The Last Daughter of Krypton - IC

[AmenRa]

[/COLOR]

The smile quieted, became admiring instead of disbelieving. "'The Lone Ranger.'"

"...hello, Professor Smith."

"My dearest Chloe," he responded. He embraced her softly, then held her at arm's length. Satisfied that she was fully functional, unharmed, and still Chloe, he released her. "I trust you've been looking deeper?"

While Var-Sen of Krypton had returned to Earth bearing a crystal for Kar Zor-El, he was not without a gift for Chloe, or Rose. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, white-colored pebble. He showed it to Chloe, then tapped it lightly against the desk. The pebble began to glow, illuminated from within by a white light. Var-Sen tapped it a bit harder against the desktop, and the light grew in intensity, shining as brightly as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Var-Sen then cupped his hands around it for a moment, and the light ceased its emission from the small stone. He handed it to Chloe.

"It is a glow stone," he told Chloe. "A natural crystal formation from the world Raya and I now inhabit. Striking it against an object causes its unique crystal matrix to align and produce light. Warming it slightly in the palms of your hands will cause the molecules to re-orient themselves, and the light stops. It is absolutely inert, emits no heat, no radiation other than photonic discharge."

"It is for you, Chloe Sullivan, because you have been a very bright light shining during my previous time spent on this small planet."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Lex. Ad infinitum.

After she had sat down making sure everything was smooth and presentable in her black business suit she crossed her legs to look as professional and feminine as possible. "I appreciate you wanting to be honest with me and I appreciate you wanting me to make my own decision on whether to help you or not." She paused, "That means a lot to me that you could value someone like me that much. So please start filling me in so I can make a decision for you as quickly as possible."

Lex steepled his fingers, and nodded quietly. "That's fair."

Lowering his palms to flatten them on the desk, he nodded again, and smiled. "What you've seen here is absolutely top-secret. I'm trusting you not to breathe a word of that which I've shown you, nor what I'm about to tell you.

"Three months ago," Lex explained, "I had a singular encounter. Like Jacob wrestling The Angel, I grappled with otherworldly forces, literally otherworldly. An extraterrestrial threat. Maybe you saw the broadcast, the man with the graveyard eyes and the raven-black beard? I was drawn into combat with that monster, drafted into a group of civilian insurrectionists who helped me to defeat him. But I have reason to believe that the threat is not yet extinguished. I have reason to believe that one or more of that insurrectionist group was themselves otherworldly, and, having allied themselves with Earthly forces, remains here, remains hidden, machinations still progressing.

"Anyone who allies themselves with this alien menace is a traitor," Lex declared, in no uncertain tones, "Benedict Arnolds and Judases Iscariot on an interplanetary scale. The otherworldly menace has been sowing their seeds amongst our culture, our language, our very soil since the dawn of civilisation, and it's up to us to pluck those seeds and turn them against the very conquest they represent."

He gestured expansively, to the walls and to the ceiling. "That's the heart of our operation. Taking things like the Smallville Meteors and the scraps of their prophecies and language and using them to defend our nation, our planet. Doctor Hamilton has been invaluable to this effort, working 'round the clock to not only develop our own technical capabilities, but to break down the flaws in the aliens'. We're using genetics, geology, cryptology, cybernetics... they're coming and we will be ready."

Lex quieted for a moment, cupping his hands before his mouth, frowning lightly, tightly. "What happened to your father. What happened to you. Has happened to other people. The meteorites, the seeds of the aliens, they possess a property that twists and moulds and shapes energy and matter and principles of physics. I myself narrowly avoided direct exposure in combat with the one they called The Warlord.

"Suffice it to say," Lex mused, "my theory remains that those rocks and their effect on our local populace has been part of their plan all along, some sort of 'sleeper agent' programme, turning humans into weapons, into super-soldiers in their super-human army. But ours is not a vulnerable people. We can gather up these agents, these soldiers, and enlist them in an army of our own. To fight against these insurrectionists, this Warlord, in whatever form they come at us with next.

"That's where Erin comes in," Lex explained, "and that, my dear, dear Misty, is where you come in."

