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"Watchtower to team. Get out of there NOW !" Chloe Sullivan shouted into her headset. "I repeat, There was a hidden failsafe. Get out of there, Security has been compromised." Chloe shouted and waited for somebody anybody to answer her. "Somebody answer me !" She shouted, again. Her heart was racing, her mind going three thousand miles a minute. She could feel the blood rushing through her whole body and everything was heightened. Chloe slammed her hand down on the counter. "DAMMIT, SOMEBODY ANSWER OR I'M GOING AFTER YOU MYSELF."
Chloe shouted and held her breath for the responses she prayed to anybody to let them filter through. She prayed to anybody she could think of that would help in this situation, somebody who could watch over her boys and Dinah. She prayed to Oliver's, Bart's and A.C.'s parents. To Clark's dad, to Lois' mom. To Dinah's mom. To Jimmy,
"I'm going to count to 5." Tears filled her green eyes. "Come On, Impulse, you know things are serious when I count." She said, her voice choked. "DAMMIT." She let her head drop into her hands. "dammit." It was a smaller sound now. A defeated sound. She couldn't see their signals, couldn't hear their voices, couldn't help them. "This is my fault. I decided to try to keep in charge of a bunch of idiots." Chloe said, sadly to herself. Tears fell from closed green eyes.
"You better not let Arrow hear you say your in charge. He's as touchy about him being leader as he is his tights." A joking voice filtered over the comm. link. Chloe's head shot up and she saw a blip on the screen. She gripped her chest and spoke slowly into the headset. "Boy Scout ?" Hope cautiously made it's way into her voice as she spoke. "Watchtower, what's going on ?" He asked, his confusion apparent. "Boy Scout, Security was compromised. Their was a hidden failsafe, I screamed for you guys to get out. But, nobody was there, no signals, no voices. I even counted." She said, her voice cracking. "It's okay, Tower. Now, do you have locations so I can get us 'idiots' out of here," Clark said, with a smile she could feel filter through.
"I don't have any other signals They're all gone Cyborg. Aquaman, Canary, Impulse, Arrow." She heard his gasp at the last codename. His feelings for Oliver hadn't escaped her and she hoped maybe this mission from hell was what pushed him to confront the blonde billionaire about them. "Tower, I just scanned the whole building, there are no remnants of anything. The whole building is wiped." Chloe smacked the table again. She heard Clark swear and frowned deeper. "Whatever it is Boy Scout can wait. I need you to blow it up and bolt your alien ass back here, ASAP." Chloe ordered. "Got it, Tower." Chloe confirmed it and she felt the whoosh as he came up next to her.
She jumped up in his arms as they wrapped around her. "You were all gone. Their was nothing I could do. I was completely helpless to do anything but sit and beg for somebody to talk to me." Chloe said, her voice broke. "Shh, Chlo. It's okay, we'll find them." He stroked her hair and she let the tears leak out in the comfort of her best friend. "I mean how many times have they gone missing ?" Clark asked, lightly. The blonde laughed through her tears. "All together or separately ?" Chloe retorted and Clark laughed as Chloe pulled away. She wiped her tears. "I found a note at the factory." Clark paused and Chloe swore his eyes flamed. "It was from Lex. He has them, Chloe." He passed the note to her and she read it.
Clark.
You know this wasn't how I expected our reunion to go, but, I guess it was worth it for being able to get one up on not only the Green Arrow but, the whole lot of you. I got to say you picked one hell of a partner. Queen, never would've suspected that. But, the proof's right in front of me. I've got your team, Clark. You want them back, then wait for the next contact. Lex
"I'm going to kill him, I don't care how bad that sounds. I will kill him. Then, hopefully that damn cockroach will stay dead and gone." Chloe ground out, Her usually light green eyes turned a dark green shaded with contempt, determination, and an edged protection. She looked up at Clark, expectantly. "What, don't look at me to stop you." Clark said and she froze for a bit and then realized that she didn't care, Lex was a monster and monsters always hurt the people she loved. It wouldn't happen again, never again. Chloe heard a beep at her computer, it was a new message. She opened it and motioned for Clark to read it over her shoulder.
It was a small message saying to go the penthouse and not to waste any time. Their family was going to be coming around soon and wouldn't want them getting themselves in another situation. Clark scooped Chloe up and off to the penthouse. He found a small white envelope sealed with a small gold circle sticker. He tore it open and it was the same stationery and handwriting as the previous letter. Clark ripped it open and read it aloud.
