Lex’s feet dragged across the concrete floor as two Jaffa hauled him back from his turn at the interrogation table. He was tired, so tired that any pain inflicted by the evil Goa’uld had not really sunk in.

The millionaire felt a thin trickle of blood seep from the corner of his mouth and drip onto his open shirt collar. Was it where Sobek had repeatedly punched him, or from somewhere inside as his vital organs began to fail? His eyes looked glazed, and he was struggling to focus. Not long now and it will all be over…

The Jaffa stopped at the familiar ‘cell’ door and it was unlocked hastily. Lex blinked and squinted to readjust to the darkness as he was thrown harshly inside. Had he been healthy he may have managed to stay on his feet, but in his condition he simply slumped almost headfirst into the wall.

“Lex!” Chloe looked at the smirking guard with a scowl and then turned her attention to her rich and very sick friend. “Lex, what did they do to you?” The reporter tore a small strip from her sleeve and wiped the drying blood from his face.

Lex blinked, but instead of replying looked across to the far wall. Lois was sitting with baby Kara in her arms looking extremely uneasy at having to care for the tot. At first, Lana had made it her job to look after Clark’s sister, but then she too had been dragged from the room kicking and screaming by Sobek’s people. Why isn’t she back yet? Lex shook his head and tried to clear his fuzzy thoughts. Should I tell them all the truth before I die?

Chloe asked again, the worry in her voice making Lex finally take heed. “Lex? What’s wrong with you? If you don’t tell us how can we help?” She unbuttoned his shirt a little as she noticed he was now perspiring heavily.

“Like I said before,” He panted, “I’m dying. When my father attempted to erase you at the safe house, he also tried to eliminate me by poisoning my brandy…”

“But you survived that.” It was Lois, attempting to put the pieces together and not quite getting it right.
Lex shook his head. “No, Lois. I died that day, or at least I may as well have. My blood has to be purified every seventy-two hours or…” He almost slumped over, but Chloe caught him, “Or my body shuts down. That’s why I tried to find the crystals…”

“Oh boy, not the magic crystal thing again!” Lois looked at the cracked ceiling in contempt. “If that freak hears you he’ll have us all hung out to dry, and frankly I’d like to hold onto my larynx for a few more hours.”

Chloe took Lex more seriously. “All the money you have and you put your faith in a myth instead of medicine?”

Lex coughed a little. “Ironically, when I found out my father had a terminal illness I thought it poetic justice. Once I was told the effects the poison had had on my system I realized how he must have felt, but it only made me angrier. I had my best people check out every option, including those my father had considered…”

Lionel thought the crystals were some kind of cure?” Chloe kept a hand on Lex’s shoulder, helping to prop him against the wall. “Even if it were true, why would this creep want them?”

“Power…” Lex let his bleary eyes look straight into Chloe’s. “That’s why he chose us to kidnap specifically. We’ve all been in contact with the crystals, or something that can lead to them.” He let his bald head fall back onto the damp wall. “My question is who is he and what does he want with Clark so badly?”

Lois shot Chloe a ‘Is he delirious’ look, but daren’t move across the room because of the blissfully snoozing child in her arms. Kara had fallen deep asleep moments after she had been brought into the relative safety of friends, and hadn’t awoken since.

Chloe bit her lip. Everything Lex had said made sense, but none of it was going to help them survive. If and when they escaped they could worry about putting the pieces together. She stood and slowly walked around the room, checking for any chink in its security- there was none.

Disheartened, Chloe kneeled back beside Lex just as the door opened yet again. This time, Lana was tossed onto the floor even less gracefully than Lex had been.

When the door closed, Lana rolled over from her sprawled out pose and gulped down a mouthful of her own blood. Her hair stuck out wildly where Sobek had tugged at it, pulling out handfuls to elicit the required response. Like the others though, Lana had said very little. She didn’t know Clark’s whereabouts or even if he was alive, but that hadn’t stopped her getting a beating from the Goa’uld System Lord. He had repeated the same question over and over about the crystals, saying he had seen her in the Kawatche caves with one. How can he have?

“Are you alright?” Chloe shuffled forward, becoming tired of asking the same question to all her friends when it was easily apparent they were not.

Lana rubbed at the cut to her jaw where Sobek had slapped her. “I don’t understand…” Was all she could muster.

Lois agreed. “You can say that again pom pom girl! Now can somebody say something just a little more constructive?”

“There will be no more talk.” The almost disembodied voice made everyone hush. No one had heard him enter, nor had they heard the squeak of the rusted door hinges, but nevertheless, Sobek now stood in the room. “You have proven less than useful to me, and so I have decided it is time.”

“Time for what exactly?” Lois’ timbre showed no fear.

“Time for those that have opposed me to pay the price,” He leaned down, placing his long boney fingers around Lex’s neck and pulling hard enough to raise the sick entrepreneur to his feet. “You and your father have troubled me and my predecessor, Amon Ra for the last occasion. As has the farm boy who would oppose me…”

Lex choked as his own dead weight pulled against the Goa’uld’s grip. “You ca…n’t kill…me. I’m already dea..d.”

Sobek grinned and let out an evil cackle that could have belonged to a warlock. “Oh, I do not intend to kill you, Luthor. I have something far worse in mind for you and the son of Jor-El…” The System Lord whirled with Lex still in his grasp and roughly pushed his burden into two awaiting Jaffa’s arms.

Once again, Lex was hauled away to some unknown destination, but this time he would not return to the cell.

Perimeter of the Hideout

The afternoon sun was just beginning to fade when Clark and Jack stealthily clambered into a ditch near the old meat packing plant. There was plenty of overgrown shrubbery for cover, but the pair dare not get too close in case Sobek was scanning the immediate area for life-forms.

Clark parted some of the encroaching weeds and couch grass with his hand to take a peek at what lay before them. The building was old, and many of its lower story windows had already been shattered by local kids and the simple onset of time. The fact that there were very few upper floor windows meant that it was likely Sobek had his captives incarcerated there.

The teen checked, kicking in his x-ray vision to get a view of the situation. Sobek appeared to be in a large open room with only two other Jaffa and a human shackled to the wall. Clark focused more and was able to see it was Lex. The millionaire was barely conscious and hanging so heavily from his manacles that his wrists had begun to bleed.

Clark winced and let his eyes scan further along the disused building. In a room at the rear he found Lana, Lois, Chloe and Kara- to his relief all very much alive if not unscathed. The only person missing was Teal’c.

“Everyone is still alive for now, but Lex isn’t looking so good.” He whispered to O’Neill and waited while the officer checked out the old plant for himself with binoculars. “And I can’t see Teal’c!”

Jack scouted out both the structure and as many guards as he could perceive before replying. “I’m sure you’ve heard this enough from your dad, but don’t let your heart rule your head, Bucko. We can’t go in there all gung ho and screw this up.”

Clark glanced at the Starblade as it protruded from O’Neill’s pack. “You’re trying to tell me you don’t do gung ho?” There was a hint of mirth in his tone after having worked with the ever spirited officer before.

Jack made a face. “No, actually I like to think I do more of a John Wayne.” He checked his watch. “We need to move before it gets dark, but I don’t want to let you make a move until I know we can get you outta there fast.” He keyed his scrambled frequency radio, “Blade to Phantom, how’s my backup?” He released the button to hear a familiar voice.

“Phantom is ready, as are your minions…” Sam Carter was stuck at the improvised command center getting the generator ready, but that didn’t stop her playing a duel role in coordinating the assault with Hammond and manning communications to the Colonel. In her own way she had just told Jack everything was a go.

Ten SG units were skillfully hidden in the surrounding countryside ready to back up Clark and O’Neill as soon as Sobek was no longer considered unbeatable.

O’Neill looked to Clark. “Don’t forget, Kid, get the snakehead to talk as much as you can. The mike we’ve hidden in your watch will let me hear everything and hopefully I can pick a good time to haul my butt in there and save your hide with this thing.” He tapped the Starblade with an ammo clip, careful not to touch it with bare skin. Later, before his hopefully covert entry into the enemy’s lair, he would need to slip on protective gloves before using the dagger.

