Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters
AN:Update yay! A bit Late sorry, had things to do... it was Monday and then my goodness half the week is over. LOL! But promise next update will be on the 7th. Challenge. If any of you want to make a trailer for this fanfic that would be amazing.
Chapter 10: The Rising Heat Part II
"I want to see my daughter now! I've had enough of your little games Luthor." Moira Sullivan commanded to know, standing her ground like a caged animal. "I will not be used, not by you or anyone else."
"If anyone knows about playing games it's you Mrs. Sullivan, trying to get private messages to Chloe. I thought I could trust you." Lex had a stoic expression on his face that quickly turned to anger.
"Trust, you don't even know the meaning of the word. You're a monster, a snake how did my daughter ever let someone like you into her life?" She said with venom dripping from each word. Moira was done playing the tool and done with this viper. She wanted out, Chloe was supposed to save her. But after the other night it was time to shatter the facade she worked so hard to build.
Moira remembered meeting the first subject of project Aries, a super soldier named West Kennan the poor man. He didn't have a chance against her powers or the incompetence of the scientists that created him. The amount of meteor rock in his system was unbelievable, there was too much and in the end it was his own powers that led him to his death.
"Well, clearly Chloe gets her braveness from her mother's side. But as much of a little thorn in my side as she is I've actually come to admire her and you. That's what makes this so hard." A smirk replaced the angered glare that had formed on his face moments earlier.
"You stay away from my daughter, you viper." Moira would have flung herself at him if it wasn't for the handcuffs that kept her restrained to the inside of the armored truck.
"Oh, it's too late for that now, and no amount of name calling is going to change that." Lex exited the truck watching as two of his most trusted security guards closed the door behind him. He banged on the side of the vehicle giving the order to take what was supposed to be his key to controlling his super soldiers away.
Bringing her to this facility was an excellent move on his own part, Moira Sullivan was the perfect bait. The building supposedly housed the main frame for 33.1. How stupid were those terrorists to think he would house the secrets to his greatest project in an abandoned factory? What did they think this was a bad movie? Apparently so, considering that one of said terrorists was now spending some quality in a cell especially made them.
Oliver sat at his desk watching his team going over the Intel from their most recent mission, trying to fine their youngest member. Impulse had gotten himself caught by Lex. Their leader of course blamed himself. Green Arrow turned his back for five seconds and everything went to hell. At least the rest of his team was here to help, he had forgotten how it felt to have them with him. The kind of brotherhood that came along with working with others, it was something that made a man feel like he could do anything.
"Hey boss-man, I think we have company?" Victor said taking Oliver's attention out of his thoughts and towards the elevator. It couldn't be could it? Looking at his laptop to the camera feed he was disappointed.
Clark Kent's anger grew with each passing second as the lift made its way up to the top of Queen tower one level at a time. The reason for his latest visit to his newest ally was not a social one. Bart Allen aka Impulse had suddenly gone missing and Clark had the strange notion that the Green Arrow would know where the younger man ran off to.
The evidence was undeniable. Oliver Queen was using Bart to help him with his little vendetta against Lex Luthor. Chloe had found the proof; not legally of course, Clark would talk to her about her criminal hacking later. Stealing was just wrong in his eyes and he wasn't a big fan of breaking the law. However his fellow hero was missing and Clark would do everything possible to find him.
"This is Chloe, I'm either chasing a lead or writing the article of a life time, but if you leave your name and number. I'll get back to you." Clark groaned at the sound of the beep and hung up the phone. He would call her later, he had to talk to the Green Arrow before making their next move anyway.
"Oliver" Clark said his name the moment he stepped off the lift giving him an accusing stare.
"Sorry Clark, but whatever has your tighty-whiteys in a bunch today, it's going to have to wait." Oliver was casually leaning against the railing skimming over some documents. He didn't even glance up at the farm-boy irritating Clark that much more.
"I know your using Bart Allen in your little vendetta against Lex, I've seen the phone records. Tell me how long you've been having him work for you." The accusing tone was not appreciated and Clark could tell.
"Working with me, not for me. There's a difference." Oliver replied a hint of snark that could only rival that of Chloe.
"Is that the getting caught part? Bart is missing, where is he?" The tone of his voice was even harsher then when he walked in demanding answers.
"First of all, drop the attitude. Second, I don't know, but we're working on finding him. " Oliver stated hoping the comment would stop Clark from putting him in front a firing squad.
"We?" A small inquiry that Oliver didn't verbally respond to, he just tilted his head towards where his hydraulic closet was hidden.
