"Prototype"

Original Air Date on May 10, 2007

The scene starts in space, with a sweeping view of a Luthorcorp satellite, then the view slowly zooms in towards Earth, finally settling on the underground headquarters of Project Ares.

In the underground tunnels, a team of soldiers is preparing for a firefight, as sirens blare.

Bartlett: Take your squad. Sweep the perimeter.

Security Guard Leader: Go.

Lex: What's our status?

Bartlett: Security breach ... Northeast sector.

Lex: What have the surveillance cameras picked up?

Bartlett: Not a damn thing.

Lex: Anything comes down this tunnel, kill it.

Lex quickly walks away from the commotion, into the command center of the facility where the lead 33.1 scientist are waiting.

Lex: Contact?

As they watch the computer terminals, the threat level is raised in successive sections of the facility, as the surveillance camera for each section goes to static with the word, "Compromised."

Barlett: Tunnel 7. Wait.

Computer Voice: Section "F" compromised.

Lex: Lock it down.

Sirens continue to blare, as they watch a firefight on the security monitors.

Computer Voice: Section "D" Compromised.

Barlett: That's only 30 meters from here. [ Gunfire ]

Computer Voice: Section "C" Compromised.

Barlett: 20 meters. 10.

Computer Voice: Section "B" Compromised.

33.1 Scientist: Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Computer Voice: Section "A" Compromised.

Lex pulls out a gun as the door to the nerve center bursts open and Lex empties the clip. The bullets are stopped by a force field which advances on Lex, then a soldier appears, uncloaking himself, and quickly turns it on him, then stops.

Wes Keenan: Mission accomplished. Standing by for further instructions.

33.1 Scientist: Vitals are steady. He didn't even break a sweat.

Lex: 2 minutes, 18 seconds to infiltrate a secured facility, disable my best men, and eliminate the target. [ Lex chuckles, then turns back to face the scientist and Bartlett ] Not a bad test run. Get some fresh guards. I want to see him do it again.

Cut to Lex walks into the study where Lana is arranging some flowers in a vase.

Lex: We have about a dozen people that could do that for you.

Lana: Next thing you know, they'll be brushing my teeth for me. There are some things I'd rather do on my own.

Lex: Independent and not afraid to get her hands dirty ... two of the billion or so reasons I fell in love with you.

He puts his hand on her shoulder and she winces in pain.

Lana: The shoulder's just still a little bit sore.

Lex: Maybe we should have the doctor look at it again.

Lana: No, it's okay.

Lex: Lana, you were shot.

Lana: Takes more than a bullet to stop a Luthor.

Knock on door

Bartlett: Sir, Senator Burke has arrived.

Lex: Show him in.

Lana: You've been seeing a lot of the Senator recently.

Lex: The price of doing business with the government. But this will just take a minute.

Lana: I'll be in the garden. Senator.

Senator Burke: [ To Lana as she is walking out ] Mrs. Luthor. [ To Lex ] I hope I didn't interrupt a tender moment.

Lex: If you had, you'd still be waiting outside.

Senator Burke: I'm not gonna keep you from your pretty lady. I just, uh... swung by for an update on Ares.

Lex: The prototype is in the final stages of testing. Everything's on schedule.

Senator Burke: Really? I heard everything was ahead of schedule ... way ahead. I stuck my neck out to get the Armed Services Committee to allow you access to military resources and personnel to R&D a single prototype, but you've started gearing up for mass production.

Lex: Just looking towards the future, Senator. I assumed a visionary like you would understand that.

Senator Burke: How long do you think you're gonna be able to keep what you've really got going on here a secret? See... one of my own men believed he uncovered a mole right in your backyard.

Lex: Who?

Senator Burke: Well, I wish I could tell you, but my boy doesn't talk too good with a bullet through his heart.

Lex: [ Chuckles ] Senator, if there are leaks in my security, I assure you, I will have them taken care of.

