Title: Blackout 7
Chapter Summary: A trip to the Arctic
13 - Kawatche Caves – next morning
Lex finished pulling on his gloves and asked Clark, “Are you ready?”
At Clark’s solemn nod, Lex continued, “Great. I’m going through first, alone if that’s possible. I don’t want you to show up before I’ve had a chance to talk with it. Give me ten minutes.”
“Lex…”
“We already talked about this. The thing is defective. From what I could put together from the files last night, its goals are mutually contradictory. It withholds information from you then punishes you for not being psychic. I’m not letting it drain your powers right when we need them the most.”
Clark nodded emphatically at that. They hadn’t realized until Bruce woke them up at six how widespread the blackout started by Brainiac was. It had spread in about an hour to Metropolis and continued even now to slowly swell outward. States on both coasts were currently bracing for the impact.
Fortunately, authorities had already been on high alert because of the financial crisis and had succeeded for the most part in maintaining order. Communications between cities were severely hampered, but a few radio stations had power to provide emergency broadcasting. There’d been no widespread panic or looting, and many people in smaller communities were treating it as a holiday of sorts. Emergency services were currently running on their back-up generators, and most were prepared to do so for at least a week. The main concern was the food supply, which could start to be problematic if the power didn’t come back online in a few days.
Unfortunately, it didn’t look like the power could be restored anytime soon. Lori was just one of many security experts studying the virus, hoping to find how it was able to shut down the grid and program a work around. Without this, every attempt to bring a power station back on line was greeted by an immediate crash.
On hearing the news, Clark had immediately run to Metropolis to help the police with the metahumans who had broken out of their holding cells. There’d been surprisingly few thanks to advance planning for just this eventuality, but the ones who had broken out tended to be the ones who were immune to conventional weapons. The radio broadcasts from Metropolis had bordered on despair about the swath of destruction being cut through the downtown core. Eyewitnesses had described three culprits, one of whom caused torrential rains and flooding, another who seemed to delight in starting fires and the last of whom was described as a walking toxic cloud.
Ten minutes after Clark had left Smallville though, the reports had abruptly changed to breathless descriptions of a mysterious saviour, rescuing people from the floods and fires and spreading clouds of deadly gas. A couple of hours later had come the news that the culprits were back in custody, deposited unconscious at the doors to the police station. Judging by the calls on the radio, all of Metropolis was buzzing about their new hero.
Lex had been torn between pride at Clark’s accomplishment and fear that his life would be ruined if his identity were discovered. Clark had eventually returned, clothing torn and covered in soot but none the worse for wear. He’d smiled briefly at Lex’s praise, changed his clothes and moved onto the next task. Clark had always been strong in a crisis. It was everyday life where he tended to have problems.
Now as Lex prepared to activate the portal, Clark looked him over one last time and struggled unsuccessfully to repress a grin. On this balmy spring day, Lex looked faintly ridiculous in his warmest winter coat and gloves, not to mention the wool socks, hat and scarf that Clark had contributed from Jonathan’s old supply. Lex didn’t normally have to worry about dressing warmly and hated hats in particular, but the precaution seemed wise. At the thought, Clark’s grin faded and he touched the scar on Lex’s lip. “Be safe,” he commanded. He then stepped back outside the chamber.
Lex flexed his fingers, took a deep breath and picked up the Key. He half-remembered watching Clark do this a year ago and could only hope it would work for him as well. As he moved the Key over the stone dais, he felt it respond as if pulled magnetically. Responding by instinct, he loosened his grip on the Key and watched it descend with a snap into an indentation. A white light shot up from the dais and engulfed him. Lex felt untold energy surging around him and then....
Time stopped. He was nowhere, and nothing. There was only light. And then…
A different type of light surrounded him – the light of the Arctic sun reflected off a thousand pillars of ice. He then looked closer and realized ice was the wrong word. The material was definitely crystalline, but of a type he’d never seen. He took off a glove and tentatively tapped at the closest pillar – it was smooth and faintly warm compared to the surrounding air. Lex shivered in the chill and hastily pulled the glove back on. He then looked up at the vaulted ceilings and marveled at the amount of open space. Everything about the architecture proclaimed to him its alien nature.
