A man glanced over a high-tech monitor reviewing dozens of images and sound recordings. An alert beeped and he glanced over. The display increased size as a computerized voice droned, "Vocal watch has been located."

An old gravelly voice asked evenly, "Trace the location."

The voice droned after a minute, "Upper northwest hemisphere. Northern continent. Scans of the indigenous area reveal the area is designated as Kansas City, Kansas."

"Is the woman alone?"

"Affirmative. She appears to be isolating herself in an abandoned storage facility."

The man asked tiredly, "What is the progress of the chemical?"

After a minute, the computer announced, "Muscular systems have experienced significant degradation. Complete shutdown of nervous system will occur in 11.7 solar rotations."

The man chuckled humorlessly, "Well, let's hope she's a quick study." He inputs some commands, "When night falls, make a silent approach to the location she is residing. Give a visual of the woman." A display comes a moment later, displaying an image of Chloe Sullivan glancing over her shoulder.

Chloe walked up the stairs and made a cautious look over her shoulder before she pulled out some keys and opened a door. She locked the door behind her and lifted her backpack over her head and tossed it on a counter. She opened the pack and rummaged through it before sighing worried, "Two cans of ravioli and canned peaches." She muttered to herself, "Well, Sullivan you chose this. Going off the grid comes with its hardships."

She finds a can opener and a plastic spoon and opens her dinner. She has finished opening the peaches when she stops. She glances around and listens intently to barely hearing a thumping sound. She narrows her eyes in concern and goes over to a boarded window. She moves a hanging two by four to uncover a small hole. She glances out and scans the area. For a minute she sees nothing. She rolls her eyes when an alley cat runs across the yards. She covers the hole and moves back to her things. She stops with nervousness as she sees the food is gone. She looks around anxiously and wills herself to stay quiet as she moves to the wall.

She reaches down to get a discarded piece of wood and holds it ready to protect herself. She glances out into the room and stills when she sees a figure with his back to her on the other side of the room.

She watches him briefly until she realizes he isn't blocking the exit. She furrows her eyes curiously but decides not to be too eager. She pulls out her keys and throws them to the far wall crashing into a metal sheet. The figure glances over and Chloe uses his distraction to rush at him. She raises the wooden club and starts to swing at the intruder. She gets nowhere near him as her body jerks to an abrupt halt and fear shoots up her spine as a green haze fills her view.

The figure says unimpressed, "Young one, do you think no one has attempted that ruse on me before?"

Chloe's heart was pounding in her ears but she said scornfully, "I guess Flag figured past my little deception. If you plan to kill me, then do it. I don't plan on letting myself get taken a second time."

The man eyed her admiringly, "Your heart is pure, human. No hate, anger. Only determination fills your heart." He stepped forward out of the darkness corner and revealed his appearance.

Chloe gasped softly, "You're…not human, are you?"

He nods, "You are correct. My species is not important for the task at hand."

Chloe grew uneasy, "And that task would be?"

"To begin your training as my replacement."

Chloe commented coldly, "I don't have a choice do I?"

He looked up startled at her question, "Of course you have a choice. Training requires a willing student. If you will not cooperate, my efforts are useless."

Chloe glanced down at herself, "Then can you turn off the light show?"

He sees her point and says regretfully, "I apologize, human." He flexes his hand causing the green to disappear and Chloe tests her freedom by walking toward him slowly.

She asks softly, "What kind of training are you talking about exactly?"

He answers, "I have chosen you as my successor. The power of the Ring can only be wielded by someone who is well trained." He lifts his hand and shows a ring with a green gem.

Chloe eyes it suspiciously, "That's not kryptonite, is it?"

The man gives a smirk, "I see the rumors were true, then. You did meet Jor-El's son." He sees her tense and he tells her firmly, "The Ring is not composed of kryptonite, as you call it. It will not cause him any pain."

Chloe asked curiously, "You keep mentioning the ring with reverence. What is it exactly?"

He showed her the ring closer, "It is the source of my power, and soon it will be the source of yours."

Her eyes widen as she looks it over and sees the lantern shape on the rings face. She holds up her hand as she runs to an old box. She kneels and sifts through it urgently. She rises to her and brings it to him, "I drew this after I left Metropolis last month. I had seen it briefly in blur of images when I tried to find…someone close to me. It was on a green leather jumpsuit." She looked at him with a smirk, "It seems that I've been waiting for you to show up."