"Why do you do these things?" Lois asks herself as she races down the alley. Seeing she has run into a dead-end, she searches for a way out. Spotting a fire escape, she climbs atop some trash and leaps just managing to catch the ladder. Pulling herself up onto the roof as bullets chip at the stone next to her, Lois thinks "Crap they are right behind me." Running across the roof she searches for a way down. She doesn't dare use the stairs, as they must have sent someone that way. Unfortunately, she can't see any other way down. There is a roof nearby but she is not sure she can make it. When the roof door swings open, she realizes she has no choice so she runs and jumps. For a moment she thinks she will make it but then she hits the roof's edge just short. She scrambles for a hand hold and manages to grab the edge even though it cuts her fingers a bit and costs her a nail or two. She tries to pull herself up but fails. Her feet can't get any traction on the wall and her hold isn't strong enough to pull herself up. To add to her troubles a bullet just misses her head and buries itself into the brick facing of the wall. She holds her breath waiting for the next shot but it never comes. Struggling she manages to look over her shoulder. The goons are gone from the other roof. "Must be going down to watch me fall." she grimly thinks. Summoning her inner reserves she tries once more to pull herself up onto the roof. In the process one hand slips and she twists painful on her other arm. She knows she won't be able to hold on much longer and looks at the alley below which she will be meeting all too soon. She is proud she doesn't scream when she falls.
She does scream when a woman in white catches her half way down. "Don't worry I've got you." she cheerily tells Lois.
"Just great." Lois mutters and then starts when her savior laughs at her remark. Something about that laugh is familiar. Looking more closely at her savior she notices things she missed before. This woman looks an awful lot like her dead cousin only on steroids. Looking into the woman's eyes she asks "Chloe?"
"You should be safe here until the police arrive to pick up your pursuers." her savior replies as she sets her down next to a pile of goons tied up in a lamp pole.
"Chloe?" Lois asks again but the woman doesn't respond. She just flies away. "I told Clark she wasn't dead. I'll have to track her down. If The Blur is hiding my cousin he is so dead." she thinks.
"Lois, have you lost your mind?" Clark asks stunned and concerned by what Lois has told him.
"Chloe isn't dead. She is that super chick hanging with The Blur. Yes, she looks different but the eyes Clark. Those are Chloe's eyes." Lois declares.
"Chloe's dead Lois. I wish she wasn't but she is. You have to let her go." Clark his voice full of sympathy tells her. It is the truth but he still feels guilty not telling her the whole truth. Just one more reminder why Lois can never be apart of his life the way he wishes.
"Damn you Clark. Why won't you believe me?" Lois angrily demands to know. "Please just believe me." she mentally begs.
"I've looked at the pictures too. Yes, she does look a bit like Chloe, but I swear to you she isn't. I can't tell you how much I wish she was. I miss her so much Lois. She was my best Friend." Clark explains. Lois has no idea the hell he has to go through knowing what he knows. How hard it is for him to be Cho-El's friend while trying desperately not to hate her because Chloe isn't here. The reminder of how he failed every time he sees her. He tells himself it isn't her fault and he does his best to be her friend but it is too hard. He can admit to avoiding her.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you when I had the chance. I considered not telling you as this seems cruel, but I just had to let you know. I love you Oliver. I love the way you grumble as you try to straighten out the mess that you hair becomes in the morning, the way you rescue damsels in distress, and most of all the way you look out for your friends. I was a fool for not saying anything after that night. I can only confess how afraid of being hurt again I was. I really wanted to but I just wasn't ready. I hope you can forgive me for that.
As to all this, it really is the only way. Zod has to be stopped no matter what. You taught me that heroes don't do what they want to do, they do what is necessary. They make the hard choices. They make the (pauses) sacrifices. Please honor my memory by living a full and happy life. I love you."
Oliver just sits and stares at the image floating in the air before him, her tears forever frozen in time along with her sad smile. He long ago lost track of how many times he has watched this but he doesn't care. He thought she regretted that night. He thought her silence as she watched him dress the next morning was accusing him of taking advantage of her. It never occurred to him she was as scared as he was. "What a fool I am." he chides himself once again. He desperately wants to pick up the bottle sitting on the table before him, but won't. She saved him from that path. He won't disrespect her memory by letting himself take the easy way out again. He flips open his phone and dials. "Anything?"
"Not yet. I'll let you know I swear." Victor replies. "How are you doing?"
