Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

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"What do you think of her, Chlo'?" Clark asked as they arrived back in Smallville. "She's got potential." She replied. "My problem with Laura is that she's young and probably immature."

"True." Clark reluctantly agreed. "I stand by what i've said. We need to keep her out of Lex's clutches or whoever else might try to usurp or coerce Laura into using her abilities the wrong way."

"Don't we have enough going on in our lives, Clark?" Chloe mildly protested, though deep down she knew he was right. "I've been thinking about that, Chlo'." Clark began. "Maybe it's time that I look at the bigger picture."

"Such as?" Chloe turned onto the gravelly access road which led to the Kent farmhouse. "Lex will never give up trying to perfect the meteor freaks of Level 33.1. Even if he did, i'm sure that he'd find another way to abuse and increase his power."

"Meaning?" Chloe pressed his point as she pulled up alongside the barn. "It's time that I let go..." Clark choked on his words. "Let go of Lana, and my failed attempts to lead a so-called normal life."

"Whoa! Clark, that's heavy!" Chloe commented as she got out of her car. He joined her, as they leaned on the corral fence to watch the horses gallop and the sun set. "More to follow, i'm sure..." Chloe quipped. (See Beyond Smallville: Evolution.) 

Amazingly, Laura hadn’t felt bad about letting Clark and Chloe go. That wore off soon, though, as the boredom of early summer set in. There was only one thing to do, road trip! She thought excitedly.

What should I tell Aunt Wanda? She brainstormed. After I finish my chores, which will take me all of five minutes, I’ll just tell her the truth, she mentally joked.

 I could just see it, Aunt Wanda, I’m running off to Kansas, literally, to hook up with an older boy whom I just met, see you later! Yeah, that will work! She thought sarcastically.

 I know! I have to go on a field trip for a school project! She decided. Aces!  Laura soon zipped off towards Smallville. She found the small agricultural town with little effort.

 Before trying to track Chloe and Clark down she checked out Metropolis. Man, this is the biggest city I’ve ever seen! She thought as she strolled through Metropolis Center Park. 

Laura quickly skirted Metropolis Bay and wandered along the Mikosugee River, which led to rural Kansas and eventually emptied into the Mississippi.

After all those miles she still hadn’t broken a sweat. This Loracite stuff has staying power, she observed. Golden Hawk Casino? Laura noted. Too bad that you have to be eighteen to gamble.

She zipped past the brightly decorated gambling house, taking a moment to watch an antique paddlewheel Mississippi Riverboat slowly churn up the water as it neared the old wooden wharf. 

Time to track down my guy, Laura thought lustily. She sped back to Smallville, stopping at the only coffee house that she could find, The Talon. Not exactly a happening place, she thought wryly.

 Two suspicious looking creeps were ascending the stairs at the rear of the establishment. Laura concentrated and used her unusual vision to check the men out. Whoa! They’re both packing! She gasped. I guess it’s time to find out if I’m bulletproof!

Hmm! What if they’re cops? No, something doesn’t smell right about this, and I’m not thinking of the day old coffee grounds and stale Danishes located at the back of the Talon’s kitchen!

Laura continued to wrestle with her idea. Curiosity finally got the better of her. Only one way to find out! Laura zipped past the dark suited guys. They weren’t very subtle. The suits stood out in the crowd of blue collar and farm workers that frequented the Talon.

Her blinding speed kept anyone from watching her. Laura seemed to appear out of nowhere.  The lead goon had reached the top edge of the landing, his partner just a few stairs behind.

Laura quickly glanced at the names above the apartment’s mail slot. Chloe Sullivan and Lois Lane, Bingo! She thought excitedly. Laura pounded on the door. “Girls? Girls? We have visitors!” No reply. Laura received no response. Apparently they were out.

 She turned to face the first thug. “Can I help you gentlemen?” She asked far too sweetly. “Beat it kid!” The leader growled. “This don’t concern you!” Laura blocked his path. “Are you policemen?” She inquired casually.

