Anguirus111 Note: This is the last chapter so I hope you enjoyed it, it's kind of a long one but it's worth it I think. This story wasn't some deep thought-provoking story, it was just a team up between two future members of the Justice League. Also, if any of you were hoping for some shipping in this story, I'm sorry I didn't really write any in. It's not like I'm against the idea it's just that there's plenty of shipping stories out there that are better than anything I could write so you should go read those instead.
Smallville: Clark was busy bailing some hay when he heard the noise of an engine in the distance. Looking into the distance he noticed a familiar looking Volkswagen Beetle in the distance. Grinning to himself as he lightly shook his head, Chloe pulled to a halt in front of him.
"Chloe, what a surprise," said Clark faking it. Chloe sighed before shaking her head.
"Have you ever been surprised with your powers?" asked Chloe getting out of her car.
"Well I certainly didn't see Professor Fine actually being some kryptonian device wanting to a free a rebel Kryptonian named Zod only to have you come and actually help me out," Clark admitted.
"I wasn't," said Chloe chuckling.
"That's good to know," said Clark leaning on his pitchfork. "So what's up?"
"Lex just left town," said Chloe.
"So?" asked Clark.
"Apparently after having met up with Tempus," Chloe added. Clark looked up at her sharply.
"Do you know about what?" he asked. Chloe shook her head disappointed.
"No, all I could get from the staff was that there was a blinding flash of light and Lex was talking to someone unseen and then Tempus exited Lex's office as Lex suddenly announced he was headed to go meet the Kaznian Ambassador," said Chloe.
"Why were you poking around Lex's place?" asked Clark.
"To see if they were in cahoots and to try and dig up more on Hal Jordan," Chloe responded. Clark sighed.
"Look," said Chloe. "If he's connected to Lex and Lex is connected to Tempus then…"
"Then nothing," responded Clark annoyed. "He almost died trying to save our lives yesterday and that speaks more to me than anything you have yet to prove."
"Clark…" began Chloe.
"No Chloe," said Clark shaking his head. "Normally I value your opinion, but I think you're wrong and I think I know why."
"Why?" demanded Chloe.
"When we were up in the barn not too long ago you said I was feeling 'hero envy' in regards to Arthur Curry. You're right, maybe I was, but now I think the shoe is in the other foot," said Clark crossing his arms.
"You think I want Hal to be my hero?" asked Chloe incredulously.
"No," said Clark shaking his head. "I think that you don't want to accept the fact that anybody other than me can do something good for others around here. I'm not the only hero in the world Chloe. And I don't know about you, but it's nice to know that if trouble arises, I'm not the only around to take care of it."
"Maybe you're right or maybe you're completely nuts," Chloe huffed before calming down. "But don't go around blabbing your little secret to him."
"I won't," Clark assured her. "Anyway I plan on heading into town soon to see if I can't dig up more on where Tempus is. Somehow I think finding him will be better than having him finding us."
"I agree," said Chloe. "So I'll see you in town then?"
Clark nodded. "I just need to finish up a couple more things and then I'll be right over."
"Good, it'll be a race then," said Chloe smirking. Clark rolled his eyes as Chloe laughed and got back in her car before slamming on the accelerator and tearing off down the dirt road. Clark watched her go before he turned around to keep bailing hay when a bright flash filled the space around him. After a couple moments the flash subsided and Clark found himself facing Tempus.
"Hello Superman," said Tempus. "Hard at work?"
"What do you want?" asked Clark as he turned his back to him to continue bailing hay.
"Your death of course," responded Tempus bluntly.
"Why?" asked Clark. "Chloe said something about me creating some utopia in the future, is it because of that?"
"That's right," said Tempus. "A world free of crime, poverty, and despair where no one ever has to fear anything and where no criminal will ever pull off a successful heist. A Brave New World if you will and it sickens me so I'm here to stop your destiny from being fulfilled that created it. So what do you have to say about that?"
"To tell you the truth, I kind of agree with you," said Clark.
"What?" asked Tempus confused. Clark finished his bailing and sat down on a block of hay.
"Everyone keeps telling me that I have a destiny to fulfill, that I have to be a hero, that I have to be the champion of the innocent, that I have to fight for truth, justice, and who knows what else, or that I'm going to go to college and come back to marry Lana and dabble in law enforcement. But to tell you the truth, I'm sick of it. I want to be my own person who makes my own choices and decisions. If I don't become those things, or even if I do, I want it to be because I made that choice and not because someone told me I had to and took that choice away from me," said Clark. Tempus nodded.
"If it makes you feel any better I know how you feel. In the future it seemed like my choices were limited as well to doing something that would somehow someday benefit society. But I chose to do something different to my life and I dedicated myself to an ideal that would harm society. I make no excuses for what I've done and I certainly have no regrets about it either," responded the time-traveller.
"So you're still going to kill me then?" asked Clark dusting himself.
"Afraid so," said Tempus. "But thank you Superman. I promise that when I return to whatever future awaits me that I will spread no more ill will about you."
