Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

Rewind

In most cases we only get one life to live, one chance to do whatever we can, to make a difference. Superman found a way to change that. The alien superhero discovered that outside of Kryptonite, he was practically immortal. He figured that he still might die of natural causes one day…but not this time. Kal El wasn't certain that this would work, but it was worth a shot. All of his favorite humans were dead, yet Clark Kent pressed on. - Marcus Worthington, Chronicler of Days.

Superman had realized early on that he couldn't save everyone. He also admitted his failures. His mission was to save Earth…he'd failed miserably. Arguably the most powerful being in the galaxy, he was going to rewrite history…all of it, at least altering the last 200 Earth years.

On board the Dragon's Beckon, Clark and Alexa stood silently watching the battle on holographic displays along the medical deck. "We are at a stalemate, grandfather Kal." Alexa spoke into the uncomfortable silence. "Yes, it looks that way, Alexa."

"Have you heard from Kara?" Clark wondered aloud. "Unfortunately not. I wouldn't worry. She's very powerful. I'm sure that she left the Death's Face before it went supernova." Alexa reassured him. "I guess that I'd better give this Eye of Rao a try. No one knows how it works?"

Alexa shook her head as her long black ponytail waved behind her. Clark returned to a seat beside his medical bed. Her eyes followed him closely. Superman picked up the Eye of Rao, and attempted to decipher its writing to no avail. "I guess it will be trial and error." He remarked.

"Okay grandfather, I'll give you one more quick check up." Alexa said as she flipped some keys on her Medical Database Analysis Terminal. "Voiceprint activation." She ordered. "Authorization Dr. Alexa Kent, XM531." The MDAT replied loudly. "This thing can be really annoying at times." Alexa commented. "I usually keep it on silent."

Clark laughed. Just like Lois, he mused. "Analyze Kryptonian male in this room, stat!" Alexa directed. MDAT came back. Dr. Kent sighed. "Using common Kryptonian database parameters, is he fit to return to duty?" Clark saw a faint pinkish glow and felt something like a brush of warm wind. "Acknowledged." Alexa cut the system off. "There you go grandpa Kal, you're all set."

Clark smiled. "Are you sure you're related to me?" Alexa pretended to be offended. "Let's find out. Authorization Dr. Alexa Kent, XM532." "Compare Kryptonian female Dr. Alexa Kent with Kryptonian male, Kal El. Match percentage of DNA, rounding to two decimals." Alexa stretched leisurely.

"Compiling...subjects XM532 and XM533 DNA match to 84th percentile."

Clark shook his head in disbelief. "List remaining 16 percent matches. Summarize." Alexa looked puzzled. "Earth subject Lois Lane...13 percent, Earth Subject Lana Lang 2 percent, Kryptonian Kara Zor El ...1 percent." Alexa beamed. "Oh, that's because Kara and I hugged in the launch bay."

"What?" Kal nearly jumped out of the chair. "I never married Lana Lang, and how did Kara get involved?" Alexa shrugged. "Perhaps history is already somehow being rewritten. Anyway, it ought to make for some interesting conversations if you get back to Smallville." The system buzzed. "Analysis complete."

"Oh shut up!" Clark snapped. Alexa stood with her hands on her shapely hips. "I guess this is it, grandpa Kal. The whole galaxy and then some is counting on you." Alexa hugged Clark tightly. "No pressure there." He quipped. "It was an honor to meet you." Dr. Kent sniffed. "I'm proud of you Alexa, keep up the good work." Clark praised.

"Just continuing the Kent tradition of saving lives." Alexa forced a thin grin. Superman held the Eye of Rao before him, and distanced himself from Alexa. "Let's see if this works." Clark pressed the facet with the bluish gem. "I wish I was in Kansas…Metropolis specifically, near the Daily Planet, on December 17th, 2050." Boy, I feel stupid doing this, he groused.