Clark looked down at his watch. It didn’t appear any different than before, but Sobek was no fool. He too had x-ray vision, and if Clark’s surrender for his sister’s sake didn’t fool him, the microphone would be discovered. “If this doesn’t work, don’t risk yourself or the other SG teams for me.” He took a glance back towards safety, “And please, tell my parents…”

O’Neill patted the teen’s arm, “Tell them yourself! John Wayne always saves the day!” The Colonel winked, “Move your butt, I want to be home for supper!”

Clark smiled wanly and clambered from his hiding place. As he quickly approached the nearest Jaffa guard, O’Neill watched through the telescopic sights of his weapon. When Clark got inside and was occupying Sobek, O’Neill would call for the building to be shelled. Hopefully, during the ensuing confusion he’d be able to slip in and use the blade while the SG teams began their assault on the remaining Jaffa force. Why does the kid have to give himself up for torture like this? It’s not right his suffering should give us the edge. What am I allowing to happen here!

Jack’s conscience was starting to bite into him. Somehow he always put kids into situations where they didn’t belong, and normally it ended in disastrous results. He wiped his brow with the back of his arm and then put his eye back to the scope, flicking a small receiver into his left ear. The mission was now a go whether he approved or not, and the next things he would hear would be the scolding words of the Jaffa sentries as Clark gave himself up.

* * * *

Clark could feel his heart pounding as he walked towards the nearest Jaffa. The man was tall- taller than Clark even, and his presence and stance seemed to radiate aggressiveness. He was everything resembling Teal’c and yet nothing like him all in one package.

As the teen walked over the rough ground, his muted footfalls soon alerted the guard of his approach. The Jaffa whirled his staff weapon in his hand and pointed it at the newcomer.

Clark took a breath. “I’m Clark Kent, the one Sobek is looking for.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed as if no one would be foolish enough to give themselves up to his master. “Come with me,” he indicated with the tip of his weapon for Clark to move forward, but not to get too close. “If you are indeed the one my master seeks, you will pray soon that I had killed you…”

Clark believed it. He moved as he was told into the dilapidated building, but deep inside he was more scared than he had ever been in his life. Another Jaffa joined his captor so that each one had a weapon trained on him, and they then all moved to a short stairwell and up to the room Clark had seen earlier. The place smelled of damp and of death. Litter and old newspapers blew around his feet in a light breeze from a hole in the roof tiles.

At the top of the stairs, they passed through a doorless frame to where Lex still dangled from the wall. His glassy eyes looked up, and recognition and fear crossed them at the sight of Clark. There was no pointing giving out a warning now, though. Clark was in the lair of the devil himself.

Sobek glanced up at the sound of more footsteps and was pleasantly surprised at what his soldiers had brought him. “Kal-El…”

Clark swallowed hard. “My name is Clark Kent.”

“Still you deny your heritage?” The Goa’uld sauntered closer, his gait indicating how all-powerful he felt, “Do you also deny the existence of the crystals like your imprudent friends?” He flicked a wrist to give a silent order, and one of the Jaffa lashed out at Lex’s back with the tip of his staff weapon.

Lex howled then slumped over, still fighting to stay conscious despite his deteriorating condition.

Clark winced at his friend’s pain, but he couldn’t do anything, not yet. In the back of his mind he hoped Jack was hearing what was transpiring. Hurry Jack, I have a bad feeling about this, “I don’t know anything about crystals. I’m just a farmer’s son.”

“Jaffa!” Sobek nodded, and the two guards each took one of Clark’s arms. “You will tell me what I want to know, Kal-El, or you and Luthor will suffer a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes!”

Clark pulled back as he saw what he was being dragged towards. On the wall next to Lex was another pair of manacles, but they were not iron or steel- they glowed with a bright emerald effervescence even before he got close enough for their effects to kick in. “You can torture me, I can’t tell you the crystals location because I don’t know it!”

Sobek’s lips curled into a sneer. “Then I will enjoy seeing you suffer, son of Jor-El, for what your father did to my host, and for what hindrance you have caused my little incursion on this world. And while you suffer, you will see your best friend suffer also.”

“You can’t hurt me, I’m dying anyway…” Lex managed to gasp out the few words, but all he received in return was a fit of laughter from his kidnapper.

“You will not die, Luthor, not when I have finished with you.” Sobek nodded to the first Jaffa and he peeled back a cover from a table under the nearby splintered window. Underneath, a tank bubbled with life, and inside several Goa’uld symbionts squirmed as they eagerly awaited a new host. “As I said, you will suffer a thousand lifetimes once I have finished interrogating you, because your bodies shall be the new homes of the rest of my family. Rather fitting, don’t you agree?”

Clark didn’t reply. He simply gazed at the symbionts for a long and painful moment. They writhed more, as if they knew his fear of them and fed from it. I won’t have one of those things inside me! His subconscious screamed out, and it was then he decided it was time for action. Jack might be on his way, but Clark needed to do something right this minute before he got too close to the Kryptonite chains. After all, Sobek might have equal or more strength, but the guards that held him did not.

“I’m not joining your family without a fight!” Clark yanked back from the Jaffa on his left and spun around, frantically searching for an idea to stall for time. Where are you O’Neill!

The Jaffa stumbled, not expecting the teen to put up a fight in front of Sobek. He quickly regained his footing and grabbed for his zat gun, but was rewarded with a firm tap to the head from Clark rendering him unconscious. The Jaffa to the right backed up, knowing he was no match for the teen, but also pulled out his hand weapon.

Clark let off a burst of heat vision at superspeed, melting the snake-like gun in the guard’s hand. The Jaffa howled in pain as the alloy turned to liquid, searing his flesh with its molten tendrils. He fell to his knees, clasping the injury while his comrade near the symbiont tank watched on in horror.

“Shol’Vah!” Sobek screeched at the soldier who dared to succumb to pain. “You are no use to me! Pain is not the enemy, he is!” The black clad Goa’uld pointed at Clark and then let off a surge of heat vision at the fallen man, engulfing his whole body in a horrific live funeral pyre.

The Jaffa screamed in agony as his flesh peeled from his limbs in charred black strips, but Sobek didn’t finish the job. He ceased the flow of energy from his eyes just short of killing the minion outright, and watched gleefully as he suffered an intolerable death.

Clark felt bile rise in his throat. He wanted to help the stricken man, or at least release him from his agony, but there was little he could do. He just didn’t have the will power or detachment to finish what Sobek had begun.

“Clark…run…” Lex tugged at his chained wrists, pushing his body around to look at his friend.

Sobek laughed as wisps of smoke wafted across his view. “Pray tell, where would he run to, Luthor?” The Goa’uld supersped in front of the only exit and crossed his arms. “You can’t beat me in a fair fight, Kal-El. I’m too strong, even for you now.”

Clark glanced anxiously at Lex and then to the grimy, broken window. If he could free the millionaire maybe he could carry him and jump.

Sobek sensed his thoughts. “I would burn him to a crisp in your arms and then feed his remains to my dogs. There are no options left for you.”

In a flash of motion the Goa’uld raced forward, grabbing Clark in his now trademark choke hold. His grip and momentum carried them both backwards and Clark found his back slamming into the wall. Sobek brought his hand forward and back several times in quick succession, effectively bashing his captive’s head into the crumbling plaster.

The sheer force of the blows on the back of his skull made Clark both dizzy and nauseous. This was just how he thought it would be. Sobek was winning without having to put up much effort.

A thud from behind made the teen glance over his foe’s shoulder and he realized the tortured Jaffa had finally succumbed to his injuries. His scorched and blistered body had fallen and the screaming had ceased. The sight made the teen angry, spurring him to fight harder and he lashed out. The blow would have killed any normal human, but instead it merely pushed Sobek away.

Clark used the freedom to his advantage, and launched his full weight at the Goa’uld, smashing him into the wooden ceiling supports that littered the ancient room. In his way, Clark was giving Sobek a taste of his own medicine as he rammed a fist towards his face.

Sobek expected the move and using his own speed caught Clark’s fist in his palm. He squeezed as the teen’s curled fingers hit his flesh, and then twisted down hard, almost breaking Clark’s wrist as he bent his arm behind his back.

Clark howled and was forced over until his face almost touched the floor. He could either yield, or have his arm snapped like a twig.

