Smallville; Escalation!
by Vicki O'Danner w/Tyval


vodar@webtv.net

Tyval@webtv.net


When a mysterious young woman arrives in Smallville a chain of events
causes more weirdness in a town already in crisis. Timeline, near end of
season 2.


Many characters owned by DC comics. Other possible characters owned by
others.


NC-17 for f/f, f/f/f sex, cons, rom. (all teens in sexual situations
with be legal age 17)



Chapter 1:


She got off the bus at the Smallville bus station. Dark glasses hid her
blue eyes, an old brunette wig she had found and cleaned hid her blonde
hair, her clothes were little more than rags, beach flip-flops were what
passed for her shoes. Today was her 17th birthday, but there was no one
to celebrate with her. She had no luggage, all her worldly possessions
were in a plastic grocery bag.


" Here you go miss....," the driver said," Smallville."


" Kara, Kara Zorel," the girl smiled.


' I could have ran here faster,' Kara thought as the bus drove away.


Her stomach  growled. It had been 5 days since she had last eaten. She
was used to being hungry, didn't even know if she really needed to eat,
but she knew that she felt better if she did. As she walked towards the
downtown area she picked up every penny she saw on the ground. Counting
them she saw that she had 24 cents, not enough even for a candy bar.    
  

Passing by a converted theater called the 'Talon' she saw a 'help
wanted' sign. There seemed to be a lot of kids her age there, perhaps
the one she was looking for came here. She was so close, she had to know
if she was alone, or if her father had been right and her slightly older
cousin really was alive and living here.


" Hi, you coming in?," a pretty short haired blonde asked as she also
walked up to the door, her eyes showed concern as she saw the girls
state.


" Yes, uh, I was here for the job," Kara said, thinking the girl had
such a pretty smile. 


" You're  new in town," the girl said, smiling her friendly smile.


" That obvious huh?," Kara said.


" It's a small town. I'm Chloe, Chloe Sullivan," Chloe extended her
hand.


" Kara Zorel," Kara smiled, then blushed as her stomach rumbled.


" I think I know why you are looking for a job," Chloe said," Why don't
I buy you a sandwich and then we can talk to Lana."


" But...," Kara started to protest.


" Just call it a loan," Chloe said sympathetic, understanding the girl
had pride.


A sandwich turned into 3, as Kara wolfed them down. Kara then noticed
Chloe looking at her and felt shame. ' I should  be stronger than this,'
Kara thought," I can bench press a tank, run at the speed of sound, I
can shoot fire from my eyes, and I almost beg for food. I'm pond scum. I
am unworthy of the house of El.' Kara had of course taken her glasses
off by this time. 


" So, what's your real hair color?," Chloe asked," That wig is not
flattering."


" Um, how do you know I'm wearing a wig?," Kara asked.


" I'm the editor of the school newspaper, even did an internship at the
'Daily Planet' over the summer," Chloe flashed her friendly smile
again," And in this town I'm the reporter of the weird. It doesn't set
right, like your hair is longer, and I can see some blonde curls peeking
out the right side."


" Um, I'm not a runaway, or being looked for by the cops. But I am an
orphan," Kara admitted.


" So, why Smallville?," Chloe asked, her curiosity piqued.


" I'm looking for my cousin," Kara said," He'd be about 6 months to a
year older than me. Probably dark hair."


" Does he have a name?," Chloe asked.


" I don't know what name he'll have now," Kara sadly shook her head," I
know his name once was, um Kal."


" Oh no. And you think he's here? In Smallville? Ah, there's Lana,"
Chloe said waving to her best friend and 'sister'.


Chloe's heart was really going out to this poor girl. Lana smiled as she
walked over to them. ' These girls are sooo hot,' Kara thought as she
was already in love with Chloe and thought Lana was a knockout too. For
her part Lana was just as full of compassion as Chloe over this poor
girls obvious plight.  


" Lana, this is Kara Zorel," Chloe said," Kara, this is Lana Lang, she
runs the place. Lana, I think Kara was inquiring about a job?"


" I know I don't look like much Miss Lang, but I'll try really hard,"
Kara bowed her head," I'm a lot stronger and faster than I look. I'm no
stranger to washing dishes."


