Part 37

It had been three days. Three days since he had taken a team to the Fortress of Solitude. Three days since Bette died in her attempt to take Clark out. Three days since Maddie died a horrifying, agonizing death. Three days since AC walked away after having lost both his wife and son. Three days since Zatanna... three days since Zatanna...

Oliver sighed heavily as he locked his eyes on the apple resting on a top shelf where he had placed it moment ago. He positioned his bow preparing to shoot, stretching it as far as he could go. "Ahhh..." he groaned wincing in pain as the arrow let loose completing missing the apple. "Dammit!" Oliver shouted slamming the bow onto the table next to him in frustration knowing the very instant he did that it was a mistake. It only caused him more pain.

He rubbed his hands together as if that would lesson the pain, but it didn't. The pain was still there. It always would be, because three days ago something was taken from him. Three days ago Clark had taken the man who he had been. He had taken Green Arrow from him the moment he crushed both of his hands. He would never be able to shoot an arrow again. His drug may have healed him, but it hadn't healed him completely. The damage had been done. It would be months before they would have their who stack of super pills at their disposal. He could take more of his own, which he has, but nothing has changed. And now he wasn't so sure if even the super pills could repair what damage had been done. It wouldn't mattered. He hadn't done it for himself. He had done it for the world, for Conner, for anyone that would be brave enough to stand up to the man who had once vowed to protect them all. The man who he once called his friend.

Oliver sighed heavily. This wasn't the first time the two stood at opposite sides, but he never thought their roles would have been reversed. Clark had always been the better man. The man he wished he would be at least half of. The man who always saw the good in everyone, even those who didn't deserve it, because Clark had once believed everyone was worth saving. It had once been one of the things that annoyed him about Clark, but now he would give anything to have that back.

"What if that doesn't work? What if you end up unleashing a monster that's unstoppable, that doesn't have a conscious?" shouted Oliver. They had seen the work Doomsday could do and Oliver didn't want to take any chances, no chances at all. As far as he was concerned Davis Bloom was as much as part of Doomsday as Doomsday was part of him.

"This is the only option!" exclaimed Clark who was about to back down. His mind had been made up and there would be no changing it.

"And what about of getting rid of a serial killer before he has a chance to beast out?" demanded Oliver. "You never want to admit it, but there is a darker side to humanity."

"I know there is, I'm looking at it right now," Clark answered firmly looking Oliver hard in the eyes.

"Not everyone is worth saving," Oliver told Clark knowing exactly where this was headed, but he wasn't about to apologize for it. "We need to take care of Davis Bloom."Before it was too late.

"And by take care of you mean murder?" exclaimed Clark eying Oliver. Clark caught the glances of Bart and the others eying both him and Oliver wondering what was going on. What were they talking about. Clark had wanted to keep this between Oliver and him, but he could see that was no longer an option. "Oliver crossed the line. He killed Lex Luther"

"You're making a big mistake!" exclaimed Oliver looking Clark right in the eyes.

"You're not one of us anymore!" exclaimed Clark

"Is that right?" questioned Oliver shaking his head.

"Oliver..."

"Oliver!" exclaimed Conner as he waved his hand in front of Olivers face.

"Huh?" Oliver shook his head snapping out of his thoughts and found Conner standing in front of him looking worried sick. "Is something wrong?"

"You tell me," Conner responded. "You're the one who was standing there like a zombie for the last five minutes."

"...Sorry, I was just thinking," Oliver answered softly as he walked over to the mini fridge and grabbed himself a bottle of water.

"About?" asked Conner full of concern. He had never been one to worry about Oliver, never had a reason to before, but after everything that's happened. He was worried more than ever about Oliver and feared this was only the beginning to a long road that may lead to nowhere. When Oliver didn't answer him, Conner sighed heavily. He would have to make a more direct approach one that may make matters worse, but what choose did he have? It was just the two of them now. "...You know we haven't really talked about what happened with Zatanna."