He leaned back in his high-backed desk chair and gazed at her quietly across the desk. "We need to seek out your fellow 'meteor-infectees,' that's top priority. Your old schoolmate Miss Hughes has the ability to detect the meteor infected by proximity. You have the capacity to peruse their thoughts, detect their hidden secrets, which will help us locate these dangerous insurrectionists and possibly their extraterrestrial commander.

"Erin's power," Lex further elucidated, "causes her great discomfort, which we have mitigated for her. We've discovered that microscopic doses of lead secreted into the bloodstream temporarily block any meteor-induced abilities, which Erin's vambrace provides. Unfortunately, Erin refuses to remove it for long enough that she might detect the infected for us. I was hoping perhaps by seeing a bright young prodigy such as yourself working for the side of right-thinking patriots, she might come around. That you might convince her to help us.

"Doctor Hamilton," Lex continued, "has developed a far less intrusive method of filtering your ability, Misty. I wear a device that insulates you from my thoughts, primarily because as much as I am telling you, I still possess secrets that could put you in deadly danger, and I've no wish for you to absorb some of that knowledge by mistake. At the same time, I imagine that it can get awfully crowded in that pretty little head of yours, and sometimes you'd like a break from the surface thoughts of others?"

Lex drew open a drawer of his desk and presented Misty with a small flat box, opening it up and revealing a gleaming charm bracelet.

"This adornment," Lex declared, "contains circuitry that can temporarily block the mental wavelengths that you detect. This way, whenever you choose, you can remove the bracelet and listen to the thoughts of the unsuspecting around you, acting as our eyes and ears in the populace of Smallville and performing an invaluable service for your country and for your species.

"We'll start small.

"We'll start easy.

"I won't see you hurt.

"But they can't hide from us," Lex shook his head, removing the bracelet from the box and offering it to Misty on the tips of his fingers, "they can't hide from you, not the people who seek to undermine our very existence, and not the people whose help we need to stop them.

"Misty Graves," Lex pontificated: "You're my secret weapon."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe. Ever curious.

"My dearest Chloe," he responded. He embraced her softly, then held her at arm's length. Satisfied that she was fully functional, unharmed, and still Chloe, he released her. "I trust you've been looking deeper?"

"As deep as anyone can look," Chloe promised, holding up the three-fingered sign for Scout's Honour, "who doesn't have X-Ray vision."

He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, white-colored pebble. He showed it to Chloe, then tapped it lightly against the desk. The pebble began to glow, illuminated from within by a white light. Var-Sen tapped it a bit harder against the desktop, and the light grew in intensity, shining as brightly as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Var-Sen then cupped his hands around it for a moment, and the light ceased its emission from the small stone. He handed it to Chloe.

Still blinking away afterimages-- again, Chloe lacked Kryptonian eyes, which could see in the pitchest black of night and yet could also stare into the heart of solar coronae --she accepted this gift from John Smith.

"What on Earth?" She examined it curiously, and then examined Var-Sen. "Or... should I say, what on Sanctuary?"

"It is a glow stone," he told Chloe. "A natural crystal formation from the world Raya and I now inhabit. Striking it against an object causes its unique crystal matrix to align and produce light. Warming it slightly in the palms of your hands will cause the molecules to re-orient themselves, and the light stops. It is absolutely inert, emits no heat, no radiation other than photonic discharge."

"It is for you, Chloe Sullivan, because you have been a very bright light shining during my previous time spent on this small planet."

She stared at it blankly for a moment, and then smiled that lopsided smile of disbelief once more, glancing up at his face. "Professor. You brought me a torch."

Again, she hugged him, grinning at him. "Thank you."

Rolling the stone over her inquisitive fingertips, Chloe mused, "Rose'll love this thing. It's like a 'blinker stone' from this webcomic she likes..."

She paused, though, and a journalistic expression settled about her countenance. "Now. You're not exactly a next-door neighbour, anymore, Professor. To what do we owe the honour of your presence and your light-years long commute?"

 

[camerindrake]

Dinah caught by surprised by Kara's actions was left wordless. She then did a quick scan with her eyes over Kara noticing the ring. She then says in her faux Midwestern accent with a slight edge to her voice, "Nice to see you again, Kara. Hope school is treating you well." Then looking to Eric responding, "Nice to meet ya, lad."