"Thanks…I think," said Clark putting his hands into his jacket pockets.
"Anything else you'd like to know?" asked Tempus amicably.
"Just one thing, what's the deal with Hal Jordan?" asked Clark. "You seem to want to kill him as much as you want to kill me and I wanted to know why."
"It's because like you Hal Jordan will also one day become a hero to millions. You and he will team up on a number of occasions to right the wrongs that go on in this world and help to create that utopian society I loathe so much. I figured that since he was here now, why not take you both out for double the fun," said Tempus. "Course I have come to realize that even in the past the two of you are a formidable pair, maybe not as much as you and Batman necessarily, but a formidable pair nonetheless. Well, I think the time for talk is over, goodbye Superman, it's been fun but your time is up."
"We'll see," said Clark getting ready to rush him. But before he could he began to feel an intense pain inside and collapsed to the ground as Tempus removed a large chunk of kryptonite from a box he was carrying and held out at arm's length.
"A little gift from our friend Lex Luthor," said Tempus darkly as he hunched over Clark's fallen form. "You see Superman I do know all about you including your strengths and your weaknesses and while I had hoped to take you out with my own ingenuity I can see that won't be possible. Come Superman, we're going for a ride."
Tempus grabbed Clark's wrist and both vanished in a flash of light.
Smallville: Chloe stood outside The Talon looking in at the patrons, as well as her own reflection, before she glanced at her watch.
"Where is he?" she wondered annoyed and slightly concerned. Before she could decide what to do she saw the image of Hal Jordan appear next to her on the glass. Chloe steeled herself before turning to look at the fighter pilot.
"Have you seen Clark?" asked Hal drinking some coffee. "I was kind of hoping we could finish off this Tempus ordeal once and for all today."
"Why? You have to be somewhere?" asked Chloe suspiciously, despite herself. Hal shrugged helplessly.
"I was only on temporary assignment and it ends today. I just need to pick something up and then I'm out but…it would just feel wrong to leave still knowing that that madman was still running loose around here. I'm sorry, I'm probably talking crazy right now, but it's a nagging feeling that I can't get rid of," said Hal.
"I know how you feel," admitted Chloe honestly and reluctantly to herself that she was beginning to see what Clark saw in this man that she could not.
"Oh well, if you see him let me know," said Hal preparing to leave. But before he could, the glass window began to inexplicably distort itself as Chloe and Hal's reflections merged together in a swirl of colors that finally resolved itself into the form of Tempus. Both started at it wide-eyed before the image opened its mouth and began to talk.
"Hello Green Lantern, hello Chloe Sullivan," said the image with disgust. Hal was so shocked that he dropped his Styrofoam cup which miraculously managed to land upright on the ground without spilling.
"I need to switch to decaf," said Hal rubbing his eyes.
"Me too," said Chloe softly.
"This isn't a hallucination you fools!" shouted Tempus before calming down. "Anyway as I was about to say, I've captured Clark Kent and I intend to finish him off once and for all. But I despise you two as much as him so if you want to spare me the trouble of having to come and finish you off, or if you want to try and vainly rescue him I'm at the Luthorcorp Airfield on the outskirts of town. I'd say come alone but nobody you bring with you could stop me anyway so…good luck," said Tempus with a big grin before he began laughing maniacally as his image dissolved. Hal growled angrily and clenched his hand into a fist and smashed it against the window of The Talon. Inside the patrons looked at him startled before Hal held up his hands innocently before flashing his Military ID as the patrons turned back around to their business.
"I'm going to stop him once and for all," said Hal angrily.
"I know how you feel but we can't rush into this," said Chloe trying to calm him down. "We need a plan."
"Yeah we're going to go there and I'm gonna give him a beatdown he's never going to forget," said Hal. "Nobody holds a friend of mine hostage while I'm around."
Chloe sighed before Hal looked at her and nodded.
"Yeah I hear ya," Hal admitted. "We'll come up with something on the ride over there. I just need to pick up some stuff first."
Chloe nodded gratefully as they got into the car and drove to the recruiting office as Hal rushed in and returned with some stuff including the green lantern he'd had the previous day.
"What's that for?" asked Chloe confused.
"He seems so desperate for a green lantern that I figure hitting him once with it just isn't enough," explained Hal. Chloe looked at him even more confused.
"Just drive," said Hal annoyed at the whole situation. Chloe hit the accelerator and the car moved down the road headed for the field.
"So what're we going to do to get Clark out of there?" asked Chloe after a couple moments of silence.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," said Hal confidently.
Landing Field: Tempus consulted his pocketwatch before grumbling to himself. He and Clark were in the middle of the unoccupied airfield after Tempus had scared everybody off and were awaiting the arrival of Hal and Chloe.
"You know people were a lot more punctual in my time," Tempus lamented. "Usually if you committed a burglary or something there would be a superhero ready to bash your skull in within moments. I do realize such a thing wouldn't exactly happen today, but still this waiting is getting on my nerves."
