Part 36
Star City
Queen Residence
Training Room
Pain. Devastating, heartwrenching pain, god-awful pain rushed through his entire body Oliver laid barely moving on the floor of the room he had once spent hours training himself, preparing himself, but nothing could have ever prepared him for what had just happened. The pain he was in was so intense that he was drifting in an out of consciousness as his mind began to drift to memories of yesterday...
"When my dad died I remembered thinking at least I would have the memories of being with him on the farm," Clark told Oliver with sorrow in his voice recalling all the pain he felt after his dad had died in his arm only to years later to go through it all over again with the cloned version of his biological father. "With Jor-El being gone all I'm left with is..."
"Empty feelings," Oliver answered understanding what Clark was going through all too well.
Oliver could see a blurry image of Clark standing above him staring down at him with such anger and disgust. Clark was talking to him, but he could only understand a few words. "I'm sorry Oliver, but I... too dangerous."
"It's just I had so many questions I wanted to ask him." He had only known Jor-El through the AI in The Fortress of Solitude. It would have been a nice change to have known the man even if it was a clone version of the man himself. "Figure out who he really was."
"Seems to me like you're a chip of the old block," Oliver told Clark hoping that his words would bring some ease to the pain Clark was going through. "After seeing how he saved our spunk side kick. I'd say you're both heroes."
"I'll never be able to live up to everything accomplished."
"I don't know..." Oliver believed that Clark was being too hard on himself and not giving himself enough credit. "I don't think anyone wheres that super shield quite like you," Oliver said with a smile.
Oliver tried to speak, but no words would come out just yet or if they were he wasn't aware of what he was saying. He tried to look into Clarks eyes, but got no reaction, so he looked to the half torn symbol 's' that Clark wore on his chest, a symbol that Oliver once felt safe in seeing, but given everything that's happened. The last thing he feel is safe.
"Still he sacrificed so much sending me to this planet," Clark couldn't even imagine being in his father shoes and having to send his infant son across space never knowing what would become of him. "And then he sacrificed himself again to protect my secret." His fathers clone who had never known him as a baby or knew of his existence risked their life to save his. Why would someone sacrifice their own life for someone they never even met?
"Of course he did Clark," announced Oliver seeing where this was headed and he wasn't about to let Clark beat himself up anymore than he already has. "You're his son..."
Oliver briefly wondered what Jor-El would think of his son now. Did Jor-El ever think about something like this happening? If he had known the truth would he still had sent his son? And if he hadn't who would have saved the lives Clark saved long before he fell under this dark path?
"...Look um, I know you and I haven't always seen eye to eye lately, but I've got your back.. Always!" Oliver promised.
Oliver felt his vision starting to come to and the blackness vanished, but he was still in intense pain. He was in so much pain that all he wanted to do was give in to it and let go, but he couldn't give up just yet. Not when the fate of the world in jeopardy. He couldn't let Clark take control. It didn't matter what promises he had made to Clark nine years ago. The promise he made was to a Clark who understood what it means to be a real hero. This new Clark had forgotten that and he could not stand by and just let Clark do whatever the hell he wanted.
Oliver struggled push himself up, but every time he tried he felt a wave of darkness hit him forcing him to stop. The pain wasn't just coming from his back, it was coming from his hands to. It was in that moment Oliver the state his hands were in. They were bloody, mangled even... his hands were broken. Clark had broken both of his hands. He tried again believing he was just seeing things, Clark wouldn't have broken the one thing that allowed him to be the hero he was. "You..."
"Don't try to get up. You can't!" Clark announced with a heavy sigh. He didn't want to do it, but he knew if he didn't do something Oliver would never stop. And he couldn't allow Oliver getting in his way of protecting the earth. "Both your hands are broken and two of you lumbar vertebrae are cracked." Clark walked around Oliver crossing his arms against his chest. "I guess I shouldn't be too surprised that your still conscious. You always were too stubborn for your own good."
"Look whose talking," Oliver groaned weakly. "You're so damn stubborn that you don't even realize how much your own grief has consumed you and how far you've fallen."
"Enough!" Clark exclaimed angrily having heard enough out of Oliver, "I'm putting you away with the rest of the monsters in this world. Accept it!"
"The only thing I have accepted," exclaimed Oliver firmly as he once again tried to push himself up. "Is that the good man who I once called my brother is gone!"
"Stay down!" Clark announced as he pressed his foot against Oliver shoulder and pushed him back down onto the floor.
"AHHHH!" Oliver cried in pain.
"It's over, Oliver," Clark exclaimed firmly as he continued to hold Oliver down with his foot. "Stop trying to fight me."