"Not everyone fly's solo Kent." Victor stone answered the question stepping out of the secret room.
"Yeah, some of try working with others." Author Curry added, standing beside the Cyborg and smirking with the rest of his team.
"I know you. You've stolen from me before. Congratulations on your promotion from common thief to terrorist." Lex stepped out of the shadows and into the scarcely lit lab. The power it took to accommodate the electrical pressure plates was the reason for such low lighting.
"I want a lawyer." Bart said without flinching crossing his arms over his chest in defiance.
"And I want a ponytail. Disappointment abounds, stealing corporate data isn't your style. Now tell me who you're working for or I'll just have to press this little button." It was not a question it was a demand.A Luthor always got what he wanted and as Lex pulled out a small device, Bart tried harder then hell not to think of what this snake had in store for him.
"Corporate data, is that what you're going to tell the DA after he spends hours looking over the files of those that you used in your little science experiments?" His posture or position in the cell did not waver, Bart wanted this snake to know that the playing field was a little more even then he thought.
"The floor of your cell has been outfitted with pressure plates designed to track movement. Stand in one place for more than a millisecond and you fry like a bad burrito."Lex ignored the boys attempt at black mail, he didn't have to answer to this child for his actions. The sarcasm in the billionaire's voice was noted and Bart just smirked. "One last chance,"
"Boss-man goes by the name of Mr. Kiss-my-Butt!" The snide remark did not go without punishment and as Lex pressed the button Bart could feel himself being torn apart, a strong sensation that made him run faster than he ever had before.
"Around and around he goes where he stops, only I know, maybe you'll feel a little more talkative when you get tired of running." He took pride in the knowledge that he was in control, but as Lex was about to walk out to give the speedster time to soften up the lights went out completely.
Running was the only thing he had ever been good at, thank goodness for that. Otherwise he would have been that fried Burrito the snake had mentioned. The team was going to be here soon, Bart knew he could count on Oliver and the boys to come save him. The moment the lights went out he thought his prayers were answered. However to Bart's surprise, his savior was not who he thought it would be.
There was no green leather no arrows in sight, just a petite figure in a large corridor of the faculty. Clad in a black leather jacket a scarf hiding half of her face and a small hat hiding the color of her hair, Bart could only guess his savior's identity.
"Are you okay?" Were the first words that came out of the figures mouth and Bart's eyes widened in surprise, that voice he recognize that voice. It couldn't be could it?
"Chloe what the hell are you doing here?" He disregarded her concern for him and asked his own questions.
"There's no time Bart you have to get out of here." Chloe found herself saying that a lot in the past few days, time was now more precious than ever if her plan was going to work she had to get Bart out of here ASAP.
"Me, What about you I can't leave you here?" Bart replied a bit of astonishment in the sound of his voice.
"You have to, you don't have the energy to carry me anywhere let alone get out of here yourself. Besides I have a plan." Chloe tried to convince him that she knew what she was doing and she really did, they were hidden in a smaller corridor now and Chloe removed the scarf covering her face making it easier for her to talk.
"A plan. Did Boss-man send you I didn't know he recur.." He was still unbelieving that any of this was happening and she could tell.
"No, he doesn't know I'm here, look I'll distract them you have to get out of here. Take this to the Green Arrow." She pulled out a small thumb drive, its contents, everything that the man she loved would need to complete his mission. After tonight she may not ever see Oliver again and she could at least give him what he had worked so hard to fine.
"I won't leave, not without y…" He was cut off by the sound of loud footsteps coming their way and he looked at Chloe as if for orders.
"Go now Bart, you have to tell them where this place is."With that Chloe put the scarf over the lower half of her face and stood up getting the attention of Lex's guard. "RUN BART!"
Going against his better judgment Bart pocketed the large thumb drive Chloe gave him and did as he was told. Running away had never been so hard for him to do. But Chloe was right, he didn't have the strength to get her out to. Oliver would help save the spunky sidekick, he just had too.
There was a feeling of guilt in the air of the small cabin of the private jet, Emil Hamilton did not say a word. The silence was deafening for Dr. Caselli, he had helped Chloe Sullivan with her mission to take down Lex Luthor. In return she somehow got his family and himself safe passage to a safe house halfway around the world. The only catch to the whole arrangement was the route that he personally had to take to said hidden locale.
To avoid any suspicion from the younger Luthor, a cover story was needed and thanks to Dr. Hamilton and Ms. Sullivan there was one perfectly in place. The actual details of that cover story Dr. Caselli was unsure of, but he was sure it was a believable one. The young reporter was a clever human being and her skills at creating a facade for one to hide under were excellent.