 “Is that any of your business?” The second goon asked menacingly. “That doesn’t answer my question.” Laura’s smile faded as she challenged them. “Let’s see some identification, or a search warrant.” She ordered.

The first creep then made a nearly fatal mistake. He shoved his weapon into Laura’s stomach, hiding it from the remaining Talon patrons. “Here’s my I D.” He grumbled. “Now move it or lose it. I won’t ask again.”

Game On! She joked. Laura assumed an attack pose. Okay Tim, wherever you are, here’s my first real test. She thought sourly. Laura punched the lead gunman in the jaw with a devastating left cross.

The impact knocked him through the banister, off the landing, and onto the floor below, smashing an empty café table. That’s what I get for watching too many violent Saturday morning cartoons, she quipped silently. 

Two customers quickly grabbed their cell phones and dialed 911, while others rapidly left the establishment, fearing any involvement. The thug’s gun had gone off. Laura was hit square in the upper midriff above her ribcage.

She felt the bullet bounce off and fall to the ground. “Ow!” She said simply. Thankfully, the bullet hadn’t penetrated her skin. Just knowing that she felt it was a relief and a concern at the same time.

 I’ll worry about that later, she mused. Laura kicked the second gunman in the chest, and he sailed all the way into the cash register area. He never hit a stair. 

Both goons were seriously injured, mostly cuts, bruises, broken bones, and possibly concussions, yet they would live. Laura had successfully tested and measured her powers for the first time. They’d require some quality time at Smallville Medical though.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Game over! Laura smirked. Just like a good old Western movie! Time to go! Things had happened so fast, and with the super speed of her exit, Laura was confident that no one could positively identify her.

The turbo powered teen zipped past Smallville’s finest as they came in to bust the goons. Laura continued on down the street at normal speed and since Smallville hadn’t heard of the concept of an Internet Café, she had to track down Clark the old fashioned way.

The area phone number book, Laura grinned, how quaint. In moments, her super speed vision had picked out Clark’s address. She took a moment to locate the map of the surrounding area.

Since being infected by the Loracite, her memory had been enhanced. With some concentration, Laura was able to commit nearly anything to instant recall. It came in handy for all those tests in high school, she mused. 

“I’m on my way, sweetie.” Laura muttered as she sped off towards the rural farmland areas, and out of sight. In seconds, she was slowing down approaching the Kent Farm. Laura’s visual perception shift returned to normal, and the visible humidity evaporated back into the air. 

Three cows were startled by Laura’s arrival. They mooed incessantly and backed away from her. “Oh hush, you walking cheeseburgers.” She taunted the cattle.

Laura casually strolled up the stairs to Clark’s wraparound porch and knocked on the Kent’s door. “Oh Clark?” Laura called out flirtatiously. She tried the screen door and then the inner wooden door. Both were open.

 “You’ve got to love these provincial areas.” She commented to herself. Laura headed into the kitchen, and forced her superior vision to scope out the house. Hmm! No beau hunk or blonde sidekick, she thought cynically.

The barn! Laura snapped her thin fingers. She zipped back outside and entered the brightly colored red barn with matching silo. A golden brown dog barked at her intrusion, baring his sparkling white canine teeth. 

“Sssh! Sit!” The teen commanded the family pet. Shelby / Krypto reduced his aggressive posture and settled for smelling Laura from a distance. “Clark?” She called out and immediately ascended the stairs to his loft.

“Sweet!” Laura praised his décor, gathering some ideas for her own barn at home. “Laura?” Clark approached her from the shadows. “What’re you doing here?”

Laura placed her hands on her shapely hips, feigning offense. “Nice to see you too, Kent!” She mocked. “Hello? You invited me, remember? Are you deaf, or do you have male selective hearing?” Laura playfully teased.

 “I heard you.” Clark defended. He was clearly in a bad mood. “I just wanted to be sure of who you were.” Laura sidled in closer to him. “It hasn’t been that long. What, three or four weeks? Paranoid much?” She asked sarcastically.

She edged nearer to him, making Clark uncomfortable. Laura took a moment to glance over the railing at Clark’s red pickup, which had been partially covered by a large beige canvas. (See Beyond Smallville: Evolution)

“I take it you’re hiding out up here?” Laura grilled. She was far too swift for her own good, Clark observed. “What makes you say that?” He baited her.

 “Oh possibly these two goons that I ran into near Chloe’s apartment in town. Don’t worry, I decked them both and now their faces are wiping the Talon’s floor. The cops were on the way when I bolted.” Laura said proudly.

 “Whoa! You laid out two thugs?” Clark was skeptical. “Sure, I’m the super girl, remember?” Laura quipped. Clark rolled his eyes. We already have one of those around here somewhere, he thought sourly.

Laura came there seeking answers, and likely searching for truths about her future. “What are you and your sidekick into, Clark? Drugs? Gambling? Stolen freshly baked apple pies?” Laura asked facetiously.

“You have way too much imagination, Laura.” He defended, “Really? Well I didn’t imagine this.” Laura pulled up the front of her shirt baring her bruised midriff. 

Clark reddened and tried not to stare. Laura had about a three inch black and red discoloration just above her ribcage. She’d also inadvertently revealed the lower part of her white lace bra. Clark shifted uneasily.

“Those men were carrying some serious hardware.” Laura remarked.The Feds from this afternoon maybe, or Lex’s hitmen, Clark surmised. “What did they look like?” He inquired.

“Just your typical suited goons, built like brick outhouses, short cropped black hair, and a nasty temperament.” Laura joked. That sounds like our friends from the sedan all right. He concluded.

 “Wait a minute!” Clark had realized something. “They gave you that bruise?” “That’s right.” Laura boasted. “I deflected a bullet with my abs of steel.” She grinned broadly.

“They shot you point blank?” Clark asked incredulously. “Yeah, well one did. The other one took flight courtesy of my new Sketchers.” Laura lifted one foot, showing off her running shoe. 

Clark noted her long tan legs, which led up to a common pair of blue jean shorts. “You’re bulletproof?” He asked, amazed. “Apparently.” Laura smirked as she moved within an arm’s length of Clark. “I don’t know if I’ll always be so.” She added honestly.

Seventeen? Clark shook his head. Laura was a teenager with awesome power, he observed. He’d already assessed that she resembled a cross between Lana and Lois, yet she was younger and more reckless. Laura was in definite need of guidance.

She had that much in common with his youthful cousin, Kara. Clark wondered whether Laura was a gift or a curse. She wasn’t a meteor freak as far as they knew. Perhaps Laura was similar to Impulse, AC, or some new type of genetic mutation.

Clark sighed. Either way, Laura couldn’t be allowed to fall under the wrong influences. How to proceed? Clark wondered. I can’t just keep her here on the farm like I can with Kara. I guess I need more information.

“Laura, what brings you to Central Kansas?” He asked. “You do. ”Clark couldn’t have predicted that response. “It sure wasn’t the rockin’ good Smallville nightlife.” Laura joked.

 “I was bored, I wanted to go sightseeing…and I wanted to see you again.” Laura gulped as she flirted. Clark blushed. Now what do I do? He wondered silently. 

Clark was around four years her senior, not that he was looking for another romantic entanglement after the debacle with Lana. Laura was simply a headstrong turbocharged teenager.

 “Does your Aunt Wanda know that you’re here?” He interrogated. “Of course not.” Laura snorted. “Did you always tell your parents where you were going, what you were doing and whom you were doing it with?” She challenged.

“No.” Clark responded. He had to admit she had a point. Laura plopped herself comfortably onto his couch. She brushed her long straight hair behind her ears and folded her arms. Clearly she wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry.

link to chapter 3: Falcon Heart