Chapter 9: Deadly Truths
Gotham City
Earlier . . .
"We left my dog."
"Shut up already about that damn dog."
"But—"
"I said shut up!" Non turned to Bul. When he wasn't sneaking murderous peeks at the Kent woman, he was whining about that tiny, white pup of his. Non was done with both. "If you gave a damn about the runt, you wouldn't have left without him."
This earned a snarl from Bul, who, in his current broken and bruised state, was as threatening as that pathetic puppy he'd dragged all the way from Argo City. Using the scrawny creature had been one of his second's better ideas. After all, what woman could resist a cute puppy in distress?
"Just watch the road and text me if someone drives by."
Not that Non expected company. They were far off the beaten path. The neighborhood was under gentrification, but the renovations had yet to begin.
"But I thought we were all going in." Bul glanced behind him and to the rest of the team, all in need of medical attention.
"I'm not sure. I have an uneasy feeling about staying here too long."
"Why? No one followed us."
Bul was right. Still, something about the snatch and grab, beyond how much of a fight Kent had put up, made Non uneasy. He couldn't explain it, or perhaps it was the too calm blue eyes that had met his when the woman had awoken five minutes ago. He'd yanked her from the van, hoisted her over his shoulder, and carried her into the old house.
Up the stairs he'd taken her, the woman oddly compliant for such a fierce fighter. Then again, her head was bleeding and the pain he'd seen cross her face when he'd dropped her onto the mattress was very real. But that hadn't been the reason why his hackles were suddenly up. No, it had been the cold certainty in the only words she'd spoken. "He'll find me. He'll find you."
She'd stared up at him, no fear in her glassy eyes. A knowing smile followed, cruel and hate filled. Without thinking, Non had taken a step back then halted once he'd realized what he'd done. Then the mocking grin had faded and the hard, blue eyes closed – passed out.
"He'll find us," Non heard himself say to Bul, not knowing the "he" to which Non or the woman referred. But if Kent was as positive of being found as Non believed her to be, he would take no chances.
"Who are you talking about? I told you, this is the perfect spot, no one around for blocks. We're safe here. And, shit, I need to set my ankle and wrist. They hurt like a motherfucker."
The men behind Bul grumbled their agreement, also needing to see to their injuries. But they would have to wait.
Non hustled to the passenger side of the van, pulled the door open, and began hunting around in the glove box. Throwing out papers and other trash, Non finally found the black, rectangular box he was searching for. Holding the eyeglass case sized box, Non felt better. In a few minutes, whomever Kent thought was coming for her would be too late. Her rescuer might find her body but he would be too late to save her soul.
"Let me take care of this then I'll get us all the hell out of here." Their private plane awaited them. His team wouldn't like it, but they would have to wait until they were in the air to deal with their injuries. Non had been in this business too long not to listen to his gut. It had saved his ass countless times, and he wouldn't die in some shithole American city because he didn't listen to it now.
He ran back into the house and up the stairs, finding the woman exactly where he'd left her. There was more blood on the mattress now, and he wondered if the head injury would do her in first.
Kneeling, Non removed the torn jacket she wore and rolled up a sleeve of her white shirt. Spots of blood sprinkled the fine garment. He snorted. The Kent woman was feisty and had drawn first blood on his men. No wonder Bul wanted to kill her. If given another chance, she'd probably take their manhood. Well, all Diana Kent's chances were up. But he really needed her to survive the head injury. She would die, true, but it had to be according to the plan. She needed to stay alive long enough for Jor-El to diagnose his daughter-in-law and do what any decent Kryptonian would do.
Opening the black box, Non carefully removed the syringe from the cushion that protected it. Locating a nice vein, Non inserted the syringe, pushing the plunger until the contents flowed freely and completely into the unconscious Kent.
There, it was done. Now all he had to do was get his men home and wait for the rest of the plan to fall into place. If Diana Kent was correct, and he didn't doubt she was, her savior would be arriving soon. So, yeah, he'd find her but—he'll never find me.
Gotham City, Wayne Industries
At the same time . . .
"We found her. At least, I think we have."
Jor stared at his son, who, at some point, had been given a bulletproof vest. He wore it now, looking no different than the determined-faced Wayne guards stalking to their company Jeeps parked in front of the building. The only difference was that they had guns strapped to hips where Clark had no such weapons.
