Disclaimer: not mine.

Note: shortest chapter of the story. My apologies for its length, it just turned out this way. But it is not a filler.

Chloe's main concern was on the European facility. If hers and Ollie's calculations were correct, the big secret was inside that one. Russia and New Zealand were just abandoned facilities, the best they could do was search and monitor them, although they all probably looked the same. But the lowest level of radiation was in France, and seeing the place swarming with armed guards in all subterranean levels looked like a big neon sign. Chloe looked again at the radar screen, trying to memorize it before she logged out.

"Ok, I'm off radar now, Arrow. You have at least thirty guards, most of them down the south, so I'm guessing the subject is in that direction. It's also where the kryptonite readings come."

"The schematics show little more than corridors, Oracle, we can take them out in no time."

"Let's hope so, because I don't think we have much of that."

"It'll be long before they find out about the schematics missing."

"I'm not worried about that, what you have are photocopies, Bart didn't steal them, just borrowed them. Lex's debate is about to finish, and he'll probably be informed soon. Hurry up."

"How are the rest doing?," asked Dinah.

"Hold on, I'm interconnecting every one. Nightwing, report."

"Nothing here, Oracle. The place is empty, we're on our way out."

"Huntress?," asked Chloe.

"Guards won't know what hit them, but the place is useless. Are you sure there are no hidden rooms here?"

"No. The construction is old. Have you found any kryptonite on site?"

"None so far."

"Make sure there is none, then leave. Arrow, Canary,"

"Busy here, call later!," Dinah said.

"South is filled with Lex's guards, I'd say we're on the yellow brick road here," said Ollie.

"Gorgeous," said Dinah over the link. "Tell Dorothy I'll come get her when I'm done with my share of sparring munchkins!"

"I heard that, birdie!"

"I was counting on it, archer."

"Oracle, how much time have we got?" suddenly asked Ollie.

"Lex is finishing in ten minutes, I'd say half an hour. Why?"

"The kryptonite's here. In front of a big gate."

Ollie looked at the green material. It was not as big as the one Donna had mentioned in Metropolis, but sure big enough to kill Clark from a fair distance.

"All right, let's see how these new toys Vic engineered work." Ollie took out an arrow and shot it towards the kryptonite. Once the arrow hit the target, he ran for cover. Two seconds later, the rock shattered in pieces. "Ok, maybe I was exaggerating with the covering part," Ollie said to himself. Then he took the second arrow. "Drums for suspense, Oracle, I'm opening the gate." Ollie charged his bow and shot to the security keypad. Soon it short-circuited and the door opened. "Remind me to invite Vic to the best restaurant in town." Ollie walked inside the room. When the gates opened the lights went on automatically. The pod in the center revealed its content.

"Arrow? Arrow, do you hear me?"

He heard her, but the words couldn't come out of his mouth. "Dear mother of God," he finally whispered.

"Dinah, something's wrong!," exclaimed Chloe.

"On my way!"

Dinah ran towards the southern end of the facility.

"Arrow, report," Chloe tried again.

Ollie could not speak. The tag on the pod holding the body read 'Subject Beta'. "You bastard..." Ollie didn't hear Dinah coming in.

"Ollie, what's wrong? Chloe told me--" When Dinah's eyes met the pod she got the same reaction as Ollie.

"Could someone please tell me what's going on?"

"Oracle, call Emil and tell Diana to fly in, we need secure transportation service."

"If you clean up the place from kryptonite Superman can be there in--"

"No! Don't call him! Get Diana here, now." Ollie took his comm set out.

"You're not calling him? Ollie..."

"Not until we're sure it's him, Dinah. We have to be sure first."

Lex returned to his hotel room after the debate. First news reports were proclaiming him winner. When he got to his room he saw two messages. One coming from France. He opened the laptop and waited till the screen lit on.

"Sir, we have a problem."

Lex saw the open gate revealing an empty room.

"No!"