Advisories: Language and violence.

X-Over Notice: This story crosses Smallville, Mutant X, Forever Knight, Xena and several Marvel characters.

Notes 1: Flashback sequence comes mainly from “The Last Straw” with pieces of “The Stand.” (Dubois first series)

Notes 2: Forever Knight belongs to Sony Tri-Star, the characters from Xena Warrior Princess belong to StudiosUSA and Universal. Smallville belongs to DC and the WB. Mutant X and the Marvel characters belong to Marvel; the latter also having ties to Tribune. Dark Angel belongs to its copyright holders.  Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .

Introduction [Amazon Village—ca. 88 AD]

Gabrielle, Bard-Queen of the Amazons, writes….

After our adventure with our counterparts, we all had a lot of thinking to do. In particular, David has locked himself away, piecing his way through the historical archives for the hidden ordeal of his junior year at the Amherst Upper Academy…I mean Amherst High School. As Xena and I have learned, it happened right after he and Karen returned from Smallville in 1982.

Worse of all, Adam Kane has taken this hard. They say we bear the scars of our younger days. For him, creating the murderer Gabriel Ashlocke wasn’t enough but what he allowed to happen to David haunts him. Karen has assured him that he did all he could but that will never be enough for Adam, especially after that night in Wabash.

In the process, we’ll discover why the Child knew Genomex so well when we went to free our friends almost four years earlier. We’ll learn of the hatred that Maison Eckhart holds for him and why he and the“GSA” went after David with such reckless abandon.

Why does the Faerie Empress hide these things from us? Doesn’t she realize that they come up eventually at the most inopportune times? For Adam, it’s time to face his demons. For David, it means another hurtful piece of his past and his rationale for forming the Community of Tolerance in Tucson years later.

Chapter 1
[Smallville—Kent Farm]

Lana and Melissa scurried around the house, dusting and vacuuming the front room. They figured a little “sister” time was a good thing. The tables gleamed after their wiping. The windows sparkled in the sunshine.

“That’s it,” Melissa declared. “It’s clean!”

Her sister-in-law shut off the vacuum and grinned. “It sure is. Mom’s going to love this.”

At that moment, Martha and Jonathan walked into the house and looked around in surprise.

Putting a bag of groceries down on the counter, Martha asked, “Did you two do this?”

“We did,” Lana admitted, hugging Melissa’s shoulders. “It was her idea. I was glad to help out. I hope we put everything back as it was.”

The older woman walked through the front room and kitchen, admiring the scene. “This is perfect!”

“I’ll say,” Jonathan complimented, approving of the scene. “Nice work both of you.”

“Thanks,” Melissa accepted, hugging both parents.

The two parents smiled at each other, once again realizing how lucky they were to have Clark, Melissa and Lana in their lives. “You’re welcome.”

“Hey, guys!” Clark greeted, remembering to take his boots off before entering the house. “What’s going on?” He looked around. “Mom, I thought you said that you needed to clean.”

“Not anymore,” his mother told him. “Thanks to Lana and Melissa.”

He grinned and hugged his wife and sister. “Why am I not surprised? It looks really good. I’m going to see if I can hold up my end in the barn.”

“Uh, Clark, before you do, can we talk for a minute?” Lana asked. “Melissa, can you excuse us all for a minute? Sorry it’s grown up stuff.”

Her sister-in-law rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait until I’m old enough to hear this stuff!” She tromped up the stairs and closed the door behind her.

“I hate to do that to her,” Lana noted, wincing. “Mom and Dad, we need to ask a question about before.”

“Before?” Jonathan wondered.

“As in 1981 before,” Clark clarified. “And Professor Dubois.”

“Oh. That before,” Martha realized, taking a deep breath. “You already know everything.”

“Actually do you know what happened after that?” Lana wondered. “When he and Karen returned to Amherst?”

“Nothing…I…Wait a minute! Martha, remember, his grandmother called here, wondering if he had turned up!” the farmer recalled.