"Wasn't trying to..." Oliver moaned as his eyes drifted over to the computer screen where it was blinking 'SCAN COMPLETED!' "Was trying to buy some time!"
"What?" questioned Clark having no clue what the hell Oliver was talking about. Until his ears zeroed in on the beeping noise coming from the computer. "What did you do?" Clark felt a wave of fear rush through him.
"I gave us a chance," Oliver told him breathlessly as he felt another wave of pain rush through him. "It can synthesize it now, give whose ever left a fighting chance to stand up to you."
"Where did you have it uploaded to?" Clark demanded as he knelt down next to Oliver grabbing a hold of him by his chin. "Who has access to it? ….Zatanna? AC? ...Maddie" Clark pressed Oliver face right up against his staring him hard in the eyes. "TELL ME!"
"Maddie's dead? And AC left with his dead son..."
"What the hell are you talking about?" exclaimed Clark. "I didn't go any where near Maddie or AJ!"
"No, but you might as well had," Oliver answered with a heavy sigh. "It was Icicle and Black Manta, but hey you'll be happy to know they're both dead. Manta made sure of that."
Clark felt anger rush through him and lifted Oliver up from the floor holding him by his neck just enough to allow Oliver to breathe. "You're the one that let them escape, if you hadn't come to the prison they would still be alive. Mia would still be alive," hissed Clark. "So don't for a minute make me out to be the bad guy!"
"No matter what you tell yourself in the future, I want you to remember this moment," Oliver announced weakly. "The moment when you resorted to torture for the greater good! The moment when you stopped being the man Lois loved."
Lois! The mention of her name forced Clark to release Oliver. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest as if he were contemplating that Oliver could be right. "I...I didn't mean to-" Clark said as if he just realized what he had really just done to Oliver.
"No, of course not. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it? It makes it so much easier to justify your own actions," Oliver announced as he laid flat on the floor staring up at Clark. "I liked you a whole lot better when all you did was mope around blaming yourself for everything. That Clark Kent had hero written all over him, now your just another thug."
It was as if for a moment Clark may be considering what Oliver was saying, but then he felt a tightening in his neck as he began to struggled to breathe. "Wh-what happening?" Clark gasped as he fell too his knees.
"Conner get Oliver out of here!" exclaimed Zatanna as she began to approach Clark. She wanted to get Oliver as far away from Clark as they could.
Conner sped towards Oliver and knelt down next to him. "Sorry Ollie, but this is going to hurt. A lot!" Conner announced as he lifted Oliver up as carefully as he could.
"I thought I told you..."
"None of us are very good listeners, remember" Conner answered with a grin. "Let's get you out of here!" Without another word Conner super sped away with Oliver in his arms leaving Zatanna to face Clark alone.
Clark grabbed a hold of his neck as if he were trying to break free from what was holding it, but he soon realized that hands holding were Zatanna. She was using her magic against him, but something felt different about it. Stronger somehow. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what had happened. "You took the pill," he gasped. She had taken the pill that Conner had managed to steal from the Fortress.
"I have to say you do good work Clark," announced Zatanna as she continued to levitate Clark up by his neck tightly with her magic. "I have never felt stronger." She felt like she could do anything, like she was unstoppable, but then the realization of what was happening finally hit her and tore at her heart. "I didn't want it to come to this. I never wanted to have to use my magic against you like this, but I can't let you hurt anyone else." They had lost enough of their friends, they didn't need to lose anymore.
"So, what are you waiting for?" Clark gasped knowing that even with all his powers he was no match against her magic. Magic was just as deadly to him as kryptonite, but it also felt as if he wanted to give up. That he wanted to die. That it was just all too much for him and he wanted it to be over.
Zatanna knew she could use her magic and squeeze Clark neck tighter sucking the life right out of him, he was already struggling to breathe. She could keep his eyes shut preventing him from using his heat vision on her. She could snap his neck and it would all be over. He would be dead and could no longer hurt anyone. She could end the pain, his grief from failing to save Lois and Metropolis. Tears streamed down her face and her heart was breaking all over again as the weight of what was before her began to take its toll on her and knowing that once she did it. She would never be able to forgive herself, because despite everything he has done these passed few months, the friends he has killed and the fear he has brought on. She still loved him. "...But I can't just stand by and let you keep on hurting people."
She had to make the tough call. The call no one wanted to make.
Star City
Watchtower
Med room
Bart sat closely to Andrea bed side who was resting from her injuries. They had nearly healed when her eyes fluttered open and looked directly at him. The concern and fear Bart had seen earlier in her eyes when he had brought her here seemed to have vanished and had been replaced with the bold confidence.
