SMALLVILLE

The Key of Brainiac

-Chapter One-

Into No-Man's-Land

The smoke was high over the small town of Smallville; fiery smoke sizzling from the heavens dissipating in the sky leaving just a long trail towards wreckage and destruction. A town in peril and turmoil, once a peaceful and tranquil place to live it would bring a tear to the eyes of the nation just to see how it stood there. The roads are blocked for miles outside the town, the townies stand outside their cars looking back as their homes. The last remnants of Smallville lies distance holding together as it is both the graveyard and prison for the people left behind. They all look back thankful as they realise; they made it. They were free from the terror, ignorant of the strange occurances going on within the town at that moment as they are ushered back into their cars by armed soldiers, reporters following them for information.

"General Lane! General Lane!" called a female Television reporter, as she and her cameraman ran towards the general as he ordered his soldiers to keep the traffic moving. "Did everyone get out? Will you have soldiers looking through the wreckage?"

"We got out as many people as we could," General Lane replied or rather barked as he continued to keep his eyes focused on the traffic, his back arched straight as though at attention and his eyes sharp and steely, it's hard for the reporter not to be scared by his very presence. "And once these people are safely taken to our bases we will have a rescue team form search parties and help find any stragglers."

"Have you gotten any reports from within the town?" the reporter asked.

"We have not as of late," General Lane said softly his voice cracking on the television screen as he continued to look at the traffic.

"Buffy?" came a voice from behind the blond girl staring tearfully at the tv, yet she would not let the tears come out. Buffy Summers turned around to see her boyfriend Riley Finn stood looking at her awkwardly. "Are you okay?"

"Why haven't we heard anything?" Buffy croaked shaking her head confused. "I mean, he'd be saving people... we'd be hearing strange things..."

"Maybe, he left with his parents?" Riley said sitting down next to her wrapping his arm around her.

"No, Riley," Buffy cried with frustration, "he'd have stayed there. He'd have stayed to help those people."

"Maybe, he had no choice," Riley said softly standing up as she walked away from him unable to look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the television; for a sign. "He said last time there was a meteor shower kryptonite came as well as him. Maybe, he had to leave for his own safety."

"Riley," Buffy said softly closing her eyes to block out the tears, "he wouldn't leave, even with Kryptonite putting him in danger... he wouldn't leave those people."

Riley gulped to clear his throat as she stood there looking at the tv. All he wanted was for her to look at him at that moment so he could help her, but he knew she wouldn't. As he had told Xander he loved Buffy... but she didn't love him. She loved Angel. She loved Clark. But, she wanted a normal guy and he was what Clark could never be and if that was the only way to be with Buffy, then that's how it had to be. Maybe in some way, he thought to himself, she did love him.

"So what do we do?" Riley said gingerly.

"I'm going to Smallville," Buffy declared to everyone in the Magic shop an hour later when she called everyone to order. Giles looked shocked as though unsure as to what Buffy was saying, Anya looked dreamily in thin air as always as though bored at what Buffy was saying yet she could see a twinge of fear in her eyes as she thought of going in No Man's Land.

"Buffy?" Willow said apprehensively.

"And I'm not changing my mind," Buffy said sharply glaring at Willow as she began to argue. Her face softened as she turned to the others, "I know it's risky but I can't just leave Clark there in god knows what situation."

"Buffy," Giles began, standing up and cleaning his glasses the creases on his forehead showing his reluctance to the very idea of what Buffy was saying. "While, I do fear for Clark safety, we have no way of getting into Smallville."

"Yeah Buff, I mean soldiers are going to be swarming all around the place," Xander shrugged avoiding Buffy's gaze as she gave him a look that said 'not helping'. "Do I sense a plan?" Xander chimed with a smile.

"We go in by magic," Buffy said looking at Willow and Tara, yet not heightening their confidence in the plan.

"Buffy, its not that we won't," Tara said gingerly, "I-Its just..."

"Its really powerful magic, teleporting," Willow finished equally gingerly. "It would need a powerful witch to do that."

"Will," Buffy said forcefully yet a touch of warmth in her voice as Willow stares at her sheepishly, her eyes swimming with the nervousness of the freshmen inside her. "You can do this." Willow nods determined yet still unsure as Buffy looks around the room. "Any questions?"

A small squeaky voice appears behind Buffy, one that maked her very blood boil with annoyance by the very sound. "Can I come?" piped Dawn from behind Buffy.

"So, everyone ready?" Buffy asked in the back room of the magic shop carrying a large pink duffle bag on her shoulder. She threw it on the floor everyone looked at her wide eyed at the pink bag with yellow flowers. "What?" she said lightly.

"You're taking that?" Riley said sceptically.

"Well, I wasn't sure what we'd need," Buffy said in her usual playful bimbo voice, "I mean, we could be walking into anything."

"Cleaning gloves?" Riley asked raising an eyebrow at her as he looked through the contents of the bag.

"Kryptonite, hello," Buffy exclaimed, "its radioactive!"

"But only to Clark?" Xander replied knowingly Buffy shooting him a glare. He chuckled, "Haha shurrup Xander."

"And I'm the one who's not allowed to go," Dawn grumbled to herself.

"Dawn, mom said no," Buffy said with a tinge of annoyance, "its dangerous and you're too young," she turns around ignoring Dawn (her favourite pass time), "now can we go? God knows what's happened to Clark."

"Yes, propose I we leave immediately," Giles said quietly. "Willow if you may."

"I shall stay here and mind the shop and the youngling," Anya said brightly Dawn shooting her an annoyed glare.

"Okay everyone, join hands," Willow said taking Tara and Giles's hand. Everyone joining hands; Riley, Xander, Giles, Willow Tara and Buffy. Willow closed her eyes getting ready to say the spell. "Aniino Varrii."

A red orangey sparkling substance appeared around them, swimming past them engulfing them, the rest of the world cut off as they suddenly fuzzed within the room, swishing within the room. Buffy watched in wonder and worry, hoping that this would work, gripping Riley's hand tighter. She suddenly snapped out of her dreamy gaze as something grabbed her other hand. She turned her eyes wide with horror as Dawn stood engulfed in the spell holding Buffy's hand. "DAWN NO!" Buffy yelled as she was yanked into an invisible portal that sucked them in like a vacuum. The screams of the others echoing behind her as she stared at Dawn until finally.... black.