Chapter 2: A Bizarre Evening in Metropolis
The jet landed at Metropolis International Airport just as the sun was going down. After the ramp retracted down, Victor and AC, now wearing their civilian clothes carried Oliver, also wearing civilian clothes after AC and Bart had to work together to dress him, down the ramp. They had made it a point to change before landing, AC having to nervously take the controls of the jet while Victor changed out of his Cyborg costume. It was a calculated risk having to trust the man they'd rescued, Whitney Fordman, but considering that their leader was unconscious, there wasn't much they could do about it for the time being since he was always the one with the big plans. However, thankfully they were finally back in Metropolis and would be able to get Oliver the help that he so desperately needed.
A cover story had been decided upon for what exactly had happened to Oliver for when the arrived at Metropolis General. The story was that they had been on a skiing trip and things had gone terribly wrong, but the sword slashes would be very difficult to explain if anyone actually decided to ask about it. Thus being why the team had their own special doctor, a little someone at Metropolis General that wouldn't ask questions. Oliver had actually discovered the woman sipping martinis on a beach a few days after rescuing AC from the whaler that he'd had problems with. Oliver's connections had led him into the knowledge of who the woman was, and thus, so she wouldn't be discovered for whom she really was, had been brought into the League fold in a way, helping them at the hospital when needed despite that they didn't really trust her.
Oliver had been unresponsive throughout the entire trip back, which greatly worried the team. They didn't exactly know what they would do if their leader didn't pull through. His vision had always been what kept them together, but if The Green Arrow was out of commission, how would they manage to stay together without dissention in the ranks? Those thoughts were greatly on Victor's mind for sure. For once in his life, he finally had a family again, people that care about him. Loosing that and ending up on his own once again didn't sound very exciting to him, and he was sure that AC felt similar about it as well.
As Whitney Fordman stepped out of the jet and onto the ramp, a tear came to his eye from seeing the Metropolis skyline up ahead. It was something that he hadn't seen in a very long time, and felt that he never would again. However, he immediately forced himself to wipe the tear away. He didn't want to appear to be a wuss to his saviors. Despite that he'd been through hell and back, the last thing he needed was for them to make fun of him or something for how weak he'd become in the past six years. He wasn't entirely sure that they would treat him like that. They didn't appear to be the kind of people that would treat someone that bad. Looking to his side, the former jock saw the one that had personally saved him sticking close.
It was interesting to Whitney that the kid seemed to be sticking around him so closely, but then again, Bart Allen had been the one that was most willing to reveal his identity and trust him. The others had given it away anyway after they realized there was no point in blindfolding him considering Bart's apparent stupidity for revealing himself to Whitney in the first place. He definitely didn't care though. It wasn't like he had a reason to reveal the identities of his saviors to anyone. Whitney liked to consider himself trustworthy, and after all he'd been through, having new friends, like Bart, was worth keeping their secret identities.
Of course, Whitney had a feeling that Bart had mainly taken a lot of pity on him. He wasn't in the best shape in the world, and it was just mere luck that he was actually able to walk in the first place. He had been tortured in ways that sent chills down his spine every time he thought back on the horrible experiences. Trying to forget everything was high on Whitney's to do list, but how he planned to accomplish such was beyond him.
"You alright, amigo?" Bart asked from beside him.
Whitney managed to fake a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"You sure?" Bart asked. "It may just be me, but you don't look so hot."
"Thanks for the complement," Whitney said, knowing good and well that wasn't what Bart really meant. "And here I was going to complement on how good you looked. Scratch that off me to do list."
Bart smirked. "I didn't mean it like that, blondie. You just look like there's a lot on that mind of yours."
"Yeah," Whitney replied, leaving it at that.
Bart shrugged. "Alright, don't trust me. I'm used to people not believing in me anyway. Won't hurt my feelings one bit." He put his hands in his jean pockets and kept moving.
"It's not that I don't believe in you, Bart," Whitney informed. "I'm sure you're a very trustworthy person. I've just been through hell, and I really don't want to talk about it. It has nothing to do with trusting you."
