Title: The Trembling World

Author: ShimmyGloss

Cover: #6 the one with handcuffs

Rating: NC-17, no warnings

Word Count: 7,421

shimmygloss@vleonard.com

Lex Luther stood on the beach, and took a deep breath. He raised his arms, and felt his feet leave the warm, white sand. He looked down, and saw the ocean spread out before him.

"Lex Luthor, you are such a geek," he thought.

He really should have been preparing his speech. Instead, he was playing, yes playing, in his holodeck prototype. He flew over the island, engrossed in the illusion. The reality, that he was suspended in harnesses controlled by computers in a room in Metropolis, could barely find a way into his brain. It was that good.

In his joy, he did a quick turn in the air. Damn, that annoying flicker. The servers simply couldn't handle the rendering at that speed. Well, he had another hundred processors on order. He could solve the problem. Eventually, he would even be able to populate his world.

He flew through the tropical jungle. The island was not exactly like the one on which he had been shipwrecked. This one had a cottage on the beach, any resemblance between it and the Kent farmhouse being completely coincidental. Also, Clark would someday show up to rescue him from this island, and Lex would welcome him into the yellow cottage. There, they would live, whenever Lex could pull himself away from work.

The bedroom was all ready for them, and --

There was a vibration at his right hip. The forces that generated the holodeck interfered with Blackberry communications, but Mercy had found a way of getting through by bouncing the signal off something somewhere near the North Pole. He hadn't had a chance to ask her about it.

"What do you have for me, Mercy?"

"Trouble, boss."

Well, why should today be any different? "Mercy, you could find trouble in pocket lint."

"Sometimes the lint is out to get you, boss."

Lex didn't dare laugh. He knew she was serious.

"I'll be right there," he said soberly, and ended the call. Playtime was over.

He pulled the control box from his pocket, and turned off the island. He disentangled himself from the harnesses, and glanced wistfully at the second set. He could bring a second person in. But would it ever be the right person?

*****

Superman was fuming. Other people might have to contend with a control freak father. Why did he have to get two? He walked into the Fortress of Solitude, prepared for a fight.

"Jor-El!"

"My son, you have come."

"You didn't leave me any choice!"

"Stop whining, Kal-El. You are not fulfilling your destiny."

"I'm doing something very worthwhile with my life. I help people," he said with the air of one who has had this conversation too many times.

"You could help them much more as their ruler, Kal-El."

"Not interested."

"You must make alliances, and plans."

The thought bored Clark so much that he had to sit down. "Really, really not interested."

"This planet is not without problems. Its survival is not ensured."

"That's true, but--"

"You must understand the destruction of our, your, planet."

"It blew up. I know," sulked Clark.

"And do you think it can't happen here, my son?"

"There are bigger problems here than the planet spontaneously exploding."

"I need to show you the truth about our planet. It is necessary."

"Fine. I'm here. Show me."

Jor-El ignored the pouting. "Not here. In the holodeck."

"In the what?" asked Clark suspiciously.

*****

"Senator, what does the committee want from me?" Lex directed these words at the aging, but elegant, gentleman sitting across from him in LexCorp headquarters. He wasn't quite a friend, but they had known each other for some years, and they were more comfortable with each other than they looked.

"Only proof of concept, Mr. Luthor."

"Come with me now, and see the prototype for yourself."

"I'm not a young man, to go walking into experimental technology."

"Any person the committee chooses, then."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Luthor," said the senator, getting up to leave. "I'll find someone."

*****

Fast though he was, Clark Kent was late for work. The young man was just outside the Daily Planet. He wore a very good suit, but still managed to look like somebody's flunky. Clark hadn't seen him before.

"Mr. Kent."

"Yes?"

"I'd like to offer you some free-lance work."

"I have a job."

"What I'm offering pays a lot of money."

"I don't do things that pay a lot of money."

"Not even for the United States Senate?"

"And why would the Senate want me?"

"They need a witness to write a report. A reliable witness."

"A report about what?"

"A new LexCorp project."

Clark's smile was almost feral. "You know, I might be interested after all."

*****

The senator was not alone when he walked into Lex's office. "Mr. Luthor, may I introduce--"

"Yes, thank you, Senator, we have met. Mr. Kent."

"Mr. Luthor."

"Small world," said the senator. "I'll leave you to it, then. I very much look forward to your report, Mr. Kent." He turned to Lex. "I'll see myself out."

Once alone with Lex, Clark found that he couldn't find anything to say. Or rather, his mind was racing with possibilities, none of them quite right. Lex also seemed on the verge of saying something, without being able to figure out exactly what. After an awkward silence, they retreated into formality.