"Spending lunch period off-campus, isn't it?" Ceri mused. "That's fun. S'nice that they've extended that privilege to more than just Seniors, now."

"Yeah, actually I just wanted to get out of there. It was such a nice day out... and I thought 'a bit of a drive' was in order," Kara said, mimicking Ceri's accent and returning to the conversation. "You can't learn everything in a classroom. Certainly not in this town," she added, her voice trailing off as she turned to go.

Dinah looked over to Kara once again saying, "Just make sure your grades don't suffer for it, lass. And remember they can fail ya, For lack of attendance to." she made sure her tone was stern but not preachy for she could easily tell that there was something definitely wrong with the young Kryptonian.

In her thoughts her mind raced, 'Red, red, red. Red k isnt that a wild card. I remember once it giving big blue a giant ant head. He laughed afterwards about that for weeks. But how much can i bet that ring has it in it. I need to call Damian to get Chloe to start investigating it.'

 

[AmenRa]

Rolling the stone over her inquisitive fingertips, Chloe mused, "Rose'll love this thing. It's like a 'blinker stone' from this webcomic she likes..."

She paused, though, and a journalistic expression settled about her countenance. "Now. You're not exactly a next-door neighbour, anymore, Professor. To what do we owe the honour of your presence and your light-years long commute?"

"I do have something for Rose as well. A stone of a different type," he explained. He pulled another small, egg-shaped rock from his pocket. It was a dark red color. "It is a thermally dynamic crystal, and has thermal negating properties. Apply heat to it, and it turns cold. Apply cold to it, and it becomes warm." He then placed the rock back into a pocket as Chloe finished her question.

"I have a crystal containing a catalogue of the flora and fauna of Sanctuary," he told her, "which I must give to Kara Zor-El. The crystal also contains replication instructions for building a gate, which the Fortress will be able to construct upon admitting the crystal. Once the gate is completed, you will be able to visit Raya and me on our new home."

"Also, I have returned to visit friends that I have missed."

"Do you know where I can find Kara?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe. To wit.

"I do have something for Rose as well. A stone of a different type," he explained. He pulled another small, egg-shaped rock from his pocket. It was a dark red color. "It is a thermally dynamic crystal, and has thermal negating properties. Apply heat to it, and it turns cold. Apply cold to it, and it becomes warm."

Chloe arched an eyebrow. "The latest in naturally-occurring physics-defying pebbles. The QVC on your new planet must make for seriously good television."

"I have a crystal containing a catalogue of the flora and fauna of Sanctuary," he told her, "which I must give to Kara Zor-El. The crystal also contains replication instructions for building a gate, which the Fortress will be able to construct upon admitting the crystal. Once the gate is completed, you will be able to visit Raya and me on our new home."

"So much for a Sanctuary," Chloe grinned softly, "if you keep inviting in us humans and our muddy boots. Before you know it, you'll have scuff-marks on all your furniture, and Merick has this crazy talent for leaving no coffee-table intact..."

"Also, I have returned to visit friends that I have missed."

Chloe squinted her eyes at him, good-natured teasing. "That. Was the right answer."

"Do you know where I can find Kara?"

The Sullivan Girl closed her eyes for a moment, asserting her eidetic memory, remembering one time she'd glanced over Kara's class schedule. "Should be English. Room 314, Edelstein's class. I'm on my way to 317, s'across the hall, AP English?"

Moving quickly, she plucked the page of notes on Hamlet from the desk where she'd dozed off earlier. "In which case, you don't have to miss me while you're hunting down The Chosen One. Shall we?"

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri. Crisis of conscience.

Dinah caught by surprised by Kara's actions was left wordless. She then did a quick scan with her eyes over Kara noticing the ring. She then says in her faux Midwestern accent with a slight edge to her voice, "Nice to see you again, Kara. Hope school is treating you well." Then looking to Eric responding, "Nice to meet ya, lad."

"Spending lunch period off-campus, isn't it?" Ceri mused. "That's fun. S'nice that they've extended that privilege to more than just Seniors, now."

"Yeah, actually I just wanted to get out of there. It was such a nice day out... and I thought 'a bit of a drive' was in order," Kara said, mimicking Ceri's accent and returning to the conversation. "You can't learn everything in a classroom. Certainly not in this town," she added, her voice trailing off as she turned to go.