Senator Burke: Well, doesn't that just fill me with the warm fuzzies? Do you know what'll happen to me if the Senate ever got wind of what you're up to now?

Lex: I assume they wouldn't care for it... just like they wouldn't care for all the money I've transferred into your Cayman account over the last year.

Senator Burke: Project Ares is over. I'm shutting it down.

Lex: That would be ill-advised.

Senator Burke: No. What's ill-advised is you ever opening your mouth about our arrangement. I so much as hear a peep out of you, I'll make sure the Committee reviews every business deal Luthorcorp has made in the last 20 years, and you'll be lucky to keep that fancy shirt on your back. Do we understand each other... Luthor?

Lex: Perfectly.

As the Senator leaves, we can see Lana standing outside the study, listening to the conversation just ended.

Cut to Lionel is sitting in his office at Luthorcorp Headquarters, watching the video of the Phantom that Lana retrieved from Lex's Ares disc. In front of him are an array of papers with Kryptonian writing on them.

Unidentified woman: Greetings from Patagonia, the most beautiful place on earth. What is that?

Lionel freezes the frame on the image of the Phantom, then resumes scribbling on the Kryptonian symbols. After a moment, Clark walks in and Lionel closes the laptop.

Clark: We have to talk.

Lionel: Clark, you should, uh, try picking up the phone occasionally ... might be quicker. Oh, but maybe not.

Clark: What do you know about Lana?

Lionel: [ Chuckles ] Letting go ... never been one of your strong points, was it?

Clark: Telling the truth was never one of yours.

Lionel: And you're accusing me of what, exactly, this time?

Clark: Lana came to me the day of the wedding to tell me she wasn't going through with it, that she was leaving Lex.

Lionel: Apparently, she changed her mind.

Clark: Or someone changed it for her.

Lionel: So, you think I had something to do with her decision?

Clark: If Lana was so unhappy with Lex, why go through with the marriage?

Lionel: It's surprising, Clark, what people will do when they, uh, feel they have no other options.

Clark: If I find out that you had anything to do with Lana marrying Lex, the gloves will come off. How do you like that option?

Cut to Lois and Chloe are in the Talon, and Chloe is looking glum.

Lois: Triple espresso mocha cappulatte ... my own invention, guaranteed to put the zip-a-dee back in your doo-dah.

Chloe: Thanks.

Lois: Come on. It's not that bad. Jimmy is coming back one day... maybe. You know, besides, distance is good for the relationship. That is what all the guys who've moved away from me have said.

Chloe: Lois, you should really stick to investigative reporting and out of the advice column.

Lois: That's the plan. [ Clark walks into the Talon ] Hey, Smallville. Love to hear about the cows and the corn, but I got a lead on a dirty Senator that needs to be hosed down. See you on the front page.

Clark: She going after a Senator?

Chloe: I guess so. She hasn't told me much about it.

Clark: Lot of that going around lately.

Chloe: Was that jab directed at my chin?

Clark: I went to Lionel to ask about Lana.

Chloe: What did he say?

Clark: Nothing, just like you.

Chloe: [ Sighs ] Clark, I ...

Clark: Chloe, you know what Lex is really like. Did you forget what he did to you, what he did to your mother?

Chloe: No, I haven't forgotten.

Clark: I don't want anything to happen to Lana.

Chloe: Neither do I. But if she's staying in that marriage, all I can say is, she must have a damn good reason.

Cut to Lois is in an alley, apparently behind a restaurant, standing next to a parking attendant.

Lois: Are you sure about this?

Parking attendant: Got the reservation. Eats here every time he's in town. [ A black limosine pulls up ] Voilà.

Lois: [ Lois hands him a folded up bill ] Thanks for the tip.

Lois: Senator Burke.

Senator Burke: How do you do?

Lois: Lois Lane, reporter. I was hoping to ask a few questions.

Senator Burke: Sure. Schedule an interview with my office.

Lois: You know, I tried to, but no one returned my calls.

Senator Burke: Well, that ought to tell you something, sweet cakes.

