Part 10

Star City

Watchtower

Mia and Dinah were sparing one another. Since Dinah had fully recovered from her injuries she had been doing all she could to help get Mia's mind off Zan and what had happened to Jayna. It was clear that Mia missed Zan who she had grown close to in the short time they had been together and felt partly responsible for Jayna's death. It was driving her crazy knowing how Zan must be feeling over the loss of his sister and that there was nothing she could do about it, since he was stuck in the Fork Knox of all safe houses with Chloe and Robbie Queen. And Oliver wasn't in any hurry to get them out not that he could since the outside of the safe house was lined with kryptonite, so it wasn't like he could ask Clark, Kara or Conner to get them out.

"Nice one!" exclaimed Dinah as she was knocked flat on her back after Mia hand swiped kicked her knocking her off her feet. "You've been practicing."

"Not much else to do around here, but that," answered Mia as she helped Dinah up to her feet. She then looked up hearing footsteps above her. She watched as Oliver sat down in front of his computer. He hadn't said a word in two days since he came back from where ever it was he had been. "Has he said anything to you?"

"No," Dinah answered. "But you know Oliver, he's never was much of a talker."

Mia seemed to be in agreement, Oliver never was one to open up much about his feelings or what he was thinking. She knew he must be going crazy not being able to be with Chloe and his son. She could relate. She felt the same way about Zan, but took comfort that at least he was with friends and not alone. She just wished Oliver would talk about it. He said that when he came back that they would, but he has barely said two words to her. And when ever she brings it up, he changes the subject and says he has work he needs to do.

"Yeah..." Mia answered. "...It just seems ever since he's gotten back that he's different, more than normal."

"How do you mean?" annouched a voice, both girls turned to find Clark Kent still wearing his Superman suit.

"Clark!" exclaimed Dinah as she threw her arms around him. It had been days since she had seen him in the flesh. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you on your feet again, Dinah," Clark replied with a warm smile. "Are the headaches gone?"

"Just about," Dinah answered.

"I'm glad that your okay, Mia," Clark said as he turned to Oliver speedy sidekick. "I'm sorry, I wasn't able to help."

"It's okay," Mia answered with a smile. "I know you would have been there if you could have."

Clark smiled. He did feel guilty for not being there when Mia was taken or when Chloe and her son were attacked and Jayna had been killed, but he was needed elsewhere and couldn't pull himself away. "...Is he here?" Clark asked. "I got his message that he needed to see me."

"He's up on top working," Mia answered. "But he hasn't really been in the talking mood lately."

"He probably just has a lot of his mind," Clark answered knowing full well how Oliver can get when he gets in one of his moods and he couldn't really blame the guy. He was worried about his family and had every right to be. Clark started to fly up to Oliver when Dinah called out to him.

"Clark... I wanted to say thanks," annouched Dinah. "For taking care of that monster. The world is a much better place without him." Dinah meant every word she said. She wasn't angry or upset that Toyman was dead. The man had killed over eleven million people. They were people she had known, people she had loved and cared about. People she had fought to protect and would give her own life if she could just bring even just one of them back. In her mind Toyman deserved to die, by Supermans hand.

Clark didn't know what to say. No one had actually thanked him for killing Toyman. Most didn't say anything and acted like it had never happened. "Hey..." he sighed heavily. "Could you two give Oliver and I some privacy? There are somethings we need to discus."

"Sure," Dinah answered with a faint smile. "Are you okay Clark?" Dinah knew right after she said it, it was a stupid question to ask. Of course he wasn't okay. The guy had lost the woman he loved more than anything along with their unborn child and he had lost his mother. His entire world had been turned upside down. He was anything, but okay.

"I'm hanging in there," was all Clark would say before he flew up to Oliver.

"It takes you three days to answer my calls now?" exclaimed Oliver while he continued to working on his computer with his back to Clark. "Glad to know where your priorities sit now."

"I'm sor-"

"Where were you!" demanded Oliver as he turned his chair around to face Clark. "My family was being attacked in our home! Jayna was killed and Mia is lucky to be alive!" He wanted to know what was so important that Clark could pick up the damn phone? That he hadn't heard their cries for help. He would have thought that after what happened to Lois, Clark would have done more to protect the team, their family. "Where the hell were you Clark!" He jumped to his feet and got into Clarks face letting him have it. "Was it some warlord in Africa or some deadbeat drug dealer?"

"Oliver you need to settle down!" exclaimed Clark.

"I need to settle down?" exclaimed Oliver felling the anger rise within him. "MY FAMILY ALMOST DIED CLARK!" Oliver didn't care how loud he was being or if he was overreacting. The thought of losing his wife and son scared him to death and the fact that they almost lost their lives in their own home made it all the more worst. He had wanted their home to be a place where they could feel safe. Where they never had to be afraid. "You need to stop what you're doing!"

"Stop what?" Clark asked striking a nerve by Olivers question. What reason could he possible have for him wanting for him to put an end to what he's doing. "Stop saving innocent lives, stop ending the reign of dictators who prey upon the weak, stop putting an end to meaningless feuds that only bring upon war and death?"

