I apologize that it's been so long since my last update, I meant to have this up sooner, but other stories and life took priority. But the next chapter will not take nearly as long. For now, I hope you enjoy this.

Smallville's fan: If you're going to use 'X almost killed Y' logic, then you might as well make the case that Clark shouldn't trust anyone in Smallville. By the point of mid-season four, everyone has tried to kill someone at some point. This includes Clark himself. The only difference between Alicia and everyone else was that, rather than caused by Kryptonite or mind control, Alicia trying to kill Lana was caused by a mental breakdown that was the result of years of systematic abuse by her parents. Speaking of which, you attempting to shrug that off is, frankly, disturbing. And Alicia did not force Clark into anything, go rewatch the actual episode. Alicia dosed Clark with Red K, which wasn't her best moment, but it was Clark's idea to get married. Red K does not force Clark to do anything he doesn't want to do, it just lowers his inhibitions. This has been pointed out multiple times, usually by Martha, so her getting mad at Clark over it was particularly OOC. Jonathan actually seemed in character, considering how hypocritical he is.

Green Hal37: As a kid, you only watch for Clark and Lex, but as an adult, you realize how compelling the other characters are…well, most of them. Glad it's interesting. Yeah, and it never made sense to me how Clark just shrugged of how badly everyone treated Alicia. It was very OOC.

Manhattan

Morning

Virgil Swann was in his office, talking to his assistant when he felt a gust of wind behind them. Immediately, he knew what this meant.

"Bridgette, would you give me a moment?" Virgil asked as he looked over at Bridgette Crosby. "Please, I need privacy."

Although confused, Bridgette nodded. She took some papers and walked over to the door and out of the room after a moment.

"You can come out now," Virgil said as he turned his chair.

Then, hidden behind a corner, Clark Kent emerged. Yet it was not Clark Kent. Gone was the red jacket and blue shirt, instead Clark stood dressed head to toe in black. There was a cold, emotionless look on his face that seemed odd on the face of Clark Kent. What had happen to him, Virgil wondered.

"Kal-El," Virgil greeted.

"Dr. Swann," Clark greeted his tone a pale imitation of the kind tones he had used before. "I need your help."

"Of course, whatever I can do to help," Virgil said immediately.

"I need answers about my heritage, about what Jor-El really wants from me. And you're the one who always seems to point me in the right direction," Clark noted.

"When we last spoke, you wanted nothing to do with your true heritage," Virgil noted.

"Let's just say recent event have made me willing to hear Jor-El's side of things," Clark said as he thought of Alicia's body, hanging in her barn with a pang. "Can you help me or not?"

"On my desk, there's a red, wooden box. Open it," Virgil said after a moment.

Raising an eyebrow, Clark walked over to the desk and found the box. It wasn't much bigger than the lead box Lex had given him three years ago to return Lana's necklace, Clark noted absently. Clark picked it up and lifted the lid, staring stunned at what was inside.

"Where did you get this?" Clark asked as he pulled out the key to his space ship.

"Not long after our last visit, it appeared in my office. I believe Jor-El sent it to me so that you would receive it when you were ready to begin your quest," Virgil said and Clark was silent as he stared at the key. "I wish I could continue on this journey with you Kal-El, but unlike you, I am only human. I do not have much time left. I will continue to help guide you with the little time I do have. But we both know there is only one person who can help you now."

Kawatche caves

Not long after

Clark entered the caves and opened the inner chamber, revealing the hidden altar. Walking up to it, Clark spotted a small slot big enough for the key to slide into. Clark pulled it out, staring at it before looking at the slot. With a sigh, Clark placed the key in the slot and was immediately surrounded by a river of blue light that nearly blinded him. Clark nearly screamed, overwhelmed.

"I knew you would return my son," Jor-El's voice said.

"Why'd you send me to find this?!" Clark shouted.

"Because you are the last survivor of a great civilization," Jor-El said simply.

"What does that mean?! What do you want from me?!" Clark asked angrily.

"Before Krypton was destroyed, all the knowledge we held was placed into three stones, which were scattered to the corners of earth. If a human unites them before you do, they will not be able to resist the temptation and bring about famine, war and the end of the earth as you know it," Jor-El warned him. "The fate of the world resides in your hands, Kal-El."

Suddenly, the light faded and Clark slumped forward, using his hands to support himself against the altar, breathing heavily as he processed what he had just learned. He had no love for Smallville, not anymore, but he couldn't let the whole world suffer for the sins of a few. He had to find these stones…and quick.

Kent Farm

Same time

Martha sat at the kitchen table, staring down at the letter Clark had left them, tear trails on her cheeks. Jonathan stared at her sadly, burying his own pain before grabbing his keys.

"I'm gonna go out and look for him, I'm gonna bring our son home Martha," Jonathan said gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"How? He wasn't taken from us Jonathan, he left," Martha said brokenly as she looked at him with tear filled eyes. "He left because we drove him away. And even if you find him, you can't make him come home. There's nothing we can do Jonathan, we've lost him. Maybe for good."

Jonathan opened his mouth – to argue or to try and comfort her, he wasn't sure – when someone knocked on the door. Martha took a deep breath, wiping the tears from her eyes as Jonathan reluctantly went to answer it. He opened it up and wasn't surprised to see Chloe standing on the other side.

"Hi Mr. Kent, Mrs. Kent," Chloe greeted politely. "I was wondering if Clark was feeling up to visitors today?"

"Not right now, he's…still asleep," Jonathan lied, thinking fast on his feet.

Judging by the look on Chloe's face, he didn't do a good job. But, thankfully, miraculously, she doesn't push the issue.

"Okay. Maybe I'll stop by later," Chloe said and Jonathan nodded.

"We'll let him know you stopped by. Have a good day Chloe," Martha said kindly, no hint of her earlier breakdown visible as she addressed her son's best friend kindly.

"You to Mrs. Kent, Mr. Kent," Chloe said, walking back to her car.

As Jonathan closed the door, Chloe frowned. Something was clearly wrong; she could see it in Jonathan and Martha's eyes. It was like now that she knew Clark's secret, she could see everything so much clearer. She just wish she knew how to help.

Manhattan

Late morning

Clark held the secret map; drawn from memory, that he had seen hidden behind the Manuscript, out for Virgil to see.

"It's the only lead I have," Clark said and Virgil frowned.

"Well, we have work to do it seems," Virgil finally said.

Not very long, I know, but this was mostly to set up next chapter, which will be much longer.