Hazard Loses Control

Jimmy ran up to him. "Some woman is standing at the top of a building, demanding that Superman comes or she's going to jump."

Clark frowned. "What?"

"It's on the news!" Jimmy pointed to the TV screen and Clark groaned.

"I'll go get Superman." He replied.

"But I thought you said he was gone."

Clark shrugged. "I have my connections."

Seth stared at the spot where Clark had been, his eyes wide. "Does he know? He knew me and Lex were partners. Does that mean he knows? No. It's not possible. No way. How could he know? Yeah, calm down, Seth. There's no way he could no. No, way, man. Yeah, it's all cool. But, could he know?" This question repeated in Seth's mind over and over, but finally he managed to wipe it from his mind, for the moment anyway, as he heard Jimmy's voice from down the hall. "She wants Superman? Why? I'm the hero! I'll show her! I'll show everyone! I'll save her and when Superman doesn't come and I save her, she'll know who's the real hero." With that Seth disappeared, changing into his uniform at super-speed and flying off to the building the land was standing on.

The woman saw hazard and spat at him. "You stay away from me or I'll jump!" She shouted. She was a red head. She wore all black and she looked very distressed.

Suddenly Superman showed up and he glared at Hazard. "Look, she didn't ask for you." He snapped, then he flew over to the woman. "What is it you need?" He asked.

The woman smiled to him, then leaned close. "Lex is planning something Kal-el. Fly to your home in Smallville and stay…or your friends will perish." The woman then pulled away and jumped.

Superman was stunned, but he flew after her, just as he was about to reach her, she disappeared.

Hazard stared at the spot in the sky were the woman had disappeared with a stunned expression on his face. As what the woman said sunk in he turned to Superman. "Go to Smallville if you want, Superman! Trust that crazed women, who could as soon set a trap for you as help you, if it suits you! But, you leave Lex out of this! He's my friend and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him save! Just like he'd do for me!"

Superman glared at Hazard. "I'll go. But not before I teach you a lesson!" He quickly flew over to Hazard, grabbing him and taking flight with him into the sky. He then flew to LuthorCorp. and landed at one of the back entrances. He blew the door open and pushed Hazard in, shoving him into a part of the Corp. that no one had been to in a while. Superman led him down a flight of dark stairs and then stopped, turning on a light. There were a dozen other "super heroes" chained up. All of them prisoners. "This is what will happen to you." Superman replied. "I can't save them . . .I have my weaknesses . . .but maybe you can save them before it's too late." With that he flew off and towards Smallville.

Hazard stared at the men and women chained up to the wall in disbelief. He took a step forward and the people chained to the wall looked up at him with gloomy faces. "No. Lex would never do this." Hazard whispered, but as he did he stepped forward and unchained the people. They thanked him and left through the way Superman had brought Hazard, but Hazard did not leave. He stayed there, staring at his surroundings and muttered, still in disbelief of what he say. "Lex, would never do this to me."

"You are correct, Mr. Hazard. I would never chain you hurt you." Said a voice from behind Hazard.

Hazard turned to see Lex stepping from a side door. Hazard advanced on him. "Why would you do that to people, Lex? I thought you were good."

"I am, Hazard. You know that. Those people were not heroes, Hazard, they were Villains. I simply brought them here to try and help them. I knew if they were taken to jail they would never have the chance to change. I simply gave them that chance."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Come on, Hazard, I am your friend. When no one else would help you, I did. When no one else wanted you, I did. Who are you going to believe? Me, your friend, or Superman, your enemy?"

"I-I-..."

"Hazard, you know you can trust me."

"...You are right. Superman was trying to trick me, wasn't he?"

"Yes, Hazard, he was trying to confuse you. Turn you against me, your only friend. He is your enemy, Hazard. He tried to use you. You must get him before he gets someone else. Go to Smallville and fight him."

"Fight him? And kill him?"

"Yes, Hazard. Stop him before he hurts anyone else. You have to be a Hero. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lex. I understand. Superman has lost his grip and I must stop him before he does something terrible. I must be a Hero. I must save the world."

"Yes. This is your big chance, Hazard. Show the world that you are the new Hero. Te greatest Hero of all time."

"Right, Lex. I won't let you down." With that Hazard turned a flew off in the direction of Smallville, following Superman.

"I know you want let me down, Hazard. You can't let me down. Heh." Lex muttered, and made his way out of the abandoned room.