"What's there to talk about?" Oliver answered giving the young man who bear a strong resemblance of his former friend as he took a sip of his water. "She's dead. End of story..." He was getting ready to turn and walk away not wanting to spend another second talking about her. Zatanna had been the one person who had had his back, who had been there for him when Chloe couldn't be and now that she's gone. It just all too painful to bear. Why did he have to keep on losing people?

"Look I know this isn't easy," exclaimed Conner. "But you are not the only one who has lost their team!" He had been keeping everything locked away, all his feelings, all his pain, all of it, but he couldn't hold it back anymore. "I lost my team too, Mia, Jayna, Jaime they're all dead, Zan is locked away in some base and Courtney sided with my brother who has lost his way." It hurt in more ways than one, but he finally understood that he couldn't hide his feelings and run away when things got too tough. He had to stick it out and face it full on. Which was exactly what Oliver needed to do. "...Something happened with Zatanna before she died. She did something to you..." He had seen it. Seen something he couldn't explain.

Conner didn't know what happened, but he knew something had happened. The instant Zatanna teliported in she went straight to Oliver. He saw he lean down next to him and place her hands onto Oliver head whispering something into his ear. And then a moment later she was gone. Oliver would wake up a couple of hours later.

Oliver with his back still to Conner began having flashes of a bloodied Zatanna stand before him, pleading her heart out, screaming at him. 'Save him!' 'Save him!' 'Save him!' She would shout over and over. Making him promise again and again and again...

"Oliver what did she say to you before she died?"

Oliver sighed heavily as he turned to face Conner. He bit his lip, he didn't know why Zatanna's dieing wish was for him to make that promise. He didn't understand it. Perhaps in her weakened state of feeling her life slip through her she was reverted to her past feelings for Clark, a love she would never have in return.. "She made me promise to save Clark..."

Conner was stunned. It was not what he expected, especially when he had video proof that before Andrea showed up that Zatanna was about to finish Clark off for good and end this nightmare they were in. "Why would she ask you to promise to save Clark, when she was about to take him out herself?" It didn't make any sense..

"I don't know," Oliver answered. He too had watched the video several times over. Zatanna was prepared to kill Clark, a decision Oliver knew Zatanna hadn't taken lightly. But before Zatanna could finish Clark off Andrea showed up, what happened after that Oliver didn't know. The video feed cut out and was restored minutes later, but no one was to be seen. Nothing to explain what happened. "She never gave me a reason..."

"Did she say anything else?"

'You have all the answers you need... You have all along.'

"No," Oliver shook his head. "That was it." He hated lying, but why mention something he had no idea what it meant? For all he knew it meant nothing and his mind made the whole thing up.

Conner searched Olivers eyes, he didn't buy it. There was something Oliver wasn't telling him. He was about to call him on it. When...

"This just in, live from United Nations..."

Conner and Oliver attention drifted to the old small TV that rested on the counter where smack right on the screen they saw Clark, Andrea and many of their old friends Manhunter, Cyborg, Impulse, Black Canary and Stargirl. People they never thought in a million years would ever turn their back on what they all once stood for. All standing on a stage facing the camera to the entire planet. They watched as Clark went to the center of the stage, he looked tired and worn, but it never showed in his voice. His voice was powerful, more powerful than it ever has been. And that terrified Oliver to death.

"Our way of life is threatened!" Clark announced. "Oliver Queen the terrorist-"

"So, I'm a terrorist now," Oliver noted wanting to laugh, but couldn't bring himself to do so. "Thanks Clark..."

"-as you all know is Green Arrow has stolen a powerful weapon, a weapon he intends to use against us." Clark turned to each of his sides where his friends were standing. "We are standing here together, today, to tell you that we will not allow Oliver Queen to destroy all we are trying to protect!" Clark was not about to let Oliver stop him from all the good he is trying to do for the earth. He would not fail again. "We are standing here today to tell you that we will fight for each and everyone of you. We will fight for peace!"