Ceri was given pause by this, firm and definite pause. At first, she was a bit offended that her accent had been mocked. (But then, Kara's vocal cords were as legendary as the rest of her, outstripping even Rose in the singing department, a few impressions here or there were to be expected... right?)

Then there was the statement regarding real-world learning. Her own lessons had a lass had been... formidable, so much so that most of them were a blur, mostly what shone through clearly was the knowledge she'd been imparted, the learning experience itself was. Hazy.

She remembered learning with Ted and with Lee and with Dad and with Great Uncle Dai.

And she remembered the scholarly part of it. The spiritual part of it. Sunday School seven days a week.

But the details...

The lessons she really remembered she'd learned out in The World.

(Maybe she was being too hard on the girl.)

Dinah looked over to Kara once again saying, "Just make sure your grades don't suffer for it, lass. And remember they can fail ya, For lack of attendance to."

One good Celt deserved another, and Dinah's firm reprimand shook Ceri out of her reverie.

Kara's future was not to be trifled with. And not to be hastily discarded for a few too many schoolday afternoon romps in the snow.

"To say nothing," Ceri pondered, "of what yehr mother or softball coach might do if they found yehr grades were slipping."

Looking up she half slid from her seat, fingers flexing as her wand slipped into it. Her lips glistening as she prepared to speak, and then the Malar entered from the back room, it’s heavily muscled form in protective mode looking more like a great mastiff or other hound, then either of it’s other forms.

Ceri glanced first at Zatanna as the woman began to rise from her seat, and then back at the forbidden reaches of Zatanna's stock room as...

Ceri hesitated.

Guard-dog, isn't it? And a guard-dog and a half at that.

She couldn't immediately place the breed, and she'd been bitten by more than a few. Perhaps it was, technically, a mongrel, but there was a purity to its presence that went beyond mere breeding.

As it was it’s claws clacked on the floor as it walked out, prowling and watching, it to sensed something not right, but it’s senses were not honed for magic. Just danger.

The canine, lupine, whatever it was, did not look pleased. Which was unusual. Normally strange animals took issue with Chloe, not with Kara.

“Leeh, Ralam.” She whispered, commanding the guardian to heel, even as her heels settled on the floor and she finished rising. “Greetings and welcome to the Sentinels of Magic.”

There it was again, that eerie, untranslatable mode of speech, and the confidence with which Zatanna delivered it even in a whisper. Confidence which brought even this, this Blaidd Drwg for lack of a better term, into check.

Ceri eyed the situation carefully. For the sake of argument, she decided, perhaps Kara had discovered a perfectly human rebellious streak. Ceri had done the same thing, once, this was common to all The Children of Earth. Claire had discovered hers, too, and had never come out of it. Being a product of an Earthly upbringing, Kara could just be going through a phase.

But. All that having been said. How well would a rebellious Kara react to a woman whose mystery and confidence could even calm the savage beast?

This gwyllgi. (There it was. A better term.)

 

[Tymeless]

Misty smiled at the conviction behind Lex's words and the fact that he had revealed why she could no longer read his thoughts was a relief. It made her believe with all her might that Lex was only protecting her and doing what was right for not only their country but the entire world.

She listened intently then took the bracelet he offered to her. "The relief from not having to always train my mind constantly to block out everyone's thoughts in and of itself would almost be enough to do this Lex and the fact that it is to protect everyone I've ever cared about makes it that much more worth doing. I will join you Lex." She smiled sweetly bowing before the attractive man that sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't believe that she was working for Lex directly and that he truly did need her. She felt a sense of accomplisment and pride that she was certain no 18 year old girl had felt before.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Kara stopped as soon as her ears picked up the faint sound of claws scrapping against the ground, and her body shifted back towards the table where her eyes caught sight of a monstrous beast emerging from the backroom. It looked like some sort of hound, but it was much more than that.

Ferocity in the shape of a dog. It was clearly a dangerous creature.

Kara Zor-El did not fear it.

“Leeh, Ralam.”

The language Zatanna used to command the creature to stop moving forward was unknown to her, but the end result drew a slight smirk from the teenage Kryptonian.

