Part 53

Olivers Secret Base

Holding Room

'Be careful...' Conners words repeated over and over in her mind as she entered into the room where they were holding AC. Oliver had told her about AC being marked by Darkseid. How AC didn't want to fight for his freedom and only wanted death. He wanted his pain to be over. He wanted everything to be over. She doesn't even know why she decided to come see him. The two were never really closer, she was closer with Bart more than AC. Lois was the one who close with AC, the two had come close to dating years ago after AC had saved Lois's life from drowning, but he ended up leaving Smallville before anything really ever began.

AC would eventually come back to Smallville, but he would be too late for Lois. She was with Oliver, something Oliver failed to mention to AC when he recruited him for his secret band of heroes. Not that it mattered Oliver would end up leaving Lois soon after that mission. He would come back almost a year later, but the spark was gone and Lois would eventually move on with Clark. Oliver and her would find their way to each other after Jimmy died and AC would find Mera. Sure there have been numinous double and triple date nights, but she never really felt a connection with AC or Mera. It wasn't that she didn't like them, because she did. It was just different. But she could always tell that Lois and Clark, with AC and Mera, that there was a strong bond there, an understanding. Something that Oliver and her couldn't really relate to.

So again she wondered why was she here, but then she knew. She was the only one that really good. The others have tried. ….And as for Lois, ….well no one could blame her.. AC did try to kill her and her sons. She had every right not want to have anything to do with him. And that made Chloe feel guilty like she was in some way betraying her cousin. This man had tried to kill her cousin, two innocent little boys who were the same age as her daughter. He had killed Bart, her friend, someone she cared about and he wasn't in the least bit sorry about it.

She why was she here?

"This was a bad idea..." she whispered to herself as she turned away and started walking away from the limp form hunched over in the chair.

"Chloe..." AC gasped lightly from his dry lips. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Chloe knew it was too late to walk away now. She took a deep breath and turned around to face a face she no longer recognized and she suspected it would be the last. "I guess I just wanted to see for myself," she answered harshly as looked him hard in the eyes. "The King of Atlantis throwing in the towel. What was it finally too much for you?"

"Don't patronize me," AC exclaimed angrily. "You have no idea what I've been through. What I've lost."

"I don't have any idea!" she exclaimed angrily through her tears. "I know I wasn't around for most of everything that's happened, but try coming back five years later to a world you no longer recognize. Try learning that your best friend took over the planet. That people you cared about our dead and people you thought were lost but weren't."

"Wow that must be really hard for you," AC answered coldly. "Finding out your cousin isn't dead. You think I'm going to find Mera and my son alive?"

"If it hadn't been for Bart, Lois wouldn't be alive right now..."

"So, this is about Bart then? What you upset that your little boy toy is gone. You missed your chance with him," he announced cruelly. "I saw the way he always looked at you, but you never gave him the time of day. Did you?"

"That's the darkness in you talking," Chloe announced knowing she couldn't let it get to her, She couldn't let him win.

"Of maybe this is the real me," exclaimed AC. "Maybe all the darkness does is bring out the truth. Shows who you really are. Take Oliver for instance, when he was marked he stopped Lois and Clark wedding. He tried to take Clarks powers away, tried to kill him..."

"What are you getting at?"

AC smiled a wicked devious smile as if he were pleased he had Chloe's attention. "Maybe Oliver wanted Clark out the way. He always did have a thing for Lois. Out of all the girls we was with, she was the one he wanted to stay for." He looked Chloe hard in the eyes with such coldness you would never have known the two had ever been friends yet alone allies once upon a time. "Why do you think he ended up going to you?"

"He's with me because we love each other!" exclaimed Chloe.

"...Or maybe because in some twisted way, being with you is like being with her," AC smirked. "Of course typically in those situation, you go for the sister, but lets face it Lucy is no Lois Lane."

"If you're insinuating that my husband is only with me, because as some fulfillment to being with my cousin. You're dead wrong!" exclaimed Chloe angrily.

"I'm not insinuating anything," AC replied coolly. "I'm not the one who has another earths Chloe's memories floating around about the Oliver of that earth two-timing on two cousin, ...but I forget. Who did that Oliver end up marrying?" He was silent for a moment watching Chloe go through all sort of emotions. "...Oh wait, I remember," smiling deviously. "he married that earths Lois. Almost makes you wondered what would have happened if that earth Clark wasn't a murderer. ...Oh wait, our earths Clark is murderer now too," he laughed as he watched Chloe struggled to stay in control of her emotions. "Hmmm, you don't suppose this earth Oliver will move his way back to Lois do you, I think we can safely say Clark is no longer an option. Because lets face it, history has proven, you have always been the backup choice."

