Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

After Tim’s revelations about his theory that Laura was the subject of the mysterious writings on the walls of the Tekamah caves, she was more unnerved than ever. Was it a coincidence? Sundays were usually slow in the sleepy farming town of Falcon Claw. Most folks were either at services or resting. 

Laura continued to practice her new abilities, though she was careful to hide them from the world, including her Aunt Wanda, her next door neighbor, Mike Trent, and her only female friend, Shana Springbrook. She dared only to share her unique powers with Tim Servo. 

Laura leapt from the top of the barn, gliding easily the hundred or so yards between her and the back porch of Aunt Wanda’s ranch house. Crows scattered and squawked with the new perceived threat to their nests and food sources. Cattle watched passively from the nearby grazing land. 

After exercising her varying abilities, Laura called Tim and invited herself over to the Servo’s modest townhome on the other side of Falcon Claw. She switched into hyper speed and again the world seemed to be moving in slow motion. She dashed through acre after acre of lush farmland.

It was nearly dusk by the time Laura knocked on Tim’s door, though it only taken her a few moments to traverse the route normally an hour from Aunt Wanda’s farm by car. Tim had been a loyal friend to Laura since they began classes at Falcon Claw High School. 

“Hey Tim! Put down your PDA and answer the door!” She taunted, yelling playfully through the back door’s screen. The slim geeky teen was glad to see his unusually talented friend. He had mousy brown hair usually slicked back, dark brown eyes, and a gaunt face. 

Tim removed his thick, wire framed glasses and looked over Laura from head to toe. He promptly invited Laura inside. The sixteen year old boy genius made no secret of his infatuation with Laura, even before he found out about her unusual abilities. 

At the moment, Laura sported long fluffy brown hair, blue-green eyes, a thin face with high cheekbones, a well proportioned slim muscular frame, and was about a full head taller than Tim.

Laura had developed a chameleon-like ability to change her physical appearance. 

Over the weekend, she’d gone full circle from light brown to blonde to raven black colored hair, and only this morning had it returned to its more common dark brown hue. Her Aunt Wanda just assumed that it was some type of teen girl faze. Laura hoped that she’d keep that opinion.

It was clear that Tim had something on his immense mind, as he quickly guided Laura downstairs to the family rec-room, presumably out of his relatives’ earshot. “What’s new professor?” Laura began warily. “I checked the chemical element diagnosis program this morning and…” He started. 

Tim silenced. A door upstairs slammed shut. “And what?” Laura prompted. “I was waiting for my parents to leave… the analysis shows that the topaz yellow mineral does not exist in nature, at least not our nature.” He paused purposefully to let that sink in. “Then it is a new element!” Laura was excited. 

“Yes. It doesn’t belong…here on Earth.” Tim hedged. Laura’s mouth was agape. “It’s from outer space?” She beckoned him for further explanation. “Most likely…yes. I hypothesize that it landed on Earth over three thousand years ago. It’s logical to assume that the mineral was within the comet that created Crater Lake.”

“It mixed with Earth’s natural elements and created a new matrix.” Tim took a deep breath before continuing. “Laura…this element…if it’s within your body is unnatural.” Laura grew silent. “Hence the super charged capabilities and skills.” Tim added as he cleared his throat. 

Tim uncovered his mineral samples and Laura examined them. “It now has a translucent  topaz color.” He explained. “I removed as many impurities as I could with my limited chemistry set.” Laura picked up the gem-like rock and gazed through it with her x-ray vision. She felt the power pulse through her. 

Immediately, she shoved it back into the glass jar which had encased it. Even the jar took on a bright yellow tint. “It’s pretty.” Laura remarked, though her blood began to run cold. Tim stood stoically alongside his mutant friend. “Maybe you’d better sit down for this next story.” He urged. 

“What?” She sat down in the comfortable futon and gazed up at the teen genius. “If my theory holds true…the mineral is reorganizing your DNA.” Tim said devoid of emotion. “You mean like a poison?” Laura asked as she neared tears. “No, more like a genetic vitamin.” Tim continued. 

“To be honest with you, I’m not yet qualified to determine the risks.” He sighed. “I think that if the element has been in your system for the last ten years, and was hazardous, you’d already be dead.” Laura put her head in her hands. “There’s a cheery thought, Tim.”

“I can only speculate, but I think the mineral takes your innate abilities and boosts them, like your guitar amplifier analogy. I can call in some favors from my Aunt who works at the Biology Lab in Grandville, but I have to keep any knowledge of where it came from a secret.” 

