Life In Smallville & Metropolis {10}

Chapter 13: Beacon

Liana's at the Daily Planet and she walks up to Tess and says, "Tess." Tess turns to face Liana and she says, "Yeah." Liana says, "It looks like you have been taking spin classes and not in the gym." Tess looks at Liana confused and says, "What are you talking about, Liana?" Liana says, "Censorship. I write an article against the VRA, and you turn it into venom for the vigilantes." Liana hands Tess the article and Tess looks at it and says, "I didn't approve this article. I... I didn't approve any of these articles." Liana says, "Well, if you didn't green light this garbage... who did?" Tess says, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Later, Liana walks into the Kent house with a bunch of supplies in her arms and she smiles when she sees Clark and she says, "Hi, Clark. Now, I still think newspaper is the number-one way to spread the word, but you can't beat door-to-door for the personal touch. I just single-handedly swayed 30 more votes in our favor." Clark says, "I love your enthusiasm, but I don't have much time for politics." Liana says, "Do you have time for your mom? Because a certain senator has been working overtime to overturn the VRA. Her cross-country campaigning has raised enough hero support to force a national vote." Clark says, "And I appreciate everything that she's done. But, Liana, the vote's tomorrow." Liana says, "Clark, don't give up on your game when there are seconds left on the clock." Clark says, "I'm still out there saving people whether they want me around or not." Liana grabs Clark's hand and says, "You need to see something." Liana brings Clark in front of the TV, and she turns it on, and a woman says, "A small motorcade has pulled up behind the podium. It looks like the keynote speaker has arrived. A major opponent of the VRA..." Liana looks at Clark and says, "Clark, you were so focused on flying under the radar that you lost sight of the skyline. A lot of people still believe in heroes. They just need something to give them the courage to come out and fight." A man on the TV says, "And now it is my great honor to introduce to you, she's your hero and mine." Clark says, "Or someone." The man says, "Please welcome Senator Martha Kent!" The crowd cheers and Martha steps up to the podium and says, "These are difficult times. With heroes being painted as criminals it's easy to lose hope. But if we don't speak up now, then when?" The crowd says, "That's right." Martha says, "My father always said, "Life only asks of you what you can handle." Sometimes we can't do it on our own. That's why we need to join together in this crusade like a family. So, that our united strength shines through the darkness like a beacon." The crowd say, "Yes." Martha says, "Inspiring others to find their voices." The crowd says, "Yeah!" Martha says, "None of us is born to hate. We're taught to. That's why we need heroes to remind is that we are all meant to fight for truth and justice." The crowd say, "Yeah!" Martha says, "To take a stand against fear and hate. To go to the polls tomorrow and vote down the VRA!" The crowd cheers and claps. Martha chants with the crowd, "Vote down the VRA! Vote down the VRA! Vote down the VRA!" Liana looks towards Clark and says, "See? There's still hope." Liana and Clark hear gun shots and see Martha got shot and Clark speeds out the room. Liana then calls Martha, and she says, "Are you okay?" Martha says, "I'm okay, really. Thank you for your concern. Oh, hold on a second." Martha hugs her son and Martha hears Liana say, "Clark, literally left in a hurry." Martha says, "I know, Clark does have a way of leaving abruptly. Um... I'm gonna stop by the farm later. Bye-bye." Later, Liana's on the phone while also taking her muffins out of the oven and she says, "Liana Lane, I called about doing a pro-hero piece for your paper. Well, then you really have no business calling yourselves fair and balanced now, do you?" Liana hangs up the phone and Martha walks inside and says, "Hi." Liana looks at Martha and says, "Hi. Oh, let me help you with that." Liana helps Martha with her suitcase and Martha says, "Thank you." Martha says, "I see you've been baking again." Liana says, "I thought, because of what you've been through this morning you know, you could use a little homespun sweetness." Martha says, "Aww, that's very thoughtful, Liana." Liana grabs a plate, grabs a blueberry muffin, and places it on the plate for Martha. Liana says, "I also compiled a list of the top ten possible shooters. Ray Sacks, Bruno Mannheim, they're all in there." Martha says, "Liana?" Liana says, "Yeah?" Martha softly smiles at Liana and says, "Don't worry. I've been impressed with you for years." Liana smiles and Martha grabs something for her purse and says, "This is for you." Liana grabs the box and says, "Really?" Liana opens the box and it's an infinity diamond ring. Martha says, "When I first came into the house, I was the city girl and Jonathan's mom was... particular. I didn't think I'd ever measure up to everything she'd been for him his whole life. But on our wedding day, she gave me that ring and said the thing she couldn't measure was Jonathan's happiness since he'd met me. But more importantly... you are a perfect fit for Clark. You always have been. You inspire him." Liana softly says, "I wish that I could inspire him a little