“Right,” Martha concurred. “Why do you ask?”

“When we were talking, the Professor’s counterpart made a revelation about the month after he went back home. That he was stuck in the same place that Dr. Dubois, Dr. Kane and I were,” the former cheerleader noted.

The two parents shrugged. “We didn’t really hear much more than that. But that would explain why he was practically kidnapped from his school.” And why he kept getting worse.

Kidnapped from school? Clark and Lana looked anxiously at each other, knowing that things were getting murkier by the minute.

*****

[Luthor Castle]

Meanwhile, unlike the Kents, Lex had the record on the computer screen in front of him. “Son of a...!”

Chloe stuck her head into the study. “Lex, what’s wrong?”

“Look at the screen,” he indicated.

She did so and gasped. “It’s true then!”

“The whole damn thing. My father’s handiwork once again,” he indicated, getting on his cell phone. “Yeah. Hi, Clark, it’s Lex. Hey, you and Lana better get over here.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” the Kryptonian wondered.

“I just found Professor Dubois’ Genomex file. Chloe and I are in the study,” the billionaire directed before hanging up.

Barely two minutes later, Clark and Lana rushed into the study and to their friends’ side.

“There it is all right,” Lana agreed. “Can we?”

“Why not?” Lex replied, going through the record.

As he did, Dave’s record came up, revealing three disciplinary actions. Then, there was a line marked “stasis”. And finally, ‘escaped—never found’.

“What do those mean?” Clark wondered.

“Knowing that creep, Eckhart, I don’t want to even think about it,” Lana replied, shivering.

Lex rubbed his scalp and frowned. “Disciplinary actions is pc-speak for a beating, Clark. Stasis means putting someone in suspended animation. Escaped means what it says. He escaped.”

“Putting someone in suspended animation?” Chloe wondered.

“They could do it with the pods,” Lana declared, remembering how close Angie was to that fate.

“Our fathers wanted him to learn a lesson after what happened here,” Lex guessed. He put a blank DVD in the computer and burned the file onto it. “Adam and the others will want to see this.”

“Not to mention the Professor,” Clark interjected.

“Yeah,” Lex agreed. But what will it do to him? That’s the question….

Chapter 2 [Raven—Toronto]

On this night, everything seemed normal in the Toronto vampire community. Immortals came and went, partaking of their blood wine while in the establishment. They conversed about the city’s affairs and the mortals who didn’t know they existed.

Watching over this whole scene, a tall lanky blonde tended the bar. Before Divia took over as Elder, Alma had worked this scene under Janette duCharme’s watch and dealt with LaCroix’s eldership. She knew the city and about three quarters of the vampires in the room. While she watched all of the immortals, she kept especially close tabs on the white haired fledgling in the corner. What is Eckhart up to? On both Divia’s and Nicolas de Brabant’s orders, she was to report on any activity out of the ordinary.

At that point, Eckhart was talking about Enforcer business with a group of young vampires like himself.

She smirked. They’re to be the new Enforcers? They won’t last a day! Then she sensed something outside the door. “Who?”

Sensing the same thing, the other immortals turned as well.

Dave walked in calmly and descended the staircase. Looking neither left nor right, he headed straight for the bar. “Good evening. Alma, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, Monsieur Dubois. You’ve come a long way from the desert for a drink, no?” she wondered.

“I’ll take a dark ale please. Is Divia around? I need to talk to her,” he requested.

“Funny, Dubois, you barge in her and demand to see the Elder. Rude mortal,” a particularly muscular Castilian vampire scoffed.

“Did I ask you? No. All right then!” Dave retorted. Feeling the goon’s big paws grabbing him. “I don’t have time for this!” He willed up an energy burst and fired, incinerating his attacker right then and there. “Anyone else want a piece of me? Look, I just want to talk with your Elder. You think when someone saves your lives, you’d be more thankful.” He plopped himself back in his seat and finished his drink.