Sobek smirked and put his boot on Clark’s back ramming him down face first next to the dead Jaffa’s raw looking corpse. Keeping the teen’s left arm behind his back with one hand, the Goa’uld grabbed the nape of his neck with the other and pushed Clark’s face into the still smoldering Jaffa’s remains.

“You will soon wish you were as lucky!” Sobek kept up the pressure on his prisoner, but looked up to the only available Jaffa in the room. “Bring the chains. I grow tired of toying with this Tau’ri loving scum!”

The Jaffa moved like lightning, not wishing to join his comrade in a fiery oblivion. He moved past Lex, grabbing the Kryptonite enhanced shackles and was at his master’s side without question. As he kneeled to place the chains on Clark, they began to glow and he almost balked. He’d seen many things, but this was new to him.

Clark moaned as the meteor radiation began to seep into his body. The game was over now, and there was nothing he could do. As the chains touched his flesh he felt their presence begin to burn into every cell of his being and his strength was instantly drained.

Sobek noted the effects and released his grip. “Jaffa, take him to the wall and string him up beside his friend. It is time they answered my questions about the crystals.”

The muscular Jaffa nodded but dare not look his master in the eye. Instead, he grabbed Clark’s now manacled wrists and dragged the teen along the filth ridden floor until he was level with Lex. Clark was trembling now, but the Jaffa ignored his muscle spasms and hauled him up, wrapping the remaining loose chain around another ceiling beam until Clark was hanging upright.

Sobek approved, and gestured with his hand for the guard to move back. “Now, Kal-El, you will be introduced to a piece of technology I learned of from my dear host, Zod.” He pulled something small and ergonomic from his inside jacket pocket.

Clark squinted to try and get a view, but his eyes were zooming in and out of focus. The Kryptonite was slowly killing him without the need for more torture devices. His veins were already pushing out from his flesh as the deadly rock emissions poisoned his system.

Sobek didn’t appear concerned, but why would he when he intended giving Clark a new life as a host later? He flicked something on the device he had brought out, and a golden ray of energy seeped from its tip. With a rapid flick of his wrist the ray became an evil looking power whip that lashed across the room.

Clark licked his lips and felt sweat trickle from his forehead. The thing Sobek had stolen from Zod was apparently the same technology that had been used on Jonathan in the Kawatche caves. It was hard to say what kind of damage it was capable of in this new form, though. He shuddered involuntarily. What could it do to me or Lex in our conditions?

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Sobek cracked the whip again, sending a lance of golden death in front of Lex. “Which one of you shall feel its might first?”

Clark felt his legs begin to give way under him as his muscles stopped working. “We don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Then you shall give me great pleasure making sure…” Sobek swung the handle backwards, making the whip form an arc. Then, he snapped his wrist back at superspeed, causing the beam of energy to cut across Clark’s chest in a blur of movement. He repeated the maneuver four more times until his little flogging ceremony had seared off his victims shirt and drawn blood. “Where are the crystals?”

Clark’s head lolled to one side and he seemed stunned. The whip was like having a high voltage current repeatedly stuck on his chest while under Kryptonite’s debilitating influence. It also felt like he was having his skin flayed off with a sharp meteor rock. Now I know how dad must have felt, maybe how Lex felt in Belle Reve too during the shock treatment. His mind seemed to wander and he couldn’t concentrate on the voice now yelling in his right ear.

“WHERE ARE THE CRYSTALS?” Sobek’s double edged tone seemed almost monotonous, and Clark felt his eyelids begin droop until he was hit again with the whip. “You will tell me, Kal-El, or we shall see how your sister, Kara fairs after being flogged…”

The glowing ray from the device hit Clark again and his back arched in agony, but all that he cared about was Kara. Where was Jack, where were the troops? If someone didn’t arrive soon then his surrender would have been for nothing. In this situation he didn’t fear death, but he did fear for his friends and family. Hosts…he’ll take them as hosts…

A thin dribble of blood fell from his mouth where his head had jolted back from the weapon’s shocks, but he didn’t notice. Where’s Jack…

Outside

Jack O’Neill took in every word as Clark was escorted up to Sobek. And from what he was hearing, it would soon be time to mount the assault. As he watched through his weapon’s sights he noted the Jaffa sentries on duty had lessened. What are you guys up to? He tapped his earpiece to make sure he was getting a clear signal, and then listened intently for the right moment to radio in for help.

“Jaffa” There was a slight pause. “You will tell me what I want to know, Kal-El, or you and Luthor will suffer a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes!”

Jack decided he’d heard enough. Pulling out the receiver from his ear he clicked on his radio. “Phantom, this is Blade, it’s time to let the minions loose. I’m going in.” O’Neill began to clamber from the ditch with his rifle poised for action when Sam’s voice came through frantically.

“Negative, Sir! Abort the assault!” She sounded out of breath and panicked, “Repeat, abort the assault!”

“What the…” Jack dived flat on his stomach and laid his weapon flat out in front of him before any Jaffa caught sight of his little incursion. He clicked the radio again, this time angry enough to break protocols, “Sam, Clark’s in there, I can’t abort this, dammit!”

Muffled machine gun fire rattled out of his radio’s speaker, “Sir, another mother ship has appeared, they’ve taken out our…we can’t shell Sobek’s hideout,” There was a long pause, “You won’t have any covering fire, and no backup except the SG units. It would be suicide!”

Jack looked over towards his objective. He was too close to go back now and leave Clark and the others to die. With one hand he deftly popped the earpiece back in and listened. The sounds from the building this time made him feel sick. Someone was screaming out in agony, and there was no way over the static to tell if it was Clark or one of the others. Just a kid…

O’Neill spoke into his radio just once more. “Carter, I’m going in with or without any damn back up!” He released the key tab and slipped on his protective gloves, then jumped up from his position to make his assault. The lack of Jaffa might be yet another trap, or it might just be the break he needed to save several lives.

The Colonel jogged up to a side wall without any opposition and pushed his back up to the rough brickwork, tucking his body in close for cover. After listening a second, he dared to pop his head out and check around the corner. Darting back after getting a birds-eye view of the enemy, O’Neill took a breath.

It was obvious now why the Jaffa were not on duty as they should be. They had set up a temporary arena from blocks, and Teal’c and Sobek’s First Prime were in the center of it wrestling like mad men. The rest of the Jaffa troops had gathered around and were jeering as the two soldiers fought. If the First Prime should lose, it was unclear what would be done with Teal’c.

“Not exactly a fair fight…” Jack edged forward again and winced. It was a terrible thing to consider, but he may just have to leave Teal’c to provide a distraction for a few more precious moments.

He slid carefully behind the nearest Jaffa, who was mesmerized by the battle going on between his superior and the supposed traitor. Only two steps now stood between O’Neill and the inside of Sobek’s lair. He inhaled slowly and pulled out the Starblade, not daring to let out the air he’d taken down until he was in the clear.

As if sensing the officer’s presence and trepidation, the Jaffa abruptly turned and his pupils grew wide. He fumbled wildly to straighten out his staff weapon so that he could let off a blast in the confined entryway.

Jack had little time to react. It was kill or be killed. Skillfully spinning the awkward shaped weapon, O’Neill forced it hard into his enemy’s neck and then dragged the choking Jaffa back out of sight into the darkness of the building. A thin blood trail lead back to the body, but Jack had no chance to clean it up.

Something new was going on outside, and despite the screams he’d heard from the second storey only minutes ago, O’Neill couldn’t leave Teal’c to the other Jaffas mercy.

Jack stuck the bloodied Starblade into his utility harness and swung his short rifle into place with the shoulder strap. He’d tried not to make noise or force anything, but the jeering crowd had suddenly grown silent. That usually meant one of the two fighters was either dead or injured. The officer blinked and moved forward, his heart pounding as he tried to see beyond the wall of alien soldiers.

“I will not kill him,” The deep and tranquil tones of Teal’c’s voice made O’Neill exhale with relief, “You must surely now see that Sobek is not a God…” It sounded like Teal’c was trying to make his countrymen see the truth, “You need no longer be forced to serve under Sobek’s ruling.”

“Sobek is all powerful. How can we live without such as he? We cannot even survive without carrying their kind within us.” At least the Jaffa were listening first and not using their staff weapons.