"Good dog."

"Just make sure your grades don't suffer for it, lass. And remember, they can fail ya for lack of attendance too."

"To say nothing of what yehr mother or softball coach might do if they found yehr grades were slipping."

"My grades are perfectly fine, thank you very much," Kara said, looking up from the 'dog' to the group of women at the table. "But it's not like I really need to go to school to get ahead in life. And I don't need to be reminded of what my priorities are."

Although humored at first, Kara was growing more and more annoyed as time went on, and her tone of voice clearly emphasized her resentment towards their 'warm' reminders. She took one last look at the dog and towards Zatanna before turning towards the door again.

"Let's go, Eric."

 

[AmenRa]

Moving quickly, she plucked the page of notes on Hamlet from the desk where she'd dozed off earlier. "In which case, you don't have to miss me while you're hunting down The Chosen One. Shall we?"

Var-Sen walked to the classroom door and opened it. He then motioned for Chloe to lead the way.

"After you, my lady," he said to her. "For there may yet be trouble in the state of Denmark," he added with a smile after noticing the content of the notes she held. "And should there be such, you have your champion standing at the ready, and I shall conquer all foes."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe. "...like a soldier, to the stage."

Var-Sen walked to the classroom door and opened it. He then motioned for Chloe to lead the way.

"After you, my lady," he said to her. "For there may yet be trouble in the state of Denmark," he added with a smile after noticing the content of the notes she held. "And should there be such, you have your champion standing at the ready, and I shall conquer all foes."

And Chloe chuckled at him, and proceeded parallel to the line of his motioning arm, stepping out into the hallway.

"'Will you walk out of the air, my lord?'" she teased softly, glancing over her shoulder at him, making the most of possessing a secret (oh so many secrets) that never could her reporter's wit etch upon the page for the witnessing of eyes.

Chuckling again, she walked along, leading the way towards the English Department.

"'Let Hercules himself do what he may,'" she reminded the Professor clad, like The Devil, in a "suit of sables,"
"'The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.'"

She shook her head for a moment, and quieted, reflecting less on the brevity of wit and more on the sombre subject upon which she would shortly expound.

"'...the rest is silence.'"

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

Room 314

Attendance had been taken at the start of the period, and David Edelstein threw his attendance book inside his desk and then proceeded with his lesson for the day. It was the second time that day he had to give this lecture to his Freshman students, and he scarcely had to glance at his notes. He rolled up his sleeves and dove right into his lesson, asking and answering questions while doing his best to keep his students from becoming too restless.

He did have one neat little trick to aid him in his plight, however: a pop quiz.

He dreaded them when he was a student, and now it was his turn to watch his students writhe in pain in their desks while he handed out the assignment sheets.

David had barely returned to his desk when he espied the familiar face of John Smith approaching his door. Not wanting to disturb his students, he rose from his desk and walked silently over towards the exit. He raised a finger to his lips, signaling for those students that looked up that they should remain quiet.

Closing the door behind him, David nodded and smiled towards Chloe Sullivan, always pleased to see the exceptionally bright young student and talented journalist.

"Ms. Sullivan, shouldn't you be in class by now?" he teased before turning towards his former colleague.

"John, nice to see you again. My class is taking a pop quiz, so I hope you don't mind talking out here for the moment. So what can I do for you two?"

 

[AmenRa]

"Ms. Sullivan, shouldn't you be in class by now?" he teased before turning towards his former colleague.

"John, nice to see you again. My class is taking a pop quiz, so I hope you don't mind talking out here for the moment. So what can I do for you two?"

"Pop quizzes are indeed effective," John Smith mused. "And I have no wish to disturb your class at all, David, but I was wondering if I could speak to Kara? I have information regarding an internship at my library."

It was a lie, of course. Var-Sen regretted saying it the moment he utterred it, but he could hardly tell the teacher he carried a Kryptonian Data Crystal to give to the Last Daughter of Krypton.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

I was wondering if I could speak to Kara? I have information regarding an internship at my library."

"I'm sorry, John, but Kara didn't show up to class today. I thought I saw her walking in the hallway earlier, but she isn't here now. Maybe she checked out with the main office or the nurse?"

