"Mom?" " Happy birthday!" " Happy birthday!" "Happy birthday, sweetheart." "We got you, didn't we?" "Look." "And Lois even made her world-famous rum cake for you." "From scratch." " Wow, I never would have guessed." " You should have seen the first two." "Come on, presents before cake." "Come on, birthday boy." "Sit down." "Open it." "Wow." "Not that you're the "dear diary" "type... "" "...but since you keep everything to yourself I thought it might help." "And since I'm on an intern budget, I figured I could just..." "Thank you." "That's Dad's handwriting." "I found it in his desk." "Two tickets to the Wolverines game in Milwaukee." " Right behind home plate." " Yeah, your dad and his baseball." "There was no one in the world he'd rather watch a game with." "Thanks for the tickets, Dad." "I just wish that you were here to go with me." "Dad?" "Listen, I'm sorry I couldn't be at your birthday party to see the kind of man you're becoming." " Dad, everything I am is because of you." " Not everything." "There can be no more lessons." "You're gonna have to do this on your own." "I can't help you anymore." "You're gonna have to stop him." "Stop who?" "He's much worse than we imagined." "So many people..." "So many people are gonna die." "I don't understand." "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about Lionel Luthor." "What is he doing?" "He's gonna do something terrible." "Tell me, Dad, what am I supposed to do?" "I'm sorry, Clark." "But to save this world you've gotta kill Lionel Luthor." "Goodbye, son." "Dad?" "Dad?" "Dad, wait." "Clark, grief can play tricks on the mind." "Mom, I know what I saw." "It was Dad." "His spirit, his ghost, whatever you wanna call it." "Sweetheart, I see your dad all the time." "Every morning when I wake up I feel him beside me." "But it's not him." "And it's not his ghost." "It's my mind wanting it so badly I think he's really there." "Right now you're really angry with Lionel and maybe you want someone to say it's okay to get back at him." "Mom, this isn't the first time I've seen Dad." "It's a long story, but Lana was in trouble." "I tried to save her and had some sort of near-death experience." "I saw Dad." "He was the one who told me Lionel knew my secret." "That wasn't my imagination." "What if this wasn't either?" "If that's true, if it really was your father..." "Then what Lionel's up to is worse than just knowing my secret." "It would have to be, for your father to suggest taking someone's life." "One drip, one extra-hot double cap, no foam." " Sorry about the mess-up." " Don't worry." "I know how finicky that steamer can be." " Thank you." "Lois." "Hey." " Hey." " Running a delivery service?" " No." "Actually Chloe started short-circuiting so I..." " Save it, Lana." "It's okay." "There's only one extra-hot double cap, no foam in this town." "Runs by "Lex. "" "Walks in here like he owns the place." "Actually, Lois, he does own the place." "So are you his new assistant?" "No, not exactly." "No way." "I guess if you're in the market for a boyfriend..." ""... why" not Smallville's most eligible bachelor?" "He's not my boyfriend." "Look, I know I'm not versed in the whole girl-talk thing but I do have an unbiased ear." "And, I know what it's like to have a case of the bad-boy blues." "Okay, Clark, I am the president of Ghost Believers Anonymous but your dad Hamleting you?" " Chloe, I know how it sounds." " Hand me a cloak and call me Horatio." " Great." "Now what could be so bad that my Dad would want Lionel dead to stop it?" "Maybe it has something to do with him knowing where you really came from." "That's a part of it, but there's gotta be something more." "Well if Lionel is hatching some evil scheme it would explain why he's sitting on your secret." "Maybe something's already in motion." "Chloe, someone tried to blackmail my mom with footage of me using my abilities." " What?" "Guess which billionaire came to the rescue." "All right, say this ghost of your dad's is right." "And we dig through Lionel's closet and we find a smoking gun." "Then what?" " Depends what it was." " Would it?" "Is there anything we could find that would make Clark Kent kill someone?" "My helicopter's waiting, Dad." "What's so important?" "Obviously something you've got cooking in Honduras." "Although I doubt it's the banana daiquiris." "You've been racking up quite a lot of frequent flier miles, son." "Challenging upper management often leads to a bout of unemployment." "The welfare of your workers