Part 26
Star City
Queen Residence
Kitchen
"You want to tell me what the hell that was all about?" demanded Zatanna as Oliver and her walked into the kitchen of his condo. Maddie had gone back home and AC wanted to get back to his wife and son who were in hiding fearing that Black Manta may try to come after them. There had been no word from Conner and as for Kara, Zatanna suspected they wouldn't hear from her anytime soon ...if ever. Not that she could blame her given what happened with Oliver.
"What? With Clark?" exclaimed Oliver as he poured himself a drink from a bottle of his hardest liquor and took a drink, "...Oh excuse me, Kal-El." Oliver then finished the glass and poured another.
"Try all of it!" Zatanna exclaimed getting into Olivers face and staring him right in the eyes. She was beyond furious with him and had just about had it with his attitude. She understood he was upset about Mia, about Clark, about all of it. But they all were, and this attitude of his wasn't helping anyone. "Clark, Kara, AC, do I need to go on?"
"Hey Clark was the one who started this whole thing?"
"And what about Kara and AC did they start it too?" Zatanna answered arms crossed against her chest wondering to herself how the hell Chloe was about to put up with him.
"It's not my fault if Kara can't accept her cousin has gone all warlord..." Oliver finished off this glass in one gulp and poured himself another paying no mind to the fact that Zatanna looked like she was about to blow his head off. "And as for AC, well lets just say I don't know whose worse him or our esteemed leader..." he smirked getting ready to take a sip, but before the glass could touch his lips Zatanna pulled it out of his hands.
"I think you've had enough," she announced.
"Fine," Oliver answered not caring one bit. "I like it right from the bottle better anyway." Before his hands could even reach for the bottle Zatanna made the whole bottle along with everything else that consumed of alcohol disappear from the counter. He turned to her more than a little annoyed. "You know, I really hope you didn't break any of those bottles sending them to where ever the hell you send things, because most of them cost more than you make in a month."
"Personally I rather be in the company of my friends, than drinking my sorrows away in a bottle expensive whiskey every night," she answered looking him hard in the eyes as if she were staring into his very heart and soul."But not you right? You rather drink it all away..."
"What is this Zatanna?" he exclaimed getting into her face to the point his hot nearly drunken breath was breathing into her. "You think I have problem?"
"Yeah, I do," she answered her voice softening. She knew Oliver was hurting, but he was too proud to really open up to her. She had been able to get him a few times, but the truth was Oliver kept a lot to himself. "You're angry, you're hurting. You're emotions have been all over the place, you're looking for fights where there aren't any... You are anything, but fine!"
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about," exclaimed Oliver. "I'm fine! It's everyone else that has the problem!"
"No! You are not fine!" she exclaimed. It truly broke her heart to see him like this, especially when she has seen him at his best, but it's been a while since she seen that Oliver. It's been a while since shes seen the best of everyone. "Why do you keep pushing everyone away?"
"I am not pushing anyone away!" he shouted.
"Oliver, a little more than an hour ago you were about to go all brawl with AC in the living room," she cried. She hated that the team was at odds with each other and a part of her was angry at Clark for causing this rift, but she knew that Oliver was to blame too, even she was partly to blame, because she had been the first to leave the team/ "You're pushing Kara to her limits, you put Maddie in a difficult position and you wont talk to Clark, really talk with him."
"Yeah, well Clark hasn't really been in the talking mood!" he replied harshly.
"He's hurting!"
"SO, AM I!" shouted Oliver. And that's when it happened when Oliver finally lost it. He had cried when Mia died, but this time it felt like the tears would never stop, that the pain would never go away. His leg gave way and he found himself huddled on the floor hugging his legs against his chest. It wasn't long before her found Zatanna sitting down right next to him, her face sad and tears in her eyes. "How did things get so messed up, so fast..."
"I don't know..." she answered her eyes sparkling with tears. "I just don't know..."
"Don't leave me okay," he pleaded. "I know I'm an ass, but I can't take losing anyone else..."
"I'm not going anywhere," she answered with a faint caring smile. "Chloe made me promise, that I would have you're back in case she was ever not here."
"I miss them..." His eyes were growing heavy, the alcohol finally sweeping in making him sleepy. He rested his head against Zatannas shoulder and fell into a heavy sleep.
Zatanna sighed heavily as she wrapped her arm around him. "I miss them too..."
Australia
Canberra
Genetic Testing Laboratory
John stood outside the room watching through the window as Dr. Norris and her assistants mixed the compounds of kyrptonite and Andreas blood together that would replicate Andrea's abilities. Soon they would test it on the young man who had been seriously injured and if a successes they would be searching for the best and brightest who would assist the heroes in protecting the earth and keeping peace.