Kara hadn't been absent from class in quite some time, and while David did find it odd that she hadn't given him a reason or a heads-up for missing out on class today, he figured she had a good excuse and would at least receive the benefit of the doubt.

Smart kid. Exceptionally smart.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe. Double-entendres.

"Ms. Sullivan, shouldn't you be in class by now?" he teased before turning towards his former colleague.

Chloe smirked wryly. "'Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin.'"

"I'm sorry, John, but Kara didn't show up to class today. I thought I saw her walking in the hallway earlier, but she isn't here now. Maybe she checked out with the main office or the nurse?"

"I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help."

Chloe frowned at that. Frowned deep and hard.

Kara's about as likely to need a school nurse as I'm likely to need a coroner.

And Principal Kwan's as likely to let a student go early as a black hole is to release a photon.

...so where is she? Not ten minutes ago she was raring to hit the books.

But she nodded, quietly, even as she frowned. "Well, uh, thanks, Mister Edelstein."

She turned to Var-Sen, gave him a narrow-eyed gaze. "An unexpected development. Maybe she had to do something, uh, Torch-related?"

"It's too bad the 'Small' in 'Smallville,'" Chloe mused, regarding John Smith with a vaguely conspiratorial air, "doesn't refer to the town's geographic size. It would take forever to search this place on foot."

 

[AmenRa]

"It's too bad the 'Small' in 'Smallville,'" Chloe mused, regarding John Smith with a vaguely conspiratorial air, "doesn't refer to the town's geographic size. It would take forever to search this place on foot."

Var-Sen was quiet for a moment, stopped in the hallway that was now empty save for himself and Chloe Sullivan. He looked at her as she made her last statement, his right eyebrow raising ever-so-slightly.

"Indeed, you are correct Chloe," he said to her. "And something......is amiss. Kara is not one to 'cut class'," he stated, "and for some reason, call it 'Kryptonian Intuition', if you will, I feel as though something is not right." He turned then and headed towards the doors at the end of the hallway, that would take him towards the faculty parking lot. He stopped and turned back to Chloe. "I would be the last person to suggest you 'cutting class', but I would like you to accompany me in an aerial x-ray scan for our wayward friend."

He held out his hand. "If, of course, it suits your current dress attire. I promise to not exceed the speed of sound, only a few hundred feet into the air where my somewhat overly keen eyesight will be effective."

 

[ChasNicollette]

The Women McCrimmon. (Two of them, anyway.)

"My grades are perfectly fine, thank you very much," Kara said, looking up from the 'dog' to the group of women at the table. "But it's not like I really need to go to school to get ahead in life. And I don't need to be reminded of what my priorities are."

"Let's go, Eric."

Ceri speared a bit of crepe with a chopstick and popped this into her mouth, glaring glower-eyed at Kara's back, at the boy she dragged with her.

When yeh're young, yeh think yeh're invincible.

So much the more so when yeh really really are.

But there's no-one as doesn't need reminding of their priorities, from time to time. No not one of us.

...I think I'll need to call yehr mother, sweets, I think I think I do.

But then, hidden away, her mobile started to scrawl a muffled jitterbug and quickly, coolly, she fetched this out.

The caller ID read Rosy.

Ceri shot Kara one last look. Later f'r you.

Snapped the phone open and, sweeping her hair away from her ear, lifted the mobile thereto. "Hulloh?"

'Hey,' Rose's voice came on the other end, heavy with import.

Ceri paused, and instantly she switched gears, effortlessly she changed her tune. No longer was she a sentinel but instantly she was an angel of mercy.

"Talk to me. What's happened?"

Rose was fearless, and how strange that sounded to Ceri, but how wonderful: 'Kyle's grand-dad is having a cardiac event, they're choppering him to The Apricot. We need a lift, mum. We need a lift and a lead foot in a big stompy boot.'

"I'm there," Ceri nodded, putting away the spike of worry and empathy that surged within her and saving it for later. "Call yehr father."

She was on her feet.

"Ladies," she nodded to Zatanna and to Dinah. "Forgive me quick departure. Call yeh both later."

"Laddie," she nodded to the fearsome quadruped that had kept watch o'er Zatanna's stockroom.