"Well, if you ever change your mind and need a friend, I'm here," Bart stated.
"I could definitely use a friend," Whitney told him. "I'm just not ready to make the last six years casual chitchat."
"Then let's go do something instead tonight, amigo," Bart said, clearly showing that he was happy to have a new friend, despite that he was doing his best to hide it. "We'll get you all cleaned up with our special doc, and then we'll go hit the clubs or something to get you back in the grove of real life, tear it up around Metropolis."
"That would be great, Bart," Whitney said with a slight smile. "It's a date then…" Whitney instantly realized what he said as he saw Bart looking at him oddly. "Oh... no, I don't mean that it would actually…"
"Nah, it's fine," Bart said, cutting him off allowing his smirk to get bigger. "That's one of those…. Ah, what do you call those things, Victor? Something about making a slip?"
"A Freudian Slip!" Victor called back since he was at the front of the group with AC still trying to help their unconscious leader as they were arriving at the parking area. They were looking for the car that Oliver liked to call The Arrowmobile.
"Whoa, no, I didn't mean it like that," Whitney said. "I didn't make a slip. I was just making a statement."
Bart laughed. "Yeah, right, blondie. Look, I know I'm a hot guy. It's nothing that I don't like to brag about too much, but I know I'm bringing sexy back. You don't have to hide anything from me."
"That's Bart for ya, bro," AC stated, looking back with a smile on his face. "He's always batted for both teams from what I can tell."
"Ah, shut it, AC," Bart said, shaking his head as his face was starting to turn red. He hated it when his sexuality was poked fun of. That was why he was always hitting on Chloelicious whenever he saw her so it would take his teammates minds off of his bi-sexuality for a change, not that the reprieve really lasted long.
"Yeah, give the kid a break, AC," Victor said. "This isn't the time to make fun of Bart. I think the car's over this way. It's been so long since we left it here."
"Yeah, several months have past by since we left Metropolis," AC said. "Too bad Ollie wasn't conscious for it when we got here."
Whitney was concentrating on his own thoughts the entire time that the heroes were talking to each other. Finding out that there was a guy that he might stand a chance with gave him pause. He hadn't always been bi-sexual. At least that was what he'd tried to make himself believe. But after Lana broke his heart, things in his life changed. A very big reason for why he'd went into the marines in the first place was to prove to Lana that he wasn't useless and that staying with him wasn't a bad idea. Little good that had done in the end. He'd lost his scholarship to Kansas State and was on his way to ending up having to stay in Smallville for the rest of his life as an employee at Fordman's Department Store. And so he'd decided to take a chance and do something that he believed in like his father had done, and then what did the girl that he'd loved so much do to him? She sent him a video breaking up with him just a couple days before he was supposed to be deployed back out again.
That wasn't entirely reason enough for his sexuality to come into question, but Whitney couldn't help but wonder if he was really even wasting his time with the female species. Sure, he'd made a few terrible mistakes when it came to Lana, like the whole incident with Clark and that he wasn't willing to talk to Lana half the time when it came to his father's illness and such, but just the fact that she hadn't been willing to wait for him had been the straw that broke the camel's back. There had been another member of his unit that had the hots for him, Private John Adams, and Whitney wasn't surprised. He knew that he was a good looking guy, but he wasn't used to guy's liking him. However, John had been around when Whitney had watched the video, and had come to him when Whitney became upset over Lana breaking up with him.
That chance night ended up being the first of many that he had decided to turn to John for attention. When they had gone back out into the war zone and had gone missing in action, a few days before his squad was all killed, they had stayed in the same tent together on those nights. Sadly, John had been the last of his team to die, the one that he had tried to carry away with him during the explosions. Little good it did since he was captured. Problem was, the enemy forces hadn't been the ones that had attacked them. It had been the ninjas with their high powered weapons and the guy in the green suit that he had only seen for the first time when he was rescued with his own eyes.