O’Neill kept to the back of the crowd with his weapon ready. He could now see that a blood covered Teal’c had the First Prime in a headlock.

“The people of this world have devised a substance so that we no longer need to carry a larval Goa’uld within us to survive.” Teal’c continued his narrative, “We no longer need the Goa’uld, and we need no longer fear or serve them.”

“Sobek is stronger. He is not like other Goa’uld. Many of us would die attempting to defeat him.” It was a young Jaffa, probably inexperienced compared to some of the elder warriors around him.

“His strength isn’t because he’s a God. It’s from the host body he’s stolen.” Jack moved to the edge of the gathering and the Jaffa troops turned to face him, staff weapons at the ready. He feigned a lack of fear and carried on towards Teal’c. “There’s a young kid who has just the same gifts as he does, goes by the name of Clark. One thing I can assure you, he’s no Goa’uld.”

An older Jaffa nodded. “This is true. I have seen the boy’s power. He shot fire from his eyes and took out my wingman’s death glider, just as my Lord Sobek can…”

Jack tapped his weapon and smiled sardonically. “Except Sobek’s not your Lord, or master, he’s just some alien snakehead who is using your people as slaves. Don’t stay a repressed nation. Help us fight a tyrant as Teal’c has!”

Teal’c nodded knowingly, but didn’t release the writhing First Prime still in his grasp. “Indeed, many Jaffa have joined the fight against their old masters. Together with the people of this world we can make a difference.”

The group began to mumble, and Jack sensed some may switch sides, but it would only work if enough joined the cause. He glanced impatiently at his watch. Eight minutes had passed since he’s heard the screams. Hang on Clark, I’m coming…

The young Jaffa who had spoken earlier slowly raised a hand, afraid that he would be the only one. “I will join you. I no longer wish to see my family be governed by men like Sobek.”

Jack breathed out heavily. The Jaffa had said ‘men like Sobek’. If a youthful Jaffa could believe his master was not a God, they had a chance. Others among the alien soldiers began to nod their agreement. “Teal’c, can you get these people to show you where the hostages are being held? I think our bad guy has Clark and Luthor upstairs for a little friendly neighborhood torture.” O’Neill turned to rush off.

Teal’c raised a brow. “I will assist you…” He handed the battered but still struggling First Prime to the young Jaffa at his side.

“No, I want the Vice President and those civilians out of here!” Jack scowled, “Besides,” He lowered his voice, “Do we know we can trust all these people?”

Teal’c got the message. “I will evacuate anyone I can find and then return to assist you, O’Neill.” He nodded and then whirled to begin gathering his newly found allies into groups.

Jack winced at the burn on his friend’s forehead and other cuts and bruises inflicted during his incarceration. Still, Teal’c had survived and triumphed in bringing a message of liberation to his kind. He only hoped Clark was going to be so lucky.

“Stay alive, Kid, stay alive…” The Colonel took two steps at a time as he raced up the stairs. He was aware that his heavy footfalls could alert Sobek to his presence, but that was just unfortunate. Stealth had gone out of the window a long time ago. He reached the top step in double quick time and paused to take a breath, readying himself for the horrors he might find. Then, still grasping his rifle with one had, O’Neill slipped the Starblade from his strap and kicked back, launching his body into the room.

An almost surreal scene awaited him. Sobek was standing in front of two men. One was Luthor, the other was Clark. Both were strung from the ceiling, and neither appeared conscious. A thought hit the Colonel that they may already be dead, but as he carried on charging forward he realized Sobek held something in his hand- something he had recently plucked from a tank near the window. The pallid creature squirmed, eager to be inside its next victim.

“No!” Jack screamed so loud he almost drowned out the sounds of gunfire and shelling from outside. Backup was at last on its way, but was it too late?

The Colonel didn’t care what or who Sobek was, or what he could do. He pulled back his forefinger, keeping it depressed on his gun’s trigger until a whole clip had shattered the Goa’uld tank into a thousand glass shards. The symbionts within crashed to the floor; thrashing as there temporary home was destroyed. Three of the slugs penetrated the glass and exited straight out into the remaining Jaffa’s stomach. The force threw him backwards and out of the already damaged window. Now only Sobek remained.

“You dare to endanger my family!” Sobek’s voice shook with rage as he abandoned placing a Goa’uld in either prisoner in favor of killing O’Neill. He raced forward using his extra speed and the two met head on like two colliding freighters.

Jack had no powers to utilize and was thrown back just with the impact. He steadied himself quickly and tossed down his rifle, flicking the Starblade into his right hand for easier use.

Sobek’s head cocked at the sight of it. He had seen the blade Lionel had found in the Kawatche caves through Zod’s memories, but this was not it. He also knew the dangers it posed if not destroyed. “I seem to have a penchant for burning things today…” The Goa’uld smirked and let out a blast of his heat vision.

The searing ray caught the blade’s tip and began to superheat it in Jack’s hand. The officer howled but didn’t drop the weapon as Sobek had expected. Instead, he used his inner rage and pain to find strength. O’Neill lunged forward and almost hit his intended target as he pounced with the alien knife.

Sobek dodged the blow by ducking swiftly to his left, and then caught the still red hot blade with his hand while Jack still gripped the hilt. “Ah…so poetic! It shall be your hand that kills the boy!”

The Goa’uld yanked the Starblade to his left, and to Jack’s horror he realized Sobek’s intentions. He was going to stab Clark straight in the heart with it. I can’t overpower him! But if I let go…

Sobek knew the officer would be torn, but whatever his decision it would have little impact on what happened next. Two inches from Clark’s chest, Jack made his move. As Sobek rammed hard down with his unearthly strength, O’Neill put every bit of muscle power he had into pushing the Goa’uld’s hand to the left. He was no match for Sobek, but the unexpected attempt caught the evil alien off guard and the blade jarred over.

“No!” Jack yelled again as the Starblade sank into Clark’s flesh, and his own forearm snapped from the effort against his enemy.

Sobek growled like an animal at missing his intended target and reaffirmed his grip on the blade. He was angry at O’Neill for interrupting, angry he hadn’t found the crystals yet. In his temper and self-certainty he even shrugged off activating his personal shield. There would be no need for such a device against such weak foes. Only Clark or the blade could hurt him, and he now possessed both.

Jack backed up to the wooden frame where Lex and Clark still silently hung. Why didn’t the kid cry out when the blade cut him? He cradled his arm and scowled as Sobek toyed with the Starblade in front of him, savoring the sensation of supremacy.

“O’Neill!” The cavernous voice came from the top of the stairs and was followed by a barrage of machine gun fire.

Jack shielded his eyes as a hail of bullets and dust enshrouded him. Teal’c was back, and he’d just emptied a clip at Sobek. Not wasting the advantage, as the alien was pushed back by the impacts, O’Neill grabbed the Starblade with his good arm and twisted it around, ramming it into the Goa’uld’s stomach as if he were trying to gut him.

Sobek sank to his knees and Jack kicked him over until he was curled into a ball, clutching his injury. Why isn’t Clark at least groaning? O’Neill turned back around so fast his shattered radius made him almost pass out with the pain. “Get him down!” He shouted above more noise from outside as two SG teams secured the perimeter.

Teal’c was already at Clark’s side trying desperately to loosen the Kryptonite chains, his own bruised and grazed fingers making the task twice as difficult. O’Neill joined him but was helpless due to his injury. “I need some help in here!” Jack had never sounded so frantic.

After a tense moment two soldiers arrived from SG two escorting Janet Frasier and Helen Bryce. One soldier helped Helen free Lex, while the other worked with Janet and Teal’c to free Clark. It took another minute before the chains were released from the beam that held them fast and both men slumped to the floor.

“We need to get the chains totally off the kid!” O’Neill yelled unnecessarily at the airman aiding them as his fears grew for Clark’s health. Large welts covered the teen’s chest and his arm bled profusely from where the Starblade had entered and exited.

