Clark wiped the fresh grease from his fingertips and laid down the soiled rag he had used for the last time. He smiled, staring proudly at the tractor he had so lovingly rebuilt over the last four weeks. It hadn’t been an easy task to track down spares for something so old, and yet somehow, with Pete’s help, he had managed it.

When Jonathan had given him the job of repairing the damage he had caused, Clark had thought it would be impossible to piece the myriad of parts back into a working machine. Now though, he could fully appreciate the message his father had tried to bring home. Sometimes patience and understanding were just as great a tool as his strength and abilities.

The proud teen couldn’t resist climbing up into the aged seat and cranking the engine into life. It purred back at him almost affectionately for saving it from the junkyard. Maybe I should have put a fresh coat of paint on the old girl too, and then she really would have been as good as new.

“What’s got you grinning so much?”

Clark looked from his perch and saw Chloe’s eyes sparkle with mirth as he switched off the ignition. “I finally finished this thing!” he explained as he climbed back down.

Chloe nodded. She was glad he was finally done with the machine but didn’t really want to hear all about how he had spent hours stripping the pistons and replacing the driveshaft; she’d heard quite enough of that from Pete every day at the Torch. “Good,” she said, giving him a genuine smile. “So now that your punishment is over, do you think we can get back to discussing the important stuff?” She studied Clark for a reaction and then added, “And I don’t mean how many times you beat Ryan at shooting hoops this week! We have work to do at the Torch. Some suspicious looking guy has been spotted in the woods digging near where Kyle used to live. I thought it might be worthy of us taking a look?”

“It’s probably just some tourist hunting meteor rocks. I doubt it’s anything for your Wall of Weird.” Clark subdued the urge to shudder at the mention of the evil green ore he was so allergic to. There is no way I’m going near those woods again in a hurry.

“Well, it’s either that or I follow up more on the Amphion brothers,” Chloe chuckled teasingly. “Bizarre stories have been in short supply these last few weeks.”

“You mean you want to go back over the Kane story again?” Clark frowned at the thought.

“Well, there really isn’t much more I can go on, though. I was finally able to track down their mother. I had hoped she could help point the finger at Lionel Luthor about what happened to her sons.” Chloe scowled slightly. “Turns out she died shortly after the boys were adopted. It seems a bit strange to me. I’m thinking Lionel had something to do with it. There was no obit for her, and her death seemed to be swept under the rug…”

“Chloe, I really don’t want to dig all that up. I think we caused enough mess the first time, and yet you still want to go digging in those two kids past as if this is some game. It’s over,” Clark snapped, and turned back to face the tractor.

Clark’s sharp tone surprised Chloe, and she stifled a journalistic comment about nothing ever being over and instead placed a hand consolingly on his arm. It didn’t take much to realize her little rant had upset him, and she was pretty sure she knew why. “I’m sorry, I guess mentioning those two kids’ past got you thinking about your real parents again, huh?”

Clark slowly nodded and looked off into the distance. While he had been fixing up the tractor he’d had far too much time to dwell on his origins, but everything always led back to the unfathomable ship. There were no answers to find, and probably never would be no matter how long he searched. He kept hearing Kane’s voice play over and over in his mind accusing him of being Lionel’s bastard son. Clark knew that was impossible too. But I’m someone’s son, I belong somewhere. Finally, he looked back to Chloe and sighed. “I’ll never know who, or even what my real parents were. Sometimes it’s just so frustrating! I mean, why did they abandon me?”

Chloe gulped. How do I comfort someone when I have similar questions of my own? It had been a long time since she had confronted her own demons, but the whole Amphion fiasco and Clark’s revelations about his ‘adoption’ had brought things to the surface again.

When she had been younger, it had been easy to just take what Gabe had said for granted. Mom had simply gone away one night and left them. The trouble was, now that she was getting older, Chloe was beginning to question the facts more and more. Why would a mother just leave her husband and daughter for no valid reason? Why doesn’t Dad ever talk about her, or wonder where she is? It was hard to admit, but the Sullivans may just have a skeleton in their closet just waiting to burst out. Yeah right, and knowing my luck it will be a glowing green meteor skeleton!

“Chloe?” Clark questioned worriedly when she appeared to go into a stupor, “Are you alright? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“I’m fine.” The budding reporter turned and gazed up into his dreamy blue-green eyes, “I’ll always be fine while you’re here. Why don’t we both forget what’s on our minds right now and go grab a latte?”