Chloe closed her eyes at let the tears falls. She took a deep breath and remained silent for several moments before she opened her eyes and looked right back at AC. She kept telling herself this wasn't AC. This was the darkness inside of him. This wasn't him. "If you're done, I'd like to talk to AC now."

"Face it Chloe, this is the real me," exclaimed AC.

"We may not have been close, but I know the real AC could never be this cruel. He may have been arrogant and quick to jump to action without thinking of the consequences, but he was never cruel." She refused to give up on him, she would refuse to give up on any of them. It had been her that brought them all back together after the whole Doomsday/Davis and Jimmy incident. "I wont give up on you. I will never give up on any of you!"

"You can't save everyone Chloe," exclaimed AC harshly. "Not this time. You can't save me. You can't save your husband and you wont be able to save Clark..."

"Olivers fine and you're wrong about Clark," she declared.

"If you believe that then you're dumber than I thought you were. Has Oliver even told you what Clark did to him? How he broke him?" When Chloe didn't answer AC knew that Oliver hadn't told her. Oliver the horrible truth. "Aside from Clark classifying Oliver as a terrorist, Oliver is lucky he survived. Hadn't Conner and Zatanna, he probably wouldn't be here."

"Why are you doing this?" cried Chloe no long able to contain her emotions.

"Because I'm doing you a favor."

"You have hell of a way of doing me a favor," exclaimed Chloe.

"Just ask yourself one question Chloe, why hasn't Oliver told you, is it because he wants to protect you or is it because is he's protecting Lois?"

Chloe didn't answer. She told herself there was not to listen to a word that AC said. To push the words out of her mind, but the words had already set in. And doubts about her relationship with Oliver began to fill her mind. She hadn't gotten the happy reunion she had expected after five years of being away from him. She had come back to a very different world and an even different Oliver. It wasn't his fault, she kept telling herself it wasn't Oliver's fault, but she had this lingering feeling that sometime soon she was going to have to make a decision, a decision she wasn't sure she could make, an impossible choice.

She loved Oliver with all her heart. He had given her two beautiful children who she wouldn't trade all the world for. But he hadn't been her first love. Her heart had belonged to Jimmy and a part of it always will. Oliver and her just sort of happened, both of them were in a slump and they just starting spending more and more time together. She wasn't looking for love or commitment from him, but somehow a great bond of friendship turned to love and one magic drunken night they got married. They could have undid it, but neither one of them wanted to. But now things felt different, Oliver was different, distant and had this weight on his shoulder that he wasn't willing to share. And she couldn't help but wonder if AC was right? Was Oliver keeping things from her?

"Is it true?" she asked Conner as she left the room seeing there was no use to getting through to AC. He had made his decision. He didn't want to be saved. You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved.

Conner looked at her confused. What was she talking about. Is what true? "What did he say?"

"Is it true that Clark tried to kill Oliver..."

Conner felt his heart skip a beat and his face turned white as a ghost. He wasn't sure how to respond. "Chloe-"

"Stop!" She didn't need to hear another word. "I got my answer," she exclaimed as she stormed off.

Conner followed quickly behind her, to where Oliver and the others were gathered around packing up supplies. Lois sat off to the side with her sons and Olivia, while her dad, Oliver, Robbie, Zan and one of her dads solider Wylie packed up weapons and anything they needed to take with them. With the fear that Darkseid knew their location they decide it was best to leave before the crack of dawn.

Wylie could help but not take his eyes off of Jon and Kal, who play quietly with their cousin Olivia. He clutched his fist together when he saw how much they looked like the man he hated with a passion. When suddenly he felt a tight grip on his shoulder. He turned and found Sam Lane looking right at him.

"Those are my grandsons. They are my family" Sam whispered to Wylie sternly. "And they will be treated as such. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," Wylie replied as he went back to work making sure all the bags were secure.

"Chloe wait..." Conner called out to her trying to catch up to her before she did something she might come to regret, but he was already too late Chloe was headed right for Oliver.

"We need to talk!" Chloe announced.

"Chloe now really isn't the best time, as soon as Skeets and Lana gets back here we need to move out of here," Oliver announced as he zipped up his pack. "Where have you two been anyways. I called everyone here fifteen minutes ago."

"I went to see AC," Chloe answered.

Oliver eyes widened and he looked angrily at Conner. He couldn't believe that Conner would allow Chloe to go anywhere near AC, especially when he had given a direct order for everyone to stay out of the holding where they were keeping him. "You let her see him?"