" I'll tell you what," Lana smiled," Call me Lana and I'll start you
tomorrow."


" On the condition that you'll stay with us until you find your cousin,"
Chloe smiled.


" T-thank you," Kara said, near tears at the kindness of these 2 only
slightly older girls.


" It's settled then," Lana smiled," Cousin?"


" My father told me he lived here in Smallville before he..., well, I've
spent the last 7 years in a convent orphanage," Kara had to fight back
tears. 


Kal probably didn't remember his parents, probably didn't remember
anything about Krypton. Kara did. The 'survival ship' her father had
built was nowhere near as good as the ship Jor-El had built for Kal. The
'Argo City' was basically a barge that drifted through space without
power. 


Kara's father, Zor-El, had hand picked 20 of his cites best to try to
save the Kryptonian  race. For 6 years they drifted, barely surviving,
but keeping the hope of Krypton alive. Zor-El tried to build a powered
ship with his limited resources, but tragedy struck the 'Argo City' just
as it had struck their home planet.   


The meteor shower destroyed the ships fragile hull. Zor-El, much as his
brother Jor-El had done with Kal-El, placed Kara in the experimental
ship in a desperate attempt to save her life.


" Find your cousin Kara," Zor-El told her," If Jor-El was right all
those years ago, he should be on the planet Earth near some small town
called 'Smallville' he called it. If Jor-El was right the yellow sun
will make you strong, but use your abilities for good. Find Kal-El, he
will be a good man if he is anything like his father. May Rao and the
'House of El' protect you."


" Daddy!!," 8 year old Kara screamed as the hatch closed and the rockets
kicked in. She was spared the sight of her fathers death as she was put
in suspended animation. 


For 2 years she flew towards Earth asleep. Her ship was not as well
built as Kal-El's, barely protecting her as it crash landed deep into a
mountain in a remote part of Montana. When Kara woke up she was
naturally frightened. Taking the ships 'key' and 'data card' she
stumbled out of the new makeshift cave. The temp was just above
freezing, but thanks to the yellow sun Kara barely felt the cold. 


The ship had taught her English, Chinese, French, and Spanish as she
slept so Kara was confident she could find someone she could talk to. By
a strange twist of fate she wound up in a state park where a group of
nuns had stopped. Long story short, she had spent almost the last 7
years in an orphanage. She had lost the 'key', not knowing a sister had
taken it, but the 'data card' was still hers.


.........................


Clark and Pete Ross were in Clark's loft doing school research on
Clark's laptop when the e-mail came in. Thinking it must be from Chloe,
despite their recent troubles, Clark went to retrive it. Then stopped
cold as he saw it.


" Clark, what's wrong?," Pete asked.


" It's in Kryptonese," Clark said, as Pete knew his secret," It's from
Dr. Swann."


" Dr. Swann? Are you sure it's him again? Maybe someone else figured it
out," Pete said.


" I'm sure Pete," Clark said.

     
" Why?," Pete asked


" He's the only person who calls me Kal-El," Clark said," He wants to
see me Pete."


" What does he need to see you for?," Pete asked.


" The messge says that he was wrong, I may not be alone," Clark said
standing up," I've got to know. Pete, tell mom and dad I'll be back as
quick as I can."


Clark zoomed out. At top speed he'd be in New York in minutes.


.........................

Clark found himself expected as he was ushered to Dr. Virgil Swann's
private elevator. Dr. Swann himself was differant as he smiled when he
saw Clark.

 
" Hello again Kal-El," Dr. Swann smiled.


" You're off the resperator," Clark smiled back.


" Yes, but it's you I'm concerned about Kal-El," Dr. Swann said," The
small box on the desk, open it."


Clark cautiously opened the box. His eyes grew wide at the contents. The
metallic hexagonal shape was all too famiiar. The message was to him.
Only one symbol on the 'key' was slightly confusing. A shield with an
'S' shape inside. The 'key' to his ship had the same shape, but with an
'8' shape. 


" This is Kara of the 'House of El', please take care of your cousin
Kal-El," Dr. Swann said as he had read the 'key'. The 'S' in the shield
is the sign of your house Kal-El. I didn't know when I saw you the other
day."