"If I know Chloe, she's probably doing that on purpose," Clark spat at him. Clark was laying on the runway tied up tightly with the kryptonite just far enough out of reach to not kill him but instead zap him of his powers.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, she's no different in the future either," Tempus commented.
"Good to hear," said Clark angry. "If one thing is the same as the future than other things will bound to be as well."
"Oh, ha, ha, I didn't realize you were really the Joker in disguise," said Tempus as he rolled his eyes. "They'd better show up soon because I'm getting angry and you won't like me when I'm angry."
"With you, who can tell?" asked Clark deliberately provoking him. Tempus growled and kicked Clark hard in the stomach causing him to keel inwards but he didn't stop smiling because as Tempus turned his back to him, a tiny red dot displayed itself on the ground right in front of Clark before shutting off again.
Elsewhere: Chloe and Hal were splayed down on the roof of a nearby building from across the airfield as Hal trained a sniper rifle on the two figures in the field.
"I wish Ollie was here," Hal lamented.
"Who?" asked Chloe.
"Oliver Queen, an old buddy of mine. He may not use guns, but he's got accuracy with a bow and arrow that's unparalleled," Hal said. "I wish he were the one making this shot and not me."
"You can't hit it yet?" asked Chloe.
"He won't stop moving so I can get an accurate shot," said Hal. "What we need is to slow him down somehow."
"How?" asked Chloe. Hal raised an eyebrow at her and grinned.
"Oh great," said Chloe exasperated.
"Look at it this way, when I pull it off maybe you'll stop distrusting me," Hal reasoned.
"Yeah," said Chloe sighing. "Well here goes."
Runway: Tempus pulled out his sonic disruptor and trained it on Clark.
"Goodbye hero," said Tempus. "I just wish your friends were here to witness this."
But before he could pull the trigger, he heard the sound of an engine as Chloe's Volkswagen appeared from behind a building and raced towards him.
"Finally, results," said Tempus pleased with himself. However, the car didn't stop coming straight at him but accelerated.
"Is she crazy?" asked Tempus, looking down at Clark.
"When it comes to ensuring my safety, yes," said Clark.
"If that's how she wants to play it then," said Tempus pulling out his temporal device and aiming it at the Volkswagen.
"Say hello to infinity," said Tempus happily as he reached for the activation switch.
Roof: "Say hello to my little friend," said Hal with a grin as he lined up the temporal device in his crosshairs before pulling down on the trigger.
Ground: As Tempus was about to activate the device, he saw the red dot appear on the front of it.
"No!" he shouted. But before he could do anything the device erupted in a shower of sparks as the bullet passed right through it. Tempus roared at the heavens as Chloe's vehicle came to a screeching halt right next to Clark, positioning itself between him and the kryptonite.
"C'mon Clark!" shouted Chloe throwing open the passenger door. Clark struggled to get up but before he could get himself into a position to get into the vehicle, Tempus appeared slamming his foot down on Clark's side as he collapsed back down. Before Chloe could react however, Tempus revealed his sonic disruptor which he aimed at her.
"Goodbye Sullivan!" shouted the time traveler. But before he could pull down on the trigger a dark blur came from out of nowhere and smashed itself hard against the side of Tempus' head. The traveler was suddenly flung to the side and hit the ground hard as Hal stood behind where he was breathing heavily as he held the barrel of the sniper rifle with the other end having been shattered after he swung it at Tempus.
"You alright?" he asked of Chloe who nodded somewhat frightened by Hal's dark hunched over appearance. As Hal turned to face Tempus, a sonic scream erupted as a massive bolt of energy just barely missed his head and smashed into a giant hanger nearby blowing the doors off and exposing a massive silver and black plane inside.
"That must be the plane I was sent here to collect," thought Hal briefly before turning his attention back to Tempus. The time traveler was struggling to get up as he held his head in pain while shakily brandishing his sonic disruptor.
"In the name of the United States Air Force you are under-," began Hal when suddenly Tempus moved at a superhuman speed and punched Hal so hard he went flying backwards before hitting the ground out of breath and in severe pain.
"Guess I forgot to mention that I'm the product of genetic engineering as is everyone else from my future," said Tempus instantly leaping up onto his feet. Hal struggled to get to his feet but before he could, Tempus kicked him with such force that he went skidding across the runway and into the hanger with the advanced military plane and straight into the front landing gear. Out on the field Tempus cracked his neck and stretched out his arms.
"Alright, who's next?" he demanded. But before he could find his next challenger, it found him as Chloe rammed her car right into Tempus' back causing him to go flying forward as well and straight into the side of a B-17 Bomber that was sitting in the middle of the runway. Scowling, Tempus pushed himself off of the plane and turned around to face the now crumpled vehicle where Chloe was still in a daze. Smiling to himself he steadily advanced towards the vehicle when a loud roar caught his attention. Turning around smugly, his expression quickly turned to fear as a sidewinder missile came straight at him. Quickly throwing himself to the runway the missile just barely missed his head, though the missile's rocket singed his back causing him to yell in pain. As Tempus looked on, the massive LexWing exited the hanger and slowly rolled towards him, Hal Jordan at the controls. The time traveler quickly got up and stumbled over to Clark and grabbed him along with the kryptonite and made his way to the B-17 as the sidewinder exploded in the distance causing the ground to shake. The LexWing meanwhile had turned onto the runway and was advancing towards him when it met an obstacle in its path, Chloe's damaged car. As the plane sat there idling, Tempus tossed Clark and the kryptonite into the rear of the plane before making his way to the cockpit. He tossed a couple switches and the engines roared to life, leaving the advanced military jet behind.