“Jack, calm down. He’s breathing,” Janet slipped a stethoscope on Clark’s chest and was reassured when his heart’s erratic beating stabilized once the helping soldier had dragged away the malicious jade manacles. “He’ll heal in no time.” The doctor examined the damage caused by the blade. The double edged weapon had torn up a mass of tissue and muscle. “Well, most of him will…”

O’Neill stooped and stared intently at the deep sores on the teen’s upper body, not satisfied until he saw with his own eyes that they were indeed closing up as he watched. The only thing that did not start to regenerate was the wound to the top of Clark’s arm. The flesh still seeped blood and looked angrily at O’Neill as if he were the cause of the puncture. Jack frowned and looked away as Frasier’s words sank in. My fault…should have reacted quicker with the dang Starblade… “Why isn’t he waking?”

Janet looked reproachfully at the officer as she pressed a gauze pad over the still bleeding wound, “Give him time. He’s been through quite a lot lately. Even Clark’s body has earned a rest, don’t you think?”

Jack pulled a face and winced as he caught his now throbbing forearm in his haste to stand back up. He would stop worrying when Clark started talking.
An explosion rocked the room from outside and orange tinged embers danced through the shattered window as the shell’s aftermath rose through the air.

“We have met with some opposition, O’Neill.” Teal’c explained as rapid bursts of fire erupted in quick succession from the courtyard below.

“How many Jaffa are still against us?” Jack stepped over the still writhing Sobek and peered from the window at the battle scene occurring around the building.

Teal’c raised a brow and shot the Goa’uld an uncharacteristic look of contempt. He would not be satisfied until Sobek had been banished to the Phantom Zone by Sam Carter. “We rescued the civilians and around fifty percent of the Jaffa now fight with us. However,” The stolid alien sighed, “I am afraid we were unsuccessful in retrieving the Vice President. It is my belief Sobek has removed him to another location to use as a pawn…”

Jack turned and felt the urge to grab Sobek by the scruff of the neck. Heck, maybe I should use those chains and haul his ass up like a stuffed turkey, see how he likes s a taste of his own medicine!

The expression on Teal’c’s normally emotionless face said he had guessed the officer’s thoughts, and didn’t disagree with the idea. For now though, the ex-Jaffa kept his feelings to himself and placed his hands behind his back. “I do not believe Sobek will reveal any information to us about the Vice President’s whereabouts. How will we find him O’Neill?”

Jack shook his head. He was literally speechless.

“Jack?” Janet Frasier broke the moment. She’d finished bandaging Clark’s arm and he was beginning to stir.

As Jack kneeled down again Clark blinked and smiled blearily up at him. “You finally made it.”

O’Neill scowled, “Hey, Bucko! What do you mean finally?” The officer slumped down into a sitting position next to the still weary teen, careful to protect his snapped arm. Between them they looked like they’d fought the entire Goa’uld existence. “So, I’m guessing we could do with a vacation…”

“Is it over?” Clark leaned forward, pulling his body away from the beam he’d been leaning on. The movement made him painfully aware of a new problem- most of his body had already regenerated, but his right arm felt numb. From where the Starblade had entered all he could feel was an annoying tingling sensation all the way down to his fingertips. Great, I’ll be a one armed farmer if the Goa’uld don’t kill us all…

O’Neill drew in a breath through clenched teeth. “It’s over for us, but out there our people are still fighting…” Janet moved her attention to his arm and burned hand while he talked. He winced again as she probed gently for the fracture. “The Vice President is still missing too…”

“And you’ll never find him before I use him for a host for one of my brethren!”

Jack’s eyes darted up at the sound of Sobek’s voice, but no one in the room had time to react. Sobek had recovered sufficiently to stand, and if he could stand he could also fly. Hitting superspeed, the tyrannical Goa’uld leapt from the decaying window frame and soared like a bullet into the awaiting clouds. In seconds, he was a dot in the distance that might easily be attributed to a bird or high altitude aircraft.

The young airman who’d helped Clark rushed to the window frame and fired futilely after the airborne alien until Jack joined him and tugged down his rifle with a trembling hand. “All this and the plan didn’t work. He got away from us and earth is done for…”

Janet Frasier had never seen the Colonel give in on anything like this. The situation was more than grave. “Jack, we thought an injury from a Starblade would keep him down longer. It’s not your fault. No one can do more than you already have.”

“Yes they can,” Clark clambered to his feet, ignoring the lack of strength or feeling in his arm. He was careful to hide the fact that he had very little use in it, even though what he was about to do wasn’t exactly something he had a great deal of practice at, “I can do something…”

Lex felt like he was floating- or at least he had until cold fingers had begun to tug at his wrists. The next moment his whole body had the sensation of falling from a great height. In fact, he was simply being lowered to the disused building’s floor, but in his state of delirium it definitely didn’t feel that way.

“Lex? Lex!” The voice sounded more than familiar, but then it couldn’t belong to who he thought.

Lex tried to open his eyes, but they felt too gritty, too tired. Instead, he listened to the haunting tones of the ghost that was surely taunting him. He had lost her a long time ago, and for Helen to be by his side now he must be near the end of his wasted life. He had expected to die soon, but had not anticipated being drawn to the afterlife by the woman he had loved and lost- Lex wasn’t even sure if he believed there was such a thing as an afterlife.

I’m imagining it. It’s just an illusion brought on by my symptoms. “Lex! Don’t you dare leave me, do you hear?” The voice was almost angry this time. Helen always did have a temper. “Come on stay with me, don’t you dare die, dammit!”

Lex couldn’t help but try and do as the doctor asked. She was the only woman he’d truly loved, and she had always been the only one to be able to order him around and get away with it- at least without coercing him in some way like Desiree had. He opened his eyes just a crack to see Helen hovering over him. She didn’t look at all angelic, who says you’re going anywhere near heaven? He tried to smirk at his own thought and coughed instead.

Helen seemed somehow relieved that he had awakened, but she didn’t stop working on him. “Trying to get away from your wife?” She attempted a little humor to see his reaction.

Lex turned his head slightly, but found he hadn’t the energy to speak back to her. From where he lay he seemed to still be in his kidnapper’s lair, and Clark was standing by the window cradling his arm. The kid was looking skyward with an expression of deep dread, and then he turned back and looked straight at Jack O’Neill. Unable to move, Lex groggily watched the scene unfold, certain that his mind must be playing tricks on him.

“Kid, just what do you think you can do? Sobek just took flight like a damn seagull!” It was the officer, O’Neill, and he was definitely not in one of his better moods. “Unless… don’t tell me you can..?”

Clark gulped and Lex realized he had one of his famed ‘sheepish looks’ crossing his fatigued features. “Either that or I’ll hit the concrete yard out there like a ton of bricks.” The teen gestured frantically, “throw me the Starblade; I have to at least try.”

Jack winced as a vision of the kid’s body rapidly hitting concrete crossed his mind, but he shrugged it away and pulled off one of his protective gloves. Tugging out a small radio unit, he tossed the items to Clark with his good arm and then reached down to retrieve the Starblade from where it had fallen earlier. “Don’t risk handling that thing without protection, Kiddo; we still don’t know its full effects. We’ll try and track you with the radio, so Carter can follow in a chopper with the generator.”

Clark nodded and gulped. It was time, and yet he didn’t really know if he remembered how to do what he was about to try. It was something that was part of his subconscious- like breathing, but could he conjure up the ability just by willing it to happen?

Lex blinked as his eyelids wanted to close, but his brain refused to give the command. He needed to see what his feverish mind was showing him. Was it real, or an illusion of a faltering psyche?

Clark climbed up on the window frame and gulped as he glanced down. He never really had gotten over heights, even if he had managed not to show it. Steadying himself with his good arm, the teen closed his eyes and imagined soaring through the clouds. He’d done it once- it was possible.

Without looking, he pushed forcefully away from the frame, letting both arms drop back until they were flush with his body as he plunged outwards. The sensation of being buoyant was overwhelming, and he opened his eyes to find he was indeed airborne and heading straight for the adjacent part of the building.

Clark yelped and turned his body with one flick of his powerful muscles. The whole experience was like opening up repressed memories and skills from a darker eon- Clark now had them all back, and heaven help Sobek when he caught up.

The teen glanced down from his position in the high clouds and was abruptly no longer afraid. The sky was his ally, and the world had a chance after all. He squinted, looking for his target, and soon found Sobek a mere dot on the horizon.