“I agree,” Divia announced, stepping into view. “Trigliera was a fool and now he’s an incinerated fool.” The blonde girl looked the mortal patron in the eye. “What is it, Dubois?”

“I need some answers to my past and I figured that a certain someone might know. Since you’re Elder, I thought I should let you know before I started talking with your Community members,” Dave explained.

Divia glanced at Alma who nodded back at her. “Courtesy doesn’t exactly fit you, Dubois. I can sense your darker half surging to come out. However, I do know the purpose of your visit.”

“You do? Nick, I gather,” Dave guessed.

“Nicholas called me last night, telling me you were planning this trip. I do appreciate your procedure, Dubois, in not trampling on my authority. And you continue to help the vampire community so it pleases me to help you.” She wheeled around. “Eckhart, come here!”

The white haired fledgling stepped forward. “Yes?” he hissed.

“In my office. Dubois has some questions for you,” she indicated.

“I don’t have to answer any of his questions!” Eckhart snorted.

“I think you will,” Dave indicated, telekinetically pinning him against the wall. “You pulled some crap on me and I want to know what it was.” He smirked wickedly. “GET IN THERE!” He flung the fledgling into the office. “Should I let him hit the wall?”

“Why not?” she retorted. “It might knock that chip off of his shoulder.” The thud echoed into the larger room. “I have to hand it to you, Dubois. You certainly know how to get results.”

“Let’s get this over with,” he retorted, as they walked into the room and slammed the door behind them.

Alma looked at the surly group of immortals in their wake. While they knew of Dave’s abilities, they didn’t like a mortal cavalierly throwing his weight around in their midst.

****

[An hour later]

The Child stormed out of the room under a full head of steam. “Dammit! Them boys in the raincoats did it ‘gain!”

“Shut up, Dubois!” a vampire in the crowd hissed.

“AH AIN’T BIG BRO!” he bellowed, letting the dark fire cover his body and his eyes turn red. “LEMME ‘LONE!”

“Divia, perhaps he should leave?” Alma suggested.

The Elder shook her head. “As tempting as that might be, he needs to calm down first. Give him what he wants.” She felt the vibrations in the air. “Nicholas is on his way.”

The mist portal opened, allowing Deirdre, Xena and Nick to enter the club.

“Thank you for coming,” Divia greeted, albeit with an air of sarcasm.

“Yeah? An’ wha’ d’ya want?” the Dark One wondered. By now, he was back in his regular form and guzzling the ale in front of him.

“Just to prevent a fight,” Nick noted. “Are you all right?”

“Nah! Whitey told me some stuff about Leader Man. Gotta hear from ‘im!” the Child asserted, finishing the glass. “Gimme ‘nother!”

Xena shrugged and nodded. “I’ll take one too.” Fishing through the paper money Angie had left for her, she requested to Nick, “Can you give her the right amount?”

The archaeologist counted out twelve dollars and handed it to the bartender. “Straight wine for me please.”

After serving the drinks, Alma looked at the Child with concern. While she had seen his rage on three other occasions, this time he seemed so sad. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Nah. Whitey’s scum. Ah’ll git even but na’ now.” The Dark One pouted, glaring at the fledgling.

“I’d leave now,” Nick advised. “And stay out of his way.”

“Divia, you wouldn’t let him touch me,” Eckhart presumed.

She smiled sweetly at him. “Oh yes, I would. After what you just told us, I’m tempted to rip you apart myself for sport, Fledgling!”

Eckhart shook his head as he made his way out of the club and took off into the night.

“What did he say?” Xena inquired.

“Jus’ wha’ he did to us back in that place!” the Child spat, taking another gulp of ale. “Whole lotta shit.” He belched loudly. “Lessgo! Hey thanks!”