"So long suckers!" shouted Tempus into the radio as his plane pulled up and left the runway. Down below Hal scowled before heading to the back and tossing open the hatch only to bound down the steps and rush to Chloe's Volkswagen.
"C'mon! Out, out, out," said Hal as he opened Chloe's door and helped her out. As Chloe finally snapped to her senses about what had just happened she looked up at the massive plane behind them in awe.
"Is that why you came here…to Smallville I mean," she asked as Hal put her car into neutral and began pushing it off the runway.
"I'll deny it later, but yes. Luthor's been attempting to regain his contracts with the military and this was his first attempt. I was supposed to pick this bird up today which is why I wanted to finish this whole Tempus ordeal ASAP and thankfully with this plane I'll be able to do just that," said Hal as he finished pushing the car off of the runway. Turning around he noticed that Chloe was nowhere to be seen.
"Chloe?" asked Hal confused. "Man she's just like Clark."
Taking one last look into the car, Hal grabbed the green lantern that was sitting in the back seat before bounding up the ladder back into the plane. Hal quickly closed the hatch and moved down a central aisle filled with sophisticated sensor equipment before entering the cockpit and flipping several switches as he tossed the lantern into the copilot's seat.
"This is Hal Jordan, USAF, I am taxing onto the runway and preparing for takeoff, over," said Hal to no one in particular. He then grabbed a hold of the throttle and eased the plane forward before slamming on the afterburners and was slammed into his seat as the plane boosted forward hard and then took to the sky.
"Okay, let's see here," said Hal consulting the radar image displayed next to him before looking to his left and pulling out a massive binder labeled: Instructions. He shifted the massive thing onto his lap while trying to find some instructions on how to operate the various systems around him.
"Couldn't you have just built a normal plane Luthor?" Hal grumbled as he pressed a couple switches on the board in front of him. It was as he was trying to toggle the display mode on the radar that he heard a rustling from behind him. Quickly getting over his surprise, he narrowed his eyes and reached for the lantern next to him and quickly spun around towards the source of the intrusion. Chloe was just standing in the entryway to the cockpit and Hal was so stunned that he forgot about the yoke and the plane instantly went into a nosedive. Hal quickly spun around and wrestled with the plane as Chloe hung onto the entryway for dear life as the ground came spinning right at them.
"I'm the best test pilot there is and I'll be damned if this plane is going to be the death of me," said Hal through gritted teeth. Finally he managed to get some pull on the yoke and the plane finally leveled out. Hal expelled the breath of air he'd been holding in as Chloe sat down in the seat next to him and buckled herself in.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Hal demanded.
"Rescuing my friend," said Chloe simply before reluctantly admitting. "Plus I am trying to get a good story for the Planet."
"Do you have any idea how many laws you are breaking by being in this cockpit? This plane is officially classified you know," Hal asked trying to repress his anger.
"Somehow I don't think word will leak out that I was anywhere near this cockpit," said Chloe.
"And what makes you think that?" asked Hal bitterly.
"Because that would mean admitting that you let me onto a classified plane in the first place," said Chloe simply. Hal bit back a curse before grabbing the binder that had spilled onto the floor in front of him and slamming it down on Chloe's lap.
"Radar, now!" he shouted at her. Chloe quickly flipped through the binder and found the information on how to operate the radar.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
"From what I've heard, this plane can determine plane types based on the radar outline it produces. I need to know where that B-52 is right now," said Hal. Chloe nodded and read through the instructions as she tried to make the most of it given her limited knowledge of airplanes.
"Okay, here goes," said Chloe. She reached down and flipped a couple buttons on the radar and the image shifted from transponders to plane configurations.
"There we go," said Chloe triumphantly.
"Now where's the B-52?" asked Hal.
"It's at 12:00, directly ahead," said Chloe. "Wow, I feel so militaristic."
"Well in that case I hope you're ready for some gees," said Hal as he toggled the afterburners and the plane's engines flashed brightly as it exploded forward.
B-52: The plane was locked on autopilot as Tempus stood looking out one of the open windows of the plane as he stared off into the horizon as Clark lay on the floor behind him still bound and in close proximity to the kryptonite.
"It's so beautiful here," he said mesmerized. "No skyscrapers permeating the horizon, no constant bustling about of hovercars, in fact no noise period. You don't know how good you've got it here Superman."
"I've been kidnapped by a madman who is slowly killing me with radioactive kryptonite while awaiting my death. How is that good?" Clark berated him. Tempus sighed.