Lois: Senator, last year, your salary was $150,000. Can you tell me how you managed to deposit over $5 million in a Cayman account?

Senator Burke: What paper did you say you work for, uh, miss...

Lois: Lane ... Lois Lane. I'm a reporter for the Inquisitor.

Senator Burke: The Inquisitor? That's not a newspaper. That's a ... that's a cat-box liner. Now get her out of here.

Lois is grabbed the security team for the Senator and struggles to get free.

Lois: Hey, get your hands off me, you fascist! I'm warning you! If you don't ...

Suddenly, the bodyguard holding Lois puts his hands to his throat, which has been slit. Then the other body guard is thrown by an unseen assailant across the alley and lands on the car, shattering the windshield. The Senator grabs a gun and points into space, still not seeing the attacker. After a moment, he seizes up and a figure appears behind him. The Senator slumps to the ground and we can see Wes Keenan, holding a bloody knife. When he advances on Lois, she recognizes him and calls his name.

Lois: Oh, my God. Wes?

Sirens wail in the distance, and Wes leaves the scene, disappearing in front of her eyes.

Cut to

Clark: Chloe, what's going on?

Chloe: You haven't heard? Senator Burke was murdered.

Clark: What?

Chloe: Yeah, it looks like Burke was in bed with La Familia. He crossed them. They gave him the Fredo treatment.

Clark: A mob hit.

Chloe: Well, all evidence points to that, but there is one witness who doesn't think so.

Clark: Lois?

Chloe hands her a cup of coffee.

Lois: Thanks.

Clark: What happened to you?

Lois: Uh, well, one minute, I was harassing a public official, and the next, he came out of nowhere, like a ghost. Burke and his men never had a chance.

Clark: Y-you saw who did this?

Lois: Yeah, I did more than see him, Clark ... I know him. His name's Wes Keenan. We were army brats together when we were kids.

Chloe: I'm running a check on his name.

Clark: Looks like he works for the mob now.

Lois: Wes? No way. He's career military. He's been decorated more than a Christmas tree. Even my dad loved him, and the General hates everybody.

Clark: Lois, are you sure the man you saw is Wes Keenan?

Lois: I haven't seen him for years, but he has this little scar above his right eye, and ... trust me. It was Wes.

Chloe: Not according to the U.S. Government. He was in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan four months ago. He was killed in action.

Lois: No, that is not possible. I know what I saw.

Clark: What else does it say?

Chloe: Nothing. I mean, his military records have been classified.

Cut to Lex is standing in the Project Ares nerve-center near Reeves Dam, looking over the shoulder of his main scientist.

Lex: What is that?

33.1 Scientist: His alpha wave just spiked for a second. It's probably just feedback from the implants in his cortex.

Lex: Probably?

33.1 Scientist: It's nothing to worry about. Everything's still holding within operational parameters.

Lex: Make sure it stays that way.

Bartlett: Sir. Just received information that Burke has been eliminated.

Lex: Evidence trail?

Bartlett: Leads straight back to the mob, per your instructions. There's been a complication. There was a witness.

Lex: Nothing can get in the way of completing this project ... nothing. Take care of it.

Lex leaves the room.

Bartlett: You heard the man. Prep him.

Cut to

Clark: Lois, quit being stubborn. You're gonna stay here until we get this cleared up.

Lois: Thanks, but I can take care of myself.

Martha: Nobody's doubting that, but you'd be safer here at the farm.

Clark: It'll be like old times, like when you first got to Smallville.

Lois: Oh, you're just hoping to catch me in the shower again. [ Martha looks at both of them, her eyes growing large ] I-I mean, um, thank you. I-I really appreciate it.

Martha: You're always welcome here, Lois. You're practically family.

Lois: Uh, well, since I'm being a burden, can I just ask one more favor?

Clark: What do you need?

Lois: Your mom's political influence. Look, do you think that you could use your connections to get a look at Wes' military jacket?

