The Man Of Steel, The Woman Of Mettle
Chapter Six – Watchtower Babe
Xxxx In The LastChapter xxxX
Chloe looked around, her and Lois's cars were in flames and Clark's truck looked like it had been blown up. The door to the house had been kicked in and everywhere there were signs of a fight.
Clark reappeared, with a worried look, "Lois isn't here, neither is Bart."
The two friends stood there looking around, Chloe at the destruction, and Clark scanning the surrounding area for any sign of his friend, and his beloved.
Xxxxx And Now Chapter Six xxxxX
The hours Clark had been gone worried Chloe; looking at her watch she noted that it had actually only been 30 minutes. She stayed hidden in an old tool cabinet in the barn, hoping that whatever happened to Lois and Bart wouldn't happen to her.
Clark wasn't answering his cell phone; none of Lois's friends had heard from her, neither had her Editor at The Inquisitor. Her father, General Lane, was in a meeting at the Pentagon and couldn't be reached, and Lois's sister Lucy was somewhere north of the South Pole, in other words - whereabouts unknown.
She had called everyone she could think of, including Oliver Queen, Bart's employer. The Justice League changed its flight plan, mid-flight, and was returning from Hawaii; they wouldn't be in the area for at least ten hours.
The silence of the moment was broken by her phone ringing. Noticing Bart's name on the CID, she pushed the talk button.
"Bart! Where are you? Have you seen Lois? What happened here? We were worried when we saw the cars and…"
Interrupting, Bart silenced her. "Quiet, goddess! I'm alright. When I got to the barn, I saw a low flying helicopter leaving. Seeing the destruction, I knew something was up so I followed the bird. Is Clark there?"
"He's searching Smallville and Metropolis for Lois… and you."
"And in that order I'll bet."
"Well… Where are you?"
"I'm about five miles from Jesse Field. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, it's about 100 miles north of Smallville. But it was decommissioned after World War II. Now it's used for drag racing on the weekends,"
"That's where I followed the bird to. It's where they are holding Lois. And there's another girl, she doesn't really look like Lois, but she kind of reminds me of her."
"Bart, that sounds like her sister, Lucy!"
"When Lois saw her, she attacked her guards and took a rifle butt to the head."
"Is she alright?"
"I'm not sure."
Chloe breathed heavily for a few seconds, she was no good to Lois this way. Collecting herself, she asked, "How are they armed?"
"There are 57 armed men here, armed with automatics, Uzis, and explosives. I can't do this alone. I mean, I could carry one of them, but not both. And there are booby traps! If I trip something – I could get away, but not with Lois and her sister."
"Can you tell if there is any Kryptonite in the area, or in their weapons?"
"I didn't see any. Why?"
"I have a plan, but I need Clark. Find someplace to hide where you can see the field. When I tell Clark he'll be there in a heart beat. Let him engage the mercs, you be ready to get the girls to safety."
"You got it, Watchtower babe."
"Bart..."
"Yes?"
"Clark will be… He has feelings for Lois, so stay out of… Just watch out."
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Chloe was pacing in the barn when Clark appeared, his eyes wild with panic. "I couldn't find her!"
"I know; Bart followed the men that took her."
"Is she OK? Did he rescue her? Where is she?"
"Clark! Let me talk! She has been injured, she attacked her guards and they knocked her out."
Grabbing her arms, he stared into her eyes, "Where is she!"
"First, ouch; watch the arms. Second, Lucy is also a captive. There are 57 armed men with explosives. Bart can't save the girls and fight an army."
"I can."
"That's the plan, you engage while he gets the girls to safety."
"Where are they?"
"First, put on this ski mask."
His eyes asked, 'why?'
"To protect your identity."
"OK, now what?" The look in his eyes told her that he wouldn't wait any longer for her to tell him.
"They are at Jesse Field."
Chloe expected him to speed off, instead she saw him just stand there. She felt the wind pick up, as her hair started to blow into her face. And Clark just stood there; the wind swirling around him, a look of fierce determination on his face. Then he crouched and leapt into the air. She saw him soar high, then head north, leaving with a sonic boom.
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TBC…