Beyond Smallville: Time Shards 2
Rogue Element
Chloe and Jimmy were at the local Fed HQ, now freed and awaiting a G-Man interrogator. They sat back to back at the room's center. While the G-men squabbled among themselves about who would question the alleged fugitives, Chloe worked on her plan. "Jimmy, do you trust me?"
"With my life." The pleasant photojournalist said confidently. "This is it. We go together, there's no backing out now." Chloe foreshadowed. "All or nothing, sweetie." Jimmy agreed. Chloe raised both arms and concentrated on the HQ electrical system.
In seconds, two streams of electrical sparks arced out from her fingertips. One blasted the area's electronic security lock system, and the other blew through the nearest wall, which luckily for them hadn't been reinforced. Chloe's power surge had taken it's toll, she was exhausted.
Jimmy took his cue, and gathered Chloe into his arms, struggling slightly. I better start working out more, he mentally grumbled, as he carried her through the wall and out into the crowded HQ corridors. They were still outnumbered. It was sheer luck that most of the government officials were administrative.
Very few had weapons, and fewer still had enough courage to get involved. Most government functionaries were more worried about spilling their coffee, than confronting escaping criminals. A good portion of them scattered, jogging away from Jimmy, as he painfully carried Chloe towards the exit.
The nearest doorway was blocked by the true G-Men, brandishing stun guns, and small caliber revolvers. They wouldn't make it. The goons started running towards them from behind as well. They were trapped. Chloe's gambit had failed. Just that quickly, a gigantic explosion was heard...
Scene: The FBI Headquarters in East Metropolis:
Government officials had trapped Chloe and Jimmy. The explosion echoed throughout the fully staffed government building. It was a large concussion / flash grenade that had blown through a wall near the main corridor. "Clark! Clark! Help!" Chloe yelled at the top of her lungs, startling Jimmy.
"What makes you think that CK is anywhere near this place, Chlo'?" He questioned. Chloe had half expected Clark, Kara, or Laura to come barreling in. Not this time, she thought sourly. Maybe our luck had finally run out. Dozens of attackers wearing all black surrounded the entire wing.
About one hundred and forty two workers staffed the facility. Roughly fifty had managed to escape through the emergency exits before the terrorist teams had closed them down. The police and the other government agencies would be at the headquarters soon. The thugs didn't have much time.
The two terrorists nearest to Chloe and Jimmy wore hockey goalie masks. The assault force was well organized and disciplined. Chloe had helped them along by zapping the cameras and electronic alarms. Most of the other ski mask wearing commandos brandished Uzi's and AK-47s.
One terrorist stood out among the faceless minions. He wore a fancy red Chinese dragon mask, which covered his entire face and throat. Chloe was confused. There was nothing particularly valuable in the FBI building. It didn't appear to her to be a robbery. A hostage situation? She shuddered.
The leader fired his automatic pistol at the ceiling. "Attention, you will drop all your weapons and cell phones now, please." He ordered. Chloe tried to place his accent. It sounded Eastern European like he was from Russia or Slovenia. "There will be no heroics today." He added calmly.
He patiently waited for all the guns and phones to clatter onto the well-waxed floors of the corridor. Two of the guys in ski masks quickly collected all the items and placed them in some standard shopping bags. "How many of you will risk your lives for a twenty five to forty thousand dollar a year job? Not many, I expect." He continued cockily.
"We are here to acquire some important items." He slowly walked towards Chloe and Jimmy. "If you cooperate, you may live, if not, you will die. It is that simple." He barked some orders in Russian. Two thugs scattered into the nearest cubicles, and immediately slapped a flash drive in the computer hard drive units. It was an informational robbery, Chloe decided.
In moments the goons returned, flash drives in hand. "We will be gone like the wind on a summer's day." The leader said as he fired his pistol into the ceiling again. "All of you! Get into that conference room!" He yelled as his minions shoved everyone backward with their weapons.
They herded the employees into the large meeting room. Suddenly two goons grabbed Chloe, and simultaneously smacked Jimmy over the back of the head with the butt of an automatic rifle. "You will come with us!" The leader snarled. "Jimmy!" Chloe yelled tearfully.
Two thugs kicked her boyfriend into the conference room, and locked the door. "What do you want with me?" Chloe screamed. "You have some value to someone close to me. Now go!" He shoved Chloe forward, and the hockey mask wearing assailants half carried her out the door into a waiting black van. They peeled out just as the local police sirens were heard.
Three more vans and large SUVs scattered in every direction, cruising down any available street. Some even slowed down to let the police and SWAT team's vehicles pass. One guy duct taped Chloe's mouth and tied her hands and bound her feet with common rope.