is the least of my concerns." "You're involved with Milton Fine." "I know he's been smuggling the deadliest viruses in the world into this country." " With your help." " Well, don't worry, Dad." "We're not gonna put them in any Halloween candy." "You're extremely nonchalant for a man whose collection of microorganisms could wipe out more than half of this country." "It's under control." "Your business partner's a man who seems able to appear at opposite ends of the Earth simultaneously." "How much control do you have over him?" "Your intel is impressive, but incomplete." "Shut the operation down, Lex." "Shut it down now." "Wherever you're incubating these viruses, you need to destroy them." "Milton Fine embodies a threat greater than you appear to realize." "You taught me." "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." "This is one enemy you don't know." "Not knowing who you're in bed "with... "" "...can make for a very uncomfortable awakening." "Well, I'll present that nugget to the board..." ""... when" they ask why I'm late." "Wait, Clark, the alarm." "I cloned the transponder from Lionel's key "port... "" "...so we could override the digital cipher." "I need a night life." "Look for anything my dad might warn me about." "Okay, it might take a minute." "I can't exactly search for a file called "My evil scheme. "" "Have you thought that if Lionel knows your secret he might have told..." "Lex?" "Knowledge is power." "Lionel would never level the field." "I guess this is one rare time when we have to put our faith in the Luthor family dysfunction." " Locked out." " Check his calendar." "All right." "I'm multitasking as fast as I can." " Leon Rowland?" " Who's that?" "Lionel has an interview tomorrow with the "Inquisitor's" top reporter regarding something called "The Weapon. "" "Then at the Pentagon." "Looks like the mysterious weapon is the hot topic this week." "Maybe it's not so mysterious." "Wait, you think that you might be the weapon Lionel's talking about?" "I bought us coffees." "But after a three-hour conversation with Lois, they got a bit cold." "I can't wait to read all about Lex and Lana in tomorrow's early edition." "She's not like that." "Believe it or not, she's a great listener." "And with everything that's been going "on... "" "...she's been a wonderful outlet for me." "It looks like I'm not the only one who needs an outlet." "Lana, something's happened." "I've been wrestling with whether or not I should let you in on it." "But, when all is said and done you're the one person in the world I can share it with." "I've been working on something." "Something bigger than either of us." " Lex, whatever it is, I trust you." " This isn't about trusting me anymore." "It's about trusting you." "It's about how deep you wanna get involved, and knowing when to say stop." "Lana, what I'm about to show "you... "" "...means you're all in." "A hundred percent." "What is this place?" "The future." "I'd like you to be by my side when it arrives." "You've been collecting viruses?" "The most deadly on the planet." "What are you gonna do with them?" "Change the world." "Lana, we've been able to alter the viruses transforming them into the ultimate vaccine." "One shot of this, and theoretically you'd be "protected... "" "...from any disease that could be unleashed." "Unleashed?" "By whom?" "Well, according to Fine the CIA believes the black spacecraft might be the first of many." "Listen, you need to keep this between the two of us." "Fine doesn't know we're developing the vaccine here." "I thought you two were working together." "Why don't you trust him anymore?" "Because I think he might be reporting back to something a little higher up." "You found the ship?" "I was tracking Fine and he led me directly to it." "But that's not the intriguing part." "These two photographs were taken a hundredth of a second apart." "Where did he go?" "Oh, my God." "Do you think he came out of that ship like the others?" "That's why I was going along with him." "I thought I could buy some time to find his weakness." "But I'm starting to think he doesn't have one." "He might." "After the meteor shower, when I found your dad in that strange trance he grabbed me, and he told me how to stop them." "Hi, this is the Kent residence." "Leave a message." "Martha, it's Lionel." "I know things are strained but something's going on that Clark needs to know about." "Please." "Call me as soon as you get this." "Jonathan." "How long, Martha?" "What?" "How