Clark pushed his arms closer to his torso, attempting to streamline his body even further to gain more speed. The wound to his right arm hampered his attempts- he still had little feeling from just above his elbow down to his fingers. Fighting Sobek with one hand should be fun…

Ahead, Sobek seemed to have slowed and was decreasing his altitude. Clark used his enemy’s reduction in speed to his advantage and pushed even harder with his newly re-awakened power. His dark hair flicked back in the air stream he was creating, and on any other day he might have found the whole sensation invigorating. Today, it was a challenge he didn’t know if he could overcome.

Sobek was only a few feet away now, and he still hadn’t noticed he had an airborne tail. Clark felt a thousand butterflies in his stomach as he used his left hand to pull the Starblade from his belt. How did you fight someone in the middle of the heavens? Would this be like some crazy human dogfight? He used his legs to flip to the left and wondered if this was what skydiving felt like. Except if I get hurt I don’t have a backup chute!

A crosswind yanked him off course, and he cried out slightly in surprise as his body was yanked sideways. There was still much to learn about flying, and he had no time for lessons- not that there was exactly anyone who could tutor him.

Sobek’s acute ears picked up on the yelp behind him, even though the immense speed they were traveling at made a tremendous amount of wind noise in their ears from the air scooping over their bodies. The Goa’uld stretched out an arm, using the drag factor to spin him around to face his follower. He knew the boy was the only one who could give chase, but it still seemed off somehow to have the teen right behind him.

Smirking, Sobek shot out a thin burst of heat vision. The blast missed Clark, but the sudden temperature change in the almost freezing atmosphere caused an instant thermal to form, throwing the teen in a downward dive with its intense stream of air.

Clark panicked and for an instant it seemed he would lose his ability to stay aloft. He plummeted further and noted Sobek had decided to dive after him. Probably pouncing for the kill!

Clark remembered a movie he watched starring Wesley Snipes and he swiftly splayed out his arms and legs to slow his fall. The move worked and he breathed in slowly, trying to regain control over his gifts. Once his inner mind stopped freaking he sensed his buoyancy return just a few hundred feet from the ground. I need to still look like I’m out of control…it might lure Sobek even closer…

Sobek didn’t care whether his prey was in control or not. He turned his body into a nose dive, catching Clark’s legs and spinning him around like a corkscrew.

Okay now for a Tom Cruise move! Clark barreled over, but instead of still descending he stopped dead in mid air. Put the brakes on and he’ll fly right by! Sobek fell for the trick, and as he flew by Clark lashed out with the Starblade. The tip of the weapon sliced across Sobek’s chest and he howled at the sudden and annoying pain. Clark gaped that his ‘Top Gun’ ruse had worked. I need to stop watching so many movies- then again, maybe I don’t!

Not resting on his laurels, the teen stretched his good arm out in front of him, and let his lifeless right one fall back against his body, speeding after Sobek’s dive before he lost the advantage. It was a classic pose he would take many times in the future, learned today out of necessity because of his injury.

Sobek seemed to be making a run for it now, and was still intentionally losing height as he sped northward. He skimmed across a forested area of trees, only just missing some of the higher branches and treetops, and then dropped into a gorge like a soaring eagle.

Clark followed, gravely aware that at the end of the gorge a Goa’uld or Jaffa trap may well be waiting for him. He ducked down, keeping his body tucked close into the rocky walls of the watery basin.

Ahead, lay the dam where Eric Summers had taken his powers away. Would this once again be a place of loss for him? Clark pushed the thought away. A dam was the perfect place for Jaffa to have set up a strong hold. Inside its thick, strengthened walls a firefight might last for days.

Clark cleared a small crag in the ravine and spun gracefully to his left. Sobek had vanished, and the dam loomed menacingly before him. The teen flicked into x-ray mode and slowed his speed somewhat in caution. There were no workers in the structure, but as far as he could tell there were no Jaffa either- only Sobek super-speeding towards a locked storage area. Perhaps the Goa’uld had been wise enough to expect an uprising from his troops.

Clark put his attention on the door and let it melt away under his sharp-eyed gaze. With a sigh of both relief and trepidation he recognized the bound and gagged male the other side. For now, the Vice President was safe. The teen slowed more until he was virtually hovering, and then he let his body drop into a vertical position, his feet lightly touching the concrete top walkway of the dam as he bounced down.

The sensation was overwhelming, and it made Clark feel momentarily giddy. I can fly! He grinned before he could stop himself, but still kicked into superspeed and launched towards a security door Sobek had already kicked in to gain entry.

Clark followed the mental map of the structure he’d memorized down two flights of steps to where he had spotted the evil Goa’uld. The dark stairwells somehow seemed apt for a hiding place for such a creature, and the spooky gloom reminded Clark all too well of the ‘Phantom Zone’ he’d been incarcerated in.

The teen paused as he turned a corner and at last found he was face to face with his nemesis. Sobek must have used his x-ray vision to know Clark was close behind. His back was against the doorway where his high ranked prisoner still dwelled.

“You’re so persistent, Kal-El. Why? Why protect these people who are so inferior to us in every way?” The Goa’uld’s eyes glowed a color that made his young foe shudder, “Why oppose me, when we are so alike?”

“We’re nothing alike! These people have taken me in, nurtured me, and accepted me. I would never harm them!” Clark stepped forward with the Starblade, and Sobek eyed it, obviously wanting to shrink back from its gleaming presence.

“You could rule these underlings with an iron hand, as could I!” The Goa’uld seemed to be weighing his options.

“You already tried that line with me when you impersonated my biological father, Sobek, or Zod, or whichever mind it is I’m talking too.” Clark’s expression turned to one of anger- an expression he rarely used.

“Both!” Sobek lunged forward, intent on catching Clark off guard.

Clark was ready for the dive and side stepped, using his speed and agility as best he could. Sobek howled angrily, but had noticed a weakness in his enemy. Kal-El was not using the arm he had been stabbed in earlier.

The Goa’uld put his attention on the wound. He could be hurt by the blade, but if he could regain control of it he could also finish the job and kill Clark with it. He looked around and spotted a large valve that seemed to control water pressure. He had no clue exactly what its function was, but the large iron wheel that opened and closed it would surely make and excellent weapon.

Using his strength, Sobek tore the wheel from its housing and tossed it at Clark’s arm like a giant Frisbee. The metal wheel hit where Frasier had bandaged and bounced off, causing a shriek of pain from Clark as the impact jarred through his whole arm. The teen grabbed at the wound and almost dropped to his knees.

Sobek leered and lunged forward to seize the Starblade in his foes moment of frailty. Clark saw the Goa’uld heading for him in a blur of speed and knew what he had to do. Pushing the bone-jarring pain in his arm out of his mind, Clark reaffirmed his grip on the blade and as Sobek neared he bolted up, ramming the ancient weapon into his foe as he too hit superspeed.

For a moment, the two battling Goliaths seemed frozen in time as both their immense forward motion fought it out like opposing repellent energies. Eventually, Clark, the lesser injured of the two’s strength won through and he forced Sobek up against the wall.

The Starblade ripped through Sobek’s shoulder and dug into the dam’s inner partition the other side, effectively pinning him to it. He squealed, and the sound made Clark cringe. No matter what Sobek had done, it still distressed the teen to harm another physically.

The Goa’uld writhed as Clark backed up and watched him, but he didn’t seem to have the strength while the blade was piercing his flesh to pull free. At the sight of his enemy looking so vulnerable, Clark felt his own body wane. He’d been through enough- everyone had been through enough. He let his back lean against the cold dam wall and his knees slowly buckled beneath him until he slid into a sitting position on the floor.

On the nearby stairwell, footfalls began to echo as a multitude of soldiers began their descent. Clark exhaled as he switched to x-ray vision and spotted Sam Carter and Daniel Jackson leading the SG team. Help was here, and he could soon hand over his charge. He used his good hand to reach into his jeans pocket and pull out the radio Jack had given him. A small smile crossed his features as he thought about the Colonel and how his idea for backup had worked, then Clark let his head fall back against the concrete and he was tempted to close his eyes.

Sam Carter spun around the corner two seconds later with her snub nosed rifle at the ready. She lowered it slightly as she spotted Clark on the floor and Sobek pinned to the wall. “Are you okay?” She looked nervously at the teen and then to the metal door beyond.