"Yes, Kal-El," said John Jones into his comm. "The serum should be complete in the hour. I will do..." He ended the link when he felt a shadow standing behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "I've been expecting this," answered John as he turned around to face Kara.
Kara looked around making sure no one was watching them, before she turned back to John who had been her uncle and aunt dearest friend, they had even named him Kal-El godfather. "We need to talk, but not here." What she needed to discuss with him couldn't be anywhere near here.
"Agreed," John answered as both Kara and him sped away in quick flash before anyone could see them.
Mount Everest
Once they arrived at their destination Kara turned to John Jones with questioning eyes."How long have you've known?" asked Kara. She had to know just how long has he known her secret? And an even biggest question why hadn't he called her out on it?
"I've known while, that you've been in contact with Oliver..." There was not much anyone could keep from him without him knowing. There were only a handful that could prevent him from reading their minds.
"Why haven't you've said anything to Clark?"She knew how loyal John was to Clark and what he meant to him, if he ever felt Clark was in serious danger she knew John would not hesitate to protect him. He had saved Clark's life more than once over the years, so why now would he choose to keep something this big from him?
"He's dealt with enough loss," answered John with a faint smile. He just couldn't put any more weight on that broken heart than it already had. "Don't you think?"
"Clark, will never lose me," announced Kara. "I will never turn my back on him."
"But you already have by talking with Oliver," John announced.
"Oliver, is not the enemy and you know it!" she exclaimed. Though she wasn't always a fan of Oliver, she knew he meant well and at one time both Clark and John trusted him with their lives. She knew deep down there was no way John could be okay with everything that has been going on. She knew he was just as concerned about Clark as she was. "This new drug that will give people advance strength is not the answer, John."
"Your cousin feels, it is the only way to ensure peace on earth," announced John. He sighed heavily knowing Kara meant well, but she was younger than him and he has seen things that most will never see in a lifetime. Things he would never wish, not even on his greatest enemy. He has seen what happens to worlds when there is no peace, when war and chaos take over. "And if I'm being honest, I too feel this is the only way. This serum will make our numbers grow, no one has to die a senseless death. Couples will be able to grow old together, children wont have to be afraid, people can be safe and know that everything is going to be okay..."
"And that really would be a dream come true," answered Kara with a faint smile. It was all she ever had wanted for Krypton, but sadly it never happened. Krypton died before it could achieve that dream. "But, it isn't what he's needs. He needs, to talk to someone John..."
"Don't you think I have been talking with him?" he exclaimed hurt that she would think so little of him.
"But how, have you been talking to him? As his friend, his protector, or someone whose careful what they say?" she exclaimed. She sighed heavily knowing this wasn't easy for John, because it was just as hard for her. "He's hurt John, hurt more than he ever has been hurt before. ...I see that now," Tears streamed down her cheeks, because it broke her heart knowing just how broken and hurt Clark must be. "Can't you see, he lost Lois, his child... He lost control and now he's trying to take it back anyway he can..."
It was hard for her to accept what was happening with her cousin who she loved more than life itself and even harder to accept what he was doing. She didn't want to believe it, but she had seen with her own eyes what Clark was going to do. Heard it from his own mouth. She had wished so much that Oliver had been wrong, but he wasn't. And it was only then that she had to open her eyes that little by little she was losing him.
Star City
Watchtower
Clark was taking in the nightly view of the city. It was all so beautiful and peaceful, but he knew it would never be able to compare to Metropolis and what it felt like to watch the sun set with Lois on top of the Daily Planet Globe. It would be a memory he would always treasure and hold close to his heart.
"Seriously?" announced Bart as he super sped right behind Clark. "You're using Andrea blood and kyrptonite to create a drug to make Super Soldiers." He couldn't believe it when he heard about it from Victor. It just reminded him how he had gotten on Olivers case for practically trying to do the same thing. "Is this what we do now?"
"Oliver was already close to creating it before Metropolis or something at least like it, Andrea and I just added in the missing pieces." He smiled faintly as he turned to Bart knowing what it must seem like to him, especially in years past when they had put an end to any experimenting with kryptonite. "I know it seems extreme-"
"Extreme? More like mad science amigo," announced Bart. This was not the type of thing he would ever expect from Clark. Bart wanted to believe in and trust Clark with all his heart and soul, but he was beginning to wonder if maybe Oliver had been right.
"Have you ever played chess Bart?" asked Clark.
"Umm...not really," he hadn't been expecting that answered, but what the hell he would go with it. "I was more of a checkers kind of guy."
"You still didn't answered my question," said Clark.
"I guess I've played once or twice, but I never really slowed down long enough to learn," answered Bart. Chess had always seemed to slow and boring, the only thing really appealing were all the different pieces on the board. "...Wait? When did you learn?" He had known Clark for years, but never once did he ever see him play chess.