"She thought she might be able to get through to him," Conner answered with a heavy sigh when he saw Lois look at him with a hint of sadness and she ran her arms up and down her arms as if to warm herself. He knew she was still pretty shaken up over what happened.

"And did you?" Oliver asked harshly. He didn't mean to sound so cold, but he had just gotten his family back and he didn't wait five years just to lose them within hours of getting them back.

"No," Chloe answered turning her head away as if she were ashamed she had failed to get through to him. "He wouldn't listen."

"Which is exactly why I gave the order not to let anyone see him," announced Oliver looking straight at Conner.

"You're not the boss of me Oliver!" exclaimed Conner as he stepped closer to Oliver not taking his eyes off of him. He understood Oliver had his reason for wanting to keep everyone safe and away from AC, but he also knew that Oliver expected him to do the impossible. "You expect me to take his spot, but then you get upset when I make calls that you don't like."

"When they're careless ones that involve my wife, oh you better believe I will!" Oliver exclaimed angrily.

"Look I don't like it any better than you do. I don't believe AC deserves to be saved," Conner answered with a heavy sigh. "...But in case you hadn't notice we could use the help."

"Woah!" exclaimed Zan running to get between the two feeling the high tension fuming between the two and given everything they had been through over the pass five years. He couldn't blame them, however now wasn't exactly the best time to do it. "Now really isn't the time guys."

"...Is there a problem here?" exclaimed Lana who had just gotten back, Skeets was clipped to her ear. She could clearly see that something was going on between Oliver and Conner, and both Lois and Chloe appeared upset.

"No," Conner answered backing away.

"Nothing at all," Oliver answered backing away and turned to Lana. "Were you able to get it?"

Suddenly a hole-graph beamed off of Skeet from Lana's ear. "I know I may no longer be flesh and bones, but when did I become an it?" exclaimed Tess as she crossed her arms together.

"Sorry Tess," Oliver answered with a faint smile. "I wont let it happen again."

"You're off the hook, I'm just grateful you kept your word and got me out of there," answered Tess. Oliver had promised her before he left S.T.A.R. Labs that he would make sure they came back for her. After all they could use her help.

"Well I just hope that Skeets doesn't mind the accommodations until we can find a more permanent solution," answered Oliver. "How are you doing Skeets?"

"I am fine sir, it is quite enhancing having Miss Mercer accompany me, we have already begun to share our data files with one another," answered Skeets.

"Really," Oliver answered a grin appearing on his face as he looked at holograph Tess. "Something you like to share Tess..."

"Get your mind out of the gutter Oliver!" exclaimed Tess and she disappeared back into Skeet.

"Oah!" Oliver exclaimed as Chloe whacked him in the back of the head. "What was that for?" he asked as he turned to face her, but one look into her eyes and he knew the answer.

"So if were all done here, we should really think about getting out of her," announced Lana as great concern swept over her face. "When I was coming back from Metropolis, I spotted a small group of Regime Soldiers headed this way."

"Was Clark with them?" Chloe asked, her voice sounded almost hopeful. Maybe this could be there chance, a chance to get through to Clark, a way to avoid an impossible choice .

Lana's heart sank as her face fell, she didn't have to look over at Lois to know Lois was looking right at her longing to hear her answer. She knew Lois's feelings for Clark were strong, stronger than even her own. She hated this. She hated every moment of this and she knew it was only going to get harder from here. "Yes..." she answered softly. "...But so was she...I mean Darkseid." She had to keep reminding herself that Andrea was Darkseid.

"Oliver," Chloe exclaimed as she grabbed her husbands solider forcing him to turn to face her. "Maybe I ...or Lois, we could get through to Clark, Tell him what's going on." Chloe believed with all her heart this all could be solved with Clark learning the truth. She had seen Clark at his worst on many occasions and he was always able to pull himself out of the darkness with the love and support of those who care about him.

"No," Oliver shook his head. He knew Chloe meant well, but she didn't know this new Clark like he did. This Clark was dangerous, unpredictable and as long as Darkseid is whispering into Clark's ear he wasn't going to let either Lois or Chloe anywhere near Clark, even if they could snap him out of it. He wouldn't risk their lives. He knew Darkseid would stop at nothing to make sure anyone who could get through to Clark would see the light of day. "Not with Darkseid here, it's too dangerous. We leave now." He could see that Chloe understood his decision, but was clearly upset about it. "No discussions." He then turned to Lois, his heart breaking seeing how torn up she was. "I'm sorry Lois..."

Lois nodded her head as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I understand," she answered with a faint smile. She understood why they wouldn't wait, but leaving here, being so close to seeing him again after all theses years will be one of the hardest things she has ever done, because in her heart she believe one look into each others eyes will be all it would take to bring him back.

