Part 25
Star City
Queen Residence
Training Room
Oliver sighed heavily as he surfed though the channels on the large TV. Every single channel had something to do with Superman. The news and talk shows were all talking about what had happened with the demon alien invasion. The cartoon shows were all about Superman. The sports channels, every team in every sport had added a shoulder patch the 'S' symbol to their uniforms, even golf. It didn't seem to matter what channel he came upon to everyone had the 'S' plastered everywhere. He couldn't go to a single channel without seeing it. It's like the whole world had just nominated him King of The World, which was why he had been getting non-stops calls from the White House. He hadn't answered a single call not wanting to deal with Lex. It didn't even matter if Lex's concerns were good or not, Oliver didn't trust him either way and would only deal with him when he had no other choice.
There was still something about Lex that he hadn't been able to put his finger on, something he felt like he was missing. But for the life of him he couldn't figure it out. Which wasn't making things any easier, because he knew at some point he will have no choice, but to return Lex's calls, whether he wanted to or not. This had to be some kind of joke in what world is he Lex's go to guy and even more so in what world would he even ever consider contacting him over the well being of an entire planet? He wanted to wake up, but try as he might he knew this was his reality and this was the way things were now.
His eyes drifted from the TV to a picture of Clark and him sitting on his desk. He reached out and picked it up just staring at becoming lost in his own world. It had been taken a few years ago, Clark, him and a few of the other guys had guys weekend and went camping. It had been a blast and one of his most fondest memories ….and now, all that seemed like a life time ago.
"Hey," he heard Zatanna call from behind him.
"Hey..." he answered as he set the picture face down and turned to face her with a faint smile
"I finally had to turn mine off," she announced noting to what was happening all over the television. She gave him a faint understanding smile, knowing all too well what he was thinking. "They're chanting his name all over the world, but I guess if you saved the whole planet from extinction twice. That kind of thing happens..."
Outer Space
Watchtower
Clark stood in front of a wide open window overlooking the earth. It had been two days since he ended the war that was started by Darkseids son Kalibak. Not a single parademon remained on the earth. And as for Kalibak he wont ever be able to hurt anyone ever again. He had made sure of that. Clark would have thought by now there would be some kind of reciprocation from Darkseid, but all has been silent. ….Well almost.
"They're celebrating," announced Andrea as she walked up behind him with a bright smile on her face. She gripped him on the shoulder hoping to get him to turn and face her. He hadn't talked to anyone in the last two days and she had respected him needing the time to sort things out.. "You saved so many lives..." Her deep dark brown eyes stared into his blue eyes trying to drawl him towards her.
Star City
Queen Residence
Training Room
"He took so many lives..." Oliver answered heavy heartily. He hadn't been able to get the images out of his mind of Clark bursting through the sky slaughtering every single parademon, the raining of their ashes and then nothing.. But then wasn't this what he had always wanted? There was a time when he had gotten on Clarks case back when he first found out what Clark could do. He had been angry, no furious at Clark for not taking a higher stance, not doing what needed to be done. He had even asked him why Lex Luther was still breathing. In truth this was the Clark Kent he had always wanted, but now that he was here he would give anything to have the old one back. The one who had gotten on his case about wanting to seek out revenge, for killing Lex and a dozen other things.
"I know," Zatanna answered with a heavy.
"I think we've lost him..." Oliver answered choking on his own tears coming to realize he likely will never get his friend back which in turn means not being able to fulfill his promise to Chloe. "He's gone... Clark Kent is dead."
"It's going to be okay Oliver," Zatanna cried as she wrapped her arms around him holding him close. Both of them weeping for what they had lost and may never get back, putting behind their differences knowing now more than ever they needed to rely on one another. "We'll figure something out, just like we always have."
Outer Space
Watchtower
"But not everyone was saved..." Clark answered painfully and ashamed. Yes he had saved the earth and billions of lives, but many were still lost to them. Many had died two days ago, almost the same amount that had died in Metropolis the months before. In less than half a year million of lives had been lost and he only had himself to blame.
