*

So, Clark was an alien. And as McKay had explained, later in life Clark would become some kind of superhero called 'Superman' (the lack of creativity when it came to the name was rather depressing), and Lex would be his 'evil nemesis' (McKay himself seemed to suffer from chronic hyperbole).

Lex was still trying to accept that he apparently came from a television show. A television show. About Clark's youth. And then there was the fact that he was on floating alien city - *Atlantis*, of all places - where the people fought aliens who literally sucked the life out of you with their hands.

How was that even biologically possible? Eyeing the doctor who was fussing over him, Lex wondered if Beckett would be able to explain it. For now, however, he kept quiet and tried to process everything he'd heard.

Television. Show.

How could he not be real? He certainly *felt* real.

"So," McKay began, leaning against a bed as he addressed Zelenka, "you actually get good quality science fiction in the Czech Republic?"

Zelenka squinted. "Are we still talking about Smallville?"

"What else would we be talking about?"

"Never mind," Zelenka shrugged. "As for your question...you forget, McKay, that I spent quite some time in the United States before coming to Atlantis. And the SGC does get The WB. I understand Sergeant Siler is quite a fan of the Gilmore Girls."

"What's the verdict, Doctor?" Weir interrupted as she and Sheppard approached, passing the guards near the entrance. Lex couldn't help but noticed that both Sheppard and Weir appeared somewhat...rumpled.

Hmm.

"Well, to the best of my knowledge - and the test results I've had back so far - this man," Beckett smiled towards Lex, "is most definitely human, and very real. That said," he hesitated, his smile flickering, "there are some unusual elements in his bloodwork that I can't explain."

"The meteor rocks," Lex told him. "I was caught in a meteor shower as a child. I lost my hair, but ever since then I heal quickly and never get sick."

"Uh," Beckett said, surprised, "that was the meteor shower...Clark came down in?" He, at least, seemed to be having as much difficulty with the idea as Lex was.

"Yes," McKay answered for him, moving to stand next to them.

Glancing back at Beckett, Lex shrugged. "Apparently so." Clark. An *alien*.

"And the 'meteor rock' is actually known as kryptonite."

Remembering something he'd been told earlier, Lex nodded slowly. "Because Clark's from the planet Krypton."

"Right," McKay confirmed. "Everyone knows about kryptonite. It's Clark's only we-" At a sudden glare and head movement from Sheppard, McKay's eyes widened and he rapidly changed tracks. "-ah, you know what? Never mind. You don't need to know."

Which only made Lex more suspicious.

"So, boys," Sheppard addressed the scientists, obviously changing the subject, "what's the theory on where our guest comes from? Some kind of parallel universe?"

"No, no," Zelenka replied, moving to stand next to McKay. "That's not it."

"I agree," McKay nodded, gesturing with his hands as he continued to explain. "See, the prevailing theory on parallel universes is that for every moment we live, every single outcome exists, resulting in countless parallel universes. Your eyes are blue instead of brown, you don't buy that portable hard drive you've been wanting, JR doesn't get shot. But he," he nodded towards Lex, "isn't the result of a different outcome or decision. He's entirely fictional - he's never existed *anywhere*."

Frankly, Lex wasn't entirely sure he agreed with their reasoning. And for some reason, he was starting to feel strangely inadequate.

"And yet," Sheppard pointed out, "he *is* here."

"Yes."

"So...?"

"We don't know," McKay threw his hands up. "This is an alien base, Major, filled with a great deal of alien technology. We've barely scratched the surface of what this place can do - we have no way of knowing why he's even here."

Eyes widening, Zelenka held up a finger. "Not necessarily."

"Doctor?" Weir asked.

Lowering the finger, he explained. "Mr Luthor is very specifically from an *Earth* television program - he isn't from just anywhere. No one else in this galaxy outside Atlantis even knows about him. His presence here has to be because of us."

Taking the idea and thinking it over, McKay 'hmmed' with interest. "So, maybe he's...some kind of manifestation of someone's thoughts or dreams?" he suggested. "But what could make him appear like this?"

"I don't know," Zelenka answered. "As you said, there is a great deal of technology on Atlantis that we've yet to uncover."

Crossing his arms over his chest, McKay glared. "So precisely how does your little insight help us?"

He shook his head in response.

"Why him?" Weir queried. "Out of all the fictional characters who have ever existed on Earth, why Lex Luthor?" Good question. "It's not as if we even have access to this Smallville show here. Why would he even be in anyone's thoughts?" No doubt thinking over her last words, she flicked her gaze towards Lex and smiled gently. "No offense."

Lex liked her. "None taken."

All seemingly lost in their own thoughts for a while, it was Sheppard who eventually broke the silence.

"Dr Weir," he began, "when we decided which personal item to bring with us, someone at the SGC had to go over our choices, right?"

"Yes," she said, frowning, obviously wondering where he was heading with the question.

He nodded, still thoughtful. "Do *we* have a copy of that list anywhere?"

*

Sheppard led the way into what was apparently one of several labs that'd been set up in the city since their arrival from Earth. Lex had insisted on coming with him - which resulted in the guards having to accompany them as well - but this involved him, somehow, and he was determined to be there.

There was only one person in this particular laboratory - a woman with glasses and long, dark hair, pulled back tightly - and she looked up with wide eyes as Sheppard approached.

"Dr Lang," was all he said by way of greeting, "hand over the Smallville DVDs, and no one gets hurt."

TBC

NOTE: Dr Lang is *not* Lana ;)

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