Alexa gasped as Superman disappeared. "Grandpa Kal?" Silence. "Computer...Dr. Alexa Kent…XM532. Where is the Kryptonian male, Kal El?" the computer responded: "Kal El is not aboard this ship."

 Alexa dropped into her plush chair as everything went black. The Black Fleet and the IRM starships were no longer in system. The sun shone brightly as Earth silently rotated in the blackness of space.

Superman was outside the Dragon's Beckon, being pulled towards the sun. He accelerated to far faster than he'd ever flown before. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, he pondered silently. Kal knew that he and Kara derived most of their abilities from Earth's yellow sun.

He felt himself becoming stronger and his density growing. If he survived this, Superman knew that he would be rewriting history. That weighed heavily on his mind, rationalizing that he couldn't stop both Darkseid and the Brain Interactive Construct, (BRAINIAC) alone.

Everyone Superman knew in the past would have to band together with him. If they were to save Earth, everybody would have to contribute. He had wasted too much time in his youth, trying to become 'normal' whatever that meant. He'd played it safe and now all bets would be off.

Superman's co-heroes at Sanctuary (the watchtower station) Batman, Wonder Woman, Nightwing, John Jonz, Green Lantern, the Flash, Green Arrow, Cyborg, Aquaman, Batgirl, Robyn, and Hawk Girl would come around too late in history to stop Darkseid and Brainiac. Clark would have to start a youthful Justice League much sooner. It would give Earth an edge.

Superman watched as Mercury spun past. He could feel the intense heat of the sun's outer layer now. I'm too close! He guessed as he forced himself to fly slower. A type of multicolored corridor had enveloped him. Superman tentatively brushed against the nearest particle wall.

The wall was pure energy, and immediately shredded his left sleeve. "Whoa! Okay! Stay in the center, I got it!" Light began to bend and he felt like the forces would pull him apart. A blinding white light was ahead of him. Clark was pulled through it. Suddenly the air began to cool.

Superman heard a loud roaring thunder and something hard hit him in the face and chest. All motion suddenly stopped. He could feel the damp ground beneath him. Kal warily opened one eye. The other was still seeing multicolored spots. Birds chirped, children yelled, something not far away whizzed past him. It looked like Earth! It had worked! He was alive! But when was it?

Clark wobbily rose to his feet, holding his head, which throbbed. "That wasn't very fun." He muttered. He searched the bright blue sky for any sign of the IRM snubfighters. Nothing. Two young girls zipped by him on airborne skateboards. They stared and laughed, but kept flying.

Okay the anti-grav skateboards were perfected by 2050, so far so good, he considered. Kal determined that he was in Metro Central Park, Metropolis, a few blocks from the Daily Planet. After the cobwebs cleared, he began walking normally towards Main Street.

I guess I'd better grab some decent clothes, my 22nd century gray and black outfit with the golden elongated 'S' on the chest, had never been seen in this time period. I'd stand out like a sore thumb. Clark developed his plan. The Justice League was great, but we're going to need more help.

Superman would have to encourage and somehow control the beings called meta-humans. They could be pooled into a formidable fighting force. Their jobs would mostly be in search and rescue, settling smaller disputes, and fighting common crime, like a superhuman police force.

That would free up more time for he and Kara to begin a preemptive assault on BRAINIAC. Darkseid was too far out in space to be a factor early on. Metallo had partnered with BRAINIAC after LexCorp had created Roger Corbin's alter ego. Their first line of attack would include him.

Clark considered all this as he crossed the somewhat unfamiliar street near 4th Avenue. A few people stared at him, but bustled about their business. Superman had wasted valuable time confronting Metallo, keeping Corbin at bay while BRAINIAC was en route to Earth.

A team of trained Metas could certainly handle the man turned robotic killing machine. Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake had nearly defeated Metallo on their own, seeing as how they were immune to the effects of his kryptonite heart. The Meta-human assault team had a stake in its own future as well.