"So, like that, the prophecy is fulfilled." The leader said, thoroughly pleased with himself, as his companions chuckled. "The golden haired goddess will control the elements and bring about the rebirth. As it was in the beginning, so will it be again." A few of the thugs chorused.
Chloe was truly terrified. Me? A goddess? Boy, are these guys off base, she thought worriedly. Maybe they meant Kara? She wondered silently, shifting her weight slightly to relieve the pressure on her arms and legs. The van sped off to who knows where. I'll have to save myself.
Back near Smallville, Bruce, Dick, Clark, and Barbara were mopping up the last of their thugs. Alfred was heading towards a prearranged destination, with an unconscious Lois in the back seat with Selena. The Catwoman purred happily. "That was fun, Alf. I wish I could've been more in on the action." The elder gentleman grumbled. "You've done quite enough already, Miss Kyle."
"What about reporter girl?" Selena asked vacantly, her mind on something else. "Yes, well, if fortune favors us, she'll be none the worse for wear, and won't recall our impromptu exit." Alfred guided the black limo off the main highway, as police sirens sounded nearby.
"I'm heading back to Gotham, Al, this whole evening was lame, except for the last few minutes." Selena complained. "I'd second guess that notion, Miss Kyle, there are still the matters of the outstanding warrants for a certain felonious feline in Gotham, Star City, and Grandville."
"True, Al. I thought Brucey was taking care of those. I gave the gems, money, and cat statue back to Gotham Jewelers. As for Star City and Grandville, those minor infractions are hardly worth pursuing a class act like myself." Alfred rolled his eyes. "Master Bruce is taking an awful chance on you."
Selena glanced downward. If you only knew why, Alfred, She mused. Lois began to stir. Selena slipped her cat mask back over her face. Alfred took a moment to don Robin's black mask and tie a blue handkerchief around his nose and mouth. Lois muttered. "Clark?" as her eyes flitted open.
"Guess again." Selena smiled as she bent over Lois's face. "What? I must've hit my head!" She rubbed her arm, and glanced into the front seat. "Hello!" She gasped. "Look you two, I don't want to be part of your cat fetish romantic evening in the back of a limo. You can drop me off right here."
Catwoman chuckled evilly. "Hear that, she doesn't like our company." She taunted. Alfred slowed the car to a crawl and quickly whipped out a spray can of bat gas, spraying it at Lois's face. Selena backed off just in time, and covered her nose and mouth. Lois fell sound asleep, snoring quietly.
Back at the battle zone, Barbara glanced over the edge of the ravine at her still smoldering mode of transportation. "I guess that I'll need a new Batcycle." She put her hands on her thin waist. Clark was back at Bruce's car. Dick was pulling the mud, branches, and leaves off of his ride.
"Where's Lois?" Clark demanded as Bruce kicked the last of the weapons away from the thugs. "She's fine, Kent. Heading back to Metropolis." Batman turned his back on him, and sat in the driver's seat. "No. Call whomever, and tell them to take her to my house. I'll give you all the directions." Superman directed. "It's not far from here." Bruce obeyed. "Whatever!"
Clark saw Barb overlooking the small canyon, and went over to talk to her. Bruce and Dick may not have been exactly sure what they witnessed Superman doing, but Batgirl was certain. Clark sighed and put his hand on Barb's slim shoulder. "We should talk." He began calmly.
Barb glanced up at him, and shocked Clark by kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks for saving my life, Clark." He reddened as Barb turned away from the overhang and pressed a small button on her gold belt. The motorcycle exploded into a fiery molten mess. There was literally nothing left of it.
That massive explosion was sure to garner interest from the entire area. Sirens already wailed in the distance, they only had a few minutes. "Ready, Batgirl?" Robin said as he pulled the cycle up alongside them. "We should give Batman a chance to discuss this with Kent." He suggested.
Barb ignored him for the moment and followed Clark like a lost puppy to Batman's car. Dick rolled his eyes and grumbled. "You know, I'm getting hungry." He complained. "Beating bad guys' asses usually makes me work up an appetite."
Clark stood near the passenger's side of the car, leaning on the misshapen gull wing door that he'd ruined. "We should go. I'd rather not answer a lot of embarrassing questions." Bruce admitted. "Hop in, Kent, and don't break anything else."
Barb reluctantly climbed up on the back of Dick's cycle, and hung onto his waist as he peeled out, trailing Bruce and Clark. This ought to be interesting, Batman mentally groused.