Divia smirked, amused by the semi-drunken display. “No problem. Take care of your problem.” After Xena and the Child disappeared into the mists, she scowled and told Nick, “I just kept him under wraps for you! Get to the bottom of this!”

“And what if Eckhart did what I think he did?” he asked.

“Then we’ll deal with it. He’s an embarrassment to our Community, Nicholas! One that must be dealt with!” she declared, letting her eyes flash at him.

“We will,” he promised before disappearing into the mists.

Deirdre closed them behind her.

Divia growled. Eckhart opens too many issues for us! He must be dealt with and soon!

Chapter 3 [Sanctuary—2:00 AM MDT]

Emma woke with a start. While her dreams had been troubled, the emotions spiked at that moment. What now? After slipping on her robe, she followed the vibrations down the hall toward the main sitting area. There she found Laynia doing the same thing.

“You felt it too?” the Russian wondered.

“Yeah, I did,” the psionic replied. “It’s coming from Adam’s lab.”

They rushed up the stairs to find the lab door closed with the security locks in place. “They’re getting way too good at getting by the security,” Emma noted as they let themselves into the lab.

The door in the far left corner was open. And the vibrations came from there.

“Does Adam usually leave that door like that?” Laynia inquired, starting to feel worried.

“It’s never been open either here or in the Old Sanctuary,” Emma noted. At that moment, she saw Adam sprinting to join them. “It woke you too?”

“The alarm just went off,” he responded. “The others are on their way.”

“It’s all right, Adam. I don’t think he’ll be a problem,” Emma declared.

“Be careful just in case,” Laynia urged.

Emma nodded and walked over to the open door. There she stuck her head into the darkened space. “We know you’re in there but it’s okay.”

“Right,” the Child’s image self growled, glaring at her. “This hunka crap ain’t ‘kay! Guess Whitey was right.”

“What is it?” Shalimar wondered as the rest of Mutant X joined them.

“Mah jail,” the Dark One hissed. “The one he stuck us in!” He backed off to reveal a damaged pod. Its top was twisted and mangled like an old aluminum soda can.

Brennan shook his head. “What could get out of one of those?”

“Ah did, Sparky,” the Child retorted tersely.

“No mutant could do that!” Jesse stated.

Adam shook his head. “But Dave and the Child aren’t like other mutants. We didn’t know that the governors wouldn’t affect them or that the pods couldn’t contain them. At least not like the rest of you.” Then he asked the Child, “What did Eckhart tell you?”

“How you set me up with them Strandie boys and Asscrock!” the Child hissed.

The geneticist rubbed his nose, trying to make his exhausted brain function at that ungodly hour. “He manipulated the whole thing.”

“Man-i-wha?”

“He messed with you, Chief. That’s what Adam’s trying to tell you,” Max mentioned, yawning.

“But we ‘member ya’ll screwin’ w’ us!” the Child roared.

“Is that true?” Shalimar wondered.

Adam nodded. “Yes. Eckhart ordered some psychotropic drugs for him. I injected them into him myself.”

The team stared incredulously at him.

“I think it’s time the story was told,” Adam stated. “First thing in the morning, I have a few calls to make. Then you should all leave Saturday free. I got a call from Lex Luthor earlier tonight. He found the rest of the old Genomex file. We’ll tell the story then.” He yawned. “Meantime, I need some rest.” He looked at the Child. “I am sorry for what happened. We didn’t know the outcomes.”

“You never did,” Brennan retorted, stalking off. And now we have Dave to deal with. Wonderful.

“Wha’ever. Ah’ll let the Little Woman know. An’ Ah want answers!” the image asserted before disappearing.

Adam led the team out of the room. After sealing it, they headed back to their rooms, trying to get what sleep they could before their days started again.

Chapter 4 [Kent Condo]

Lana woke with a start and put on her clothes. As with Emma, the Child’s trip to Sanctuary jarred her out of a sound sleep. What could it be now?

“Mmm….Lana? Come back to bed, Sweetheart,” Clark called sleepily.

