Clark Kent, natural farm boy and sometimes hero was stuck into a situation. He didn't know what to do for college now that his football ticket was chucked out of the window thanks to the realization of what his fate would be from running into another meteor freak on campus that was on the football team. With a frustrated growl he chucked a tennis ball across the room. Anger swelled up inside of the young kryptonian. Angry at school. Angry at his life, but mostly of all anger at his biologic father Jor-El. How he hated that man with a passion that was almost holy. The only things that kept his spirit up were Krypto, and football, but since the second one was obviously gone Krypto was the only thing that kept him going. There were so many problems on his mind lately like for one the kryptonian map that was in the Luthor Mansion, and not to mention the stones. Thinking of the stones brought him to Isabel the witch that nearly killed him, and was possessing Lana. Thinking of Lana hurt him the most, even more than kryptonite. He just didn't know what to do.

With Lois here he couldn't use his powers, and Chloe was acting weirder than usual, but most of his entire problem was HIM. Clark could feel him in his mind. Like a drill trying to dig out. Kal-El was trying to get control again, and Clark was losing the battle. Day by day Clark was losing his strength to battle his kryptonian alter ego. Soon Kal-El would have complete control and would continue his destiny. A word Clark cursed every day of his life. With Kal-El surfacing also made the burn Jor-El give him started to surface again. This pretty much meant that his other side was coming and Clark was pretty much powerless to stop him. He feared for everybody, but most of all he feared for Lana. She was marked with a kryptonian tattoo which in his eyes meant water, or change.

"But change into what?" Clark thought aloud.

"What are you mumbling Smallville?" asked a curious Lois. Clark nearly jumped out of his skin for her stealth act on him. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Lois come in. Pulling his composure together he gave Lois an icy cold look.

"What do you want now Lois?" asked Clark in a snarl that made Lois and Clark even shake in surprise.

"I just wanted to know if you've seen Chloe, but I guess not jeeze, but it looks like she's not here."

"Have you tried the torch?"

"No I checked my closet of course I did she wasn't there."

"How about we check the Talon?" She looked at him with a piercing gaze then said "Alright we'll look there. You alright you look really pale?"

"I'm fine Lois lets go."

Clark's P.O.V

"Oh yeah I'm real fine. I got a hard ass father, a conquering alter ego, oh and to top it all off Lex is trying to find the stones too. Things couldn't be better." thought Clark.

We took the Kent Truck and left Krypto home this time. We got to the Talon and saw the Chloe was with Jason and Lana. My heart stopped a little. I really wasn't in the mood to see them today or in fact anyone for the matter, plus mom is in their and she'll see how terrible I look. Great Chloe why did you have to be here. Lois spotted Chloe and gave a wave. Chloe waved back and pointed Jason and Lana to us. I then knew this was the best time to leave at super speed if only I could, but everyone will soon be watching me. Damn it.

"Well mission accomplished. We found Chloe you enjoy yourselves now." Just as I was about to leave Lois grabbed my hand.

"Why don't you join us we've got tons of room. We could use your help with Lana. They found something that could help with the Isabel problem." I was just about to say no for a million of reasons, but when she said Lana and Isabel I was hooked in. We sat down at their table. Lois next to Lana. I was next to Chloe and starring at Jason. I gave them all a fake smile, while Jason glared at me. Personally I wanted to rip his head off and. Whoa, whoa wait where did that come from? Damn you Kal- El he was getting stronger. My mom came to us with a tray of drinks.

"Here kids on the house."

"Thanks Mrs. Kent" said Lana. It felt good to hear her voice again.

"Oh my god Clark you're alive. I thought you died of boredom in your loft honey." Right when she called me that I wanted to scream that my mother is Lara not you, you earth scum, but thanks to my self control I was able to fight it back.

"Y-yeah mom I noticed I needed some fresh air and SOMEONE needed help with a Chloe search. I gave Lois a cold look again. Did I forget to mention I really didn't want to be here? Cause believe me I really didn't.

Lois looked at me with her own cold gaze "Well sorry if I'm not perfect like you Smallville." Smallville. I swear if she calls me that one more time I throw her all the way to Metropolis.

"Whatever could we just get to the point?" I was really in a hurry since everyone was carefully watching me especially my mother.

"Well I just received some information from Lionel Luthor about Isabel maybe after and Lex. Here look at this." Said Jason Lana looked at it and passed it around till it came over to me. I quickly scanned over it and my world just crumbled. It was a picture of a map, but not just any map. It was the kryptonian map I found at Lex's place. I was lost with words until my mother came over and gave me a worried look.

"Clark honey what is it?" I couldn't talk to her and I just gave her the paper. She looked at it for a second and then she dropped all her orders with a frightful look on her face. We looked at each other like there was nobody else in the room.

"Mom you know what this means…"

"Who gave them this Clark? Who, who could find this?"

"It was Lionel mom he's free. He gave Jason the map."

"But who could…?"

"I don't know mom, but I intend to find out." Just as I said that my chest started to burn some more and my headache was getting worse. Crap I forgot about Kal-El! Seeing this would trigger him to move faster. I'm running out of time.

"Clark what is it? What's wrong?" It was Lana that asked me that and I just ignored her. I had bigger things to worry about now than Isabel. I walked to the exit and said over my shoulder "Mom call dad tell him what happened. I'm going to find Lionel and find out who gave him this. We have to stop this."

"Clark honey I will, but what's wrong you looked at the map like you succeeded in something. What are you hiding from us Clark?"

I gave mom my best Kent smile.

"Nothing that you already know mom, but could you get out the black meteorite rock just incase. We may need it if HE comes." Mom gave me a startled look and yelled

"Clark are you saying that Ka-"

"Yes mom now I got to go." Just as I cut off mom I practically ran to the exit only to be confronted by Lana and the others.

"Wait just a second Clark you still have some explaining to do. You can't just leave us out of the dark again. We've been through so much. You could at least trust us like we trust you." I stared at her for at least a minute and than I gave her statement a bitter hollow laugh that made everyone in the room flinch. I really couldn't help it since Lana went on her stupid trust issues. God was I getting tired of this. Here I am trying to save everybody and they still give me grief. Why couldn't she just of stayed in Paris with Jason and they could have there little make-out sessions. I was sick and tired of this. No wonder Kal-El is winning with friends like these.

"Lana… there are things going on that are beyond just you and Isabel. Things that I need to take care of. Just listen to me I don't have time for more of your lectures about trust and all that crap. I've got to see Lionel and I don't have time for fifty billion questions. Just burn the map. Trust me it will make your life turn back to normal." She looked at me in a bit of shock. I probably gave a little to much away but all well Kal-El's recklessness is getting to me.

"You speak of trust Clark. Funny hearing that from you. I want to get rid of this tattoo and apparently you are the only way I have to get rid of this."

"This may come to a shock to you Lana, but as much as I want to I can't help you. This is my problem now and you are already too involved with this Isabel stuff. I don't know what she wants with these stones, but I won't let her get them. I need to find Lionel and quick. Now get out of my way or I'll force you. I'm doing this to save everybody." And as quickly as that I walked past them and walked down the road and in a few seconds I ran to the Mansion. I knew Lionel would be their and I knew he would give me some answers. I just hope I can get to him before Kal-El gets to me…

End of chapter one