Clark considered it. There was nothing he would like more than to go into town and just relax, but Jonathan had yet to rescind the order grounding him. “Can we manage with some of Mom’s coffee? I think Dad will need to see the tractor running before I officially get paroled,” he smiled playfully. “I don’t think he trusts me as a mechanic just yet.”

“I’m not surprised! I saw what you did to the Torch’s printer last time it needed ink, and then there was that time…” Chloe let her words trail as Clark pulled her close, “On the other hand I guess you do have your uses when it comes to rescuing people…”

“Oh? So that’s all I’m good for?” He waited patiently for the mischievous response he knew would come, but Chloe’s cell phone had the bad timing to ruin the moment.

Chloe pulled away from his grip and delved into her bag, and then flipped open the tiny Nokia with a shrug. After listening intently for several minutes, she frowned and flicked it back closed. “That was Lex; he’d like us both to go over to the mansion right now.”

“Didn’t he say why?” Clark’s brow furrowed as he too became puzzled by the millionaire’s request, “I mean, I shouldn’t just leave the farm unless it’s something important. I have some more chores to do.”

Chloe shook her head worriedly. “To be honest, he sounded pretty mysterious. He kind of spooked me with his secretive air.” She looked at Clark pleadingly. “I don’t know about you, but I really need to know what this is all about. I have a feeling it’s something pretty big!”

Clark nodded and headed towards the house with Chloe in tow. This time he would explain things to his parents before just scooting off. Hopefully this way, he wouldn’t end up repairing the tractor again anytime soon.

Lionel’s stretch Mercedes crawled down the dirt track and came to a stop beside a small creek. It was secluded here, and perfectly safe for clandestine meetings such as this. Phone lines and offices could easily be bugged, but the wilderness was much harder to keep surveillance on.

Lionel smirked at his own ingenuity, and then hunched forward to tap on the Plexiglas separating the driver from the rear of the vehicle. “This will do nicely. Wait for me here.”

The bomb-proof limousine’s engine died, and its eccentric owner stepped out into the daylight. There didn’t appear to be anyone around, and yet as Lionel waited, he could feel eyes watching from the shadows. His contact was the best at arranging certain scenarios, and also the best at keeping a low profile whenever they had a meeting like this.

“Nice to see you again Lionel,” A soft, but menacing voice echoed across the clearing, “I take it you brought the payment for my services?”

Lionel reached into the inside pocket of his tailored suit and withdrew an envelope. He tapped at its edge and lifted it up so that his unseen companion could verify its existence. “Has the order I placed been completed?” The grey ends of his beard twitched with an insane anticipation as he asked the question.

“The order has been completed as per your request, and there were no unforeseen complications.” This time the voice seemed closer, but the observer still remained out of sight.

“And my added insurance, should this expensive item fail to work correctly?” Lionel whirled, his eyes searching like a predatory beast as he threw the question. “I need to be sure I’ll get what I am paying for, one way or another.”

Silence filled the glade, and for a moment, Lionel thought his contact had left. There was no sound at all, not even the distant chirping of a bird, or rustle of a tree. He shivered reflexively, but refused to leave without confirmation of his ‘purchase’.

“Don’t worry, Luthor. I never do a job without the backup being in place first. You gave me ample time to arrange a suitable secondary plan.” A tall, but exceptionally thin man in his mid-forties seemed to materialize from out of nowhere. His clothes were camouflaged perfectly to mingle with his surroundings, and he wore a black ski mask to hide his features.

Lionel was unimpressed with the man’s assertive demeanor. “You had better be correct. People who let me down, do so only once.” He offered up the manila envelope, and then snatched it back at the very last second to make his point. “Don’t let me down, or I’ll be retrieving this payment with added interest.”

A gloved hand yanked the payment from Lionel’s palm as he held it out a second time, and then the stranger vanished as quickly as he had arrived. Lionel’s face screwed up into a fit of contempt at the scum he had to deal with, and suddenly he felt himself begin to lose control of his unstable temper. I shouldn’t have to do this! Lex has put me in a compromising position with his meddling! The billionaire turned and looked back at his silver grey limo. Can I trust the driver? How do I know he isn’t working against me? Lionel’s eyes narrowed to points, and he unexpectedly smirked. Business could sometimes be most enjoyable when it involved being this ruthless.