Conner found himself staring at Courtney on the small TV screen. It seemed like a life time ago had passed since he last saw her, since they last spoke and in many ways it had been. She was no longer the person he knew. She had forgotten what it really meant to be a hero and she was too blind and caught up in Clark crusade for world peace to see the truth. And it killed him to know there was nothing he could do. She had made her choice. Her mind was made up and there would be no changing it as far as she was concerned he was the one who had made the mistake and betrayed both Clark and her.

Clark took a moment to gather his words and catch his breathe. He then felt Andrea squeeze his shoulder and give him a comforting smile. "You do not have to fear this great evil!" Clark announced turning back to the camera. "Because we will be ever vigilant and not rest until he is captured, as my wife Lois spent her time uncovering evil and did not rest until she got the story out there." A tear fell from his eye as he thought of Lois and wished with his every breath that she could be here with him now. "She believed that no matter how well injustice corruption and evil hid, it could always be rooted out. It could always be exposed and I promise you we will expose Oliver Queen and all who seek to aid him." Clark sighed heavily thinking about Lois was always hard for him, but he kept reminding himself he was taking a harder stance to prevent tragedies like the one that took her away from him. "One of the last things Lois said to me was 'save the world'." Clark looked intensely looked straight into the camera wanting to make it perfectly clear to anyone who may be watching. "I intend to, whatever it takes..."

"We now return you to your regular scheduled programing..."

'Whatever it take!' Repeated over and over in Olivers mind. He knew from passed experience that Clark would do whatever it takes. He looked at his hands though no longer broken that might as well be. They would never be the same again and that was all thanks to Clark. He sighed heavily as he turned to look at Conner who he found staring at a ring in a velvet box. 'How could I have been so stupid?' He could kick himself. He had forgotten all about Conner and Courtney being a couple. They had been together for years. Clark had even told him weeks before all this shit with Metropolis, Lois, world domination happened that he and Lois and helped Conner pick out a ring. Conner was getting ready to propose to Courtney.

"Conner, I-I..." 'You're such an idiot Oliver'.

"It's all right," Conner answered with a faint smile shrugging it off as he closed the small box and stuffed it back into his pocket. "Probably wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"Yes it would have," Oliver answered with a faint smile as he gripped the way mans shoulder. "She loves you Conner..."

"Yeah, just not enough to listen to me," Conner answered flatly with a faint smile. He knew Oliver meant well, but there was really nothing Oliver or anyone could say that would make any of this all right again. "Look I'm beat, I'm going to try and get some sleep. You should try to eat something..."

Oliver watched Conner disappear down the small hall towards where the sleeping quarters were if that's what you could call a few sleeping bags on hard stone floor. He wished there was something he could do for Conner, but he knew there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anyone could do. All they could do was wait it out until a time came when there was something they could do, but Oliver feared it would be months before they would even stand a chance at doing anything and by then there is no telling what Clark and the others would have in the works.

And one question still lingered on his mind who had contacted him alerting him of Clark arrival? Was it the same person who had sent the secret message about where he could get his hands on one of the pills? Who was it? It had to be someone who was working closely with Clark. Before Kara died she told him he could trust John Jones, but Oliver wasn't so sure John Jones the lone alien from Mars was this mystery person. Clark and John had too much history and in many ways John was like a surrogate father, a watchful uncle, his guardian angel. John has been good friends with Clark biological father who had asked John to go to earth and watch over Clark. It seemed unlikely that John Jones would ever break his promise. He was an honorable man who meant his word and would stand by it.