“I’ve got something to check on first. Be right back,” she told him.

“I can go with you,” he offered.

“That’s okay, Clark, you had a lot going on today,” she urged. “If I need you, I’ll call. All right?”

“Sure. Just be careful please?” he conceded, rolling over so she wouldn’t see the frown on his face.

“Always,” she promised, kissing him on the cheek. “Be back in a few minutes.” She hustled out the door and across the parking lot toward the Dubois’ condo. Although the front room was dark, she could see that the bedroom light was lit. I hope this isn’t a false alarm. She knocked on the door.

The lights snapped on and Angie opened the door. “Lana? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How’s the Professor?” the younger woman wondered.

“He’s not having a good night. You felt it too, didn’t you?” the oncologist asked although she knew the answer. Lana’s as sensitive as Emma, Laynia, Karen and I are to the Child’s movements. She glimpsed at the girl’s right hand, knowing why. “Please come in. Does Clark know you’re here?”

“He does but he’s worrying about me as usual,” Lana replied, glancing back toward her own residence.

“Princess?” Dave asked.

[“Dave, we have company. Make sure you have your robe and sweats on,” his wife advised over their telepathic link.]

[“Gotcha. Thanks,” he agreed.] A minute later, he staggered out into the front room. However, both women could see he was having a rough time.

“I’m putting on a pot of coffee. Get Clark. I think we need to talk,” Angie noted.

*****

[Twenty minutes later]

Dave closed the twins’ door carefully after making sure they were still sleeping. He sat down in his favorite chair and took a deep breath. “He’s been off running around.”

“Yeah we know, Hotshot,” his wife informed him, giving him a cup of coffee.

“Thanks.” He accepted the cup, savoring the caffeinated goodness. “Mmm. Kids, I’m sorry about you’re being up.”

“Don’t worry about it, Professor. Did you both find out what you needed?” Lana assured him.

He nodded. “We talked with Eckhart earlier tonight at the Raven. The Child wanted confirmation.”

“And?” Angie wondered.

“He found it in that locked room of Adam’s. The one just off of his main lab,” the historian confirmed. “There’s a shredded stasis pod in there.” He shivered, feeling the tears coming to his face.

Angie rubbed his shoulder. “Shh…That’s twenty-eight years ago. It can’t hurt you.”

“I still remember it, Angie. I can see the whole thing although the end is really hazy,” Dave informed them.

“I’m sure Dr. Kane will fill us in. Meantime, Lex and Chloe found your Genomex file and sent it to Sanctuary,” Clark noted.

“Leave Saturday open, because that’s when Adam’s telling us about this stuff,” Dave replied. “Or so the Child tells me.”

And that’s when the whole top gets blown off this box. Angie worried even as she comforted her husband. Something was going to happen and soon thereafter.

****

[Amazon Village]

Unable to sleep, Xena slid her blade along the edge of the sharpening stone repeatedly. As she did so, she mused over what the Child had told her earlier that evening. Unstinkingbelievable! How could they play those games with him? HOW?

“Xena?” Gabrielle asked. “What’s going on?”

“Just got what Nicholas and the Child said earlier in my mind,” the warrior sighed. “No wonder David’s the way he is.” She gave her blade a heavy sharpening stroke.

“There was Alti but what else was going on?” the Bard-Queen asked. Seeing the dark look on her friend’s face, she inquired, “Xena, what happened?”

“Eckhart tortured him, Gabrielle, on his father’s orders,” Xena retorted gruffly. “No wonder the Child wanted Ashlocke’s ass so bad.”

“Torture?” Gabrielle winced, imagining their friend undergoing the horrors they saw while in the facility. “By Eli.”

“Just when I keep thinking I’ve heard it all when it comes to David, another little gem appears. Sometimes, I wonder how he stayed even halfway sane,” Xena pointed out.

“Thank Karen and Angela. I suspect you’ll find that Karen intervened at some point,” Gabrielle noted.