Clark,
I see you still follow directions as diligently. Or maybe it's because Ollie's life is here is on the line. Does the thought of him being hurt make you physically sick. The sound of his bones breaking, the screams of pain. Don't worry, I'll make sure not to mar anything visible. Wouldn't want to mess up any of that beautiful skin. But, you probably know what I'm talking about. Now, let's talk about my company. I'll contact you again. Soon. Lex
Clark balled the note up and closed his eyes. He was sure if he looked at anything now. It would catch fire and they didn't have time for his screw ups. "Chloe, can you track that message." Clark asked, hopefully. She nodded. "You bet you red and blue butt, I can." She said. "I'll need you to take me back to Watchtower." He scooped her up once more and landed them at Watchtower. Chloe ran to her computer, she pulled up the message and her headset. Her brow creased in confusion. "Clark, come over here." She said, quickly. It says that Cyborg and Impulse's signals are online. They're at the factory." The minute she finished her sentence, he whoosed off.
He came back with Victor and Impulse in tow. Victor had a black eye, but other than that he looked fine. Bart had a still bleeding gash above his left eyebrow, his knuckles looked cut up and bruised but that was it. She immediately scooped Bart in a bone crushing hug. "Chloelicious, didn't know you cared." He joked and she gripped him for a few moments and then pulled away, Then, she wrapped as much as she could around Victor with her tiny arms. He patted her back until she pulled away and looked at both of them. "What the hell happened with you two ?" She asked, her hands on her hips.
They both held their hands up in front of their chests, defensively. "We seriously have no idea." Bart said as he held his hand up to the gash on his forehead. "We were out on the mission. We heard your alert and then everything goes black." Victor said as he walked over one of the computers. "Next thing is we're waking up in the gutted factory." Bart said as Chloe pulled his hand away from the gash. "Then, Boy Scout showed up and whisked us here." Victor said as he typed something into the keyboard.
Chloe dragged Bart over to the couch and sat him down as Clark handed her the first aid kit. She smiled her thanks and he nodded. "So, you guys don't know anything ?" Clark asked, desperately. Bart shook his head and then let Chloe clean the gash on his head. Victor hit the counter and Clark walked over to him with a comforting hand on his shoulder. Then, the computer pinged and he smiled. "I've got video." He said and Clark squeezed his arm. Chloe and Bart, now with a fresh bandage, came over. "Come on, Tin Can, play it." Bart said.
A video blurred on the screen before coming into focus. It was the factory. The team was scattered in various directions. It pixilated onto a room with Dinah and A.C. They both seemed to register the alarm on their links and then suddenly the lights flashed and when they flashed back the duo was gone. Then, it flashed upon another room with Bart and Victor. Victor went to plug into a modem and he seemed to freeze and then just shut down. Bart zipped around the room, before his head snapped back and he fell boneless. They were gone in a blink.
The last one is what had Clark steaming. Oliver, decked in full gear, Compact bow at the ready. He put a hand to his shades and then ran at a full pace out of the room. He was trying to contact the rest of the team, find their locations. He turned the corner, Compact bow down as he tapped his shades again. Then, a muscled arm was around his neck. He tensed and the arm tightened. Oliver fought to get out of the grip. Then, another man came down and Oliver grabbed something from his belt. He smashed the butt of a knife against the man's head.
Then, the other man stabbed something into Ollie's neck. Oliver reached out and cracked him against the face. He stuffed the knife back in his belt and reached for his crossbow. He was blinking rapidly and was shaking his head. Clark knew that look, Oliver was about to collapse. He had the same symptoms as when he collapsed from the poison a few weeks back. All, the brunette could do was watch as Ollie fell back and the second man pulled him up. "Come on, Mark. We got the arrow, let's go." He tossed the semi conscious blonde to the first man, 'Mark'. "Nighty-Nite, Arrow." He smiled, wickedly. Mark tossed Oliver on his shoulder and they both walked out of the building and then the video cut out.
Chloe felt the whoosh of air as Clark sped out. She wiped her eyes and then rubbed Victor's back. "Great job, Vic." She said and then hurried out of the room. Victor made a move to go after her, but Bart put a hand on his arm. "I'll go, you need to watch these." Bart said, concern flashing in his eyes. Victor smiled at him and watched the speedster depart after Chloe.
Bart walked slowly into the bedroom after Chloe. She was sitting against her bed and her head was in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking slightly as she cried. Bart was by her side and put an arm around her shoulders. "Come on, 'Licious." Bart said. He rubbed her arm. "Don't cry, it'll be okay." He said, voice calm and soothing. "You know I can't stand it when you cry," He said, helplessly. He heard her laugh and she laid her head on his shoulder. "See, that's better." He continued to stroke her arm as he spoke. "You know it'll be okay. Boy Scout never gives up on the ones he loves." Bart said, soothing. Chloe lifted her head and smiled at him. "See, that's the 'Licious smile I love." He said, happy. Chloe reached over and kissed him on the cheek. The teen smiled as they stood. "You know, I'm loving all the loving today, Hugs, kisses, patching me up." He said and she rolled her eyes as they left the room.