Episode 20: Arctic
US Air Date: 15/05/2008
Writers: Holly Henderson & Don Whitehead
Director: Todd Slavkin
Edward Teague is flying to South America under a false passport when Kara, as a stewardess, approaches him. She asks him about Veritas and the location of the control orb and he denies all knowledge, but when she punches a hole in the wall of the plane and threatens to throw him out, he reveals that Lex may have more information. She flies out the plane, leaving it to crash. Lex blackmails Jimmy into helping him by threatening to turn Chloe over to the government if he doesn’t get Lois off his back about the Arctic expeditions. Later, Chloe tells Clark about the crash, and the discovery of Edward Teague’s body, and after penetrating government files, plays him a sound recording taken just before it. Clark uses his super hearing, and while he makes out Kara’s voice, he refuses to accept she caused the crash. Kara breaks into Lex’s manor and discovers the control orb hidden in a vault, but finds herself unable to touch it. Clark arrives and confronts her about the plane crash, to which she replies that she would do anything to protect Earth, before fleeing. Jimmy meets Lois at Ace O’Clubs and manages to convince her that Lex’s Arctic expeditions have simply been for oil and no other purpose. Later, when Lex returns to his office, he finds Kara waiting for him. She demands the truth about Veritas, then after demonstrating her powers, she reveals the identity of the traveller. Chloe tries to confront Kara with Kryptonite after telling her that Clark plans to destroy the fortress, but it has no effect. Kara reverts to Brainiac, who drives probes into Chloe’s head, causing her to collapse. Meanwhile, Lex heads off to the Arctic, confident in the power of the control orb to protect him, and distrusting Kara. After visiting Chloe in hospital, Clark realises she has been infected in the same way as Lana, then heads off to confront Brainiac, who is recharging at a power station. Clark kills the machine, but not before being told that his own end is near. Jimmy helps Chloe leave the hospital, but government agents, interrupting a tender moment, arrest her. Jimmy realises Lex is responsible and rushes off to tell Clark. Clark confronts her in the Arctic just as he is about to use the control orb in the fortress. As Lex inserts the orb into a crystal console, Clark collapses and she holds him, as the fortress implodes around them.
