship.”
“What?” Fine’s at it again! What does he want Lex for?” Clark spouted off and then looked over at his ex-girlfriend who was curiously looking over the crystal console, where he was just conducting his training session moments before. “Don’t worry about bringing her up here. We’ll work it out and like you said, Ava can wipe her memory if this doesn’t go well. So how did she handle the whole ‘ride’ up here?”
“Well, considering she has no clue what’s going on, since I didn’t bring up that we’re not from around here. I told her she had to get those answers from you.”
“Oh thanks, and you call yourself my friend,” Clark said as Michael laughed. “What’s so funny?”
“Max said the same thing, when he and Liz got close. He was asking my advice, since he knew Maria and I had crossed the alien/human boundaries when dealing with closeness and sex. I guess they got to experience different things than Maria and I had.”
“I’ll have to get back to you about that” Clark grinned, “but I’d like to hear what happened to Lex.” They walked back to Lana when Clark asked, “So, what did you need to speak to me about Lana.”
Lana just looked around; her thoughts were running away with her. “What is this place Clark?”
“First, tell me why Michael thought it was important enough to bring you here. What happened to Lex?”
Lana broke down again as Clark offered her a chunk of ice to sit on and tried to comfort her. “You know you can tell me anything Lana. What happened to Lex?”
Lana broke down, “It started last night. He dropped some wine glasses and they shattered. He fell upon them, convulsing madly, causing the glass shards to bury themselves in his back. His shirt was soaked with blood and when he came out of his fit, he said he was dreaming of some lost memory and was yelling for a pen and paper to write down what he dreamt. He placed it in his safe and then allowed me to clean his wounds, but when I took off his shirt his back was healed, not even a scratch. Then this morning he woke up screaming and holding his head. He grabbed his car keys and drove out to field. I followed him. He was running around like a madman. When I finally caught up with him, the ground literally started to rise up into the air and then…” Lana paused.
“Go on Lana, then what?” encouraged Clark, holding her hands in his.
“Then the black ship came back. It was really there Clark” Lana said, hoping that Clark wouldn’t think she was crazy.
“I know Lana. What happened after the black ship came?”
“Milton Fine showed up. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was preparing him. Preparing him for what Clark?” Clark shrugged, “Anyways, next thing I know Fine was gone and then a blue tracker light beam came out of the center of the ship and enveloped Lex and then he and the ship where gone. What happened to him? How can I get him back and what is really going on up here?”
“Just give me a minute to think Lana” and then he spoke aloud, “Father, Milton Fine has taken a human to prepare him for something, do you know what for?”
“Kal-El, the human who was taken is probably being prepared to be used as a vessel, just as I use Lionel Luthor’s body as my vessel.”
“But, why is he showing signs of Kryptonian abilities. Lionel isn’t capable of such feats.”
“Each vessel can be used differently. I’m going to assume the individual who is going to inhabit the vessel is still alive and is going to completely take over the body, leaving nothing of its original owner.”
“Is there a way to bring back the original owner once the entity has inhabited the vessel?”
“Again, it depends on how the vessel is inhabited. As with Lionel Luthor, I allow him to live his life as a normal human, until I need to contact you and only then do I overtake his body to accomplish what I need and then I give it back to him. Now, with the human who has been taken, I really doubt anything will be left of them except for their shell.”
Lana was listening intently and sobbing. Michael moved over to help comfort her, so Clark could continue his conversation.
“If the entity that overtakes the human’s body is evil, how can we destroy the vessel?” He hated asking this question, but they had enemies out there and they needed to know their options.
A dagger materialized that had Kryptonian symbols. “You will need to use this dagger to dispose of the vessel. Hopefully it will not come to that.”
“Thank you Father.”
“I will see you tomorrow at the same time. Until then, stay safe Kal-El, my son” and then the room went silent, except for Lana’s crying.
“So, you’re Kal-El. You were who those aliens were looking for last year.”
“Yes, my name is Kal-El and I was born on a planet called Krypton, before it exploded. My parents found me in a cornfield, during the first meteor shower and raised me as their own and this place is a replica of my home world.”
“So, you really are an alien.” Clark nodded. “Is that the big secret you’ve been keeping from me all these years?” again Clark nodded.
“I wanted to tell you so many times. In fact, I did tell you and proposed to you up there, but the same day that you said ‘yes’ I lost you in a car accident. Knowing my secret killed you. I couldn’t lose you, so I made a deal with the devil. I was able to go back in time and redo that day. The day I asked you up to the loft and I told you to bring a jacket. That was the day we broke it off. It was also the happiest and worst day of my life. I’ve had to live with my decision every day and it kills me each time I see you in the arms of another, especially Lex. But you’re alive and that’s all that counts.”