"Andrea?" Bart asked wanting to make sure everything was all right.
"Where is Kal-El?" she asked directly.
"He's-"
"GUYS WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" Victors panic voice came from over the intercom. "Kal's vitals just went dangerously low."
Andrea admittedly got up from her bed and stood up. "Tell me where he is!" she exclaimed. "Now, there is no time to waste."
"Olivers condo!" answered Victor.
"Woh!" Bart announced getting in front of Andrea. He wasn't about to let her leave not after what happened to her. "Where do you think you are going?"
"Kal-El needs me," she announced. "We cannot let Oliver Queen and his band of merry men take the one person who has devoted his entire life to saving this planet."
"I'm right there with you, but you shouldn't go alone," answered Bart who was all for helping Clark. Clark had saved his life dozen of times, he felt like he owed it to Clark to return the favor.
"No!" exclaimed Andrea firmly as she looked him hard in the eyes. "Remain here with the others. I will call if I need back up!" Without another word Andrea was gone in a flash leaving Bart a little bewildered, but thought not much of it. He knew ever since Andrea joined the team she had become Clark lifeline. The one person helping him keep it all together. He then left the med bay to inform the others of Andreas plans.
Star City
Queen Residence
Training Room
"...I'm sorry Clark, I am so sorry," cried Zatanna as she watched as Clark struggled to breathe. She watched as his eyes rolled back and his hands dropped to his side. It would all be over soon, but only to be replaced by another nightmare. The nightmare of having to live the rest of her days with this terrible deed that she will never be able to forgive herself for. Tears streamed down her face as she thought of founder memories of Clark. "I hope you finally find peace...Please forgive me."
"I'm afraid there will be no forgiveness for what you have just tried to do!"
"YOU!" Startled, Zatanna released Clark and his body dropped to the ground unmoving. He was still breathing, barely. Slowly Zatanna turned to face Andrea the woman she held the most responsible for the dire change in Clark. She hated the woman before her and wanted nothing more than for her to disappear forever. She couldn't understand what Clark saw in her.
"I find it surprising that you would try to kill a man who have always been in love with," inquired Andrea giving a smug smile. "I would have thought with Lois out of the picture you would have made your move."
"Yes, I may have set out to steal Clark from Lois once," admitted Zatanna. She wouldn't deny she loved Clark, but she also knew how he felt about Lois and when Clark made it clear he didn't feel the same way. She left it at that. "But at least I never set out to destroy him!" Zatanna looked her hard in the eyes. She had never felt so angry in all her life. "He was a good, decent, kind man and you broke him!" Tears were running down her face. She couldn't understand how someone who lost their mother to a violent crime to a bunch of thugs could ever create one of her own. "How can you live with yourself?"
Andrea didn't even flinch as if Zatanna words didn't even register or maybe she just didn't care. Andrea walked towards Zatanna keeping her eyes locked on her. "I made him better," Andrea announced.
Zatanna could see there would be no use talking to Andrea. She was too fumed by her own vengeance to see passed anything else. "Clark isn't the one who needs to go away. You are!" she announced as she waved her hand and lifted Andrea from the ground.
"...Oh you are going to wish you hadn't done that!"
Olivers Secret base
Conner, at Oliver request brought him to a secret location hidden underground in an abandon building in the depth of the worst part of Star City. The same place where he sent the data that had been collected from the super pill, along with all video surveillance footage from the other bases. With no chance of it ever being traced.
"The cabinet..."Oliver gasped through the pain as Conner set him down on couch as gently as he could.
Without saying a word Conner went to the cabinet that Oliver had told him to go to. He opened it and inside he found several pills, ones that looked very similar to the one that he had stolen from Clark for Oliver. These were ones that had been part of the experimental drug that Oliver had had Dr. Norris working on to cure conditions like MS, but through further testing of blood samples of those with meta-human powers it could enhance their abilities. But not without its side effects. The drug was unstable and unpredictable. The first human Mitchel had been healed of his MS, but when he decided to stand up to Superman and Andrea his bones had been crushed. And then Bette she had taken the pill Oliver had given her. The pill had enhanced her powers, so much so it allowed her to go nuclear and when the binding that sustained all that power had been broken she was no longer in control. He own powers killed her.
"Are you sure this ia a good idea?" Conner asked Oliver as he held out the pills to them. "Maybe we should wait until we're able to get our own super pills going." Given what had happened to the others who had taken Olivers experimental drugs. There was no telling what they would do to Oliver.