"You're scaring them," Oliver answered. He knew Clark intentions were in the right place, but this wasn't the way you bring peace to the world. This wasn't how it was supposed to work. This was something else. Something dangerous.

"GOOD!" exclaimed Clark angrily into Olivers face. "They should be scared. Too scared to press their buttons of distraction, too scared to pull the trigger. Too scared to kill each other!"

"Clark..." Oliver tried to plead with his friend. "This isn't what she would want. You know this isn't what she would want for you." Oliver knew deep within his heart that Lois would not want Clark to continue on this path. That it would break her heart. "You need to stop this before more people get hurt."

"You know, you'd do the exactly what I'm doing if you were me," annouched Clark as he stared Olive hard in the eyes knowing there was a point in time that Oliver wished he could have Clarks power. "If you could do what I can-"

"I watched you rip his heart out with your bare hand." Oliver knew for as long as he lived he would never be able to erase that image from his mind. The day Clark Kent took somebodies life in cold blood wanting revenge for Lois's tragic untimely death. "You killed a man Clark!" Oliver's voice broke. "...Do you even realize what you've done?" Or was Clark too blinded by his pain and grief to even comprehend his own actions? Had he been too consumed with wanting revenge that he hasn't even realized what he has done?

"I do!" Clark answered firmly as he looked Oliver hard in the eyes, as if he were trying to punish him. "I cleaned up your mess."

"Wh-what?" Oliver was speechless. He couldn't believe what Clark had just said.

"Schotts worked for you," Clark hissed. "And all you did was fire him from your company after you learned about the bombs he was building into toys. You didn't call the authorities, because, you knew it would become a federal matter and all the inventions that Schotts made while under your employment would be under investigation. And you didn't want to lose any of that." Clark got right into Olivers face. "Isn't that right Oliver?"

Oliver turned away shamefully knowing Clark was right. He hadn't called the police, the FBI or anyone to report Schotts like he should have done, because he knew if he did his company would lose everything that Schotts had ever invented. And a lot of money would have been lost. It was a stupid move on his part, but then he wasn't the only one. His eyes angrily shot up at Clark. "And how many people died, how many lives were destroyed, because you didn't take care of Lex or even Lionel Luthor? You knew exactly what they have done!" Clark had known every dirty secret that the Luthors had and he never put a stop to it. He allowed them to continue on allowing more people to damaged by Lex. "You want to talk about my past transgression. We should start with yours!"

"Don't try to change the subject!" exclaimed Clark angrily. "This isn't about Lex!"

"The hell it isn't!" shouted Oliver. "You reamed me for killing the real Lex. Remember? You even tried to convince the team to turn away from me."

"And a lot of good that did! With the help of Darkseid, earth-2 Lionel was able to bring Lex's clone to life, while you tried to kill me at my wedding!" Clark shouted angrily.

"At least I didn't kill my own wife!" Oliver shouted back and as soon as the words came out he wished with all his heart he could take them back, but it was too late. The damage had been done. He waited for Clark to smash his face in and Clark would have every right to do so after what he had just said to him. "...Oh, god. Clark, I'm-"

"No," Clark answered coldly. "You're right. I killed her." Clark accepted the fact that he and he alone had killed Lois, his beautiful wife and their unborn child. It had been with his hands that he strangled her to death. There could be no denying it or saying that it he had been drugged and it was a horrible accident. Some cruel joke, ….no the joke would be convincing himself that it hadn't been him "You can say it."

They have had disagreements before and dozens of accusations over the years, but never had either one gone this far. It was like they were complete strangers now. Oliver with a heavy sigh and breaking heart looked up at Clark with the pain written all over his face, because there was nothing he could do to change what he had said or even convince Clark that it wasn't true. He hated that Clark blamed himself for Lois's death. He hated it with all his heart. He had to get through to him. He had to find a way. "...Clark we've both made mistakes, have blood on our hands, but whether right or wrong, we don't get to choose who dies. You taught me that." Oliver was pleading with him, hoping that somewhere he would see his friend staring back at him.

"One death, to save million..." answered Clark, who was no longer the same Clark Kent who years before had reamed and even condemned Oliver for taking Lex's life. This Clark Kent's heart and soul had been shattered into pieces. The light that once was there was gone and all that remained was a numbing pain that would never go away.

"Clark..." It pained Oliver to hear this from Clark, his friend who has for as long as he known him has always been The Boys Scout. The guy who could do no wrong and believed that even the darkest of hearts deserved a second chance. But after losing Lois, the baby, his mother and Metropolis had changed him. Too many had been lost all too quickly, too quick to save even just one. Which is why Clark believes he has to become something else, ...someone else, to keep the world safe. But Oliver's afraid that that maybe too much for someone like Clark.

"It always starts with one, but believe me it is a struggle, one I have had to fight every day." How many times had he been out protecting the streets where he's wanted to take the life a rapist or someone he had just seen shoot at a child? Too many. "It get harder and harder every day." He needed to get through to him. He needed to help Clark find his way back. "That's how justification works, once we justify our actions once, we can do it again and again, until it becomes easier... And we no longer recognize what's wrong or right."