And with a squint of her eyes at Kara and Eric as they went out on the very small town, she darted out the door and sprinted across the street, remarkably quick for a human, particularly a human of her age.

She was in her shop in a heartbeat, flipping the sign to "Closed," locking the front door behind her, grabbing her appointment book so she could call and reschedule from the road, pelting out through the back, another lock double-checked, and then her Saab was laying rubber.

********​

Rose gave Kyle's shoulder another squeeze as she hung up her phone and started flicking through her contacts for her dad's number.

"Mum's coming," she murmured. "Not much longer now."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Lex. Silver-tongued.

She listened intently then took the bracelet he offered to her. "The relief from not having to always train my mind constantly to block out everyone's thoughts in and of itself would almost be enough to do this Lex and the fact that it is to protect everyone I've ever cared about makes it that much more worth doing. I will join you Lex." She smiled sweetly bowing before the attractive man that sent shivers down her spine.

Lex blinked his eyes, and for a moment, for a moment, just a moment, there seemed like there was a glistening in those eyes. Almost like he was holding back tears of gratitude.

He nodded firmly, and smiled quite a smile.

"Misty," he leaned back in his chair, placing a hand on his heart, closing his eyes briefly before regarding her anew, "I can't say I'm surprised. But I can say I'm delighted. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me. You really, really don't."

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and, as he continued speaking, dashed off a quick text message with a practised thumb.

"I'm instructing my driver to take you wherever you like," he explained to her. "My suggestion would be to reacquaint yourself with the landscape, visit your old hangouts, maybe get a coffee, see a movie at that Talon? Maybe swing by the school and catch up with your old friends? Reward yourself for making an excellent decision."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Chloe. "Live Forever or Die Trying."

"Indeed, you are correct Chloe," he said to her. "And something......is amiss. Kara is not one to 'cut class'," he stated, "and for some reason, call it 'Kryptonian Intuition', if you will, I feel as though something is not right." He turned then and headed towards the doors at the end of the hallway, that would take him towards the faculty parking lot. He stopped and turned back to Chloe. "I would be the last person to suggest you 'cutting class', but I would like you to accompany me in an aerial x-ray scan for our wayward friend."

Chloe chuckled softly, and affected, for drama class purposes, a rather brilliant Southern belle accent. "Why Ah do declare, Professor, Ah thought ya would never ask."

Switching back to her standard dialect, however, she shook her head. "Write me a note; if I'm with a professor emeritus of your standing, there's no way they can give me crap. Besides, I'll tell them you were coaching me on my interpretation of The Bard."

He held out his hand. "If, of course, it suits your current dress attire. I promise to not exceed the speed of sound, only a few hundred feet into the air where my somewhat overly keen eyesight will be effective."

"Relax," Chloe nodded, all-business, taking his hand. "Do your worst. Gee forces, high-altitude chill, you could even drop me. I'll live."

 

[AmenRa]

The Eyes of Krypton

Chloe had suggested he write her a note, an excuse for missing class.

One corner of his mouth pulled into a smile (this was the one smile Raya loved so much, the mischievious smile, he noted) and he escorted Chloe to the faculty parking lot.

It was, as he had hoped, deserted.

He let go of her hand and placed an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. Var-Sen then looked down at her and winked.

Gravity's pull held no bonds as together they rocketed into the sky. Var-Sen stopped them as suddenly as they had begun, hovering effortlessly a few hundred feet above Smallville.

To the west could be seen a windmill. And, northeast of them, the skyline of Metropolis shimmered.

Var-Sen trained his eyes below, focusing, activating the power of his x-ray vision. He began to scan back and forth below them, looking, searching through streets, houses, shops.

And then he saw her.

"There," he told Chloe, "in that small shop there," as he pointed below them.

He began their descent quickly, vectoring his flight path to touch down easily in a narrow municipal trash truck alleyway that ran beside the line of shops on the street.

He released Chloe. "Remind me to sign that note for you," he teased.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

"So what was that all about?"

"What?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you this-"

"This what?" Kara asked, stopping as they exited the shop.

Eric took a quick look at his girlfriend, but then shrugged it off. Whatever he was thinking, he decided that it was best he didn't pursue the conversation any further. He couldn't honestly remember the last time he had seen her this unnerved, for just the simplest look from her sent a shiver down his back. Eric was a big guy, but Kara seemed unusually strong.