Oliver was doubtful too that it was either Diniah and Victor, too much had happened in these last few months and neither one trust him. His gut told him it was either Bart or Courtney, either one may have finally come to their since and see they were on the wrong path, but then again Bart had always been very loyal to Clark. He wanted to say it was Courtney, but didn't want to get his hopes up or give Conner the wrong idea,

Hours later, in the dusk of night, Oliver found Conner outside staring up at the night sky. It was a wondrous sight and for a moment he forgot about everything that's happened. He forgot about the destruction of Metropolis and the millions of lost lives. He forgot that Lois and the child she was carrying were dead. He forgot that it had been months since he seen and spoken to Chloe and their son. He forgot about Clark losing himself... But it was only a moment and then it was gone and he would have to come back and face reality. The life he once knew no longer existed. In fact it seemed like a life time ago in another far off world.

Conner smiled happily enjoying the beautiful sight giving him a sense of peace even if it was just for this moment. He watched as a shooting star flew passed them. He had never been one to wish upon a shooting star, but tonight he would give anything for his wish to come true.

"I wish we had the legion ring," exclaimed Conner with a heavy sigh. "We could make everything right again." They could undue all the bad that's happened stop it before it even began. Set things right.

"Clark spent days flying all over Metropolis searching for that damn thing," Oliver replied with a faint smile recalling in the early days after the blast how Clark tried to find the ring, but always came up empty handed. "I don't know, maybe it was destroyed in the blast." The ring had been locked away in Lois and Clarks apartment for safe keeping. After the deadly blast there was nothing left of the apartment.

"Makes you wonder how Mikey ever got his hands on it," said Conner knowing that the legion ring was how Mike, Booster Gold ended up in their time. "I mean the ring had to have been found at some point. Why wouldn't it have been used to prevent what happened in Metropolis? Why wouldn't The Legion and Brianiac Five ever mention anything to Clark, to Kara?" He had all these questions wondering around in his head. The Legion had always held the out most respect for Clark, aliens had been welcomed to earth due to Supermans influence, but he was having a hard time believing that the Superman they had now could ever be what The Legion said him to be. It just didn't seem possible.

"I don't know," Oliver answered shrugging his shoulders. He wished he had the answers, but he didn't. "Maybe, The Legion isn't what we thought they were."

Conner wasn't so sure. Given everything Kara and Clark told him of The Legion he wasn't willing to accept that. There had to be something else going on here. Something they were missing. "...What if something in our time line changed. It might explain why we haven't heard from Mikey in months." Perhaps it was just wishful thinking. His mind playing tricks on him, but if there was even the slightly possibility he had to know. He had to know if there was a way they could set things right.

"Or maybe Booster just decided to check out, because things got too hot for him," answered Oliver harshly. "Maybe this is exactly the way things were always supposed to go, maybe Superman isn't what everyone thought him to be, maybe it was all a lie, some story that was made up."

"You mean a cover up, some sort of conspiracy?" exclaimed Conner his eyes widening. "You think that somewhere done the line to hide what Clark has done, someone created a story to cover it all up?" There was no deny that before all of this happened Superman had been a symbol of hope, truth and justice. He had been a symbol of good. Was it possible that someone wanted to preserve that, preserve the man Superman had once been?

"You said it not me," Oliver replied.

"But that's what you think..."

Oliver sighed heavily, knowing this wasn't easy for Conner. It wasn't easy for him either, but the fact of the matter was the world needed a Superman. "Like it or not, the world needs Superman. And whether you like it or not, that just may be you." Oliver knew that if they found a way to take Clark down that someone would have to step up to the plate and he knew he wouldn't be the right person for the job. It would have to be someone else. Someone who is a better man than him, who will give people the benefit of doubt.

"...And what about Clark?" Conner wasn't so sure if he was ready to take Clark place as Superman or even if he wanted to. It was too big of a responsibility, maybe more than he could really handle.

"I don't know," Oliver answered turning away as he stared up at the nightly sky. "I still haven't figured that part out yet."

"You mean you haven't figured out whether you can commit to the promises you made to both Chloe and Zatanna," exclaimed Conner knowing that was exactly what was keeping Oliver from going all the way with Clark. Not that he was any better.

Oliver didn't answer, he just continued to stare off at the night sky. He needed more time, time he knew he did not have.

TO BE CONTINUED