Martha: I thought you said that file was classified.

Lois: It is. I contacted the General, but, uh, he went all Cold War on me and said that I should drop it.

Clark: Well, he might have a point. Three men are already dead.

Lois: Which is why I have to get my hands on that file. It might explain why Wes is doing this.

Martha: Well, I've made a few friends in Washington. I don't know if they can help, but I'll see what I can do.

Lois: Thanks, Mrs. Kent.

Martha leaves the barn.

Clark: I know that look, and it's usually followed by you almost getting yourself killed.

Lois: This isn't just another story, Clark ... not this time. Wes and I ... we were close. I know it was him.

There is a sound in the corner of the barn.

Clark: Stay here.

Clark walks over to investigate but finds only a chair rocking.

Clark: Looks like it was just the wind.

Wes materializes from behind Clark.

Lois: Clark, watch out!

He punches Clark with incredible strength, sending him flying through the barn. He advances on Lois with a knife and looks ready to strike when Lois calls out to him.

Lois: Wes!

He stops immediately, looks at her strangely, then puts his arm around her neck and they both disappear as Clark looks on.

Cut to

Chloe: How could Lois have been kidnapped with you standing right there?

Clark: She just vanished, Chloe, literally.

Chloe: So, he could teleport, like Alicia?

Clark: This time it was different. It's more like what Graham Garrett could do.

Chloe: So, he can turn himself invisible?

Clark: Not just himself ... he took Lois with him. And it's not his only ability. When he hit me ... Chloe, I haven't felt anything like that since I went up against Titan.

Chloe: Clark, we need to find Lois before Wes ...

Clark: We will. Were you able to uncover anything about Wes that might be able to help us figure out where he took her?

Chloe: I haven't been able to retrieve any information from the military files, but I did run a cross-check on his name, and I found one hit ... Jodi Keenan.

Clark: Jodi Keenan? Isn't that the woman who tried to kill Lex in the tunnels?

Chloe: Guess who she's married to.

Clark: Wes?

Chloe: Looks like Jodi found out that Wes wasn't killed in Afghanistan.

Clark: And she followed the trail all the way back here to Lex.

Chloe: Okay, so, Wes is exhibiting multiple krypto-abilities. And according to Lois, he's also on the receiving end of some sort of mind control. How much do you want to bet that all of this plays into Lex's 33.1 experiments?

Clark: Chloe, I need you to contact Oliver and his team. They've been taking out 33.1 facilities all around the world.

Chloe: Don't you think that's a hero-to-hero phone call?

Clark: I'm gonna talk to Lex.

Chloe: Clark, come on. We both know that Lex isn't gonna tell you anything.

Clark: Then I'll find somebody who will.

Cut to Lana walks into the bedroom where Lex has prepared a huge array of lit candles.

Lex: Too much?

Lana: No, it's...

Lex: I thought maybe if I set the mood... [ He leans in to kiss her, but she turns her head away ] or maybe not.

Lana: Lex...

There is a knock on the door, and Lex answers it. Lana looks relieved for the interruption.

Bartlett: Sorry to bother you, sir. The asset failed to return.

Lex: I'll be right back.

Lex closes the door to the bedroom, and Clark superspeeds into the bedroom, standing behind Lana.

Clark: [ Whispers ] Lana.

Lana: You shouldn't be here. Lex is just outside.

Clark: I had to see you.

Lana: Clark...

Clark: It's not about you and me. Lois is in trouble.

Lana: And what makes you think I can help?

Clark: 'Cause it seems there's a connection to Lex. Lana, if you've seen or heard anything ... maybe something about the military...

Lana: Ares.

Clark: That's the God of War.

Lana: Lex has been talking to Senator Burke about this military project called "Ares." Yesterday, he threatened to shut it down. Maybe you should talk with him.

Clark: I can't. Senator Burke is dead. He was murdered by the same man who has Lois. Lana, is there anything else ... maybe something that Lex let slip?

Lana: One of his men was just saying something about an asset that failed to return.