"Hanging on. Sometimes it's all you can do. I am going to hit the streets for a bit, but I expect you to call the moment you find it." Oliver answers.
"We miss her too." Victor reminds him.
Victor means to remind him he is not alone in his pain but it doesn't help. His heart was never something he let into his relationships. She was different. He cared more for her than even he realized and he blew it. Shutting down this negative spiral, he dons his costume and heads out into the night.
As he is wrapping up a mugger, he hears a gun click back behind him. Turning his head slightly, he sees another thug has gotten the drop on him. "Careless Ollie." he chides himself. He knows he is still distracted but he didn't realize just how badly until he allowed this guy to sneak up on him.
"Looks like I get to be famous." the thug gloats as he pulls the trigger. The bullet explodes from the barrel.
To Oliver it all happens in slow motion. Diving as quickly as he can he tries to get out of the bullets path but he's not Bart and it rips into his chest missing his heart but lodging in his lung. Ignoring the pain, he raises his crossbow and fires an arrow at his attacker. The arrow is a bit off target but still strips the gun from the man's hand. The thug screams in pain as the arrow cuts a long trough along his hand and arm. Clutching his wounded arm, the thug runs out of the alley.
Relived he isn't dead; Oliver tries to figure his next move. It's hard to breathe and his head is swimming. He struggles to trigger his headset. In his confusion he calls "Arrow to Watchtower. I need pick up." The reality that she isn't there to answer hits him just as he starts to pass out. Strong arms which for a moment he thinks must be Clark's catch him. Looking up he sees Chloe staring down at him. She looks heavenly all decked out in white. "You came." he mummers before completely passing out.
Oliver's comment drives a knife deep into Cho-El's chest. Chloe's feelings for him are nearly overwhelming her with worry. He is lucky she still listens to the Watchtower channels, more out of Chloe's habit than any planning on her part. Seeing all the blood running out of him, she uses a brief blast of heat vision to seal the wound. Launching herself into the air with Oliver in her arms she races to the Fortress. Unlike Clark, Cho-El knows how to use the medical equipment in the Fortress. The Fortress' advanced science easily removes the bullet and heals the damage to Oliver's body. Laying him on a crystal bed she then paces furious trying to figure out what to do next. She tried calling Clark, but it just went to voicemail. She realizes he must be asleep as it is 4 AM in Metropolis. Chloe's memories make it hard to be in the same room as Oliver, but she can't bring herself to leave him either. His comment just before he passed out is another problem. She can't let him recognize her. Luckily he gave her the answer she needed because of his costume. She goes to the clothing synthesizer to create a mask to help hide her identity. She doesn't know why Clark doesn't wear one. He has been amazing lucky that no one has caught onto his double life.
Oliver wakes up with a sharp pain in his chest but he is able to breathe normally. Examining his chest he notices his vest has been removed but the amazing part is that the skin where the bullet hit is smooth and unbroken. Taking in his surroundings he finds himself in a crystal palace. Having never been to the Fortress he has no way of knowing this is where he is. "Hello." he calls out. His voice echoes through the Fortress in all sorts of weird ways due to all the angles.
"You were wounded and needed medical attention so I brought you here." a very attractive floating woman says as she flies out of an alcove. She is dressed in a one piece white leotard with a hole cut out to show her cleavage with red boots, red cape and red belt. Her face is hidden by a red face mask but her piercing blue eyes seem familiar to him. Then he realizes who this is. This must be the woman Chloe was helping before.
"Thank you for helping me." he says. His pride keeps him from saying saving.
"Just doing what I can to help. Are you hungry? There isn't much food here as Clark and I don't have to eat the way humans do, but you are welcome to what we do have.' she offers clearly nervous around him.
Oliver has to laugh at this because while he knows women find him attractive, she is an alien goddess who can wrap him into a pretzel. If anyone should be nervous it should be him. Oddly he isn't. He feels strangely comfortable around her. Before he has a chance to wonder about this, his rescuer looks up and then disappears in a flash. Oliver has seen that look on Clark's face and knows some disaster just caught her attention.
After putting all of his costume back on he starts to explore a bit when a voice from no where orders "Please do not leave the medical section." The voice is cold and impersonal so he figures it must be a computer. He hopes that is not the voice of Jor-El's simulation. If it is, he has a new level of sympathy for Clark. There was zero warmth in that voice. Next Oliver tries his com but it isn't able to get a signal outside wherever he is. With little else to do, he lies back down and catches up on his sleep.