Suddenly, Whitney felt his side being nudged. He looked to Bart and saw the worried look in his eyes, but was nodding his head straight ahead. Whitney turned to see Victor and AC loading up Oliver into a really nice green Ferrari. A small smile creased Whitney's face that made him instantly push aside his thoughts about John as he moved toward the car, knowing it was probably going to be a tight fit.
"Alright, Bart, you and Whitney get in the back," Victor said. "I'm driving and AC already called shotgun."
"AC always beats me to shotgun," Bart stated, clearly frustrated.
"And they say you're the fastest dude on the planet," AC said with a big smile. "Somebody got it wrong."
"How about I knock that grin off your face, fish stick?" Bart asked, threateningly.
"Hey, you too," Victor said. "Not in front of the civilian. Seriously, get in already."
"Come on, blondie," Bart said, guiding him over to passenger side of the car as Bart got in the middle so Whitney wouldn't have to sit beside the unconscious Oliver and then he Whitney got in beside him as AC and Victor got in as well.
The Ferrari started up as a huge smile came to Victor's face. "Oh, yeah!" And with that, Victor drove out of the parking lot and started the drive for Metropolis General.
The wind was blowing by just as fast as everything else that the souring figure came past. Looking down at everything that past him by, The Phantom Clone knew that he had never felt freer in his entire life. Sure he had been able to fly before as a simple, no body, phantom from that horrible prison that Jor-El, his own creator had imprisoned him in, but this was something different. Having a body to call his own gave him freedom that he didn't know existed before. It was just a sweet victory that the body that he'd stolen DNA from in the first place had been his creator's son.
However, the powers he appeared to have had been such an added bonus. He'd figured that his ability to fly would've left after finally retrieving a proper body, but the clone had been pleasantly denied those thoughts as he truly felt he could take on the entire world if he wanted to, and before long, that would probably end up being the case. If only he knew what he wanted to do first. There were so many possibilities to him. He knew what the planet had to offer, and how much fun he could really have, but the choices were vast.
Slowing down, The Phantom Clone saw that he was coming upon a city as the bright lights from the buildings were come on since nightfall was upon them. However, in this case, it wasn't just nightfall that was ahead of them. He knew now what kind of fun would be had, and as he continued the flight toward the city, it all became clear as crystal. As he continued moving though, the clone saw a large newspaper truck that caught his attention. A smile came to his face as an idea came to mind.
Henry Small drove the truck that he had stolen as quickly as he could, going in the direction of Metropolis, but mainly toward the government base he had been informed about. He looked over to his daughter, Lana Lang-Luthor, sitting beside him. There appeared to be a worried look on her face and rightfully so after everything that had occurred.
It was all happening so fast. The past few years, Henry hadn't been in very much contact with Lana at all since she had been giving him time to fix his marriage with Jennifer. He'd even had his children brought back home from the private school they'd been in and enrolled them at Smallville High so they could all be a family again. However, when he got the call from a panicked Lana, he knew there was nothing else for it. Something had to be done. He wouldn't allow his daughter from the one woman that he had loved more then Jennifer, Laura Lang, be killed by a monster like Lex Luthor.
Henry had to admit, Lana's plan was a brilliant one, but one that would pull him away from his family for awhile. Sure, she could've gone to her aunt, Nell Potter, for help, but she was all the way in Metropolis. She needed timely help and fast. With Henry in Smallville, it was the most logical choice. They had met at the Talon after Lana left The Luthor Mansion, telling Lex she wanted a divorce. They had gone over the plan that was to be brought about from beginning to end making sure that no one else in the Talon could've overheard what was going on.
Of course, Jennifer and his children had to be informed that something was going on, but Henry hadn't given details when he had called them. All they knew was that he had to take Lana out of town for awhile and that he would contact them when he knew for sure it wasn't dangerous in doing so. All he could do was hope that telling them what little he had told wouldn't be found out and them get into trouble with Lex Luthor. He had made sure to tell them that it was dangerous telling anyone what was going on, and that they needed to keep it quiet, but there was no way to know for sure all of the variables at stake. The future was hard to determine, and without being able to see into the future, there was no telling what would happen.