long have you had feelings for Lionel Luthor?" "It's not like that." "I want you to be happy, sweetheart." "I've always "just... "" "Just wanted you to be happy but not with him." "Jonathan." "You know you're the only man I've ever loved." "It's "been... "" "...so hard without you." "Your voice, your touch." "I miss you so much." "I miss you too, sweetheart." "Why did you have to leave me?" "I'm sorry, Martha." "I didn't have any choice." "And soon, neither will a lot of other innocent people." "Are you talking about Lionel?" "What is it?" "What is he doing?" "He's going to drown you all in your own blood." "Just like he did me." "Like he did you?" "What...?" "Martha, I'm sorry." "But, you've got to tell Clark there is no other choice." "Lionel Luthor has to die." "Jonathan." "He has to." "Jonathan?" "He was standing right here." "Like he was still alive." "He said Lionel was gonna drown us all in blood." " What does that mean?" " I don't know." "Mom, I think it might have something to do with Lionel using me as a weapon." "But, Clark, you would never go along with that." "What if he found a way to control me?" "Maybe that's what Dad's come to stop." "All this time I thought Lionel was making up for his past." "Mom, it's not your fault." "Lionel has been manipulating all of us." "Clark, he said something else." "I think he meant Lionel had something to do with his death." "We've tracked Milton Fine to the Midwestern United States." "We're working to narrow his coordinates." "We'll let you know." " Sir, please be advised unofficial data..." " Good evening, Mr. Luthor." "May I?" "Please, help yourself." "Everybody else does." "Some say the toast came about by a man who feared that his drink had been poisoned." "But he was a quick-witted man." "He joyfully clanked his mug with the mugs of his mates sloshing his lethal beverage into everyone's drink with cheer." "A simple tap, then, must be a sign of trust." "I'm not really thirsty." "I thought we had an agreement." "You would inform me of the virus's progress." "But I seem to be shockingly cut out of the loop." "A fact you've probably known for weeks." "Come on." "You must have assumed I wouldn't inherently "believe... "" "...your CIA bluff." "And that's why I chose you." "For your insatiable distrust and your propensity for covering all the bases." "I'm sure you didn't waltz in "here... "" " ... thinking I'd just roll over." " No, not you." "Not without a bone." "I'll take the truth." "I assure you the vaccine is processed and ready." "But I'd be foolish to hand it over to someone whose agenda is still up for grabs." "Lex, it's a vaccine." "What threat could it possibly pose?" "Now, that's a question I've been asking myself for weeks." "I'm hoping this will help me get a few answers." "Close..." ""... but" I'm not one of them." "I was only made by them." "Where's the vaccine?" "Before I tell you this, promise you'll keep "cool... "" "...and backburner those "American Psycho" instincts, okay?" "Chloe, what is it?" "I pulled up your dad's phone records." "Unless Lionel was selling long-distance plans he was desperate to get ahold of your dad." "There are at least 20 calls logged in those last few weeks." "Dad said he died protecting my secret." "Maybe that's how he found out Lionel knew about me." "When did the calls stop?" "They didn't." "Lionel talked to your dad an hour before he died." "Think Lionel was congratulating him?" "Not unless he did it in person." "Lionel's call came through a tower in Jansen's Field." "That's only a mile away from your house." "Lionel was there?" "Lionel was there the night my dad died." "Clark." "I'm glad you called." "Thank you." "We don't have much time." "Is this where it happened?" "Is this where you met my father the night he died?" "Yes." "Yes, it is." "I had to talk to him." "It was important." "He found out, didn't he?" "He found out about your plan to use me as a weapon." "A weapon?" "No." "Clark, no, it..." "What did you do to him?" "Clark, I wanted to help him." "He needed an ally but he took it the wrong way." " You killed my father." " No." "Clark..." "What happened, he wouldn't go along with the plan?" "You pushed." "You pushed him till his heart gave out." " Listen to me, Clark." " I will never be anyone's weapon." " You're not the weapon." "It's not you." " Lies." "That's all he's gonna tell you, son." "Gonna have to kill him before he gets the chance." " Listen to me, Clark." " Shut up!" "Do it, Clark." "Do it." " You killed