The Metas were kept in the shadows, an embarrassing failed experiment by some international governments. They were natural mutants, devoid of any kryptonite influence, unlike the myriad of meteor-freaks in Smallville.

Clark gingerly stepped upon the familiar sidewalk across from the Daily Planet. He examined the headline monitor screens where the old newspaper kiosk once stood. The physical paper had gone the way of the dinosaur, replaced by the Internet, News Net, and finally International Net. Information distribution had gone totally digital, most of which had been wireless since 2025.

One reality that never changed was that natural power ruled the world. True power involved money. Influence had always been bought and sold like a commodity. It was a sad fact of human life on this diverse world. Superman checked the Daily Planet's Net display to determine the exact date.

"Got it!" Clark said quietly. The Eye of Rao, safely tucked away within a hidden pocket inside his outfit, had actually worked. So much for old legends…Clark was a full day ahead of schedule. The Eye had sent him back over a hundred years!

With renewed enthusiasm, Kal set out for Metropolis General Hospital. He'd thought about checking on Lois, but she wasn't integral to this time period. She would likely be his last stop before returning to 2007 Smallville. Money equals power equals influence, Clark recited.

This meant that he had to convince Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, Marcus Worthington, and Lex Luthor of the truth. Earth's future hung in the balance. Lex would be the hardest to convince. He only looked out for himself. Marcus, Oliver, and Bruce were already on the right path.

Clark pondered Lex for a moment as he steadily walked towards the hospital. The billionaire was all about himself, his lust for power, greed, and self interest. Superman would have to bank that Lex would put his own survival above all else. He needed Lex on his side. Coercion seemed to be the way to go with him.

Clark could prove that cutting deals with Corbin, Brainiac, and Darkseid was of no real value to Lex. The wealthy business mogul would embrace a bargain. Superman smirked.

Clark Kent and Lois were in New Gotham chasing down a story, so there was no danger of Superman encountering his other self. He approached Metropolis General, and waited for Merci, Lex's long suffering girlfriend to clear the area. She'd taken over running Lex's empire, since he'd grown terminally ill. Clark zipped up to Lex's room, and casually strolled in.

He found that Lex was under sedation. Superman grabbed a stimulant from a nearby table and injected the hypo into his archenemy's veins. Shortly thereafter, Lex was awake, alert, and ornery. Now in his 70's, Lex scowled as he saw Superman hovering over his bed.

"Superman?" Lex grumbled. "I must be having a nightmare. I told that fool nurse to take it easy on the morphine." Clark sat straddling a chair. "No Lex, I'm here, as big as life." He said cheerfully, knowing that it would irk Lex. "Why are you here, Superman? What's with the gray outfit? I like the goatee and moustache, though. It gives you character."

Superman grinned at his former boyhood friend. "Same old Lex. I'm here to tell you that by this time tomorrow you'll be dead." Lex's eyebrows rose. "You're here to gloat, Superman? That's not like you." He retorted. Clark crossed his arms. "No. I'm here to offer you another chance."

"A chance at what?" Lex frowned. Superman relaxed in the chair. "Lex, did you ever wonder what really happened that first day that I met you in Smallville?" "Smallville?" Lex echoed as Clark propped his foot up on the hospital bed. "You drove your silver Porsche right into me, knocking me off the bridge and into the river."

Lex growled. "Flying too close to the sun all those years has fried your brain, Superman. That was Clark Kent." Kal smirked. "Was it, Lex? Are you sure?"

Lex coughed roughly, unable to answer, as a few drops of blood splattered on his pillow. "Of course it was." Superman taunted. Lex thought about that for a moment. His eyes went from hatred, to wonder, to wistfulness, and back to anger. "Clark? You mean I was right all the long?" He croaked.