Clark: An asset? That's what the military calls its soldiers. Lex is connected to this. Lana, whatever reason you had to go through with the wedding, it was the wrong choice. You have no idea what he's capable of.

Lana: You'd be surprised what I know.

Clark: Then why are you still here?

Lana: We all have our secrets, Clark. Sometimes, we have to keep them to protect the people that we care about.

Clark: Lana...

Lana: I know.

Clark holds up his hand to her face, and she closes her eyes at his touch. He leans in closer, just as the door opens and Lex walks back in. In an instant, Clark is gone and Lana can't hide the look of surprise when she sees that Clark is gone.

Lex: Lana? You okay?

Lana: Yeah, yeah. I'm just a little chilly.

They both look over at the open window.

Lex: Look, something's come up. I need to go into the office. Don't wait up.

Lana goes over to the window and closes it, looking out on the grounds.

Cut to Lois wakes up in a warehouse and slowly gets to her feet. She looks around for a moment before being met by Wes.

Lois: Wes.

Wes: Designation incorrect. Call sign "Ares," prototype Mark IV.

Lois: You don't remember me, do you? It's Lois ... Lois Lane. My father is General Sam Lane. When I was a kid, he used to drag me around to all the bases that he was stationed at. One of them was Fort Addleson, where I met you. Do you remember how you got that scar? You used to tell everybody that you got it falling off your dirt bike. But that's not how it happened. We got into the General's whiskey. Then we broke into the storage warehouse. We were wrestling around, being stupid. And I kissed you... the first time I ever kissed anybody. And you smiled your crooked smile. And then you puked and passed out and cracked your head open on the floor. Never could handle your liquor, Wes.

Wes: Mission incomplete.

Lois: No.

Wes: Eliminate target.

Lois: Why did you bring me here? Think. Wes. This is Fort Addleson, okay? This is the warehouse. This is where I kissed you that night. Remember me!

Wes struggles against his conflicting emotions and his new programming. After a moment, his whole affect changes and he looks at Lois with a new sense of understanding.

Cut to Lex walks quickly into the Ares nerve-center.

33.1 Scientist: Mr. Luthor.

Lex: Three years and a billion dollars spent on Ares, and you're telling me you lost him?

33.1 Scientist: Well, we're in unchartered territory here, Mr. Luthor. Synthesizing multiple meteor abilities is difficult enough, but stringing together the molecular chain with peptides extracted from that creature that Bartlett recovered ...

Lex: The only thing that allows all these abilities to exist in one subject. Titan's genetic material was the key to making this project viable.

33.1 Scientist: Yes, which makes the results as unpredictable as the substances I'm being asked to work with.

Lex: What you're being asked to do is help protect the world, doctor. Unstable criminals with dangerous powers are becoming more and more common. Humanity's only chance of surviving the onslaught is this project. So, kick that big brain of yours into high gear and figure out what the hell went wrong!

33.1 Scientist: It's possible something might have triggered a decay in his memory blocks ... a familiar place or person.

Barlett: Can't you get a fix on him?

33.1 Scientist: The field he generates makes it impossible to track him electronically. It's part of his design.

Lex: I want our dog back on his leash, doctor, or you'll be my next experiment.

33.1 Scientist: Maybe I could reposition the Luthorcorp satellites... generate a broad-spectrum pulse that will, hopefully, re-initiate his command directives, but there's no guarantee.

Lex: I'm not asking for guarantees. I'm asking for results. I want Ares back online and his mission complete. Start the pulse.

Cut to Wes has regained much of his human consciousness, and speaks calmly with Lois.

Wes: I killed a United States Senator?

Lois: What happened? How did you end up like this?

Wes: I was stationed in Afghanistan. Our convoy hit an I.E.D. And then I woke up in the military hospital. That's when Luthor showed up.

Lois: Lex. [ Sighs ] I should have known. He forced you into this, didn't he?

Wes: He offered me a way to keep serving my country.