"Kal," announced Andrea promptly. "What you did was incredible..." She was not about to let him throw himself a pity party. Not after all he has done for the earth. He should be proud of what he has accomplished in the passed few months.
"It wasn't enough!" he exclaimed, angry at himself for not being able to do more. He should have been able to do more. He should have been able to save everyone. "What is the point of me even having these powers if I can't save them all?" He clutched his fists together. He was so tired of seeing people die before his eyes, he was tired of hearing their pleas for help and not being fast enough to get to them in time. His heart couldn't take anymore loss.
"Even you can't be everywhere Kal-El," announced John Jones as he joined the two. He was beginning to worry about the young son of his oldest friend. John knew that killing Darkseids entire army had taken a great toll on Kal-El and it was effecting him greatly. The last survivor of Mars knew that with Lois and Martha Kent gone, it was up to him now to be his anchor.
"Exactly!" Clark announced as he turned to face John. "We can't be everywhere. We can't monitor the whole world. All the wars we've stopped could start again, while we've patrolling elsewhere..."
"What are you saying?" John Jones asked.
"You're saying we need to enforce peace," announced Andrea.
"Yes," Clark answered as he turned to face the two having come to trust both John and Andrea more than anyone, aside from Kara. He knew he could always count on John having his back. John had been watching over him long before he had even meant him and had saved his life more than and few times. And then Andrea though they had a shaky relationship when they first met all those years ago, he had come to trust her more and more and trusted her opinion. "It maybe the only way, ...but it's going to take more like us." Clark knew that him, Andrea, John , Kara, Bart, Diniah and Victor alone would not be able protect the entire planet and keep peace everywhere. They would need help. He knew it would take a whole army of others like them.
"But there aren't anymore like us," announced John knowing that teams had been divided and others had died and some had simply were off the grid. Many of the meteor infected had been killed both in Metropolis and during the parademons attack. There was no one else.
"We could make more like us, ….or more so like me," announced Andrea.
"You mean how your heart-transplant gave you superhuman abilities," announced Clark recalling how she had come to have super-human powers that were nearly a match to most of his own powers. She didn't have all his abilities, but she did have the ones that would make for a perfect human army to help keep the peace. "I don't even know if it's even possible to transmit the same abilities safely person to person."
"I'm pretty sure with a sample of my blood, combined with your Kyrptonian knowledge and a bath of those green rocks you hate so much that the Advance Science and Genetic Testing Laboratory in Canberra Australia will be able to come up with a formula," said Andrea with a bright smile on her face. "Besides according to Bart they were already working on something like it for Oliver Queen."
"What makes you so sure they would even agree to it if they work for Oliver, not to mention after what happened to that kid we hurt," answered Clark.
"Because we'll give them our guarantee with this formula super serum that he will be healed and will be able to become the hero he always wanted to."
Clark seemed conflicted. He had seen what happens to those who become infected with kyrptonite and usually more often than not it doesn't end well, but there was always the few exceptions. He turned to John wanting his input on this plan and what any of his concerns might be. "What do you think John?"
John could feel Clark's eyes on him, it was very clear that Clark trusted him immensely, maybe more than anyone else/ In many ways he did consider Clark the son he never had, which is what makes him position even more difficult, because at the same time he is honoring the wishes of a devoted father who had done everything possible to save the life of his baby boy from a dying world. "I cannot tell you what to do Kal-El," he announced with a heavy sigh he couldn't make that big of a decision one that could very well decide the fate of an entire world. It wasn't a matter whether he agreed with it or not. He knew the events in Metropolis had changed Clark and like his father before him he was trying to save his home the only way he knew how. "The choice is yours and yours alone and no matter what you decide I will stand by you." He could never leave him, not when he needed him more than ever.
Star City
Queen Residence
Living Room
Oliver, Zatanna, Maddie, Kara, AC and Conner sat around in the living room. The news was playing on the TV with the sound muted. Not that anyone need to hear about what everyone was talking about. The world hadn't stopped talking about what Superman aka Clark Kent had done to save them all.