They stood in the front of Wayne Industries, Jor watching, wide-eyed, as the men and women jumped into vehicles, eager, angry looks on their faces. He'd seen such images before, and had prayed he'd never see them again. That's the reason why Lara and I came to the States. So tired of war, so tired of violence and bloodshed in the name of freedom.
But how else was Clark to retrieve Diana? As soon as Clark had handed him a white puppy, Jor had known who had taken Diana and why. And it's all my fault. Dear Rao, it's all my fault. Clark will never forgive me.
The dog, the one Jor now held in his arms, was native to only one country—Krypton. Once he'd seen Clark carrying it, and had learned how it had been used to capture Diana, Jor had known that the men who'd been watching his house had gone after his son's wife. But for what purpose? Revenge?If so, why go after Diana, why not Clark or Lara?
"Wait for me here, Dad. I'll call once I have news of Diana."
Clark didn't wait for Jor to reply; he ran down the steps and hopped into a car with the Gotham detective.
A minute later, Jor stood by himself, the business park closed for the evening, the street quiet. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his wife.
"Thank Rao," Lara said as soon as she picked up. "Kara and I have been worried sick. What's the news of Diana? Has she been found? Is she okay?"
His wife sounded out of breath.
"Where are you? What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to keep up with our niece. She's practically running up Clark's driveway and to the house. She drove like a demon to get here."
"Well, Detective Jones should already be inside with Lor. You'll have to tell her the truth. I wish I could be there with you, but I have to stay here. I can't leave Clark to deal with this on his own."
"I can handle Lor and Kara, but what of Diana? Tell me before I go into the house."
Lara's breathing had slowed which probably meant she was now standing still. He hated the thought of her dealing with Lor by herself, but was comforted knowing that the detective was there. Diana trusted Jones and so would Jor. He really had no choice.
"Clark and Detective Grayson believe they know where she is. They've gone after her. I don't know how they found her so quickly, but Clark seemed cautiously optimistic that they knew where she was being held."
A relieved breath escaped Lara. "That's very good. By all that's merciful, I pray she's unharmed. What kind of barbarians would kidnap a wife and mother? For money, I suppose."
Jor contemplated whether he should share what he knew with his wife. He wanted to. There were no secrets between them, and he wouldn't begin now.
"I think the men who've been watching us took Diana. I'll explain later," he said when he heard her about to interrupt. "If that's the case, then it's almost certain that Lor Ui had something to do with her disappearance. The connection to his family and the timing of his visit can't be a coincidence."
"If that's the case, do you think it a good idea for me to tell Kara what we know. Maybe we shouldn't let Lor know that we are onto him. If he knows, he'll probably flee."
Jor had thought about that. "If we don't tell Kara, she'll likely return to California with him and marry the man. As far as Lor running off and hiding somewhere, that's why the detective is there. He won't allow that to happen."
"Are you sure, Jor? Jones has no legal reason to hold Lor against his will. He could walk out the front door and, legally, the detective would have to allow it. If he does that, we can't stop him."
"Jones is Justice League."
"And you think that's enough?"
Honestly, Jor had no clue what in the hell it all meant. But the League was one big family, bound by love and trust. And if John Jones were anything like Dick Grayson, Lor Ui wouldn't be going anywhere.
"If he couldn't be trusted to do his job, Clark wouldn't have had me call him. If nothing else, we can trust our son's opinion."
That would be enough for Lara.
"Fine, I'll deal with Kara and Lor. But please, Jor, let us know as soon as Diana is found. I can't bear the thought of her alone with a bunch of kidnappers."
Jor couldn't bear the thought of losing his son again. But there was nothing he could do now but deal with the current situation. "As soon as I know, you'll know. Be careful. Love you."
"Love you, too."
Metropolis, Kent Residence
After Alfred had let Lara and Kara into the house, the grandmother in Lara wanted nothing more than to find her granddaughters and hold them forever. Thank Rao they were too young to know what was going on. But how long would that last? Not that Catherine and Daphne were old enough to understand that their mother had been kidnapped, but if Diana didn't return home soon, surely the twins would begin to notice and miss her absence. What would Clark do then?
Squelching the urge to see the girls, Lara allowed Alfred to lead the way to where Lor and Detective Jones were. Opening the door, Kara and Lara walked inside.
"Thank you Alfred. Let me know if Jor or Clark calls."