Henry glanced over to Lana once more and smiled slightly to her before looking back to the road. One thing was for sure. It was good to be back in her life again. If nothing else, he was glad that she had trusted him with this mission and knew that he could help her. "Lana, are you sure that we should be going to this guy? We don't know what he might do."
Lana Lang-Luthor had been deep in thought when her father's voice rang out, and it caused her to jump slightly having not expected the silence to be broken, considering that they had been on the road for a couple hours and not said anything since the mission had been accomplished.
The plan had worked perfectly. Lana knew that she wouldn't very well be able to leave Lex so easily considering how obsessed he was with her. She knew that leaving Smallville all together was the only option, but the problem was that he would've probably tried to track her down and stop her from filing divorce. Faking her death seemed to be the only secure option to her. It wasn't like it was unheard of. Chloe and Gabe's deaths had been faked a few years back so Lionel Luthor couldn't keep them from testifying further at another trial. At the time though, it had been Lex that had faked their deaths for them and kept them safe. Lana didn't have that luxury.
However, she was a Luthor now, so she did have some pull, which was why she was so easily able to get her hands on some explosives that she and her father had wired to her Toyota Yaris. She hated having to destroy such a beautiful vehicle, but it had been an engagement present from Lex, and keeping it wasn't worth the memories that came with the nice ride. Even though she and her father didn't really know much about explosives, it didn't take a genius to place them under the car and set them with a remote control that Henry would have with him when he came by driving the exact truck that they were currently in.
The major problem had been that they didn't have a witness to the death. Henry certainly couldn't be the witness since he was helping her out, and she would need him by her side during all of this, and she couldn't use Clark either, because him believing she was dead was going to be the kicker to make sure that Lex didn't for one second believe she hadn't been killed at all. She hated putting Clark through such pain for nothing, but it was a necessary evil to make sure that she was safe for the time being.
That was when she remembered that Lionel Luthor had been using her for some time to get documents and information off of Lex so that Lionel and his secret partner, whoever that was would be able to further hinder Lex's plans. So she called Lionel up and had him go to the Talon since she was acting as upset as she was over the phone to him. The plan worked smoothly in the end. All Lana could hope was that Lionel wasn't as smart and resourceful as she feared he was and wouldn't catch on to the rouse so quickly. She needed him to make sure that everyone knew of the death so that Lex wouldn't be able to find her.
Lana looked over to Henry and smiled to him slightly before nodding. "I know he can be trusted. He was involved when Chloe and her dad's deaths were faked, and besides, he's Chloe's uncle and Lois's dad. I don't think he'll betray us."
Henry noticed when Lana jumped from him talking to her. He could tell that she was highly upset over everything, and rightfully so after all she'd been put through. It was a very difficult situation for her. He'd only wished that he could've been there for her when she needed him most. Henry wasn't even able to go to her wedding, not that he'd wanted to be at a Luthor wedding in the first place, but it was his daughter's wedding.
Being there and being able to walk her down the aisle would've meant the world to him, but Henry knew that Lana was giving him the space he needed to work everything out, and one would've thought after all this time that some progress had been made, and obviously it had, but Henry still felt weirded out from the way their relationship had up and ended like it had and that she hadn't taken any time to call him since they'd broken things off.
However, that was all in the past now. Henry was able to be part of Lana's life again, and he was going to make the best of it, striving to help her through this difficult time. It was the least he could do for the daughter of the woman he had loved more then life itself.
"Well, if you believe General Lane can help, I won't question it," Henry said to her. "I just want you to realize that he was working with Lex during all of that with Chloe and her father. There's a chance the man is actually still under Lex's payroll or whatever it is. I just want you to be safe, Lana."
Before Lana could make a reply to her father, the truck started to loose control, but it was obvious from the expression on Henry's face that it wasn't something that he had done. It became even more obvious as the truck was lifted into the air. They both looked out the windows helplessly as they were being carried somehow.
"What's going on?" Lana asked, obviously frightened.
"I don't know, hunny," Henry replied. "Just hold on. I'm sure there's a very logical explanation for all of this."