"I'm sorry Clark you don't deserve to be involved in this. My quarrel is with Superman and if I could kill him and still leave you alive I would, I honestly would, but unfortunately I can't," said Tempus sadly. "I really am sorry. You're a good man and one of my favorite writers of all time and yet somehow when you put on that cape and outfit you become the man I hate the most."
Clark just looked at him totally and utterly confused.
"You're crazy," he said finally. Tempus turned around and nodded.
"Yes, I truly suspect that I am," he responded. As he did, the Lexwing silently rose up from below them and took up a flanking position next to the B-52. A device that Tempus had on him began beeping and immediately the time traveler looked over his shoulder at the plane and sighed.
"Your friends are here," he said to Clark nonchalantly.
"Good," said Clark. Tempus sighed as he put his hands into his pockets before pulling out a small futuristic control device he had in his pocket and switched it on.
"Engage auto-turrets, lock on to target, and engage," he said into the device. Up in the cockpit, another futuristic device was attached to the controls and activated. One of the guns on the starboard side of the plane instantly came to life and began shooting live rounds at the LexWing.
"Hold on," said Hal as he threw the plane up onto its side and dove down below the B-52's range of fire. The plane then took up a new position just below the B-52 as Tempus looked at it bemused.
"What kind of defense systems do this craft have?" Hal asked to Chloe.
"You don't know?" she asked incredulously.
"My mission was to take it back to deliver it to the military, not go into combat with it," Hal shot back. "And since I can't go on the offensive just yet I'd like to know what other options I have."
"Fine, fine," said Chloe backing down as she continued reading through the binder. A light suddenly blossomed from the back of the B-52.
"Heads up!" shouted Hal as he suddenly threw the plane into a barrel roll before yanking back hard on the stick as the plane suddenly went vertical as a massive bolt of energy narrowly missed them.
"I need something quickly," said Hal to his copilot.
"Right, here we go," said Chloe as she looked around at the switches around her before pressing one. Instantly several motors were heard springing to life as several clicking noises were heard.
"What did you do?" asked Hal.
"According to this I engaged this plane's ablative armor. Whatever that is," said Chloe unsure.
"Well I'll guess we'll find out soon enough," said Hal as he eased the plane upwards again.
"We still haven't found out how we're going to rescue Clark yet," Chloe pointed out.
"One thing at a time, one thing at a time," said Hal. The plane once again resumed its course directly parallel to the B-52.
"Back for more, Green Lantern, it's just as well," said Tempus happily before raising the control device to his lips. "All guns, fire!"
More bullets erupted from the starboard side of the plane but this time the LexWing did nothing to avoid them as the bullets ricocheted off the newly exposed interlocking armor. Tempus looked at the plane nonplussed before pulling out his sonic disruptor.
"So long Lantern!" shouted Tempus when suddenly Clark kicked out with his bound legs and Tempus fell backwards as his disruptor went off blowing a large whole in the roof of the plane. Tempus quickly go to his feet and whirled at Clark angrily as he aimed the disruptor at him.
"You're going to pay for that!" he shouted. But before he could squeeze the trigger, the LexWing slammed hard into the side of the B-52 causing Tempus to be thrown off of his feet again as the sonic disruptor was torn from his grip and went clattering to the floor of the bomber and away from him.
"Insolents!" shouted Tempus looking out at the fighter craft that was outside the now enlarged window. Tempus however was in the shock of his life as the latest in advanced military technology suddenly swung about until it was facing the B-52 while still traveling 'forward'.
"Oh shi-," began Tempus as the LexWing opened fire on him.
LexWing: "Damn Luthor I am impressed," said Hal astonished at both the fact that he'd managed to twist the plane the direction it was and that he and Chloe were now staring out the window that had just morphed into a thermal imager that was displaying the inner workings of the plane including Tempus and Clark.
"Now can I open fire?" Hal asked Chloe.
"Yes," said Chloe reluctantly. "But be careful."
The massive minigun located on the nose of the aircraft spun to life and began tearing apart the plane as Tempus ran to avoid them.
"Wait, see that green rock?" Chloe pointed out on the HUD.
"Yeah," said Hal.
"Take it out," Chloe responded.
"Why?" asked Hal.
"Just do it!" Chloe shouted. Hal shook his head at her before aiming at the rock. Inside, Tempus watched the bullet rip the kryptonite to pieces.
"No!" he shouted before grabbing his sonic disruptor and blindly aimed out the side of the smoking plane and blindly fired it.
"Hal!" shouted Chloe as she saw the incoming bolt.
"It's too late, better brace yourself," the pilot responded calmly. The bolt slammed into the rear of the plane, instantly blowing out the rear engines and sent the plane plummeting to the ground below. Tempus smiled triumphantly before turning his attention to Clark.
"Now where were…we?" asked Tempus confused. Clark was nowhere to be seen instead the ropes binding him were seen shredded on the floor. Tempus looked around the smoky interior of the plane in desperation as he nervously held out his sonic disruptor. The smoke then instantly blew apart as a blur came right at him and seized Tempus's wrists. Tempus yelled out in pain as Clark deliberately applied pressure to them to the point that Tempus found it more and more difficult to hold onto the disruptor.