" Kara... Where did you get this?," Clark asked, barely keeping his
voice emotionless.


" A nun had it until a few days ago," Dr. Swann said," Since I met you
I've been looking for more clues. I saw an interview with this nun,
'Sister Agatha', as she was known, she was retiring as head of an
'orphanage' due to poor health. That piece was in the picture. Despite
the poor quality of the picture I saw the symbols right away." 


A computer screen came on. Headlines of a blonde haired girl breaking
school athletic records clicked, one after another. The girls name, Kara
Zorel.


" She kept herself in resonable human limits," Dr. Swann continued," I
believe her last names really Zor-El. The writing says she's your
'cousin', I believe on your father's side because of the El name."


" I'm not alone?," Clark said," Sister Agatha?"


" She died a few days ago," Dr. Swann said," A 'contribution' got me
that and some information. She's looking for you Kal-El. She let the
orphanage a few weeks ago, headed for Kansas."  


....................


A flash of lightning heralded the thunderstorm over Smallville. The
woman rose to her feet. She was tall, beautiful, blonde, but madness
seemed to ruin her brown eyes. Clad in black leather she screamed into
the storms fury.


" Xena!! You can't escape me Xena!," the woman cried out.


The woman looked around at her surroundings. The seemingly endless rows
of corn were a mystery to her, as was the paved road just off to her
right. She had seen the Roman roads of brick, but nothing like this. The
country side was flat, very flat, a far cry from the rolling hills of
her native Greece.     


The storm broke as quickly as it had started. The sun peeked out from
behind the clouds as the woman started walking down the middle of the
road. An aura surrounded her briefly as she dried herself.


A sound caused her to look up. This woman had seen many strange things
in her life, including Tatarus itself, but she had never seen anything
like the Lexcorp helicopter that flew overhead. Her mouth dropped open.
A loud nose from behind caused even her to jump as a truck passed her,
the driver yelling someting that sounded like a curse.


" Where am I? What pit of Tartarus am I in?," she said.


Callisto the mad goddess did not scare easily, but for only the third
time, as mortal, immortal, and goddess did she know fear.


.........................


At the Luthor mansion, Lex was awaiting the arrival of of his own cousin
Alexis. Alexis was the only one of his relatives that Lex could stand
being around for more than a few seconds. Alexis was the only one of his
cousins who never looked at him differantly. At the same time Lex had
never judged her, when she confessed to him that she was gay. As a
result Alexis was the famiys 'Black Sheep', more than even Lex.


The family had 'cut her off' when she finally 'came out'. Alexis then
became a porno actress, workng only in all girl films. This scandal was
the final straw for the Luthor family, but they found that they couldn't
stop her. When the Hilton girls started going wild they simply ignored
her as the pressure was now off.


Lex always found her amusing. When she had called him, saying she wanted
to visit, Lex said yes, just to spite his father. He envied his friend
Clark Kent. Alexis waved as she exited the helicopter. Lex waved back.
Alexis was actually dressed very conservatively, in a red sweater with
black slacks. 


" This will drive your father nuts," Alexis smiled after a quick hug.


" I hope so," Lex laughed.


" I heard a rumor, do you actually like this town?,"


" Yea, if you want to know the truth," Lex said as they walked to his
study," This place has changed my life. In more ways than one."


" I thought a small town like this would drive you crazy," Alexis
smiled," You and I and 'Club Zero'. Ha, remember that one girl that we
both tried to pick up, and we didn't know we both were trying."


Lex had to smile about that one. What a surprise they had both had at
the end of the night.


" That was a good night," Lex smiled.


" So, what goes on around here?," Alexis asked.


" Let's see, a shapechanging girl, crooks who walk through walls, an
invisible boy who tried to kill me, the usual stuff," Lex smiled tickng
off just a few of the bizarre things he had seen in Smallville.  


" You're kidding," Alexis said, eyes growing wide.


" Nope. Wanna stick around a few days?," Lex asked," I can practically
guaranty someting strange will happen."


" With a promise like that how can I refuse?," Alexis laughed.


..........................
end of chapter 1: