Reforged in the Sun: Clark Kent Reborn SI

The barn was still except for the faint hum of the Kryptonite finder, its glowing display throwing greenish light across the workbench. My shoulder throbbed where the creature's claws had torn through my hoodie, and though the scratches hadn't broken my skin, they were a sharp reminder of how close I'd come to being seriously hurt.

I leaned against the workbench, staring at the faint coordinates still blinking on the screen. They led to the fissure—the same place where I'd found the monstrous figure warped by Kryptonite exposure. It had attacked me without hesitation, almost instinctively, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just a mindless beast. There was something human in its eyes, buried beneath the rage.

And then there was the fissure itself. That green light, the unnatural pulsing… it wasn't just a Kryptonite deposit. It was something else. The fissure felt alive, and if the orb's coordinates had led me there, then it wasn't a random anomaly. It was a Kryptonian anomaly.

Jor-El, what have you left me to find this time?

I glanced at the orb still sitting on the workbench. Its smooth, metallic surface reflected the dim light of the barn. It had gone dark after generating the coordinates, but something told me it wasn't done yet. This was only the first piece of a larger puzzle.

The next morning, I sat on the porch steps of the farmhouse, staring out at the fields as the sun rose over Smallville. The golden light bathed the cornfields, but it couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest. The discovery at Crater Lake wasn't something I could handle on my own. If the fissure was connected to Kryptonian technology—and possibly something more dangerous—then I needed answers.

But I couldn't ask my parents, and I sure as hell couldn't ask Chloe or Pete. They wouldn't be able to help without putting themselves at risk. That left only one option, and I hated myself for even considering it.

Lex.

It wasn't the first time I'd turned to Lex for help, but it felt different now. He wasn't the same man I'd met on Loeb Bridge, the man I'd once believed could walk a better path. Over the years, his curiosity about me had grown darker, sharper, more dangerous. Still, Lex's resources and knowledge of cutting-edge science were unmatched. If anyone could help me identify the fissure without tipping off the world, it was him.

But trusting Lex was like handling Kryptonite—you had to be careful, or you'd get burned.

I arrived at the Luthor Mansion just after midday, the towering structure casting long shadows across the manicured lawn. The place looked more like a fortress than a home, with its gothic architecture and cold stone walls. As I stepped inside, the faint echo of my boots on the marble floor reminded me just how out of place I was here.

Lex met me in his study, leaning casually against his desk. He was dressed impeccably, as always, in a tailored gray suit that probably cost more than our tractor. A glass of scotch sat untouched on the desk beside him, and he offered me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Clark," he said, spreading his arms as if welcoming an old friend. "To what do I owe the pleasure? You don't usually stop by unannounced."

I hesitated, my hands shoved deep into my jacket pockets. "I need your help with something. Something… unusual."

Lex's expression shifted, curiosity lighting up his features. "Unusual? Coming from you, that's saying something. Go on."

I stepped closer, glancing briefly at the sleek laptop open on his desk. "I came across a… phenomenon near Crater Lake. Something underground. It's hard to explain, but I think it's connected to the meteor rocks."

Lex's brow furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. "A phenomenon? You'll have to be more specific, Clark."

I hesitated again, choosing my words carefully. "There's a fissure—a crack in the ground that's emitting some kind of energy. It's not just the Kryptonite. There's something else down there, and I need to know what it is."

For a moment, Lex said nothing, his sharp blue eyes studying me. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head, weighing the possibilities, the risks, and—most importantly—what he could gain from this.

"And you want my help to analyze it," he said finally. It wasn't a question.

"Yes," I said, meeting his gaze. "But this has to stay between us. I don't want anyone else involved—not LuthorCorp, not your scientists. Just you and me."

Lex's lips quirked into a faint smile. "You've got my attention, Clark. But you have to admit, it's a little strange coming to me with something like this. I thought you didn't trust me."

"I trust you to be curious," I said evenly. "And right now, that's enough."

Lex chuckled softly, pushing off the desk. "Fair enough. I'll need to see this fissure for myself. Let me grab a few things, and we'll head out."

By the time we reached the woods near Crater Lake, the sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting long, golden shadows across the forest floor. The hum in my mind grew stronger with every step, and I could tell Lex felt it too. His expression was calm, but his sharp gaze darted around, taking in every detail.

We stopped at the edge of the fissure, its sickly green glow casting an eerie light on the surrounding rocks. Lex knelt down, his gloved hand brushing the edge of the crack.

"This is remarkable," he said, his voice quiet but filled with awe. "The energy readings here are off the charts. It's not just radiation—there's something more. Something I've never seen before."

I glanced at him, my stomach tightening. "That's why I brought you here. I need to know what we're dealing with."

Lex reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek handheld scanner—one of LuthorCorp's latest toys, no doubt. He passed it over the fissure, his brow furrowing as the device began to beep softly.

"These energy signatures are… complex," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "Part organic, part crystalline. It's almost like…"

He trailed off, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't just a deposit, Clark. It's a structure. Something's buried down there."

I froze, my mind racing. A structure? That didn't make sense. Kryptonite was just a fragment of my homeworld, a byproduct of its destruction. How could there be a structure here—unless it wasn't natural? Unless it was Kryptonian.

Before I could respond, the ground beneath us rumbled, a low, deep vibration that sent loose rocks tumbling into the fissure. The glow from the crack intensified, and the pulse I'd felt before grew stronger, faster, like a heartbeat racing out of control.

"Lex, we need to go," I said, stepping back.

But Lex didn't move. His eyes were locked on the fissure, his expression a mix of fascination and something darker. "No," he said softly. "We need to find out what's causing this."

The rumbling grew louder, and suddenly, the shadow I'd seen before emerged from the trees. The creature. It let out a guttural growl, its glowing eyes locking onto us. Lex froze, his scanner dropping from his hand.

"Clark," he said slowly, his voice low. "What is that?"

"Something we don't want to mess with," I said, stepping in front of him. "Get back to the car. Now."

The creature roared, its body tensing as it prepared to charge. I clenched my fists, bracing myself for the fight. Whatever was buried beneath Crater Lake, it wasn't going to stay hidden for long.