"Mommy, why are you so sad," asked Jon who along with his brother have become very concerned for their mom. They had seen her cry before, but something in the short time they have been here seemed very different.

"Mommy is just tired honey," Lois answered as she ran her hand through Jon's hair. She didn't have it in her heart to tell them about their father. They had grown up hearing her tell them stories about what an amazing hero their dad was. She couldn't shatter that imagine, not when her heart was already shattered into a million pieces.

"It's going to be okay mommy," exclaimed Kal with all the confidence in the world. "When we get back with daddy everything is going to be okay..."

Lois smiled faintly as she brushed Kal's cheek gently with her hand. He looked so much like Clark that it broke her heart, because in that moment she realized that her sons may never meet their father. They may never know him or know how much he had wanted them.

"Wait, what are we going to do with AC?" asked Zan.

Oliver, Lana, Sam and Conner all shared an all knowing glance, a glance Chloe, nor Lois needed to know what that meant. AC wasn't coming with them. It was because of him that their location became known. They would have to leave him behind almost guaranteeing his death.

Five minutes later...

The base that had once been a safe haven for Oliver and Conner was no flooded with several members of Clarks super powered army who were going room to room searching for Oliver and anyone associated in his rebel forces, while Clark and Andrea waited in the main room, where several computers had been smashed to pieces and boxes laid half empty on the floor. It appeared that Oliver and his team had left in a hurry, but Clark had ordered his soldiers to search the rooms for anything that may have been left behind.

"We must have just missed them," exclaimed Clark tiredly. He had hoped he could put an end to Olivers operations before tonight events where he will show the world what happens when you work outside the law and don't follow the rules. "I just don't understand how they knew we were coming?" He turned to Andrea. "Did Victor say how he learned about this location?"

Andrea was about to answer when one of the soldiers walked up to him. "Sir, I found something," announced the solider.

Both Clark and Andrea followed the solider to a back room where two other soldiers were waiting for them. There they found a large form laying on the ground under a large dark sheet. Once of the soldiers then bent down and lifted the sheet up to reveal a body. Clarks eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"Bart..." Clark gasped. He couldn't believe it Bart was dead, he knelt down next to his former comrade and friend. He had been hurt that Bart had freed Sam and turned away from him with no reason at all. He had hoped to find Bart and reason with him. Learn why he had turned away from him, but now he will never get that chance. "Do you know how he died?"

"It appears he stabbed sir, with a three pronged object," announced the solider as he removed the rest of the sheet to reveal the wound of where Bart had been stabbed. Bart's whole jacket was covered with blood.

Clark could tell that Bart hadn't been dead for long. It couldn't be more than a day or two. He placed his hand on top of the wound studying it with his x-ray vision. "There is only one weapon I know of that could have done this," he announced. It was in that moment Clark knew that Barts murderer was Arthur Curry.

"Aquaman was no longer working with Oliver, why would he have killed Bart?" questioned Andrea.

"That's what I like to know," announced Clark.

"Sir, I am sorry to interrupt," announced a solider who just entered the room. "But there is something I think you're going to want to see."

Holding Room

Clark entered the low lit room and there strapped to a chair was AC, his former friend and teammate, someone he hadn't seen or spoken to in years. He could tell that AC was very weak, whoever had locked him away here at denied him water. The one thing AC needed to stay energized and alive, without it he would die within a few days.

"Well if it isn't the fearless leader and his beloved slut," exclaimed AC cockily when he looked up having felt Clark shadow hovering over him with Andrea standing right behind Clark. "Forgive me for not bowing, but I'm a little tied up now. My last host weren't very hospitable."

"Why did you come here Arthur?" announced Clark looking right at AC showing no concern for AC discomfort. "You haven't ran with Oliver in years. It was my understanding you were living peacefully under the sea."

"Yeah well peace is overrated," AC answered with a smirk. "No one would know that better than you Clark."

"Why'd you kill Bart?" Clark demanded to know.

"...Of course you'd want to ask about small-fry," AC answered with a sly smile not at all concerned that Clark could break his neck in the split of a second. "Let's just say he got in my way."

"In the way of what?"

"You should ask your whore that question," AC announced as his eyes wondered over to Andrea. He wouldn't take his eyes off of her, he would give anything to have the ability of heat vision right now. He would fry Andrea-Darkseid brains out right now if he could. "She's the one who told me to come here."

AC was known to lie and dish out a lot of bullshit, but Clark had always been able to see right through all of it. AC was being serious. "What is he talking about Andrea?" Clark asked as he turned to face her.