Lois: By turning you into a brain-dead assassin?

Wes: You think this is what I signed on for? He told me Project Ares was gonna help soldiers protect themselves on the field, so they wouldn't end up like I did.

Lois: We won't let him get away with this, I promise you. Okay, we will expose Lex and Project Ares.

Wes starts to feel the pulse and struggles against his programming.

Lois: What? What? What is it? What?

Wes: [ Strained ] Them ... they're trying to get back into my head.

Lois: Well, fight it, Wes. Look at me. Look at me!

Wes: Run. Run!

Lois runs away from him, searching for an escape. After a moment, he straightens, his human emotion gone from his face, and disappears.

Cut to

Clark: I think Lex was experimenting on Wes, trying to make him into a super soldier.

Chloe: With pick-and-choose meteor powers ... Oliver told me pretty much the same thing.

Clark: Oliver knew about Wes?

Chloe: No. He found an earlier model in the Utah desert. It looks like this isn't the first time one of Lex's souped-up Rambos has gone AWOL.

Clark: Was he able to stop him?

Chloe: Barely. It took the equivalent of a mini-nuke to break through his force field. Clark, even if you find him, I'm not sure ...

Martha: Maybe this will help ... Wes' military jacket.

Chloe: How did you get that?

Martha: Called in a few favors and had to promise a couple dozen of my own.

Clark: Lois is right. Wes was a hero.

Chloe: He took her instead of killing her. You know if whatever programming they're using to control Wes is failing, maybe he'll go back to a place he remembers.

Martha: Somewhere he lived or ... or was stationed.

Clark: The military base that Wes grew up on was decommissioned a few years ago ... Fort Addleson, just outside of Metropolis.

Chloe: Sam Lane was stationed there when Lois was in junior high. Maybe that's where ...

Clark has heard enough and speeds out of the room, leaving Chloe and Martha to just look at each other.

Chloe: Do you ever get used to that?

Martha: Not really.

Cut to Lois is running to find a way out. She runs toward a door that shuts before she can reach it.

Lois: Wes? You have to fight this. Don't let them do this to you again. You are not a murderer. Please. Wes.

As she speaks, we can see Lois from Wes' point of view as he stands in front of her, invisible. He reaches out his hand and puts it around her throat, choking her. She goes unconscious just as Clark arrives, catching her as she falls to the ground.

Clark looks around for Wes but sees nothing. Clark carries Lois and sets her down, then looks around the warehouse. He turns around and Wes punches him again, sending him flying. Clark gets up, dazed, and looks around again, finally spotting Wes up in the rafters. Wes jumps down at Clark with super speed, knife raised but Clark uses his heat vision to penetrate Wes' force field, sending him flying back across the warehouse, where he lands near Lois. Lois stirs awake and goes to Wes' side.

Lois: Wes.

Wes: System... damaged. [ Grunting ]

Wes: Turn protocol 38529532...

Lois: Wes.

Wes: ...38. [ Grunting ] Lois.

Lois: You're gonna be fine. Do you understand me? You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna go get help, all right?

Wes: No. Better this way. They'll never... stop trying... to control me.

Lois: You have to stay with me. Do you hear me?

Wes: Don't... let them do this... to anyone else. Okay?

Lois: Okay. I promise, but you just stay with me, okay? Don't leave me. [ Wes' eyes close ] Wes? No, no, no. No. [ Crying ] Wes? Wes! Come on! Don't leave me!

Cut to Clark is sitting in his kitchen, looking over Wes' file.

Clark: How does this happen? All Wes wanted to do was serve his country, and wound up being used as a pawn.

Martha: It happens more than I'd like to think.

Clark: Well, now that Senator Burke is gone ...

Martha: Oh, Burke isn't the only one on the Hill lining his pockets. Wherever there's power, there will be men like Lex to exploit it.

Clark: Maybe you can do something, maybe open an investigation.

Martha: Clark, I'm a little fish in a tiny pond. My influence doesn't reach nearly that far up.