Clark misses a step when he sees Oliver stretched out sleeping in part of the Fortress he doesn't even know what it is for. "Uh Hi." Clark says in way of greeting.
Sleepily Oliver sits up and looks around. Seeing Clark he perks right up. "Clark! Great to see you. Nice pad, it totally blows my penthouse away." he remarks.
"Thanks.' Clark replies unsure of what else to say. "How did you end up here?" Clark inquires.
"Kara helped me out with a bit of trouble. Since I was injured she flew me here. Why didn't you tell me you had all these super cool healing gizmos?" Oliver answers.
"I didn't know I had them. I have no idea what most of this place can do. I'm still trying to figure out what I can do." Clark answers a bit annoyed. Another reminder that if he had listened to his father and started his training when he was supposed to he could've helped more. He might have been able to save Jimmy, Chloe or even his father. Guilt threatens to overwhelm him when Oliver snapping his fingers pulls him out of his misery.
"Hey I didn't mean anything. I was just being my usual jerk self. My ego took a beating being rescued by a girl and all." Oliver quips trying to change the mood which has suddenly gotten very dark.
"It's ok." Clark mummers in his "no its not, but I'll torment myself later" voice.
"Well could you do me a favor and fly me home?" Oliver asks.
Sheepishly Clark replies. "I still can't fly but I do have way to get you back to Smallville at least."
Back in Metropolis Lois smashes her fists on the useless piece of junk in front of her. Despite her best efforts she can't find squat on The Blur's new friend beyond what it's already in the papers. She just appeared the day Zod's tower was destroyed which fits with her growing theory on her cousin's fate. "Chloe must have used some of that alien tech to get super powers to stop Zod, but the process messed with her memories. That explains everything. Now I just have to find her and remind her of who she really is." thinks Lois. An idea pops into Lois' head and she gathers her things and heads out of the Planet building.
At Chloe's Metropolis apartment, Lois is trying to hack Chloe's files, but is quickly realizing it's hopeless. "Chloe was the hacker in the family. I just punch stuff." Lois mentally mumbles. "I wish Oliver would call me back. Where is he when I need him?" she mutters to the empty apartment. "Where are any of the men in my life when I need them?" she mentally adds. Getting up to stretch she explores the apartment. Chloe has some incredible gear set up here. "There is more processing power in this room than in the whole of the Daily Planet, probably more than the Pentagon." Lois quips. Poking around Lois notices something very odd. The open space doesn't match the amount of available space. Focusing on the area, she finds a hidden door. It takes her another hour to figure out how to open it and when she does a loud alarm sounds and gas is released. Coughing Lois staggers back. Dizziness quickly follows and Lois finds herself on the floor not entirely sure how she ended up there. "This must be The Blur's secret stash. Smooth move betraying your cousin and The Blur in one motion. Worst of all you so totally getting busted, Lois" she chides herself as darkness claims her.
In seconds Kara is at the Watchtower. She flies in through the balcony landing in a defensive stance. Seeing Lois unconscious on the floor, she rushes over to check Lois. Relieved Lois hadn't hurt herself when she fell from the knockout gas taking effect; Kara lifts Lois and puts her on the sofa. A sofa she fondly remembers that is pretty comfortable. Shutting off the alarm and the defenses, she then resets everything and sends the all clear to the team. She was worried Bart might have beaten her here, so she is glad he is still avoiding Metropolis. Most of the team is which is making it easier for her to adjust. She couldn't face them all. Her encounter with Oliver still has her shaking and confused. Chloe's feelings are so strong, so tempting. Oliver is an attractive man whom she also knows a great deal about. She is so tempted, but feels it would be cheating using Chloe's memories to seduce him. Also, how can she know what she is really feeling with Chloe's emotion still so strong?
Lois wakes with a warm cloth on her forehead. Squinting to survey the area while trying to pretend to still be unconscious she sees no sign of the blur but she does see Clark sitting in a chair nearby. "Damn, what is he doing there?" she wonders. "Does he know something I don't?" her suspicious report brain wonders. Sitting up slowly she says "Hey Clark. What's up?"
"Good question. I stop by Chloe's like I do a couple of times a week to check on the place and I find you out cold on the sofa. Even more interesting is that it looks like someone has been trying to hack Chloe's computers. I bet the Blur would be upset if he thought someone was betraying the trust he showed in her by snooping where not wanted." Clark comments.