"You've hurt my friends for the last time Tempus," Clark growled. Tempus glared back at him.
"Maybe, but then again neither of us are going to survive this so what's it matter?" asked the time traveler madly. He yanked down on the trigger and the sonic disruptor blew out the bottom of the craft and Clark suddenly found himself in a free fall.
"So long Superman!" shouted Tempus happily from the aircraft just seconds before the fire raging in the plane spread to the engines and both exploded sending the plane into a massive spiral out of control. As Clark kept falling through the sky, he was instantly reminded me of his long descent after he had stopped that nuclear missile that had been launched at Smallville.
"The only difference being that now other peoples lives are at stake," thought Clark grimly as he noticed the out of control LexWing below him. Clark tucked in his arms and aimed straight down as he increased his descent towards the vehicle. Inside, Chloe was in the back rummaging around as best she could despite the smoke pouring around inside as Hal struggled up in the cockpit to stop the plane's rapid fall.
"C'mon start you stupid thing," Hal grumbled as he hit the engine start button repeatedly to no avail. Chloe meanwhile reappeared from the back coughing heavily as smoke began pouring into the cockpit.
"I couldn't find anything, parachutes or otherwise," she said helplessly. Hal blew out a long breath of air.
"Well at least we'll be dying in style," Hal offered before slamming his hand against the console. "I just wish I'd been able to save Clark."
"You saw how he got free from those ropes before we went down I'm sure he'll make it out okay," said Chloe secretly knowing that he would be with the kryptonite gone.
"Ms. Sullivan I apologize for being the cause of your death," said Hal beginning to start coughing from the smoke.
"And I apologize for thinking you were someone you weren't. Thanks for trying to save Clark," said Chloe coughing even more heavily as her eyelids drooped lower and lower until she was sound asleep. Hal, who had been trained in such emergencies and was practicing select breathing exercises, grabbed the copilot's air mask and strapped it over Chloe's mouth before putting his own on as well.
"For what it's worth," he said softly. A loud thud suddenly echoed from the ceiling startling Hal as Clark appeared in front of the windshield slowly crawling his way towards the nose of the plane. Hal's jaw dropped at the same time Clark's did when he saw Chloe in the copilot seat. Hal held up his hands helplessly as Clark steeled himself and grabbed a hold of the nose of the plane and began straining to pull it up. Hal wanted to laugh, but couldn't bring himself to do it when faced with Clark's attempts to save them despite the inherent danger to his own life.
"Yeah Clark, no one's going to be dying anytime soon," he said. To his surprise, Clark turned around and nodded his head as if he heard him.
"Maybe you are Superman," Hal thought with a grin before he grabbed a hold of the stick once more and began tugging back on it with all of his might.
"C'mon you piece of crap, c'mon!" Hal shouted at the plane as the plane burst through a layer of clouds and the ground suddenly became visible. Hal kept glancing at the altimeter and gyroscope on the plane and to his surprise, the plane almost seemed to be leveling out bit by bit but Hal knew that by the time it finally did, it'd have hit the ground long before then.
"Guess Tempus won in the end," Hal said finally, feeling defeated as the ground grew larger and larger in the window. As he calmly closed his eyes, a green glow almost seemed to permeate his eyelids. Opening them again, Hal looked down below him at the green lantern that he had brought with him and it seemed to glow an ephemeral shade of green. Hal picked it up and the light from the lantern increased, beginning to fill the entire cabin of the plane.
"Oh what the hell, you only live once. Now what was it Tempus said?" Hal wondered before snapping his fingers. "In…brightest day…in blackest night…let no evil escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power! Green Lantern's light!"
The lantern's light suddenly exploded and everything turned to green.
Time passed…
Chloe blinked and opened her eyes to see clouds passing by far overhead.
"So this is what heaven is like," she said sitting up.
"Not quite," said a voice. Chloe turned her head to see Clark sitting next to her.
"Oh Clark I always knew you'd-," began Chloe.
"You're not dead," said Clark cutting her off before she said something that would potentially embarrass them both.
"I'm not?" asked Chloe.
"Nope," responded Clark happily with a large grin.
"But how?" asked Chloe confused. "Did you save us?"
Clark shook his head.
"I'm not sure what happened exactly, all I remember is being unable to bring the plane from its nosedive when suddenly a green glow came from the cockpit and encompassed everything around us. Then the next thing I know I'm on the ground, you're lying next to me and Hal is looking at the burning wreckage of the plane you guys were in," said Clark.
"Did Hal say what happened?" asked Chloe. Clark shrugged.
"He wasn't sure either, all he remembered was that a green glow erupted from the lantern he'd been carrying and everything else was a blur after that until he found himself on the ground next to the wreckage of the plane. He thinks there was some emergency escape system he wasn't aware of and blacked out before it was activated," answered Clark.