“So, what happened to Lex? I didn’t catch everything the voice was saying”
“I’m afraid Lex may be lost to us forever. That is the worst-case scenario. Milton Fine is a dangerous character. He’s an alien intelligence created by Kryptonians, but he’s not Kryptonian. I’ve destroyed him twice, but he’s come back each time. His main goal is to release General Zod from the Phantom Zone, an intergalactic prison. Zod’s main goal is to kill me because my father is the one who sent him to the prison and he wants to take over the Earth. If he has Lex and it seems like Lex is already beginning to change, I’m afraid that Lex is lost to us.”
“So, you’re going to kill him with that blade?”
“No, I won’t kill anyone. It’s not who I am. We will put our heads together and see what options are available to us.”
“Who’s we?” Lana asked looking over at Michael, “and how is it Michael is such a close friend, who was let in on your secret, yet I’ve never met him?”
Clark looked over at Michael and shrugged, “This is your fault you know” and then turning his attention back towards Lana he said, “I can only tell you about our shared acquaintances. My mom, of course, Pete, Lionel Luthor, Lois, General Sam Lane, Chloe and now you. I’ve kept it a guarded secret most of my life because my parents feared someone would come and take me away to run tests on me, which never thrilled me. The only reason anyone found out, was the same way you did something happened and the secret got out. I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret too, especially from Lex if we ever get him back.”
Lana was quiet for a long while and then she spoke, “you never did explain how you know Michael here.”
“Well, that’s an entirely different story that can be told someplace else instead of here in the Ice Palace. Shall we continue this conversation back at the house?”
“I agree” Clark said, moving towards the portal. Lana took one final look at the ‘Fortress’ and followed Clark and Michael to the portal. Soon they were sitting around the kitchen table on the Kent farm, along with Mirek and Tara.
“Okay, you wanted to know how I know Clark, but first I need to know if you plan on spreading Clark’s secret or can we officially induct you into the “I know an alien’ club.”
“Are you serious, you actually have a club?” Lana laughed. And then she got serious. “I won’t lie, it hurts that Clark didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth years ago, even though I asked him on many occasions. I always knew there was something about him, like he was watching out for us. Even when we got close he didn’t bother telling me. But then today I find out that he did tell me, but I died so he turned back time, saving my life in the process, but also sending me into the arms of Lex. This is so much to take in, but to answer your question, no I won’t tell anyone about Clark’s other worldly status and I want to help out any way I can. We need to find Lex and if all that’s left is a shell then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it” and then she looked at Clark. “I’ve always loved you Clark, you know that. I just couldn’t live with all the secrets between us.”
“I know Lana, but you’ve got Lex now and I’ve moved on too. Chloe and I are a couple now; everything has changed. I still love you and always will, but I’ve got to give Chloe a chance. She’s been there by my side when I needed someone to talk to and encouraged me for a long time to hold out for you, but when you gave a piece of your heart to Lex, that just tore at my heart. Chloe was there to pick up the pieces. I hope you are truly happy with Lex and when he returns we will deal with the situation when it arises.”
“Well, now that we’ve determined that you can be inducted into the club, I can tell you how Clark and I became friends. You are the minority in this room Lana Lang. When we said there was an “I know an alien” club, Clark wasn’t the only alien the club was referring too. As you probably learned in the cave, I have another name. On Antar, a planet in the Whirlwind Galaxy, I’m known as General Rath, second in command to King Zan and a member of the Royal Four. The original Royal Four’s DNA was combined with human DNA and the result would be my family and I. Clark and I met while me and my extended family were traveling in a beat up van cross country. He helped us out of a sticky situation in Metropolis and our friendship and circle of friends keeps getting bigger.”
“You said I was the minority in this room, the way I see it there are two aliens, three humans.”
“Correction” Tara said, “Four aliens, one human. I’m Tara, Clark’s aunt originally from Krypton, but found the love of my life on Dione and live there with him.”
“And I’m Mirek, the love of her life, and I’m from the planet Dione, another planet within the Whirlwind Galaxy.”
“Wow, and I thought aliens were small, green, with big heads and long fingers or very evil like those evil Kryptonians that tore apart Smallville last year, but you aren’t like that. You’re so…human.”
“Thanks Lana, glad our disguises are working out” joked Michael.
