Beyond Smallville: Fan Fiction

Chapter 2: Picking up The Trail

Two months earlier, Kara had been following up on a lead from a fringe website stating that someone had found an unusual silver crystal with foreign markings on it. The collector wondered if the item held any value, no doubt hoping to sell it on E Bay.

Kara recognized the writing on the roughly octagonal object as Kryptonian. It more or less translated to ‘A Study In Environment Journal’ by Dax Ur. The rogue Kryptonian had been on Earth a long time before either Kal or Kara arrived.

From what she could discern from her hateful father, Zor EL’s notes, Kara concluded that Dax Ur was an interplanetary scout for the Kryptonian Council of Elders. He would’ve been charged with finding a suitable planet for any Kryptonian refugees that may have survived the planet’s destruction.

Kara knew that she had to meet the keeper of this crystal, and make him or her an offer to purchase it. She only hoped that it wouldn’t be too expensive. The owner’s Internet name was Christian Ahmetti, and he was located somewhere in the Middle East.

Kara sent a response E mail from Chloe’s Watchtower headquarters, formerly known as the Isis Foundation. She hadn’t told Kal what she was up to, fearing that he’d try and talk her out of it, after what had happened to her original blue crystal.

According to his website, Ahmetti was on an exploratory oil dig in Morocco, when he located the strange item. Kara quickly arranged a meeting with him. The Girl of Steel wouldn’t ever fear such a meeting, assuming that nothing on Earth aside from Kryptonite, could harm her.

Late that week, Kara literally flew into Agadir under the cover of night, and super sped to the designated coffee shop where she was to meet Ahmetti. Kara casually strolled across the plaza, decorated with hand-painted marble and ceramic tiles. All eyes were upon her.

Kara, of course stood out like a sore thumb, her long curled blonde hair blowing in the wind. Gasps, and curses followed Kara, dressed in her usual midriff bearing cropped white t-shirt, blue denim hot pants, and bright red gym shoes. Most women were covered from head to toe in the local garb. A few police officers followed her into the coffee shop.

Kara strolled over to the counter, sat down, and ordered a double espresso coffee. The server looked at her with disgust, and begrudgingly created her drink. The police officers surrounded her. Some of the locals scattered, fearing a confrontation. Kara sipped her coffee, and waited for them to speak.

"You are American, no?" The first officer asked. "Yes. Why?" Kara refused to make eye contact with either of them. "Americans are not well liked here." The second officer added. "Not my problem." Kara said gruffly, steadily sipping her coffee. "I’m not looking for any trouble."

"Yet, trouble you have found…" The third officer threatened. "We have rules about women…" The second official began. Kara ignored them, and took another swig. "Are you deaf?" The first officer challenged, putting one hand on her shoulder. Kara slowly put down her drink.

She faced the officer that touched her. "I’d move my hand if I were you." Kara menaced. "You have a poor attitude." The second official commented, as he removed his Billy club, and slapped his other hand with it. "Perhaps it should be changed." The other growled, taking out his club.

"Trust me, you don’t want to do this." Kara hissed as her eyes flared red. She’d rather not have called any attention to herself, fearing that it would scare Ahmetti away. They still had about a half an hour before they were due to meet, if her watch was correct. Plenty of time…Kara smirked, putting down her coffee.

She swirled on the wooden counter seat facing the roguish police. Kara grabbed two men by their throats and physically tossed them through the nearest wall, and out into the marketplace plaza, startling a number of patrons, who cursed and ran away from the tumbling officers.

The server behind the counter dropped what he was doing and scurried into the backroom. A few of the coffee shop customers froze in place, unsure of what to do next. The last officer lunged at Kara, and she deftly tossed him out a window. She brushed her hands off on her denim shorts, and reseated herself to finish the coffee.

Two more customers scattered into the street shortly thereafter. Kara sighed. Its never easy, she mentally fumed. The policemen were still knocked out in the plaza as Ahmetti warily entered the coffee shop. "Miss Kent?" Ahmetti asked as he approached her curiously.

Kara stood, coffee in hand, and replied. "Yes? Mr. Ahmetti?" He nodded, and waved her over to one of the recently vacated tables. "Join me?" The older man offered. Ahmetti was about thirty-five, tall and stocky, with curled black hair, black colored eyes, and he sported a bushy black moustache. In his hand was a cardboard box, which presumably contained the alien journal.