"Then maybe he was the Green Lantern after all," Chloe pointed out cheekily. "And if that's true then that'd mean in your future you'd…"
"Chloe drop it," Clark warned. "If you say one more thing about my destiny…"
"But-," began Chloe when Hal appeared.
"You okay?" he asked to her. Chloe nodded.
"Good, now let's get going we've got a long walk ahead of us and I'd like to be far away from here before the authorities show up," said Hal. Chloe nodded knowing they'd never be able to explain this to anyone and got up as the trio left the plane wreckage behind.
"So what became of your lantern?" asked Chloe.
"It vanished," said Hal mystified. "Don't know how or why but it did."
"Listen Hal, about what you may have seen out there during the freefall," Clark began. Hal grinned at him and laughed.
"Don't worry Clark, somehow I suspect the blood rushing to my head probably made me see things that weren't there. And if the military asks anything, my mission was to bring that bird home not to be investigating some superhuman individual," he responded. "All the same, thanks for the help."
"The same," said Clark in turn. Hal nodded.
"All the same, it was fun. If you ever need any help dealing with someone like Tempus don't hesitate to call," Hal added.
"I will," said Clark truthfully. "Maybe one day I'll organize a meeting of people who've helped me out over the years."
"Yeah, maybe we could all team up and fight crime," Hal snorted with a grin. "I'm sure Ollie and Barry would get a kick out of that."
"Maybe," Clark mused.
"So what do you think became of Tempus?" asked Chloe butting in.
"I dunno, but I would feel confident in saying that's the last we'll ever see of him," said Hal throwing his hands into his pockets as he looked up at the sky above.
Elsewhere: A long trail of destruction was seen as in the distance the fiery remains of the B-52 could be seen. A door was suddenly kicked open with a loud thud as a bruised and bleeding Tempus stumbled from the bomber and collapsed onto the ground outside.
"Ha, ha!" he shouted triumphantly. "You think I'm dead Justice Leaguers, but I'm not. We'll see who time really favors now won't we!"
Suddenly a pair of bright lights flashed in front of him as two figures appeared from out of nowhere, one green and the other clad in red and blue.
"No!" Tempus shouted brandishing the sonic disruptor. "I won't be denied my revenge!"
The red and blue figure suddenly accelerated to superspeed and grabbed the device from Tempus before he could activate it as a green pair of tongs, made of impossible energy, picked up the defeated time traveler.
"Hello Tempus," said The Green Lantern with a grin. "We heard you were running loose in this timeframe so we came to stop you. But I can see we came too late."
"Ha, ha. Shut up!" shouted Tempus. "Just throw me in jail and be done with it."
"Well only if you insist," said Superman amicably before laughing. The Green Lantern slapped a device onto Tempus' back and suddenly the time traveler vanished. Alone, Hal and Clark looked up at the daytime sky.
"Man I'd forgotten what it used to be like," said Superman breathing in deeply.
"What are you talking about? It's still the same, the only difference being ten years. It's a lot more similar than from whenever Tempus came from," Green Lantern pointed out.
"True, but still…" began Superman. Green Lantern nodded.
"Yeah I understand," he admitted.
"Well we'd better get going," said Superman finally.
"Maybe not," Green Lantern mused.
"Huh?" asked Superman confused.
"Let's go into town for a little bit," Green Lantern suggested.
"What?" shouted Superman.
"Why not?" asked Green Lantern. "Just for a couple hours, it couldn't hurt."
"You know what Batman would-," began Superman.
"Screw Batman! Either you come or you don't but I'm going to get some food from The Talon, I promised you that I would someday," said Green Lantern taking to the sky encompassed by green energy. Superman sighed, considered his options, and then took off after him.
Later, Smallville: The future versions of Clark Kent and Hal Jordan strode into town in new civilian clothing that they'd 'borrowed' from the Kent farm, with Superman reasoning that it was technically his anyway while Green Lantern had just laughed.
"Man it's hard to believe the first time I ever came here was a whopping three days ago," Green Lantern commented wryly.
"Yeah and I was just here yesterday no matter how you look at it," Superman responded in turn before adjusting his glasses.
"Why did you wear those things?" Green Lantern asked. "It's not like you have a secret identity to protect here or anything."
"Force of habit," responded Superman nonchalantly. "It feels odd not wearing them when I'm not in uniform."
"Suit yourself," said Green Lantern as the two approached and then entered The Talon and briefly ordering something to eat before sitting down at one of the tables.
"Did you ever figure out what the deal was with that lantern?" asked Superman eating a banana.
"I asked The Guardians about it a few years back and from what I got out of their cryptic response, apparently the lantern came into being as a defense mechanism to Tempus's tampering with the timeline. It existed long enough to protect me from him and then vanished once I had been so as to ensure that I would get my ring the proper way from Abin Sur and not corrupt the timeline otherwise," said Green Lantern adjusting his green ring.
"Good to know," said Superman drinking some water from his glass. He set down the empty glass on the table when a waitress came up to them with a pitcher.
"Care for some more?" she asked. Superman nodded calmly trying to not display any emotion, something which Green Lantern failed as once he caught a good glimpse of the waitress he did a spit take into his glass before he began coughing.