"A few days ago, Andrea taught me," Clark walked over to the computer mainframe and brought a tutorial on how to play chess. "How quickly can you learn?"
"Probably faster than it took you," answered Bart with a grin as Clark started the tutorial going at super speed, while Bart's eyes were glues to the screen watching every single thing and reading everything that came up on the screen. "Done!"
Moments later the two were sitting down playing a game of chess. Clark leaned forward studying his move before he made it. Once he did he looked up at Bart with questioning eyes. "How fast can you think?"
"I-I don't know. I'm not sure there is a way of knowing that." Truthfully he had never even thought about it. "But I would guess fairly fast..." answered Bart as he made his move
"Even when under pressure?" asked Clark as he moved his chess piece without Bart even noticing. "It's your turn."
"All right," answered Bart with a grin. "I'll play your game..." Soon they both were playing at super speed.
"I want to discuses some ideas with you," announced Clark "I want to hear you're input on it."
"What kind of ideas?"
"I want to get rid of guns," announced Clark as he slowed the game down and moved one final piece. "Checkmate!"
Mount Everest
"Mrs. Kent, told me once when Clark was little maybe a year after they found him, that he had this stuffed bear..."announced Kara as she told the story to John that Martha had told her years earlier about her son and what his childhood was like. It had warmed her heart to know that Clark had grown up with a loving family, just as her Aunt Lara had always hoped for. "He carried it everywhere..."
A four year old Clark runs through the corn field dragging his stuffed bear and tossing it into the air.
"He slept with it,,,, They couldn't separated it from him, not even to wash it..."
Little Clark sleeping peaceful in his bed cuddled up with his bear.
"And then one day he lost the stuffed bear, never to be seen again..."
Little Clark upset over not being able to find his bear began punching the wall and not too long after little fist size holes started appearing and then he pounding his hand on top of the kitchen table cracking it in half.
Kara looked deep into Johns eyes and suspected he knew this story, maybe even had seen it with his own eyes as he had watched over Clark from a distance ever since he arrived on earth. "She said Clark was so upset and that was the day they really understood just what their little boy was capable of." Martha Kent would never say it was difficult, because Clark was a dream come true for her. He was her wish and though it hadn't been easy raising a child that was 1000 times stronger than both her and her husband, she wasn't going to let that stop her from loving and raising him.
"You're saying he's a scared child," announced John bluntly.
"Aren't we all," answered Kara.
Star City
Watchtower
"We could do it, you and I, couldn't we," asked Clark as they started a second game. "It would only take a day, two at the most." He knew that if both Bart and him worked together they could get rid of every gun throughout the world.
"We could never really get rid of all the guns," answered Bart knowing it wasn't as simple as it sounded.
"No," answered Clark knowing that Bart was right. Try as they might they wouldn't be able to destroy everything single gun that existed on earth. "But we could get most of them..." He moved his knight forward knocking over Barts king. "Checkmate..."
"That doesn't mean we should," answered Bart. He understood where Clark was coming from and maybe there was some truth to what Clark wanted to do, getting rid of the guns likely would lower gun crimes, but chances are the people who they didn't want to have guns would still have them and the people who meant no harm to anyone would be the ones losing theirs, a right, a privilege that was once theirs would be taken away from them. And yes maybe the outcome would justify the means, but at what cost? "You know that most will not willingly give up their guns, if we forcefully take them away. They will resent us..." I would...
"Probably would, but they would be alive," answered Clark as they started a third game. He sighed heavily and gave Bart a faint smile. "In the end, isn't that all that matters?" All he wanted to do was keep them safe, keep them from feeling the pain of loss he feels now everyday.
"Maybe..." Bart answered softly, knowing that Clark was doing what he felt was right and the only way he believed he could keep the world safe, but at the same time he knew it could do more harm than good. No good deed ever goes unpunished. Bart knew that by doing this it could come back to haunt them and he just wasn't sure he could live with the consequences. He sighed heavily as he took his turned and looked Clark in the eyes, seeing a friend who had been forever changed by the events in Metropolis. "But what if they rise against us..." While nearly more than half the world stood by their side, there were those who opposed them and by doing this those numbers could grow stronger.
"We've made it through once before with the VRA," answered Clark not the least bit worried about the possibility of that happening.
Mount Everest
Kara smiled faintly as she reached out and gripped his shoulder. "I get it John, I really do. I can only imagine what it must feel like to have watched two worlds destroy themselves." It made all too perfect sense why John would be okay with what Clark wanted to do. He had watched his own world and its people die, he had watched his wife and child die in his arms. Only then to watch another world die. Her world. "And how you would do anything to make sure it never happens to any other world."
"Then you know why this is the only course of action," announced John Jones.
"I wonder if Jor-El would agree?" exclaimed Kara who knew within her heart that their was no way that her uncle would be okay with any of this. This was the type of experimenting he had fought against.