Clark nodded wearily. “The Vice President’s in there. You might want to get him out and deal with Sobek. I don’t know how long the blade will hold him to the wall…”

Carter let her weapon drop to her side and began giving orders to the soldiers who were filtering down the stairs. As she spat out commands Sobek managed a few Goa’uld verbal expletives of his own at the team. No one paid him any attention, save for the two guards assigned to watch over him until Sam had the portal opened to send him back to the Phantom Zone.

Janet scurried through and was swiftly escorted to the storage area to give the Vice President the once over. As she passed, she gave Clark a concerned glance but was reassured by Daniel Jackson’s presence at the teen’s side.

“Do you want me to get a medic to look at that while Dr. Frasier’s busy?” The archeologist took a seat beside his young friend and noted how Clark was cradling his still bleeding arm.

Clark shook his head. The arm could wait. News about his family and friends could not. “Kara, Lex and the others?”

“Lex was still touch and go when we left in the helicopter, but Dr. Bryce seemed more confident once she knew what she was dealing with…”

Clark raised a brow. He had no clue Lex had anything wrong with him other than what injuries had been inflicted by his captors. “Dealing with?”

Daniel realized his mistake. “Your friend, um, Louise I think? She told Helen what Lex had explained was wrong. Something about poison?”

Clark smiled. “You mean Lois! I didn’t know anything about Lex being sick, though.” His head sagged resignedly, “Everyone else got out okay?”

“They’re all fine,” Daniel used the remnants of the nearby pressure valve to pull himself up and then offered Clark a hand. When the teen struggled and offered his left hand, not the nearest and most obvious right, Daniel guessed he was more hurt than he was letting on. “What say we wait for Janet to come back through after all?” He looked over his glasses and Clark knew the normally affable scientist was going to be stubborn.

“Okay, okay…I give in…” Today, Clark Kent just didn’t have the energy left to argue.

A few weeks later…

Clark walked up the Luthor mansion steps with a spring in his step. Once he’d had a good night’s sleep the only after effects from his fight with the Goa’uld had been the injury to his arm. That was taking what seemed like forever to heal due to the way it had been caused, and he was still forced to wear a sling while it healed. Well, the only thing taking longer to fix is my story to Chloe and Lois…

Although the pair hadn’t actually seen him do anything ‘super’ they had been bombarding him with questions ever since his return to Smallville. Explaining how he got to be on the receiving end of an extremely evil alien’s wrath had got to be the white lie of the decade. Clark sighed, suspecting he was about to have to repeat that lie to another friend. He tapped lightly on the huge study door and was greeted with a jovial invite inside.

“Come on in, Clark. Where have you been?” Lex Luthor had finally been allowed home from the hospital and Clark was his first guest. As usual, the teen had been just a little late.

“Lois and Chloe were hounding me again. Chloe still wants the full scoop on the alien guy, even though the SGC have forbidden her to ever print it, and Lois, well Lois was just being Lois.” He cringed at the thought of another barrage of questions from the resilient Miss Lane.

“I can see why you asked me to ‘remove’ her that time…” Lex sat back in his seat and smirked like a mafia crime boss.

“Lex! Will you stop making it sound like a hit! I just…” Clark suddenly felt guilty for ever having asked Lex to get the girl out of his hair.

“I know, I know,” Lex cut him off and sat forward, placing his hands on the table. “I should be asking you a whole bunch of questions myself though, Clark.” He looked for a reaction in his friends eyes, and saw the tell tale fleeting glint of fear, “You wouldn’t imagine the things I saw just after we were tortured…”

Clark licked his lips, abruptly having the urge to bolt for the door. “Oh?” He tried to look calm, but was sure his weak façade wasn’t enough to fool a Luthor.

“Remember, I once asked you if you believed a man can fly?” Lex was savoring keeping the details till last, just to see Clark’s expression. Just what did I really see?

Clark fidgeted on his seat. “I admit I was wrong, but then how was I to know an alien named Sobek would be visiting Smallville. I mean, what are the odds?” He shrugged with a small smile.

Lex nodded. “Do you know I was so delirious in that building I thought I saw you fly too, Clark?” The ‘Lex smirk’ appeared. “In fact, I was so out of it I even thought I saw Helen Bryce trying to help me…” He let the words trail and then stood from his seat to take a perch on the edge of his desk in front of the teen. “The doctor’s at the hospital told me it was my mind playing tricks of course…especially after the Belle Reve incident. What do you think, Clark?”

Clark looked up awkwardly. If I lie it’s like I’m saying his losing his mind. If I tell the truth I’m opening up a whole new can of worms not just for me, but for Helen too! “Lex, I can’t fly! Look at me, I can’t even help my dad on the farm or carry Mom’s groceries!” He moved the sling a little to emphasize his point.

Lex nodded. He knew there would be no confessions here today, but he also suspected some of what he had witnessed had been no hallucination. He retook his seat. “Funny what the dying mind conjures up though.” He inhaled, “Speaking of your arm, what did the doctors say?”

Clark smiled; finally glad in the change of subject, “It’s healing well considering the amount of nerve damage the blade caused. I should have this thing off soon. I think it was an omen I should give up football though! How about you?”

“Better, but not cured of those infernal treatments.” Lex stole a glance towards his hidden safe, “Not yet at least, but I’m working on something…”

Clark didn’t know why, but he had a gut feeling that ‘something’ involved the dreaded and still missing crystals. That was a matter for another time though, and seeing as Lex had recently had his safe lined with lead, there would be no taking any quick sneak peeks. “I guess I should be going. I’m running late and mom wants me to play babysitter.” He stood awkwardly and headed for the door.

Lex smiled, but as Clark reached the door to leave he couldn’t resist one last question. “You know what puzzles me? How did you ever get involved with this whole Sobek affair?”

It was the question Clark had been expecting all along. He gave in to the inevitable half truth. “It started when I found the caves, I guess. The cave paintings and markings were more than in just Kawatche. Although, I didn’t know that at the time, of course.”

Lex pushed his hands in his trouser pockets and smiled, “Of course…”

“You already know how I originally got involved with the SGC, and well when they found out what the caves were really about I got dragged into the whole mess. Dr. Jackson knew what the markings said, but I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on. You do understand, Lex?” It wasn’t the truth, but it was the best he could manage.

“Of course,” The bald millionaire smiled again, and it almost freaked Clark out, “And seeing as the military have now taken possession of the Kawatche land I doubt anyone will ever know their true purpose save a few…”

Clark shuddered. He was getting in way over his head. Grasping the door handle, he shrugged. “I um, really have to go, Lex. Mom will be waiting with Kara.”

Lex nodded and walked Clark to the main entrance without saying more on the subject. He had learned enough to know that perhaps the things he sought were all part and parcel of the legacy of the caves, and military or not, he would continue his quest to acquire them. How Clark would fit in to the whole arrangement remained to be seen.

* * * *
Once out of the Luthor grounds, Clark hit superspeed and was glad once his boots hit the gravel of Hickory Lane. Lex had been getting too close to the truth for comfort, and he wouldn’t let it drop. It was just like the whole ‘Porsche rescue’ fascination he’d once had.

Clark slowed as he zipped under the ‘Kent Farm’ sign and was surprised to see a strange car in front of the house. He came to a normal jogging speed and zeroed in on the license plates. They were military issue. Maybe it’s Jack!

“Mom?” He swung open the screen door with his good hand and poked his head around to see where everyone was. Martha was by the cooker, and their guest was seated at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee. “Dr. Bryce! I didn’t expect to ever see you back in Smallville!”

“Thanks for the warm welcome,” The doctor smiled, knowing she was the last person the teen was probably expecting to see, “I’ve taken some leave from the SGC. I’ve had things I had to get clear in my head…” She fumbled with her empty mug a second and then noticed the teen struggling with his bag. “While I’m here want me to see how that arm’s doing? Have you been doing the exercises Janet and I ordered?”

Clark nodded and clumsily slipped his backpack off his shoulder. He joined Helen at the table, and removed the sling so the doctor could check just how much strength and sensation he’d regained. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I just didn’t think General Hammond would want you within ten miles of Smallville because of Lex.”

Martha arched a brow knowingly and gave her son a look that said he had a lot to learn about love. “That’s exactly why Helen is here, Sweetheart.”