Kara took a seat opposite him, as his eyes followed her all the way down. "What happened here?" He gestured towards the ruined wooden and stucco wall. Kara shrugged. "Some rowdy customers got thrown out of the shop." She smirked as she downplayed the incident. "Is that the item?" Ahmetti nodded. "Yes."

"Is it still for sale?" Kara inquired without any further explanation. "Certainly." Ahmetti flashed a toothy grin. "Do you know what it is, or what the value might be?" He toyed with her. "I’m not sure without examining it closely." Kara evaded as Chloe had taught her.

Ahmetti opened the box, and the silver gray crystal with the Kryptonian inscriptions on it glowed slightly. "It has never done that before." Ahmetti gawked. "Its probably just the light reflecting off the frame." Kara lied convincingly as she’d heard Clark do frequently.

"It has some value, then?" Ahmetti fished. "What do you think is a fair price?" Kara got down to business swiftly as she feared more interference from the local authorities. "I’m not sure. I’ve never seen anything like it." Ahmetti dodged. "I have one at home." Kara lied, "Though the coloring is different. I paid a good forty dollars for it."

"Really?" Ahmetti was still skeptical. Why would an American girl come all the way to Morocco for a forty-dollar souvenir? He silently mused. "What is it?" Ahmetti probed. "It’s…a bookend, very unusual. It’s probably quite a few years old." Kara continued to lie.

"A bookend?" Ahmetti tried not to scoff. "Sure. My family had a few of them." Kara added another layer to her story. "We even have a matching paperweight on my desk at home." Ahmetti was still silently pondering Kara’s fabrication. The teen alien beauty was starting to lose her patience. She considered simply taking the crystal from Ahmetti and leaving.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper returned and cursed loudly at the sight of his damaged wall. "This one! She is a demon!" The manager hollered at Kara. "What’s that about?" Ahmetti was pokerfaced. "Apparently, I don’t make a very good first impression?" Kara blunted.

"Mr. Ahmetti, what do you think is a fair price for the bookend?" Kara forced a deadly calm to her voice. "Give me a figure." Ahmetti challenged. "Fifty Dollars – American." Kara put out there. Ahmetti was silent, again weighing his options. "One hundred- American." He countered. Kara knew that she was expected to bargain. "Seventy-five- American." She offered.

"Seventy Eight-American." Ahmetti upped her bid. "Very well. Seventy Eight – American." Kara reached into her denim shorts pocket and pulled out four twenties, placing them on the table. "Sold!" Ahmetti gave in, and handed her the box with the crystal in it. "Thank you." Kara speedily grabbed the box, shook Ahmetti’s hand, and stood up.

Outside, the police had finally arrived with reinforcements. They piled into the coffee shop through the front door, window, and the damaged wall. Ahmetti calmly sat back in his chair, expecting to either be hauled in for questioning, or watch Kara getting arrested. He already had her money.

He was surprised as Kara bolted towards the first few officers, elbowing, kicking, and shoving them out of her way. The teen alien tore through the last few officers like a football running back devastating an opposing team’s defense.

The shopkeeper cursed loudly as the officials flew into tables, chairs, and souvenir display racks. Ahmetti took advantage of the confusion to slip past the guards posted near a side exit door. Kara vaulted atop a nearby two-story building, holding the prize under her arm like a football.

She scurried towards the rear of the rooftop, and glanced around quickly, taking for the skies. The melee below soon silenced as Kara flew into the desert’s moonlit night sky. The silvery shadows played across the dunes, as she avoided most populated areas, flying beneath any possible radar facilities. Kara felt pleased with the outcome, as she soared across the ocean towards home.

Ahmetti doubled his pace as he left the confused authorities to sort out what had happened. He wandered away from the area closing in on the resort hotel district. He settled for a seat in an outdoor café. Tourists hustled past, as Ahmetti flipped on his cell phone.

"Miss Mercer?" The informant began. "I have sold the item to a young girl named Kent." Tess frowned as she wiped the workout sweat from her brow. "Kent? Are you sure?" She questioned. "Can you describe her?" Tess double-checked his story. Ahmetti went into detail.

"Kara, you say?" Tess challenged. "Thank you, Mr. Ahmetti. The payment will be in your account in the usual quantities." Tess hung up. Another one? Or perhaps someone working with Clark? She mused. This raises all kinds of new possibilities, she thought, smirking wryly.

chapter 3