Lana had a feeling that she should know better. Nothing ever seemed logical in Kansas these days. Whatever was happening had to do with the supernatural phenomenons that occurred so frequently. It was only a few more minutes before they were passing over the buildings of Metropolis. This situation was very unusual, and any wrong move could have them in huge trouble. She just hoped whomever, as she was assuming that it was someone in control of them that apparently could fly and was really strong, had them would put them down gently. Though she feared that wouldn't be the case.
Perry White couldn't help but laugh at the comment that Pauline Kahn had made to him as they sat there in her office. It had always been fun talking to the current editor-in-chief, as she always knew a way to keep the conversation lively.
"Seriously, Perry," Pauline stated. "I'm not lying. He actually told me that, and I told him that if you want to take the coffee maker to work with you, you go right ahead. I tell you, someday, he's going to kill over from too much caffeine. I can guarantee it."
"You do realize that we still haven't spoken about the problem, right?" Perry asked.
Pauline sighed. "Yes, I know, Perry. I'm not going senile. I just don't like talking about it."
"But avoiding it isn't good either," Perry said. "I can't believe they want to replace you with some young, useless newcomer."
"Oh, now don't talk about him like that," Pauline stated. "It's not Grant Gabriel's fault that the board wants to bring a hip, new look to The Daily Planet. At least they were willing to give me a seat on the board. Henry Billings is retiring finally after all."
"Well, I'm surprised that Billings can even still walk these days, Pauline," Perry commented with a chuckle. "I think you'll do good up there, but I really don't like the idea of having to answer to some kid fresh out of Metropolis University."
"I don't blame you, Perry," Pauline said. "But what are ya gonna do? I know I can't do anything about it. Once the board has spoken, that's the end of the conversation."
"You really should be back on the street sharing a byline with me," Perry stated. "That's where you belong."
"I'm too old to keep chasing the stories, Perry," Pauline admitted. "As much fun as it sounds, I think a nice, quiet desk position on the top floor as what I really need."
Perry opened his mouth to say something else, but stopped himself from doing so as his eyes enlarged. He was looking past Pauline, out the big window of her office as he saw the unimaginable. There was someone shrouded in darkness actually carrying a large Smallville Ledger truck in the air.
Pauline turned to where Perry was looking in confusion, but stood up and moved to the window in shock. "The Smallville Ledger will go to all lengths these days to sell their paper."
Perry stood up as well and moved over to stand beside Pauline. "If you call a man that can fly and carry a truck at the same time a way of selling papers, then we need to get looking for our own superman then."
Pauline pulled her glasses up on her nose and narrowed her eyes, trying to see in the fading light, and was shocked to find that Perry was right. "We need to get out there. I've still got one good story left in my bones, Perry White, and we're going to be sharing that byline after all." Pauline gathered her pocketbook and coat as she started rushing for the door with Perry right behind her.
The Phantom Clone found the perfect building to set the truck down on. It was right beside the building that had a pretty gold ball on the top of it. There were words on the side of the building, "LuthorCorp" but they didn't really mean anything to him as he simply let go of the truck and smirked as it crashed on the building, leaving a large dent in it. Floating down, the clone landed in front of the truck and clenched his fists as he waited to see whoever was inside get out. His fun had only begun, and he would make sure to make the most of his newest playmates.
Lana was in shock from the person she saw in front of the truck. She could've sworn that he slightly resembled Clark, but she couldn't actually she his face all that well in the light. She didn't know what building they'd been dropped on, but she knew that they were near The Daily Planet at least as she had taken glimpse down, seeing the spinning ball before they were let go. Looking over to her father, she gasped, seeing that Henry was out cold. "Dad?" There was no response. She shook him a few moments, but apparently their crash landing on the building they were on had knocked him out.