Oliver sighed heavily as he faced everyone whose eyes were all on him. This was going to be an easy meeting and will likely do more harm than good, but it needed to be done. "I don't think there is any coming back from this for him." Too much had happened. Too much had been done. He wasn't so sure anymore they could get the old Clark back. And even if by some chance they did what then? That was a question he didn't know where to begin to answer.
"No coming back!" exclaimed Kara angrily as her eyes locked onto Olivers. "I can't believe you're giving up on him."
"Maybe we should cut him some slack," added AC. "It was a war Oliver and I while I hate to admit it, it was a very short war thanks to Clark. He saved lives, including my people."
"Really?" announced Oliver his eyes falling onto AC. "You of all people. I have to say I'm kind of surprised given what happened the last time Clark and you spoke, but then..." Oliver got up from his seat and made his way over to AC. "it was you that put the idea world take over in his head."
"Hey!" exclaimed AC as he jumped from his seat. "If you don't want me here just say it Oliver." He clutched his fists together never had he wanted to take a swing more than ever at Oliver, but he thought better of it. "I'm only here as a courtesy to Zatanna. If I'm not welcome here then I'll leave." He then got into Oliver face, neck to neck. "...But whether you want to admit it or not, had Clark not done what he had we'd all be dead right now."
Oliver could feel himself boiling. He didn't know why Zatanna had asked AC to join. AC was never one to play buy the rules and got into more trouble than not. He couldn't count the number of time he and the others had to bail AC out of trouble, because of his arrogance. "He had a point Oliver..." he heard Kara exclaim.
"What?" Oliver exclaimed turning his attention away from AC and onto Kara. He thought of all people she would understand the extremes of the situation. She knew better than anyone what Clark was capable of with the powers he has. "He slaughtered thousands Kara. He murdered them."
"He's a hero in the eyes of almost everyone on earth..."
"Is that what you keep telling yourself?" announced Oliver firmly as he looked Kara hard in the eyes. Though Kara and him didn't have a close relationship he knew her well enough to know what was going on in that head of her and her eyes spoke more truth than the words coming out of her mouth.
"Oliver!" exclaimed Zatanna not liking where this was going. She knew that Kara was still at odds with where she should stand and one small mistake and they could lose her all together. They needed Kara. They needed her, no more than ever.
"No!" Oliver exclaimed as he turned to Zatanna and then turned back to Kara. "She needs to hear this." He wasn't looking to hurt Kara or put her in a position that none of them wanted to be in, but he knew her and he knew she was just as scared as him. Maybe even more. "I've seen that way you look when your watching whats been happening on TV. I know you're scared..." He stepped closer to her, so they were eye to eye. "You're afraid of what he's becoming..."
"And what about what you became," exclaimed Kara angrily that Oliver would stoop so low to use her feelings against her. "Last time I checked Clark wasn't the first one to commit murder on this team."
"...Or the second. Right?" Oliver shot right back at her. "Just how many did you kill while in the Phantom Zone Kara?"
"You know what, screw you Oliver!" exclaimed Kara. "I'm done being your little spy, I staying with Clark, because I think he is right." She walked away from Oliver and nudged her head towards Conner. "Come on Conner lets go..." When Conner didn't move from his seat, she called to him again this time with more force. "Conner come on!"
"I-I can't," he answered with a heavy heart. It pained him more than she would ever know not to get up and join her, because he wanted more than anything to go back to Clark, to go back to Courtney, but he couldn't. Not when it didn't feel right. "I'm sorry, but I can't go with you. I'm not saying Olivers right, but I don't think Clark is either." He didn't know what was right or wrong right now. He wasn't even sure why he was here or if he was going to stay. The only thing he knew was he couldn't be part of what Clark was doing, ….at least not right now.
"Nice brainwashing there Oliver, you should be very proud of yourself," answered Kara with a faint smile as she started to walk away. "You even almost had me, telling me how you wanted to save Clark, but the truth is you're just jealous of him. That he has a real shot a bring peace to the whole world and stopping crime altogether." She had it with Oliver. She was done, it was beyond her why Clark ever trusted him in the first place, but she wouldn't be fooled by his lies anymore.
