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[b]Fortress of Solitude, The Arctic[/b]

Clark Kent’s footsteps echoed through the crystalline structure known as the Fortress of Solitude. Through the years the Fortress had served as a sanctuary of sorts. In moments of stress, when he needed to quiet a disquieted mind, he would make the flight out to the Arctic to enjoy the serenity that the Fortress provided. Once it had been bare but since Clark had decorated it with gadgets, trinkets, and trophies he’d amassed over the years. Clark stared with a blank expression at the large screen he’d unsuccessfully attempted to hail Reed Richards on moments earlier. From behind him came the sound of fists slamming in vain against a crystal cell. The fists belonged to Hank Henshaw, the once-stranded astronaut twisted into a Cyborg Superman, and on his face was emblazoned a murderous rage.

[color=crimson][b]"You can’t keep me in here forever, Superman. I’ll find a way out [i]eventually[/i] and when I do I’ll make you burn for what you did to Terri."[/b][/color]

With a shake of his head Clark looked towards the imprisoned Henshaw.

[color=steelblue][b]"I didn’t do anything to Terri, Hank, that was all you."[/b][/color]

[color=crimson][b]"You’re lying! You made me d-"[/b][/color]

Clark sighed and tapped a button on the control panel next to him. The clear crystal between himself and Henshaw turned opaque and Henshaw’s voice was cut off mid-sentence. From the other side the sound of his fists pounding against the crystal could be heard, though only slightly, and his shouting was all but muffled into nonexistence.

[color=steelblue][b]"I think I’ve had about enough of that for one afternoon."[/b][/color]

On the large screen behind Clark the face of Reed Richards appeared. Behind him H.E.R.B.I.E., the robot Reed had designed to help him with his research, floated back and forwards around Reed’s laboratory clumsily.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"Are you there, Clark?"[/b][/color]

Clark nodded to Reed.

[color=steelblue][b]"I’m here. Thanks for getting back to me at such short notice, Reed. I know how busy you are over at the Baxter Building at the moment. You know I wouldn’t have got in touch unless it was urgent."[/b][/color]

There was a bang from behind Reed as H.E.R.B.I.E. dropped some equipment to the ground and Richards shot the robot a disappointed look. 

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"Oh, don’t be ridiculous. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. What seems to be the issue?"[/b][/color]

[color=steelblue][b]"It… I’m not sure, actually, that’s why I got in contact. I went with Jimmy to visit Lex at the LexCorp Building this morning and something [i]strange[/i] happened. I presume you know about the generator Lex is working on?"[/b][/color]

An effusive smile appeared on Reed’s face as he recalled his visit to the LexCorp Building the afternoon that he, Johnny, Ben, and Sue had bumped into Clark in Metropolis.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"Yes, it’s a fantastic machine. How he managed to extract energy from the meteor rock is [i]completely[/i] beyond me. I tried for a fortnight and couldn’t find a way to do it without the rock shattering or leaking radiation. Then again, Lex has a whole army of scientists at hand whilst I’m… I’m on my own here, but for Sue helping out here and there, so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. Lex always has been a rather resourceful man."[/b][/color]

Clark nodded grimly.

[color=steelblue][b]"Amongst other things."[/b][/color] 

There wasn’t much in the way of criticism that Clark could offer as regards Reed Richards. He was an incredible intellect, perhaps the cleverest man on Earth, and kinder than anyone that Clark had ever met. It was that kindness that informed his faith in Lex. Reed Richards had long since considered Lex a friend, even more so since the Justice League had been formed and some of Lex’s less savory contracts terminated, and in these moments it became clear that Luthor was something of a blind-spot for Reed. As once with Victor Von Doom, Reed [i]still[/i] believed there was good in Lex and there was little that could shake that determination. Even Clark’s own faith in the human condition didn’t stretch so far as believing that Lex Luthor acted out of an interest in the greater good. 

[color=steelblue][b]"It was the rock I wanted to speak to you about. He showed Jimmy and I a slither of it during our interview with him and the strangest thing happened. I… I felt sick, Reed, like the life was being drained from me. I [i]never[/i] feel sick. Not in all my years have I ever so much as had a cold. Yet when Lex showed us that rock I could barely stand."[/b][/color]

The significance of that wasn’t lost on Reed.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"That [i]is[/i] alarming."[/b][/color]

Reed pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment as he ran through everything he knew about the meteor rock. The rock had stitched Reed and Clark’s fate together through time. It was the meteor rocks crashing to Earth that had set in motion the expedition that would send Reed, Ben, Johnny, and Sue into Space at Nick Fury’s behest. It was only then, as his mind toyed that very coincidence, that things fell into place for Reed.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"Clark, had it ever occurred to you that the meteor rock fell to Earth on the same day that your craft arrived here?"[/b][/color]

Clark’s eyes narrowed a little and his arms crossed over his broad chest.

[color=steelblue][b]"What are you saying?"[/b][/color]

[b][color=cornflowerblue]"What if this meteor rock is Kryptonian in origin? It would explain why it was able to affect your Kryptonian DNA whilst other forms of radiation don’t seem able to."[/color][/b]

It was so simple that it pained Clark that the thought hadn’t crossed his mind before. 

[color=steelblue][b]"That [i]would[/i] make a lot of sense. I haven’t had any contact with the rock given most of it resides under the ground in Latveria."[/b][/color]

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"It would explain Doom’s interest in it too. Though the questions as to how Lex got his hands on so much of the meteor rock remains unanswered. Victor has been stockpiling the rock for years, he’s spent billions collecting every scrap of it on Earth, and all of a sudden Lex has enough to power his generator? It doesn’t add up."[/b][/color]

The perplexed look on Reed’s face was met with a stern, stony gaze from Clark.

[color=steelblue][b]"Doesn’t it?"[/b][/color]

Clark could see the gears in Reed’s brain whirring around. That brilliant mind of his was searching for an explanation for Lex’s access to the meteor rock that [i]didn’t[/i] involve his being in cahoots with Doom. There wasn’t one. With Reed of all people, Clark couldn’t bring himself to speak frankly about the kind of man he knew Lex to be. Perhaps it was because of the respect he held for Reed or because there was a part of Clark, buried deep beneath the surface, that wanted to believe that Reed was right. He wanted to believe that even someone like Lex Luthor could reform. Wanting to believe it and [i]actually[/i] believing it was another thing altogether.

[color=cornflowerblue][b]"If Lex wanted to make a weapon out of the rock, he would have done so by now, wouldn’t he? I know you’re not fond of him and I’m not without my reservations but… I don’t believe Lex would lay down with a man like Doom."[/b][/color]

Clark’s silence in the face of Reed’s comments spoke volumes. Sensing a response wasn’t forthcoming, Richards leant back in his seat, rubbed the back of his neck, and tried to piece together something practical that he and Clark could agree on until he knew more about the meteor rock.

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[color=cornflowerblue][b]"For the time being, I think it would be smart to stay away from the rock until we can figure out [i]exactly[/i] what it does to your physiology, Clark. Radiation poisoning is hard enough to contain when the element is from this planet, let alone from a dead planet from halfway across the known universe. We have no idea what kind of damage it does or whether it’s permanent. You need to play this one safe, Clark. If you come into contact with the rock again I need you to promise me you’ll protect yourself at all costs."[/b][/color]

Clark let out a sigh as he prepared to cut the communication short.

[color=steelblue][b]"I’ll be safe, Reed. You have my word on that."[/b][/color]