“I’ll need a blood sample, a DNA scrape, and uh… urine sample from you.” Tim reddened. “Ew gross!” Laura yelled. “I’m not thrilled about that prospect either, my mutant friend, but it’s all in the name of Science. We dare not trust the exam to a common doctor.” 

“My fear of you becoming a lab rat would ring true.” Tim stated honestly. “I understand.” Laura took a deep breath. Her lungs seemed to suddenly hold incredible strength. Tim reached over and plucked another large brownish red hair from Laura’s head. “Ow!” She rubbed the spot. “DNA sample.” Tim joked. 

He dropped Laura’s hair follicle into a clean, unmarked test tube. “I guess I’ll have to bring the…um…required items over tomorrow.” Laura shook her head. “I also suspect that an ordinary syringe needle will not penetrate that thick skin of yours.” Tim pointed out. 

“What’re you tryin’ to say?” Laura teased. “You’ll have to take your own blood sample, needle and all.” He menaced. “No way! My Aunt Wanda already thinks I’m a nut job. That’s all I need is to have her catch me messing around with a needle. We’ll have to do without it.”

“What should we name our new mineral?” Laura swiftly changed the subject. “It’s up to you super girl. You discovered it.” Tim said, throwing his hands up in resignation. “Okay, I’ll allow myself the ego trip…let’s call it Loracite.” She decided. “Sounds like a plan.” Tim agreed. 

“Hereafter, this element shall be named Loracite, Matrix Prime.” Tim pronounced in a silly deep voice. Laura managed a snicker despite the depressing situation. “I believe that the Loracite is densely packing your DNA, like a body builder packs on muscular weight.” 

Laura listened carefully. “I think that since your DNA has likely been rearranged, you were able to survive the Motocross bike accident without a scratch, and could probably fall from a seven story building to the pavement, remaining uninjured, though I wouldn’t suggest trying that.”

“Laura, this genetic change may be irreversible.” Tim added. She absorbed the impact of the news. “Okay, then I’m a permanent freak?” Tim nodded. “Possibly, again, I’m just speculating. All of the testing may bear this out.” Tim considered.  

“There’s also the possibility that you must somehow consume the Loracite, like nourishment, to survive. My hope is that there’s a good amount of the mineral to be mined and stored.” Tim began pacing again, as he did every time that he was in significant thought. 

Laura didn’t find this change very amusing. “If not…?” She voiced the obvious. “If not, you may lose your abilities’ effectiveness…or you may die.” He replied darkly. “Terrific.” Laura grumbled.

“I don’t know, Tim.” Laura ran some scenarios through her head. “I have never ‘ingested’ the Loracite.” She reported. “I assume that I came into contact with the mineral when I was a child at the Tekamah Caves. Every time I touch the stuff, I seem to get a power boost, like a major adrenaline rush.” 

“Why doesn’t anyone else have this problem?” Laura tried not to sound petulant. “I mean the creek, and the cave spring are right there out in the open for anyone to drink, swim in, or wash in. Why aren’t there any super powered animals near the creek or any super fish within it?”

“I don’t have any answers, only questions.” Tim stated with frustration. “We also don’t know that there haven't been any cases of mutation around here. I assume that they’d keep their abilities a secret, like you are. That reminds me…feast your lovely eyes on this.” He handed her a DVD disc. 

Laura put the DVD into the laptop and called up the data. “Wow!” Laura quickly read through the major headlines on the down-loads. “Over two hundred reports of beings with ‘unusual’ or ‘supernatural’ powers, right in the middle of Kansas?” 

Tim nodded. “Kansas appears to be the epicenter. However, we have no reports of this magnitude here in Nebraska.” Laura read through some of the more unusual occurrences. “Boy starts fires with his eyes.” She said aloud. “Girl claims she can walk through walls, and transport through any solid object.” Laura glanced at Tim. 

“This is unbelievable.” Laura commented. “Are you sure these reports are credible?” Tim glanced at a few over Laura’s slim shoulder. “It’s hard to say. The Internet isn’t monitored very well for accuracy. I figure that there are enough strange reports out there, from people that couldn’t possibly know one another that something had to be going on over there.” 

“A majority of them are in central Kansas.” Laura observed. “Maybe I ought to take a run out there…or a flight.” Her big blue eyes twinkled. “A flight?” Tim echoed. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. A girl that defies gravity would raise more than a few eyebrows.”

“I mean people just don’t fly…” He added. “No kidding, Sherlock!” Laura teased. “Observe.” She made sure that Tim’s parents hadn’t returned by gazing through the walls and ceiling. Laura extended her arms outward from her side and closed her eyes in concentration. 

Within seconds, Laura floated vertically about a foot above the basement carpet. Tim’s eyes widened. She drifted to around a yard high, ducking her head beneath the ceiling tiles. She suddenly went horizontal, opened her eyes and literally flew, encircling Tim, and changing positions often.

Tim’s jaw dropped. “Holy crap!” Laura landed softly on the plush carpeting. “When did this begin, again?” He inquired. “Last week. I jumped across a ravine just to see if I could do it.” She explained. “At night, I’ve been practicing flight around Aunt Wanda’s farm.” 

“I crash landed in a meadow, and tore up a good pair of jeans, but other than that, I’m fine.” Laura continued. Tim ran his hand through his slicked back hair. “This is nuts!” Laura nodded. “Tell me about it! There goes my chance to lead a normal life, which brings me to my next point…” 

“Since I’ve presumably been infected by the Loracite, and this change may be permanent, I’ve been concealing these bizarre abilities…lying to almost everyone…and hiding like a leper.” Laura complained. “Next year, when I turn eighteen, I want to ‘come out’.” 

“You want to what?” Tim was horrified. “I want to use my powers to change the world!” She stated boldly, and repeated her answer with conviction. “Change the world…or take it over?” Tim prodded. He always seemed to know what buttons to push to aggravate her.

“Oh pu-lease!” Laura defended. “I’m not that shallow!” Tim began his lecture. “That raises all types of scenarios.” Laura resumed her seat on the futon. “Such as?” She baited. “The moral and physical ramifications are staggering.” Tim’s voice rose with alarm. “The implications are immense.” 

Laura sighed. “That’s not much of a pep talk, coach.” She commented dryly. “Laura, uneducated cultures may consider you a god!” He argued. “That would be a goddess, chief!” She snapped, adding: “I’m not religious at all. Why would I want to impersonate someone’s deity?” 

Tim started pacing back and forth. Laura wasn’t getting it. “Let’s say I went back to the caveman days, and showed some indigenous life forms a cell phone, cigarette lighter, and flashlight. The cavemen would consider me a god.” He animatedly explained. 

“They would either worship me, or attempt to kill me out of fear. So it would be with you in today’s society. Governments would want to coerce you to do their bidding or else.” Tim concluded. “Or else what?” She asked with irritation. “They can’t make me do anything that I don’t want to do.” 

“What about your friends and family?” Tim pointed out. “They can’t defend themselves against a shadow government or even our legitimate one.” Laura frowned. “I’d sue them at the very least for threatening me or my friends and family.” Tim groaned. “You just don’t grasp the concept.” 

“Let me put it another way.” Tim debated. “As an American citizen, the President of the United States instructs you to assassinate a foreign dictator, what do you do? Tell him or her to shove it?” Laura folded her arms across her ample chest. “Of course I’d say no.”

“Great. Since you don’t want to play ball, the President passes a law forbidding you to use your powers on American soil. Then what? Do you defy the law? Move to another country?” Tim challenged. “You sure know how to take the fun out of something.” Laura grumbled. 

Tim settled down and stopped pacing. “If I wanted to defy the law, who could stop me?” Laura said indignantly. “Exactly my point, anyone with power could use your friends and family as hostages against you, forcing you into doing their bidding.” 

Laura’s raven black hair suddenly changed to a reddish blonde, with bright yellow edges or streaks. Tim’s eyes widened. “What?” She narrowed her eyes. “Your countenance has changed appearance again.” Tim responded. “Swell!” Laura frowned. “I don’t even know how to dress anymore.”

Laura’s face suddenly brightened, as she sped over to the full length mirror on the door of the basement bathroom. “That’s it!” She happily raced back to the futon, scattering Tim’s research papers across the rear half of the room. “Hey now!” Tim complained. “What’s it?” 

Laura grabbed a dark blanket from the futon’s back, and wrapped it around her head and shoulders, playfully hiding her thin face from view. “Meet Gold Wing!” She exclaimed excitedly. “Huh? You want to run that by me again?” Tim was puzzled. “I’ll assume a secret identity!” She laughed. 

“Can you do it? Can you live a double life?” He questioned. “Why not? People do it all the time. Think of any good FBI agent, he or she would have to appear normal to divert suspicion. To that point, so do actors and actresses.” Laura rationalized. Tim was finally amused. 

“Or even people that cheat on their spouses or have criminal records.” He grilled. “Must you be so negative?” Laura whipped the blanket around like a bullfighter. “I’m already living a double life. I’ve chosen to hide my abilities from Aunt Wanda and almost everybody else.” 

“Laura Lake is a normal dorky teenage girl…Gold Wing is a superhero!” She stated with conviction. “Why name yourself after a motorcycle, I wonder?” Tim inquired. “Well, whatever! You get my point!” Laura countered. “You make it sound simple.” Tim argued. 