“Not to mention Steven and Garth,” the Warrior Princess concurred. “Yeah, I can’t wait to hear what Adam has to say on this. Oh boy!”

Don’t I know it? Gabrielle asked herself. If relations between the three groups weren’t strained enough now, this could really do it.

Chapter 5 [Saturday afternoon—New Sanctuary]

The students worked their way through a spirited group of exercises, emphasizing quick thinking and teamwork. Mika worked with the animal shape shifters to rescue people from a dangerous situation. Lana, Clark and Chloe combined efforts to deal with downed power lines and restore power to a community. Spidey assisted Jasmine in another exercise.

As they didn’t attend many of the sessions, Karen, the two agents and Natalie Petersen were fascinated by what they saw. For their friend, April McKenzie, it was stunning to say the least.

“Nice work all of you,” Adam complimented, admiring their efficiency and reactions. “Why don’t we get some lunch? After that, we’ve got some serious matters to discuss.”

“Serious matters?” Byron asked.

“Stuff from my past,” Dave indicated grimly. “You all go on. I’ll just eat in here.”

“No way,” Max disagreed. “Not with what you’re going to be hearing.”

“What?” Martin wondered.

“Professor Dubois’ about to get a piece of his past. One that I’m not very proud to say I was a part of,” Adam noted.

“Maybe you all could go ahead?” April offered. “Angie, can you bring something?”

“All right,” the doctor agreed. She sat by her husband’s side as he stared at the Dojo. “It’s going to be okay. They can’t hurt you.” Recalling how close she had been to end up in one of the popsicle chambers, she shuddered at the thought of being imprisoned in one of them.”

“I feel it though,” he told her, looking at her through sad eyes. “I wish I didn’t.”

“Can’t you do one of your mind zap thingies on him?” Max asked Emma.

The psionic shook her head. “That would set the Child off on a full fledged rampage for sure. I wish Shal would get back with the others.”

“The Helix just pulled into the hangar,” Jesse noted.

“Guys, go and eat. I’ll bring them up here,” Adam urged. Taking one look at his depressed friend, he rushed off toward the hangar.

After the students and Mutant X had left, Angie rubbed Dave’s shoulder. “You know I’m with you, Dave.” She looked at the others. “How bad was this?”

Steve grasped his wife’s hand before saying, “Kidnapping, torture, human cock fighting….”

“Not to mention sicing Ashlocke and his band on the entire high school,” Garth added.

“An’ our stinkin’ showdown,” the Child rasped, glaring at them all through his open left eye. “The other muties helped but Ah took down Asscrock!”

“Other muties?” Angie asked the others.

“There were three other mutants that helped him deal with the situation. We never did get to thank them,” Karen noted.

“That’s appreciated,” an unfamiliar voice stated.

The group turned to see Brennan and Shalimar leading three people up the stairs. The new trio looked distinct from each other. The first was a striking brunette with streaks of white through her hair and a determined attitude. The second was slender with blonde hair and a few wrinkles on her face. The final one was a well-built Afro-American male.

The Child smirked at them. “What are ya doin’ here?”

“Adam sent for us,” the Afro-American replied, staring at him. “We told you to call if you needed us.”

“I knew he wouldn’t,” the brunette presumed. “But at least he’s here where Adam can help him.”

“We were helping him at best we could,” Karen declared. “Sorry it’s been a while. Can we get your names again?”

Brunette grinned at her. “Sure. I’m Lexa Pierce. This is Nikki Taylor. He’s Rick Barnum. Now I remember, you were his girlfriend. So did you two ever tie the knot or what?”

“Actually, no. We already had a long standing relationship,” Karen replied. “We discovered that we’re twins. Angie is his wife.”

Recalling how much Dave and Karen were into each other in those days, the trio stared at them.

“Ah shaddap!” the Child hissed. “We got us bigger things than THAT! Lessgo! Ah wanna git this over with!”