Bryce agreed as she gestured for him to make a fist. “I needed to make a choice, Clark. My career, or the man I loved- still love…” A strange look crossed the physician’s face, but she carried on checking the reflexes in his arm.

“You’re willing to sacrifice everything for Lex?” Clark had always known the spark between the pair had been special. He could only hope that one day he could find someone who would love him the same. But Lex and Helen were always so confrontational with one another, just like me and Lo…He shook the idea away swiftly. No way could he ever date someone like that, let alone marry them.

“I don’t know yet…but I think so, yes.” Helen patted his forearm, “It’s looking much better. Another month and you’ll be ready to rumble.”

Clark was about to moan at the idea of another month of resting his arm when the phone began to ring.

Martha picked up the handset and after listening for a few minutes she looked to Helen. “It’s General Hammond. He guessed you might drop in on us, and your cell is off.” She handed over the cordless unit and scurried back to the meal she was preparing.

Clark watched Helen Bryce’s face turn ashen as she took in what her superior was saying. He wanted to butt in and ask what the problem was, but of course he couldn’t- and somehow he didn’t need to. Something was wrong at Cheyenne Mountain, and he sensed it involved the people he had come to know as friends.

Eventually, Helen dropped the handset back in its cradle and looked to both Clark and Martha. It was obvious before she even spoke that she was numb-struck at whatever the news had been.

“I have to go back to Colorado right away…” The doctor’s voice was weak and whispery- nothing like the Helen Bryce they had come to know.

“It’s something bad, isn’t it?” Clark’s puppy dog face appeared as he expected and received the worst.

Helen pulled out a chair, still in shock as she explained. “There was an away mission…something went wrong. Some kind of Goa’uld trap. It was Jack’s first live op since his broken arm had healed…”

Martha put her hands to her mouth as she feared more bad news to come. Clark’s gaze dropped to the table top and he swallowed hard. Not Jack…

Bryce continued. “There were multiple injuries and one fatality,” Tears began to form in her eyes, and for once the doctor showed her weaker side. “Jack was hurt, but Janet took a staff blast straight in the chest. There was nothing anyone could do. Daniel was there with her…” Helen wiped the moisture from her eyes with a small tissue Martha handed her, “I have to go back, they’re short staffed now, and then there will be the memorial…”

The lump in Clark’s throat refused to budge. Janet Frasier had helped save his life more than once. She had known his secret, and yet treated him with respect and friendship. “Do you think it would be possible for me to go to the memorial?” He asked sadly.

Helen smiled and nodded, although her bleary eyes refused to focus. “Janet would have liked that. General Hammond guessed you might want to join me, but I’m afraid there’s one stipulation. We have a film crew poking around at the SGC, and a rather distasteful NID official making up a report on our efficiency and more. You can’t be seen there as a civilian or there might be awkward questions,” Bryce looked apologetic, knowing Clark hated uniforms, “No one would notice a young Airman at the memorial, but they would a civilian…”

This time Clark didn’t complain about wearing what he was asked. He nodded and only hoped he could do Janet and the uniform justice.

Cheyenne Mountain

Clark fidgeted in the stiff blue uniform Sam Carter had just given him. It somehow didn’t feel right to be even masquerading as a military person- or maybe he just liked his comfortable old plaid. He straightened his tie for the eighth time and then tried to get his sling to sit perfectly horizontal. If he was going into the gate room for Dr. Frasier’s memorial as an airman, then he was going to do it right.

Sam noted his nervous adjustments and laid a hand on his arm. “Clark, if it helps I’m just as tense about this. Janet was one of my best friends and I want my speech to honor her life and work. I’m just not sure I’ve done her justice.”

Clark smiled and gave up trying to look any smarter. He nodded to Sam and they exited the room he’d been given into one of the tunnel shaped corridors. The atmosphere was like walking out into some kind of electrostatic environment. The air was charged with a terrible sadness that couldn’t be quelled.

As they walked forward together, Clark saw the entrance to the gate room looming and had the urge to turn tail. What if someone realizes I don’t belong here? What if they ask questions? He ignored the desire and carried on, trying to put himself in the shoes of a real airman.

At the door he paused and Sam entered first. The gate room was packed full of people in dress uniform, and on the ramp to the gate itself a podium had been erected. From here, Major Carter would give her speech. Sam took up a space next to Teal’c and Colonel O’Neill on the right, and Clark edged to the back of the room, keeping near the door and in the shadows. Daniel and General Hammond where standing to their left.

Clark felt cold as the entire room fell deathly silent and a lone bugler played the chilling tones of the last post. When the echoes of his last lament had died, Sam strode up to the podium, looking nervously at the crowd. She grasped the edges of the dais and gulped before beginning her speech.

“Janet Frasier was an extraordinary person. She was kind and funny and talented. Above all, she was courageous. Try as I might I could not find the words to honor her. To do justice to her life. Thankfully I got some help.” Carter looked thankfully to Teal’c who had helped her prepare the homily, “While words alone may not be enough, there are some names that might do. We often talk about those that give their lives in the service of their country, and while Janet Frasier did just that- that's not what her life was about. The following are the names of the men and women who did not die in service, but who are in fact alive today because of Janet.” Sam struggled with her emotions just for a second, and then began to roll off a long list of names whom Janet had saved, “Major Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson, Colonel Jack O'Neill, Teal'c, Sgt Connie Smith, Major Ian Hewles, Senior Airman Simon Wells, Clark Kent…”

Clark didn’t really hear much after his own name. The words blurred into a terrible hurt inside at what Janet had sacrificed simply trying to save lives. She hadn’t been on that planet to kill, or conquer, or even preach morals- she’d been there to save an injured man. Just like Janet and Helen saved me…

“Excuse me, but may I ask the circumstances of your injury?” A small almost bald headed man stood before Clark. He wore glasses and had an official air even before he introduced himself.

Clark came to his senses with a start and realized the memorial was over and people had begun to leave the room. He almost gaped at the little stranger before him. Is he with the film crew, or the NID investigator? Either way, Clark couldn’t really afford to get asked too much.

Noting Clark’s vacant look the man flashed a small ID badge. “My name is Woolsey. I’m with the NID preparing a report on the Stargate. I noticed your name was one of those read out by Major Carter?” He pointed questioningly at the nametag on the uniform and then Clark’s sling. “Where you injured on the mission to rescue SG13? You hardly look old enough…”

Clark shook his head, hoping he could sound half like a soldier seeing as Sam had actually put his name on the uniform he wore. “No, Sir, I was hurt on PX4761.” It’s not a lie. I just wasn’t exactly enlisted…

Woolsey cocked an eyebrow, “PX4761? From the reports I read about the mission on that planet, and the subsequent invasion here on earth by a Goa’uld it was a massacre. Every airman involved was supposed to have been given a medal for bravery.” He looked to Clark’s tunic and frowned, “I see no ribbons?”

Clark turned and stared at the gate. The look in his eyes became almost haunting and yet glassy. “I didn’t deserve a medal, Sir. People like Dr. Frasier are the ones who deserve that. She took an oath never to harm and died trying to uphold it, even though no civilian will ever know.” In that moment, Clark sounded more mature than he ever had in Smallville. The edge to his voice conveyed the wealth of experience he’d learned from the people here. “Dr Frasier was the real hero…” The strength to his voice ebbed as his emotions took hold.

Woolsey backed away. He hadn’t expected such a response and it had unnerved him. The investigator would still write his damning report on the Stargate program, but he would never forget the solemn expression on the young airman’s face that day as long as he lived.

Clark stood in the gate room alone for over fifteen minutes, simply gazing at the now-lifeless ring that gave access to other worlds. Here, almost every day men and woman risked there lives and anonymously saved the world without the American public ever knowing their identities or good they achieved. I’m no hero compared to their selflessness. Clark finally turned towards the exit having made a choice about his future. He would strive to anonymously save lives as these people did. Never once seeking recognition, but forever risking what little they had to protect others.

Clark smiled and looked down at the Airforce uniform he still wore. He would never be a soldier, but something about the color seemed to draw him. “Maybe blue suites aren’t so bad after all…”

Somehow feeling he had gained a purpose in life, Clark made his way back to Kansas, to Smallville, and to his destiny.