"Come along, Mr. Kent, and I'll give you the tour," said Lex. He led the way to his private elevator. Lex did not press any of the floor buttons, but instead inserted a key into a slot and turned it.

The elevator went down. The doors opened on a floor that, as far as Clark could tell, was deserted. Lex led them past several closed rooms. Clark's senses picked up the sounds of computer equipment behind each door. Lex opened the last door, and they went in.

Clark looked at the room, and thought that he'd seen more interesting projects at the Smallville science fair. Two sets of harnesses attached to pulleys hung from rails near the ceiling, and a coat rack stood in the corner, but otherwise, the room was empty.

"You'll be more comfortable without your jacket, Mr. Kent," said Lex, taking off his jacket and hanging it up. Clark pulled off his jacket and threw it over the hook.

Lex walked over to a harness, and indicated that Clark should follow.

"Put this around you," he said, pulling the harness around Clark.

"Is this really necessary?"

"It's part of the project. Do you want to see it, or not?"

Clark allowed himself to be strapped in, and then watched as Lex strapped himself in. They looked like puppets on an empty stage. Lex pulled the control box out of his pocket, and adjusted the controls. He selected the Smallville location.

*****

They were lying on the ground outside a ruined stone building, which was overgrown with plant life.

"What have you done?" yelled Lex, looking around in utter confusion.

"I didn't do anything," said Clark, noticing the Kryptonian writing on nearby stones. He was suddenly feeling weak.

"This location is not in the database. I don't even know where we are."

"Maybe it's a malfunction," tried Clark. He really was feeling weak.

"This--" started Lex. His expansive gesture was stopped short by the fact that he was handcuffed to Clark. "What--?" With his free hand, Lex fished into his pocket. "And what have you done with the control box?"

His cell phone was there, at least. But Lex could not get a signal. Whatever Mercy did to call him, she wasn't doing it just then.

"These inscriptions," said Lex, his curiosity getting the better of him. "They're like the ones in those caves near Smallville."

"You're right," said Clark, his heart full of foreboding.

Clark looked more closely at the handcuffs. The bracelet around his wrist contained kryptonite, though the one around Lex's wrist did not. Around his other wrist, Clark had another bracelet completely ringed with kryptonite. He couldn't escape from whatever Jor-El had planned. And knowing Jor-El, it was going to be a very long day.

*****

Clark couldn't remember his home planet. To be walking around on it was a dream of home come true. But to be walking around on it handcuffed to Lex was beyond disconcerting. He never would have thought that coming home could be so awkward.

Lex's curiosity had given way to wonder. The plants were completely unknown to him, and the inscriptions on the fallen rocks were the most extensive he had ever seen. He looked all around, trying to take it all in.

Lex turned his head as fast as he could. No flicker. The illusion was perfect, even with a second person. Sadly, he had not created this. But damn, it was good.

They walked, lost in their private thoughts, not willing to share them. Then, an earthquake hit. They nearly fell, instinctively reaching out to each other for support. Embarrassed, they pulled away.

"Let's go up there," suggested Clark, indicating a clearing on a rise.

They walked up to higher ground, looking for a better view of their surroundings. The late afternoon sky was very clear. Even so, the sunlight seemed weak, and a fresh breeze promised cooler weather. Then, in the distance, they saw a great city, seemingly made of crystal.

Lex took a deep breath. "Mr. Kent, where are we?" he said, in the calm and quiet voice that caused the stock of competitors to plummet.

Clark's first thought was to curse Jor-El for blowing his cover. He thought furiously for several seconds, trying to come up with some lie that would sound even vaguely plausible. The silence stretched out uncomfortably. Finally, he gave up.

"I think this is my home world."

"You think this is where?" Lex was calmness itself.

"Krypton. My home world." He felt surprisingly peaceful as he said it.

"Why did you bring us here?"

The accusation broke the spell. "I didn't! Why would I bring you here?!"

"What are the odds that I did?!"

"It's your project! I never saw it before today!"

"Somebody is behind this! Tell me you don't know who!"

Another long, uncomfortable silence followed. "It was the AI!" blurted Clark, unsure how to play this anymore. Jor-El would just have to find some way to erase Lex's memory later.

"An artificial intelligence?"

"Jor-El," nodded Clark. He was quite calm now that he had decided that Jor-El would fix it all later.

"That's the AI's name?"

"Well, it was my father's name."

"Your alien father."

"Yes, he programmed the AI, and it talks in his voice, so I call it Jor-El."

"Great. So, why did this AI bring us here?"

"It wanted to show me the destruction of my planet."

"Destruction?! How does it get destroyed?"

"I-it explodes. I think. I wasn't really paying attention."