Clark pushed Chloe’s car door open with a shove and stepped out into Lex’s spacious courtyard. This was the place were the millionaire usually showcased his latest sport’s car investment, or occasionally parked the Luthorcorp chopper. Today it seemed strange to have Chloe put her old Ford in the same spot. To their left, Clark spotted Pete’s faithful classic blue soft-top, and he suddenly felt the intrigue intensify. If Pete’s here, something really strange must be going on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pete here without the influence of the Nicodemus flower! He just doesn’t like the name Luthor enough.

Chloe sensed Clark’s unease too. “Clark, I have to admit I’m officially weirded out! That’s Pete’s car, and the one next to it is Dad’s new sedan, he only got it last night. Why would Lex want everyone here like this?”

Clark shrugged, but was already searching the inside of the building with his x-ray vision. After the situations he’d been through, it always paid to be cautious. Nothing dangerous presented itself however, so he took Chloe’s hand and led her inside to where he knew Lex and several other surprise guests were waiting.

“Clark, why am I not shocked that you’re the last to arrive?” Lex beamed at his young friend lightheartedly, and then gestured to two empty seats he’d obviously had prepared in his now over-full study.

Chloe took a seat without question, but Clark glanced around warily first. Lana and Steve were seated to his left, and Pete, and Gabe Sullivan had chairs to his right. Pete was fidgeting as if he really didn’t belong or feel welcome, and the sight seemed to amuse his host.

Lex’s lips curled up in amusement, but he made no comment about Pete’s discomfort. Instead, now that everyone was present he addressed the room. “I suppose you’re all wondering why I’ve gathered you here so mysteriously…”

“Well, so far this is like something straight out of an Agatha Christie or Poe novel.” Chloe couldn’t resist the literary quip. “I’m just wondering when we all start getting sliced and diced or disappearing in this spooky mansion of yours.”

“Touché,” Lex grinned, appreciating the humor. “However, I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.” He took his own seat behind his desk and crossed his hands on the work surface. “I’ve taken the liberty of arranging a little vacation for you all at an exclusive ski lodge I like to use. It’s very select; there wouldn’t be more than a handful of other guests. I think it would be a well-earned break after what you have all been through.”

“Why would you pay for something like this?” Chloe asked, instantly becoming suspicious. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer,” she hastily added after sharp glance from her dad.

“Call it a thank you for saving my life. And besides, I think my business partner,” Lex looked to Lana, “would really like the company. I’m insisting she takes some time off rather than just accepting her offer to give up the Talon without a fight.”

Everyone’s gaze abruptly fell on the ex-cheerleader. They had all known she’d been through a rough patch, but until now only Lex had known of her plan to possibly let her life’s dream go. Lana became restless with the weight of their stares. “I haven’t made my mind up what I want yet, I have a lot of things to think about carefully, but you guys don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to. I just feel I really need this break or I’ll go nuts.”

Steve squeezed her hand and smiled. “I’m in, and I’m sure everyone else is up for a free ski trip to Colorado, I mean who wouldn’t be?”

Pete suddenly pulled a grief-stricken expression as he was torn between beautiful pure white ski slopes and his family’s hatred of all things Luthor. Man, my dad will never let me go if he knows who’s paying! Maybe I can get around the subject somehow.

He wasn’t the only one with reservations either. Clark looked at both Chloe and Lana in despair, not wanting either to go off without him, but knowing his parents were not about to let him go off on his own after the Amphion affair. “I don’t think my parents will want me going to Colorado, Lex. I need to help Dad with all the farm work. He’ll never get it all done on his own.” Not to mention they won’t trust me using my gifts if something happened. I mean, I am some kind of disaster magnet!

Lex appeared to consider the facts a moment and then smiled persuasively. “Well, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you told them Chloe’s dad was going too. I thought after his injury at the hands of the Fletcher girl, some time off was in order, and I also knew it might convince the skeptics among your parents that you people would behave. I can arrange for some help for your dad on the farm too, Clark…”

Clark winced. Jonathan had warmed ever-so-slightly to Lex during the past months, but he doubted any Luthor employee would ever be welcome on the farm. What made it worse was the fact that he knew he’d be left behind alone. The others will get to go, even Pete somehow, and I’ll still be mucking out stalls! I’ll be trapped in Smallville forever because of my stupid abilities.

Clark’s face dropped as reality struck home and he began to mope. “I think I better go home,” he sulked. “Dad will be in soon from the market, and he might need a hand unloading the truck.”

“You could at least ask your parents.” Chloe prodded as Clark rose to leave.

Lex agreed with her idea. “Just ask them Clark, you might be pleasantly surprised.”

The teen had major misgivings, but he nodded anyway. Nothing ever hurt to ask after all.