"I don't have the time to wait," Oliver answered softly. "It could take months before we can recreate the super pills." They may have the formula to reconstruct the pills, but they didn't exactly have the lab to do it in a timely manner. The hidden base wasn't exactly high tech. It was intended to keep them hidden and have access to backed up security footage. Oliver had also set a self-deactivate once the formula of the super pills had been sent to the database, meaning they were cut off from the outside world. It was too much of a risk of Victor somehow tracking down their whereabouts.
"Let's just hope you'll be around then," answered Conner with a faint smile who against his better judgment helped Oliver who was unable to take the pills himself due to his two broken hands.
Oliver swollen the two pills whole. The room began spinning around and around as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. He was vaguely aware of Conner shouting out his name as he drifted into darkness. "Oliver! Oliver..."
"Oliver...!"
That wasn't Conner voice. Oliver looked around at his strange surroundings of nothingness where there seemed to be no end in sight of the ghostly nothingness. What the hell was going on? This shouldn't be happening. Then he heard a loud screeching noise as if something had flown above him. It startled him causing him to drop to the ground shielding himself. When what ever had been there seemed to be gone Oliver stood up and turned around. He wasn't alone. There was a figure standing before him in the shadows.
"Who's there!" he shouted. "What the hell is going on." He heart skipped several beats as he saw the figure emerge out of the shadows. His eyes widened when he saw who it was. "Zatanna!" he exclaimed as he ran towards her in a frantic sprint. She was covered in blood. He got to her just in time to catching her collapsing body. "Zatanna!" he cried.
"Save him..." she whispered with her blood stand lips. "You have to save him..."
"I don't understand?" Oliver answered wishing for this nightmare to be over. "What's going on?"
"Not enough time..." Zatanna gasped as he raised her hand and placed it against the temple of his forehead. "You have all the answers you need... You have all along."
"Zatanna, I-I don't-"
"Promise me..." her voice was weak and drifting fast. "Promise you'll save him." She locked her eyes with his need to hear the words. It was the only thing keeping her here, the only thing she was fighting for. "Promise me!"
"...I-I promise, I will save him..." Oliver told her fearing that if he didn't he would lose her forever, but the moment he said the words. He saw as the light left from her eyes and her body became limp in his arms. He cried out her name, but she never opened her eyes or answered his cries. She was gone. "NOOOOOOO!"
"NOOOOOO!" Oliver shouted as he jumped from the couch he had been lying on. Sweat covered his body. He ran his head down his drenched face as he took in deep and heavy breaths. It took him a moment to calm himself down from what had to have been one of the worst nightmares he's had in weeks.
It was then he realized his hands were no longer broken. The pills had healed him, he looked at his hands wiggling his fingers before him. His body felt sore and weak, but the pain that had been there was gone. "Conner, the pills worked, but man do they give freaky nightmares." Oliver got up from the couch. He turned around and the moment he did that is when he saw Conner by one of the cots, he was covering something up. His eyes then met with Conner who intently had this look of dread in his eyes. "No," Oliver shook his head as he rushed over to the cot as quickly as his body would allow. "She can't be!" But the second he pulled the sheet away he saw that he hadn't had a nightmare after all. Zatanna really was dead. "No, no...nooo..." Oliver cried as he buried his face into her chest crying over her.
This wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to get through this together. She promised she would never leave him. She promised she would always be there for them. "H-how did this happen?"
"I don't know..." Conner answered.
"What do you mean you don't know!" Oliver shouted angrily into Conner's face backing him up against a wall.
"The surveillance footage went out. All I know is Andrea showed up and moments later Zatanna teleported herself here. She went to you, placed her hand on your head and whispered something into your ear. Then she was gone ….just gone," cried Conner. He had tired everything he could to revive her, but nothing worked. "I'm sorry, I really really tried. I even gave her one of your stupid pills, but it was too late..."
Oliver sighed heavily. He backed away from Conner knowing it wasn't Conner he should be angry at. He knew the young man did all he could to save Zatanna, but she was just too far gone to save. No one could have saved her. "I'm- ...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
"It's all right," Conner answered with a faint smile. "She was my friend too."
Oliver turned back to Zatanna he gently brushed a hair out of her face as he knelt down next to her. Tear ran down his face over the loss of yet another friend. "I never really thanked you for sticking by me these passed few months, especially when I was a total ass to you," he cried as he pulled the sheet back over her. "I didn't deserve it."
Conner sighed heavily. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do in this situation. Oliver and him had never really been close, but with everything that's happened. He knew now more then ever they needed each other. In that moment he made himself a promise that he would do everything within his power to keep Oliver alive and save the world.
TO BE CONTINUED