him." " Yes, he killed me." "So go on, son." "Avenge my death." "Your father would never make you a murderer." "Kill him!" "Listen to me, Clark." "Listen to me." "Clark, I know this is very difficult for you but you have got to kill Lionel Luthor!" "Clark Kent, kill him now!" "You know I asked you to do one simple thing." "This is what I get." "You're a tremendous disappointment to me, son." "You're not my father." "Well, it looks like I might have underestimated you, Kal-El." "Catch!" "It would be so easy to snap your neck just like a twig." "But I still need you." "Who are you?" "I'm the guy that's gonna help bring this world to its knees." "Don't touch me." "Don't do it." "Don't do..." "What...?" "What just happened?" "I was fairly certain Milton Fine was a Kryptonian..." ""... but" I didn't realize that shape shifting..." ""... was" one of the Kryptonian's miraculous abilities." "It isn't." "Then Fine's not a Kryptonian." "Clark, it is important to both of us that we keep this from Lex." "Look, Fine was created by Kryptonians, and he's already been destroyed twice." "Twice?" "Some sort of self-replicating entity, it's incredible." "That's one word for it." "Why was he so afraid of you?" "And how were you able to destroy him, just by touching him?" "I..." "I'm not sure." "But..." "I feel the answers could lie somewhere in here." "Where did you find all this?" "I didn't find it." "I wrote it." "And whatever voice I'm "channeling... "" "...I believe that what I wrote is meant for you." "So hell freezes over and no one bothers to tell me?" "Chloe, listen." "Mr. Luthor has been writing these." "Seems to be some sort of warning, but I can't decipher it." "Unfortunately my Kryptonian's rusty." "What about...?" "I don't know what any of this means." "I am simply the oracle." "The answers could be found with a visit to your Fortress." "Last time someone talked me into taking them it was a trick to release General Zod." " I have plans this weekend." "So if we could protect Smallville from Krypton's deadliest villain, great." "Ancient hieroglyphics were deciphered by finding repeated..." "Repeated patterns." "I know." "So let me scan this and see if we got any." "Why would Fine wanna expose himself now?" "He's afraid I'm going to help you." "To stop what he and Lex are planning to do." " Which is what?" " Fine has been helping Lex to develop a virus so lethal, it could bring humanity to the brink of extinction." "LuthorCorp scientists completed the project today." "So the weapon isn't Clark, it's this virus." "Yes." "What the pattern is trying to warn me against." "I have a strong sense that this warning I have been entrusted to pass on is related to something more terrible even than the virus." " Maybe the virus is just a part of it." " Yeah." " Do you have access to the lab?" " I don't know where it is." "I think we know someone who does." "What are you doing?" "Smooth one, Smallville." " Something I have to talk to you about." " How did you get in here?" "I think I just heard a keg being tapped." "I'm gonna go check it out." "I shouldn't be going through your stuff..." ""... but" you're involved in something dangerous." "Worried I'm involved in it, or in it with Lex?" "No." "Lana, this has nothing to do with my feelings." "Lex doesn't know what he's gotten himself into." "Neither do you." "You break into my place and you expect me to believe anything?" "Lex is in trouble." "And if you care about him at all, you'll tell me where that lab is." "Before it's too late." "Impressive." "Looks like I underestimated your willingness to tackle a non-profit venture." "Well, LuthorCorp doesn't take the threat of an alien Armageddon lightly." "You were never gonna create a vaccine for humans, were you?" "Is that what you think?" "It was gonna be your way of protecting extraterrestrial guests when they arrive and unleash some horrible disease on us." "So you went behind my back, mass-produced the vaccine for mankind." "I wanted to give my people a chance before you got your dirty hands on it." "I applaud your noble efforts to protect your species." "Unfortunately, it's all based on faulty assumptions." "I never intended to mass-produce the vaccine." "One dose is all I ever needed." "Let the rest of the world find its own cure." "I'm not sure what to tell you, Mr. Luthor." "Whatever you were injected with, it doesn't appear to have had any effect." "In fact, you've never been healthier." "Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence." "Thank