"Yup. I'm the old flannel king farm boy, Clark Kent." For effect, Kal pulled out the ancient black-rimmed glasses he once wore, and put them on. Lex almost smiled. "That makes you the greatest liar of all time, Sup…uh…Clark. I'm impressed. Congratulations on the grandest deception in the history of the world."

Kal removed the glasses, stuck them back into an inside pocket, and produced a small vile of yellowish orange liquid. "Lex did you ever wonder why you've been in such ill health in recent years?" Clark pressed.

"Of course I wondered, idiot! Now that I'm on my deathbed, you come clean? I've had the best doctors in Metropolis, not to mention the world, poking and prodding me for years. None of them could find a cure for whatever this is."

Clark held the vial up against the light. "This is the cure for your disease, Lex." The eldery billionaire's heart monitor started beeping incessantly. "What? How do you know?" He asked in an agitated tone.

Clark had taken the time back on the Dragon's Beckon, to zip through their advanced database, and create cures to eight of the most deadly diseases known to humans. The cures were easily available on file already. Kal simply downloaded the chemical mixtures into hypo-sprays.

He'd hidden the hypo-sprays beneath the outer layer of his suit. Clark could always sort out the morality of the issue later. In his mind there was no guarantee that the Eye of Rao would even work. "Lex, the disease is extreme delayed radiation poisoning." Superman informed him.

"The disease is based on the meteor rocks that we now know as kryptonite. Long-term exposure to the kryptonite is virtually 100 percent fatal to humans. You know that chunk of green kryptonite that you've been carrying around for years to keep me at bay? It's killing you."

"How ironic, Clark!" Lex grumbled. "You couldn't have brought that to my attention sooner? Say twenty years ago?" Superman stared at his one time friend. "Would you have believed me if I had?" He countered.

"No, of course not!" Lex admitted. "Now what about this cure, Clark? Or is it yet another lie?" Superman fiddled with the bottle, dangling it over Lex's head."I can cure you. The question is, do you want to be saved?" Clark offered.

"You're going to make me beg, aren't you?" Lex asked tiredly. "No. I do have conditions, though." Kal teased. "Name them!" Lex challenged. "First of all, you'll get rid of all your kryptonite at once."

"After that, we'll talk. Dump all the kryptonite into that landfill near Route 12. I'll have that taken care of by someone else." Say Batman. "Call up your cronies right now and give the order, unless you'd rather die? I won't ask again." Clark handed Lex the phone.

"You had better be right, Clark." Lex menaced, though he simply had no other choice. "Candace? This is Lex. Give all of the kryptonite deposits to Superman, immediately. Put it under his signature authority only. That's an order, unless you'd like to be unemployed?" He barked.

Lex handed the phone back to Clark. "This is Superman. Place all of the kryptonite into lead containers, and drop them in the landfill on Route 12." He gave Lex the phone. "Do it, Candace!" He ordered as he clicked off the phone. "Your call, Superman." Lex challenged. "Now what happens?"

Lex coughed painfully. "You're just going to let me die, won't you?" Superman shook his head. "No Lex, I actually need your help." Lex scoffed. "The great Superman needs my help?" Clark waved the vial in front of Lex again. "I'll give you half the cure right away." Kal bargained.

"The other half, I'll bring tomorrow. Don't worry, you've still got about 24 hours. After I've seen to the kryptonite, I'll be back. Here's something for you to think about." Clark poured half of the vial's contents into the water glass. "Drink this." Lex guzzled it down, wincing.

"Lex, you are not my worst enemy." Clark began. "Believe it or not, you've just been a major annoyance. I've seen what true evil is like." Lex grimaced, nearly choking on his words. "Sure, kick a guy when he's down, Clark." He grumbled.

"I have power Lex, true power. The power you can't even begin to dream about. I have the power to cheat destiny, the power to defeat fate itself."