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" exclaimed Oliver as he crossed his arms against his chest.
"Oliver!" exclaimed Zatanna angrily that he had basically shot down their best chance at getting Clack back, but she for one wasn't about to give up without a fight. They needed Kara and she believed that Kara needed them just as much, maybe even more. "Kara wait! There things that you don't know. Things that Clark hasn't told you..."
"Clark tells me everything," Kara exclaimed as she turned to face the group once again. "He doesn't keep secrets from me."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you didn't exactly know about the whole prisoner transfer thing," announced Oliver.
"...He was busy," Kara answered softly.
"Too busy to take a quick flash over to you and tell you he had decided to transfer everyone out of Sktrykers?" He sighed heavily knowing he had been out of line before. "Look I'm sorry about what I said before about the Phantom Zone, believe me I know it's life or death in there. And hadn't it been for Clark I know I wouldn't have survived."
Kara sighed heavily, whether she wanted to admit it or not Oliver was right that Clark had been keeping things from her. He hadn't been as open with her as before. "...So what is it?..."
"He's working on something," Oliver announced. "I don't know what it is or how it works, Dr. Norris wont take anymore of my calls. But rumors our Clark and Andrea are talking about duplicating Andrea's abilities." He still had a few friends that worked at the genetic lab that were able to pass him along the information. They didn't know anymore than that, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what they were planning on doing with the research. "I believe they're going to make their own personal army."
It was the only thing that made any sense and when Oliver asked the lab tech who had given him the information, he had joking asked. 'What? Is he planning make an army of super humans'. The lab tech neither confirmed, no denied it. That was when Oliver realized just how much Clark had changed. He was so desperate to keep the earth safe, to prevent another Metropolis from happening that he would become the one thing he swore he never would.
"No!" Kara shook her head. "I don't believe you!" She just couldn't believe that after everything that happened in Smallville with those who had been infect with kyrptonite where many people, not all, but good number went insane and went on killing spree because of from the green rock of their home world. "Clark would never do that. He knows what kryponite can do to humans."
"Like with my dad," announced Maddie softly knowing what it had done to her father. She always wondered when it would be her turn to lose control, but Clark had told her it was always her choice. It didn't matter who her father was or that she had an ability the choice was always hers and hers alone, but not everyone is always as lucky. "Are you sure that's what he's planning?"
"I'm sorry sweetie," answered Zatanna with a faint smile feeling like she had shattered everything the young girl had ever saw in Clark, but she knew all too well what that feeling was like. Clark was her friend too and she never wanted any of this for him. None of them did.
"So the big guy is building an army. Big deal," exclaimed AC. "Maybe they can help track down Black Manta for me, since you and your theatrics, not only caused a prison break, but also got Mia killed."
"You arrogant son of a-!" Oliver fist ready was heading right for AC, when...
"That's enough out of both of you!" exclaimed Zatanna as she used her magic to separate the two and plop them down on their seats so they couldn't move. She nodded towards the TV and turned up the volume. "We got trouble!"
All eyes fell onto the TV, where a group of people where cloaks with the 'S' symbol were attacking low life criminals. "Damn it!" groaned Oliver. This was the last thing they needed right now. "The cultists."
"Who?" asked AC having no idea what Oliver was talking about.
"It's a cult that worships Superman," answered Oliver. "It's been growing ever since Clark started this crusade." He suspected that this group have been the ones responsible for a string of killings and shootings of small time criminals. Oliver turned to AC and threw a smirk. "Maybe they heard the idea from you when you and Clark, talked about him ruling."
"Don't pin this on me!" exclaimed AC. "
"Don't you two ever stop!" exclaimed Zatanna as she flipped their chairs over throwing them both to the floor. "Now get off your asses and suite up! Kara and Conner are already headed there..."