you, doctor." "Are you okay?" "Yeah." "So I'm guessing that my father told you everything that happened at the lab." "You know, Lex, if you had listened to your father's "warnings... "" "...none of this would have happened." " None of what?" "All the viruses were destroyed." "And now LuthorCorp has a technology to create an extraordinary vaccine." "Lex, you were double-crossed." " Where's Fine right now?" " I don't know." "My operatives are scouring the globe." "Clark, I was the good guy here." "LuthorCorp spent over $ 10 million producing that vaccine." "One more thing, Clark." "Lana called me." "I don't wanna hear you were rifling through her stuff like a crazy roommate again." "If you want something from me, don't go running to Lana to find it." "You really crossed the line." "All those years we were friends were you waiting for me to step aside so you could make your move?" "I don't know, Clark." "All those years you told Lana you loved her were you just waiting to walk away and break her heart?" "There's a natural tendency to blame the person who's replaced you." "I get that." "But I didn't take Lana from you." "You lost her all by yourself." "Lionel?" "What are you doing here?" "I have to make a confession to you, Martha." "Martha, the..." "The night Jonathan was elected I..." "I called him." "So it's true." "I told him that I knew everything about Clark." "He was so angry, he..." "He never let me explain." "I wish I had a heart as full of strength and goodness as your son, Martha." "I don't." "But I want you to remember that I was at least honest with you." "In time, maybe you'll be able to forgive me." "I'm sorry if things got awkward." "I was hoping Clark wouldn't end up in all this." " I just don't wanna hurt him." " I don't either." "I care about him too." "But then I have to remind myself..." ""... that" Clark's specialty is barging in where he's not "invited... "" "...and then somehow making you feel like you're the one who should apologize." "Okay, I have a great idea." "How about a moratorium on the Clark topic?" "Twist my arm." "Don't tempt me." "You know, I still can't make sense of all this." "Why would you be asked to produce a super vaccine just to have it destroyed?" "I don't know." "But then again, I think like a red-blooded human." "Well, he was obviously preparing for something." "What happened?" "What happened?" "Are you okay?" "Yeah." "Never better." "I thought you'd be outside Lana's dorm with your binoculars by now." "I appreciate the concern." "Lana and I are none of your business." "Please, Smallville, I've had three exes put under military surveillance." "I'm hardly qualified to dish out post-relationship tact." "But it's time for some tough love." "Lana's going to move on." "She already has." "With Lex." "And it sucks." "But you gotta trust your gut that you did this for a reason." "Whatever reasons guys have for dumping hot, smart, fun girls these days." "Look, give her some space." "Your whole night-stalker routine that is gonna ruin any of the good feelings Lana has for you." "If there are any." "Look sometimes you gotta tuck your feelings away until it's the right time." "Like stuffing dollars into a piggy bank for a bike you can't quite afford." "Except, I can't imagine there is anyone else out there." "You never know, Clark." "Maybe when you finally crack open that piggy bank you'll find that you haven't been saving for a "bike... "" "...you've really been saving for a Harley." "There are times when I think you don't know me at all." "Others where I think you know me better than anyone." "Well, that's what I'm here for, Smallville, one save at a time." "And speaking of saving things..." " My cake." " Hello." "Your mom thought we might wanna share some of the leftover birthday cake." "Well, I'm sure there's a goat on this farm that will appreciate my knack for batter." "You handled the whole party thing really well, by the way." "Thanks." "The baseball tickets they hit me harder than I thought." "Yeah, but those tickets, they weren't your dad's only gift." "I mean, it didn't come with a big, pretty red bow but your dad raised you to be your own man." "That was his real gift." "And he gave that to you every day." "I thought you just came to get tipsy off of rum cake." "Yeah." "Actually, I came by for your Kryptonian dictionary." "I ran Lionel's symbols in that program and it came up with this pattern." "Three signs repeated 32 times." "What does it say?" ""Zod is coming. ""