"This has nothing to do with your uncle!" exclaimed John angrily.
"It has everything to do with him," exclaimed Kara as she looked the bounty hunter in the eyes. "He's the whole reason why your on earth, why you have never left and have stood by Kal-El all these years!" Kara knew had it not been for the promise John had made to Jor-El and Lara that he would never have come to earth. he would be nothing more than a lonely space traveler. "You have known Clark since the day he was born and watched him grow up from a far. You have saved his life more than once, so are you honestly telling me you can't see that Kal-El needs help."
John sighed heavily as he turned away and took in the wondering view wishing he could become lost in the view, but he knew he would have to face the truth, a truth he did not want to admit or the fear that had already been looming around him. He felt Kara reach out and grip his shoulder and say to him. "Clark is an incredible man, but despite his abilities he's just a man..."
"Who can make mistakes," John finished with a heavy sigh.
"And his human emotions as wonderful and pure as they are makes him more vulnerable..." added Kara.
Star City
Watchtower
"I get where you're coming from with this," announced Bart. "But many have argued it before and it always tends to divide people, who each make good points." He wasn't looking to make Clark angry, but Clark wanted an honest opinions from him and that's what he was going to give him. "But wouldn't this be on the line of you forcing your will? I always thought that was the kind of thing you tried to avoid"
"You've been around the world more than a few dozen times," answered Clark as he moved his pawn on the board. "It's safe to say you've seen a lot."
"Yes," answered Bart. "That would be safe to say..."
"How many lives have you seen ruined by gun deaths?"
Bart has seen more than his fair share of gun death while spinning around the earth, even manage to prevent a dozen or so, but he has see other deaths that had nothing to do with a gun. "What about smoking?" announced Bart.
"What?" asked Clark not expecting that.
"Cigarettes," announced Bart. "They kill far more people than guns, yet people keep on smoking even with knowing that one day it could kill them..."He looked Clark hard in the eyes. "You of all people should know that?" Bart knew just as he knew Clark knew that Lois's mother had died from lung cancer, due to years of smoking.
"And?" asked Clark not seeing the point or where Bart was taking this.
"So tomorrow, we get rid of cigarettes. ….Checkmate," announced Bart as he moved his piece forward with a big grin on his face. "Then we lock up anyone who speeds in a car, …..checkmate." He looked Clark hard in the eyes, knowing things were never as simple as getting rid of guns. Something else would just replace it. Something always does. You don't go around the world countless times without learning a thing or two "Then we probably should kill anyone who doesn't, recycle, that would probably get AC back in our good graces," he said with a grin. "….Checkmate!" He then began moving a super speed with the chessboard, moving piece after piece. "And then we might want to look up anyone who doesn't take proper care of their dogs, …..Checkmate...checkmate...checkmate..."
"You done," answered Clark with a grin.
For now..." answered Bart as he leaned back in his chair and rested his feet on top of the table.
Mount Everest
"We both watched as our worlds die John, but with Kal-El it's different," exclaimed Kara feeling the tears come. "He doesn't remember Krypton, all he knows it's gone and ever since he's known the truth about himself he's been doing everything he can to make sure that earth does fall. "...But as we both know sometimes desperation is the real enemy, like with Zod. He didn't start out wanting to be the bad guy, it happened in an instant, one moment he was Kryptons proudest most honorable solider and the next he was it's greatest enemy."
"You don't really believe that he could become like Zod?"
"I don't want too," answered Kara heavily. She would never want to believe that could happen to Clark, but Jor-El likely had felt the same way about Zod. No one ever wants those they care for the most to fall so far, but wanting nothing not to happen doesn't mean it wont. "...But at the end of the day each of us has it within us to faultier and lose our way."
"I want to believe in his cause, I don't want what happened to Metropolis, to my home world, to Krypton, to ever happen again," announced John.
"Do you feel guilty for being the lone survivor of your world?" asked Kara even though she already knew the answer. It was the same answered she would give for herself.
"Yes..." John answered with a tear rolling down his cheek. There hasn't been a day he hasn't questioned why had he lived when everyone else died? Why him?
"Imagine how Kal-El must feel, he lived when Jor-El and Lara died. He lived when Krypton died. He lived when his city died. He lived when Lois and their child died," Kara cried as tears streamed down her face. "His heart can stand to lose anything else. It's why he's goes to such extremes..."
"You think he's trying to put the whole world in a box and locked it away so it will always be safe?"
"Wouldn't you?" asked Kara.
"What would you have me do Kara?" asked John. What did she want from him? Did she not know that he has done everything he possibly could to get through to him? What more could he do?
Kara took a deep breath and looked John hard in the eyes. "Whatever Jor-El asked of you..."
TO BE CONTENUED