"Superman on an ego trip?" Lex sniped. "Now I can die a happy man. I truly have seen everything." Lex coughed and began to convulse. Clark held him down until the reaction had passed

"That's nasty stuff, Clark. What is it?" He finally got out. "I don't have a name for it, Lex. I ran across it a few years from now." Kal teased. "A few years from now?" Lex echoed. He was still coherent enough to pick up on Superman's unusual phrase.

 "Yes Lex, now I am the master of destiny. If you could go all the way back to Smallville, would you do things differently?" Lex looked thoughtful as he felt his burning lungs starting to cool. "How so?" Clark leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.

"With confronting any problem, I can affect the future. I can do something good, do something bad, or do nothing at all. Each decision has consequences." Lex was intrigued. "Clark, what are you saying? You can prevent things from occuring?"

Kal nodded. "Yes. That's all I've ever done, Lex. My Earth dad, Jonathan Kent used to drum that into me every time I used my powers. I can prevent people from dying, let them die, or hopefully prevent them from destroying themselves."

Lex was silent. It was the first time he truly understood Clark / Superman. "There's a much larger picture here than us, Lex." Clark concluded. "I don't have any regrets, Clark." Lex added coldly. "Yes you do, Lex." Clark insisted. "I even have several regrets, one of which involves not being able to save you the first time around."

He let the words hang in the air for effect. "You can't save everyone, Clark." Lex sounded like his old self back in Smallville. "Sure I can, Lex." Superman narrowed his eyes.Lex thought he saw a fire in the aging superhero's eyes that he'd never seen before. "Now that's just insane, Clark. Maybe you should be in this bed instead of me."

 Superman ignored his comments. "Here's the deal, Lex." Clark began seriously. "I'll come back tomorrow with the rest of the cure. I want you to think about all this as well. You have to decide for yourself. I'm going back, Lex, all the way back." Superman said with conviction, startling him.

"Back where?" Lex wondered out loud. "I'm going back to Smallville, around 2001, when we first met." Superman's eyes flared red. Lex's eyes widened. "You're nuts Clark! But I like it! Time travel? Is that even possible?"

Clark smirked. "I'm here, aren't I? My question to you is…do you want to go back too? It will be a second chance for you. If you rid yourself of the kryptonite, you may live to be a hundred.

Keep in mind that I have a photographic memory, and every last dirty deal and rotten project you've worked on, I'll already know about it. If you fall back on your evil ways, I'll stop you."

Lex stared at him open-mouthed. "You're serious Clark, but how?" Clark shook his head. "Nope. That's not your concern. I'm going back and I'm damn well going to get it right this time!"

Superman had a confidence and conviction in his eyes that Lex had never seen before. "Its not as if I have much choice, Clark." Lex complained. "I disagree Lex, remember you always have choices." Kal got up and said, "Think about it, I'll return tomorrow and await your decision." He headed towards the window and flew off. Lex lay there stunned.

His chest did feel a lot better. He could feel the passageways in his lungs open up. Lex inhaled deeply for the first time in months without any pain. Superman was telling the truth, damn him! Lex thought excitedly.

It wasn't exactly a Faustian Bargain that he had made with the Man of Steel, he mused. If Clark wasn't off his annoying superhero rocker, I could go back. I'd have my fortune and start over. The kryptonite was a small price to pay for a second chance. He just hoped the alien farm boy could deliver.

Superman sailed over Metropolis, debating his next move. He checked the Eye of Rao, and the crystal shard he'd pressed was now clear in color, presumably out of power. There were eight colored shards left, eight more chances to change the past and the future.

The next day, Superman walked into Lex's room, disguised as Clark Kent, glasses and all. "Well Lex, have you reached a decision?" The elderly billionaire coughed roughly and cleared his throat. "I'll try it your way Sup…er, Clark. I'd be crazy not to go back if my only alternative is to become worm food."

Kal El smirked. "I'll take that as a yes, Lex. Remember, I've already been there, so I'll be ahead of you, if you try and pull something." Lex grumbled. "Yeah. Yeah. One thing still bothers me, Clark." Lex's weary eyes narrowed. "Why do you want me to go back at all? I mean what do you get out of it?"