Lex Luthor fuming was an intimidating force, and not even Clark was completely immune. Fortunately for him, Lex was also focusing on finding a viable course of action. Unfortunately, none was occurring to him.

"We should go to the city," said Clark. "There will at least be people there."

"Who may or may not be on our side," responded Lex, indicating the handcuffs.

They both noticed Lex's use of the words 'our side,' though neither one said anything. In fact, Lex started walking toward the city just to avoid thinking about it.

They were on a deserted road that ran towards the crystal city. The ruins, mostly private houses by the look of them, ran alongside it. In the opposite direction, the road continued to the horizon.

Still, the city was not close. Lex calculated that they would not get there before nightfall. As the evening wore on, it got harder for the two men to ignore each other.

"What is this city, Mr. Kent?"

"I don't know. I was a baby when my parents sent me to Earth."

An earthquake had completely cracked the road at this point, and they had to climb down into the soft earth and back up on the other side.

"Why didn't they go with you?"

"There was only room in the ship for me and the AI."

"So they sent you to another planet by yourself?"

"The AI took good care of me."

"This would be the same AI that's now stranded you at your planet's destruction." Lex picked up a rock and threw it.

"It has its annoying side."

"Not to say psychotic. You'd have my sympathies, Mr. Kent, if I weren't here with you."

Clark could stand it no longer. He and Lex had been friends, long ago. In fact, Clark had secretly had a massive crush on his worldly friend. But a lot had happened between them since then, most of it bad.

Somehow, they'd wound up as enemies, and Clark had long thought himself to be completely over Lex Luthor. Now, here was Lex, ambling along in his cool and confident way, his strong shoulders moving with an easy sensuality, handling inscribed rocks with gestures that should be illegal, even wearing the same scent that had once driven a younger Clark to distraction and was having the same effect now, and it just wasn't fair. Now Clark felt a need to salvage something that he had, without knowing how, lost.

"Lex," he said. Lex looked up sharply. "Call me Clark. Please."

"Clark." A ghost of a smile, or perhaps something sadder, passed over Lex's face. "Just like old times."

"May I call you Lex?"

"For the time being."

Another earthquake hit, even worse than then earlier one. They were on the ground, holding onto each other, before it was over. Lex was in turmoil. He had come to see Clark as an enemy, but once he had been a friend. Secretly, Lex had loved and wanted Clark so much that he could hardly sleep.

Now here he was, feeling Clark's muscles through warm cotton fabric, looking into frightened blue eyes, and suddenly knowing that he hadn't moved on at all, because just like that, he wanted to do whatever it took to earn Clark's love, and well frankly, his desire.

"Yes, Clark. Call me Lex. I don't want to die with an enemy."

"Why do you say 'die'? Aren't we in your holodeck?"

They got up and continued walking.

"I'm not sure, Clark. My technology is nowhere near this good."

"The AI might be responsible for that."

"Even if we are in the holodeck, we're in trouble."

"Why?"

"I don't have the control box. We have no real food or water, and no way out."

"So what do we do?"

"Night is falling. We won't reach the city tonight. We should find shelter."

They looked around. The houses had all either fallen in on themselves, or looked ready to. A faint light shone a short distance ahead of them.

"What's that glow, Lex?"

"Are you really asking me? Let's go look."

The glow turned out to be crystals. They hung in what had once been an elaborately landscaped garden. Now, the plants were unkempt and overgrown, and the fountain was dry and full of debris. The crystals shed a pale, cool light over the scene. A small building sat well back from the road.

"Let's look in the gardener's shed," said Lex. "We may find something to break these handcuffs."

Clark opened the door, and stopped.

"It's not a shed, Lex."

The building housed the top of a staircase. Crystals lit the way down. After exchanging a look, they went down into a warren of crystal rooms, comfortably furnished in a style resembling classical Greek.

One of the rooms was clearly the kitchen, containing things that looked edible. It had been a tiring, journey. They were both hungry.

"Do you think the owner might come back?" asked Clark.

"Anyone who gives up windows for a garden wouldn't let the garden get into that state."

"You're not going to insist on using dishes, are you?"

They found a wide assortment of food, mostly tending toward the very, very, bland, and they ate and felt full, but Lex knew that it would do nothing to keep them from starving.

"Stay here tonight, you think, Lex?"

"It's the best place we've seen. But why are these houses deserted?"

"Maybe the city is safer when the earthquakes come."

"Which suggests that the earth didn't quake when these houses were built."

Their explorations had led them to a large bedroom, with a comfortable looking bed that could comfortably sleep four. "Don't worry about it, Lex. We'll find out tomorrow."

"I guess," said Lex, worrying about it. "Do you sleep face up or face down?"