The thin framed man nodded, eyes a solemn brown. Lara ached for the pain she saw in his eyes. He'd been through this before, she knew, when Diana had been shot and left for dead. Whenever Diana spoke of Alfred Pennyworth, it was as a granddaughter spoke of a beloved grandfather. Alfred played the role well, doting on Diana and her twins, taking care of them the way only a man of his generation could.
"And Alfred, please don't inform Hippolyta or the Marthas about this. Not yet. Not until we know more."
"I wouldn't dream of alarming them, ma'am. Until we know more, that would never do."
Lara should have known Alfred would understand.
"Will there be anything else, Mrs. El?"
"No, thank you."
Alfred bowed, stepped out of the room, and closed the door behind him.
By the time Lara turned to the others in the room, Kara was at Lor's side, sitting beside him on the couch while Detective Jones hovered by the fireplace.
"What have we missed?" Lara's question was directed at the detective.
"Well, Mr. Ui just relayed to me a very interesting story about his father and what may be his role in Diana's kidnapping."
"I-I don't understand," Kara said. "What does your father have to do with Diana's kidnapping?"
Lara watched the couple. And, for not the first time, felt sorry for Kara. She truly loved Lor Ui. Surprsingly, the same love and affection in Kara's eyes were also reflected in Lor's. The young man may have been spawned from the Devil himself, but there was no masking how he felt about Kara. Yet there was more in Lor's eyes. Guilt? Shame?
That couldn't be right, Lara thought. His father knew no guilt, didn't waste his time on shame. But he's not his father, is he?
Lor cradled Kara's hands in his own, his focus and words all for her.
"I knew eventually I'd have to tell you the truth, but I never thought it would be like this, come out like this."
"What are you talking about?"
"My family, Kara, my pathetic excuse for a family."
"I assumed your parents were dead. Are you saying they aren't?"
"No, they aren't dead, though many probably wish they were."
"My uncle and aunt told me they know your father, that I know your father. But I've never met your parents."
Lor glanced up at Lara then back to Kara.
"The whole damn world knows my father, Kara. He's the reason so many Krptonians died, the reason why the old Council members were killed, the reason why Krypton hasn't known peace in decades."
Kara visibly shrank from Lor, her body closing in on itself when her knowledge of Kryptonian history violently collided with the man before her, the man she'd given her heart to.
"Your father is General Dru-Zod? Y-you're the son of that murdering, despotic bastard?" Kara leapt to her feet, eyes suddenly wide with horror and morbid comprehension. "I can't believe this. No wonder you didn't tell me the truth." She spun on Lor, who'd also risen. "He virtually enslaved the El family. He brought our country to its knees for his own version of a better Krypton. He slaughtered all who opposed him, including my grandfather who sat on the Council."
He'd done far more than that, the assassination of the Council Zod's first step to authoritarian rule.
"I wanted to tell you, Kara. Rao, I tried so many times to tell you, but the time never seemed right."
"Before you proposed would've been a good time. Or how about before you let me fall in love with you, or maybe before we shared a bed. Any of those times would've been the right damn time. Not hours after my friend and cousin-in-law's kidnapping."
Kara faced Lara. "I guess this is what you and Uncle Jor wanted me to know, why the two of you didn't trust Lor?"
"We planned on telling you and Clark today." Then Clark received that awful phone call and had run off in search of his missing wife.
Lor grabbed Kara's shoulders and spun her around to face him, his eyes and voice pleading, desperate.
"I'm not my father, dammit. I'm not him. I don't think like him. I don't believe in the same things he does. And I sure as hell have never killed anyone. I've spent my entire life running away from his name, his legacy. That's why I've taken my mother's name. I'm no Zod."
Lor's mother wasn't much better. This Lara knew for a fact, but she said nothing. The fact that Lor had willingly confessed his true identity to Detective Jones then to Kara wasn't to be easily ignored. The young man could be telling the truth, or simply manipulating them all to his and his father's benefit. Right now, Lara didn't know what to make of his confession.
"I agree with everything you said about Zod. He went to jail for his crimes. Hell, he should still be in jail."
"But he escaped," Lara deigned to add.
"Yes, he escaped. I don't know how, but he did. Now he's managed to form an army and they're threatening to take down the Kryptonian government."