He called out for Jor-El a few times, but was greeted only by his own echo. He started walking, hoping to find a sign of some sort. In truth, he had no idea what he was looking for, but expected Jor-El would speak up when he got close. He passed through several doorways and soon reached a series of steps. He descended slowly into what he instantly knew was the control centre.
Suddenly the room filled with a beam of energy, halting Lex in his tracks. His ears filled with sound, a sound that seemed to be coming from inside himself. Pain filled his senses, then stopped so abruptly he almost fell.
A cultured but forbidding voice spoke, “I am Jor-El, father of Kal-El. You are Luthor, bloodline of the last Guardian. Do you speak for him?”
“I speak for Clark Kent.”
“Clark Kent is naught but a stage on Kal-El’s journey to his true destiny. His Guardian’s duty is to guide him along that path.”
“Helping Clark is something I very much want to do. I’m curious though – how would you judge my father’s performance last year?”
“The Luthor was… most satisfactory. He acted in the interests of Kal-El. He dealt appropriately with those who posed a threat to order. He understood the nature of necessity.”
“I see. And how exactly did he act on Clark’s behalf?”
“Kal-El broke a vow to me and needed to be punished. Time and again he let his actions be dictated by the needs of those around him rather than the general good. The Luthor took steps to guide his re-education.”
Lex restrained a spike of anger. “What is the general good?”
“Safety. Order. Productivity. Knowledge.”
“What about happiness? Liberty?”
“Those values cannot be quantified. They have no utility.”
“And I assume that goes for religion as well.”
“Correct. That which cannot be proved has no utility.”
“I see. The vow that Clark broke – tell me about it.”
“The education provided for Kal-El has been most inadequate. I tested his knowledge and discovered many unacceptable gaps. Lacking the appropriate mental and physical discipline, he cannot achieve his destiny. I designed the needful training, but he left before I could begin.”
“And leaving to save someone’s life is contrary to the greater good?”
“It is needful at times to make sacrifices. That is the first lesson Kal-El must learn.”
Lex started to pace. “Were you aware that the Disciples of Zod arrived during the second meteor shower? They killed 143 people within an hour of their arrival. If Clark had not left here when he did, the death toll would have only continued to climb. Given these facts, did not his departure serve the greater good?”
For once the voice was slow to respond. “His departure may have served the general good but nonetheless he broke his vow.”
“And so you administered your punishment without giving him a chance to explain. Is that Kryptonian justice?”
The voice did not respond so Lex switched tacks. “You are the remnants of Kal-El’s father. Tell me, how did Jor-El approach the question of justice? For example, tell me about when General Zod was arrested.”
“Jor-El successfully prosecuted Zod for his treasonous acts leading to the deaths of millions. Zod was sentenced to the Phantom Zone.”
“Why the Phantom Zone? Why not death?”
“The death penalty was abolished on Krypton many generations ago. The Council considered making an exception, but Jor-El advocated against it and carried the majority. Given the number of Disciples still at liberty, the Phantom Zone was judged to be the only place secure enough to hold Zod.”
Lex’s eyes glittered as his logic trap closed. “If I understand you correctly, Jor-El did not support killing, even as the penalty for a man responsible for the death of millions. How is it then that you punished Clark for saving the lives of the innocent without first seeking an explanation? How is it you actively helped my father achieve ever greater power; power which he used to cause thousands of deaths? How can you say you are Jor-El when your actions do not reflect his most cherished principals?”
The voice was silent. Lex wondered if it was searching human databases to verify his assertions. He hoped it did – the extreme spike in the death toll since Lionel’s ascent to power was irrefutable.
Lex continued. “Explain this to me. When Jor-El sent Clark to Earth, was it an accident that the Kents were the ones who found him?”
“No. Jor-El chose the family who would raise Kal-El based on his own visit to Earth as a young man. He admired the father of Jonathan Kent.”
“So, Jor-El sent Clark to be raised by people who would instill in him certain values, including most of all a love of family, friends and community. Isn’t it possible that Jor-El understood that humanity could not and should not be molded by Kryptonian values, but rather the opposite? I would suggest it is not Clark who needs to change his ways. It is you.”
After another silence, Lex resumed, “Safety and security are noble goals, but not at the expense of everything else. Millions of people would be willing to die in defense of their traditional freedoms. Any attempt by an alien to rule us would ultimately lead to disaster. The cure would be worse than the disease.”