"Face up."

"Hm. I sleep face down. Let me see how we can do this."

They managed to get settled in the bed, though they didn't figure out how to turn off the glowing crystals. Then, another earthquake hit. The thought of the ground above falling in on them threatened to keep them both awake all night. Another thing that threatened to keep Lex up all night was the horrible turn his friendship with Clark had taken. He had never figured out exactly what went wrong.

"Why didn't you ever tell me, Clark?"

"I didn't think I could trust you."

"What did I do to make you think that, Clark?"

"Nothing, Lex. I just learned to see you through other people's eyes."

Something else was on Lex's mind. "And did you ever figure out how I felt about you?"

"Actually, I was never sure if I was just projecting."

"Projecting what?"

"You know, Lex, ..." said Clark, suddenly a shy 15-year-old again. "Stuff."

"You weren't projecting, Clark."

"Then why didn't you tell me, Lex?"

"Two reasons. One, you were underage."

"No longer a problem."

"Two, I didn't trust you, either."

"Why not?"

"I saw those people watching me through your eyes, Clark."

"I'm sorry. Can you now? Trust me?"

"That depends. Do you still love me?"

In answer, Clark pulled Lex close, and kissed him gently.

Something inside Lex shattered. "I trust you, Clark."

That was all Lex was able to say, because Clark kissed him again, and this time he was kissing for keeps. All of his need for Lex exploded out from wherever it had lain dormant, and he pushed Lex's lips wide open, needing to claim Lex's mouth with his tongue. He'd picked up some experience since his high school days, and it was all for this moment. He knew that now.

Lex allowed this for a few minutes, luxuriating in being truly wanted as he wanted, and letting his own feelings out of the cold darkness they had inhabited for so long. Then he started his own exploration of Clark's mouth. Clark, emboldened, rolled over on top of Lex, which was awkward because the handcuffs got in the way. He rubbed himself on Lex, who squirmed, and arched, and moaned under him, his eyes closed in ecstasy.

Lex reached for the top button on Clark's shirt. Panicking, Clark grabbed his hand. What had he done? What was he thinking? He had kissed Lex, and gotten carried away, and now Lex was two buttons away from seeing the Superman outfit under his shirt! He couldn't let Lex see that. Could he?

Lex puzzled eyes met Clark's panicked ones. "I-I'm sorry, Clark. I thought..."

"No, it's all right. It's just that..." What could he possibly say? Damn Jor-el for putting him into this situation. This was all happening too fast.

"What's wrong, Clark? Do you want me to...?"

"Lex, I-I've got something on under my shirt."

"A Winnie-the-Pooh undershirt? What? Who cares?"

"No. Another outfit."

Lex let go of the shirt. His face got thoughtful. Clark could see the gears turning, as he let go of Lex's hand.

"You're Superman."

"You knew?"

Lex removed Clark's glasses. "I memorized your eyes long before you put these on."

Lex rolled them over so that he could straddle Clark. Clark held his breath, almost trembling, as Lex unbuttoned the shirt, and exposed the Superman outfit.

Lex looked at Clark quizzically. "So, why haven't you broken the handcuffs?"

"The AI's blocked my powers."

"When you're ready to blast the stupid thing, let me help."

"Thanks, Lex. I may take you up on that."

Lex ran his hands over the fabric. "Wow," he said. "It does come off, right?"

Clark laughed, with a freedom that he had not felt for too long. "For you, yes Lex, it comes off."

Lex pulled the shirt off Clark, at least as far as the handcuffs would allow, leaving the Superman suit on for the moment. Clark next lifted his feet, so that Lex could remove his shoes and socks. Inside his shoes and socks, Superman wore thin red boots. Too weird, but in a strangely hot way.

Lex then opened the belt, and the button, using a massage-like motion that caught Clark's attention. It caught his attention even more when Lex used the same technique pulling down the zipper. His hips came off the bed, and Lex deftly pulled his pants off. Clark was now lying in the bed, wearing only the Superman suit.

Lex took his time, looking at it, running his hands over all of it, and figuring out how to take it off. The fabric turned out to be far, far stretchier than anything Lex had seen before. The suit was designed to be taken off in one piece.

He peeled it off slowly, tugging on the neckline to expose Clark's arms and chest, kissing Clark's flawless skin as he exposed it. Clark arched his neck and accepted Lex's sensual worship. He pulled Clark's free arm out of the garment, but the handcuffs held the other sleeve. He would have to get Clark's whole body out through the neckline. Would it stretch that far?