“Maybe I should think globally.” Laura brainstormed. “What if I could stop a war? How about ending starvation in Africa, and throughout the world? The possibilities seem endless.” Tim considered all that. “There’s no question that you have the drive and motivation to become a superhero.”  

“Yet you must also have power.” Tim explained. Laura felt as if her eyes were glazing over. “Tell me more, Obi Wan.” She joked. Tim smirked. “Two things make the world go ‘round. Money and influence translate to true power. You have neither.” Laura thought about that carefully.

“Okay, point taken.” Laura said. “There must be something that I can do.” Tim plopped down in a green bean bag chair across from Laura. “We don’t even know the extent of your abilities. What if you managed to involve yourself in a situation that you couldn’t get out of?” 

“Give me an example.” Laura encouraged as she deftly back-flipped over the couch and landed squarely on the floor beside Tim. “You have a hostage situation.” Tim began. “The terrorists threaten to kill one hostage an hour until their demands are met. You could do what, exactly?” 

Laura’s big bluish eyes suddenly narrowed. “I’d go barreling into the area and use my super speed to rescue the captives, then double back to take out the terrorists.” Tim rubbed his thin chin. “Good. What if they shoot two hostages before you could rescue the others? Can you live with that?” 

Laura grimaced. “Did I save, say the other eight?” Tim nodded. “Sure. Now the families of the dead hostages sue you because you didn’t save them instead. It’s a catch twenty-two. You’re a hero and a goat.” Laura wrinkled her nose. “I’ll just have to save all of them, then.” 

Tim continued the mental exercise. “What if you simply ‘took out’ the hostage takers?” Laura hopped up onto her feet again. “You mean kill them?” Tim again nodded. “Can you kill another human being, no matter how evil?” Laura sighed. 

 “You’re right. This is complicated. I shouldn’t kill them…unless they left me no choice.” Tim grinned. “Good answer. One would hope that there would always be a choice. If there’s not, you have to accept the consequences.”

Crafting a young superhero is hard work, Tim silently noted as he crossed his thin arms. “Well, what about ending wars, destroying weapons, and alleviating starvation?” Laura continued to address her new possible life. “Those are all laudable goals.” He remarked. 

“Let’s say you could zip or fly around the world gathering food for the starving wretches in Africa. Who would foot the bill? Would you play Robin Hood and take from the rich to give to the poor?” Tim grilled her. Laura appeared to be quite puzzled. “Through donations?” She guessed. 

“Maybe I could create a ‘Save the World’ website?” She joked. Tim smiled. “Intriguing. I like that idea. If you achieve celebrity status, you could always make personal appearances for charity.”

 There was no stopping Laura now. “See? Now we’re thinking outside the box.” “Hmmm! How do I stop wars?” She asked rhetorically. “You could personally invade every country and confiscate their weapons.” Tim was perplexed. “You’d have to disavow any ties to America.” Laura whistled. “Revoke my citizenship? I don’t like that idea. There must be another way.” 

“Why don’t you start small, like fighting local crime?” Tim suggested. Laura’s eyes widened. “There isn’t enough true crime in Falcon Claw to fight. It would take me all of five minutes to catch any drug dealers, thieves, perverts, gang-bangers, corrupt cops or cheating spouses.” 

Tim nodded. “That’s not exactly the best use of a superhero’s time.” He added. “There are always the natural disasters that plague the Midwest. You know, twisters, fires, floods, blizzards, the rare earthquake or the ubiquitous meteor showers.” Laura brushed her long hair away from her eyes. 

Tim gaped as Laura’s appearance frequently alternated colors. Her hair switched from raven black to canary yellow follicles, and then her pupils bounced between blue, green, and brown hues. “What?” Laura noticed his vacant stare. “That’s very unsettling.” He said wistfully. “Whatever!” She snapped her fingers. 

Suddenly Laura was all smiles again. “Which reminds me…” She flashed him a lopsided grin. “If I’m going to be a superhero with a secret identity, I’m going to need a disguise, or some kind of costume.” Tim groaned. “I hear a power shopping spree coming on!” 

“You betcha!” Laura chimed in. “I’m thinking of a nice black leather jacket, matching black leather pants, a slinky low cut blouse, black biker boots, and of course, some bling!” She added. “For geeky Laura Lake, I’ll dress normally, and maybe add those tacky cat glasses for show.”

“I’ll let you figure that part of the equation out.” Tim rolled his eyes. “We need to test your limits, though, or you’ll be one dead superhero!”

link to chapter 5