In spite of herself Lois guiltily scrunches her shoulders up before replying "I wasn't snooping into the Blur. He knows he can trust me. (Clark chuckles) I'm trying to find out what happened to my cousin."
A sad look erases the smile from Clark's face as he states "She's gone Lois. I'm sorry but she's gone."
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!!? She was always there for you! How can you and Oliver and everyone just give up on her!" Lois screams. Her frustration and sorrow exploding out of her.
"Because she' gone." Clark repeats. He tries to approach Lois to wrap her in a hug but she steps back from him so he keeps his distance.
"No, she's not. The Blur's new friend is Chloe! The process that gave her superpowers just messed up her mind. If we can find her, I'm certain I can help remember who she really is." Lois states excitedly.
Looking down unable to face Lois for a minute Clark collects himself and hardens his resolve. Meeting her eyes he can see the hope hiding the pain. "She needs this." he realizes. "Ok, Lois. Let's see if you're right." Clark concedes. "I'll have to talk to Kara. She needs to speak with Lois. I just hope both of them survive the conversation." Clark thinks.
"Oh my god, oh my god." Kara says over and over again as she paces back and forth in the fortress clearly freaking out at Clark's suggestion.
"Calm down. We'll get through this." Clark reassures her.
"How can I face her? I am walking around in her cousin's body." Kara asks desperately.
"Just tell her the truth. I can only imagine how hard that will be but Lois needs to her it from your lips. She'll never give up until she does. She'll never grieve." Clark explains.
"I don't know if I can, Clark. Does that make me a bad person?" Kara answers stopping to face Clark. Her guilt clear in her eyes.
"Not at all. This isn't something you asked for. I've seen how hard it has been on you. I know my avoiding you hasn't helped either." Clark admits.
"Clark, you've been fantastic. I know how much you miss Chloe. I can't say how much I appreciate all you have done for me." Kara says as she gentle holds the side of his head with her hand. All Chloe's memories of Clark including some very old feelings float through her when she touches his bare skin.
"Please just think about." Clark says pulling away from her touch and then walking off. Her praise rubbed open the scab on his guilt. He isn't worthy of her comments. If he had done what he was supposed too, she wouldn't even be here.
Lois hasn't smoked in a few years but she really really could use a cigarette right now. The Blur's message said Power Girl had agreed to meet with her to clear up things once and for all. "Power Girl, what the hell kind of name is that? Is she trying to set the woman's movement back?" Lois fumes trying to control her nervousness. She can't scare Chloe. She has to go easy. "Poor Chloe. She must be so scared and confused." Lois thinks. Lois nearly jumps out of her skin when a shadow passes over her and lands behind her on the Planet's roof. Turning to face Power Girl, Lois forces herself to say "Thanks for coming." Studying Power Girl she can see the woman is nervous as well but she can also clearly see Chloe's eyes behind the mask. "I know this is hard but I want you to try and remember some things. When we were ten, we went to the" Lois continues before Power Girl interrupts her.
"Lois, please let me say something." Power Girl asks.
"Fine." Lois answers a bit snippier than she wanted too. She is mad that Power Girl interrupted her ,but she knew this was going to be tricky. She will have to be patient if she wants to get her cousin back.
"I remember when you and Chloe were ten because I have Chloe's memories, but I'm not Chloe. You see The Blur posses some technology which Chloe used to create me. She took the memories of one of The Blur's people who had died many years ago and combine them with her own in her body to create me. This process destroyed who Chloe was. She knew that would happen, but sacrificed herself to create me so I could stop Zod. I didn't ask her to make such a sacrifice and I'm trying to prove worthy of it. I wish your cousin was alive, but she is only a ghost in my mind." Power Girl explains as tears make their way down her cheeks.
Lois staggers and then falls. She desperately wants to deny what she is hearing, but the pain clearly shown by Power Girl's tears leaves her no choice but to accept the truth. "Chloe is gone."
"I'm sorry." Power Girl manages to say through her tears before the pain of this moment is too much and she flies off desperate to find some crisis to distract her.
Clark steps onto the roof as soon as Kara is gone. He grabs Lois who startles but then clamps on to him. He doesn't know how long they stand there as Lois cries. He just holds her trying to will her pain away. All his power useless to right this wrong his own tears join hers. It is a painful moment but also a healing one. A small step, but still a step.