Star City
Downtown
"Cast them out!" shouted the one of the cultist who stood on top of a car, as his comrades began attacking a couple of car thieves. "Cast these criminals out of Star City!" He truly believed the only way to clean up the streets was to take matters into his own hands, just as Superman has done.
"That's enough!" shouted Kara as she flew down and faced off against the leader. Conner was no longer with her, he had told her he was sorry, but he still needed more time. Time to figure out where he stands. He knew that she would have no problem taking care of the situation and the other would be there soon. "Stop this at once..."
"Look it is the All Powerful, cousin!" avouched the leader as he jumped off the car very pleased to see that she had shown her face to watch them as they cleaned the streets of this trash once and for all. "She has come to help us."
"She the hell up!" Oliver then shot a boxing glove arrow right the back of the leaders head causing him to fall to his knees. "Time for you to go back to whatever hole you crawled out of.," he exclaimed as he, Zatanna, AC and Maddie faced off against the group.
The leader looked up, his eyes meeting with Kara. "Don't worry our princess we will not let these non-believers stop us from achieving the All Powerfuls mission!" He then got to his feet and turned to face off against Oliver and the others. "We do not answer to you! We serve only him and those who follow him!"
"I would take your religious crazy whatever the hell you want to call it, far more seriously if you weren't wearing a dressing gown in public," smirked Oliver as he looked the leader over and found him totally ridiculous. He almost found it funny that some lowlifes had allowed themselves to be take out by this clown. "Seriously did someone sew the Superman symbols on or did it already come like that?"
"I bought this online!" exclaimed the leader and he pulled out a shot gun from his cloak. "You poor excuse of a hero!"
"Really?" Hissed Zatanna into Oliver ear as she stood by his side. "You just had to make fun of the guy who happened to have a shot gun on him." Why do I have to do everything? With one wave of her hand Zatanna flicked the gun out of the leaders hands, before he was able to get a shot out. She then levitated the leader above the ground.
"Nice," noted Oliver. "You think you can do that to all these freaks..."
"ENOUGH!" roared a very loud voice that startled Zatanna causing her to lose control and the leader fell to the ground where his comrades quickly surrounded him, while everyone watch as Andre with the help of Clark and John flew down to the ground by Kara.
"Kara you should have call," said Clark as he faced with cousin with concern having no idea that she had come with Oliver and the others.
"Sorry, I thought I could handle it," she answered. "You've been so busy, I didn't want to bother you."
"I'm never to busy for you," he answered with a caring smile and he gently squeezed her shoulder. He then joined Andrea who approached the cultist and the ones they had been attacking.
"Return to your home!" ordered Andrea, no sooner then she said that everyone went running, everyone that is, but Oliver and his team.
"We were handling this!" exclaimed Oliver as he walked up to Clark.
"No, you weren't," barked Andrea. "You're not needed here, Leave now!"
"I wasn't talking to you," Oliver shouted right back at her. "Trust me, you'll know when I have something to say to you." He then turned back to Clark. "Come on Clark, this is starting to get out of hand."
Clark eyed Oliver, then his eyes fell to Zatanna, to AC and then to Maddie someone he hadn't seen in years. She was all grown up now. It was hard to believe she was still that same little girl he had met all those years ago. He then watch as Maddie turned away as if she were ashamed to be where she was. Clark then looked back to Oliver. "I see your still up to your old ways, bringing people in who are way in over their head."
"Well at least I don't have a group of nut jobs committing murder in my name," remarked Oliver as he crossed his arms against his chest. He stepped closer so he was right in Clark's face. "How does it feel to know that there are those willing to kill for you, in your name? It must make you real proud.," he smirked. "Great job big guy. I gotta hand to you, you've finally done it..." He was about to grab a hold of Clark arm when Zatanna quickly took hold of his wrist.
"Okay, that's enough," exclaimed Zatanna firmly not wanting either Clark or Oliver to do something that they might regret later. "We're done here. It's time to go..."
"Right," smiled Oliver. "See you later Clark..."
"Better later, than sooner for your sake," announced Andrea watching as Oliver and the others walked away.
TO BE CONTENUED