He pulled gently, and carefully, but nothing ripped, and he got the suit open all the way past Clark's ass, and then Clark's legs were free, and Lex's eyes could finally see what his mind had imagined so many times. Clark's uncut cock stood straining toward Lex, and he bent to bring it into his mouth, but instead found himself on his back, a naked superhero kneeling over him, and undressing him. Lex kicked off his shoes to help.

Lex wore absolutely nothing under his shirt. That single layer of silk was all that stood between him and the world, which Clark, who had always hidden behind layers of clothing, found incredibly hot. His hands suddenly seemed too big, and he almost tore the fabric in his excitement as he pulled off the offending shirt.

What was even hotter was that under his pants, Lex was also wearing absolutely nothing. Socks were his only concession to the concept of undergarments. Clark ran his hands over Lex's slender body, feeling all of the smooth skin. The only hair on Lex's body formed a reddish, fuzzy halo around his erect cock.

Clark licked the head gently. Then he kissed his way up Lex's body until he got to his mouth. Lex wrapped his legs around Clark's hips and pulled him closer, pulling the covers over them in a smooth motion. They moved together in sensual swirling movements.

Clark unlocked his lips from Lex's, and murmured: "Lex, we need..."

"I've got condoms in my wallet."

"That's what you pack for a visit to strange planet?"

"You're hardly in a position to knock it, Clark."

"Lube?"

"That I don't have."

"Why don't you get the lubed condoms?" asked Clark, glad for once to be able to hold his own in a conversation about sex with Lex.

"I do. It comes off by the time I get them on."

Clark decided to let that pass. "There might be something in the bathroom we can use."

They flung off the covers, and hurried to the bathroom.

"How about this one?" asked Lex, opening a container at random.

"Yuck, that smell!"

"How about this?"

"It's got grainy bits in it."

"Well, there's this."

"It's pink."

"You've got a problem with pink?"

"Suppose it's some medication that causes mutations, or hives, or something."

"We could not use anything."

"Pink it is."

They took the pink stuff back to the bedroom with them.

"Top or bottom, Clark? Shall we flip for it?"

"Well," said Clark, "You see, I--"

"Stop," said Lex, "I'm bottom."

He took a condom out of his wallet. Pulling it out of the package, he popped it into his mouth. Then he kissed his way down the front of Clark's body until he knelt in front of Clark.

He took Clark's balls in his hands and started fondling them gently. He wrapped his lips around the head of Clark's cock. Clark gasped and threw his head back. He pushed into Lex's indulgent mouth. All the blood in his body suddenly wanted to be in Lex's mouth.

Lex licked the underside of Clark's cock. One side and then the other. Clark's cock grew in Lex's mouth, and Lex opened his mouth more and relaxed his throat, and licked the frenulum, and smiled as Clark bucked in his mouth.

He reached between Clark's legs, nudging them apart, then pushed his thumb against Clark's hole. Clark's next thrust nearly knocked Lex off balance. Clark grabbed Lex's head, and fucked his mouth hard and fast.

When Clark was as hard as he could get, Lex started pushing the condom on with his tongue. Clark was vaguely aware that Lex was doing so, but couldn't bring himself to much care. His knees were close to buckling, and keeping his balance as his thrusts got faster and faster was about all he could manage.

Then, Clark pulled out of Lex's mouth. Lex looked up into the pure lust in Clark's eyes.

"Lex...let me...let me..." He was beyond getting any more words out.

But Lex understood. Since they were handcuffed, he would have to be on his back. He lay back on the bed and pulled his legs up, offering himself up to Clark. Clark knelt on the bed, and stuck his finger into the container of pink goop.

"Ah!" gasped Lex, as Clark's pink-goop-covered finger pressed against his hole.

"Hurt?"

"Cold."

"Sorry," said Clark, belatedly heating the goop with his hands. Lust and shy smile and naked was a very good look on Clark, which Lex had long suspected. Lex wished he'd had a chance to see it sooner.

He let his feet dangle over Clark's shoulders, and smiled back. Clark's finger slid in easily. Two fingers did too. Three was a bit of a challenge, since Lex had not done this in a while. But he soon felt himself opening up for Clark.

Then, just before Lex was completely ready, Clark removed his fingers. He couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed his cock with his hand, covered his cock with more goop, and positioned it against Lex's hole. Then he pushed against the resistance of Lex's tender flesh. Slowly, he entered his fantasy. Then he stopped, closed his eyes, and savored the moment.

"Good?" asked Clark, his voice suddenly gone very low and raspy.

"Yeah." Lex's knees were on his chest, and he grabbed handfuls of the sheet as he struggled to absorb the pressure of the reaming he was getting. But it felt good this way, almost like it was his first time, and he had waited so very long for this, and as Clark pumped his ass, and Lex loosened up, it felt oh, so much better. He soon lost all awareness of his life outside this moment, and with that, came happiness. With a ragged breath, Lex let his head fall back, and let go of the sheet.