Even with all her help in getting him out of Lex's cross-hairs and to safety, Dr. Caselli still felt uneasy. Dr. Hamilton had not said one word since they stepped on the plane. He just sat there in his seat looking over paperwork.
"I didn't mean for it to turn out like this." Dr. Caselli broke the silence, his fellow physician didn't knowledge him at first. "Lex said we were helping them, finding a cure for their infections. That's how it started it wasn't until I found out abo-"
"Dr. Caselli, I can assure you that my feelings about you and your work have nothing to do with the mission Ms. Sullivan has given me. Don't worry. You will reach your family safely and on time." Dr. Hamilton replied and the way he said it felt a little condescending to Dr. Caselli.
"You must think me a monster...Ms. Sullivan has told me much about you as well. I know you're the one responsible for rehabilitating my patients." He hung his head in remorse for what he had done to the many people he'd sent to 33.1.
"I can't say I understand all your reasons for what your actions, but I know the meaning of family. You did what you felt you had to do to protect those closest to you and now you're doing what you can to atone." Emil went back to his work glancing over a few results from Chloe's most recent blood tests. Everything appeared to be in order except for a few minor things.
How had he missed it, it was so obvious. With everything else going on and the rest of the tests he had been running on Chloe Sullivan this was merely a minute factor compared to what else they revealed about the petite blonde. Together they found the large amount of meteor rock around her heart and what they thought explained why her powers were so empathic.
Dr. Hamilton was aware of her latest plan and everything it entailed, he knew he couldn't have stopped Chloe. But this, this would have stopped her. Chloe would never risk such a thing even if it met finding the answers she wanted.
"Speaking of family and fragile things, I need you to tell me everything you know about Moira Sullivan. I know you were her doctor at one point." Emil felt the rush of fear run over him at thought of the young reporter and the one thing about herself she didn't know yet.
"What is it Dr. Hamilton?" Dr. Caselli asked and Emil showed him the source of his concern. The moment Dr. Caselli saw it he understood the source of the younger mans concern. "We have to tell her, she has to know before she…"
Dr. Hamilton did not say anything as Dr. Caselli said the obvious, there was no way that they could get to her in time. The plane was due to land in the next hour or so, Chloe would have already implemented her plan by now which meant radio silence on both sides. There was only one alternative, Oliver, he would have to expose their secret alliance to his boss if he had any hope of saving… Emil didn't want to think about it any longer. He dialed the phone and as the words 'no signal' appeared on the tiny LCD screen of his phone Emil sighed. He would have to wait until they landed to inform his leader about this new development.
Clark watched as Oliver's team went to work looking for their lost comrade, all those lectures about helping the world and not just waiting for danger at his doorstep from Oliver were starting to make sense. That's right it wasn't just Oliver, Chloe too tried to convince him a few times to team up with others like himself, people with abilities, people on the same playing field as himself.
Oliver was the one exception, he didn't have superpowers but what he did have was an urge to save those that couldn't protect themselves and bring justice to the world. Sure his tactics weren't that didn't bug Clark as much as it use too. Wow did this man remind him of Chloe, only if he could tell Chloe about Oliver and the good work he was doing maybe then she could convince Lois to lay off the emerald archer. But that was impossible Oliver's secret wasn't his to tell.
They were all working on locating Impulse, skimming over and pulling out everything they had on 33. filled Clark in on the workings and all the knowledge they had on the twisted science experiment. The thought that he let it go this far just added to his ever growing guilt about everything Kryptonian.
"You seem to have a pretty well oiled machine here," Clark interjected, no one answered him at first. "How long have you been working together?"
"About a year, we've only been going after Lex since Dark Thursday, right guys?" Oliver acknowledged him for a moment and then went back to what he was doing and handed Victor some folders.
"Yeah...Ollie, I went over the Luthor Corp Manifest I haven't found a thing." Victor said taking the documents from his boss and handing him what he had already been working on.
"Yep…" A.C reaffirmed Oliver's words not looking up from the papers on the desk in front of him, at seeing the focus they all had to find there missing friend Clark mentally kicked himself. He initially thought Bart was being used as a tool by Oliver, but now he saw the truth Bart was a valuable member of a strong well put together team.
"Dark Thursday? What do you know about it?" What was their connection to that day? Oliver had said it was a trade secret about how his satellites working on that day. Was there more to his involvement with that day?
"Well we were actually in…."Victor chimed in but was abruptly cut off by a look from Oliver,
"Nothing beyond what we saw when we helped with a riot here and there, and that Lex Luthor had unexplained powers during that time." Oliver's reaction to the question seemed to be a startled one, causing Clark to quirk an eyebrow.