Lionel: Then perhaps it's time to extend that influence. I just got off the phone with the Governor. We were talking about your filling Burke's Senatorial seat until the next election.

Martha: Me?

Lionel: Kansas needs to be represented by someone of unassailable character who can restore the faith that Burke has tarnished. The Governor agreed. You are the perfect choice for the U.S. Senate. ... you agree?

Clark: You should do it, mom. I think you should do it. And I think dad would have wanted you to.

Martha: [ Sighs ] I-I can't move to Washington. We're barely keeping the farm running as it is.

Lionel: Clark can take care of that. Can't you, Clark?

Clark: I could lease out the back 40 to Ben Hubbard. He's been wanting to work that land for years.

Martha: Oh, Clark.

Clark: You and dad always taught me to put other people first, to use my abilities to help those in need. You have the chance to affect so many people, to change so many lives if you go to Washington. That's where you need to be if you really want to make a difference, mom. And it's where people like Wes need you to be.

Cut to

Lex: I don't care what it takes. I want the body transported to the lab immediately. Make it happen.

Lana walks into the study.

Lex: Hey, you're up.

Lana: For a while now. You never came home last night.

Lex: There was an unforeseen complication with Project Ares.

Lana: Ares?

Lex: The secret military project I was discussing with Senator Burke yesterday... when you were listening outside the door.

Lana: Lex, I'm sorry. There is no excuse. My curiosity got the best of me.

Lex: You're not a cat, Lana. Don't skulk around like one.

Lana: It won't happen again.

Lex: Every time I've opened my heart to someone I care about, I've ended up being very disappointed. If ... if you ever betrayed me... I don't know what I'd do.

Lana: I'd never hurt the man I love.

Lex: [ Chuckles ] Of course not. But if there's anything you ever want to know about my business dealings... just ask.

Lana: No secrets?

Lex: No secrets.

Cut to

Chloe: "Mrs. Kent Goes to Washington." Well, if anyone can give Jimmy Stewart a run for his money...

Clark: I just wish Lionel wasn't helping her.

Chloe: What, you think the king of ulterior motives may have something up his Armani sleeve?

Clark: When doesn't he? Just, right now, his son's a bigger problem.

Chloe: That's the understatement of the century. I mean, we've always known Lex has a dark side, but with what he's been doing recently, we're headed towards pitch black.

Clark: I want to make sure that Lana's nowhere near him when the lights go out.

Chloe: Hopefully, he'll be behind bars long before that. I mean, Lois is meeting the Feds at the morgue. And once they connect Wes' body with Lex and then Burke's murder...

Lois walks into the Daily Planet.

Lois: Don't hold your breath. Wes' body's gone

Chloe: What about the Feds? I mean, what did they say when you told them what happened?

Lois: I work at the Inquisitor ... you know, aliens, Bigfoot, Elvis. What do you think they said? As far as they're concerned, Wes Keenan died in action four months ago.

Clark: Just like it said in his file.

Lois: He deserved better than this.

Clark: Lois, I'm sorry.

Lois: Don't be sorry for me. Be sorry for Lex. He's gonna pay for what he did to Wes, and I'm gonna make damn sure that he doesn't do this to anyone else.

Lois walks defiantly out of the Daily Planet.

Cut to Lex is back at Ares Headquarters, standing over the body of Wes Keenan on an autopsy table.

Lex: [ To Wes ] You were almost perfect. [ To the scientist ] Take him apart. I want to know exactly what went wrong so we don't make the same mistake next time.

33.1 Scientist: Quantitating the abnormality won't do us any good, Mr. Luthor. We used up nearly everything we harvested from Titan. There aren't enough alien peptide sequences to continue the project.

Lex: I'm already working on procuring a replacement. I promise you, doctor, this isn't the end of Project Ares. This is just the beginning.

Lex triggers a switch and a series of lights go on in a huge room, showing dozens of bodies being held in suspended animation.

End