4/30/11 - 6:55PM - Isis Foundation - Metropolis, KS

Howie continued typing away as he looked for traces into the police mainframe, to the Daily Planet security, recordings, anything that indicated Cyborg was keeping tabs on the situation. He found nothing.

'NOTHING!' he typed on the text message to Alex and Lynn.

'He's an organism that can think faster than any computer.' he thought. 'He must know I'd perform this kind of check. He's probably laughing at me now or was laughing at me days before he performed his successful murder.' No sooner did Howie finish did he receive another text.

'Howie we need your help. We need you to access Tess Mercer's office. It looks like J'onn is meeting with her about what just happened.'

'Sure thing sis. Nothing a little tap into Tess' computer and I can listen into what she and J'onn and... Courtney on her laptop, Chloe, Dinah and Lois are talking about.'

Howie noticed that J'onn had reverted back to his usual disguise of a dark-skinned human wearing what he always saw as a cool purple jacket along with a red-crossed holster across his chest as he saw just how worried he'd become alongside the others.

"What's going on J'onn?" said Tess.

"I have no idea. I checked in earlier with the rest of the police on the matter but they don't have anything definitive. It looks like a man had just murdered this girl within a few feet from this building. And from witnesses who saw the girl earlier believe it may have been Clark."

"No way Clark could have done this." said Chloe. Lois nodded her approval.

"Maybe you're right Chloe. It may not be him; it could be a Phantom possessing Clark. Like those phantoms tried to do five years ago. Tess, he was right to order you to close the gate..."

"Don't you ever say that!" screamed Lois. "Unless you can prove otherwise you mention that again and I'll burn you to death."

"Lois you have to at least consider the possibility." said Tess.

"If that's true," said Chloe. "Where are the rest? If there are zoners out there that just happen to have let Clark escape where are the rest? And why kill one woman?"

"It could be the beginning or worse," said J'onn. "Those phantoms are vicious and dangerous, worse they could bring out the evil in Clark or Oliver. Maybe he succumbed to the darkness. Didn't you once tell me Lois that this Gordon Godfrey was possessed by the Darkness and that he intended to take over Clark?"

"Then why hasn't he contacted us?" said Lois. "There is no way it could be him without attempting to contact us so as to trick us. Try the Fortress, see if it can prove he's still in there."

"Why would the Darkness need to contact you? If he has Clark then he has everything he needs. Still, Godfrey did attempt to trick everyone, spreading the word of darkness. But I'll do what I can to check. Courtney?"

"Yes J'onn?" said Courtney's image coming from Tess' laptop.

"I need you to keep your ears to the ground on this. If this is Clark I want you to keep your eyes out on anything strange. Monitor anyone; a homeless man in near the woman's home, the woman's friends ask about anything within an hour or two around the time of the murder. There has to be something that we can connect this to."

"Sure thing J'onn. But I have to be discrete. I still have the secret identity that I'm trying to repair and that involves a date."

"Then accept the date and start work as soon as you can. In the meantime you can go now." No sooner was this done that Tess' computer had Courtney logged off as Tess turned off her computer.

"In the meantime we must be extra careful." said J'onn. "I'm glad that you are here Dinah but we need someone else. Someone who could be able to restrain him if he is possessed."

"Who did you have in mind?" said Dinah.

"One of Kal-El's weaknesses is magic. If we only knew someone who could harness such power to reign him in maybe..."

"Really?" Lois spat. "After what she did to us weeks ago? Though it was funny to be in Hangover Part II situation, I have to admit I have never really liked her anywhere near Clark."

"Lois we had a murder happen a few yards from here." said Tess. "We need all hands on deck. She's coming over and maybe I'll bring in more. I hear A.C. and Mera are willing to help out. Now I need you be careful. Plus I do hear you know your way around these."

Howie then saw Tess remove four pistols from a safe behind a bookcase.

"I saved these after Chloe and Oliver were intending them for Zod. Now I want you to be able to defend yourself with these Kryptonite weapons. However deadly they were designed to be I have changed them so that the Kryptonite will only incapacitate not kill, at least with the first shot."

Lois, Chloe and Dinah looked hesitant as they accepted Tess's weapons.

"Now lets get moving and be careful. Alright?"

Heads nodded as the people left Tess. J'onn made sure to transform back into Clark.

Great! thought Howie as he realized just how difficult things were now becoming. He then sent a text to his siblings.

'Guys we have a problem. And I mean 'Houston We Have A Problem' problem. They think dad has probably fallen into the darkness or possessed by a phantom from the Zone and are arming themselves with Kryptonite weapons.'

'BLAST IT!' Alex and Lynn's text screamed.

'This could be a good thing though. We still have time. Dad will not arrive yet. But until he does Cyborg will be in the crosshairs as Kryptonite hurts him just like dad.'

'YES! INCLUDING US!" another text from his siblings screamed.

'Which is why you'll be using some lead lined clothing and your magic bro to protect us from the exposure.'

'Anything else you can trouble us with?'

'Yes actually. They are bringing in three more Justice Leaguers to help find dad. The first one is A.C. and the second is his first wife Mera.'

'SHOOT!"

'Oh it gets worse. The third big brother is your wife.'

' #$*!'

Howie couldn't help but laugh at what was obviously his sister's silly way of cursing without him having to hear the exact words. Though the happy-face emoticon that followed was most definitely from his brother.

'We'll find a way to manage this little bro. In the meantime we are done for the moment. The police are about done and I want you out of that place. Its 7:30PM. Go on your date with Courtney. Have fun. I want you to be happy tonight."

'Okay.'

'Seriously little bro, this is Lynn. Have fun tonight.'