Clark grabbed Lex's hard cock, and heard Lex gasp as he slid his hand up and down the shaft, faster and faster. He felt his lover squirm under him, and it was like he had his powers back, and he could do anything. All discomfort from the Kryptonite forgotten, he slammed into Lex harder and harder.

Lex grabbed Clark's head and pulled himself up to kiss him. It was a rough, awkward, and somewhat uncomfortable kiss, but Lex held them together, and would not let go, while they were both sweating and breathing hard into each other's mouths, or even as his come spilled over him, and Clark arched, and shuddered, and made low, guttural sounds in Lex's mouth.

Finally they stilled. Clark tried to move, but Lex stopped him. "Stay, Clark." Lex lowered his legs, and Clark lay over his lover, and they took long, relaxed breaths, and enjoyed the moment. Clark intended to move soon, since he did not want to risk crushing Lex with his weight.

A few minutes later, another earthquake hit, but they were both asleep.

*****

The next day, they set off for the city again. They held hands, and moved together more easily through the ruins.

"Clark, what does this say?"

Lex was indicating words on the handcuffs that Clark had not previously noticed.

"This one on your side says 'Gar-Wen.'" The one on my side says 'Ton-Dal.'"

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know the words. They may be names."

They had not gone far when they heard a voice.

"Gar-Wen. Over here." A figure was waving them over from behind a broken column. Exchanging a "what-the-hell" look, Clark and Lex walked over to him.

"The planet's dying, you're an escaped convict, and you stroll around with your friend like tourists on holiday," said the figure, who turned out to be a tall, athletic, older man with blond hair. "Come on. Everybody's waiting."

He led them off the road, and down a slight slope, which opened into a bunker that faced away from both the road and the city. The 'everybody' turned out to be a group of about forty people seated around a table looking at sheets of what Lex took to be schematics, and another group working on a crystal cube about 8 feet on a side. Everyone turned as they walked in.

Lex got a warm welcome. Everyone called him 'Gar-Wen' and acted as though they'd known him for years.

"Who is this, Gar-Wen?" asked one of the group.

"This is - um - Ton-Dal," answered Lex. "He's a friend."

"Welcome, Ton-Dal," said the blond man. "Are you with us?"

"I'm certainly interested," improvised Clark. "L - Gar-Wen is very persuasive."

"The Merka Device is this planet's only hope, Ton-Dal," said the blond man. "We'll show it to you. But first, Fo. Would you do the honors?"

A slight youth came out of the crowd and inspected the handcuffs.

"Nasty," he said. "They're primed to explode."

"Can you remove them?" asked the blond man.

"No," answered Fo. "I can only separate them."

He pulled a package out of a pocket. He opened it and selected a crystal from the case. Then he put it back and selected another. After a moment's hesitation, he put it back and pulled the first one out again.

"Is this safe?" asked the blond man.

Fo did not reply. Everyone flinched as Fo held the crystal to a certain point in the chain connecting Clark and Lex. A link broke. They were no longer stuck together. Everyone ignored the collective sigh of relief.

The blond man took Lex and Clark over to the crystal cube.

"It's not ready, Gar-Wen. I'd like to discuss some problems with you."

"Of course," said Lex easily. "Show me what you have working."

Clark fell asleep at about paragraph three of the lecture. He awoke some time later.

"The force is only squared here," Lex was saying. "That's not enough."

Clark focused in on the steaming bowl that Lex was holding as he and the blond man studied the papers on the table. His mouth was watering almost instantly, but by then a similar bowl had come into his field of vision very close up. Clark looked up into the face of a thin, dark-haired woman, about his age.

"Che's lectures put everyone to sleep," she said with a smile. "Have some food, Ton-Dal."

"Thank you," said Clark, taking the bowl from her hands. She left him alone to savor the hot, bland strands in the bowl, and went back to whatever she had been doing.

As Clark ate, an idea came into his head. Lex, ignoring his own bedraggled appearance, was completely in his managerial element. His attention would be absorbed for hours. Clark could go to the city by himself, and look for his parents. He could meet them at last! His heart leapt at the prospect.

Except, that he didn't know where they were. And of course, they wouldn't know him. They would probably throw a net over him if he claimed to be their son. Okay, so it was a fool's errand, but he had time and no previous commitments, and it was his fool's errand.

Everybody in the bunker was busy doing something. He got up and stood by the door, waiting to see if anyone said anything. No one did. He strolled casually out of the bunker, and back to the road.