"And that's what led you to 33.1." Clark was now starting to understand part of the reason the team found out about 33.1. "Bart hasn't always been a team player, how did you get him to join you?"
"He was the first one I recruited." Oliver was still looking at the folder handed to him and huffed at not finding what he wanted.
"Recruited, you came across him on patrol one night helping himself to a free meal and then from what he says he kicked your butt and…" A.C cut in smirking as he spoke.
"I think he gets it A.C, and at least I didn't have to save his scaly butt from getting filleted and stuffed into thousand tin cans." Oliver wasn't going to be a made fun of without getting some payback.
"Well at least he would have been dolphin safe." Victor helped keep the embarrassment going for a second longer.
"Fish jokes,all I get is fish jokes." A.C through his hands up in defeat.
"Well that's what you get for trying to sink a whaler of the coast of Japan without back up." Oliver always lectured them on working together when he never really seemed to follow his own advice.
"Shouldn't we be focusing on locating Impulse." The water breather said wanting nothing more than to drop the subject and he got the answer to his prayers a moment later.
The four young heroes all smiled as they felt a strong breeze through the penthouse that always followed the youngest member of their group. There smiles soon faded as they took in the sight of Impulse. He looked tired and exhausted like he had been running faster or for longer then was healthy even for him.
"Speak of the speeding devil," Victor was the first at his side, Bart all but collapsed and he let the Cyborg catch him as he fell.
"Got caught, Lex Luthor…electric pressure plate..zapped me every time I…"Bart tried catching his breath but he needed to tell them what happened quickly, before Lex caught or hurt Chloe.
"Slow down man. Are you okay, what happened?" Even though he was only half human there was still concern in his voice. "Hey take a breather."
Taking the advice Bart stopped huffing and breathed in a deep breath before telling them all what happen. He told them about getting caught, the especially made cell,Lex graciously provided him and about Chloe.
"Wait a minute,Chloe? As in Chloe Sullivan, how the hell did she do that? Did you recruit her too, Oliver? Do you ever think of anyone but.." The way Clark put knew made him sound pissed, But how was he suppose to control his anger when his best friend could be hurt.
"Again with the accusations, no Clark I didn't recruit her. I'd never put someone like her in danger." There was a double meaning behind what he met by the 'someone like her' part.
"I don't know how she got me out of the cell, everything went dark and then the next thing I know I see Chloe standing at the end of the corridor, but the thing was I didn't know it was her at first." Bart tried explaining more in detail about what Chloe had done for him.
"What do you mean, you didn't know it was her?" The anger in Clark's voice was only matched by his curiosity. How did Chloe save Bart by herself and why didn't she come to him when she found out about Bart's capture?
"She had her face half covered, but that's not all" Bart suddenly realized that he was still holding the thumb drive Chloe had given him. "She told me to give this to you, Oliver."
Without another word Oliver took the small piece of tech from the speedster and plugged it into the laptop that sat on his desk and then looked to the flat screen hanging down in the middle of the room. The rest of the team followed suit knowing that anything that appeared on the small computer was fed into the larger monitor.
"What is it?" Clark was the only one to say anything as a thousand images zoomed across the screen. The rest of them automatically recognized what some of the images were and as one in particular schematic passed over the screen, Oliver paused the flow of information.
"It's everything we've been working so hard to find, Chl…Ms. Sullivan has basically accomplished our mission for us boys." Oliver caught himself before he said her name, it felt strange to refer to her the way he did. "And before you start the inquisition again Clark let me say I have as many questions of why and how she has done any of this as you do."
"What are we going to do about this Boss-man we can't just leave her to Lex…" Bart was certain that his leader wouldn't let Lex Luthor hurt anyone like Chloe. To his boss she was probably just an innocent bystander someone that got caught up in something they shouldn't have anything to do with.A victim that shouldn't be a victim.
"No you already did that." The farm-boy hissed out not caring anymore that Bart had at least gotten out safe.
"You think I wanted to, I didn't have a choice I was out of energy it took everything I had to get out of there myself. Besides Chloe told me to leave her. She said she has a plan." The speedster hung his head in shame knowing the rest of the men in the room except for Clark could never feel this kind of guilt.
AN: No Chlollie scene but don't worry, the next chapter will have one or two. And this is a Chlollie fanfic so they will be together again at some point. Really love the character of Moira Sullivan. LOL! for some reason I wan to ship her win the martian Manhunter.