"We're glad to have you home Clark." Martha Kent replied as she handed her son a cup of coffee. "But why are you here? Don't you have things to deal with in the city?"

Clark shook his head. "Nah . . ." He replied. He seemed slightly nervous, but other than that he looked relieved to be back home.

Jonathan Kent watched his son, then frowned. "What's wrong Clark?"

"Nothing."

Hazard flew through the air, faster than human sight, and finally found himself hovering hundreds of feet over Smallville. He looked around, afraid he had lost Superman, and then his acute sense of smell picked up Superman and he headed off towards a small farm. His hearing picked up the sounds of talking and he recognized on voice as Clarks. He flew at the house, smashing threw a window and part of the wall near the kitchen where they were talking. His silver eyes locked on Clark as he hovered above the kitchen floor. He then, his eyes still on Clark, said to the two older Kents. "Leave! I do not wish to harm you. I am here for Superman. Your son."

Clark got up and moved in front of his parents. "How did you know?" He asked. Then he thought about it and he put two and two together. "Seth! You're Hazard! I should have known!" He turned to his parents. "Get out of the house! GO!"

His mother shook her head, moving in front of her son. "I'm not leaving you Clark." She replied firmly.

Clark's father did the same. "We didn't abandon you when you were younger."

Clark glared over at Hazard. "Leave…now…if you're the Seth I know then you won't do this. You'll leave me and my family alone."

Just then Jimmy came running in, knocking Hazard out of the way. "Clark! Come on!" He shouted, taking him by the arm and pulling him and his family out of the house. Before Clark knew what was happening he was being shoved in a car along with his parents and they were speeding off.

"No!" Hazard shouted as he flew after Clark. A million thoughts raced through his mind as he flew. "Would Clark tell on him? Tell who was? He would. He was his enemy. That's what enemies did. No, he would kill him before he told. Clark wasn't a Hero anymore. Lex said so. He was a villain. He had snapped. He had to kill, Clark!" "But, Clark's family overhead. Oh, no. Would they tell? He had to kill them, too. NO! What was he thinking? They weren't villains. He had to kill, Clark. Only, Clark. Then it was over. The world would be safe. Only Clark had to die. But, I don't want to kill, Clark. He's my friend. No! He's my enemy! He lied to me! He's a villain. He must die!" And, with that last thought, Hazard bolted towards the car Clark and the other's were in. He flew over the car and ripped the top off. He then reached in and grabbed Clark, pulling him out of the car. Clark's family tried to hold him, but Hazard dragged Clark out of the car and into the air. "You're a villain, Clark! My enemy! You must die! I'm a hero! I have to kill you to save the world! You a threat!" Hazard yelled, lifting Clark higher and higher into the air.

Clark punched Hazard in the stomach and flew away from him. "Lex has done this to you Seth! He's poisoned your mind! Would I really be a villain? I've been nothing but good to the people of Metropolis. Why would I kill them?" he flew higher as Seth came after him. He could survive in space, could Hazard, could Seth? He turned around. "Don't do this Seth!" He shouted. "I'm not your enemy! Lex is!"

Jimmy watched the action and turned to Clark's parents. "I knew he was Superman!" He exclaimed. "I knew it!"

"Jimmy-"

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone, Mrs. Kent." Jimmy replied.

"Quit calling me that!" Hazard yelled, flying after Clark, giving no heed to approaching space. Hazard had never been in space, so he was risking everything chasing Clark. But, he had to do the right thing. Even if it meant dieing. "I'm not this Seth! My name is Hazard and you are my enemy!" Hazard yelled, catching up to Clark and kicking him in the back. "You've lost your grip, you aren't Clark anymore! You're a villain! Lex told me so and Lex would never lie to me! Never! He's my friend!"

Clark had no choice. He turned around and suddenly fire shot from his eyes, hitting Hazard in the chest. As Hazard got through the shock Clark shot off towards the car taking off with his parents and Jimmy and got them out, jetting off into the wild. Soon he stopped and they landed inside a cavern. He set them down and sat down. "I don't know what to do…Lex has done something…" He began muttering.

Jimmy walked over to him. "Clark, before I left I overheard a conversation that Lex and Hazard were having. When Hazard left Lex said something about Seth not being able to not obey him…do you think-"

"Mind control?" Clark guessed. "Lex has done a lot of things…I don't know."