“If she really wants to see an alien, I can surely make that happen,” offered Mirek. Everyone looked towards Lana who nodded. She didn’t know what to expect and then Mirek held out his hand and a bright light filled the room and before stood Mirek in his true form, which closely resembled Lana first description. Mirek then held out his hand and switched back into his normal self.
“Well, I think we need to rally up the troops and see what we have to do about Fine, but the first thing I need to do is go and see Lionel. He should know about his son’s predicament. Michael, you bring together your group and we’ll meet at your house at around five. I’ll contact Chloe, Lois and Gen. Lane and I’ll pick up Zan. I’ll see if maybe Chloe can find a way to bring Mandy too. Her ability could be useful. Lana, you can stay here if you like until the meeting.”
“I’m going to talk to Pete and Isabel and see if we can make an alien phone call to Max and tell him and Liz what’s going on. I’m sure they’d like to know what’s going on before they get back,” suggested Michael.
Lana’s head was spinning with all these names that were being thrown out. She realized that they truly weren’t alone in the universe. Tonight, she was going to meet more aliens, she was sure of it. Plus Lois and Chloe were members of this club. Chloe she understood, she had been Clark’s sidekick for over a year, but Lois. That was a surprise. And the General was aware of their situation too, that just boggled the brain. One thing she hadn’t asked, but she realized it was part of their demeanor was the so-called abilities. What kind of abilities did each of them have? What could Clark do? There were so many questions that needed answering. She would have to have a talk with Chloe and Lois tonight.
Clark and Michael got up from the table. “See you later tonight” Michael said, as he left through the back door.
Tara and Mirek decided to take a walk around the farm, leaving Clark and Lana a chance to talk.
“Are you okay with all of this?” Clark asked
“Yeah, but I wish you would have trusted me enough to tell be before, but I understand your reasoning. You’re always looking out for everyone else, aren’t you?”
“More than you’ll ever know. Well, I hate to leave, but I need to go and visit Lionel.”
“How are you going to get there? You don’t have enough time to drive back and forth from Metropolis, do you?”
“It’s a secret,” Clark said, with a sheepish grin. Lana gave him a questionable look when Clark answered, “I’m going to run. See ya later” and then in a blink of an eye he was gone and Lana was sitting in the kitchen by herself, giving her time to digest the events of the day.
On Dione
Max and Liz awoke to an odd chirping sound, which was probably their version of an alarm clock. They got up and prepared themselves for the day’s events. Soon, they were wearing the same tunics and robes that they were provided the day before and then there was a knock on their door.
“Good morning Kip, are you here to take us to the dining facilities?”
“Yes Your Majesty”
“Well, lead on. Liz, are you taking a mental note on how to get around this place?”
“Why? I think Kip is doing an excellent job showing us around the palace, plus I love his company.”
A small smile crossed Kip face. The King and Queen were in fine spirits today; hopefully that mood would carry over into the daylong summit that awaited them. Upon entering the dining facility, Kip announced their arrival and bid them farewell. Max and Liz found their way to the head table where his mother and Larek were already dining. Max leaned over and gave his mother a hug, who returned the hug enthusiastically, if not somewhat awkwardly. “Good morning mother”
“Good morning Max. Liz.”
Max and Liz found their seats and noticed that Tess was sitting with a human, a very cute human according to Liz. Both Liz and Max looked at each other, when Max got up and walked over to Tess.
“Good morning Tess. Care to introduce your guest?”
“Morning Max and you already know my guest; this is Cattivo in human form. He decided to assume his human form to make me feel more comfortable, just like Mirek did for Tara. Isn’t that sweet?” She said. Max had never seen her so happy. She glowed and her eyes were bright and he was happy for her. Everyone needed happiness in their lives.
“Good Morning Cattivo and I like the change. You’ve definitely caught Tess’ eye.”
“Thank you, Your Highness” Cattivo said awkwardly. Was the King encouraging him to court his previous mate? The woman who bore him a son? He would have to ask for a private audience to make sure he was permitted to seek a relationship with the Lady Tess.
Max was feeling really good today, but it had only begun. Hopefully the Summit would be enlightening and a good start to set these people in the right direction. Max joined his wife again and they ate their morning entrees, conversing among themselves. Unknown to him were all the plots and plans commencing in the Phantom Zone and on Earth.
(just not in this chapter). I've definately got a lot happening. I can't wait until everytihng comes together, it'll make writing this so much easier 
I wish Chloe and Clark would at least seek out a closer relationship on the show too, but I guess that's why we have fanfics!
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