"So your father is the rebel leader we've been talking about for months." Kara pushed Lor's hands off her, a disgusted snort following. "And you've known all this time. You knew precisely who was behind the bombings and shootings. Yet you never told me."
"No, I didn't. I know now I should have. I thought I could make things right. I thought if I helped bring about peace in Krypton that I could somehow make up for all that my father has done. I thought I could restore honor to the House of Zod."
"And where did I fit into your master plan? Oh right, I'm the cousin-in-law of the woman you needed to broker that peace deal of yours."
Tears fell but Kara's voice was steel hard. Lara wanted to go to her, to pull her niece into her arms and take the pain away. But Kara was far too old for such motherly coddling and she wasn't nearly done yet.
"I was such a fool. I swallowed every lie, even argued with my family over you, taking your side when I should've trusted them. And now Diana is missing. Did your father have something to do with that, Lor?"
"I honestly don't know. I didn't think he knew where I was. I've been so careful, covered all my tracks. The leaders of the counterinsurgency don't know who I truly am, so they couldn't have told him."
"But you aren't certain. Unlike me, General Zod is no fool. Do you think it a coincidence that the very week you visit Diana and ask for her help that she's abducted?"
For long seconds, Lor said nothing, his eyes lowered to the floor.
"Tell me one thing, Lor, and, for once, be honest. Did you have anything to do with Diana's kidnapping?"
Head and eyes lifted. The shame was back, but not the guilt. Lor, for all his lies and maneuverings, appeared as grief stricken as the rest of them. If she weren't witnessing it herself, Lara would never have believed a Zod capable of remorse, of repentance. Not for his role in Diana's kidnapping, for Lara could now see the young man's confused but innocent soul in his clear eyes, but for deceiving the woman who loved him. The woman he loves in return.
"For what it's worth, Kara, I swear on my life. I had nothing to do with Diana's kidnapping."
Gotham City, Gotham Memorial Hospital
Three Hours Later . . .
Clark sat beside Diana's hospital bed. He hadn't moved from the spot since the doctor had finished her examination. He peered up at her now. Dr. Samuel, a middle-age African-American woman with kind, intelligent eyes caught his gaze then shifted her own back to her patient, a puzzled look on her face.
"What is it?"
Dr. Samuel studied the chart in her hand then Diana's blank, unconscious face.
"She has one hell of a bump on her head. She's lost plenty of blood and she has a concussion." She frowned, the puzzled look deepening. "I've checked her for everything I can think of, given her every scan worth giving, and tested her blood. I can't explain it. She should be awake."
Awake, yes, Clark wished she were awake, but that wasn't all.
"She's green, doc. Why in the hell is she green? Did any of those tests tell you that?"
"The blood test revealed an unknown substance in her blood stream. I've sent another blood sample to the lab for further study. Hopefully, we'll know something soon."
Clark hated to ask but he needed to know.
"What about the other test."
"What other—" Their eyes met and he knew the instant she understood his vague question. She glanced at Diana again. "That's one thing I do know, Mr. Kent. There was no evidence of sexual assault."
Clark released the breath he hadn't known he'd held. "Thank you for that." Hoarse. The thought of all the vile things those men could've done to Diana while they held her captive flooded Clark's mind when he'd seen his wife lying on the mattress, one shirt sleeve up, jacket ripped and discarded on the floor, stockings torn, shirt stained with blood.
He touched his wife's cheek. Pale. Green. Cold.
"May I take her home? She hates hospitals."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kent. It wouldn't be a good idea to release your wife until we know more about her condition." She pointed to the bruise on the inside of Diana's elbow. "Someone used a syringe on your wife, probably injected her with the unknown substance I saw in her blood. I can't risk her health or someone else's by releasing Dr. Kent."
"When will the results be back?"
"I told the tech it was a rush." She looked at her wristwatch. "I think I'll go down there myself, see what's keeping him."
Dr. Samuel left the room, white coat silent as she walked.
Clark returned his focus to his wife. He had been so happy to see her alive, relieved yet still so scared. He knew it was a dumb question to ask about taking Diana home. But night had settled in and the twins were home without them. The family had never spent a single night apart.
Now, Diana would spend the night in the hospital. And as much as Clark wanted to be home with the twins, he couldn't go home without their mother. He couldn't crawl into his marital bed without Diana by his side. He couldn't find rest knowing the men who'd hurt her had gotten away and she lay unconscious in a hospital bed.