*****

The road was in much better repair closer to the city, and Clark made excellent time. Toward the end, he left the road to better hide himself. Lex was right. He might be subject to arrest on sight.

Clark found a minor entrance that seemed to be unguarded, and entered the city. He was vigilant for signs of life, but he saw no one. The only things in the atrium, as such he took it to be, were a couple of crystal benches and a giant screen.

On the screen, were giant versions of his face, and Lex's. A voiceover indicated that this was a Kryptonian news broadcast. It was only then that he realized, to his surprise, that Lex had communicated with people who never heard of the English language.

"...the astonishing escape of the most dangerous criminal, Gar-Wen, of the infamous Merka Faction. Councilor Da-Wen is with us now. Councilor."

An imposing, no-nonsense, face appeared on the screen. The man was red-haired, though greying.

"I plead with my misguided kinsman," said he, in a stern and commanding voice, "to turn himself in to the authorities immediately. The Merka Device is not necessary. The planet is in no danger. These earthquakes will pass in time. There is no cause for concern. Gar, if you can hear me, give up this fruitless endeavor."

"Thank you Councilor," said the broadcaster. "But some believe that the threat is credible. Let us hear now from Councilor Jor-El."

Clark's heart skipped a beat as his father's features appeared on the screen. It was like watching an older version of himself, wearing an ornate robe. Clark listened, spellbound. His father had a voice that resounded with conviction and strength, and unlike the AI, he didn't sound like he was talking in a cave.

"The threat is real," he said. "The planet is breaking apart beneath our feet!"

"Do you still maintain that we must leave the planet, Councilor?"

"Yes. Leaving is our only hope. The Merka Device will only succeed in destroying life."

Another tremor shook the city. The broadcaster gamely carried on. "You haven't denounced the Merka Device before, Councilor."

"Our intelligence reports suggested that it would be ineffectual. But the criminal Gar-Wen can make it work. He must not be allowed to rejoin the Merka Faction."

"What is the Council doing about the Merka Device, Councilor?"

"The Merka Faction is declared outlaw. A reward is offered for Gar-Wen's capture."

"Members of the faction will be afraid to come forward, Councilor."

"Clemency is offered to any who surrender voluntarily."

"What can you tell us about the Merka Device, Councilor?"

"It will use the planet's magnetic field to diffuse the force of the tremors."

"And what danger do you see, Councilor?"

"The magnetic field will fluctuate, and the planet will spin off its axis."

"And what effects will we experience, Councilor?"

"Catastrophic climate changes. All life on Krypton will die."

As if to punctuate his words, another earthquake struck at that moment.

Clark listened in horror. "I've got to stop Lex," he thought, and ran back to the road.

*****

The latest earthquakes had buckled a huge section of the road. The way back was much harder. Without his powers, Clark found himself sweating, and his heart racing.

Night had fallen by the time he reached the bunker, only to find that it was locked. He slammed his hand against the massive door in a futile gesture, and a screen lit up. A message had been left for him.

"Ton-Dal, we held the doors open as long as we could. Find shelter. It will be a difficult night. Hopefully, we will see you in the morning. May fortune favor you. Che."

The ground was shaking constantly now, and a low rumble filled the air. Clark ran around the structure in a panic, desperate to reach Lex and the Merka Device. But there was no way in, nor any way to make himself heard by those inside.

Suddenly, he saw a bright light. It was coming from the garden with the underground house. "Of course. He needs power," said Clark to himself, and he ran to the garden to find Lex.

The crystals that had been glowing in the garden were dark now. All the light was coming from the Merka Device, which sat in the center of the garden. Lex moved in front of it, a dark shadow against the bright surface.

"Lex, you've got to stop!"

"Clark, where the hell have you been?" Lex turned to face him, holding something in his hand. They had to shout to make themselves heard over the constant groan of the shaking planet.

"I know what you're trying to do, Lex. You can't." He tried to push Lex aside, but he didn't have his powers, and Lex was stronger than he looked.

"I fixed the design, Clark. It will work." Lex tried to push Clark away from the device, but Clark was bigger than he was, and stronger at the worst of times. They struggled, Clark trying to get to the device to destroy it, and Lex trying to stop him.

"I know, Lex. You'll just make things worse."

"Worse? Clark, what's worse than the planet breaking up?" The two men pulled apart.

"Lex, I saw my father. My real father. He doesn't want this."

"It's the only chance your planet has, Clark." Lex felt the planet trembling under his feet like a mortally wounded being, and he stood, holding a crystal tool like a weapon, determined to keep Clark away from the device.

Clark hesitated. The Kryptonian crystals all looked the same to him. He couldn't tell whether Lex was holding a memory stick, or a calibrator, or something he wouldn't survive without his powers.