“Kal-El has a destiny – I have seen it. He will act for your people as a beacon, and guide you through this destructive phase with a firm but steady hand.”
“How can you possibly believe in destiny? ‘That which cannot be proved has no value.’” He felt a savage satisfaction quoted the voice’s words back to it.
The silence stretched until broken by a soft sound from the entrance to the chamber. It was Clark, looking overwhelmed but resolute. He handed Lex the Key and spoke with a hint of a question, “I waited just like you asked.”
“It’s okay, Clark. I think I’ve made my point here, haven’t I?”
The voice spoke, “You have demonstrated your suitability for your role most adequately. I acknowledge you as Guardian. The device you now hold will allow us to communicate over vast distances and can also provide you with some measure of protection from your enemies. What is your will?”
“My will is to restore Clark’s memory, nothing more. I don’t want power over him beyond that of a friend and trusted advisor. As for you, your punishments must stop. You are not Jor-El and must stop thinking you know what’s best. Clark will undergo his training as time permits, but must have the freedom to leave when circumstances dictate.”
“Your restrictions are noted, Guardian. I am the Fortress of Solitude. I exist to provide advice and training when Kal-El requires.”
Lex grinned triumphantly, then turned to Clark. “Are you ready?”
Clark nodded firmly and Lex gave his shoulder a last squeeze. “Remember!”
Clark gave him a luminous smile and stepped forward. The chamber filled with a roar of energy. Clark was engulfed in a beam of light and started to float upwards from the floor. He spread his arms wide and threw his head back in a soundless scream. His eyes snapped open and shifted from green to blue as the energy coursed through his body. He started to convulse, then collapsed to the floor as the beam shut off.
Lex hurried to his side and saw that Clark was unconscious but breathing normally. He tentatively stroked his cheek and asked, “Fortress, is this normal?”
“I have recharged Kal-El with as much power as his body can handle, but he was in a gravely weakened state. Perhaps my analysis of the Luthor’s performance as Guardian should be revised.”
Lex restrained the urge to rail at the voice, knowing his sarcasm would be wasted on a machine. He focused on the immediate problem. “And his memory?”
“That is a more intricate problem. The Kryptonian mind does not function in the same manner as a human’s. I have restored Kal-El’s dormant memories. Whether he also remembers his experiences of the past year I cannot say.”
Lex took off his gloves and stroked Clark’s hair. It was nice for once in their relationship to be the strong one, able to protect and offer comfort. He gave himself time to enjoy the sensation before duty pressed in again.
“Fortress, I need your advice. The Brain Interactive Constuct arrived on Earth with the Black Ship. It is attacking the Earth’s computer systems, causing wide spread damage. How can we stop it?”
“This is grave news, Guardian.” Lex was surprised to hear something approaching concern in the voice. It resumed, “The Brain Interactive Construct can make multiple copies of itself but requires power to do so. Unlike Kal-El, it cannot recharge directly from the sun. The strongest power source lies within the Black Ship. If you destroy the copies of the Construct, the Ship will be weakened. Kal-El can then destroy it.”
“And that will stop Brainiac?”
“For now. A device such as the Brain Interactive Construct is difficult to stop permanently. There may be other copies of it, searching in space. Be vigilant.”
Lex rolled his eyes at the unnecessary advice and added, “One last thing. Apparently, its mission is to release Zod from the Phantom Zone. No matter what happens, just – don’t let that happen.”
His attention then returned to Clark, starting to stir on the floor. Clark’s eyes slowly opened, returned to their normal green. He looked about in confusion, then focused in on Lex’s face. He smiled hesitantly at first, then ever broader. He reached up to gently stoke the scar on Lex’s lip. Lex rubbed his thumb across Clark’s mouth in response.
The smile became blinding and Clark pulled Lex into a joyful hug.
“Lex, I remember!”
Lex leaned into the hug with a heartfelt sigh and closed his eyes to control his emotions. Happiness didn’t come easily to him, but this time he felt he’d earned it. He breathed deeply to enjoy the smell of Clark, somehow more fresh and vibrant than ever. Long minutes passed before he finally pulled back to smile at his friend.
“Brainiac isn’t going to know what hit him.”
(Part 8 - Chapters 14 and 15)