And the very kind Dr. Samuel hadn't told Clark the truth. No, the good doctor might not have known what the kidnappers had given Diana but she did know that whatever it was, it was slowly killing his wife. The sheer number of specialist she'd called in to assist her attested to that fact. No doctor wanted the famed Dr. Diana Kent, CEO and Justice Leaguer to die on her watch, particularly from some unknown virus.
"We need to talk."
"Not now, Dad. I just want to sit quietly with my wife."
Clark heard his father stand from where he sat in the corner and walk toward him and the bed. A strong, supportive hand touched his shoulder, and Clark had never been so glad to have his father by his side. If he allowed it, Clark would break down, crying like the five-year old he'd been so long ago. But what good would that do him or Diana?
No, he needed to be strong for his wife and family.
"I've been thinking. I should call Vic in on this one. He could help find out what in the hell those bastards shot Diana up with. Wayne Industries has top of the line labs. I'm sure Vic can—"
The hand on his shoulder tightened. "I know what they gave her, son."
Jor's hand dropped when Clark rose abruptly . "How could you possibly? And why in the hell didn't you say something earlier, when the doctor was in here?"
His father suddenly looked all of his sixty-five years. "I know because I created it in my lab."
"Your lab?"
"Yes, a very long time ago, when things were different and General Zod and his men needed to be stopped."
"What are you telling me?"
Jor moved to touch Diana but Clark stepped in his way. Their eyes met.
"I won't hurt her. I'd never hurt her."
Maybe not, but it sure as hell sounded like Jor already had.
"Tell me what you did."
"What I had to do, Clark, what I had to do so we could all survive. Diana's been injected with a deadly virus I created to take out General Zod's military regime. It was the only way."
"Deadly? As in she'll die?"
"It's meant to be slow acting. I don't know how much she was given or whether my original formula's been modified."
"What in the hell did you create, Jor? What is my wife dying from?"
"It's called kryptonite. A green ore found only in Krypton. As soon as I saw her green skin, I knew. Rao help me, I knew what they'd given her."
None of this made any sense to Clark, but he knew his father spoke the truth. The situation was far too dire, too serious for Jor not to be telling the truth.
"Is there a cure, an antidote?"
"Yes."
Thank god. "Where? Can you replicate it here, if Vic set you up in a lab?"
"It's been so long, Clark. I don't recall, and like I said, I'm not certain if the kidnappers used the original formula. All my notes are home."
"Then take my truck and go get them."
Jor shook his head. "Not home here, Clark, home as in Krypton. When Lara and I moved here, we left all of that stuff in storage. But I know someone in Krypton who will help us if I ask him."
Clark didn't like any of this. At every turn, Krypton kept smacking him in the face. He'd never been to his parent's home, now it suddenly held the answers to his prayers. He didn't need Diana to tell him something was off with this entire sorry set of events.
"And I suppose we have to go to Krypton to retrieve the antidote?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"What else aren't you telling me?"
"Plenty. I'm sorry, Clark."
Clark sighed. "How long does she have?"
"Three maybe four weeks."
Clark fell back into the chair, the deadly truth a hammer to his heart.
"Make the arrangements, Jor."
"I'll book the first flight out to Krypton."
"Two seats."
"Two? No, you can't go. You're needed here."
Clark stared at his father, and wondered if he knew the man at all. "Let me ask you a question, did you know there was a threat to me and my family?"
A reluctant, "Yes," was Jor's softly spoken response.
Clark swore.
"Two tickets then. I won't place Diana's life in the hands of a man who's been lying to me."
"I haven't been—"
"Not here, not now. I need to speak to my wife alone. Just book the flights, and I'll take care of the rest. Now, please go."
With one final glance at Clark then Diana, Jor left.
Clark stood, removed his shoes, and then crawled into bed with his wife. Wrapping her cold body in his arms, he held her to him.
Diana didn't deserve this fate. She'd teetered on the edge of life and death once before and survived. How many second chances did one woman get? For her sake, his, and their family, Clark prayed she had one more miracle in her. He prayed that whatever fates brought them back together, wouldn't be so cruel as to tear them apart so soon.
He kissed her cheek and held her closer, and for all the words in Clark's heart, he could only think of four to say. "I love you, Diana."
TO BE CONTINUED