right now. He just... He's losing hope. And I need to reach more people but all of my journalistic jump shots keep getting blocked." Martha says, "Did you know Perry White started out fighting for his causes as an outsider? He didn't think much of the conventional media, so he printed pamphlets out of a storage unit." Liana smiles and says, "Storage unit? That is so low-rent and so rebel." Later, Liana's in the storage room at the Daily Planet and she's looking through a box with a bunch of 70's rally supplies and she says, "God. Wow." Liana finds a button pin that says, "Make love not war." Liana hears someone whisper, "Liana. Why am I at my Alma Mater? How am I supposed to be protecting heroes off the grid if I'm totally on everybody's radar? And what's with all the Woodward and Bernstein?" Liana looks at Chloe and says, "Actually, more like Perry and White. These are Perry's files." Chloe says, "Oh. That explains the smell of Old Spice and young ambition. I thought you'd be out campaigning right now." Liana says, "Actually, I'd rather be writing. But no one wants to print pro-hero prose. I needed inspiration, a way to blow down those power puff pieces pilling up against The Blur. And then it hit me like a banner headline. Go guerilla." Chloe says, "Okay, bad banana jokes aside. Liana, do you really think that you and I passing out a bunch of pamphlets is gonna actually defeat the VRA?" Liana says, "Actually, I had a different idea. I just need you to hack into a couple of national news websites." Chloe says, "How many?" Liana smiles and says, "All of them." Later, Liana brings Clark to the storage room where Chloe's waiting and she smiles and says, "Hey, you might want to take a look at this." Clark walks over to stand in front of a computer sees a blog about the The Blur and Clark reads, "'A beacon of hope, shining light on the truth?'" Liana smiles and says, "It's our answers to the VRA." Chloe presses play on the video and a guy pops up and says, "Hey, Blur, it's Brian. I like to consider myself a longtime supporter of these vigilantes as they like to call it now. All my hopes were confirmed when I saw that mysterious letter, S showing up everywhere. I knew it was you guys. And so, what it's worth, Blur, thank you. You've already changed my life. Keep fighting, no matter what." A next clip shows a woman, and she says, "I remember what it was like here in Metropolis before he came. You couldn't even walk the streets. But since The Blur came, we have hope. So, I just want to let The Blur know that there are still people who support him and I'm one of them." Another male pops up on the screen and says, "Being a hero isn't about being able to save every person from a mugging or-or pull someone from a burning building but to give people hope for a brighter tomorrow." Another female pops up and says, "The Blur is a symbol for integrity, morality, and selflessness. If you're listening to this, Blur thank you for everything." Another male says, "I want to be a hero to my kids. I want to be a hero that helps give them faith in themselves that they can accomplish greatness. Thank you for helping me believe that heroes can and do exist." Another male pops up and says, "Blur, I want to thank you. As long as you're doing what you're doing to keep the people of our hometown safe us boys and girls here can keep doing our jobs." Another male pops up and says, "I look at The Blur and his powers that he has they're amazing, to be sure of, but that's not what inspires me about him it's his character." Another male pops up and says, "When I see The Blur and others like him turn their differences into strengths... it gives me hope that one day I can do the same." A female says, "He's always there for us standing up for us and doing what's right. That's what a hero is. Somebody who stands up for others. And everybody has their favorite hero. Well, my favorite hero is The Blur. Thanks for being somebody that I can count on to do what's right. We love you, Blur. We're always here for you." Clark stops the video, and he says, "I can't believe they'd risk coming out to defend me." Chloe says, "You have no idea how much you mean to people, Clark Kent." Clark says, "But I don't think a couple hundred testimonials will be enough to change the vote." Liana smiles and says, "Try a couple hundred thousand. All of them willing to step forward for you. They just needed a place to be heard. You're an American hero, Clark." Liana and Chloe smile at Clark and he softly smiles.

The next day, everyone's in the living room waiting to see what the people have to say and the woman on the TV says, "The historic vote is of course the first of its kind with an unprecedented number of people going to the polls. And I've just been told, with all 50 states reporting in we can announce that the measure to repeal The Vigilante Registration Act... passed." Everyone smiles and Liana hugs Clark with a smile and he hugs her back also with a smile. Clark says, "Thank you." Liana pulls away, looks at Clark, and says, "You should thank your mom and Perry. They were my inspiration." Liana then gives Oliver a hug and then she gives Chloe a hug. Later, everyone walks into Watchtower, and they remove the plastic off the computers and Chloe opens the window. The team is back together and their ready for anything.

Note: Here's what the ring Martha gave Liana looks like.