Japan

Some where in the Southern Ocean

In the depth of the Southern Ocean a crew of fishermen are hunting whales.. They have already caught several and are onto their next catch, but unbeknown to them they are not alone in the great wide ocean. The whales have a protector and he isn't pleased with what is happening to his friends.

"It's alright," AC told the whale as he pulled the spear out of the whale that had just been struck. "I'm hear now." Without warning AC shot up out of the water and onto the ship to confront the fishermen who got the surprise of their life. "You..." he hissed as he narrowed his eyes on each and everyone of them. "You're going to pay for what you have done!" He has for too long allowed this to go on, but no more. He will protect his home and the creatures within it.

"Mayday! Mayday!" cried the Captain of the ship into the radio as his heart raced faster and faster hoping by some miracle someone would hear his cries for help and come to their aid.

"It's too late to call for help," annouched AC, as he grabbed a hold of the chains of both anchors. "You need to pay for your crimes!" AC dove back into the water and clutching the chain tightly turned the massive ship over into the water.

High above the ocean in the sky, Bart and Victor were doing a fly by when they saw AC attack the fishermen. Both of them were stunned and in disbelief by what they had just witnessed.

"Did that really just happen?" exclaimed Bart who couldn't believe that AC would could to these kind of extremes to protect his water friends, but then this wouldn't be the first time that AC has used questionable tactics.

"Looks like it, I'm call for backup," annouched Victor as he got to comm ready. "You can swim right?"

"Sorry, but I left my trunks in my other bag," answered Bart crossing his arms against his chest now regretting showing everyone how he could super speed over water. "I wasn't planning on Fishsticks to have one of his episodes."

"I read you, Victor. What is it?" Kara's voice came over the radio.

"AC just attacked a Japanese fleet in the southern ocean. The crew is in trouble, their ship is sinking."

"AC?" Kara questioned, not believe what she was hearing. She knew that AC could be very protective of all sea life, but she never believed he would attack a whole ship. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Victor exclaimed. "Bart and I were doing a fly by. Saw the whole thing. You need to get out here quick."

"I'm on my way."

"Me too," annouched Conner.

"I'll be there soon," came Johns voice.

Both Victor and Bart gave a sigh of relief, grateful that those of them who could fly would be here shortly and hopefully talk some since into AC, but there was one who had not answered their call.

"Wonder why Clark didn't answer?" asked Bart.

"I'm sure he's doing something important," answered Victor.

"More important than this?" asked Bart.

Back in the ocean AC with an army of Atlanteans backing him and giant octopuses surrounded the now sinking ship and terrified fishermen who have no where to go. "Take them down!" AC ordered, just as one of the fishermen fell into the water. AC quickly swam towards the fallen fishermen and lifted him up.

"Please," the man begged. "I have family! Have a heart."

"The whales you have killed today all had families. Why don't I show you the same compassion you showed them." Seconds later AC heard one of his men call to him then he saw Kara fly down towards him.

"What are you doing?" Kara demanded. "This has to stop right now!"

"You can't tell me what to do Kara!" exclaimed AC.

"We've called for-"

"I know what your cousin called for and if he's gets to play god of the land, then I get to be god of the sea." AC had been skeptical at first of Clarks actions, but knew Clark was doing what needed to be down to protect the world. And he knew he had to do the same to protect all water life. How many creatures has he let die and suffer by the hand of careless fishermen and poachers? He could not allow it to go on any longer. "I am the King of the sea and I will protect it!"

"Not like this," exclaimed Kara trying to talk some since into him. "This isn't how we protect those we love."

"But it's okay for Superman to kill a man..." AC exclaimed as he crossed his arms against his chest. "Not that I disagree with what he did. Toyman killed millions of lives and deserved what he got." He looked towards the terrorized fisherman who were huddle together trying to stay above water. "Just as they deserve to be punished."

Kara could see that there would be no talking any sense into AC. He truly believed what he was doing was justice for his fallen whales. And after everything that's happened they were all on edge, some more than others. "Please, I don't want to fight you," she pleaded with him. Kara didn't want to have to face of against a friend, because she knew if they started turning on each other now it could destroy everything. And all would be lost.

"Then don't," answered AC. "Fly away and I will take care of this."

"AC you're a good man, this isn't you," annouched Kara as she reached out towards AC.. "Help me pull these sailors out of the water and then will all talk about what's been going on. There's no reason for us to-" Then without warning a beam of electric light hit Kara smack in the face.

"WHO DID THAT!" AC demanded as he furiously turn towards his men.

"She was reaching out towards you my King," annouched the solider. "I thought she was going to attack you."

"No, you didn't!" AC exclaimed angrily. "If you thought that you would know it's a bad idea to piss off a Kryptonian!" AC quickly turned back to Kara with the up to straighten out the misunderstanding, but it was too late. Kara came at him punching his square in the face sending him flying out of the water.

"I'm done being nice!" exclaimed Kara as she was soon join by both her cousin Conner and John Jones who had once been her uncles most trusted friend.

TO BE CONTINUED