Superman wisely expected that question. "You're going to help me save the world." He teased. Lex tried to laugh, but his chest heaved and his vital signs dropped into the danger zone. "It's time." Kal El said simply.

Clark gave Lex the rest of the futuristic medicine. "That stuff is nasty." He complained. "Give me a good bourbon any day." Superman sat on the edge of Lex's bed. He put his hand on the elderly man's arm, while holding the Eye of Rao in his pants pocket, out of Lex's sight.

Lex shivered and his chest felt like it was on fire. "We're going back, all the way back." Clark said quietly as the room spun and appeared to disintegrate before their eyes. There was a blinding flash and the two archenemies sailed into the time tunnel vortex.

Lex's eyes widened as he felt his body change, becoming lighter and stronger. Superman's goatee and beard evaporated as they sped backwards through time. There was a rolling thunder, and the multicolored tube turned black. "Wow! What a trip!" Lex commented as their momentum slowed.

Suddenly Lex was underwater, and Clark was pulling him to the surface. The familiar gray Porsche had been torn in half, serrated like a can-opener might have done. This time Lex was conscious and wet as Superman placed him on the shore below the bridge.

"This is where it all started…" Kal El began. "Lex, you've been given a second chance. Take advantage of it." Lex felt his youthful body and rubbed his baldpate. "I never thought I'd say this Clark…but thanks. Now what?"

"We save the world." Superman answered smugly. Clark dove into the water and physically picked up the damaged Porsche and placed it on the highway atop the bridge, simultaneously bending the metal roof back into shape.

Lex stared at him open-mouthed. "Amazing!" Kal quickly spun in place, instantly drying his clothes, back in his familiar red flannel shirt and bluejeans. Lex whistled as he examined his own look.

The billionaire was now back in his early twenties, wearing an expensive shirt and pants, covered in a sopping wet black overcoat. Superman blew at Lex, drying his clothes with near gale force strength breath.

"Whoa!" Lex brushed the dust and pebbles from his coat. Clark smirked. "Lex, your fatal flaw was underestimating Superman." Lex's brow furrowed. "You talk like Superman is a different person." He commented.

Clark nodded. "Kal El and Clark Kent are who I really am. Superman is my creation."  Lex rubbed his thin youthful chin. "Now it makes perfect sense." Kal stood alongside his friend turned enemy back to friend again.

"I underestimated the magnitude of the problem as well." Superman admitted. "Here's your cell phone." He handed the antique to Lex. "Now the crash can be explained easier." Lex shook his head. "I can't believe you pulled this off, Clark."

Superman shrugged him off. "I'm just getting started. We all have a lot to do." Lex studied his new look for a moment. "One more thing, Clark." He began hesitantly. "What major evil are we supposed to be looking out for?"

Kal thought about sidestepping the question. "Let's just say you were partially right...we're facing an alien invasion. They're not rogue Kryptonians. This evil makes the worst of the human criminals look insignificant."

Lex gulped, weighing the depth of Clark's statement. "I'm also getting more help." Superman added. "The alien problem is so bad that you couldn't handle it?" Lex prodded. "Exactly. Kara and I were both defeated." He replied.

Kal reminisced about his beautiful younger cousin, as he let the statement hang in the air. "How can we win..." Lex asked bluntly. "...if you and Kara couldn't?"

"We're all going to have to pull together." Superman answered. "You and I, my other friends, and the human race in general. Even with all of that influence and firepower, we may still lose. We have to try. There is no other option."

Clark glanced around warily. "We'll be in touch, Lex. I need to get started." The youthful billionaire sighed. "Super...uh...Clark, thanks." He said sincerely. Kal zipped off using his hyper speed. Lex gaped as he flipped open his phone.

link to Chapter 4.