"Never mind."

Kara shot him a quick questioning look, but then turned her attention towards other things. She needed something to do.

Something fun to shake off the bad vibes she had gotten from inside the shop. She hadn't felt threatened, really, just annoyed. As they walked towards Eric's car, Kara saw Ceri dart out from the store and move quickly across the street. Glaring at her, Kara waited a few moments until Eric had climbed into the driver seat. In that instant, she used her speed to run over just in time to see Ceri's car speed off.

Kara moved swiftly and then stopped in the middle of the road, blocking her way. She crossed her arms over her chest and steeled herself.

Perhaps Ceri was off to tattle on her.

Perhaps not, but Kara wasn't going to move until she figured things out.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, her eyes locked onto the car in front of her as it came lumbering on down the road towards her.

 

[camerindrake]

Dinah

Dinah stands up looking over to Ceri saying, "Ceri, what's goin' on?" she then looks over to Zatanna "I am sorry this lunch turned into such a blunder." She grabs her keys and then looks back to Zatanna, "Lets do a proper lunch next time and hopefully it wont turn to a crisis." then mentally to herself says 'Like we really need another one of those the last one was a big enough event. The oldest boy ended up donning the mantle and that didn't end well.'

She gets outside just fast enough to see Ceri's Saab peal out. Black Canary then thinks to herself, 'Okay, isn't that heading towards the school. What the hell Kara?' Dinah then sighs to herself pulling out her cell and texts Damian, 'Kara was acting strange. She has a class ring. I dont remember her having one last time I saw her at the Talon. I have an idea what it is but have Chloe take a look into what that stone is made of. It might be the wildcard.'

 

[camerindrake]

Damian

Damian sat in biology his pencil tapping on his empty note pad. One of the second year requirements for the higher academic curriculum. He felt the vibration in his pocket from his cell. He slips it out and looks at the screen after a few presses of the touch screen of his DROID he had the message.

He then pulls up Chloe's number and quickly text's her, 'Kara is acting strangely. Something must have went down on main street. Just received text from Mother. Check out the stones used in the class rings. Will find out more after class and give you update.'

The young knight then locks his phone as he slides it back into his pocket. He then thinks to J'onn, "J'onn did Kryptonian's ever test out the various colors of stones from their planet on Earth?"

 

[AmenRa]

The Man from Mars

The young knight then locks his phone as he slides it back into his pocket. He then thinks to J'onn, "J'onn did Kryptonian's ever test out the various colors of stones from their planet on Earth?"

A curious question, J'onn J'onzz thought as he stopped the work on the laptop. He had opened a Power Point program and was adding photos into a history lecture for the senior elective class held in the afternoon when Damian's mind connected with his.

To my knowledge, at this time only Var-Sen has catalogued the colors and effects of Kryptonite found throughout the known galaxies. Why do you ask, my young friend?

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri. Den Mother.

Kara moved swiftly and then stopped in the middle of the road, blocking her way. She crossed her arms over her chest and steeled herself.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, her eyes locked onto the car in front of her as it came lumbering on down the road towards her.

Ceri's aforedescribed stompy boot came down hard on the brake, so hard that the Pope's Cross emblem carved in the underside of the heel almost embedded itself in the surface of the pedal.

As it was, Ceri had to yank down hard on the wheel and skid to a halt before she wrecked her car on the invulnerable teenager. Clutching the back of her neck, she stared disbelieving at the youngster's temerity.

(She was an excellent driver. Nowhere in The Ross Lad's weight class, no sir, but she could hold her own in a car chase. Just ask San Francisco. But still, coming to a stop there without striking The Kent Girl was one of the hardest things she'd ever done.)

Quietly, she emerged from the vehicle. Coolly, she slammed shut the door.

Thinly, she smiled.

"Kara," she explained quietly, "I dun have time for this. Surely if yeh'd like me to permit yeh to go freely wherever yeh like, yeh should exchange me the same freedom."

Staring at Kara across the roof of her Saab, Ceri did her best to be... reasonable. "I need to go. Right now. There are more important things afoot, Chosen One, more important even than you."