"You okay?" asked the waitress.
"Fine…Lois," said the Lantern. "You just reminded me of someone I used to know."
"Go figure," said Lois. She smiled awkwardly and walked off as the Green Lantern began laughing.
"Quiet you're going to get us caught," said Superman.
"Unbelievable," said Green Lantern shaking his head. "I forgot that she was around these parts at this time."
"Yeah," said Superman suddenly nervous. "Listen if we could change…"
"Although maybe I'm seeing things, after all I haven't bumped into Lois much in the future, but does she seem I dunno somehow different to you?" asked Green Lantern confused.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Superman quickly picking up his glass again. "It's probably the effects of the temporal jump wearing on your senses."
"Maybe…"
"Oh look there we are," said Superman abruptly changing the subject. Hal Jordan and Clark Kent had just entered into The Talon upon which Lois appeared and promptly punched Hal hard in the shoulder after quietly sharing a few select words with him. Superman laughed at the same time Clark grinned.
"Shut up," said Green Lantern to Superman at the same time Hal Jordan did to Clark Kent. Superman suppressed a grin at that sentiment as did Clark Kent before the two sat down at a table just within earshot.
"You sure you can't stay for Thanksgiving?" Clark asked. "My parents would be glad to have you for dinner."
"Sorry," said Hal regretfully. "I really wish I could, but the top brass, who thankfully are unaware of my involvement with that plane's demise, have ordered me to swing by Gotham City to pick up some new propulsion system that's been designed by some company called WayneTech Enterprises. And I kind of need to successfully pull this off to get them off my back."
"Well maybe you'll encounter some problem in Gotham that needs fixing," said Clark with another grin.
"I sure hope not," Hal commented.
"Did you?" asked Superman.
"Thankfully no," said Green Lantern. "Though given what I know about Gotham now I'm kind of surprised that I didn't."
"Well it's been fun Clark but I've got to go," said Hal getting up.
"But you didn't get anything to eat," Clark protested.
"I'll come back someday then," said Hal.
"Yeah but who knows when that'll be," Clark pointed out.
"I know," said Green Lantern grinning.
"Hush," said Superman.
"What's he got to do with it?" asked Green Lantern chuckling.
"Oy, you're just like Guy," said Superman holding his head as Clark and Hal passed by them. Looking at each other, Superman and the Green Lantern finished their food and quickly headed for the exit as well. They stepped back out onto the street as they saw Hal and Clark by a large greyhound bus being joined by Chloe.
"Keep the peace," said Hal to the two of them.
"We'll do our best," said Chloe speaking for her and Clark.
"Yeah," said Clark nonplussed at that statement. Hal looked at Clark and held out his hand which Clark firmly grasped as the two shook.
"See you in the future Superman," Hal said.
"You too Green Lantern," responded Clark. Chloe snapped a photo despite herself as Hal collected his bags and entered the bus before it closed its doors and rumbled off.
"You think we'll ever see him again?" Chloe asked.
"Oh I don't have any doubt that we will," said Clark. As the two turned to leave, Clark noticed Superman and the Green Lantern leaning against a building trying to look casual. He eyed them oddly before shrugging his shoulders and letting it go as he advanced down the street with Chloe in silence.
"I think that's our cue," said The Green Lantern as he activated his time device.
"I think you're right," responded Superman as he activated his as well. He held out his hand which the Green Lantern shook.
"To the future," they both said.
"Though one thing still puzzles me," said the Green Lantern as he waited for the time device to power up.
"What's that?" asked Superman.
"I never did find out why Lex never got upset over the loss of his plane," responded the Green Lantern. But before Superman could respond the two vanished in a flash of light.
Airstrip: "The next time you want to provide my government with something, make sure it's in one piece Mr. Luthor," said the Kaznian Representative John Corbin to Lex Luthor. He walked off from the wreckage of the LexWing that had been towed back along with the remains of the B-52. Lex scowled, having already come to suspect what had taken place.
"Damn you Tempus and damn you Hal Jordan," Lex thought angrily. He was about to head off and go give some select words to the military when something caught his eye. He bent down to retrieve it as his aide appeared.
"Sir, we've reviewed the security tapes and it is clear that Hal Jordan stole the LexWing. We're preparing a case now for you to get Mr. Jordan thrown out of the Air Force and permanently ruin his career," said the aide.
"You know I don't think that'll be necessary," said Lex. "In fact I think I now owe our friend Mr. Jordan quite a great deal actually."
"Sir?" asked the aide confused as Lex stood back up.
"Destroy any and all evidence of what really took place here and see that Ms. Sullivan's car is fixed up and returned to her," said Lex eying Chloe's damaged Volkswagen. "I meanwhile have a lot of work to do still ahead of me."
The aide looked at him confused before nodding and walking off. Lex watched the aide go before smiling darkly as he held up Tempus's damaged temporal device.
"And thankfully, I have all the time in the world," he said as a shadow crossed over his face and he left the airfield behind. "All the time in the world."