Clark watched his future self, trying to process everything that was happening. The silence in the cellar seemed to grow heavier as Future Clark kept a steady gaze.
"I'm going to share some important memories with you—things you need to know ahead of time." Future Clark stepped closer, placing his hand on Clark's head.
Clark closed his eyes, feeling a wave of images and emotions flooding his mind. He started to feel a sharp headache, as if his brain were being forced to absorb too much information at once.
"I'm such an idiot," Clark murmured, still processing the memories that were forming in his mind as the headache throbbed.
"You're just a teenager who reincarnated in another world and wanted to live life in a fun way. Unfortunately, your version of 'fun' had consequences—for you and for the people you care about," said Future Clark, keeping his hand firmly on Clark's head as he transferred the memories.
Clark took a deep breath, trying to calm himself amidst the storm of information. The images in his mind showed the future of Lex, the danger that lay ahead, and the choices he would need to make to avoid the worst. The headache persisted, making it hard for him to focus.
"Am I really going to put Chloe through all this?" Clark asked, his voice filled with worry as he pressed his temple, trying to ease the pain.
"No! I put her through that. You have the chance to do things differently," Future Clark replied, his gaze intense.
"Why didn't you just erase her memories?" Clark questioned, confused and trying to ignore the pain.
"You and I are proof that even death isn't final; imagine erasing memories," Future Clark said, shaking his head. "I wanted something genuine, and erasing her memories would destroy any chance of having that with her."
"Did you ever love her?" Clark asked in a low voice, feeling the pain lessen a little.
"Not in the way she deserved," Future Clark replied, looking down for a moment. "After other women came into my life, I ended up having many casual relationships, and my connection with Chloe grew more distant. When I suggested the idea of a harem to her, everything fell apart. It was a huge mistake."
Clark frowned, absorbing the words of his future self. "I don't want that to happen. I want to protect her and make sure she has a happy life, even if it means making tough choices."
Future Clark nodded. "That's exactly why I'm here. You have the chance to be different, to be better. Use the information I'm giving you, make wiser choices, and never stop valuing those who love you."
Clark took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility and the lingering headache. "I'll do my best not to make the same mistakes."
"Good," Future Clark said, his tone becoming more practical. "Now that we've got all the sentimental nonsense out of the way, I need to give you this."
"What?" Clark asked, confused.
Future Clark slapped him on the head.
Thud!
Clark was thrown back, hitting the cellar wall. The headache intensified, throbbing painfully.
"This is the version 2.0 of the key," Future Clark said as Clark stood up, still dizzy. "If you mess this up, this whole reincarnation thing was truly a waste. Goodbye."
Future Clark turned and disappeared in a blur of speed, leaving Clark alone in the cellar, with his mind filled with new information, a pounding headache, and a sense of urgency he'd never felt before.
[Calm yourself, Kal-El,] a voice echoed in Clark's mind.
Clark widened his eyes, surprised by the voice.
"Who are you?"
[I am the enhanced version of Jor-El, the AI your biological father left to guide you. Unlike before, you have full control over me.]
Clark sighed, trying to process everything that was happening. The headache seemed to ease a bit with the presence of the voice in his mind.
'Future Clark is right. If I fail with you, I really am useless.'
Clark put his hand on his head.
"He could've at least warned me before putting something in my brain…"
[Scanning host condition: no physical trauma detected.]
"And what about my mental trauma? I just saw my future self and a bunch of terrible memories!"
[Scanning host's mental condition: sociopathy, megalomania, and narcissism detected.]
"Whatever, everyone has issues."
Clark snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The Kryptonian ship, hidden in the cellar, began to glow brightly, activating its mechanisms. The advanced technology of the ship whirred to life, and in an instant, it teleported, disappearing from the cellar.
'It'll be safer in the Fortress of Solitude.'
Clark went back to the farmhouse, where he found Martha in the kitchen. He approached her and gently placed his hand on her belly.
Clark kissed Martha on the forehead, lovingly.
Mwah!
Clark's hand glowed a soft green against Martha's belly.
"That's my thank you for taking care of me all these years," Clark said, looking tenderly at his mother.
Martha frowned, visibly confused. "Clark, what did you just do?"
Clark just smiled, not answering directly. "Trust me, Mom. Everything's going to be okay."
Martha kept looking at him, uncertain but trusting her son. Clark withdrew his hand, and the green glow slowly faded, leaving only a warm sensation with Martha. She didn't know exactly what had happened, but she felt that something had changed.