Lexa watched the Dark One lumber out of the room and then asked Brennan. “He really went all the way down, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, you can say that,” the electrical mutant agreed. “Come on.”

Lexa shook her head, recalling how concerned Adam had been about Dave in the 1980s. And here he is, the dark child that everyone predicted. What a crock. Too bad we couldn’t have stopped Eckhart back then!

****

[Living Area—Thirty minutes later]

[A/N: Spidey’s run in with the Dark Rider happened in Marvel Team-Up #41-44.]

The group assembled in the main living area by the fountain, waiting anxiously for Adam and the older mutants to show up.

“It’s going to okay,” Lex assured the medievalist who by that point had regained control.

“We’ll see,” Dave retorted, gripping Angie’s hand.

“You dealt with it then and you will now,” Garth declared, trying to comfort his friend.

“You can say that again,” Nikki responded, coming down the stairs with Adam and her companions. “You should have seen the Strand when he was done with them.”

“Nikki, stop,” Adam directed. “He had no choice given the circumstances.” He pulled out the computer console and inputted several commands. “Dave, are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. I have to know, Adam,” the historian declared, getting up and walking to the front of the room. “Everyone, you know me and my moods…the Child, etc. However, we find out another piece of the why.”

“Professor, it was the Witch and your parents. We know that,” Martin told them.

“Not entirely,” Adam interjected. “In fact, Clark’s parents might have stopped it during those three weeks. But now, we’ll never know. The treatment made him worse.”

“And what about that ghost?” Lexa asked wincing at the memory.

“We know she’s the one who cursed him. She’s an eighteenth century ghost,” the geneticist declared.

“Oo—kay,” Rick declared, feeling more than a bit out of his element.

“Eighteenth century?” Spidey wondered. “Sounds like one of those Salem types.”

“Her mother was from Salem Village, Spider-Man,” Dave informed him. “Her father—we’ve never been able to trace though. He’s a demon of some sort. According to the local lore, the father disappeared when Lichtenfeld was five. The mother died 12 years later. But they got a block print of the father though. Adam?”

Seeing the picture, Spidey almost fell off of the wall. “Oh crap. Professor, ummm….I don’t know how to tell you this but I know that guy.”

“What? How?” Dave insisted.

“A while back, I had to go back in time with some folks to deal with something. We ended up in Salem Village. We ended up running into this guy. He had a demon buddy who dressed up in a pilgrim suit and rode around on a dark horse like that one. He called himself the Dark Rider. Nasty jerk too. He could throw dark fire like the Child,” Spidey pointed out. “Man, if that ghost is his daughter, she must have been bad news. How’d they finally get rid of her?”

“She was hanged,” Karen continued. “She cursed the land, town and the family of the town priest. Professor Dubois and I are the oldest living members of that family.”

“In addition, the curse was carried to Smallville,” Lana added. “Where the Witch killed my parents and Lex’s mother.”

“But yes, Lexa’s point is well taken. She was always making a nuisance of herself while we were teenagers,” Dave told them. “Speaking of the teenage years, are we ready?”

Adam requested, “Show the record of Genomex subject 0310.”

A teenaged image of Dave appeared in front of them. “Subject 0310, David Jean Dubois, institutionalized January 4, 1982; later escaped. Subject never found. Subject is untreatable schizophrenic with explosive tendencies. If found, he should be put into stasis on orders of Mason Eckhart and Adam Kane, Director of Biogenetic Engineering.”

“Good luck on that one,” Steve muttered. “After the first time those goons grabbed him, that wouldn’t have happened.”

“My adopted father and Lex’s mother filed a court order to get him out,” Karen explained. “That’s why he was ‘never found’ by the GSA.”

“Anyhow, I’d like to do this if we can,” Adam interjected. “Computer show file.”

And the computer did so….

Here we go, Dave mused, as they watched the story start to unfold before them….