"I have no idea," Andrea answered. "I have never even been in the same room as him."

"Oh excuse me," announced AC. "That's right, it was you exactly, you talked through your pet cyborg. I have to say I'm not too fond of the new makeover."

"What is he talking about?"

"It is nothing Kal-El,"announced Andrea as she gently stroked Clarks cheek. "Can't you see he's trying to confuse you? Make you question things you shouldn't be questioning."

Clark looked into Andrea's eyes. She has been his rock for the last five years. She had been there for him in ways no one else could be since he had lost Lois. He felt torn wanting to believe her and trying to figure out what AC was telling him. Who does he believe the one person who had been there for him the last five years or the person who turned away for him, who want revenge for him for accidentally killing Mera?

Clark pushed the thoughts out of his head and turned back to AC. "Stop trying to mess with my head!" exclaimed Clark angrily.

"She really has you whipped, doesn't she?" AC answered dryly with each and every passing second he could feel his strength draining away. "You really believe every word that comes out of her mouth."

"I suggest you be quiet, Mr. Curry," exclaimed Andrea as she stepped forward. "Before you say something you'll regret."

"What, you going to kill me?" he laughed as he looked her hard in the eyes. He wasn't afraid of her her of him knowing full well that it was Darkseid inside her body controlling her every move. He could fill Darkseid own darkness inside himself, but he wouldn't give into it. I need to give them time, time to get away. He kept telling himself. He hated himself for being so cruel to Chloe even though he had meant most of what he said. He hadn't meant all of it, but he knew Chloe was the type of person who wouldn't give up on someone. Not without a fight. He had to get into her head. He had to get her to hate him, so he could save her and the others from death even if just for a few more hours. It would give them more time to get ready so they could take his bastard out. "I'm already dead, but maybe before I die I should spill all of your secrets or at least the ones he would find interesting."

AC eyes fell onto Clark, his former friend. Someone who he once respected, but that had ended the day Clark had killed Mera. He hated Clark with all his heart and knew he could never forgive him, but that didn't mean he was going to stand by and let Darkseid use Clark as his little foot solider. "You're so caught up in this crusade of yours, that you don't even know when you're being played."

"I said to be silent!" roared Andrea.

"And I said to shove it!" roared AC as he about jumped out at her seat, but found himself and the chair he was strapped to shove back to the ground by two of the super soldiers resulting in the chair to break and him to be feared, but despite having his hands now free. He couldn't move quick enough to get away. One of soldiers then grabbed a hold of him and without warning slashed a knife to his throat.

"What the hell have you done!" Clark roared as he grabbed a hold of the soldiers who has sliced AC's neck and tossed him across the room through the wall killing the solider instantly. "Back away from him!" Clark ordered the other solider.

"Yes sir," the solider replied and back away as he eyes locked briefly with Andrea who gave him an approving nod. The nod of approval went unnoticed by Clark who was too caught up with AC on the ground bleeding to death struggling to breath.

"Arthur!" Clark exclaimed as he learned over AC limp body. Clark could hear AC choking on his own blood. He knew there was nothing he could do, by the time he got him to the hospital it would be too late. There was nothing he could do but watch as the man who he once called his friend die right before his eyes. He took comfort in knowing AC would be going to a better place. "Go be with your family..."

AC locked his eyes onto Clark and with the last of his strength pulled Clark down closer to him and whispered two words into his ear. "She's alive..." he gasped with his final breath and then he was gone.

Clark remained there kneeling beside AC a few moments longer as AC final words played over and over in his mind. 'She's alive...' What could AC have meant? Who was he talking about? And what had AC been trying to tell him before one of his soldiers slashed his throat? "What did he say to you?" he heard Andrea ask him.

"Nothing," Clark answered as he got to his feet and turned to face her. "His words were too mumbled from him choking on his own blood to understand."

Andrea studied Clark's face for several long moments as if she could tell if he were lying to her, but she couldn't make anything out. "Well, whatever it was..." she final said after several seconds of silence. "I'm sure it was more lies..."

"You're probably right," Clark answered, but in the back of his mind he was beginning to wonder if he could really trust Andrea. Was there something going on that he wasn't seeing? He wasn't sure, but for now he would give her the benefit of doubt, but he would be watching more closely from now on. "We should move out, I told Victor and Diniah that we were going to meet to discuss tonights demonstration."

"I will gather the troops up and meet you back at the Fortress," answered Andrea.

Clark nodded his head watching as she and the solider left the room. He then turned his attention back to AC staring at him longing. He sighed heavily, as he knelt down and closed AC eyes before placing his hand on his old friends solider. "I hope you finally find peace..."

To Be Continued