Knowing it was a horrible idea, Lana got out of the truck. She had to know if it was Clark that had found them. "Clark? I didn't know you could fly." All she could hear from the person was breathing. The clothes he was wearing, from what she could tell, looked like what Clark might wear, though the colors weren't exactly as bright as he normally wore. She started moving over to him. "Clark, I know I should've told you the truth of what I was doing, but I had to make the rouse look good enough for Lex to believe it. I didn't mean to hurt you, and if I knew that you would find out anyway, I would've let you in on what happened, but we have to get my father to the hospital. He's hurt. Please help me."
A short laugh escaped the clone's lips as he closed the gap between them. Lana gasped as she was finally able to make out the facial features. He looked like he was straight out of a nightmare, but despite that, Lana could just barely see that there was some resemblance to Clark within the cracked, silver, metal-like face of the creature before her. "You're not Clark. Who are you?"
"Actually, I am him," the clone replied, smirking, "only a little more bizarre."
Lana backed away from him slowly, but the gap between them was gone within moments as the clone moved closer to her yet again. "Please, just let me go. I haven't done anything to you."
"That's why you're guilty," the clone told her. "If you've done nothing, then that means that you're a nice person, and nice people need to be taught a lesson."
Confusion crossed Lana's eyes, but that subsided as her fear continued to build. She gasped as her back hit the grill of the still running truck. She could feel the heat being produced from the truck, and between the heat, her fear, and the closeness of the monster before her, she knew somehow, deep down, that she was about to die.
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire was heard as the shots were hitting the clone's back. He turned and anger toward several LuthorCorp security guards that had been alerted to the goings on from the security cameras. The clone started running for the guards, giving Lana the chance she needed as she rushed toward the driver's door. She pulled it open and jumped up into the truck, taking Henry's seatbelt off before slowly pulling him out of the truck, causing both of them to fall.
Henry groaned as the pain from the fall was intense. He opened his eyes, seeing Lana lying there beside her. "Lana? What happened?" He sat up Lana laid there, her face pain stricken. "Oh, hunny, hold on." He got to his feet and helped her back up.
"We have to get out of here," Lana stated lowly. "He'll kill us if we don't."
"Who will?" Henry asked. "And that was when he caught the screams of the guards as they were being attacked by the clone. One of the guards was sent sailing over the roof. "Ok, that's enough of an answer for me." Henry took Lana's hand and pulled her along as they moved past the fight and down the stairwell.
The green Ferrari was at a dead standstill as a traffic jam had held them up. Victor was very irritated at this point. He hadn't being stuck in traffic jams. They were so close to Metropolis General, and yet so far away. From beside him, AC turned on the radio, looking for a news station.
"This is Angela Chen," the radio came out. "This is a breaking news story. There have been several eye witness accounts to a Smallville Ledger truck flying over the city, possibly on it's own, but there is no way to know if there were... Hold on... This is a 911 call from LuthorCorp. The truck landed on the roof and there appears to be a disturbance. One guard was knocked off the building and presumed dead."
AC turned off the radio. "Alright, bros, I don't know about you guys, but I think this is a time that Ollie would say for us to get super, so let's get super, bros." He jumped out of the car and moved for the trunk as everyone else filed out of the car as well, moving back there.
"We're going to need you to get Ollie to the hospital, Whit," Victor stated, looking directly to him. "We barely know you, but our contact believed you were important enough for you to be rescued, so we're trusting you here to take care of him. Will you do this for us?"
Whitney nodded. "Yeah, you got it."
"You know where Metropolis General is?" Victor asked.
"My dad used to have to come up here a lot when he was dying," Whitney told him. "I believe I remember where it is still."
"Good," Victor said. "We're counting on you here. Make sure he sees Dr. Helen Bryce, and only Dr. Helen Bryce. She's our contact at the hospital. She'll know what to do. Do you understand?"
"You got it," Whitney said as he moved back to car and got into the driver's seat, waiting for the others.
After getting all of the costumes out of the back, AC closed the trunk and nodded to Victor. "Alright, we're good to go, Whit." With that, Victor took off with AC and Bart to an alleyway. They would have to change in the shadows, but it was something they were used to. They had people to save and little time to get there before things went back. Victor could only hope they wouldn't be too late.