-Chapter Fourteen-

The Wieght of the World

Everyone watched Buffy as she stormed out to hospital, a stern look in her eyes which held back the pain eating away at her. It had been under five hours and she was losing her family. Dawn had been kidnapped by an alien artificial intelligence and now her mother was dead. What a day Buffy was having, and it wasn’t even a Tuesday. A thought occurred in her to run, run and leave everything but hehind, but that thought was deafened by a screaming sound in her head, it was Dawn. That was the picture that was keeping her from running; Dawn in trouble, Dawn dying, Dawn dead. She had to stop Brainiac. She had to stop Lex. She had to save the world.

It was as simple as that.

It was what she did.

It was why she was here.

“It’s not going to be simple to find her,” Giles said as they all stood in the Magic Box, forming some sort of plan. “According to Lionel, the key must be opened at a specific time and a specific place.”

“How many hours do we have?” Buffy said leaning against one of the shelves.

“Three Hours,” Lionel said grimly, “three hours until the red sun aligns with our galaxy. The red sun comes into alignment with our planet every five years. The Phantom Zone is powered by the red sun, its what strips Krpyonians of their powers. The key mixed in with the red sun was used to open and close the zone.”

“Where will he open the Zone?” Clark asked.

“It seems almost uncanny but, LuthorCorp,” Lionel shrugged thoughtfully, “its almost like the building was built for this very reason.”

“Or it could be just an amazing coincidence,” Willow replied.

“At least we know were she is,” Buffy said.

“What’s your plan?” Clark asked her ready to shoot off.

“We go in you take on Brainiac and I get Dawn,” Buffy said bluntly, it was the only plan she had, she’d wing it when she got there. “All that matters is that we stop Brainiac from opening that portal and killing Dawn.”

“We still have to stop Lex,” Lionel said dully, “Brainiac has given him powers. I doubt even your Slayer strength could stop him.”

“Your right, I mean I was tired after five minutes of fighting those two Kryptonians,” Buffy said glumly realising she was limited to what she could do, “You don’t have any Kryptonite lying around do you?” she asked Lionel somewhat jokingly.

“My entire stock has been depleted, I can only suspect that Brainiac has wiped them out so there is nothing to stop Zod when he is released,” Lionel said softly and with frustration.

“Then it’s up to me,” Clark said boldly.

“You’re fighting Brainiac,” Buffy snapped harshly.

“Lex is my problem,” Clark replied stubbornly.

“And he’s been a problem to me ever since I met him,” Buffy replied, “he’s both our problem.”

“He’s my... friend,” Clark said through a pause, that word seeming so distant now after all this time.

“Really?” Buffy replied raising an eyebrow at him knowingly, “cos last time you spoke about him, you seemed more like enemies.”

Clark paused. He didn’t know what to say. He knew she was right.

“Fine,” Clark conceded, “but take Willow. Magic should have an affect on him.”

“And you didn’t tell us this, why?” Buffy groaned irritably.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Giles snapped standing up, “we’ve talked about every aspect except one. What if we defeat Brainiac but he’s already opened the portal? How do we close it?”

“I-I don’t know okay?” Buffy cried, “All I know is that I’ve gotta get to Dawn before that even happens.”

“There is something I neglected to mention,” Lionel interrupted, “once the portal opens, it will stay open until it is closed. The only way to close it is to destroy the key. Dawn does not know how to control the key, she won’t be able to close it.”

“We’re not killing anyone,” Clark snarled. “This isn’t up for discussion.”

“Yes it is!” Giles growled, “what lies in the Phantom Zone is an army of super powered beings! Kryptonians, Martians and aliens spanning across the Galaxy! You will both die unless that portal is closed! Dawn will die!”

“Then the last thing she will see is me fighting for her,” Buffy hissed coldly and stubbornly.

“Both of us,” Clark said stepping forward, “all of us. Do you really want Dawn to die, Mr Giles?”

“What sort of...” Giles gaped at him outraged, “of course I don’t!”

“Then don’t dwell on the bad, fight for her,” Clark said looking at him purposefully, “The feelings you feel for Dawn are real. She is real. Joyce was right. I was right. Dawn is a person. No matter where she comes from.”

“Humanity isn’t just biological,” Giles chuckled weakly, “I can tell why Swann took a shine to you Clark. You are a Saviour.”

Clark blushed broadly.

“Whoa, I can feel the love and everything,” Xander chimed with a note of seriousness, “but we’ve got three hours. And we should be going.”

“It won’t take us as long as you think,” Willow said excitedly, “I can teleport us there remember.”

“Won’t that weaken you?” Buffy asked worriedly, knowing she’ll need Willow.

“I’ll be fine,” Willow said confidently. “I’ve done it before.”

“What about the ship?” Anya asked quickly.

“Ship? What ship?” Xander asked confused.

“The ship,” Tara said surprised she had forgotten.

“What ship?” Xander cried his confusion escalating.

“Brainiac’s ship,” Clark replied, “the ship Aethyr and Nam-Ek arrived in.”

“Oh,” Xander exclaimed understandingly.

“We should destroy it,” Lionel replied, “it’s core is Zod’s only way to reshape the planet once he’s freed. It’s in Warehouse 15 off the main round passed Metropolis. We destroy that and we slow Zod if he is freed.”

“Okay, its settled then,” Buffy said with command, “Xander, Anya, Tara you go to the Warehouse destroy the ship. Clark, Willow, Giles and me will go to LuthorCorp with Lionel.”