"I'm going out and I won't be home early, so don't wait up."
Martha looked at him, concerned. "Clark, what are you going to do?"
Clark gave a calm smile. "I have some personal matters to resolve."
Clark left the house, leaving Martha with her thoughts as night approached.
He then became intangible and invisible. Moving quickly, he used his super speed to scan every corner of Smallville. Every piece of Kryptonite he found, he gathered and stored in a secure location. He needed to ensure that all fragments were out of reach.
For hours, Clark combed through the entire town, going through farms, warehouses, and even residences. He found pieces hidden in unexpected places, including old boxes and even inside abandoned wells. Clark left no stone unturned, determined to cleanse Smallville of this threat.
When he was done, he had collected every piece of Kryptonite he could find. Clark returned to his tangible and visible state, feeling a bit relieved.
'Jor-El, what should I do with all these fragments?'
[I advise you to keep some fragments for potential future experiments. Destroy the rest. Kryptonite can be both a threat and a useful tool if used correctly.]
Clark teleported some of the fragments to the Fortress of Solitude.
Then, he used his heat vision to destroy the remaining fragments.
Fwoosh!
The fragments were incinerated, turning to dust and vanishing completely. Clark watched, satisfied that he'd eliminated the threat as Smallville's night grew quieter.
...
Luthor Mansion
Lex was already lying down when she arrived. The room was enveloped in a tranquil dimness, with only the soft light of the bedside lamp illuminating the space. Carrie Castle, disguised as a masseuse, entered the room silently. She had an air of confidence, but her eyes showed a cold determination.
Carrie began massaging Lex's shoulders, her hands moving with precision.
"You feel different," commented Lex, his voice a bit hoarse from fatigue.
Carrie smiled slightly, her hands not missing a beat as she massaged him. "Change is a part of life, isn't it? We all change a bit over time," she replied, trying to keep a casual tone.
"What are you doing here?" Lex asked, his tone growing more serious.
Carrie didn't hesitate. "Sometimes a surprise is exactly what we need. Besides, who wouldn't want a relaxing massage after a long day?" She kept up her movements, trying to divert Lex's attention.
"I'm not giving you an interview," Lex said, his voice now firm and determined.
Carrie sighed, realizing she couldn't deceive him any longer. She withdrew her hands from Lex's shoulders and stepped back. "All right, Lex. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to. But know that I came here for a good reason."
Lex turned his head, casting a suspicious look at Carrie. "And what exactly is that reason?"
Carrie maintained her composure, taking a deep breath before answering. "I wanted to understand who Lex Luthor really is. The real Lex, not the image everyone has of you. I thought this was the only way to do it."
Lex stood up from the bed, now facing Carrie. His eyes were cold and calculating. "You lied to get into my house. That's not exactly the best way to earn my trust."
Carrie raised her hands, trying to show sincerity. "I know, and I admit it was a mistake. But I believe you have something to say to the world, and I wanted to be the one to tell that story."
Lex crossed his arms, evaluating her for a moment. "You want a story? I'll give you a story. But it won't be the one you imagined."
---
Later, at the Talon, Carrie and Lex met again. Carrie was seated at one of the tables, a satisfied smile on her face as she held a draft of the interview. Lex approached, sitting across from her, his eyes studying every detail of the journalist.
"So, it looks like you got what you wanted," Lex said, keeping calm, though he knew it could be a problem.
"Yes, and I must say it's incredible material," Carrie replied, smiling provocatively. "But it's not exactly flattering, as I promised. It's an exposé of the truth, as you said you wanted."
Lex looked at Carrie for a moment, keeping his expression neutral. "I figured something like this might happen. Let me guess... my father put you up to this?"
Carrie gave a sarcastic smile. "Your father gave me some interesting information, but the truth is, I wanted this story. Something no one else could get."
Lex smiled back, leaning across the table. "What if I offered you something better? A position as editor-in-chief of the Journal, maybe? That's much more than any exposé could give you."
Carrie looked at him for a moment, considering the offer. She knew that a position like that meant power and editorial freedom, something she'd always wanted. After a few seconds, she nodded, smiling calculatedly.
"It looks like you've convinced me, Lex. Consider the article buried."
Lex nodded, satisfied. "Good. I knew we'd understand each other."
Carrie took the draft and slowly tore it to pieces before getting up and leaving the Talon, leaving Lex alone with a slight smile on his face. He knew he'd managed to turn a risky situation into an advantage.
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