It didn't matter. He had come this far, and his parents would never even know. This was the only gift he could leave behind.

"I won't let you do this, Lex," said Clark, running toward the device. Lex gouged him below the right cheekbone with the crystal tool.

Clark answered by punching Lex in the eye.

With Lex on the ground, Clark turned his attention to the Merka Device. It was clearly on. But how to turn it off? He couldn't see an on/off switch. In fact, he couldn't figure out how to work it at all.

Frantically, Clark punched the crystal panels that were closest to him. They shattered, and the device made a low, disquieting sound. The light faded. Clark wiped the blood from his face.

"Clark, stop!" Lex was back on his feet, and staggering toward Clark. The beginnings of a shiner stained his pale skin.

A flash of light distracted Clark. A slow, thin arc of light rose from the direction of the crystal city. His infant self was on his way to Kansas. So, the planet was exploding right now, and he was going to die here with his planet anyway. What would his parents think?

"This is it, Lex. It's happening now."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, you moron."

"I wish I knew what to do. There must be something."

"It's too late, Clark," said Lex, looking morosely at the bloodstained crystal tool still in his hand before letting it drop to the ground. "I love you."

Clark tried to reply, but there was no air, then no ground under his feet, then nothing at all, and his unspoken thought was swept away by the force of an exploding planet.

*****

Clark came to, gasping for air. Lex was moaning as he rolled over. His face was unbruised. They were lying on the floor of the empty room, still in the harnesses. Clark touched his face. There was no wound. The bracelets were gone. Clark felt his powers filling him once more. Had his powers really been blocked by illusory kryptonite? Or was there something about Lex's technology that made Clark almost human? Or had he really been on Krypton?

"Well, that was different," said Lex, just before he started laughing hysterically. Maybe his laughter was contagious, but more likely it was the hysteria, and soon they were both rolling on the floor, laughing helplessly.

Lex put his hand in his pocket, and felt the control box. It had been there all along. Not having it was simply part of the illusion. He was impressed.

"Clark," Lex wiped his eyes. "What did you do to get stuck with both this clown and Jonathan?"

Clark sobered up immediately. "I caused the destruction of my home planet." He felt like punching something, preferably something very big that would punch back.

"Clark, you're crazy. The place exploded years ago. You weren't there."

"But, I was there. You were there."

"Gar-Wen and Ton-Dal were there. Maybe." He started freeing himself from the harnesses.

"Lex, I feel like--"

"Just a guilt trip to control you. Believe me, I know this game."

"Lex, how can you be so sure we weren't there?"

"Clark, if the AI could flip you back in time and across light-years to your planet's destruction, wouldn't it want you to change what happened?"

"Y-e-a-h. So, it was--"

"An illusion, caused by your AI father, the Kryptonian asshole."

"I tell you the truth, and you dis my family. I never should have told you."

"You should have told me sooner."

"And what would you have done?"

"Sympathized. Mightily." Lex started to help Clark, who had somehow gotten more tangled than ever in the harnesses.

Clark relaxed and smiled. "Do you think the device could have worked?"

"Probably not, Clark. The damage to the planet was too extensive already."

"You think?"

"It was doomed for a thousand years."

"Then why did you work on the Merka Device?"

"It was just a last-ditch, nothing-to-lose, thing to try," shrugged Lex.

He had also learned something about the Kryptonian crystal technology, which he meant to use. To prevent Clark from pursuing that line of thought, Lex got up and retrieved their jackets. "Come on, Clark."

"Where are we going?" asked Clark, getting up and taking his jacket. "I have to write a report."

"On what? You haven't seen the real project."

"You mean we have to go back in there?" asked Clark, aghast, his eyes wide.

"Don't worry, Clark. The real project is much tamer."

"I don't want to go through anything even vaguely like that again."

"You'll feel better after a meal and a drink. And so will I. Japanese?"

"Two days without food and you want raw fish? No!"

"All right, then. What would you like?"

"There's a place two blocks away that sells these half-pound burgers," said Clark, his eyes glazing over. "They come with garlic fries." With his powers back, he could smell them.

"Burgers?" asked Lex, his voice dripping with horror and disgust.

"They have salads, too, I'm pretty sure."

"All right, Clark. Show me this palace of gastronomic delights." Lex opened the door. They walked down the hall to the elevator.

As they got in, a question occurred to Clark. "Are there any criminal factions in the holodeck?"

"You and I will be the only ones there," said Lex, pressing the lobby button.

"Any handcuffs?"

"Definitely in the next upgrade, Clark."

"Will you invite me over when you get that far?"

Lex pulled Clark in for a kiss. "Count on it, Clark. Count on it."

*****